Chapter Thirty: School Started, Practicing Tai Chi

  The summer vacation flew by like a sword, and another school year began. I became a fourth-grade student. At the beginning of the school year, everyone was quite fresh, and it was said that we would learn some simple Tai Chi exercises on top of our original radio gymnastics to exercise our bodies. Our original radio gymnastics were called "The Rising Sun". It's said that the principal criticized us for not doing it neatly and efficiently enough, saying it looked like a setting sun, weak and lifeless. When our teacher described it this way, our whole class burst out laughing. Considering it was the first semester and the weather was getting colder, the principal thought we should add some physical exercise. So, they specially consulted with the PE teachers to teach us some simple Tai Chi, every day after school, staying behind for half an hour to learn. The PE classes were temporarily changed to learning simple Tai Chi. To prevent us from not taking it seriously, the school would also hold a competition after each class finished learning.

  After school in the afternoon, all of our classmates were naturally pulled to the playground to learn Tai Chi. Every class was there, and the playground was crowded with people. The physical education teacher held a loudspeaker and said loudly: "Classmates, quiet down! From today on, we will learn Tai Chi every afternoon. For this purpose, we have specially invited Teacher Chen to teach you all. Classmates must study hard, did you hear?"

  "We heard." We all shouted loudly, as if making a decision, and there was a trend of one class shouting louder than the other. A middle-aged man with a strong build, thick eyebrows and big eyes, wearing white clothes, spoke in a loud voice: "Classmates, Tai Chi is about using softness to overcome hardness. Considering your age and lack of foundation, it's just for physical exercise. So I'll modify Tai Chi into 14 forms and improve the more difficult movements. Hope you can learn with me seriously. Okay, today we'll start with the first move, 'Starting Position'. First, let me demonstrate."

  But the first move, Teacher Chen did very skillfully in less than half a minute. After Teacher Chen finished, we all felt like we were in a martial arts drama and applauded, thinking that we should learn seriously. I thought: Although I can only learn some fancy moves, if I master them, I can still fool some outsiders. I looked at Teacher Chen with admiration and shining eyes, while Xuan Yuan Rui said expressionlessly beside me: "Fool, it's just the most basic stuff, why are you so excited."

  "I'm just excited, mind your own business, take care of yourself, who knows, maybe you're not even as good as me."

  "Hehe, then let's ride a donkey and watch the show while walking. Don't blame me for bullying you."

  "Okay everyone, follow me step by step. First, take a big step to the side with your right foot, about 20 centimeters or so, then half squat, like this, into a horse stance. Then stretch out both hands, palms down. Watch what I'm doing and follow along."

  This is a relatively basic but important action, we are like drawing a calabash, some people do it quite well, while others' actions are a bit embarrassing. Teacher Chen can't correct each person individually, so he corrected the actions of nearby classmates and left the rest to our physical education teachers. As I'm short and was in front, I got Teacher Chen's guidance, who told me to slightly separate my feet and relax my hands a bit. He also asked the classmate next to me to learn from me, and I glanced back at Xuan Yu Rui with a provocative look, but that kid chose to ignore me.

  When Mr. Chen walked to Xuan Yuan's side, he said: "This classmate has done a great job, if anyone doesn't understand, take a look at how he does it." Ah, so he's even better, no wonder he looks down on me. Then Mr. Chen had us stretch our left foot out and right hand out, all were some relatively simple movements, after we could remember them, he had us link them together to practice several times, soon half an hour was up, we naturally dispersed and went home.

  After two weeks of repeated practice, we were basically able to keep up with the music beat, only a little awkward in some places. For this reason, the physical education teacher selected two leaders for each class, and our class naturally chose Xuan Yuanrui, who had been recognized by Teacher Chen many times. This person was too cunning! Later I found out that he had actually practiced before, following Master Ding for more than half a year. How could I, a rookie, compare to him? However, when the physical education teacher seemed to be leaning towards him, he still showed some reluctance, saying it would be too lonely for one person. This guy even haggled with the teacher!

  Later, the physical education teacher considered that other classmates also said that two people can be brave and prevent sudden forgetfulness, so he decided to have one class with two people leading the exercise. It's not a cliché that Xuan Yuan Rui recommended me to the teacher, plus I didn't do too badly, after all, they are reborn in the past, their understanding ability is still stronger than these elementary school students, and they didn't lose face as a reborn person, so the teacher chose me. However, I originally wanted to hide behind, but this made me lead the exercise, which really made me a little nervous. It's really unknown whether Xuan Yuan Rui wanted me to make a fool of myself or give me an opportunity to perform.

  After school, we walked together in a line. Xuan Yuan Ruo had a mischievous grin on his face and said, "Tomorrow is the first day of morning exercises, let's take care of each other." I wasn't angry yet, but when he said that with this expression, it was obviously intentional.

