Chapter 10
Zhu firmly denied, “Hu, we didn’t bully anyone! We were just taking back the fish, and then we took two pieces because we had to return them to Aunt. That’s all, really!”
The plate was messy, and it caused misunderstanding with their mother, making the children all anxious. Even the usually sensible Bao couldn’t help but cry out, “Hu!”
Bao, worried that mother would misinterpret them, spoke quickly, almost choking on the words, “Liang….”
Bao even wanted to argue with Zhu directly: “How could you treat mother like that, you little brat?”
Shen Yiyi hurried to soothe them, and once their mother believed them, Bao finally relaxed.
“Hmph, of course we admit it,” Ling seized the moment, huffing. “Aunt, don’t misunderstand. Zhu is in the right here. If they took the fish back, that’s only natural, isn’t it? After all, children being greedy is normal.”
Bao, pulled by Shen Yiyi, looked at Ling. The corner of their lips twitched into a smile, then flattened suddenly. “Even the kids are greedy—does that mean Zhu is greedy too?”
Shen Yiyi glanced sharply at Li Zhu. “Well, Zhu was just staring at the food… even now, he’s still staring.”
Sure enough, Ling saw Li Zhu fixated on the rice and meat, drool gathering at the corners of his mouth. Ling hurriedly pulled him away.
“Bao’s eyes are still swollen. If Zhu took the fish, why is Bao crying?”
Shen Yiyi continued, addressing Ling: “And yet, Bao brought the fish back themselves. Were they blind? Didn’t they see that the bowls were already set?”
Hearing this, the children finally relaxed—mother believed them!
Ling felt scolded and flustered.
Indeed, if the children had taken the meat back, Zhu’s argument would collapse.
Ling tried to save face, slapping Li Zhu gently. “Child, meat is meat. Why lie about it?”
Then, trying to sound conciliatory to Shen Yiyi, Ling added, “Aunt, really… if there’s a misunderstanding, we’ll teach them a lesson…”
And then, Ling dragged Zhu along.
“Zhu…” A deep voice carried, making Ling pause mid-pull. She laughed awkwardly at Li Chen. “Uncle… just let him be, Zhu was at fault. If he cries, I’ll definitely scold him…”
Li Chen ignored Ling and looked coolly at Zhu. “Zhu, didn’t I tell you never to bully your younger brother? Or you’ll get punished?”
Although the family didn’t make a big deal out of these “honorable deeds,” in the household, authority mattered.
Even now, Li Zhu always dragged the younger “brothers” into mischief, often drawing Li Chen’s attention.
So, he was frequently “caught” by Li Chen.
Li Zhu didn’t see it as shameful; he saw it as a kind of honor, and it made him feel powerful. That was why he admired Li Chen like an idol.
Of course, admiration didn’t mean he wasn’t afraid of Li Chen.
When Li Chen turned serious, Zhu would immediately panic.
Li Chen grabbed the boy with ease—there was no way to escape his grasp. Two steps, and he held Li Zhu firmly, delivering a series of spanks on his bottom.
Li Zhu screamed and cried.
“Stop, Uncle! Stop!” Ling yelled, worried but still afraid of Li Chen. She could only turn to their mother for help. “Mother, please tell him to stop! Zhu is your grandson!”
Seeing her grandson being punished made Li’s mother ache, but she was also afraid of her son.
Though she loved Li Zhu dearly, Bao was also her grandchild, and since Zhu had been bullying him, it was clearly over the line.
Li’s mother endured her worry and shouted at Ling, “Why are you crying? Why is Zhu being punished? Have I not taught him properly? If he deserves it, he must be spanked!”
What could Ling argue against that?
Ling felt extremely wronged and pleaded with Li’s wife, “Aunt, please help and persuade him!”
Ling took advantage of having her own son, always bullying the childless aunt.
Would the aunt intervene? She looked anxious but firm.
“Ling, you should also persuade your brother.”
Ling glared at the aunt and then at Shen Yiyi. Shen Yiyi met her gaze confidently and looked at Li Chen. “Brother Chen, keep spanking. Bao’s eyes are still swollen!”
Li Chen, having loosened Zhu earlier, grabbed him again and resumed spanking his bottom.
Ling started crying outright.
Shen Yiyi, observing the situation, didn’t intervene against Ling since she had no proof, but let Ling go easily.
Finally, Li Chen spanked Li Zhu several more times before stopping. Ling, terrified he might continue, quickly scooped up the sobbing and tearful Li Zhu.
“What mischief… such trouble,” Li’s mother said to Ling, still displeased.
Then she gathered the children close, patting them gently. “From now on, if Brother Zhu ever bullies you again, tell Grandma. She’ll teach him a lesson.”
“All right~” the children replied softly.
Shen Yiyi stood by. In her experience, though Li’s mother slightly favored Li Zhu, she never treated Bao unfairly.
