Martial Arts Across the Heavens: Becoming a Martial God Starting from the Big Boss in Tangshan

Chen Wen had long understood that opening a free clinic was taking away other people's livelihoods.

So compensation was prepared long ago.

He hates foreign dogs and mites, but he would never harm ordinary people because of them.

Therefore, some concessions were made on purpose.

"What do you mean, no? In the first few days, several groups of people came, making roundabout and sarcastic remarks."

"It's very simple. I made a deal with them, and from now on, the pharmaceutical factory will source all its raw materials from them."

"If there's money to be made, who would want to offend a major client for no reason?"

"Now, instead of causing trouble, they are all trying to get close to me, asking what medicinal herbs I need, as if they are afraid that I will buy too much from one store and too little from another."

Huang Feihong never expected that Chen Wen would resolve the conflict in this way, and even turn a potential opponent into a collaborator.

This is indeed a very good method.

"However," Chen Wen said seriously, "the key is the effectiveness of the medicine. Once the first batch of finished medicine is produced, I will first put it on trial and promotion at 'Yiwen Medical Clinic' and 'Baozhilin'."

"Master Huang, we're counting on you to oversee this. If the medicine is truly safe and effective, we hope you'll recommend it."

Huang Feihong's expression also became serious, and he nodded, saying:

"Brother Chen, rest assured, a doctor's heart is like a parent's. Your medicine is truly inexpensive and effective, benefiting the people. I, Huang, will certainly do my best to assist you."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Chen Wen nodded, said no more, and turned to the gathered workers, speaking loudly:

"Brothers, enough talk, let's get to work!"

The workers, who were already prepared, responded enthusiastically and took their positions according to the pre-arranged simple division of labor.

Lin Shirong shouted orders to maintain order and to assign manpower.

Soon, the steam engines in the factory began to move rhythmically, emitting a deep and powerful clanging sound.

Oh oh oh!

A burst of scorching steam erupted, and the steam engine emitted a loud sound.

"Is this a steam engine?"

This was the first time Huang Feihong had seen a real object in operation so close up, and he couldn't help but take a few steps closer, his face filled with amazement.

The iron wheel spun rapidly, and the connecting rod moved back and forth.

Although the specific principles are unknown, the sense of power that comes purely from machinery, regular and strong, is something that is difficult for humans to match.

Aunt Thirteen explained as she stood beside him:

"Feihong, this is a steam engine. Foreigners use it to manufacture all sorts of things, and it can even power trains and ships. It's incredibly powerful!"

Huang Feihong only vaguely understood what he was hearing, but the fact that the steam from boiling water could have such power still seemed incredible to him.

"The water boiled... and steam? Is that all it takes to make such a heavy iron wheel turn by itself? And power a machine?"

Chen Wen walked over and interjected:

"Master Huang, you can understand it that way."

"The essence of the steam engine is to 'liberate manpower,' or rather, to 'leverage resources.' What used to require dozens of strong men and many days to grind medicine powder or transport goods can now be completed in a day with just one or two people operating this machine, and it is more even and less strenuous."

"It partially frees us from a lot of repetitive, arduous, and inefficient physical labor, allowing us to have the energy to do things that require more wisdom and skill."

"Liberate manpower... leverage resources..." Huang Feihong murmured repeatedly.

Watching the tirelessly spinning flywheel and the regularly moving connecting rods, the surprise in my eyes was gradually replaced by a deeper sense of awe.

He is neither stupid nor truly conservative or outdated.

Although Chen Wen's words were simple, they pointed to a level that he had never thought about in depth.

Tools and efficiency.

If... if this power could truly be widely applied...

Not only him, but also many members of the militia around him who were listening intently, as well as Liang Kuan and others, all showed expressions of shock and contemplation.

Most of them make a living through physical labor, and they understand best the limitations of human strength.

One machine can replace dozens of people?

This is simply a myth!

But the sight of that iron contraption actually running before their eyes told them that this was no myth.

At this time.

Yan Zhendong looked at the steam engine in front of him and recalled something.

"Boss Chen, that day at the teahouse, the foreign steamships were honking their horns, the sound so sharp and piercing that it drowned out the monks chanting sutras and the pipa being played. You said... that was the 'sound of progress'."

"Could it be... that this thing that boils water and produces steam is also 'progress'?"

