Chapter 220 – An Unforgettable Match of Go
At first, I didn’t realize anything different or special about the school.
Sparse exercise grounds, a lonely flagpole, and numerous solemn and silent school buildings. At least from the outside, it was not much different than 28 Middle.
That was until I discovered walkways for the blind that spanned across the school yard.
“Is this… a school dedicated for the disabled?”
I asked cautiously.
Peng TouSi nodded. He removed his white gloves and tidied up his suit to make himself more presentable.
“Let’s consider this visit as a tour, there might be something that would catch your interest.”
Tour? Something interesting? What interesting things would a disabled school have? According to my dad, upper-class people in the Medieval Ages in the West used to tour mental hospitals as entertainment —— Peng TouSi, did you gain bad habits by staying with Ai ShuQiao for too long!
“Hey hey, will we be welcomed even if we came empty-handed?”
Peng TouSi raised his lips, “It doesn’t matter if we’re empty-handed or not, what’s most important is a loving heart.”
What was even more hard to believe was Peng TouSi and I still received a warm welcome from the employees even with our appearance.
A chef, two security guards, three janitors, basically everyone who had nothing to do at the moment came to exchange greetings with Peng TouSi. The person who took the lead was a thirty-something-year-old man with a sincere expression who wore glasses and had a slightly balding head. I was able to learn he was the principal from their conversation. He is pretty young for a principal.
I originally wanted to say: You guys have a terrible sense of vigilance! Peng TouSi and I clearly look like a pair of criminals, maybe we came to slaughter everyone to take revenge on society! To put it more nicely, you guys are basically opening the door to criminals!
But based on the passionate responses from the employees, especially the principal, I would never believe this was Peng TouSi’s first time here. He definitely came here before, perhaps more than once.
An extremely irrational idea suddenly popped in my mind —— don’t tell me Peng TouSi was a former student at this school? No wonder his face looks abnormal! If Peng TouSi studied in China as a child, then it’s possible he learned his martial arts from Shaolin Temple!
No, no, no, that’s too outrageous. Peng TouSi is pretty much the same age as the principal. Also, the school building looks relatively new like it was built within the last ten years. This school never even existed when Peng TouSi was a child.
After a few lines of greetings, Peng TouSi introduced me to the glasses principal.
“This is Ye Lin, he’s an incredible kid. When he heard I was going to come by for a visit, he begged to follow along. Let him take a tour around the school.”
Incredible? Incredible my ass! I was knocked down in a single punch! Also, who begged you? I was kidnapped! Kidnapped!
An even scarier thought suddenly popped into my mind —— don’t tell me the only reason Peng TouSi left me alive was so he could beat me retarded and let me live the rest of my life at this school!
How ruthless. Ai ShuQiao, you are too ruthless! Just imagining myself with drool hanging out of mymouth and calling everyone brother gives me goosebumps!
At that time, the class leader will definitely look at me with pity! Also, Xiao Qin will definitely take me home and keep me as a pet!
After Peng TouSi’s introduction, the principal corrected his glasses as if he just realized I was standing there.
“Oh, so it’s Ye Lin classmate? Mr. Peng TouSi’s friends are also our friends. Right now, everyone is in class, if you’re bored you can rest in the recreation room.”
We passed multiple classrooms as we walked down the hallway towards the recreation room. I could see many students sitting earnestly behind their desk and listening to the lesson. They did not seem abnormal from their outer appearance, I only felt they did not seem as lively as 28 Middle students and the teacher was also incredibly young.
As the principal walked by the classrooms, he tried to walk more quietly and he did not speak to Peng TouSi. I also walked in silence due to their influence. Sometimes when I accidentally stepped on the walkways for the blind, a sense of apologeticness would well up within me, but I did not know who I had to apologize to.
There were various commemorative pictures hung on the white walls of the hallway. Some were paintings made by blind children, some were pictures of deaf and mute girls performing, some was a first-place programming award obtained by a kid in a wheelchair… Many more of them were group photos of teachers with their students, regardless if they won an award or did not. It looks like these young teachers were always next to the students giving them encouragement and support. It was even moving when I saw the heartbreaking moment of the students leaving the teachers.
I was bewildered: The teachers at this school look like good people! There’s no way they would watch as Peng TouSi beats me silly, right? Although they would get an extra student, it is still unethical!
