Chapter Eighty-Four: Learning a Craft in Leisure

When Wei Liangbi learned that the Ning family had suddenly come up with nearly thirty thousand pounds and had actually invested it in the remote city of Chongqing, far from the central plains, to buy land and open shops, he was utterly stunned.

Thirty thousand pounds was an unimaginable fortune in those days. It was nothing less than a wager with everything the Ning family possessed, and he could not help but feel deep admiration for Ning Zhiheng’s father, Ning Liangcai, and his daring.

After pondering for a long while, he said, “Teacher, Zhiheng, are you choosing Chongqing as a fallback because you are too pessimistic about the situation? I also believe war between China and Japan is inevitable.

“But in terms of timing, I think it is not as urgent as you imagine. I estimate it will be at least four or five years before it breaks out.

“Our country is vast and rich, with a huge population. Once war begins, sheer attrition alone will wear those little Japanese down to death. If they are not properly prepared, would they really dare to start one?

“Besides, Shanghai is a thousand miles from Chongqing. No matter how sharp the Japanese spear may be, can it still reach Chongqing? Our National Government has millions of soldiers. They are not to be trifled with. If they can even reach Wuhan, that would already be overestimating them. My family is from Yueyang in Hunan, very near Changsha, the province’s principal city. Wouldn’t it be better to buy property in Changsha instead? What do you think?”

Wei Liangbi came from Yueyang in Hunan Province. His father was a schoolteacher, and the family was fairly well-off. If he could find a place to settle near his hometown, then the nearest major city, Changsha, would be the best choice.

Over the years, he had also accumulated a considerable sum of wealth. Perhaps he should, like his teacher and junior brother, buy some property. If anything changed in the future, at least he would have somewhere to settle.

“Senior Brother, I advise you not to choose Changsha,” Ning Zhiheng said earnestly. “Changsha is the capital of Hunan Province. Once war breaks out between China and Japan, those major cities will certainly be among the Japanese army’s first targets. And Changsha has convenient transportation, which makes it easier for large enemy forces to deploy and attack.”

Knowing how history would later unfold, Ning Zhiheng strongly urged Wei Liangbi not to buy property in Changsha, or all his savings would go to waste.

“Yes, Liangbi, I also think buying property in Changsha is a bit risky. Why not go to Chongqing with us? In times of chaos, safety is the most important thing. Chongqing is remote, but it is safe enough. Besides, with our families all together, we can look after one another,” He Feng also urged from the side.

Hearing both his teacher and Ning Zhiheng say the same, Wei Liangbi wavered. After much thought, he finally made up his mind. “All right, I’ll listen to you, Teacher!”

Ning Zhiheng clapped his hands and laughed. “That’s more like it. I’ll send a telegram to Shopkeeper Wen right away and have him make arrangements for you, Senior Brother. Everything will be taken care of. You needn’t worry about a thing. You don’t have to concern yourself with anything!”

Wei Liangbi knew that in Chongqing, Shopkeeper Wen, whom He Feng and Ning Zhiheng kept mentioning, had already sorted everything out. With things arranged in advance, it would certainly be much easier. All he needed to do was act as a hands-off owner and hand the money over to Ning Zhiheng.

With the major matter settled, the three of them relaxed and chatted merrily. After they had talked and laughed to their satisfaction, the two took their leave of He Feng’s family and departed.

Time passed quickly. It was now year’s end, and the most important festival for the Chinese people, the Spring Festival, was fast approaching.

In every street and alley of Nanjing, people could be seen busily buying New Year goods, carrying them in their hands or on their shoulders, their steps brisk and hurried.

Some residents had begun pasting New Year prints on their doors and walls. Those simple, rustic images added a touch of festive cheer to countless households. Children ran about in the streets, and children from better-off families had already put on new clothes ahead of time. A joyous atmosphere began to fill the city of Nanjing.

The Military Intelligence Investigation Bureau was a quasi-military organization. Even for the Spring Festival, it only granted a short few days off, not a long holiday.

Those whose families were in Nanjing would go home for the New Year. Since Ning Zhiheng had only just returned to Hangzhou the previous month, he had no intention of going home for this Spring Festival and planned instead to remain on duty at the bureau.

Fortunately, the bureau’s work had also been light during this period. The action squad was deployed far less often, leaving everyone comparatively idle.

“Captain, aren’t you going home for the New Year?” Sun Jiacheng asked Ning Zhiheng, who was idly sitting in the office and bored out of his mind.

