Xu Laosan thought he had gotten away with the beating today, but he didn't expect those two bastards to be so clueless and still betray him. Since Silly Lao Er had taken the blame, then Silly Lao Er would be the one to actually do the work.

He was planning to return the cotton-padded coat and trousers to them tomorrow, but now...

What a clueless idiot!

He knew he was in trouble when the two boys said they'd glanced at him beforehand.

When no one was paying attention to him, Xu Laosan slowly moved his feet, keeping his eyes and ears open.

When Grandpa Xu saw his grandson's eyes darting around, he immediately guessed what was going on. Just as Xu Laosan was about to brush past Yang Chunqin, Grandpa Xu grabbed him by the back of his collar without any mercy and pulled him back.

Xu Laosan was in a real hurry!

He felt that a violent storm was about to arrive.

The two boys explained the matter clearly in just a few words.

Quiet!

Deathly silence!

Xu Laosan's heart was pounding wildly.

Without saying a word, Yang Chunqin started looking for a large broom.

Grandma Xu handed the feather duster in her hand to Yang Chunqin without any hesitation.

"Xu Laosan, you're getting bolder and bolder!" Yang Chunqin roared angrily.

The hearts of the young men present trembled.

That's terrifying!

The two boys seemed to realize their mistake, and after stealing a glance at Xu Laosan, they dared not look at him again.

Xu Laosan took off running, gritting his teeth as he ran, saying to the two boys, "Cowards, don't follow me anymore. I don't have cowards like you who can't take a loss. Traitors, snitches, I'm ashamed of you."

The two boys frowned. It wasn't that they wanted to tattle, was it? The main problem was that the cotton-padded clothes were too conspicuous. They were wearing them when they came out, but they were gone when they came back, so they were being questioned.

They were also beaten with sticks at home. If they didn't confess honestly, they probably wouldn't be able to wear cotton-padded jackets and trousers in the future. But it would be too cold without them.

Xu Xinning laughed, pulled the silly Mu Jingheng to a corner with a good view and sat down, not forgetting to grab a handful of sunflower seeds to eat while watching.

Home is the best!

Xu Laosan's house is always so lively!

Mu Jingheng felt a little embarrassed and didn't dare to sit down. She used her body to shield herself from other people's gazes, especially Xu Laosan's. How sad would he be if he knew that his dear sister was gloating and watching the show while he was being beaten!

"Xu Yaozu, quickly close the gate. I'll beat this unfilial son to death today. He's so young and he's already learned to gamble. What will he be like when he grows up?" Yang Chunqin ordered Xu Yaozu.

Xu Yaozu cooperated and slammed the gate shut in one swift motion.

"Dad, Dad, am I your biological son?" Xu Laosan asked the question that struck at the heart of the matter.

Mu Jingshu was getting anxious. In her opinion, Xu Laosan hadn't done anything wrong this time. It was a matter of mutual consent. He was just not as skilled as others and yet he made a scene in front of the adults. Was that something a human being would do?

The little girl, hands on her hips, said angrily, "Haven't you ever won any marbles from the boss? Has the boss ever asked you for the marbles you won back? You were the ones who suggested using your cotton-padded jackets and trousers as stakes. You even wanted to use your underwear, but the boss thought it was too dirty and didn't want it."

Grandma Chen couldn't help but burst into laughter upon hearing this.

When Grandma Chen smiled, everyone else laughed along with her.

When Mu Jingshu saw everyone laughing, but Yang Chunqin was still chasing after Xu Laosan, she became even more anxious. "The eldest brother is too good to you. I was originally thinking of letting you bring other things to exchange for your cotton-padded jackets and trousers. I think even if we take them apart to make cotton shoes, we still can't give them back to you."

Seeing the little girl's face turn red with anger, Grandma Xu chuckled and pulled her to her side, advising, "We can't do this in the future. It's fine for kids to play marbles, but how can we take it so seriously? Now you're betting your cotton-padded coat and trousers, what will you do later, betting your house or something? Winning or losing marbles is just a game, but if you take it too far, it changes its nature. Gambling is unacceptable; it can lead to jail time."

Mu Jingshu was unaware that the situation was so serious. She secretly glanced at Xu Yaozu and then whispered to Grandma Xu, "Grandma, we didn't gamble. It was those two who insisted on using their cotton-padded jackets and trousers as collateral."

Grandma Xu patted Mu Jingshu's head and said with a smile, "Yes! Grandma understands!"

Mu Jingshu: "Then could you please ask Auntie to stop hitting Brother Rui?"

Grandma Xu shook her head and said, "The third son has to take this beating, otherwise he won't know how serious the situation is. Besides, so many people are watching, your aunt has to make a statement, otherwise people will say that our family has no upbringing and spoils the children too much."

Mu Jingshu was a little confused and blurted out, "Then why don't you hit me when I make a mistake?"

Grandma Xu explained very seriously, "Because you are a girl! Girls are all sensible, you can just talk to them nicely. Just like your second sister-in-law, she has never been hit or even scolded since she was a child, because as long as we say something, she understands everything and remembers what she should and shouldn't do."

Mu Jingshu blinked and followed up with, "Then was Brother Rui beaten because he wouldn't listen?"

Grandma Xu nodded.

Mu Jingshu stared blankly at Xu Laosan, who was running around wildly. It seemed like no one was trying to reason with Xu Laosan before the fight started. Had she not noticed?

Yang Chunqin chased after him and hit him, but when she couldn't hit him, Xu Yaozu would seemingly unintentionally help her drive Xu Laosan towards her.

Caught between two attacks, Xu Laosan had nowhere to escape and could only shout in resistance. But the more he resisted, the faster the feather duster struck him.

Xu Laosan really suffered, and in the end, Xu Yaozu even dragged him by the back of his collar to the study for some ideological work.

The cotton-padded jackets and trousers were returned to their owner, but the two boys couldn't be happy at all.

The road ahead is shrouded in darkness!

After Xu Laosan came out of the study looking dejected, Mu Jingshu and Xu Zeyu went up to offer their condolences, and then the three of them huddled together again to plot something.

The news that Xu Laosan had won someone else's cotton-padded jacket and trousers spread throughout the entire brigade the next day, and unsurprisingly, it became a source of amusement for the adults.

Xu Mingyang is back, and he's back with his girlfriend. The news spread like wildfire throughout the brigade. Apart from his second wife and old man Xu, everyone in the brigade seemed to be happy for him.

After learning about Xu Mingyang's background and his manipulated marriage, everyone who knew him felt sorry for him. Fortunately, he was recalled to the army, otherwise everyone felt that his fate was even more pitiful than that of a little cabbage.