CHAPTER 55: CHAPTER 55: PLASTIC FRIENDSHIP

Following that—

"Stop crying, stop crying, okay I’ll make you a new ball!"

The familiar sound of admitting fault accompanied by the children’s wailing broke into Yi Chichi’s ears, making her shudder with surprise.

Oh my, it’s that old trickster Wu Yongfei again.

She rotated her stiff neck robotically, "Old Witch and his gang are here too?"

"Yeah, they’re here!"

Wang Nan looked furious enough to eat someone alive; she rolled up her sleeves and charged outside, cursing Wu Yongfei for messing things up more than he helped.

Bai Chen and his group also felt the brunt of the anger, with Wang Nan implying they didn’t manage Wu Yongfei well and he was causing trouble again.

Aunt Ma and the others couldn’t sit still upon hearing their children’s cries, so they got up and headed towards the door to see what had happened.

Yi Chichi held an enamel mug, shoveling rice into her mouth as she followed them out.

Then—

"Aunties, you arrived just in time, please help calm the kids down, they’ll crack their faces from crying so much, it will hurt!"

Zhuangzhuang cried loudly in anger, complaining while crying, "You’re worried about our faces cracking, but aren’t you the one who made us cry?!"

His tearful complaints drew everyone’s attention to Wu Yongfei.

Bai Chen and his group sighed; he is beyond saving, truly hopeless.

It’s better to let him fend for himself.

With this in mind, they quickly distanced themselves from Wu Yongfei, showing an attitude that they didn’t recognize this fool.

Displaying their plastic friendship vividly.

Wang Nan was so angry that she was tempted to beat Wu Yongfei up, but she had to restrain her anger and ask, "What great thing have you done again?"

"I-I didn’t do anything, just kicked a ball with them."

He lowered his head meekly to explain, but suddenly raised his head confidently as if he thought of something and pronounced boldly, "I didn’t intentionally kick the ball hard; I really didn’t know that rattan ball would break so easily, I didn’t even use much force..."

Everyone’s gaze fell on the deFLated rattan ball on the ground. Aunt Ma quickly stepped forward, bent down to pick it up and inspect it, then looked at Wu Yongfei as if he were an alien.

"You didn’t use force?"

She shook the rattan ball in her hand, refusing to believe that it became like this without exerting force; if he had used force, the ball might not have even remained in one piece.

"Really didn’t use force."

Wu Yongfei desperately defended himself, "I just kicked it casually."

Aunt Ma looked at Zhuangzhuang and the group, "Did your brother really just kick it once?"

"Uh-huh."

Zhuangzhuang, honest as ever, both wiped his tears and nodded, "Just kicked it once, and the ball broke."

As he spoke, grief overcame him and he burst into tears again.

Barely stopping their crying, Niu Niu and the rest quickly joined in, crying like they were in a competition, each sounding sadder than the last.

The crying gave Yi Chichi and the others a headache.

In a panic, they started comforting the children, but it didn’t work.

Kids with few toys have a strong liking for rattan balls and genuinely enjoy playing soccer games.

They don’t want anything but the ball; even Yi Chichi’s offering of White Rabbit candy couldn’t calm them.

In an instant, she was at a loss, her gaze swept around, landing on Aunt Guihua who watched the scene with a smile, her eyes lit up.

Seeing Aunt Guihua so composed, she must have a solution.

"Stop crying, I’ll weave you a new rattan ball."

Aunt Guihua appeared like a hero descending from the heavens, one sentence calming all the sobbing youngsters.

Yi Chichi clicked her tongue, Aunt, you’re bad, only stepping in when you had enough fun watching.

However—

"Aunt, you can actually weave rattan balls?"

Aunt Guihua silently straightened her slight frame and declared boldly, "The rattan ball that Wu Zhiqing kicked to pieces was made by me."

"Amazing!"

Yi Chichi gave a thumbs up, Aunt Guihua snorted proudly and waved at Zhuangzhuang and the group, "Come on, let’s go back and get some rattan!"

"Let’s go!"

Zhuangzhuang and the group couldn’t resist the allure of the rattan ball, and scampered towards Aunt Guihua, urging her to hurry home to weave the ball.

Then, Aunt Guihua assumed the role of a leader, leading a mighty crowd of children away.

Being the youngest, Niu Niu tottered along at the end of the line; when passing by Yi Chichi, she backtracked and reached out her little hand towards her.

"Sister, candy!"

"Here!"

Yi Chichi dared not give her candy, "How about I make you some sugar water instead?"

The little girl is too small; what if she chokes on it?

To be safe, it’s better to make sugar water, no accidents that way.

Niu Niu thought it was okay, swinging her pigtails, thanking her sweetly, while Aunt Ma looked embarrassed, "This stuff is expensive, don’t give it to her."

Primarily because they couldn’t afford to pay back.

Given their family’s circumstances, being able to buy a few candy balls for the child already meant their days were good.

White Rabbit candy, being a high-end candy, was something they dared not even look at.

"It’s fine, let the children enjoy a sweet treat."

Yi Chichi held Niu Niu’s hand as they returned to the house; Yu Qingqing was still struggling with the flowers, Yi Chichi glanced over, felt the burning sensation in her eyes, and turned away.

Fortunately, she wasn’t her apprentice; otherwise, she’d be furious.

Bai Chen and the others came inside too, chatting idly with the aunties.

As for Wu Yongfei, his eyes kept darting towards Liu Lan, who stood next to Yu Qingqing instructing her on needlework, his instincts prompting him to move towards her.

Yi Chichi, who was making sugar water, saw this wasn’t good, hurriedly told Wang Nan beside her, "Have Old Bai keep an eye on Wu Yongfei, don’t let him go near Liu Lan."

He’ll get beaten to death by those guys at Liu Lan’s house.

Wang Nan swiftly turned her head towards Wu Yongfei, and upon seeing his expression and body language she couldn’t help but curse, that troublesome fool is genuinely beyond saving.

She leapt over, "Old Bai, didn’t you say you have something to handle with Old Witch? It’s still early, better get on with it."

Implication clear, she was nonstop sending Bai Chen eye signals.

Just about to say he didn’t have anything to handle with Wu Yongfei, Bai Chen immediately understood upon seeing her look, deftly pulling Wu Yongfei out with him, and courteously bidding farewell to Aunt Ma and the others.

"Ladies, we have some matters to attend to first, carry on chatting."

"I..."

"Shut up, or we’ll gang up on you!"

Wu Yongfei opened his mouth to speak, but was quickly shut down by Bai Chen; and seeing Qi Yang and the others following him out, all glaring at him fiercely, Wu Yongfei slowly realized he might’ve done something wrong again.

As to what he did wrong, he thought hard but couldn’t figure it out, so after being dragged out, he quietly asked, "What did I do for you to want to beat me?"

"You were thinking of going near Liu Lan!"

Concise, direct.

Wu Yongfei slumped; wondering why his reputation was so bad, they’d guard against him like he’s a thief, afraid he’d go near Liu Lan?

You’d think a man could yield when necessary, but he really couldn’t swallow this grievance.

"If I say I wasn’t planning on going near Liu Lan, just curious about what they were doing, would you believe me?"

"No!"

In unison, firmly.

Wu Yongfei, ...