The two servants were familiar to Teacher Li. They were household guards from the chubby boy’s residence, responsible for escorting him to and from school.
Evidently, they had received information from some “little spies” outside, learning that their young master had been injured, and the situation was quite serious since the school had called for a physician.
With clear purpose, they barged into the inner courtyard and entered the room, immediately spotting the chubby boy lying unconscious on the bed.
“Young Master…” One of the guards exclaimed, rushing to the bedside to check for breathing… He wasn’t dead.
Their tense bodies relaxed, only to be replaced by a surge of anger. Although the young master had been beaten at school, his parents weren’t magistrates conducting an investigation. They would simply think their son was injured while studying, and the guards responsible for protecting him would be punished.
The two guards glared at everyone, focusing on Teacher Li, and shouted, “Which little brat beat our young master?”
Teacher Li coughed lightly and said gently, “This matter is a misunderstanding. Take him home first, and I’ll personally visit later.”
He planned to wait for Xu Ling Yin’s family to arrive and then discuss how to apologize. With him mediating, the issue could be resolved peacefully. After all, a malicious fight between children occurring in his school would badly affect his reputation if it escalated.
The guards were even more uncouth than common soldiers.
“Don’t give me that nonsense. All I know is our young master was beaten. If you don’t hand over the culprit, we’ll report this to the officials,” one guard shouted loudly.
The other blocked the courtyard entrance, preventing anyone from leaving.
Teacher Li sneered, “The ‘Commentary on the Code’ states: ‘Those under fifteen and the disabled who commit crimes punishable by exile or less shall pay a fine instead. For those under ten who commit treason or murder deserving death, a petition shall be submitted; for theft and assault, they shall also pay a fine.'”
“The magistrate’s office is half an hour’s walk to the right after leaving the school. You two can go there quickly.”
In simple terms, when children commit crimes, a fine can be paid instead of punishment.
The two guards were certainly no match for Teacher Li in discussing the law. Angered and enraged, they rolled up their sleeves, ready to fight.
At this moment, a boy pointed at Xu Ling Yin and shouted, “It was her who beat him! She used a bamboo stick and beat him to death!”
“So it was you!”
Only then did the guards notice the little girl Teacher Li had been intentionally shielding. Actually, it wasn’t that they hadn’t seen her before, but they had focused their attention on the sturdy-looking boys.
The little girl was plain-looking and seemed not very bright. Who would have thought she was the one who beat someone?
However, once their perception changed, the guards suddenly realized that this girl was quite sturdy, with a round face, round belly, and round hands and feet.
With considerable strength…
“Take her away!”
One guard picked up the chubby boy, while the other went to grab Xu Ling Yin by the neck.
“What are you doing?” Teacher Li glared, his mustache quivering with anger.
“Go!”
The guard pushed him aside angrily, “I don’t care about your laws. Whoever beats someone must take responsibility. We’re taking her back to our manor now, to be dealt with by our master and mistress. If you’re smart, notify this dead girl’s family to come to the Zhao Manor to ransom her.”
He sneered, “If they’re late, we can’t be blamed for any missing limbs.”
After all, a beating was the minimum punishment. For injuring their young master, it wouldn’t be as simple as just paying silver. Once back at the manor, this girl would certainly face a harsh beating.
“I won’t go! I won’t go! I want to wait for my mother!” The little dumpling struggled as she was lifted, her legs kicking wildly in protest.
“Tui tui…” The little dumpling spat at him.
“Behave yourself.”
The guard, already fuming, raised his hand to slap her.
The slap didn’t land, as it was quickly blocked by Teacher Li. His beard and hair bristling with anger, he roared:
“I am a Scholar, a Scholar with an official rank. If you dare touch her, prepare to face the law!”
The guard looked at him with disdain. “So what if you’re a Scholar? We have plenty of people coming to our manor during festivals to build connections, not just Scholars, but even officials. What are you, you old fool? Get lost.”
He shoved Teacher Li aside and walked out with his companion.
