Chapter 23 Teach him a lesson
"Auntie, what do you need this for?"
Xiao Bao picked up some clam shells that the fishmongers at the dock had thrown away and asked Fan Xiaoxiao, somewhat puzzled.
“It’s useful. Pick it up first, and Auntie will buy you candy later.”
Upon hearing Fan Xiaoxiao say she would buy him candy, the little guy immediately shut his mouth and stopped asking questions, focusing intently on picking up clam shells. After about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the two of them had collected a large bag of clam shells that smelled fishy. Then, Fan Xiaoxiao took Xiaobao to the market where they bought some candles, cinnabar, and the sugar figurine she had promised him.
On the way back, Xiao Bao stared intently at the little monkey-shaped sugar figurine in his hand, unwilling to take a single bite. Fan Xiaoxiao found it somewhat amusing; the sugar figurine had softened a bit in the sweltering heat.
"Baby, eat up, or it'll melt in a bit."
Xiao Bao shook his head and replied in a childish voice, "Xiao Bao wants to take it back so that Grandma can see it!"
Fan Xiaoxiao ruffled the little guy's hair: "Little Bao, Mommy is the most important person to you, right?"
"That's right! Auntie is also an important person to Xiaobao! Xiaobao loves Mommy and Auntie!"
"Does Xiao Bao still remember the guy who threw stones at his mother the day before yesterday?"
Remembering the shrewish, weasel-faced neighbor next door, Xiao Bao's cheeks immediately puffed up, and he said angrily, "That bad guy!"
Fan Xiaoxiao nodded: "Yes, it's that bad guy. Xiaobao, do you want to teach him a lesson?"
"Yes, I do!"
Having received an affirmative answer, Fan Xiaoxiao smiled and leaned close to Xiaobao's ear to whisper something.
"You're doing this..."
Back at Old Zhao's house, Fan Xiaoxiao explained her plan to everyone again. Madam Fan looked at Xiaobao with some worry and hesitated, "This...won't it be dangerous?"
Aunt Wang nodded and said, "Girl, how about we just forget about it?"
"I think it's a good idea to do what Er Ya said. That guy needs to be taught a lesson! Otherwise, Xiao Bao's mother will have taken that hit for nothing!"
Uncle Wang's words resonated with Xiao Bao, who, holding up a sugar figurine, said, word by word, "Xiao Bao isn't a child! Xiao Bao is a man! I want to protect my mother!"
Upon hearing this, Madam Fan's eyes reddened, and she finally stopped opposing their plan.
In the afternoon, after hearing some cursing and swearing next door, Xiao Bao immediately sat on the threshold of the courtyard gate and started playing with pebbles. Meanwhile, Fan Xiaoxiao and Uncle Wang hid behind the door with weapons, observing the commotion at the entrance.
Chen Ergou, feeling irritated, opened his gate next door. The aroma from his neighbors was making his stomach rumble. Just as he was about to go over and mooch off their dinner, he spotted Xiao Bao playing obediently with pebbles at the door. This delighted Chen Ergou. His eyes darted around the inner courtyard, and after confirming no one was around, he grinned and approached, asking, "Hey! Little beggar! All alone?"
Xiao Bao, who was busy fiddling with the stones, glanced at Chen Er Gou, ignored him, and continued playing with the stones in his hands.
Chen Ergou chuckled, frowned, and clicked his tongue, saying, "Hey! You brat! Can't you hear me talking to you?"
Xiao Bao still ignored Chen Er Gou. Just as Chen Er Gou rolled up his sleeves, looking unhappy, Xiao Bao immediately opened his mouth to call out, "Master... um..."
This startled Chen Ergou. His body reacted before his brain, and he quickly covered Xiaobao's mouth, shushing him repeatedly, "Shh!! Okay, okay, I give up! Let go of me, don't shout, I just want to ask you something!"
This action startled Fan Xiaoxiao and Uncle Wang, who were secretly observing the commotion at the door. They immediately gripped their wooden sticks and machetes, ready to rush forward and subdue Chen Ergou if anything went wrong. Fortunately, after seeing Xiaobao nod at him, Chen Ergou kept his word and breathed a sigh of relief, releasing the little guy.
"Little ones, did you really go to that mass grave the other day?"
Xiao Bao looked at Chen Ergou timidly and said, "Auntie said I'm not allowed to talk to strangers."
Seeing Xiao Bao's timid retreating movements, Chen Ergou felt a headache coming on. He quickly squatted down and asked in a soft voice, "Uncle is next door, a neighbor, not a stranger."
Chen Ergou originally thought he could fool Xiaobao with his words, but who would have thought the little guy had such a good memory? As soon as he heard that he was from next door, he immediately stood up angrily and said, "You're the bad guy who threw stones at Mother! Humph! You scoundrel! I don't want to talk to you!"
After saying that, the little guy turned around and was about to go into the yard. Chen Ergou was startled and quickly called out in a low voice, "Hey, hey, little guy! Uncle is going to give you candy! It's all a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!"
Upon hearing that there was candy, Xiao Bao stopped turning around and glanced at Chen Er Gou with his little head slightly turned back.
Chen Ergou didn't actually have any candy on him; he was just making it up. Seeing him scratching his head for ages without producing any, Xiao Bao snorted and was about to go back inside. This made Chen Ergou anxious. Thinking of his hardship and exhaustion the previous night, he gritted his teeth, pulled a coin from his sleeve, and handed it to Xiao Bao, saying, "Alright, alright, take this. It's enough for you to buy a candy figurine!"
Xiao Bao glanced at the one-cent coin, reluctantly accepted it, and then said, "You mean that big, dark place? Auntie and Uncle went there, I'm scared, Grandma, Mom, and I won't go!"
After saying that, Xiao Bao quickly clutched the one coin, turned around and ran into the yard, giving Chen Ergou no time to react.
"Hey hey hey! My one penny!"
Chen Ergou cursed the brat a couple of times, then remembered what the little brat had said and frowned again—had he not looked carefully enough yesterday? No, he had to go back there again!
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
