Chapter 4 Advanced Sparring

Wang Hao has learned that to become a sports student in school, one needs to meet certain standards in running and shot put. This means achieving the necessary levels of speed, endurance, and muscle strength.

Wang Hao attends Dongyue Experimental Middle School. The requirements are to run one kilometer in three minutes and push a four-kilogram shot put up to 12 meters. 

These standards are quite challenging for junior high school students. Wang Hao's previous national second-level athlete's standard was running 800 meters in two minutes and three seconds, and pushing a 7.62 kg shot put 12.5 meters.

Wang Hao is well aware of his current physical fitness. He is not yet up to the standard required by his school, but he is close. With some short-term training, he believes he can meet the requirements within one or two months, ideally before the end of summer vacation.

Strength training will include push-ups and lifting the family's 15 kg barbell, supplemented by running.

Wang Hao decided to start running five kilometers every morning beginning tomorrow. To maintain his motivation, he thought it would be best to have someone accompany him. He already had the perfect candidate in mind: his grandfather.

The next day, Sunday, Wang Hao woke up at five o'clock, just as dawn was breaking. His parents were still asleep, and he planned to be back before they woke up, so he didn't tell them where he was going.

Wang Hao started his run east along the cool, morning concrete road. His home is at the junction of urban and rural areas; to the east is the countryside, specifically Anyang Town, where his grandfather lives.

Wang Hao's grandfather, Wang Quanshui, has four children, three boys and one girl. Wang Hao's father, Wang Lizhi, is the third child and the second son.

Grandfather Wang Quanshui loves to run. He goes out for a dozen miles every morning, unless it is raining, before returning for breakfast. Wang Hao's father told him that his grandfather had maintained this habit for forty years.

Rumor has it that before the liberation, Grandfather Wang served as a soldier and was highly skilled in combat. During the Anti-Japanese War, he reportedly killed six Japanese soldiers in a pigpen with his bare hands.

Initially, Wang Hao did not believe these rumors. It seemed impossible for one person to defeat six fully armed and well-trained soldiers. 

Wang Hao is very patriotic and despises the Japanese invasion, but he also knows that real Japanese soldiers were not as easily defeated as often portrayed on TV. Historical Japanese soldiers were well-trained and could handle four Chinese soldiers on their own due to better equipment and education.

Thus, when he first heard that his grandfather had killed six soldiers alone, Wang Hao felt proud but also thought it was an exaggeration. However, during a family gathering, his grandfather demonstrated his skills, and Wang Hao became convinced the stories were true.

Early in the morning, there were few people on the road. Entering Anyang Town, Wang Hao followed a familiar path and soon spotted an old man running ahead.

The old man, burly but not overly sturdy, wore a gray coarse cloth. His hair was gray, but he was full of energy and had a youthful spirit. His pace alternated between fast and slow, with a peculiar rhythm.

Excited, Wang Hao quickly caught up. "Grandfather!"

Wang Quanshui turned, saw Wang Hao, and smiled. "Xiao Hao, why are you here?"

"I want to run and exercise with you, Grandpa."

Hearing this made Wang Quanshui even happier. Running alone can be lonely, and having his grandson for company was a delight.

"Then let's run a little longer today. We'll go to Tanghe Township and back," Wang Quanshui suggested enthusiastically.

Wang Hao felt a pang of apprehension. Tanghe Township was more than 20 miles away, far beyond his training capacity. However, seeing his grandfather so happy, he decided to go along with it.

Breathing heavily, Wang Hao kept pace with his grandfather.

"Xiao Hao, why did you decide to start running today?" Wang Quanshui asked.

"I want to develop my sports skills. Our school has certain requirements for running and other activities. I'm close to meeting them, so I plan to practice more. I might come run with you every day."

Hearing that his grandson would join him daily, Wang Quanshui was overjoyed. "I thought you came because your grandma is making pimple soup today," he joked.

Wang Hao's mouth watered at the mention of his grandma's soup. Her pimple soup, made with gnocchi, tomatoes, eggs, peanuts, and bean skins, was his favorite.

Despite feeling tired, Wang Hao pushed on, motivated by the thought of his grandmother's delicious soup. But as they approached Tanghe Township, he was already struggling, his breath heavy, and his legs feeling like lead.

"Grandpa, slow down," Wang Hao panted. "Your pace is really hard to keep up with."

"Come on!" encouraged Wang Quanshui. "Stick to my rhythm. On the way back, we'll try a different method."

Wang Hao gritted his teeth and kept going, his physical limits approaching. By the time they reached Tanghe Township, he felt he had passed the hardest part. Turning back, they began the return run with a different rhythm. 