…
Xu Qi An rode his horse at a trot, basking in the warm sunlight. He complained:
“Just for a broken bracelet, Aunt has been obsessing over it for so long. Why didn’t she ask Second Uncle to handle it?”
Aunt had still come along because she remembered the bracelet she had bought for Xu Ling Yin, which was still missing. Taking advantage of Xu Qi An’s return and his support, she planned to reason with the school’s teacher.
“Your Second Uncle was busy with the Emperor’s spring sacrifice ceremony recently. How could he have time to deal with such trivial matters?” The curtain parted, revealing Aunt’s face, with her pointed chin and lips painted with rouge.
In any era, women who pride themselves on their beauty always put on makeup before going out.
“Hasn’t Second Brother returned?” Xu Qi An casually asked.
She gave her nephew a glare and said, “Second Brother is preparing for the spring imperial examinations, his mind isn’t on these matters. Besides, Second Brother doesn’t have an official rank yet, and he’s not as capable in fighting as you martial artists. He only has his mouth.”
Xu Qi An thought to himself that Second Brother’s mouth could infuriate martial artists to the point of exploding, which was quite a formidable weapon.
He also felt sorry for Second Brother. Although Aunt always talked about “Second Brother preparing for the spring examinations” and “Second Brother, Mother will take good care of you,” she still enjoyed her usual entertainments.
At most, she would give Second Brother an extra serving at meals and verbally express her concern.
A mother with such a strong personality was truly rare in this era… Xu Qi An fell silent, admiring the scenery along the street.
He thought of something. The reason why his maternal grandfather had married Aunt to Second Uncle was probably because he knew his daughter couldn’t be a proper lady in a noble family.
So instead of letting her suffer mistreatment in a noble household relying solely on her beauty, it was better to marry her into an ordinary family where she would be cherished.
That’s why he didn’t teach her to read and write.
Aunt lowered the curtain and leaned close to Xu Ling Yue’s ear, whispering, “After we pick up Ling Yin, Ling Yue, you take Big Brother to browse some jewelry shops.”
“And then help you buy some jewelry too, right, Mother?” Xu Ling Yue gave her mother a sidelong glance.
“Oh, that’s not necessary. I can choose for myself,” Aunt said.
“…” Xu Ling Yue sighed helplessly, “Actually, Mother, you think Big Brother is more reliable, don’t you? That’s why as soon as he returned, you couldn’t wait to seek his help in upholding justice.”
“I never said that,” Aunt quickly denied.
Xu Ling Yue smiled slightly without exposing her mother’s lie. In this family, although Second Brother had great potential, he hadn’t made his mark yet. As for Father, he had become a seasoned official over the years and wouldn’t easily get angry or make enemies.
Expecting him to confront someone over a bracelet was impossible.
Only Big Brother was unrestrained and carefree, yet he was a Constable with real power. Moreover, he had extensive connections in official circles and wasn’t afraid of trouble.
However, after years of bickering with her unfortunate nephew, Aunt would never admit that she relied on him.
They soon arrived at the school. The carriage stopped by the roadside, and the driver set down a small wooden stool, saying, “Madam, Miss, we’ve arrived.”
Aunt and Ling Yue lifted the curtain and alighted.
Xu Qi An said, “I’ll go tie up the horse first and buy some snacks for Ling Yin. Aunt, Ling Yue, you go in first.”
“Can’t you buy them after we pick her up?” Aunt held her daughter’s hand.
The surprise factor isn’t the same, especially for a little glutton… Xu Qi An smiled without explaining.
Aunt pursed her lips and entered the school with Xu Ling Yue.
As soon as they entered, Aunt heard her young daughter’s cries, then saw her being carried out by a burly man.
Xu Ling Yin struggled desperately, but she was no match for an adult.
“Who are you? What are you doing with my daughter?” Aunt blocked the two guards, her brows furrowed in anger.
“Mother, Mother, they’re bad people! They’re bad people! Tell Big Brother to beat them up!” Xu Ling Yin shouted, while continually spitting at the guard.
“Are you this girl’s mother?” The guard scrutinized Aunt, his gaze lingering. He had never seen such a beautiful woman in his life.
