Wang Ye shook Steve's hand and smiled gently.
"Allow me to formally introduce myself.
My name is Ye Wang, a landowner from Norway. Very pleased to meet you."
"I'm Steve Rogers, a local from Brooklyn.
Unemployed. But I'm glad to meet you too!"
Steve, now calmer after his initial excitement, returned the handshake with a polite tone.
"You're just in time. You can work in the shop while learning martial arts.
Also, room and board are included."
Wang Ye pulled a chair from behind the counter and placed it in front of Steve.
"Come, don't just stand there. Have a seat, we'll talk more comfortably."
Steve casually dusted off his clothes and sat down.
"Thank you, Mr. Ye!
Honestly, I've lost count of how many times I've been rejected from the draft due to failing the medical exam.
I don't want to join the army for glory or medals—I just want to do my part to protect those who can't protect themselves.
But every time, my weak body has made me useless...
If I could master real fighting techniques, maybe I could overcome my physical shortcomings and finally pass the draft!"
Steve spoke earnestly, laying bare his motivations. He wasn't good at lying—and didn't see the need to.
Wang Ye nodded in understanding.
"I get it. And don't be discouraged.
Your body's fragility is mainly due to years of overwork in unhealthy environments, compounded by severe malnutrition.
If you follow the schedule and meal plan I design for you, along with regular martial arts training, your body will gradually recover.
With enough time and effort, I believe your dream of joining the army will come true."
Wang Ye had already seen Steve's medical report. Over a dozen listed conditions—it really was a bit exaggerated.
But with martial arts to strengthen his body and better nutrition to support him, even if it didn't fully cure him, it would get him far enough—especially if he entered the super-soldier program, where these issues would become irrelevant.
Steve's eyes began to glow with hope. In his mind, he could already see himself in uniform, charging across the battlefield to defend his country.
"Then I'll be in your care!"
"Hahaha—just don't complain later when training gets tough!"
Wang Ye laughed and patted Steve on the shoulder.
"Come, let's go upstairs so you can see your room.
Afterward, we'll head to the market to get you some daily supplies…"
Later — Inside the Shop
"Martial arts, as the name suggests, refer to all forms of fighting techniques.
Throughout history, humans have used wisdom and practice to create an abundance of martial arts, spawning countless styles and branches.
Among them, the most famous include: Tai Chi, Muay Thai, Sanda, and Wrestling.
Martial arts were developed with two core purposes:
-To defeat—or even kill—an opponent quickly and efficiently in combat.
-To strengthen the body and mind through consistent training.
Since your body is still weak, we'll start with Tai Chi, which emphasizes health and internal balance.
I'll demonstrate a few times—watch closely."
Steve nodded seriously.
"I'll do my best to learn!"
Wang Ye glanced at him, then began demonstrating Tai Chi at an extremely slow and deliberate pace, explaining each move and its core mechanics as he moved.
"In Tai Chi, mind and intent are key.
'Mind' refers to focus and awareness; 'intent' refers to form and intent in the body.
Every punch must flow with your whole body, harmonizing mind and motion into one.
And intent—the intuition behind movement—only comes with long-term discipline and practice.
Only when each movement blends body and spirit, can your martial arts become fluid and instinctive..."
Steve watched with full concentration, soon mimicking the motions himself.
The two trained together—Wang Ye correcting his mistakes from time to time—and after four or five repetitions, Steve had finally grasped the fundamentals and most of the key points.
"As an old Eastern saying goes:
'A master leads you to the door; the rest is up to you.'
Now that you've understood the core of Tai Chi, the rest depends on your perseverance and understanding."
After finishing the routine, Wang Ye nodded with encouragement and turned to head upstairs.
Then paused.
"Wait...
We didn't eat dinner yet, did we?"
Steve, who had been too excited to notice earlier, suddenly heard his stomach protest—loudly.
The two looked at each other and burst into laughter.
Steve scratched his head, embarrassed.
"Haha… So, what's for dinner?"
"We're going to Aunt Mary Sue's hotdog stand, of course!
You need proper nutrition, and her stand has fresh milk too.
On the way back, we'll pick up some fruit…"
Time passed.
In the blink of an eye, two months had gone by.
During this time, Steve made incredible progress—thanks to his sheer willpower, natural talent for fighting, and countless hours of hard work.
If it weren't for his weak starting condition, Steve could probably have become a top-tier martial artist even without the super-soldier serum.
Now, he had already mastered several styles: Tai Chi, Judo, Muay Thai, Sanda, and Boxing.
And just three days ago, after repeated requests, he had finally performed the formal disciple ceremony, officially recognizing Wang Ye as his master and calling him "Sifu."
Wang Ye, as a teacher, had poured everything he knew into Steve, holding nothing back. Whenever he had time, they would spar to help build Steve's real combat experience.
One morning
As usual, Steve was in the middle of a Tai Chi routine in the center of the shop.
After two months of rest, training, and proper diet, his physical condition had greatly improved.
Once so scrawny he looked like a walking skeleton, he now had a clearly defined musculature.
To his delight, a medical exam just two weeks ago confirmed that many of his minor illnesses had healed, and even his asthma had significantly improved.
Steve's respect for Wang Ye had grown even deeper.
"Steve!
I knew I'd find you here.
I haven't seen you in over a month—I thought something had happened to you!"
A handsome young man in uniform poked his head through the door.
Seeing Steve inside, his face lit up with relief.
Steve turned around and beamed in surprise.
"Bucky!"