"You woman, don’t know how to appreciate kindness, do you? Kids fighting is normal—it happens all the time in the village. It’s not a big deal. I’m not even making a fuss, so what more do you want?"
"Of course, it’s about giving them a taste of their own medicine! Your grandson cursed my child first, insulted him, and even knocked over his lunchbox. This isn’t something you can just brush off."
Grandma Zhu hadn’t expected Si Nian to be so ungrateful. Her face darkened, her expression filled with unmistakable fury.
This woman was truly arrogant. Just because she’d earned a little money, she thought she was some big shot now?
Grandma Zhu was seething. She scowled and snapped, "Kids don’t know any better. But you’re an adult—aren’t you ashamed of picking on a child like this?"
Si Nian let out a mocking laugh. "Exactly. He’s already this rotten at such a young age. If we let him off now, who knows how much worse he’ll be when he grows up?"
Grandma Zhu glared at her as if she wanted to tear her apart.
Seeing neither side backing down, Wang Jianguo stepped in. "Comrade Zhu, this incident started because of Zhu Youcai. He was clearly in the wrong—at the very least, he should apologize to Xiao Han."
The incident where Zhou Yuehan was poisoned by his stepmother was already the most traumatic memory for a child.
Yet Zhu Youcai kept using it to taunt him.
Wang Jianguo thought he deserved the beating.
But violence wasn’t the solution.
If this kept up, they’d just end up arguing again.
He had been worried Si Nian wouldn’t agree, but to his surprise, she nodded and said, "Teacher Wang is right. Violence really can’t solve problems."
Yeah, right.
Xiao Han probably ended up in the wrong crowd later in life—joining the underworld—because he’d been tormented too much as a child.
Si Nian didn’t want him to impulsively fight others either. If he picked a fight with someone bigger, he’d only end up hurt.
So she suddenly became very agreeable. "Fine. Let him apologize to my son, and I’ll let this go."
Teacher Wang found her sudden compliance a little odd but didn’t dwell on it. He turned to Grandma Zhu and Zhu Youcai.
Zhu Youcai’s face flushed red with anger. "I’m not wrong! I won’t apologize! Never!"
Grandma Zhu wasn’t happy either, but she wasn’t stupid. She figured she could bide her time—once Zhou Yueshen agreed to expand the farm and boost their village’s economy, she’d get her revenge for her grandson later.
So she pinched her grandson’s ear and scolded sharply, "Enough! Apologize to Xiao Han right now! You can’t bully your little brother, understand? Our village and Xingfu Village are like siblings—Xiao Han is your brother. You can’t hit him!"
Zhu Youcai couldn’t believe his grandmother wasn’t taking his side—she was even hitting him! He burst into tears, wailing resentfully, "Grandma, I didn’t do anything wrong! Why should I apologize?! Ow! Fine, I’m sorry!"
Seeing Si Nian remain silent, Grandma Zhu hardened her heart and smacked her grandson’s butt. "What’s the use of telling me? Say it to Xiao Han!"
"I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Stop hitting me, it hurts! Waaah!"
Zhou Yuehan huffed. "Hmph. I’m not his brother."
Grandma Zhu’s strikes landed on her grandson, but the pain was in her own heart.
Zhu Youcai had been spoiled rotten. After being dragged away, he glared at her viciously. "You hit me! You forced me to apologize to that little bastard and humiliated me! I’m telling Grandpa when we get back! He’ll divorce you!"
Grandma Zhu’s heart ached from her grandson’s words, but she knew he was just venting his frustration. Zhu Youcai was the Zhu family’s only precious heir—he had been coddled and pampered since birth.
Normally, no one would even dare to scold him, let alone hit him.
How could she not dote on him?
She quickly softened her tone and coaxed, "Youcai, Grandma was just pretending earlier to fool them. That woman and Teacher Wang were watching—if I didn’t do something, they’d go back and complain. We have to endure this for now. Next time, find a chance to teach that little orphan a lesson—how dare he hit my precious grandson! But don’t be stupid about it. Don’t do it where people can see. Be sneaky, be smart. If no one sees, how can he tattle?" Her voice dripped with malice.
Hearing this, Zhu Youcai’s eyes lit up.
He had been humiliated by Zhou Yuehan today, and he wouldn’t forget it.
He wouldn’t let him off so easily—just wait and see!
After they left, Teacher Wang sighed apologetically. "Comrade Si, I’m really sorry you and Xiao Han had to go through this. The Zhu family has always been domineering. Many kids have been bullied before, but their families never dared to speak up. Now that you’ve crossed Grandma Zhu, I’m afraid she might retaliate later."
Zhu Youcai was a vengeful child, and Teacher Wang had never liked him.
But since he was enrolled in the school, there wasn’t much he could do.
He pitied the bullied children, but their own parents often accused him of meddling.
Though Grandma Zhu had forced an apology today, he doubted she truly meant it.
Si Nian nodded, already forming her own plans.
Zhu Youcai was clearly a natural-born troublemaker. Now that Xiao Han had offended him, his school life would probably get harder.
But it didn’t matter. If that brat dared lay a hand on Xiao Han again, she wouldn’t hesitate to fight fire with fire.
Since Xiao Han had been hurt, Si Nian took him out of school early to buy medicine.
They hadn’t gone far when they ran into Yu Dong, who had come to pick them up.
Seeing the scratches on Xiao Han’s face, Yu Dong was shocked. "What happened?"
Si Nian briefly explained the situation.
After hearing it, Yu Dong’s expression darkened.
"The Zhu family? Again? Why are they always causing trouble?"
Si Nian was surprised. "What do you mean?"
"Zhujia Village is next to Xingfu Village. They’ve always had better land and a stronger economy than us. But ever since Boss Zhou started the farm, they’ve fallen behind. Now our village is the most prosperous in the area. So the Zhujia Village committee came to Boss Zhou, asking him to invest and open a branch farm there."
Now Si Nian understood why the usually arrogant Grandma Zhu had been willing to apologize.
So there was more to this.
"But don’t worry, those people just want to leech off us. Boss Zhou would never agree. And now that her grandson hit Xiao Han? If anything, Boss Zhou should be the one demanding answers from them!" He clenched his fists angrily.
Si Nian nodded. Boosting the local economy was a good thing.
But not everyone deserved Zhou Yueshen’s help.
Besides, he was already swamped with work at the main farm. If he opened another one, he’d barely have time to come home.
She’d rather be a little selfish.
"Mom, I’m not a bad kid."