I wanted to ask why Peng TouSi brought me here, but I could not bring it up in front of the glasses principal. Then after I found some time, Peng TouSi told me he wanted to discuss some matters with the principal in private and asked me to stay in the rec room.
“Oh right, since you’re free, you can have a match with Xiao Yu if you know how to play Go.”
The glasses principle enthusiastically suggested.
“Xiao Yu? Who’s Xiao Yu?”
I looked towards the direction Peng TouSi pointed to and realized a frail boy sitting behind a board in the corner of the room.
The principal lowered his voice and said: “Xiao Yu is only 10 years old, and unfortunately he has cerebral palsy. But his memory is astonishing, he can remember up to 700 digits of π!”
I was a bit hesitant —— if I play with someone who has cerebral palsy, even a win can’t be considered as a win.
Also, I did not get along well with disabled children. It was not because I looked down on them (If Peng TouSi actually beats me silly, I would become their classmate), but I was afraid I would unintentionally hurt them with my Sparta personality.
“Go.” Peng TouSi gave me a slight push on my back, “Remember, it’s fine that we’re empty-handed, just go with an open heart.”
I could only wipe my sweaty palms on my pants. I carefully sat down across from Xiao Yu because I was afraid of scaring him.
It was like Xiao Yu was accustomed to playing others. He smiled bashfully, wiped down the board and he played the first piece as black.
He played ‘tianyuan’. It was not a good opening move from my perspective. (TN: tianyuan is direct center of the go board)
Nowadays, fewer and fewer Chinese people know how to play Go since each game takes at least 45 minutes. My dad would always teach me how to play when he was free, and I still have two cases of Go stones he brought back from Yunnan last year. Those Go stones felt gentle and exquisite to the touch regardless if it was a black or white piece, and it feels like I would turn into a Go saint.
I would always be prideful of the fact I have good mastery over this ancient skill. Based on my knowledge, Niu ShiLi and Gong CaiCai are the only people who know how to play Go other than me in class 2-3.
As for my skill level, I’m not bragging, but I have never lost to anyone besides my dad. Sometimes I can beat him when he is not clear–headed.
Later I became aware that the reason I had such a splendid win rate was because I never really played many people other than my father.
I quickly fell behind against Xiao Yu.
Damn, this is foul! He’s basically like a professional Go player! Based on the formation of the board, nine out of ten people would think I am the one who has cerebral palsy!
I frowned and stared at Xiao Yu, he was very shy and always averted his gaze. As a 10-year-old, his appearance was not very eye-catching, but he did have a big gap between his eyebrows and eyes, and he always has a slanted head as if he is in deep thought.
I abandoned the idea of underestimating the enemy and played a move I felt was really good. As expected, it made Xiao Yu think for a while. Every time he was stuck, he would scratch his face once every 3 seconds, and it also made me feel a bit itchy.
Hmph, how’s that? Although there’s nothing to be proud of, my intelligence is still a bit better! Of course, I would hold an ‘open heart’ and deliberately make a mistake and lose the match and let you taste the joy of victory! Young man, don’t fret, you still have tons of room to grow!
I never expected that Xiao Yu would shake after thinking for a long time and play a move at a spot I would never have thought of.
‘Clack’, his pieces never sounded this loud previously.
I did not immediately see the merit of the move, but I began to play head on against him with a bad premonition. After we both played 10 pieces or so, I realized I had no hope of winning.
I lost the entire board! I don’t even have to lose deliberately, I should quickly admit defeat to save the embarrassment! It’s so embarrassing! I lost to a 10-year-old with cerebral palsy! Does this imply I would never get anywhere with my level of intelligence? I would be quickly washed out by this high tech society with my level of intelligence, I have to find a profession that does not need a lot of intelligence as a second option (for example, an actor who always plays the role of a fool)!
But a man still has to lose with honor.
I lowered my head slightly towards Xiao Yu and said whole-heartedly: “It’s my loss.”
Xiao Yu gave a simple and honest smiled, he did not have the arrogance of many young people. He quickly cleared the board and played a black piece at tianyuan hoping I would play another match.
I shook my head, I did not have the guts to play again. Xiao Yu looked disappointed, but it did not last long. He then happily set up an endgame board.
Peng TouSi and the principal finished with their conversation and returned at this time. When he saw the match already ended, he told me to get up and he has things to say to me.
After an enthusiastic farewell from the principal, Peng TouSi drove me back onto the country roads on the black taxi.
The atmosphere was a bit strange.