Step by step, a gentle breeze leads to a smooth path

"Tingnan, your basic skills are very good. Keep it up for an hour every day, and don't slack off on your lunge and horse stances." Gao Haoran instructed at the end of the day's training.

“Yes, Master!” Song Tingnan nodded.

“Ting Nan, Chinese martial arts are like a vast ocean, unfathomable. There are countless schools and styles, and we can only learn a tiny fraction of it by exhausting our entire lives. Therefore, we must practice diligently day after day for ten years.” Gao Haoran looked at Ting Nan, who seemed a bit down today, and couldn’t help but say a few more words.

Gao Haoran couldn't bear to talk about Tingnan; she was so sensible that it broke his heart.

"I understand, Master!" Ting Nan raised her head and straightened her chest.

“Okay, Tingnan, you can tell your master if you have any troubles.” Gao Haoran looked into Tingnan’s eyes.

Ting Nan lowered her head and thought for a moment: "Master, do you think I am a heartless and ungrateful person?"

"Why do you say that? You're very good! Song Tingnan, don't underestimate yourself. I also trust my judgment; I won't misjudge you. You're very good!" Gao Haoran said seriously.

"Master, you know my family's situation, right? Should I call him Dad?"

“If you respect him, you don’t have to call him that,” Gao Haoran said, knowing her family situation. The reason she didn’t change her address was because the child was loyal and remembered her father, whose life had been tragic. He gave a direct answer.

“But people say I have no conscience,” Ting Nan said, choking back tears.

“Listen to him, follow his arrangements to take care of your younger brother, do housework, go to work, run errands…” Gao Haoran paused for a moment: “Do what you can do, and even what you can’t do, force yourself to do it. And if he hits or scolds you, don’t run away or fight back. Just respect him, what you call him doesn’t matter.”

"But... Master, but Mom doesn't want me anymore. She raises me and provides for my food and clothing, but I still want to learn to swim, learn kung fu, and go to school... I'm not satisfied." Ting Nan became embarrassed as she spoke.

“Child, this isn’t called being ungrateful, it’s called being ambitious! Learning to swim, learning kung fu, going to school are all things you want to do to become better, and these are things that elders should support.” Gao Haoran hadn’t expected Ting Nan to be carrying these burdens in her heart.

It's heartbreaking to see such a sensible and ambitious child being so self-critical.

Gao Haoran is all alone, over fifty years old, and when he met such a lovely girl, he really just wanted to give her the best.

"Tingnan, should I talk to your uncle about going to school?" Gao Haoran was getting a little anxious because the new semester was about to start.

“No need, Master. Your support and confirmation that this is correct give me the confidence to talk to my uncle.” Song Tingnan straightened his back again.

"Tingnan, I'm so glad you fought for yourself and took responsibility for your life. You're eight years old now, it's time for you to go to school," Gao Haoran continued to encourage Tingnan.

"Yes, thank you, Master. I'll talk to my uncle when I get back today."

"Okay, if anything happens in the future, be sure to tell me. Don't keep it to yourself," Gao Haoran reminded him again.

"I understand, Master. You are the best master in the world." Ting Nan was completely revitalized and regained her liveliness.

Now that they were chatting, Gao Haoran asked the question that had been on his mind: "Tingnan, do you hate your mother? She sent you to your maternal grandmother's house when you were so young."

Song Tingnan thought for a moment. She didn't want to reopen her wounds and expose them to the sunlight again and again, but this was her master, so it was alright.

She thought about it for a moment: when she was being beaten or wronged, she missed her mother, but she also hated her mother. She was so heartless, never coming to see her.

“At first I hated her. But, Master, what’s the use of hating her? She won’t appear when I need her or miss her.” Nan said calmly, “Later, I figured it out myself. It’s already good enough that she was able to give birth to me into this world. Isn’t the rest my own destiny? I just need to do my best.”

Gao Haoran got the answer, but felt very uncomfortable. How disappointed must a child be to try so hard to convince himself?