Chapter Twenty-Eight: Rules

The rule states that the last opponent for someone challenging the local martial arts community must be the most esteemed or skilled martial artist in the area. This serves two purposes: first, it shows respect to the local strongman and emphasizes their status; second, it is also for the sake of that strongman's reputation.

After all, he is the top martial artist in the area, and if he were to be defeated by an outsider right at the start, it would be a blow to the local martial arts community's pride. Thus, the final match is where the most rules are observed. During the sparring, all protocols must follow the elder's arrangements.

The timing and location of the sparring, as well as the rules and events of the competition, are all decided by the elder. Generally, spectators are not allowed during the sparring, but some respected elders might invite other martial artists to witness the challenge against a newcomer, especially if they want to establish the newcomer's reputation. However, this is typically done by those who are very confident in their own abilities.

In reality, being able to spar with the most reputable and powerful local figure signifies that the newcomer has already gained the recognition of everyone and can open a martial arts school locally. The subsequent sparring matches are meant to temper the newcomer's temperament.

Opening a martial arts school in another area usually indicates a high level of self-confidence. Since everyone involved practices martial arts, some may have strong personalities. Such individuals can easily develop an arrogant attitude. The intention behind the numerous sparring sessions is not to reprimand them or seek revenge, but rather to make them understand that there are always others who are stronger and more skilled. Through these sparring matches, the newcomer will inevitably observe the remarkable qualities of local martial arts. Even if they manage to maintain a winning streak, they will still come to appreciate the strengths and intricacies of other martial arts schools. This will benefit their future development and growth.

Thus, these sparring matches are not solely intended to suppress newcomers; they also allow more martial artists to experience the diverse skills of different schools, which is an effective method for the sustainable development of the martial arts community.

However, this rule is actually an unwritten convention, without any laws or regulations to enforce it. In the past, it was passed down through oral tradition by masters, and adherence relied on the conscientiousness of each martial artist. Initially, those who did not follow the rules faced joint suppression and resistance from various schools. In earlier times, failing to comply with the rules made it impossible to establish oneself in the martial arts community, let alone open a school. One could even be expelled from their sect and have their martial arts abilities abolished.

In the current society, not only are there far fewer people opening martial arts schools compared to before, but even these rules have gradually faded from memory over time, some even disappearing entirely. This may be an inevitable trend in the continuous progress and development of human society, but for Chen Hao and his father, Chen Ding'an, the cultural traditions of the older generation still hold unique and valuable aspects.

At the very least, the principles of respecting teachers, adhering to rules, and upholding virtues such as kindness, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness are well reflected in the practice of opening martial arts schools. Not only in this particular scenario, but in many aspects, the traditions and excellent conventions left by the older generation are slowly disappearing.

One simple example from Chen Hao's own life occurred in his work department, where some negative traditions or behaviors were observed in the technical department of the Illusion Company.

About two years ago, shortly after Chen Hao joined the Illusion Company, a new department head was parachuted into the department. It was said that he was the child of a high-ranking executive within the company, freshly graduated from a prestigious university abroad. He had an impressive array of titles, and if brought out, they could crush someone. He was the elite among elites—highly intelligent, highly educated, and exceptionally wealthy.

Upon arriving at the technical department, his first act was to convene a meeting with everyone, primarily to familiarize himself with the previous tasks managed by the department. What he termed a discussion was, in fact, a personal lecture. He reprimanded everyone present one by one, while the others listened in silence.

From his demeanor, it seemed he had reviewed all previous records of departmental work and identified several shortcomings. He then proceeded to call out individuals by name, using elaborate language to belittle them. This included the former department head. His insults were harsh and unrelenting.

At that moment, nearly everyone felt anger but dared not voice it, as his criticisms were nitpicking, essentially finding faults in minor discrepancies in data handling that hardly qualified as mistakes. Yet, the new leader showed no mercy, publicly humiliating everyone present. The former department head, who was nearing retirement, had to endure being scolded by someone young enough to be his son and lacking any real work experience.