Then his eyes fell on Xu Ling Yue, and he was surprised again.
However, seeing that there were no servants following Aunt and Xu Ling Yue, the guard immediately felt reassured and put on a fierce face:
“Your daughter beat up our young master. We’re taking her away.”
Aunt, of course, disagreed. She blocked their way, refusing to let them leave, but the guard was even more unreasonable, intentionally using his body to bump into Aunt, forcing her to back away.
The other guard followed suit, moving to bump into Xu Ling Yue.
The two guards laughed raucously.
Xu Ling Yue retreated in panic, pushed back to the courtyard entrance. She tripped over the threshold, crying out as she fell, bumping into a warm, solid shoulder.
She turned her head to see Xu Qi An, and immediately her eyes welled up with tears: “Big Brother…”
Xu Qi An, holding fried fish balls and meat pies, steadied Xu Ling Yue and narrowed his eyes as he surveyed the two guards: “She’s my sister.”
Aunt, now with a man to back her up, breathed a sigh of relief and moved closer to her nephew.
The guards stopped their rowdy behavior but still maintained their righteous stance, glaring at Xu Qi An: “Your sister injured our young master. He’s barely clinging to life.”
In fact, when they left earlier, the physician had explained that there was no life-threatening danger.
But the guards certainly wouldn’t say that outright. Having the moral high ground allowed them to speak with their chests puffed out—a tactic even village bumpkins understood.
“How uncivilized, how uncivilized,” Teacher Li had also chased after them. Seeing Aunt, he breathed a sigh of relief.
“Teacher Li, what’s going on here?” Aunt demanded loudly.
Teacher Li explained the situation and said helplessly, “In this matter, your family is indeed in the wrong. Please give me some face and let’s resolve this properly.”
So it was about food being snatched… Xu Qi An nodded and said, “Alright, put my sister down, and you go call this boy’s parents to come here.”
He figured they’d have to pay compensation, but at least the little dumpling hadn’t suffered.
Xu Qi An had always been a reasonable person.
“Put her down, my ass…”
Xu Qi An had always been a reasonable person.
The guard holding Xu Ling Yin cursed crudely, saying, “What if you run away? We must take this girl with us, even if the king himself came, it wouldn’t matter.”
“Let’s not be hasty, how about this, I’ll go with you to the Zhao Manor…” Teacher Li hurriedly tried to ease the tension.
Before he could finish speaking, he saw a blur, and the young man’s figure disappeared.
Then came the sound of a loud slap, followed by a dull thud, as if someone had fallen.
The old teacher immediately turned around to see the young man tucking Xu Ling Yin under his arm. At his feet lay the unconscious guard, with broken teeth falling from his mouth and blood flowing continuously.
“Bah, a mere servant daring to be so arrogant. Let’s see who your master is,” Xu Qi An spat.
Xu Qi An had always been a reasonable person.
He glared at the other guard who was still holding the chubby boy: “Go fetch your master.”
The guard gave him a wary look and ran out without a word.
“Big Bro!”
Xu Ling Yin suddenly stopped crying, tucked upside down under Xu Qi An’s arm, wriggling like a fish.
Aunt, displeased with his rough treatment of her daughter, snatched Xu Ling Yin back and checked her carefully, “Does it hurt anywhere?”
Xu Ling Yin touched her head casually, not seeming too concerned: “My head hurts, he punched me twice.”
Aunt’s face suddenly darkened.
Xu Qi An narrowed his eyes and asked, “Who hit you, the chubby boy or an adult?”
“The chubby boy.”
Xu Qi An gave an “Oh” and walked up to Li Bing Yi, saying, “Teacher, how do you think we should handle this?”
He wanted to first consult the “school teacher’s” opinion.
Li Bing Yi pondered for a moment and said, “Zhao Dian was injured and will probably need to stay in bed for a few days. You should show a good attitude and pay some compensation to settle the matter. The boy’s uncle is a Section Chief in the Ministry of Personnel.”
