The Self-Cultivation of a Reborn Massage Therapist

Chapter 14 Dark Circles

Society doesn't teach a woman to be a good woman.

Snobbishness, materialism, and a competitive spirit... that's just the way things are in this environment.

…………

After buying breakfast, Zhao Xiaochui ate five large meat buns and put the rest on the bedside table for Liu Li to eat when she woke up.

He ran a warm current over the woman's delicate body on the bed, familiarized himself with his golden fingers, and helped to unblock some of her stiff meridians. Then, Zhao Xiaochui set off with a crossbody bag full of massage supplies on his back.

During the morning rush hour, the No. 41 bus is mostly used by students. Young and strong Zhao Xiaochui managed to snag a single seat from a group of energetic junior high school students, but unfortunately, he gave it up to an elderly man who was going out to buy groceries after just one stop.

Although he didn't receive any thanks, Zhao Xiaochui was in a good mood.

Along the way, he secretly stared at the two girls until he saw them wearing school uniforms in front of Jinsong Station, covering their shiny and fashionable tops. Only then did he realize that the girls, who were dressed more maturely than the girls in KTVs, were two junior high school students.

These are students from an ordinary middle school in Beijing. If they want a better environment, they'll have to live in a school district.

Among Zhao Xiaochui's regular customers, at least two middle-aged women were relocated from the Zhongguancun No. 3 Primary School district to Cuicheng Xinyuan.

When this topic comes up, everyone is heartbroken.

Compared to the 30,000 yuan per square meter price of Cuicheng Xinyuan in Fatou, which is 200,000 yuan per square meter for Zhongguancun No. 3 Primary School, even Zhao Xiaochui would be filled with regret.

Zhao Xiaochui once secretly calculated that even if he slept with every woman in the entire Fatou area for 60 yuan, he might not be able to buy a toilet.

The demolition happened twenty years ago. Ordinary people, lacking vision and foresight, could only sigh and regret.

…………

The training base is not far from the Temple of Heaven. After getting off the bus at the west side of the Beijing Stadium, Zhao Xiaochui looked at the bustling tour groups at the east gate of the Temple of Heaven and secretly decided that if he had time after finishing his work, he would buy a ticket and go in to take a look.

He hasn't been to any of the tourist attractions in Beijing.

He has some money now; his account balance is 14908.8.

Last month's salary arrived, and Zhao Xiaochui received a little over 5,000 yuan. It seems the chubby receptionist increased the commission, which should be 50%, the highest standard in Zhenqingsong Chain.

As he entered the training base, no one stared at him with strange looks because he was wearing the Beijing team uniform.

It was better that no one was paying attention. Zhao Xiaochui, who was doing odd jobs, sat in a corner outside the training field, ignoring the health care worker Dong and a few colleagues who were pointing at him and whispering. He took out "Pediatric Massage" from his bag.

As the heat flow started, Zhao Xiaochui carefully felt its movement within his body. When it reached his neck, a thought crossed his mind.

It really did go through Zhao Xiaochui's thoughts in his mind.

Zhao Xiaochui ignored the rest and instead opened the book to read it carefully.

The brain, nurtured by the heat, was clearer and more focused than ever before. Each acupoint, technique, and TCM diagnostic logic seemed to be engraved in his mind after he had seen it. Zhao Xiaochui would look at it once and then go through it in his mind again, and that knowledge became his own.

Zhao Xiaochui opened his mouth wide with joy and laughed silently.

On the training field, the chubby girl Li Ying completed 5 sets of knee grabs.

After checking the condition of his knees and glancing in Zhao Xiaochui's direction, he nodded to the coach.

"Wide pull, 5 sets, this time increasing by ** kilograms."

This wasn't just Li Ying's private training ground; athletes from other venues looked over in surprise upon hearing this.

Is it really okay to take so much more medicine at once, especially when you're injured and right before a competition?
While the equipment was being changed, Dr. Dong and his medical team came up and quickly checked Li Ying's knee condition.

"How are you?" Doctor Dong's concern was genuine; he didn't seem to care about Li Ying's reprimand from yesterday.

He's not stupid. As a member of the team, the better Li Ying performs, the more he benefits from it.

"My muscles are a bit tight."

Upon hearing this, Dr. Dong immediately began to perform relaxation techniques on Li Ying.

"How's he doing?" Li Ying asked, looking at Zhao Xiaochui who was engrossed in his book.

"That kid doesn't know many techniques. He's only mastered less than half of the one-finger push technique, and only with one hand. I observed him at that massage parlor for a long time, and he hadn't used any other techniques."

