That day, I went to Uncle Zhu's house to help with some housework or to see if there was anything I could help with.

As soon as I entered, I saw Uncle Zhu and Fanfan standing on the table, both with their hands on their hips and glaring at each other.

I quickly put my things down: "What's wrong with you?"

Are they having a fight? They both seem quite angry.

Fanfan pointed at Uncle Zhu and accused him: "This old man doesn't care about the nation's young seedlings at all. He suppresses me every day."

Uncle Zhu retorted, "When did I put you down? Am I wrong? You're short-armed and short-legged, a tiny little bean. Where did I go wrong?"

I want to advise her that what the girl said was indeed a bit excessive.

Who knew that Uncle Zhu would also start complaining: "She said I'm old and frail, half-buried in the ground, when has she ever respected my age?"

I was speechless. Uncle Zhu is over fifty years old. Fanfan's words weren't wrong, but they were too blunt.

Fanfan pointed at Uncle Zhu and yelled, "You stinky old man!"

Uncle Zhu retorted sharply, "You little brat!"

Fanfan called out again, "You old geezer."

Uncle Zhu retorted again, not to be outdone: "You brat."

The two of them kept repeating the same thing over and over, like a broken record.

I couldn't even get a word in edgewise.

Ten minutes had passed, and the two of them had said nothing more than those few words.

I don't even know who to call childish.

Finally, perhaps because they were tired, the two of them tacitly stopped talking.

Then the two of them started fighting over a plate of grapes on the table. Fanfan quickly grabbed one, and Uncle Zhu tried to snatch it back.

I rushed over to stop her: "It's not just a plate of grapes, every household in our village grows them!"

Uncle Zhu's eyes widened: "Only that grape was washed, the others weren't."

That's when I noticed that the table not only had grapes, but also strawberries and bayberries, and there was a large, uncut watermelon next to it. It was quite a feast, but I was a bit lazy.

I asked Fanfan, "Do you like strawberries and bayberries?"

While eating grapes, Fanfan said, "I like it."

As they were talking, Uncle Zhu snatched a skewer and began to eat it with relish.

I was at my wit's end, so I coaxed Fanfan, "I'll go wash the strawberries and bayberries, and you can give your grandpa a few grapes too, okay?"

Fanfan's innocent face showed a pure and naive expression: "Okay."

After saying that, she pushed the grapes towards Uncle Zhu. Uncle Zhu's expression softened, and he took them without hesitation and ate them.

I took the fruit to the kitchen to wash it.

Uncle Zhu quickly stopped him: "Take a knife when you come out and cut the watermelon in half."

Me: ...You're so lazy.

Seeing Fanfan and Fanfan happily sharing the food with their plates, I went to the kitchen with peace of mind, thinking that washing the fruit would only take a few minutes and that the two of them should stop arguing.

Little did I know that I had overestimated their naivety.

After I washed the fruit, I came out and saw the father and son grabbing each other's hair, wincing in pain but refusing to let go.

Uncle Zhu said first, "Let go first."

Fanfan said, "I'll only let go if you let go."

Uncle Zhu said again, "I'll let go, but you little rascal won't. You let go first."

Fanfan said again, "I'm afraid you won't let go! If you have no credibility, you should let go first."

The two of them gripped each other's hands tightly, while muttering to themselves incessantly.

Finally, perhaps because they were both tired, they reached a consensus and let go of each other's hands at the same time.

I sat down between them, just in case they started fighting again.

I saw that there were a lot of snacks on the table, but they were all on Uncle Zhu's side, so I quietly moved them towards Fanfan's side.

Uncle Zhu saw it and took it back. I was afraid that Fanfan would want to eat but wouldn't be able to get it, so I moved it closer to Fanfan.

Then Uncle Zhu took it back.

When I tried to move again, Uncle Zhu pressed my hand down. I looked up and saw Uncle Zhu glaring at me.

Uncle Zhu asked, "What are you doing?"

For some reason, I sensed a hint of grievance in his tone, and I felt a little guilty: "I want Fanfan to have some too."

Uncle Zhu raised his voice a bit: "Did I stop her from eating? Am I such a harsh person? Do you think I'm bullying her?"

I didn't know how to answer their three questions, because no matter how you looked at it, it was Uncle Zhu who was bullying Fanfan.

Uncle Zhu shouted even louder: "It's because she doesn't like snacks, she just doesn't like them!"

I don't know what to say. What child doesn't like snacks? My family is considered well-off, but my three sons are like wolves seeing meat when they see snacks; they snatch them all up in no time.

At this moment, Fanfan nodded and said, "It's because I don't like eating snacks."

I still don't believe it. I think Fanfan was threatened by Uncle Zhu.

Uncle Zhu understood and was furious: "You know she was premature, right? You know that your Aunt Yumin used all the medicinal herbs in the family to help her recover, right? You know that she's as strong as a heifer now, and you can't even beat her? I bullied her? How did I bully her? She's the one bullying me!"

Seeing Uncle Zhu's exasperated look, which didn't seem fake, I muttered to myself, "She's all recovered and can eat snacks now."

Uncle Zhu got even angrier: "Other children love to eat snacks because conditions aren't as good now. They lack certain nutrients, so they crave them. Fanfan has never lacked anything since she was little. Your aunt raised her to be incredibly strong, so she doesn't lack any nutrients, which is why she doesn't crave snacks."

After saying all that, he took several sips of water to calm himself down.

I didn't even have a chance to say anything.

Suddenly, Fanfan sprang up like a carp, ran to the opposite side of Uncle Zhu, knelt down, and cried out, "Grandpa, I was wrong. I will never do it again. I will listen to you from now on."

I saw Uncle Zhu pause for a moment, then get up to grab Fanfan. I quickly stopped him, saying, "Fanfan is still a child. She already knows she was wrong, so don't punish her anymore."

Uncle Zhu got anxious: "Let me go."

Seeing how agitated Uncle Zhu was, I didn't dare let go. Uncle Zhu then flattered Fanfan, saying, "Get up. I promise I'll never yell at you again. Whatever you say goes. Get up, my little darling."

Fanfan looked smug, but her voice was trembling with tears: "Grandpa, I'll never do it again. I was wrong."

Sensing something was wrong, I still held onto Uncle Zhu tightly.

Just then, a furious roar came from the doorway: "Zhu Jiabao, you're bullying Fanfan again!"

Uncle Zhu immediately explained, "I didn't, she did it on purpose."

Aunt Yumin completely ignored the explanation and picked up a feather duster to chase after Uncle Zhu and start hitting him.

As he ran, Uncle Zhu said, "I didn't bully her, I was wrong—wife, take a rest, I'm tough and don't feel pain, don't tire yourself out."

I feel like my brain can't keep up. Is this still the dignified Uncle Zhu and the steady Aunt Yumin that I remember?

Fanfan had already stood up and sat on the sofa. He picked up a piece of fruit and gave it to me: "Eat up! You've already offended my grandpa. He'll get back at you sooner or later. Take advantage of him before he does."