The implication was clear – you can’t compete with their background. If this escalates, you’ll lose no matter what.
“We won’t pay compensation,” Aunt said, hands on her hips, emboldened by her nephew’s presence. “I don’t care if he’s a Section Chief or whatever.”
“It’s a fifth-rank official position,” Li Bing Yi explained.
“Ning Yan, let’s hurry home,” Aunt turned and said.
Do you have to back down so quickly… Xu Qi An said irritably, “Why go home? If they come to make trouble at our house, won’t that be even more embarrassing? We might as well resolve it here.”
After waiting for an hour, parents gradually came to pick up their children.
Xu Qi An’s ear twitched as he heard the sound of chaotic footsteps.
The guard returned, followed by a middle-aged man dressed like a wealthy merchant, a woman in her early thirties adorned with gold and silver jewelry, and more than a dozen servants carrying clubs.
“Master, it was that girl who beat Young Master. And that guy not only sheltered the dead girl but also injured people,” the guard reported.
The woman started cursing loudly as soon as she saw Xu Qi An and the others.
The middle-aged man suppressed his anger and looked Xu Qi An up and down: “Who are you? Which government office do your family elders work in?”
Xu Qi An said, “I am Xu Qi An, I’m…”
Before he could say “Constable,” the middle-aged man coldly interrupted: “I asked about your family elders.”
“My uncle is Xu Ping Zhi, a Centurion in the Imperial Blade Guards.”
The middle-aged man gave a long “Oh,” dragging out the sound. The daughter of a mere Imperial Blade Guard Centurion actually dared to injure his precious son.
This matter was far from over.
“I’ll give you two choices: One, pay 500 taels of silver as compensation. Two, I’ll take this girl to the authorities.”
“500 taels?” Aunt exclaimed in shock. “Even if we killed your son, it wouldn’t be worth 500 taels. Don’t even think about it.”
“You bitch, how dare you speak like that!” The well-dressed woman, who had just stopped cursing, flew into a rage again. Pointing at Aunt, she shouted with spittle flying:
“Look at this family, not a decent person among them. No wonder the daughter is so wild, with such a seductive mother. None of them are any good.”
Aunt put her hands on her hips and sneered, “Looking like that ugly mug, you have the nerve to show your face in public? Disgusting!”
The woman was furious. She strode forward, raising her hand to slap Aunt.
Aunt let out a shrill scream.
“Slap!”
Xu Qi An slapped the woman, sending her staggering, her face bright red.
“You…” The woman glared at him angrily.
“Slap!”
Xu Qi An slapped her again.
The woman lost her balance and fell to the ground, crying out, “Husband, what are you waiting for? I’m about to be beaten to death!”
The middle-aged man, already seething with anger and seeing that the matter couldn’t be resolved through talk, darkened his face and waved his hand: “Beat them!”
The servants rushed forward.
The woman pointed at Aunt and shrieked, “Beat that bitch to death!”
Xu Qi An pulled Aunt and Ling Yue behind him, then kicked the foremost servant.
The club flew from his hand, and the servant, weighing over 130 pounds, was sent flying out into the street.
This kick of his used a special technique.
The dozen or so servants all stopped in their tracks, gripping their clubs, not daring to approach.
The power of that kick was not something an ordinary person could achieve. This guy was a trained fighter.
So he’s a trained fighter… The middle-aged man whispered something to a servant beside him, who immediately ran off.
“This is the capital. Problems can’t be solved with violence. Young man, your sister beat someone up. Don’t you owe us an explanation?” The middle-aged man’s face was gloomy.
“Your son stole my sister’s food first,” Xu Qi An said with a cold smile, looking askance.
Aunt was comforting her young daughter while also soothing the frightened Ling Yue. She glanced up at Xu Qi An and immediately felt a sense of security.
It wasn’t in vain that she had raised him.
“He’s just a child. What child isn’t greedy? How is this even an issue? You’re nitpicking with a child. Have you no shame?” the woman shouted loudly.
She was somewhat wary now, her words less brazen than before.
Xu Qi An couldn’t be bothered to respond to her.