The return rhythm, while still alternating between fast and slow, was more attuned to Wang Hao's breathing, making it feel tailored for him. Despite being tired, he felt lighter and more comfortable.

"Do you know Yao Haojun?" his grandfather asked suddenly.

Yao Haojun was known to Wang Hao. A year older and about to graduate, Yao was a notorious bully at Wang Hao's school. With a reputation for physical strength and a penchant for fighting, Yao often intimidated his peers and even robbed younger students.

Wang Hao was surprised his grandfather knew of Yao. "I know him," he said. "He's a troublemaker at our school. How do you know him, Grandpa?"

Wang Quanshui continued, "A schoolmate on his way home from school was beaten." 

"Is it serious?" Wang Hao asked with concern. Wang Xiangxue, his uncle's only son, is currently in fifth grade at elementary school.

"It's not too serious. Your uncle has already spoken with a teacher, and now Xiangxue is escorted to and from school every day," Wang Quanshui reassured him. "But I'm still worried. These troublemakers in schools nowadays seek revenge too easily. Even with supervision, what if they bother Xiangxue again?"

Wang Quanshui shared his concerns, then advised Wang Hao, "You and him go to the same school. When you encounter such children, keep your distance. Don't provoke them, or you might end up in trouble."

"Yeah," Wang Hao nodded in understanding. Wang Quanshui cared deeply about his grandchildren being bullied, but as a grandfather, he couldn't intervene directly and risk escalating the situation.

However, Wang Hao himself wasn't too worried. Although they attended the same school, they weren't in the same grade and had no interactions.

During their twenty-mile run, they spent an hour before returning to Wang Quanshui's home in Anyang Town.

Wang Hao estimated his initial kilometer time to be around three minutes and ten seconds, without any specific training. With a month of focused training, achieving a three-minute mark shouldn't be a problem.

"Let's have breakfast here before heading back. Grandma should be preparing her pimple soup," Wang Quanshui said as he unlocked the courtyard gate.

Wang Hao, a food enthusiast, had been thinking the same thing. He planned to enjoy his grandfather's pimple soup before leaving and followed Wang Quanshui into the courtyard.

Grandpa's yard was spacious, nearly one hundred square meters. Wang Hao was familiar with every corner.

A pomegranate tree and a jujube tree stood in one area, bearing fruit every fall.

In another corner, a set of simple plum piles caught Wang Hao's eye. The varying heights of the plum piles made them suitable for practicing footwork, coordination, and balance control—useful for boxing training.

After the run, Wang Hao decided he would come here to practice stance training under his grandfather's guidance.

Grandma greeted Wang Hao warmly upon his arrival. Before the pimple soup was ready, he sat in the hall and sipped on a bowl of herbal tea prepared by Grandpa. It was soothing and refreshing. His gaze drifted to the plum piles in the garden, contemplating their potential for boxing practice.

Suddenly, the courtyard door opened again, and a familiar figure entered, holding a pot of flowers.

"Cousin!" Wang Hao exclaimed upon recognizing him. It was Wang Long, his uncle's son and his cousin, who was currently a freshman at Dongyue No. 2 High School—the same school as Wang Hao.

"The impatiens you asked for, Grandpa. Dad sent them over," Wang Long said, placing the flowers on the table.

"Good! With both grandsons here, it's a joyful family gathering," Wang Quanshui chuckled. "Wang Long, your grandma's pimple soup is almost ready. Stick around and have some before you leave."

Wang Long also had a fondness for his grandma's pimple soup, so he had hurried over.

As they waited for the soup to finish, the three of them chatted. The conversation often returned to Wang Xiangxue.

"I heard about Xiangxue," Wang Long remarked. "I've heard about that guy. Just a junior high bully. I'll take care of him for Xiangxue."

Wang Quanshui frowned slightly. "Be cautious. You may be older, and I've taught you some basics before, but don't escalate things. Apologize on Xiangxue's behalf and let it go."

"Yes, Grandpa. Don't worry," Wang Long replied with a reassuring smile.

Once Grandma's pimple soup was ready, the three of them enjoyed their meal. While the pot was originally prepared for Grandpa, there was enough for Wang Long and Wang Hao to enjoy as well.

Wang Hao's training routine became more consistent. He ran with his grandfather in the mornings, attended school during the day, and did skipping rope and dumbbell exercises at home in the evenings.

Just a week later, Wang Hao began inquiring about the school's process for specializing in sports. He also asked his father about updates regarding Anatoly Lomachenko's potential arrival in Dongyue City.

As another Saturday rolled around, Wang Hao decided to visit the Taishan Boxing Club. He wanted to assess his current squat, bench press, deadlift, and other performance indicators, as well as observe the skills of the club's fighters.