If Small Holes Aren't Fixed, Then Big Holes Will Bring Hardship

That entire week, Fei learned Wing Chun from the old man in the courtyard. They would have a battle at the beginning of class, which always ended with Fei's loss.

Then, the man would start drinking his tea, leaving Fei to quietly ponder the intricacies of the sport and why exactly did she lose again.

By the end of the week, in what normally took two years, Fei finally officially finished learning the art of Wing Chun, though she hadn't mastered it.

From the old master of Wing Chun, Fei learned a number of important lessons, one of them being—

—To improve, one needed to make decisions and work hard to better themselves, not reliant on the instructions of external forces.

Besides the teacher and student relationship, a subtle friendship had also formed between the two people. It wasn't like normal friendships, where people chatted idly with one another. This friendship was more of a serene one, with both parties solely drinking tea together and no words exchanged.

The old man silently approved of this young woman who has perseverance and no signs of egotism. To him, she was like a young child, untainted from the world's sins, like a blank sheet of paper.

On the other hand, Fei learned to admire this teacher of hers for his skills and calm. Whenever she felt upset, she only needed to see her teacher's face; then she could calm down and feel more at peace.

...

The calm of the week was utterly broken as a depressing piece of news regarding her master had come to Fei's knowledge.

Carlos was going away to camp for four months.

During the week, Fei didn't only learn Wing Chun and read up on grammar. She learned many new things about the world around her. One of them was that in Country A, going to camp meant that you were staying away from home.

Often times, after Fei finished her studies for the day and Carlos finished his homework, the two would gather in the third-floor lounge. They would play all sorts of small games that ranged from board games to educational ones. Carlos would chatter endlessly about his experiences at school, and Fei was in charge of listening attentively to his rambles.

Previously, Carlos wasn't allowed to use technology for play since his father was afraid that excessive immersion in technology would affect his studies.

But, now, it seemed like that wasn't enough to calm Mr. Rochester's worries.

One day, Carlos had run up to Fei with tears threatening to fall.

"Fei!"

Fei had subconsciously frowned when she saw her master's state.

"M-My father wants me to go to camp…" He sobbed. "I-I don't want to leave!"

Fei raised her left hand, but it paused in midair before being retracted to her side. She wasn't sure how to comfort him. After hesitating for a long time, she finally said, "Why did he want you to go?"

Carlos remained silent with his head bowed.

Fei scrutinized her master and noticed there was a piece of paper crumpled into a ball in his hands. She bent down to his height and asked, "What is that?"

The little boy bit his lip and threw it at her.

Fei swiftly caught it and flattened it out.

It was a printed copy of something called a 'progress report'. There were seven columns and at the end of each, printed the words "FAILED" in bold, red letters.

"My grades aren't good enough." Carlos sniffed. "The camp that Father sign me up for would go on for four months." He paused, "It's an accelerated preparatory program, w-whatever that means…"

But Fei's ears stopped registering the last sentence that Carlos said. The words "four months" kept ringing in her mind.

Fei calmed herself before asking a crucial question, "... Am I going with you?"

"Why would you be? It's a camp for children. You're not a child, Fei." Carlos shook his head as he scoffed deprecatingly.

The frown on her face grew deeper. But I'm his bodyguard, aren't I? Aren't bodyguards supposed to accompany their master everywhere? — At least that's what I read.

Fei didn't vocalize any of her thoughts. "I see..." was all she said.

Carlos pouted. "I wanted to have at least you come with me, but Dadd-Father told me that you're not a child and that's why you can't go."

Fei contemplated for a while, but she truly didn't know what to say. "It's fine. You will definitely do well at that camp."

She had full confidence in her master's abilities. So what if he received below average grades? Grades aren't everything. In fact, he could definitely achieve the highest grades if he put his heart to it."When are you leaving?"

"At the end of this week," the boy replied, his tone depressed.

Once again, Fei's head was sent spinning by Carlos' words.

…

As Fei looked back upon her experiences, she realized the stupidity in her thoughts. Her master would come back after four months, anyway; why was she so disturbed by the timing of his departure?

"Girl, why are you so distracted today?" A strained voice disrupted Fei's thoughts, causing her to almost lose balance. She was practicing Wing Chun by the stone table in the courtyard.

Today is Sunday, the day that Carlos would be leaving for camp. As such, Fei couldn't help but think about that matter the entire day.

Fei quickly apologized to her teacher, who had stood up from his seat and gave her an icy stare.

The old man harrumphed. "I do not need your worthless apology. How many times has this happened today? If you do not want to practice, then we can just stop here."

"No! I-"

"Enough. I have decided. We are not continuing Wing Chun today. Consider it a break. Today is the last day, anyway." The Wing Chun master sat back down. A maid came forward to refill the emptied teapot.

Fei panicked. "But there is an hour left…"

Her teacher's gaze softened, and he sighed.

He gestured for her to sit down as he poured another two cups of tea from the newly refilled teapot. "It's fine, we can drink tea."

"Something must have been bothering you. I know you are normally a very attentive person," he looked at Fei squarely in the eye, "just relax for today and carefully ponder about the problems that worry you."

"If small holes aren't fixed, then big holes will bring hardship. Every art, every problem, and very subject crosses this proverb. For example, the mastery Wing Chun." He lifted his porcelain teacup and sipped.