Chapter 10

Chinese martial arts almost always start with the horse stance. The skills of the legs are highly valued by all martial artists. As the old saying goes, "Hands are two gates, and the whole fight depends on the feet," which shows the importance of the legs. Practicing the horse stance not only strengthens the body but also helps maintain a stable center of gravity. Martial arts masters can stand in a horse stance so firmly that four or five people cannot push them over, demonstrating the strength of their foundation.

Now, many other martial arts, like Taekwondo, do not emphasize the basics. They look very flashy, but one strike can easily knock them down.

Twenty minutes is not a long time; sometimes a game doesn't even finish in that duration. However, for Mandy, twenty minutes felt like two hours. She couldn't feel her lower body anymore. When she heard Liu Nan say the time was up, she felt like she was about to faint and fell backward. Then, she was caught by a pair of warm hands.

Liu Nan was also very impressed by Mandy's willpower. Clearly, she couldn't hold on at fifteen minutes, but she managed to stand until the end, even when she fell. She truly lived up to the name "Hit-Girl."

When Mandy fell, Liu Nan stepped forward, helped her sit on an old stone block, and then squatted down to massage her stiff legs, helping her quickly regain sensation and promote blood circulation.

"How do you feel now? Do you still think I underestimated you?"

While massaging Mandy's calves, he asked.

"Hmph, what's the big deal? Is this stance for standing there and getting hit?"

Mandy still put up a tough front, but in her heart, she was already convinced. The feeling just now was worse than death; it was extremely uncomfortable.

"Of course not. The stance is to help you stand more firmly. You can knock down your opponent, and they can't knock you down. It also strengthens your body, especially your legs."

Liu Nan explained to Mandy and then stood up to demonstrate.

"Damien, come and collide with me, use your maximum strength."

"Is this okay?"

Damien was a bit hesitant. He wasn't like Mandy; his physical strength had already surpassed that of a special forces soldier. Looking at Liu Nan's slender body, Damien didn't want him to get hurt.

"Don't worry, I'm not as weak as you think."

"Alright, here I come."

Damien chose to trust Liu Nan because Liu Nan's martial arts skills had given him great confidence. He made a rugby tackle motion and charged at Liu Nan.

Mandy's eyes widened, eager to see what Liu Nan's stance was all about.

When Damien's strong body collided with Liu Nan, a shocking scene unfolded. Liu Nan's body was like a one-meter-thick concrete wall. When Damien's body hit it, he was bounced back and fell on his butt, while Liu Nan remained completely still. The stark contrast made Mandy doubt her eyes.

Damien, who was lying on the ground, had an even deeper experience. Although he slightly reduced his strength at the last moment, it was still enough to knock down a not-so-solid brick wall. When he made contact with Liu Nan, he felt as if he had hit a concrete pillar, the kind used to support sea bridges. The force that rebounded from Liu Nan's body was something he couldn't resist.

"How about that? Do you believe me now? That stance is the foundation of Chinese martial arts. There's another stance suitable for men, which makes your lower body even more stable and your legs stronger."

Liu Nan said while helping Damien up.

"Liu Nan, will you teach me?"

Mandy started to act cute, and her face, which fit Eastern beauty standards, made Liu Nan's heart flutter, but he quickly suppressed it. Mandy was still a child, and he couldn't be too evil.

"Sure, you practice this stance every day. When you can hold it for an hour, I'll teach you more."

Liu Nan wanted Mandy to build a solid foundation first, otherwise, she would still be learning just the basics.

With time still left, Liu Nan had Mandy practice the horse stance again, correcting her movements so she could practice on her own when he wasn't around.

When it was almost time for dinner, Liu Nan said goodbye to the father and daughter and went home. He always listened to Lina.

"Mandy, what do you think of Liu Nan?"

After Liu Nan left, Damien asked Mandy, who was still practicing the horse stance.

"I don't know. He doesn't seem like a bad person. He already told us his name, so we can check him out when we get back."

Mandy didn't care much. She had a special ability to sense whether someone was good or bad, which might be related to her training from a young age. When she was with Liu Nan, she felt he wasn't a bad person because she didn't dislike him.

"Right, that's true. Mandy, it's time to go home. How about we have Chinese food for dinner tonight?"