His question was very direct, even somewhat questioning, and it represented the most basic resistance in the hearts of many conservatives present.

These things are noisy and strange, creating a chaotic mess. How can they be considered progress?

Chen Wen looked at Yan Zhendong, and instead of being annoyed, he smiled and nodded, saying:

"Yes, that's part of the progress."

"The steamships and trains of foreigners, including many of the machines that will be used in our factory in the future, are all powered by steam engines or their improved versions."

"They are all connected."

He paused, looking at the still bewildered faces of the crowd.

Suddenly, a more colloquial, even slightly joking, way of putting it was used:

"We have a joke where I'm from that area that says the history of human civilization essentially boils down to two things!"

"Boiling water and throwing stones."

The group looked at each other, completely baffled.

"what?"

"Boiling water? Throwing stones?"

"What... what kind of development is this?"

Even Wong Fei-hung and Aunt Thirteen looked puzzled; the metaphor was too bizarre.

Chen Wen knew they wouldn't understand, so he continued to explain:

"Boiling water represents a way of obtaining energy."

"From drilling wood to make fire, to burning firewood to cook rice, and then to burning coal and oil to drive steam engines and internal combustion engines, they are all essentially using some kind of method to boil water."

"The more vigorously it burns, the higher the conversion efficiency, and the greater the power we can obtain."

"Throwing stones represents a way of using energy to do work."

"The earliest method was to throw stones to hunt. Later, bows and arrows and catapults were invented, followed by guns, cannons, and rockets... Essentially, they all involve concentrating energy and throwing it in some way to strike a target or propel an object forward."

"The more accurate and farther we throw, the greater the power, and the more we can do."

After this explanation, most people were even more confused.

Energy? Work? These concepts were too foreign to them.

Seeing this, Chen Wen shook his head helplessly, knowing that theoretical explanations wouldn't work.

His gaze swept over Huang Feihong and Yan Zhendong, as well as the militia members, most of whom were skilled in martial arts, and suddenly an idea struck him.

"Let me use our martial arts training as an example, and you'll understand."

Upon hearing about martial arts practice, everyone immediately perked up.

This is something they are familiar with.

"When we practice martial arts, we train our muscles, bones, and skin externally, and cultivate our inner energy!"

"If we gain this strength, won't we become even stronger?"

"The 'steam' produced by a steam engine boiling water is the 'qi' used in martial arts training."

This is the basic concept of internal martial arts.

Upon hearing this analogy, Huang Feihong and Yan Zhendong's eyes lit up instantly!

Yan Zhendong even subconsciously touched his dantian area.

Yup!

Steam is "qi" and internal energy is also "qi"!

"What about throwing stones?" Wong Fei-hung asked impatiently, as if he had grasped something crucial.

"Throwing stones is how we punch and generate power!"

Chen Wen threw a punch, which stopped in mid-air.

"With the same force, is the effect the same whether you throw a straight punch or a powerful punch like a collapsing fist, a cannon punch, or a penetrating punch?"

"Of course they're different!" Lin Shirong quickly replied, "The energy pathways are different, the power is worlds apart!"

"That's right!" Chen Wen withdrew his fist.

"The piston, connecting rod, flywheel, gears... this entire transmission system of the steam engine is the way to transform the 'internal force' of steam into the concrete 'power' we need!"

"Whether you want the wheel to turn, the hammer to smash, or the boat to move forward, it all depends on the different 'moves'."

"That is, different machine designs to achieve this!"

"The more ingenious the move, the higher the conversion efficiency, and the more powerful and effective that 'punch' will be!"

"Brilliant!" Wong Fei-hung slapped his thigh, his face showing an excited look of sudden realization. "I understand! Brother Chen's analogy is truly ingenious!"

He paced back and forth a couple of times, trying to organize his thoughts and summarize his understanding:

"We practice martial arts to make our bodies stronger and our internal energy more abundant through various methods, and then effectively project that power through different fist techniques and force exertion techniques!"

His eyes grew brighter as he spoke.

Looking at the roaring steam engine, their eyes were no longer filled with simple surprise or rejection, but with a completely new understanding:

"So, the Westerners' 'development' was simply finding new and more powerful methods for 'boiling water' and 'throwing stones'!"

"That's why we were able to build such powerful guns and cannons, such large ships, and ships that could run so fast!"