  I stretched out my hand, and to my surprise, he also stretched out his hand. I grasped his hand tightly, "Hehe, I really have to thank you, we'll definitely take good care of each other tomorrow." The two words "take care" were spoken with extra emphasis.

  Wang Xiaoxiao laughed and said: "Eh, only Xiao can make Xuan Yuan laugh so heartily, and only Xuan Yuan can make Xiao grit her teeth with anger so quickly. How do you two always manage to fight and bicker, making us envy you..."

  "Xiao Xiao, what are you envying? I'm envying you instead. Isn't Xuan Gege good enough? In my opinion, Xuan Gege is much better than some people, some people who have learned Tai Chi, no wonder they dare to make a bet with me, no wonder Teacher chose them to lead the exercise, but he had to drag me down, definitely wants to see me make a fool of myself." I glanced at Xuan Yuan Rui. Xuan Yuan Rui seemed completely nonchalant.

  Wang Xiaoxiao looked around and said, "Xiao Xiao, don't talk nonsense, what if our classmates hear us? Mu Luo and I are nothing, we're just... just classmates."

  "Ah, ah, you guys have a very pure classmate relationship, I didn't mean anything else either, it's just that some people are not as wealthy as others."

  "You're really something, Nan Xiao Xiao, daring to mock me! I'm not going to talk to you again from now on."

  "Alright, alright, I was just joking, don't be angry, I'll cover for you and gather information for you next time." He said with a wink.

  Wang Xiaoxiao looked embarrassed and said, "We've reached the fork in the road, I'll head this way, see you tomorrow." After finishing speaking, she ran off, as if there was something terrifying chasing after her.

  The day I became a leader was actually pretty good, but when I watched Xuan Yuan Zhi practicing Tai Chi up close, he looked so cool that I felt very envious. However, some things are just not meant to be envied, as I didn't have any athletic talent in my past life, and it's unlikely that I would suddenly develop it after being reborn. Still, exercising is always a good idea.

  On weekend mornings, my brother was very spirited and actually wanted to drag me out for a run. Oh man, I'm a night owl, I can sleep in late at night and also need to wake up late, even if I go to bed early, I still can't get up early. But my brother blackmailed me with the thing about stealing mom's ID card, and I wasn't ready to reveal what I wrote yet. Forget it, might as well get up early, luckily I didn't sleep too late last night, after running I can also stockpile some more drafts.

  I quickly got dressed and washed up, then followed my brother out. We ran straight along the road, then turned into a small park. Early in the morning, there were quite a few elderly people exercising in the park. Looking around, some were practicing sword fighting, others were doing tai chi, stretching their waists and pressing their legs, while others were jogging in circles. They were all very busy.

  Take another look, isn't that Grandpa Ding and Xuan Yuan Ruo? Xuan Yuan Ruo's gaze also shifted towards me, it seems I have to go over and greet them. I jogged over, grinning from ear to ear, saying: "Grandpa Ding, good morning! You're up so early exercising, no wonder you look so spirited!"

  "Ah, little girl, every weekend I'll have Xuan Yuan this kid accompany me to exercise. However, I've never seen you before, turns out little girl also comes running."

  "Hehe, no, I just arrived today." I rubbed my head.

  "That little girl, in the future we can go running together, you and Xuan Yuan accompany the old man, the old man will be even happier."

  Ah, I suddenly felt three black lines popping up on my head, and my inner self cried out: "I didn't come here voluntarily! I don't want to come every weekend from now on!" I kept making eye contact with Xuan Yuan, who looked like he was also helpless. Eh eh, it seems I'll have to come here for training from now on.

  "Nan Nan, aren't you envious of my Tai Chi skills? Don't you want to learn? My grandpa is an expert, and he has an old friend who is very skilled in Tai Chi and other martial arts. You can come practice with me every weekend, get your body trained, and then we can go learn some self-defense techniques together, how about it?"

  "Little girl, so you want to learn Tai Chi too? Well, follow the old man then." Xuan Yuan Rui has grasped my weakness again. I smiled and said: "Okay, thank you Grandpa Ding, but I'm not talented, Grandpa Ding will have to put in extra effort, don't get annoyed with me for being clumsy later on."

  "Hehe, Xiao Yatou is being modest. Usually, Xuan Yuan always praises you, saying that your piano and dance skills are all excellent, and your academic performance is not bad either. Our family's Xuan Yuan rarely praises people. If all else fails, Xuan Yuan can teach you himself, he's quite good at it now and has some skills."

  "Grandpa, when did I ever praise her? I was just answering your question." "Haha, okay, I won't say anything else. Little girl, go for a walk with the old man..."