CHAPTER 92: CHAPTER 86: A RUTHLESS STIR

Fu Tinghan: "...I was very obedient when I was studying, never got into fights."

"I can see that," Zhao Hanzhang said with a playful smile, "Professor Fu looks like a good student, unlike me."

Fu Tinghan hurriedly reassured her, "You have always been a good student."

Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand, "Forget it, even when my eyesight was good, it was hard for teachers to sincerely say I was a good student."

Not to mention after she became visually impaired; she directly turned into a problematic student.

Fu Tinghan became serious, looking at her earnestly, "You are a genuinely good student, with excellent academics, great social skills, lively and cheerful, kind and upright. Though teachers might struggle with you, they truly like you in their hearts."

Zhao Hanzhang looked at his seriousness in surprise.

Fu Tinghan nodded firmly at her, once again affirming, "It’s true."

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but laugh, "I’ll take it as a compliment from Professor Fu."

She paused for a moment and still asked, "Do you want to work out a bit? Learn some martial arts from Second Son; I think it helps a lot in protecting oneself."

Fu Tinghan: "Aren’t you learning?"

"I am, but my time isn’t very flexible, so I do it at night."

Fu Tinghan: "I’ll join you then; Second Son’s progress isn’t suitable for me."

Zhao Hanzhang initially wanted to say her progress also wasn’t suitable, but considering he may not adapt well to the teaching methods of this era, and worse comes to worst, she could teach him some military boxing. So she nodded, "See you tonight."

Fu Tinghan: "See you tonight."

Bricks were moved into the kiln and set in place, and after Lu Kun checked there were no issues, he led people to seal the kiln and then start the fire.

Fu Tinghan stepped forward to take a look, noted down the time, and felt the temperature with his hand, saying to Zhao Hanzhang: "I want to make a thermometer; this way, we can grasp the firing method and progress more accurately."

Otherwise, everything relies on the experience and sense of the old kiln workers, making efficiency and success rates not very high.

Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes brightened, "Do it, tell me if you lack anything, I’ll have Uncle Cheng and them to get it."

The fire was started, and the two stood before the kiln, their faces lit red by the firelight. This was their first time firing bricks, and both Fu Tinghan and Zhao Hanzhang wanted to see the results personally, so they hadn’t left.

The two had already moved from discussing thermometers to military boxing and martial arts, "Many martial arts in our time have removed lethal moves, only used for health and fitness, so if we talk practicality, it’s military boxing."

"I learned from special forces; the moves aim at vital spots. If you can master it, even if some day your guards aren’t with you, you can save your life."

Fu Tinghan tilted his head and looked at her, asking: "Is it very tough?"

"Huh?" Zhao Hanzhang realized it, laughed and said: "Not as tough as you think. Every winter and summer break, I would go find my dad, started learning since I was young. Later when the accident happened and I couldn’t see, I would just randomly strike at first. Then my uncle and older brothers came to help, and I learned how to judge their attack points by listening, then counter-attack."

"Actually it’s just adding an extra step to seeing directly with your eyes, first hearing with your ears, then drawing the picture in your mind, making it just like seeing."

The extra step meant slower processing speed. She was initially unskilled and was basically pressed and beaten.

But later on she got used to it, able to react once her ears heard just like reacting once her eyes saw.

And the benefits weren’t only in avoiding bullying; she could live more conveniently too, in familiar environments, and even live like a normal person. Strangers almost can’t tell she’s blind.

Zhao Hanzhang was very confident in her martial arts, she said: "I’ll teach you."

Fu Tinghan gladly agreed.

Then Zhao Hanzhang took him to run and stretch his legs, "Let’s loosen the muscles first; we’ll prepare in the following days."

Fu Tinghan ran with her confidently in the farm, after a quarter-hour he was somewhat short of breath, two quarters of an hour later his steps slowed down, nearly coming to a stop.

Uncle Cheng watched silently, just about to step forward to ask and persuade, when he saw their lady pulling Mr. Fu to the grass beside, having him wave his hands and kick his legs, unclear what Mr. Fu said, their lady suddenly grabbed Mr. Fu’s shoulder, pinched his neck with one hand, and pressed him onto the grass.

Uncle Cheng’s eyes widened instantly, instinctively scanning left and right, and seeing nobody paying attention, he sprinted over to stop them.

Zhao Hanzhang pressed Fu Tinghan onto the grass, looked down at him, saw his pure eyes looking at her, with gentleness and a smile in them, she was a bit dissatisfied, applying slight force, "What are you thinking about at this time, shouldn’t you be thinking about how to escape, or throw me off?"

"Your hand is pinching my neck, one hand pressing on my shoulder, your leg suppressing my waist and abdomen, all my force points are controlled by you, can’t resist at all."

Zhao Hanzhang loosened him, sat him up beside her, "Thinking like this is wrong; fighting—oh, no, martial arts can be scientific, but when saving your life, it’s not just science, you need conviction too."

Fu Tinghan: "Conviction?"

"Yes." Zhao Hanzhang then got up, beckoned him over, "Come, repeat the move just now."

Fu Tinghan stood up, looked at her fair, thin neck, unable to grasp it for a moment.

Zhao Hanzhang saw him dithering, grabbed his hand and placed it on her shoulder, "Stop dithering, give it a shot."

Fu Tinghan hesitantly grabbed her shoulder, clumsily held her neck and pushed backward.

Zhao Hanzhang: ...

She could easily knock away his two hands with one hand, but to cooperate with him, she didn’t, instead going along with his push and falling down.

Fu Tinghan, flustered, wanted to help her up, Zhao Hanzhang simply pulled him down with a tug, and Fu Tinghan fell abruptly onto Zhao Hanzhang, one hand supported beside her face to avoid pressing onto her, but they were so close now, breaths audible, and Fu Tinghan held his breath in tension...

Zhao Hanzhang’s heart skipped a beat for a moment, not expecting them to be this close, she withdrew her hand quickly, a bit uneasy looking away from his eyes, gazing at his ear, "These press and pinch motions must be quick, otherwise once the opponent reacts, it’s hard to succeed."

Seeing Fu Tinghan not responding, she pulled back her gaze to him, noticing his face turning bright red, sensing something wrong, and quickly caught his arm, "Professor Fu?"

Fu Tinghan snapped back, breathed suddenly, rolled to leave, sat on the lawn, his face red.

Zhao Hanzhang got up, leaned over to look at him, thoughtfully, "Professor Fu, do you... like me?"

Fu Tinghan’s face flushed even redder, looked at Zhao Hanzhang and opened his mouth but couldn’t speak.

Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow, just about to pursue the question, Uncle Cheng arrived sprinting, blocking between them and said, "Third Lady, Mr. Fu, speak slowly, speak slowly, don’t get into a fight."

Zhao Hanzhang swallowed her words, "Uncle Cheng, we’re not fighting, we’re practicing."

Fu Tinghan stood awkwardly, nodded, "Yes, we’re practicing, it’s getting late, I’ll go check the kiln, you head back."

Said and turned to leave, seeming like he was fleeing in panic.