That's way beyond the syllabus!
Any kid who's read Journey to the West is bound to be awestruck by the Dragon Clan.
Originally, Daniel had meant to tell the tale of a youth who, after more than a decade of grueling training, challenged the Dragon 'Shou-Lao', fought eight hundred rounds, earned the Dragon's blessing, and finally forged a pair of invincible Iron Fists.
But with the Monkey King shining example, what dragon could possibly steal the spotlight?
Seeing Daniel's gloomy Face, Li Pu gave his shoulder a light punch.
Buddy, I know the magic of Journey to the West, and your story can't compete, but your kung fu is the real deal.
I can tell it's not some flashy show.
How about this: I'll pay you, and you spend some time teaching my two boys real martial arts?
A parent's love runs deep; they plan for their children's future.
Because Li Pu had some idea of Daniel's skills, he truly hoped his kids could learn something from this Iron Fist.
Take someone's money, soften your hand; eat someone's food, shorten your words. That bowl of zhajiang noodles had hit the spot, and Li Pu's concern for his boys had touched him.
So although Daniel knew he had more important things to do right now—
—he had to find a way to reclaim the Rand Corporation his father left him, so he'd have the resources to investigate the truth behind his parents' deaths—
—in the end he couldn't bring himself to refuse Li Pu. After a moment he said, I don't want your money, but my time is really tight.
Mr. Li, how about this?
If you set up here every noon for the next while, I'll come over and teach the boys some martial arts.
But I can't promise they'll actually learn what I teach.
No guarantee they'll learn?
Li Pu laughed inwardly, less than saintly.
Still, the Iron Fist had agreed to teach, and Li Pu was genuinely grateful.
He held out his palm.
Then it's a deal. I'll run my stall here every noon; you teach the kids a few Moves, and I'll make sure you get authentic Chinese food every day.
Daniel, well-versed in Chinese culture, knew what Li Pu's outstretched hand meant and slapped it with a crisp smack.
A promise a team of horses can't chase back.
After the high-five oath they chatted a bit more, then Daniel slung his tattered bag over his shoulder.
Before leaving he refused the handful of change Li Pu tried to stuff at him, but he did accept a jianbing wrapped from the stall.
Perfect for dinner.
Tucking the boxed jianbing into his pack, Daniel bumped fists with Li Pu.
Tomorrow noon I'll come check Broly and Koz's homework. Fair warning: I'm a strict master.
Li Pu only smiled, saying nothing; he just hoped the Iron Fist wouldn't be too shocked tomorrow.
Once Iron Fist had gone, Li Pu lifted his gaze toward the Rand Building not far away.
In the top-floor executive office, the woman watching through the glass nearly dropped her binoculars when Li Pu suddenly looked up.
What's wrong, Joy?
Nothing, Ward… probably just my imagination.
Joy Meachum hesitated, but still confided in her brother.
I keep feeling that vagrant who's been coming around is Daniel—he knows too much about Daniel and our childhood.
Ward Meachum pondered a moment, then gripped his sister's shoulders and stared gravely into her eyes.
Joy, Daniel is dead; the news reported it years ago.
That plane crash took the entire Rand family.
Our father stepped in as partner and saved Rand Corporation in its darkest hour.
Now Dad's gone too, and the company's in our hands.
Our job is to protect the great enterprise two families and two generations built, and keep it from being snatched by people with ulterior motives.
But…
Joy tried to protest, but her brother cut her off.
Ward told her to stop borrowing trouble and go home to rest.
Once his sister left the office, Ward sat alone, thinking, then dialed a number… Yes, my dear father, I'm not crazy—I'm certain that man is Daniel Rand!
…If you use that F-word on me again, you'll be eating Brussels sprouts all week; you don't dare leave that damned apartment anyway.
…Fine! I get it—I won't go near The Hand!
How do I know these people? It's called socializing, Dad. You can't make new friends hiding in an apartment!
…Ward Meachum had a cordial chat with his father Harold Meachum, who, after cancer drove him to The Hand for a cure, was now confined to one apartment.
Ward bore plenty of resentment toward his dad.
Because Harold had begged The Hand for life, he'd agreed to their terms, and now the whole Rand Corporation was practically being possessed by that crime syndicate.
Still, Ward informed his father that Daniel Rand was alive.
After all, the plane crash that wiped out the Rand family had been Harold Meachum's own scheme.
Hah, lousy father! Your debt, yet I'm the one paying for it.
He picked up his phone again, made another call, then tossed it onto the desk.
Next Ward took out some well-hidden pills from a drawer and swallowed several before sheer will forced him to stop.
That evening, though he could have run the night shift, Li Pu closed up. He wheeled his food cart into the abandoned factory he owned and told little Broly to keep his brother inside.
Then he carried a chair and planted himself squarely at the factory gate.
While eating lunch with them, Iron Fist Daniel had sensed someone watching from the Rand Corporation tower.
After Daniel left, Li Pu locked onto that Qi signature and used the new psychic gift the System had awarded.
Qi Lock plus Psychic Premonition—combined, they told him someone meant harm to the three of them tonight, planning some nasty surprise.
He didn't march straight over mainly because he wanted to test whether his Psychic Premonition was reliable—would unwelcome visitors really show up?
Secondly… Li Pu is a reasonable man, but if reason fails, he doesn't mind speaking the language of physics.