Chapter 28 – Chunhua Noodle Restaurant

Ten minutes later.

After Lu Yuan finished demonstrating the basic fist technique, basic leg techniques, and basic footwork in front of Lin Zhiqin.

The eagerness in Lin Zhiqin’s eyes increased another notch as he watched Lu Yuan.

“Not bad, not bad at all. I should say, very good.”

Lin Zhiqin looked at Lu Yuan with admiration, not holding back his praise.

“There aren’t many people in the advanced class who can master the three basic skills to this level.”

“In just one month, you’ve managed to practice everything I’ve taught you to this standard. It proves your talent for martial arts is excellent, exceptional, born for it.”

This statement, combined with Lin Zhiqin’s current expression, almost made him look like a motivational speaker trying to sell something.

But Lu Yuan had achieved his goal.

This was the effect he wanted.

Yes, I am a genius.

Lin Zhiqin, didn’t you look down on our beginner class and let us practice freely every day?

Today, I want to show you that even with free practice, I can reach the level of an official disciple of the martial arts gym!

“About the signature…”

Lu Yuan glanced at the application form that Lin Zhiqin had casually placed on the coffee table.

“Oh yes, I almost forgot.”

Lin Zhiqin laughed heartily, his cheerful demeanor a stark contrast to before.

“I’ll sign it for you now.”

He took a pen from the pen holder on his desk, sat down at the coffee table, and was about to sign his name in the coach’s approval section on the application form.

Lu Yuan watched the pen in Lin Zhiqin’s hand while glancing at the electronic clock on the wall.

It was 11:08 AM, past the closing time of the martial arts gym.

Having spent so much time here, he wondered if he could still submit the application form when he got back.

As Lu Yuan was thinking this, he suddenly saw Lin Zhiqin stop his pen halfway through signing.

Lin Zhiqin looked up at the clock on the wall, then surprisingly said to Lu Yuan.

“It’s lunchtime now, how about we go eat first?”

“Uh…”

Lu Yuan was stunned, not knowing what Lin Zhiqin was up to.

Does signing a name in a few seconds delay your meal?

Can’t you sign it before eating?

“Coach Lin…”

Lu Yuan showed a troubled expression on his face. “The person downstairs collecting the forms is still waiting for me.”

“No worries, I’ll submit it for you later.”

Lin Zhiqin waved his hand dismissively and got up, motioning for Lu Yuan to follow him out the door.

“Let’s eat first. I know a good restaurant near the martial arts gym. Let’s go now.”

Reluctantly, Lu Yuan was led out the door by Lin Zhiqin, helplessly watching the application form lying alone on the coffee table in the office. The form disappeared from his sight as the door closed behind them.

“What kind of ridiculous rule is this, needing a coach’s signature for the assessment application!”

“And what a lousy coach! It’s bad enough he doesn’t teach properly, but now he’s deliberately making things difficult for his students at crucial moments?”

On the way to the small restaurant that Lin Zhiqin had mentioned, Lu Yuan silently cursed the martial arts gym’s procedures and Lin Zhiqin.

Of course, outwardly he had to put on an expression of “feeling honored to be treated to a meal by the coach” and obediently followed behind Lin Zhiqin.

Lin Zhiqin seemed to be in a very good mood.

He walked with a smile on his face the entire way.

“We’re here.”

After exiting the martial arts gym and walking just a few steps, Lin Zhiqin brought Lu Yuan to the restaurant he had mentioned.

“Chunhua Noodle Restaurant.”

It was a small shop hidden in an alley next to the martial arts gym.

The sign was red with white letters, and the front of the shop was blackened with oil stains.

From the outside, there was nothing remarkable about this noodle restaurant.

Following Lin Zhiqin through the glass sliding door at the entrance, a refreshing coolness immediately greeted them.

“The air conditioning is quite strong here.”

Lu Yuan thought to himself.

The small shop wasn’t big; there were only seven small rectangular tables in the dining area.

A few people were sitting inside, eating noodles.

Lu Yuan noticed the menu on the wall.

In addition to noodles, they also served some simple home-cooked dishes, all at very reasonable prices.

“Coach Lin is here!”

Shortly after the two entered, an ordinary middle-aged woman, about the same age as Lin Zhiqin, came out of the kitchen wearing an apron.

Seeing Lin Zhiqin, she greeted him with a smile, clearly an old acquaintance.

“Coach Lin, bringing another student to eat?”

The middle-aged woman smiled kindly at Lu Yuan.

“Yes,” Lin Zhiqin responded without looking at the menu on the wall. “Pork kidney, ribs, chicken, and is today’s fish fresh?”

“It arrived just this morning, still alive.”

“Then we’ll have a whole fish as well. Is the private room upstairs available?”

“No one’s using it, you can go right up.”

Lin Zhiqin expertly ordered four or five dishes and then led Lu Yuan up a narrow staircase, barely half a meter wide, located next to the kitchen.

The second floor had a few more small rectangular tables, along with a small door on the side.

Pushing the door open, they entered a small private room, only about seven or eight square meters.

“The restroom is right next door; you’ll see it as soon as you step out.”

Lin Zhiqin sat down at the small table in the private room and reminded Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan acknowledged with a nod.

They had just settled in when the middle-aged woman from earlier came in with a teapot and a small plate of sunflower seeds.

“Have some water first; the dishes will be ready soon.”

After setting out bowls and chopsticks for both of them, the woman left.

Lin Zhiqin habitually took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. He opened it, glanced at Lu Yuan, and then put it back. Instead, he grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds to pass the time.

Having nothing else to do, Lu Yuan picked up the teapot and rinsed the bowls and chopsticks for both himself and Lin Zhiqin. He then poured two cups of water, one of which he handed to Lin Zhiqin, while he slowly drank the other.

“Don’t feel constrained; it’s just a casual meal.”

Lin Zhiqin pushed the small plate of sunflower seeds towards Lu Yuan, who politely took a handful.

“What do your parents do?” Lin Zhiqin suddenly asked.

Lu Yuan paused for a moment, then replied, “My family runs a grains and oils shop. My dad also does some delivery work.”

“Are you an only child?”

“I have an elder sister. She just graduated from university this year.”

“You should be in your Senior Year 2, right? I have a nephew about your age.”

“…”

Lin Zhiqin continued to ask about Lu Yuan’s family and personal situation, occasionally sharing some details about his own life.

Lu Yuan still couldn’t figure out why Lin Zhiqin had invited him to this meal out of the blue.

By the time he sat down, he had come to a realization.

Lin Zhiqin was deliberately holding back his signature on the form, likely with some ulterior motive.

He was just waiting for Lu Yuan to ask about it.

“Why did you sign up for the martial arts class at the gym?”

In the middle of their conversation, Lin Zhiqin suddenly shifted the topic to the martial arts gym.

Lu Yuan knew this was the main event.

“For the college entrance examination.”

Lu Yuan replied calmly, “The physical education category for the college entrance examination requires a specialty. I chose martial arts because it has the lowest scoring standards.”

Lin Zhiqin nodded thoughtfully.

He then followed up with another question, “So why do you want to become an official disciple of the martial arts gym?”

Lu Yuan glanced at Lin Zhiqin before answering.

“For money.”

He said seriously to Lin Zhiqin, “I want to earn back the tuition fee my dad paid for me.”