“So what do you want?” the middle-aged man asked.
“Your son stole my sister’s food first, then hit her. So, I’m only willing to compensate ten taels of silver,” Xu Qi An stated his position.
He could argue with both reason and force, but the fact remained that Xu Ling Yin had injured someone, even if provoked. Based on Xu Qi An’s experience as a police officer in his previous life, such matters should be judged according to the severity of the injury.
However, it would only amount to paying a small sum to settle the matter. Anything more was out of the question.
The middle-aged man gave a cold laugh.
As the two sides faced off for a moment, a team of constables from the local yamen arrived, led by a middle-aged man with piercing eyes and a dark complexion.
Three constables followed behind him.
His gaze quickly swept over everyone in the courtyard, and he asked in a deep voice, “What’s going on here?”
The servant who had reported to the authorities said someone had injured people in the market, but this chief constable didn’t take his word at face value.
“I am Zhao Shen, my uncle is a Section Chief in the Ministry of Personnel,” the middle-aged man said with a cupped-hand salute.
The chief constable hurriedly returned the salute: “Mr. Zhao.”
The middle-aged man nodded habitually and pointed at Xu Qi An, saying, “This man has broken the law with violence, allowing his sister to seriously injure my son, and then he injured my servants. I ask the constable to uphold justice.”
The chief constable stared at Xu Qi An for a moment, feeling that this extraordinarily handsome young man looked familiar, but couldn’t recall where he had seen him before.
“Lock him up.”
Two constables took out their ropes and approached Xu Qi An.
“Chief Constable, are you sure you want to act based on one-sided information?” Xu Qi An frowned.
The chief constable raised his hand, stopping the two constables: “Speak.”
“What else is there to say? My son just ate a bit of his sister’s food, and that dead girl beat my son into serious injury. Not only does he refuse to apologize, but he also injured my household servants. Is there no justice? Is there no law?”
The woman wailed loudly.
The chief constable immediately looked towards Teacher Li and the doctor who had not yet left.
“It is indeed so, but the Zhao family’s attitude is also quite overbearing,” Teacher Li gave an impartial response.
The doctor said, “That child will need to stay in bed for several days to recover.”
The chief constable nodded slowly. It was normal for people to be overbearing when their child was injured – anyone would be angry in such a situation.
“Lock him up!” the chief constable said sternly.
Seeing that the constables were about to lock up her big brother, the little dumpling became furious and shouted, “He stole my food first. Tui tui tui…”
She spat at the constables, trying to prevent them from locking up her big brother.
“He also stole my bracelet,” Xu Ling Yin cried out.
“What?!”
Aunt was shocked and angered. So the culprit who stole the bracelet was this family’s son. Remembering that he had stolen Ling Yin’s food today and then punched her, Aunt’s eyes reddened, and she gritted her teeth:
“This is too much, simply too much!”
Huh?
Xu Qi An was startled. He turned and asked, “The bracelet was also stolen by that chubby boy?”
Xu Ling Yin nodded vigorously: “Yes, Big Bro.”
If this conflict had just been a quarrel between children, Xu Qi An naturally wouldn’t have held a grudge against a child. Paying for some medicine would have been enough. This was why he hadn’t revealed his identity or used his position to bully others.
But clearly, the situation wasn’t that simple. That chubby boy had bullied Xu Ling Yin before. He obviously saw the little dumpling as an easy target and vented his violence on her at will.
Xu Qi An realized this was a case of bullying that couldn’t be tolerated. The chubby boy had been targeting Xu Ling Yin, seeing her as an easy victim, but this time he had pushed too far and faced retaliation.
“So it was your child who did it,” Xu Qi An said, baring his teeth. “Last time he bullied my sister and stole her priceless bracelet. This time, seeing her expensive food, he tried to steal it again and even hit my sister. Now you’re using your power to intimidate us, demanding 500 taels of silver here at the school.”
“What bracelet?” the middle-aged man snorted coldly. “That’s a baseless accusation.”
His wife’s eyes flickered, seemingly recalling something.
