Those things that happened in those years

Chapter 5 Neither Will Give Way

Hong Liguo thought to himself: You're this kind of person, but nobody else is. If it really comes down to a fight, I, Hong Liguo, might not be afraid of you.

Hong Liguo has been a fan of martial arts novels since childhood. The works of masters such as Gu Long, Jin Yong, and Liang Yusheng are like brilliant stars that illuminated Hong Liguo's youth.

In that era of material scarcity, although books were not expensive, they were still a considerable expense for children from poor families like Hong Liguo and his companions.

To immerse themselves in the wondrous world of martial arts, Hong Liguo and Jun Ge often tightened their belts, saving every penny to buy those captivating martial arts novels. One would buy a copy, another would buy a copy, and then they would eagerly exchange them, passing the books, still smelling of ink, as if they were precious treasures being passed from hand to hand.

Later, book rental stalls appeared in the city, which was undoubtedly a boon to Hong Liguo and his companions. They would rent an entire set of novels at once, just to save those hard-earned few copper coins. Then, as if possessed, the group took turns reading day and night, immersed in the world of swords and chivalry, often forgetting the passage of time and the troubles of the real world.

Hong Liguo, Fa Zi, Jun Ge, Hong Bo, Yan Bin, and Jie, the six of them, read martial arts novels and practiced martial arts by imitating the plots in the novels. They practiced punching, kicking, and wielding spears and sticks. They were local tyrants in their village and their village primary school. They never hesitated to fight and were never afraid.

Just then, the skinny boy standing next to Sun Changlin floated over like a ghost.

He was about the same height as Hong Liguo, but significantly thinner, like a bamboo pole swaying in the wind. Through his thin clothes, Hong Liguo could see his well-developed muscles, clearly someone who practiced martial arts regularly. His complexion was slightly dark, his nose high and hooked; his eyes, though small, were clear and bright, gleaming with a cunning light, like cold stars twinkling in the night sky. He spoke in a slightly rough voice, "My name is Yi Jianping, and this is my older brother." As he spoke, he pointed at Sun Changlin with his thumb, a fawning smile on his face. "Anyone who dares to mess with him, I, Yi Jianping, will flatten them with one sword."

His words were full of arrogance and conceit, as if he really held a sharp sword in his hand that could cut down all the heroes in the world. In reality, in Hong Liguo's eyes, he was nothing more than a clown who was just a fox borrowing the tiger's power.

Hong Liguo sneered inwardly: With your skinny, monkey-like appearance, you dare to swagger in front of me? How utterly ridiculous! Don't be fooled by your muscular physique; if you really piss me off, I'm not some pushover to be easily manipulated!

Immediately afterward, another short, stout man with a large belly walked over with heavy steps next to Sun Changlin.

He resembled a large sack overflowing with goods, his round, chubby figure almost comical; his protruding belly, like that of a woman about to give birth, bulged high in front of him; the flesh on his face was piled up, his eyes squeezed into narrow slits, yet the fierce gaze emanating from them commanded respect. In that era of scarcity, to have gained such a physique was truly remarkable, something no ordinary family could achieve.

He said in a muffled voice, "My name is Liu Lianbo, and this is my older brother." As he spoke, he also pointed at Sun Changlin with his thumb.

His words were brief and forceful, each one seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying a strong sense of gunpowder. Although he didn't speak much, the ruthlessness emanating from his face and eyes was like an invisible aura that permeated the surrounding air, making people feel suffocated.

Hong Liguo knew in his heart that these people were no pushovers; they were like a pack of hungry wolves lurking in the darkness, ready to pounce and hurt people at any moment.

Although Hong Liguo and his brothers often imitated scenes from martial arts novels, frequently picking fights and getting themselves into trouble, they were somewhat well-known in their elementary school circle and were considered to have some backbone and courage. However, facing these three menacing-looking figures, Hong Liguo knew that acting impulsively would inevitably cause a huge uproar with unimaginable consequences. Therefore, after weighing the pros and cons, Hong Liguo decided that it was better to avoid trouble and remain patient for the time being. After all, the rural middle school was a new environment for them, and they were not yet familiar with it, nor with these people or their backgrounds.

At this moment, Jun Ge leaned closer to Hong Liguo, his warm breath brushing against Hong Liguo's ear. He lowered his voice, but couldn't hide the anger and resentment in his tone, whispering, "Damn, add one more shrew and we'll have the Four Evils. Little Guo, shall we take them on? I, Zhao Zilong, the ever-victorious general of Changshan, have never been afraid of anyone." Although his voice wasn't loud, to Hong Liguo it was like a resounding war drum, thundering in his heart, instantly igniting the long-suppressed anger within him.

However, before Hong Liguo could respond, Sun Changlin's keen ears seemed to have caught Jun Ge's whisper. Like an enraged bull, he took a sudden step forward, his massive body instantly blocking the sunlight from Hong Liguo's eyes and casting a huge shadow.

He glared at Jun Ge with wide eyes and roared, "What? You're not convinced? Then come and have a go!"

The sound was deafening, like a bolt from the blue, instantly shattering the relatively peaceful atmosphere on the playground. Students around looked on in terror, and the previously noisy crowd fell silent, the air thick with a suffocating tension. Fearing a potential conflict, the onlookers quickly retreated.

Upon hearing Sun Changlin's provocation, Jun Ge, Yan Bin, and Hong Bo, like dragons whose scales had been touched, each took a step forward without hesitation.

They were agile and had firm eyes, like warriors about to go to the battlefield, fearlessly facing the challenges ahead.

Fa Zi, however, was clearly hesitant. His eyes revealed a hint of worry and unease, indicating that he did not want to escalate the situation.

Fa Zi turned his head and looked at Hong Liguo with pleading eyes, as if to say, "Xiao Guo, these guys are not easy to deal with. What should we do? You should make a decision quickly."

Due to family circumstances, Jay was timid and often bullied. At this moment, he was so frightened that his face turned as pale as paper, and his trembling legs seemed to tell of the fear deep in his heart.

Seeing this, Yi Jianping and Liu Lianbo could no longer contain their excitement. Like two enraged fighting roosters, they rolled up their sleeves, rubbed their fists together, and prepared to fight.

Their faces wore ferocious smiles, a mixture of anticipation and excitement for the impending violent conflict, as if they were about to prove their "bravery and fearlessness" in this struggle.

A major battle is about to break out.