CHAPTER 205: CHAPTER 205: BEAT HIM UP

Yi Chichi, "??? Aren’t you the leader? How could you get beaten up?"

Because Lin Yuanchu was the oldest and tallest in Jiajia’s group, with a sharp mind, he claimed the throne as the leader.

According to the girls, he was a little rascal who always got into trouble, and outside of study time, he either caused mischief or led the kids in play fights, mimicking games of soldiers and bandits.

He was the commander, and Jiajia and the others took turns being soldiers or bandits.

Perfectly illustrating the phrase "the commander stays the same, while the soldiers and bandits come and go."

Because there were so many kids in the group, in the residential compound they were becoming a bit of a gang, and as long as they weren’t bullying others, it was already a relief. But today, he got bullied instead.

This was truly unexpected.

"Even the leader can get beaten up."

He sniffed, using his finger to scrape off the mud on his face. Yi Chichi saw this and grabbed his hand to lead him inside, "Go wash your face."

The kid obediently said "oh," and Yi Chichi asked him why he got beaten up and who pushed him into the mud pit.

Not asking was fine, but when asked, the kid started chattering away about what happened.

"Miao Li was bullying Tong Xingxing, and I saw it and tried to stop him, but he hit me."

"??? Who is Miao Li?"

"He’s the kid of Battalion Commander Miao from the first battalion of the third regiment. He’s four years older than me and is in the fifth grade this year."

"Did he injure you?"

"No."

He shook his head, tilting his face up while Yi Chichi used a towel to clean the mud off his face, his small mouth babbling, "He just gave me two punches and then pushed me into the mud pit."

"Then why are you crying?"

"...Embarrassing."

His tone was a bit sorrowful, and Yi Chichi almost laughed out loud but was worried about hurting the little kid’s self-esteem. Just as she was pondering how to comfort him, he let out a big sigh, "My little brothers saw me get beaten up."

As he said this, he got angry again, his eyebrows furrowed like caterpillars, showing his anger.

"Those unfaithful guys with no sense of camaraderie, they didn’t help me and ran off themselves."

"Does Miao Li have comrades?"

Children of military parents, growing up in that environment, have their own understanding of camaraderie. Adults might find it amusing, but to kids, the seriousness of the situation is akin to betrayal of faith.

Yi Chichi, who had dealt with similar incidents with her nephew who also grew up in the military district, understood Lin Yuanchu’s anger.

So, she didn’t try to speak up for Jiajia and them. Instead, she asked him, "So what are you going to do? Will you cut ties with them?"

This question stumped the kid.

He wrinkled his little brows and stood like a statue allowing Yi Chichi to clean the mud off him, while his little brain started to work overtime.

Finally, he came up with something just as Wen Shi and the others got off work and came home.

Seeing a small muddy figure in the yard, he raised his eyebrows, holding back a laugh, asking, "Whose kid is this?"

Covered entirely in mud, the kid looked hilarious from the back.

Lin Qiu Ping also found it funny, saying, "If it were my kid, I’d be sure to give him a beating for being so filthy."

Before the words were even out, both the big and small ones looked at him.

"Look at me... wait..."

Before he could say anything more, Lin Qiu Ping realized the little muddy face looked familiar, he blinked once, then again, "Whoa, this is my son."

"You’ve got the wrong person, I’m not your son."

Lin Yuanchu nearly died of frustration from his dad, blurting out in retort.

Great, he really is his son.

As Lin Qiu Ping was about to enter the house, he quickly stepped back, incredulous, approaching Lin Yuanchu, "Son, why are you a little mudman?"

With caution.

"Don’t call me, I’ve been beaten and pushed into the mud pit, and you as a father aren’t even concerned, just thinking about beating me, why is my life so miserable wa wa wa..."

The more the kid talked, the sadder he became, until he burst into tears. As Lin Qiu Ping reached out to hug and soothe him, he heard his son clearly complaining about him.

"You’re not my dad, I don’t want a father like you with no sympathy and no love, sob sob sob..."

"Dad was wrong, dad just didn’t recognize you."

Lin Qiu Ping, who loved his child dearly, never went easy on a beating, but that was because the child was naughty and needed discipline.

Now knowing his child was beaten and pushed into the mud pit and became a little mudman, his heart ached, and his eyes turned red. Despite the child’s struggling, he hugged him and started soothing.

In the yard, Yi Chichi and Wen Shi stood aside watching the father and son bicker like a comedy duo, feeling like this father-son pair could make anyone laugh to death.

At the gate of the courtyard, Qi Zhiyuan and the others didn’t rush to leave and instead put on a look of onlookers watching the father and son act.

Wen Shi poked her, and when she looked over, he quietly asked, "Wife, why was Yuan Chu beaten?"

"According to his explanation, it was because he stood up for someone."

Lin Qiu Ping’s ear twitched, and he looked down to ask the little darling in his arms, "Son, were you really beaten for doing the right thing?"

"Yes, Jiajia and the others saw it."

The last thing Qi Zhiyuan expected was his daughter being involved in this mess. He let out a surprised "ah" and walked over to ask him, "Jiajia and the others saw it and didn’t help you?"

That shouldn’t be.

Normally, this group of kids was always inseparable.

They’d get into trouble together, fight together, and if anyone had a piece of candy, they wouldn’t save it for themselves, but share it with everyone, touting themselves as good brothers who stick together, sharing fortune and adversity alike.

If there’s candy, they share it too.

But now, their kids stood by while Lin Yuanchu got beaten and didn’t think to help, which didn’t make sense.

It didn’t fit their brotherly loyalty.

"No, they ran off."

Lin Yuanchu loudly accused, "No loyalty. I’m not going to play with them anymore, or be their leader."

What kind of leader gets beaten up without his followers helping him? Those brothers and sisters aren’t needed.

"I feel like something’s not right."

Just as these words fell, Qi Jia appeared at the entrance, and Qi Zhiyuan quickly called out, "Jiajia, come here, I’ve got something to ask you."

"What is it?"

Little Qi Jia was chewing on dried shrimp as she hopped over, and Qi Zhiyuan succinctly explained the situation, then asked her, "Why didn’t you help Yuan Chu?"

"...We didn’t see it."

The little girl’s face scrunched up, her big eyes filled with confusion, "When we passed by the mud pit, we only saw Miao Li and Tong Xingxing, and Xingxing was crying."

Lin Yuanchu, "??? I was in the mud pit."

He loudly reminded.

Qi Jia nodded, "Yeah, you were in the mud pit, so how could we see you."

Then she leaned closer to Lin Yuanchu, looking him up and down, "Did it hurt when you got hit?"

"A little bit."

The little girl let out an "oh," waved her little hand, "Let’s go."

Before the words were even all out, she was already stepping out.

Qi Zhiyuan, curious, asked, "Where are you going?"

"Gonna take down Miao Li!"

Full of bandit-like bravado, her small voice sharp and fierce.

Lin Yuanchu’s eyes lit up, "Yeah, take him down."

Every adult present was stunned into silence.

Take him down, huh, where did they learn this kind of stuff.