Lin Zhen thoroughly thrashed Wang Shu. Although he took a couple of punches himself, they barely fazed him.
Old lady Niu was beside herself, screaming and cursing even more viciously as she watched her son get beaten.
Lin Zhen’s voice was rough but calm. “Go ahead and curse, Granny Niu. I’ll keep hitting him until you’re done.”
Wang Shu, now genuinely terrified, began to beg for mercy.
Lin Zhen feigned innocence. “That’s not fair. Your mom has been cursing me and my brother all day. I don’t hit old folks, so you, as her son, should take responsibility. Let’s settle this man-to-man.”
Wang Shu:… Why does this have to do with me?!
Liu Guifen, desperate to help, tried to jump in, but Song Wei held her back.
“Auntie, don’t do anything rash,” Song Wei advised with a bright smile as she restrained her. “Men are fighting. If you join in, you’ll only get yourself hurt. Those fists are as big as sandbags. I’m just trying to help you here. Please don’t glare at me like that.”
Liu Guifen stared at her as if she wanted to eat her alive.
“I mean it, Auntie. I’m doing this for your own good.”
Her syrupy tone made Liu Guifen sick to her stomach. But what could she do? She couldn’t win a fight against Song Wei, nor could she outtalk her.
Frustrated, Liu Guifen was about to explode.
Wang Shu, on the other hand, shouted in panic. “Mom, stop cursing! The more you curse, the harder this guy hits me!”
Realizing the truth of her son’s words, old lady Niu finally shut her mouth. Though furious, she bit her tongue, panting heavily and glaring daggers at Lin Zhen.
Lin Zhen released Wang Shu. “Granny Niu, are you done cursing yet?”
Old lady Niu, tied to the tree, looked like she might faint from anger. She’d built her reputation on being loud and aggressive, but now, restrained and unable to act out, she was utterly helpless.
The brigade leader stepped forward to intervene. “Alright, that’s enough. Let’s stop here.”
Wang Shu, battered and aching all over, thought bitterly: Stop? After all this?
Lin Zhen dusted off his hands. “Fine. The kids’ feud ends here. If they fight again, let them settle it themselves. But if adults interfere, then I’ll step in too. I wasn’t there when my brother was bullied before, but from now on, I’ll handle it personally.”
The kids who had previously bullied Heidan shrank back nervously. Lin Zhen was terrifying.
The brigade leader started ushering the crowd away.
“What are you all standing around for? Go home! You still have work to finish in the fields, don’t you? Or do you plan to skip your work points today? Got enough firewood for the winter yet?”
The parents rounded up their children and started heading out, but before leaving, the kids broke free and ran to Song Wei.
“Sister Song, Sister Song, where are our candied hawthorns?”
Song Wei brought out their treats, even handing out some sugar paintings.
“Here, take them.”
“Wow! My sugar painting is a tiger!”
“Mine’s a rooster! A big, sweet, majestic rooster!”
The kids’ faces lit up as they held their snacks. It was as if it were the New Year. The aches and bruises from earlier were completely forgotten, replaced by wide, joyful smiles.
The parents were dumbfounded.
“Mom, look! It’s a sugar painting and candied hawthorns! Here, you can have one of my hawthorns-it’s sweet and sour and so tasty!”
“Grandma, lick this sugar painting-it’s really sweet!”
The parents, seeing their children so happy with rare treats, forgot to question the situation. Instead, they thought warmly of Song Wei.
Such generosity! This was candy, after all-not something you casually handed out.
The brigade leader, who suspected something, frowned.
His eyes narrowed as he looked at Song Wei. Again?! Song Wei, it’s always you stirring things up!
Song Wei smiled innocently, as if she had no idea what he was thinking.
Once the crowd dispersed, the brigade leader turned back to demand an explanation.
Song Wei answered sweetly, “Everything the kids said was true. Da Hu took the candy first. But knowing Auntie Liu’s temper, I figured she’d come causing trouble, so I had the kids exaggerate their injuries a bit to cover ourselves. I didn’t expect it to escalate like this, though.”
Her tone was earnest. “Brigade Leader, I swear I didn’t go looking for trouble. It found me, and I had to figure out how to deal with it.”
The brigade leader sighed and took a long drag from his cigarette. She wasn’t wrong. It wasn’t like she could just sit there and take the abuse. But still…
Why did it always seem like trouble followed Song Wei around?
Lin Zhen chimed in. “Uncle Lei, it’s resolved now. If Wang Shu’s family has any complaints, they can come to me directly. But if I hear they’re bothering you about this, I’ll pay them a visit myself.”
The brigade leader blinked. Is that a threat?
Still, with Lin Zhen’s display of strength, it was unlikely that old lady Niu’s family would dare stir up more trouble.
The brigade leader tapped his pipe and nodded. “Alright. I’ll let them know.”
With that, he walked off, hands clasped behind his back.
As the courtyard quieted, Lin Zhen and Song Wei exchanged a smile.
Song Wei teased, “Impressive, huh?”
Lin Zhen shrugged modestly. “I learned from you-using dirty tricks.”
Song Wei rolled her eyes, her smile fading. “Can’t you phrase that better?”
She rubbed her stomach and changed the subject. “I’m starving. Are we having mutton again for dinner?”
“How about mutton buns? I can make some,” Lin Zhen suggested.
Song Wei’s face lit up. “Perfect! I’ll help knead the dough.”
“I can help too!” Heidan chimed in, raising his hand eagerly.
After tidying the courtyard, the three of them set to work making the buns. It didn’t take long, and soon, the aroma of steaming mutton buns filled the air.
Squatting near the steamer, Song Wei and Heidan eagerly waited.
“It smells so good!” Heidan said, sniffing the air.
Song Wei nodded, crouching beside him, rubbing her hands together. They had made plenty, enough to save some for breakfast the next day.
Meanwhile, Lin Zhen glanced at the dwindling firewood in the yard and frowned. He’d have to figure out how to stock up, but his injured leg made things difficult.
When the buns were ready, Song Wei packed some to take away.
This time, Lin Zhen didn’t try to stop her. The timing didn’t feel right, and he had plans to visit the old doctor in the cow shed anyway.
Heidan, bouncing along beside Song Wei, suddenly remembered something as they reached the gate. Turning back to Lin Zhen, he said politely, “Big Brother, I’ll come see you again tomorrow!”
This little rascal shows some affection… but just a little.
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