Xu Qi An turned to the chief constable and said, “Sir, here’s what happened: The Zhao family’s son has repeatedly bullied my sister, stealing her jade bracelet. This time he stole her food again, and my sister couldn’t bear it anymore, so she fought back. That bracelet was quite valuable. The one you should arrest isn’t me, but them. Please help me recover the stolen property.”
The woman shouted, “What bracelet? There’s no such thing! My son is well-mannered, how could he do such a thing? Husband, they’re not only injuring our son but also slandering him!”
The middle-aged man’s face darkened. He cupped his hands and said, “Constable, please arrest this man. I’ll go fetch my uncle to uphold justice.”
That last sentence had a crucial effect. Hearing it, the chief constable hesitated no longer and ordered, “Lock him up and take him to the yamen.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw the young man in front of him take out a golden object from his bosom and casually toss it over.
The chief constable instinctively wanted to dodge, but as the golden token spun through the air, he recognized its shape. His face changed dramatically, and he reached out to catch it while simultaneously dropping to his knees with a “thud.”
Holding the token with both hands, he stammered, “My… my lord…”
As a yamen chief constable who often assisted the head constable in handling major cases, he had seen the palace’s golden tokens a few times before.
What’s going on?
The Zhao couple’s faces changed color.
They didn’t recognize the golden token, but the chief constable’s reaction was the best reference.
Didn’t he say his family elder was just a Centurion in the Imperial Blade Guards? What’s going on? Does this young man have a high status? Then why didn’t he say so earlier?
These questions flashed through their minds, but then they remembered that their own uncle was a Section Chief in the Ministry of Personnel, a fifth-rank official whose power could make even fourth-rank officials polite and cautious about offending him.
This thought calmed them somewhat.
Xu Qi An stared at the chief constable and asked, “What’s your name?”
The chief constable kept his head low, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead as he thought about his earlier choices. “This lowly one is Zhu Ying.”
Xu Qi An nodded: “I’m here on an imperial order to investigate a case. This is the golden token bestowed by His Majesty. Zhu Ying, is it? You’re a capable man. I admire you and have decided to invite you to work on the case with me. Keep this token safe for me.”
He paused, then added ominously, “If you lose the golden token, your entire family will be executed.”
Plop… A bead of sweat fell to the ground.
Zhu Ying stammered, “This lowly one obeys the order.”
Xu Qi An nodded with satisfaction: “Stay on your knees.”
Then, he pointed at the Zhao couple and said, “Take these two away.”
This was directed at the three constables.
The three young constables looked at Zhu Ying, who didn’t dare raise his head. Angry and anxious, his voice trembling, he said, “What are you standing there for? Carry out the order!”
The three constables hurriedly moved to restrain the Zhao couple.
“My uncle is a Section Chief in the Ministry of Personnel, a fifth-rank official, a fifth-rank official…” Zhao Shen shouted, shocked and furious.
A constable struck him with the scabbard of his sword. After being hit, he finally quieted down, turning to shout at his servants, “Quickly, go fetch my uncle!”
Xu Qi An left the school with his aunt and sisters, saying helplessly, “We can’t play today. I have to go back to the Constabulary to handle this matter. Aunt, do you want to come with me or go back to the manor first?”
Aunt looked at the little dumpling. Since it was her daughter’s affair, she gritted her teeth and said, “Let’s go to the yamen.”
Those two were too hateful just now. Going back to the manor now would only make her angrier the more she thought about it.
…
After everyone left, Old Teacher Li carefully recalled his earlier responses, confirming he hadn’t made any mistakes. His heart settled a bit. He walked over to the chief constable, who was still kneeling, and asked:
“Constable, that… lord just now, which yamen is he from, and what rank does he hold?”
“I don’t know,” Chief Constable Zhu regretfully felt like drawing his sword to kill himself. He cursed, “What does his rank matter? This is a golden token, do you understand? A golden token!”
Golden token… Old Teacher Li’s body swayed, his hands starting to tremble.
That stupid girl’s family had such a powerful figure?!
