The train sped along, and Li Wu's initial reluctance gradually turned into curiosity about the world outside. This was his first time leaving home for a long journey.
But even the most beautiful scenery grows tiresome after a while.
"Grandma, how much longer until we arrive?"
The train was crowded, and unlike at home, he couldn’t run around freely. For an energetic boy like Li Wu, this was unbearable.
"We won’t get there until late tonight. Are you hungry?"
Yang Yufen looked at Li Wu with a pang of sympathy.
Li Wu nodded. Yang Yufen poured hot water from a thermos, then took out the pancakes she had made early that morning, along with freshly washed cucumbers, tomatoes, and a smoked chicken leg.
"Wow, Grandma, you’re the best!"
The aroma of food instantly lifted Li Wu’s spirits.
Teacher Gao wasn’t just escorting Li Wu—there were other children too. But Li Wu was the youngest, and unlike the others, he had Yang Yufen accompanying him. The rest were under Teacher Gao’s care alone.
When Teacher Gao approached, he saw the grandmother and grandson already eating. Still, he set down a food container in front of them.
"This is the train’s boxed meal. You two should try it. We’ll arrive in seven hours."
"Thank you, Teacher Gao. You should go check on the other children."
Yang Yufen quickly accepted the meal. The train was packed, and it couldn’t have been easy for Teacher Gao to squeeze through.
Teacher Gao thanked her repeatedly. Managing so many children alone was overwhelming—so much so that he hadn’t even been able to deliver the meals on time.
Li Wu had already devoured a smoked chicken leg, but he was still curious about the train’s boxed meal. Noticing his eager gaze, Yang Yufen opened the container and placed it in front of him.
"Go ahead."
"It smells so good! Grandma, I want chicken too! I want meat! They even have boxed meals!"
A boy sitting diagonally across from them suddenly threw a tantrum, pointing at Yang Yufen’s side.
The chubby child, about Li Wu’s age, tugged at his own grandmother’s sleeve, shaking her.
"Ow, ow, slow down, my dear! You’ll get some, just let go first!"
The elderly woman winced but still tried to soothe him.
"Sister, my grandson really wants some meat. Could you spare one of those chicken legs?"
The woman addressed Yang Yufen directly.
"Sure, for one yuan."
Yang Yufen didn’t refuse outright.
"What?! One yuan? How could you be so greedy—teasing a child and then demanding such a ridiculous price!"
The old woman was immediately offended.
"One yuan is already a bargain. If you can’t afford it, buy him a boxed meal from the train vendors."
Over the years, Yang Yufen had mellowed. Instead of lashing out, she simply replied before urging Li Wu to keep eating and ignore the commotion.
The surrounding passengers had long been drawn by the savory smell of the chicken, but most were too polite to say anything. Now, hearing the argument, they craned their necks to watch.
"You old hag, give me that chicken!"
Just when it seemed the matter would end there, the brat suddenly screamed and lunged at Yang Yufen, ready to snatch the food.
Li Wu reacted instantly, shoving the boy back.
"You cursed at my grandma and tried to hit her?!"
Li Wu was stunned—he’d never met a child so ill-mannered.
"Ah! I’ll beat you to death!"
Enraged, the boy charged at Li Wu again, fists flying.
The two were about the same height, but Li Wu was sturdy from real training, while the brat was just fat from overindulgence. Within moments, Li Wu had him pinned to the ground.
"You little brat! How dare you hit my grandson?!"
The grandmother hadn’t expected her precious boy to lose. She raised a stick and swung it at Li Wu’s head.
Yang Yufen slammed her food container into the woman’s face, grabbed the stick mid-swing, and delivered a sharp slap.
"Disgraceful old wretch! Attacking a child? Failed at robbery and now attempted murder? I’ll teach you to act like a rabid dog!"
Two more resounding slaps, and Yang Yufen shoved the woman back into her seat. She then pulled Li Wu aside and yanked the brat up by the collar.
"Listen here, brat. If your grandma won’t discipline you, I will."
She bent him over the seat and spanked his backside hard—whack, whack, whack!
"Waaahhh!"
"Stealing leads to worse crimes! Robbers end up behind bars. Count yourself lucky I’m the one teaching you this lesson. Think the world revolves around you? Reach for what isn’t yours again, and I’ll break your hand!"
Yang Yufen’s iron palm showed no mercy.
"I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Waaahhh!"
The boy had never been hit like this before. He’d been defiant when Li Wu pinned him, but seeing Yang Yufen strike his grandmother without hesitation—and now him—terrified him into submission.
By the time the grandmother recovered, Yang Yufen had already tossed the boy back to her.
"Now pay up. Three yuan for the ruined boxed meal. Or should I call the train police? Attempted robbery and assault—with all these witnesses, they’ll see how you swung that stick at my grandson’s head. If I hadn’t stopped you, who knows what could’ve happened? The boy might be too young for jail, but at your age, prison won’t be kind."
Yang Yufen spoke rapidly, leaving no room for interruption.
"Y-you—we’re the ones who got beaten!"
"Hah! Serves you right. Since when does anyone get free handouts? Acting like royalty while begging for food—let’s hear what everyone thinks!" She turned to the onlookers. "This smoked chicken leg is huge, specially prepared, and carried all the way from the capital for my grandson. She demands one for free, and I ask for one yuan—what’s unreasonable about that? I didn’t even charge for my effort!"
The food had been delivered by Lianxiang that morning, still warm. The container held six chicken legs, and Li Wu had only eaten one—five remained inside.
"You’re just extorting us!"
"That looks like Lianxiang’s smoked chicken. If it is, one yuan per leg is more than fair."
The train had originated from the capital, and many passengers were from there. The speaker clearly recognized the brand.
"It is Lianxiang’s smoked chicken," Yang Yufen confirmed.
Lianxiang had recently opened a shop named Lianxiang’s Delicacies. Her smoked chicken carried a subtle lotus leaf aroma—a perfect match.
"But that doesn’t give her the right to hit my boy! My poor grandson has always been frail. All he wanted was a bite of meat—it’s not like I refused to pay!"
Yang Yufen raised her hand, and the woman flinched, clutching the boy tighter. But Yang Yufen only smoothed her hair.
"I was disciplining him on your behalf. Every child gets spanked for misbehaving. No respect for elders, calling people ‘old hags’—what kind of upbringing is that?"
The commotion finally drew the attention of the train police and Teacher Gao, who arrived almost simultaneously.