Recently promoted to deputy squad leader, he was now working in the same office as Ning Zhiheng and the others, and he had not yet grown used to it.

“I just went back to Hangzhou not long ago. And since the bureau still needs people on duty over the New Year, I may as well stay here,” Ning Zhiheng replied.

“Oh, right, Lao Sun, what are your plans for the New Year? Don’t you want to go home and take a look?”

Since Sun Jiacheng had been promoted to second lieutenant and changed from subordinate to colleague, Ning Zhiheng no longer addressed him so directly by name. Since Sun Jiacheng was much older, he simply called him Lao Sun.

Sun Jiacheng’s expression darkened, and his voice slowed. “There’s no one at home anymore. My only uncle, who was also my master, has passed away too. I’m alone. Wherever I go, that place is home.”

Ning Zhiheng was taken aback. He had no idea Sun Jiacheng was all alone; he had never asked about it before.

“Your speech has a bit of Tianjin flavor to it. You’re from Tianjin, then? And you still never married?” Ning Zhiheng asked.

Sun Jiacheng nodded. “I’m from Tianjin. My family used to be somewhat known there. Later, my uncle got into a ring fight with someone and killed a man. He made enemies because of it, and they cornered him in a dead-end alley and stabbed him to death. I was afraid they’d wipe out the whole family, so I ran away.”

His tone was calm and flat, his expression as placid as ever, as though this terrible event had happened to someone else and he were merely recounting a story entirely unrelated to himself.

After hearing this, Ning Zhiheng was deeply shaken. He had never imagined Sun Jiacheng carried such a tragic history.

“And after that, you never went back? Those enemies are still around?” Ning Zhiheng straightened in his seat and asked carefully.

“After I came out, I had no food to eat, and I didn’t want to join the underworld and become a thug, so I enlisted. A few years ago I secretly went back once. I killed two of those enemies, but that exposed me, so I fled again. I never went back after that,” Sun Jiacheng said quietly.

So there were still enemies in Tianjin looking for him, which meant he would not be returning. From Sun Jiacheng’s tone, that vendetta was not yet over. Sooner or later, he would still have to go back and settle it.

“So this is what they call a feud in the martial world?” Ning Zhiheng nodded. “Give me the details of your enemies. Don’t forget what we do. The Military Intelligence Investigation Bureau may not be good at helping people, but isn’t it easy enough to ruin them?”

In the world of old vendettas, today you kill me, tomorrow I kill you. Back and forth, it was impossible to say who was right and who was wrong. But since they were Sun Jiacheng’s enemies, Ning Zhiheng would certainly stand on his side. For the Military Intelligence Investigation Bureau to kill two ordinary civilians would be absurdly easy.

Sun Jiacheng shook his head. “I’ll handle this myself. I want to get rid of them with my own hands, or I’ll never be at peace in this lifetime.”

His voice was chillingly cold, revealing how deeply and hopelessly his hatred had festered.

Hearing this, Ning Zhiheng dismissed it with a single word: “Stubborn.”

Then he added, “When you’ve thought it through, tell me.”

Sun Jiacheng nodded. He knew Ning Zhiheng genuinely wanted to help him seek revenge, and he was grateful, but he had his own principles.

“Oh, right. Your family all practice martial arts, no wonder you’re so skilled, especially with that short blade of yours. It’s truly beautiful,” Ning Zhiheng said suddenly, his interest piqued. Half joking, half serious, he added, “How about teaching me while we’ve got this spare time? Don’t tell me it’s some secret family art, the kind only passed to sons and not daughters?”

Hearing that Ning Zhiheng wanted to learn martial arts from him, Sun Jiacheng smiled. “What secret family art? That’s just nonsense passed around by ordinary folks. Real fighting skills, the kind that can hold up on a ring, are earned through hard, honest practice. Training only pretty forms behind closed doors is just asking for death.

“If you want to learn, Captain, of course that’s no problem. But these days martial arts aren’t very useful. No matter how well you train, one gun can solve everything!”

Ning Zhiheng shook his head, disagreeing. “If you’re talking about the battlefield, then of course martial arts can’t compare with firearms. But in our line of work, having real skill is completely different. In special times, it can play a huge role. It’s the sort of ability that can save your life.”

Seeing that Ning Zhiheng truly meant it, Sun Jiacheng naturally would not refuse. Ning Zhiheng was his superior and had saved his life, elevating him to his current position. He had always been thinking about how to repay him, yet he had nothing of value except the little skill in his body. Since Ning Zhiheng was willing to learn, it was exactly what he wanted.