He was incredibly grateful that he had handled the situation fairly and hadn’t favored the Zhao family. Otherwise, not only would his reputation be ruined, but his life might also be in danger.
Thinking of this, he looked at Chief Constable Zhu with pity in his eyes.
…
On the way to the Constabulary, Xu Qi An rode on horseback with Xu Ling Yin sitting in his arms.
She held a meat pie in her left hand and a bag of fried fish balls in her right, eating happily.
“About what happened earlier… does Ling Yin feel better now?” Xu Qi An probed. “Big Brother will help you beat them up, they’ll be in a sorry state even if they don’t die.”
The most infuriating thing about bullying isn’t the physical pain, but the psychological shadow it casts on a child’s young mind.
“Ling Yin, Ling Yin?”
Xu Qi An nudged his sister.
Xu Ling Yin raised her head from her food, her big eyes clear and bright: “What did Big Bro say?”
“Do you feel better now?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Do you know what ‘feeling better’ means?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Big Brother will help you teach that chubby boy’s parents a lesson.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Your Second Brother died.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“…”
She’s completely brushing me off. I’m so stupid, really, to be concerned about a silly child’s mental health.
After traveling for a while, Xu Ling Yin finished her food. She frowned, tilted her face up, and said, “Big Brother, I…”
Xu Qi An lowered his head, asking with concern, “What’s wrong?”
Xu Ling Yin let out a “Wah” and vomited into his arms. Then, looking regretfully at the mess, she said, “I wanted to throw up.”
“Couldn’t you have said that earlier?” Xu Qi An’s mouth twitched.
“It’s the same if I say it after throwing up, isn’t it?”
“It’s completely different, okay?”
“I think it’s the same.”
“It doesn’t matter what you think, it matters what I think. If you felt sick from the horse’s movement, you should have said so earlier… Never mind, I’ll deal with you when we get home.”
“Then should I eat it back up?” Xu Ling Yin blinked her eyes, seeking her big brother’s opinion.
“You…” Xu Qi An was exasperated. “How did our Xu family end up with such a stupid, greedy child like you?”
He turned to shout at the carriage, “Aunt, your daughter threw up all over me. Quick, give me your handkerchief!”
Aunt lifted the curtain, took a look, and reluctantly handed over a handkerchief.
Xu Ling Yue exclaimed in shock, “Mother, that’s my handkerchief!”
“I know. Ling Yin threw up, so let Big Brother wipe it off.”
“…Why don’t you use your own?” Xu Ling Yue said, feeling wronged.
“I find it disgusting.”
“…”
Aunt changed the subject, saying regretfully, “I was too soft-hearted earlier, I didn’t handle it well. When that shrew tried to slap me, I should have blocked her hand first, then slapped her back, instead of hiding behind your big brother. Now the more I think about it, the angrier I get.”
Many people feel annoyed afterwards, thinking they could have done this or that… Why didn’t they respond in the best way? The more they think about it, the more frustrated they become.
Xu Ling Yin watched as Big Bro wiped off the food she had thrown up, and said regretfully, “It came out on its own.”
“It’s okay, you’ve gained something,” Xu Qi An patted her head. “Later, you can have lunch again. Usually, you only eat once, but now you can eat twice. In the future, you can eat one bite and throw up one bite. Your stomach will never be full, so you can keep eating forever.”
“Really?”
Xu Ling Yin heard this and became very happy, thinking Big Bro was so clever.
“Really,” Xu Qi An nodded.
Though you’ll probably be beaten half to death by your mother first.
“Big Bro, am I your little darling?” Xu Ling Yin asked.
Xu Qi An was surprised and asked back, “Where did that come from? It’s as unexpected as Big Brother’s bald head.”
The little dumpling replied, “Last night I heard Father call Mother his little darling, but no one ever calls me little darling.”
“That’s because you’re not a little darling.”
The little dumpling asked disappointedly, “Then what am I?”
Xu Qi An lowered his head, examining his chubby little sister: “You’re a fatty liver.”
…
Soon, they arrived at the Constabulary.