"Sure, but I also want a chocolate sundae."

"Great taste. Let's go then."

The father and daughter left, and the abandoned factory fell silent again.

...

"Mom, can we eat now? I'm starving. I feel like I could eat a whole cow."

Back home, Liu Nan said loudly.

"Hey, buddy, good food is worth waiting for. I heard you showed off your skills today? Was it for a girl? You know, I used to duel for girls back in my day."

John had already come home from work. He and Liu Nan were like friends, playing video games and basketball together, more like buddies than father and son.

"Of course not, but there was a bit of a reason. Those guys wanted to show off in front of a girl, but they picked the wrong person to impress. I just gave them a little lesson, didn't even use much force."

Liu Nan said proudly. John agreed with him. Over the years, he had noticed Liu Nan's differences. Through martial arts training, Liu Nan's strength had grown, and he was very handy with repairs, always getting the job done in one go.

"Alright, handsome guys, it's time to eat. Go wash your hands, and stop boasting about your past glories."

Lina brought the food to the table and told John and Liu Nan.

"OK, the queen has spoken. Let's go, buddy. Maybe I can teach you a few tricks about how to chase girls during dinner."

John patted Liu Nan's shoulder, pretending to be afraid of Lina.

Dinner was a special meal Lina prepared for Liu Nan's first day of high school, so it was very lavish, making John say he was jealous. Of course, everyone knew he was joking because he had eaten plenty of Lina's steaks.

"Liu Nan, you can get your driver's license next year. Have you thought about what kind of car you want? Do you prefer the speed and passion of a Lamborghini or Ferrari, or the muscle of a Dodge or Hummer? A car can really help in chasing girls."

During dinner, John shared his tips on how to chase girls. Liu Nan was fifteen, and he could get his license at sixteen. When John and Lina took Liu Nan in, they registered his birthday as Christmas.

"What do you think, Dad? There's an old saying in China, 'If you don't listen to the old, you'll suffer in the end.' It means that if you don't listen to experienced people, you'll regret it. I don't want to regret my first car."

Liu Nan put a piece of beef in his mouth. Lina's steaks were incredibly tender and flavorful, his favorite, and he could eat five or six pieces in one meal.

"Of course, a Dodge Challenger. That's the car a man should have. Compared to a Lamborghini or Ferrari, they're just for show. A Dodge is more suitable for you. What do you think, dear?"

"Baby should learn to drive safely first. I think a Lincoln or Buick would be a good choice."

Compared to style, Lina prioritized safety. She didn't want Liu Nan to get hurt at all.

"Oh, come on, dear. A Ford is for old people. It won't show off our baby's charm. Do you want your baby to be laughed at in school? Besides, with me around, Liu Nan will definitely learn to drive like a professional."

John was very firm about his opinion on cars. For men, a car is like a second wife.

"Maybe, baby, what do you think?"

Thinking about what was best for Liu Nan, Lina hesitated. She didn't want other kids to laugh at him, so she decided to respect his choice.

"Both are good, but Dad's suggestion really appeals to me. A man should show his muscles."

Liu Nan thought about it. If he drove a Lincoln or Buick, he would look too mature. A Dodge was more to his taste. Of course, Liu Nan really wanted Sam's used Chevrolet, so he could be friends with Bumblebee, but he wasn't adopted by the Witziks, so he didn't have the old glasses.

"That's my son. Your taste must be excellent. We'll go learn to drive this weekend, and I'll teach you."

Hearing Liu Nan follow his advice, John was very happy. His first car was a Dodge, and he hoped Liu Nan would make the same choice, making them closer as father and son.

Rich families are so simple. A car worth tens of thousands of dollars was decided over a meal. Tens of thousands of dollars is a significant amount in the U.S., but Sam only paid $4,000 for Bumblebee. America is a country on wheels; other things might be expensive, but cars are not. With low tariffs, buying a car is as easy as buying groceries. Even a restaurant server can easily buy a nearly new used car, and the vast rental market makes travel very convenient for Americans.

The Scott family's dinner table was always filled with laughter. Every meal was enjoyed. After dinner, Liu Nan and John helped Lina clear the table, and then it was time for their video game session. John had a young heart.

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