Chapter 43 Get Lost, You Bad Kid (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

"What are you going to the river for? It's not safe there." Lu Ting frowned, worried about Xu Qingmo's safety.

Xu Qingmo: "Don't treat me like a child."

“But you’re just a child, even younger than me.” Lu Ting deliberately placed his hand on Xu Qingmo’s head and compared it to his own chest.

Xu Qingmo was somewhat unconvinced and turned to leave.

A few older children passed by, and they looked to be about the same age as Lu Ting.

Among them were Wang Xiaohu, the son of Company Commander Wang; Zhou Tianyu, the son of Battalion Commander Zhou; and Song Wei, the son of Platoon Leader Song.

When Wang Xiaohu heard that they were going to the river, he immediately became interested and took the initiative to strike up a conversation, saying, "If you want to go to the river, you can look for me, and I'll take you there."

Song Wei didn't recognize Xu Qingmo and asked curiously, "Who are you? I've never seen you before."

Zhou Tianyu then asked, "What's your name?"

These guys are the kings of the kids in the residential compound. They usually wander around the compound and know all the kids and adults there.

Today, however, Xu Qingmo looked completely unfamiliar.

Xu Qingmo didn't say her own name, but instead asked them, "What are your names?"

"Wang Xiaohu".

"Zhou Tianyu".

"Song Wei".

The three chubby-cheeked children blurted out their names, then realized something was amiss.

Zhou Tianyu was the first to react, "I was the one who asked you your name first, and you haven't said it yet."

"I didn't promise to tell you." Xu Qingmo looked at Wang Xiaohu and asked, "Want to catch fish?"

Wang Xiaohu rubbed his hands excitedly. He had been wanting to eat fish for a long time, but unfortunately his father was always busy and never had time to take him to the river.

Every time he went to the river to play, he could see fish swimming in the water, but he couldn't catch them at all, which made him jump and hop around on the riverbank.

Wang Xiaohu nodded vigorously, "Yes, of course I want to."

Song Wei looked Xu Qingmo up and down. She was small and cute. Did she even know what catching fish was?

Song Wei leaned close to Wang Xiaohu's ear and warned, "Don't be fooled by her. If we take her to the river and fall in, the adults will definitely spank us."

Wang Xiaohu hesitated; his father's Seven Wolves sword still hurt quite a bit when it hit someone.

But the thought of not having eaten meat for several days left me with a bland taste in my mouth and a craving for it.

In the end, gluttony triumphed over fear.

“We’ll be right back, and it was her idea to go. Our parents taught us to protect and care for the weak, and to help those in need. We’re helping out,” Wang Xiaohu said logically.

Song Wei and Zhou Tianyu were fooled.

Wang Xiaohu asked mysteriously, "Don't you want to eat fish?"

"I want to, I dream about it," Song Wei immediately replied.

Zhou Tianyu nodded, "I want to too."

“If you want to go, then go. Stop dawdling like the girl next door, so pathetic.” Wang Xiaohu walked up to Xu Qingmo and said to Song Wei and the others, “If you’re afraid of getting beaten by the adults, then don’t go over there. If we catch any fish, no one is allowed to take them.”

Xu Qingmo said, "I didn't say I was taking you guys fishing, why are you all so excited?"

"Let me tell you, there are so many fish in that river, a ton of them. If you don't go and catch them, you'll just be drooling. You'd better not go." Wang Xiaohu suppressed his impulse and said something against his will.

He wants to catch any fish he sees.

He had gotten his clothes wet several times before and had been scolded by his mother, but he still didn't learn his lesson.

"Let's go and take a look." Xu Qingmo finally couldn't resist the temptation.

Lu Ting couldn't persuade him otherwise, so he simply went along.

The soldiers guarding the gate looked at Wang Xiaohu and his friends, told them not to wander off, and to play nearby.

Wang Xiaohu agreed verbally, "Okay, we'll just play around nearby and be back in a bit."

Once the children were outside the gate, they ran excitedly towards the riverbank.

The wild river was about 500 or 600 meters away from the family compound. The group of thugs deliberately chose a lush, tree-lined spot to hide themselves and avoid being discovered.

Xu Qingmo noticed splashing water in the river and guessed that the fish inside were quite large.

Wang Xiaohu had already rolled up his sleeves and trouser legs, ready to go into the water to catch fish.

Xu Qingmo ignored her and looked around, then spotted a branch growing on a tree.

Lu Ting stepped forward, looking worried. "Qingmo, let's go back. It's dangerous here."

"If you help me break that branch off, I'll consider going back with you."

Lu Ting was overjoyed, "Really?"

Xu Qingmo urged, "Can you climb trees?"

Lu Ting agreed, "I can. I've climbed before. Just wait for me, I'll break off the branch for you right away."

Lu Ting rubbed his hands together, then hugged the tree and started climbing. He was very agile and soon broke off the branch and threw it down.

Xu Qingmo cleared the twigs from the tree branches and walked back to the riverbank.

A black fish swam along the riverbank, flicking its tail.

It seems they didn't take Xu Qingmo seriously at all.

Xu Qingmo locked onto her target and forcefully threw the branch in her hand at the blackfish that weighed about three pounds.

The sharp branch moved with lightning speed, and it looked like it was about to pierce the blackfish's body. Wang Xiaohu noticed it and immediately rushed over to grab the fish.

The blackfish flicked its tail and slid into the bottom of the water.

The tree branch splashed water, embedded itself in the mud, and stood upright in the water.

Wang Xiaohu looked regretful. "What a pity... I almost caught it. My dad's arm was injured, and I heard that blackfish are good for wounds, but I just couldn't catch it."

He angrily splashed around in the water.

Xu Qingmo waved to Wang Xiaohu, who was puzzled but obediently walked over.

Immediately afterwards, I was hit on the head.

"If you hadn't suddenly appeared, I would have already pierced that fish." Xu Qingmo was furious.

I'm not afraid of god-like opponents, but I'm afraid of pig-like teammates.

Wang Xiaohu rubbed his aching head, wondering how this girl could be so strong.

He immediately got angry, "Why did you hit me? I'm older than you and I still can't catch a blackfish, how could you? Do you really think you're all-powerful?"

Song Wei whispered a reminder from the side, "Xiao Hu, she really... almost poked the fish just now. It was you who ran over and scared the fish away."

Zhou Tianyu nodded in agreement, "That's right, I saw it too. It was Xiaohu who scared it away."

Wang Xiaohu stared at the two men in disbelief. The three of them were usually so close they could share a pair of pants. Xu Qingmo had only been there a short time, yet she had managed to get Song Wei and the others to speak on her behalf.

Wang Xiaohu neither understood nor respected it.

"Bullshit! It was clearly me who was about to catch the fish, but Xu Qingmo deliberately scared the fish away with a branch beforehand, which is why I didn't catch it. She just didn't want my dad to eat the blackfish. She's a bad kid, and bad kids aren't allowed to catch fish here. Get out of here."

Wang Xiaohu, a true king of children, had never suffered such injustice.

Suddenly seized by a fierce rage, he raised his hand and struck Xu Qingmo on the head.

The next second, Wang Xiaohu flew out and landed hard on his backside in the water.