However, the former head did not retaliate; he merely lowered his head and accepted it. Perhaps he recognized the young man's significant background and, nearing retirement, chose not to create further trouble for himself or the others.

Seeing the former head remain silent, the other employees naturally followed suit, feeling as if they had just swallowed a fly. However, Chen Hao could not stand by any longer. He didn’t care about the young man's prestigious connections; he felt his own status was not inferior. Not only was the young man's language inappropriate, but it was also unjustifiable. Therefore, Chen Hao boldly confronted him.

He meticulously recorded everything the young man said, and based on those words, he began to counter each point, leaving the young man speechless and eventually shouting, “How dare you speak to me like that! Do you know who I am? Do you know my status?”

Chen Hao scoffed at him and replied, “Hmph! You’re just a spoiled brat riding on your father’s coattails, lacking any work experience and understanding of how to conduct oneself. Let’s not even get into the content of your insults, which are utterly unfounded. Even if they were justified, you should never speak like that in public. All those years of education seem wasted on you.

I understand you’ve watched too many dramas and think you can make a grand entrance with a show of authority, but you’ve picked the wrong time and audience. Even though you hold the highest position in our department, you’re merely a supervisor with no qualifications, no experience, and no contributions to our team.

You think you can come in and attack everyone? Who do you think you are? In any workplace, seniority matters. Even if you have a high position, you should maintain a humble attitude when dealing with your elders. If an elder makes a mistake, you should address it privately; whether it’s scolding or physical reprimanding, that should remain between the two of you. This way, you won’t embarrass them or put them in a difficult position in front of others. To put it bluntly, one should leave room for others; you never know when you’ll need to meet again.

Right now, you’re just going around hurling insults without a care. Don’t you worry about your future work?”

The young man was taken aback by Chen Hao’s words. Clearly, he was inexperienced; Chen Hao was right. He had not anticipated that someone would dare to confront him directly, despite his background and reputation. So, when Chen Hao asked him a question, he instinctively responded, “Why should I worry?”

Chen Hao sighed, shaking his head, “Ah... you truly are naive. After today, everyone in the department will likely despise you. You’re just a new supervisor with a name but no real authority. You know nothing about the processes, technology, or management in real work situations.

If... let’s say if, in the future you assign any tasks and the rest of us decide to unite against you or undermine your authority, what will you do? Understand that if the higher-ups come down on you, it will be you, the department head, who faces the consequences. They won’t care about how the others behave; even if we rebel or go on strike, that will merely reflect your inadequacy as a leader, perhaps even your incompetence.

We might face penalties or even dismissal, but you won’t escape unscathed either. The higher-ups don’t care about the little people; they only care about the one in charge!”

At that moment, the only person daring to laugh was Gu Mengyan. Although Chen Hao’s confrontation felt satisfying, they still refrained from laughing out loud.

Chen Hao glanced at Gu Mengyan, shaking his head helplessly, before turning back to the new supervisor, “Moreover, I can guarantee that if your parents found out about what happened today, they would undoubtedly scold you thoroughly. While setting an example can be effective, you’ve employed the wrong method and target. Young man, you still have much to learn about proper conduct! If you want to work well in the technical department in the future, I suggest you correct some of your self-righteous habits.”

The new supervisor was at a loss for words. He had intended to teach others a lesson, only to end up being the one schooled. The meeting ended abruptly, and the new supervisor did not seek retribution against Chen Hao.

After that day, Chen Hao and his colleagues never saw him again, and the incident of the parachuted supervisor faded into irrelevance. While these were minor events, they reflected a larger truth: the importance of rules.

If Chen Hao wishes to open a martial arts school, he intends to follow the traditional approach his father taught him, step by step. He just wonders whether there are still any school owners who understand and value these rules. He hopes it doesn’t end with others misunderstanding his intentions, thinking he is merely looking for trouble! Therefore, he placed the idea of opening a martial arts school as his second option.

Coincidentally, Chen Hao was feeling uncertain about this matter and had just discussed it with Gu Mengyan, which could allow her to offer him some suggestions.

“What do you think about my plan?” Chen Hao asked, eagerly awaiting Gu Mengyan's response.