Page 173 - updated on July
P. 173
Yu Jihui: “A Stinking Old Ninth – A Tale of the Coal Capital” (updated on July 2020)
muscles. They were much more muscular than before.
He was easily able to raise the barbell which had
been too heavy for me to raise. I knew he was
demonstrating himself. Soon I received a letter from
him. It said, “Soapy, I challenge you to a wrestling
match. It’s only a fair play game. We’ll see who is
more skillful in wrestling. I don’t think you’ll refuse
it! It’s only a game.”
I was not good at wrestling. It mainly depended
on strength. I knew I was by no means his opponent.
Just as I was wondering how to reply, a former
school basketball player came by. He was a tall and
strong young man. He had always looked at me as
his idol. He used to be a scoundrel in the mine area
and the chief of a gang of hoodlum. But since he
learned to play basketball with me, he had become a
good student. I showed him the challenge letter. He
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