While giving the massage, Dr. Dong replied, "He does have real skills. Considering the time it took him to recover from sweating on his hands yesterday, I suggest that when using him on the field, you must take this into account."

At this point, Doctor Dong lowered his head and softened his voice, "I asked my senior brother about this kid's situation."

Doctor Dong was not formally trained; his skills were inherited from a particular school of thought. His senior brother was the fifth-generation successor of the One-Finger Zen Pushing Technique, a fact that Li Ying was naturally aware of.
"What did he say?" Doctor Dong said, "It's common for some people to suddenly increase their power in a short period of time due to their talent, but they will then have to remain dormant for a long time afterward."

Li Ying asked curiously, "What is skill? Internal energy?"

This layman's question made Doctor Dong pause for a moment, and then he explained seriously: "You can think of it as doing something to the extreme. He practiced the Six Healing Sounds to improve this point. Through specific breathing control, mental guidance and physical coordination training, he made the technique have the characteristics of 'penetrating deeply, stable force and strong heat sensation'. Its essence is the practice of the theory of unity of form and spirit in traditional Chinese medicine in massage."

This is the most detailed explanation of traditional Chinese medicine internal massage, and also an affirmation of Zhao Xiaochui's talent.

Li Ying nodded as if she understood, and carefully examined the young man in the corner, suddenly noticing the dark circles under his eyes.

"He hasn't fully recovered yet."

“This is normal,” Dr. Dong nodded. “He’s only 19 years old. It would be abnormal if he fully recovered the next day after using the full treatment.”

Everyone could see how Zhao Xiaochui looked yesterday; he looked like he had just come out of a steamer, completely soaked.

"Master Dong, after all your explanations, can you be sure that his technique can achieve the therapeutic effect?"

Upon hearing this, Doctor Dong nodded helplessly, his face filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.

"It all depends on how you use it. If you use it now, the performance in the competition cannot be guaranteed; if you use it during the competition, the training effect cannot be guaranteed."

This was the conclusion he drew from his observations over the past two days. He felt that this kid was a double-edged sword, neither good nor bad.

Li Ying remained noncommittal and continued, "Have the results of Professor Du's scans come out yet?"

Doctor Dong took out his phone, glanced at it, and nodded with a complicated expression.

"How about it?"

"Slight improvement, and Professor Du suggested that this is the last X-ray before the competition."

“I understand,” the chubby girl said, biting her lip, a gesture that added a touch of sexiness to her round and charming face. “I think it’s safer to have him receive treatment before the competition.”

“He won’t do his best,” Doctor Dong said decisively, clearly seeing through the 19-year-old’s thoughts. “He’s short of money, and even more so, he’s short of fame. The national competition is being broadcast live, so it’s not just you competing, he’s competing too.”

What are they competing against? Of course, they're competing in terms of skills with the massage therapists from other athletes' teams, and then they're hoping to find an opportunity through a national live broadcast—what if a master actually notices him while watching TV?

Doctor Dong wondered if he would have gone all out in that situation. The answer is no!
Don't be fooled by his scientific explanation of "internal strength," which makes it seem like anyone can achieve it with effort. He's 40 years old and hasn't even scratched the surface!
Even if he's mastered the basics, he won't use it recklessly. Why? Haven't you seen how that kid looks after each use?
If this thing could be used so easily, it wouldn't be so hard for ordinary people to find real experts.

"I'll give it a try~" Li Ying's eyes sparkled; she didn't believe in superstitions and spoke with great confidence.

Isn't it just about getting a man to devote himself entirely to you?
…………

In the corner, Zhao Xiaochui, who was reading a book, didn't care what those people were researching.

At first, he did have some of the ideas that Dr. Dong had guessed, but he vaguely felt that the fat receptionist's suggestion was better.

Instead of pinning your hopes on one person, why not develop on a platform?

Zhao Xiaochui didn't get a chance to use his hands until the end of training. After the team doctor checked Li Ying, she was in good condition. However, for some reason, Li Ying still took off the protective gear on her right leg and let the young man check it.

"How does it feel?"

Why does that tone sound a little... seductive?

Zhao Xiaochui trembled and nodded repeatedly: "That's good."

"See you tomorrow then?"

"See you tomorrow." Zhao Xiaochui fled in panic.

A woman with such looks, figure, and a distinguished family background is irresistible to a young man like him who is just starting out in his career.

In the base's restroom, Zhao Xiaochui, washing his face to cool down, inadvertently glanced at the mirror.

I have dark circles under my eyes.

He thought about it and concluded that it must have been caused by his morning exercise with Liu Li.

He smeared his eyes with his right thumb and then strode away.

On the face,

The dark circles under my eyes have completely disappeared.

(End of this chapter)