Zhou Fu and Shen Shen's journey to the first island took about two weeks. On the 14th day, finally they arrived at a small land called Jidong Island. Zhou Fu and Shen Shen arrived on the island at the perfect time. If their sea voyage had taken any longer, Shen Shen would be fainted from thirst and hunger. Their food supplies had run out three days earlier and it was the 4th day they did not eat or drink. Zhou Fu's body was still strong enough to not eat for many days, but not Shen Shen's. The woman was already whining and raving because she couldn't beer at her stomach hurting from hunger. And that day, the day they arrived at Jidong Island, Shen Shen just kept his mouth shut because she didn't have the energy to complain or grumble.
First of all, they arrived at Dozhu, a village located on the outskirts of Jidong island. The village seems to be very busy and densely populated judging by the fairly large village entrance gate building. In some areas, as Shen Shen learns in history books, identity checks are enforced when entering a certain place. Luckily, Dozhu village did not enforce this rule so that Zhou Fu and Shen Shen could easily enter the village.
“Fu'er, I'm not used to begging, you can do it for me right?” Shen Shen pleaded as she tugged on Zhou Fu's shoulder, “After all, your clothes are more suitable for being a beggar."
"I don’t want to! I'd rather be a coolie than beg!" Zhou Fu walked ahead of Shen Shen.
Bruuuuggg….
A burly man who was drunk suddenly bumped into Zhou Fu's body while he walked fast. Even though he was bigger and sturdier than Zhou Fu, it was the drunkard who fell to the ground when he collided with Zhou Fu.
“You pushed me, bastard! Feel this!" The drunkard got up and prepared to charge at Zhou Fu with his stout fists.
The villagers who accidentally saw the incident, shouted in unison, “Beggar boy!!! Run as hard as you can! He is a member of the dangerous Taoqi gang!” Some people choose to turn a blind eye because they know how strong the drunk's punch is.
Wushhh... Wushhh... Wuushhh...
Zhou Fu was able to dodge the drunkard's blows many times. Zhou Fu didn't even move his feet an inch while the drunkard seemed to be so overwhelmed with his fists here and there but his fists always missed.
“Damn it! I drank too much that's why my fists kept missing. Wait until I show you my real moves!” The drunkard took a stance; he took a few steps back and prepared to cast a move.
Zhou Fu lowered his head to pick up something on the ground. Zhou Fu picked up a pebble, from the few pebbles he saw, he deliberately chose the smallest one. He played with the pebble in his hand while his eyes were still watching the enemy's movements.
“That kid seems pretty decent too,” a resident whispered to his partner.
"Yes, this is the first time I have seen a boy who is not afraid to see Tang Quwo's burly body."
“Heyyyyyyyyy!!!!!” The drunkard named Tang Quwo shot his body towards Zhou Fu at a speed faster than throwing a bow. His body darted forward suddenly reversed direction, Tang Quwo shot backwards with his two feet rubbing against the ground causing dust to fly. He was confused to find his body pushed back by a pebble that was even smaller than the nose.
Not only Tang Quwo, the residents who saw were also confused and had thought that Tang Quwo's stance was issuing a new move.
"That's not a new move! He must have been defeated by that brat!” someone said after seeing the look on Tang Quwo's face that was getting more and more shriveled as his stride wasn't over yet.
Braaaaakk!!!
Tang Quwo ended up crashing into the meat cart belonging to a minced meat seller. Tang Quwo gasped for breath. His legs trembled between being tired of resisting the thrust of Zhou Fu's pebbles and also being afraid that Zhou Fu might counterattack. Tang Quwo just realized that he chose the wrong opponent.
Zhou Fu smiled slightly. Finally he was able to measure the strength of the enemy. For a moment he wanted to praise his grandfather for giving him a lot of practice and knowledge.
“Fu'er! That’s enough! I told you not to be flashy!” Shen Shen approached and whispered to Zhou Fu.
"Striking you say? I'm even sitting here not shifting a foot! What do you mean by flashy? You are such as a weird girl!”
Shen Shen pinched Zhou Fu's ear while dragging him away from the crowd. Zhou Fu groaned but that didn't make Shen Shen let go of his grip. Along the way while holding Zhou Fu, Shen Shen did not stop bowing and apologizing to everyone.
“Sorry… I'm sorry… I'm sorry my little brother is a bit naughty…”
***
The sun was shining very brightly, Shen Shen and Zhou Fu sat leaning against an inn building to shelter from the scorching heat of the afternoon sun. Shen Shen who had been silent because of weakness and hunger, now grumbled without being asked.
“Strong but poor, huh what's in it! Humans need money to eat and live well! What good is it to have strength but to be poor?”
Zhou Fu's ears had heard those words at least ten or eleven times. Tired of hearing the scolding, Zhou Fu turned around and seemed to have walked into the inn. Shen Shen was getting more and more annoyed at being left without permission.
"Huh, he wants to be a maid over there?!" Shen Shen grumbled.
Zhou Fu entered the inn and wanted to find someone to ask for help. Without shouting a call, an old man came rushing over to him, “Young master… Young master must be really tired. Come on, let me help you find a suitable room for the young master. You're here to rest aren't you?” The man gestured for Zhou Fu to follow him.
“Ehm… But… But I don't have any money,” Zhou Fu scratched his head because he actually entered the inn to offer manpower in exchange for wages.
“Oh, of course young master has no money. Surely the young master has traveled quite a distance. Uh, what's the meaning of money," the man smiled very kindly. Of course he welcomed Zhou Fu with excessive hospitality because he would indeed benefit if Zhou Fu stayed there for a while.
The old man's inn is often visited by gangs of bandits who demand money by force. Having Zhou Fu there would certainly benefit him. He accidentally became one of the witnesses to Zhou Fu's performance with Tang Quwo. And the show at least has spread very quickly.
Zhou Fu also walked after the old geezer. The grandfather chose a room that was spacious enough for him.
“Oh yes, young master please clean up. We will prepare clothes and food for young master, please wait." The old man bowed and ushered Zhou Fu into the room.
Zhou Fu felt that he was being swarmed over by luck; he seemed to forget that Shen Shen was hot outside.
