Chapter 84: Chapter 84: I’ll Beat Them Half to Death

Qi Dalang handed the half-dried clothes to Qi Erlang beside him, wiped his hands, and went ashore, just in time to meet the two little ones running over.

“Why are you running so fast? Don’t cry if you fall.”

Qi Dalang said as he bent down to pick up his youngest brother and sister.

One in each arm.

A sense of satisfaction overwhelmed him.

Qi Manman hugged her big brother’s neck and said with a smile, “Big brother, can you take us to play over there?”

As she spoke, she pointed her chubby fingers toward the woods behind the Qi family’s house.

Qi Dalang frowned, “No way, it’s getting dark, and it’s not safe in the woods.”

As the eldest grandson in the family, Qi Dalang had always acted like a little adult, and with age, he exuded the demeanor of a big brother even more.

Qi Manman hugged Qi Dalang’s neck again, starting to act coquettishly, “Big brother, big brother, come with us! We’ll just take a look and come back, okay?”

As she spoke, she gently swung her little body, scaring Qi Dalang into holding her tighter.

On the side, Qi Shilang was too busy drooling to speak; once he spoke, he would start drooling.

Oh no, there’s a big chicken leg to eat!

Qi Dalang, worn down by the little girl, had no choice but to call Qi Erlang and Qi Sanlang to follow him, taking the two little ones toward the woods.

The adults of the Qi family saw this, and seeing there were three big kids with them, didn’t say much.

At the edge of the woods, Qi Dalang said, “We’ll just look from here! After looking, we’ll go back.”

“Let’s go a little further, just a little bit more!”

Qi Manman gestured with her thumb and forefinger, so close together that they almost touched.

Qi Dalang was about to refuse when Qi Sanlang shouted, “Big brother, what is that?”

Qi Sanlang’s shout made Qi Dalang and Qi Erlang look over immediately.

In the dim light of the woods, several figures flew by.

The dappled light fell on those figures, and although not very clear, it was still evident they were wild chickens.

“Sanlang, take the younger ones back! Old Two, come with me to take a look!”

Qi Dalang was delighted to see them but hadn’t forgotten to protect the youngest siblings.

Qi Sanlang was unwilling, wanting to follow, but after receiving a glare from his big brother, he immediately shrank back, holding the hands of the two little ones and heading home, turning back every few steps.

Qi Erlang noticed and angrily scolded, “Hurry back! Get Fourth Uncle and the others over!”

Upon hearing this, Qi Sanlang stopped hesitating, grabbing the little ones to leave.

But Qi Shilang stumbled and fell to the ground.

“Wah!”

In pain from the fall, Qi Shilang burst into tears.

Qi Sanlang was only focused on taking care of his little sister, not noticing Shi brother, and was startled by the crying. He hurried to pull Shilang up.

The Qi family wasn’t too far away, and Shilang’s cries immediately caught the adults’ attention.

Qi Quanjin, who was chopping wood, didn’t even have time to put down his axe before rushing over.

Qi Ercai also rushed over immediately.

Others followed suit.

“How did he fall? Where are your eldest and second brother?”

Qi Quanjin rushed forward, picking up Qi Shilang, who was just getting up.

Qi Sanlang was now anxious and scared, gripping Qi Manman’s little hand tightly with one hand and pointing to the woods behind with the other, “Fourth Uncle, hurry, go help, big brother and second brother went to catch wild chickens!”

“What?”

Qi Quanjin was alarmed when he heard.

It’s getting dark, and two half-grown kids rushed into the woods to catch wild chickens?

Isn’t that asking for trouble!

Qi Quanjin couldn’t care about anything else, directly handing Qi Shilang to Qi Ercai, who just ran over, picked up the axe, and rushed into the woods.

Everyone else who came over heard what Qi Sanlang said and changed their expressions.

“I’ll go with them to take a look!”

Qi Quanli reacted the fastest and sprinted out.

Qi Ercai wanted to stop him but had no time.

Qi Dafu also came over, holding an axe, “I’m going too!”

Following closely, Qi Sangui said nothing, grabbing a sickle and rushing out.

“What’s going on?”

Qi Quanyin was still trying to grasp the situation.

Qi Ercai handed Qi Shilang to him, “Take your son home!”

Qi Quanyin: …

Too lazy to deal with this fourth brother, Qi Ercai told the other family members who followed, “You all go back! Fourth brother and the others went, there’ll be no problem.”

Though he said that, Qi Ercai couldn’t help but glance back at the direction of the woods.

By now, it was getting darker, and anyone entering the woods vanished from sight within a few breaths.

Mrs. Qi, who was initially talking with her husband and fourth daughter-in-law upstream by the river, became anxious seeing the commotion at home.

Yi Meng was also startled, quickly supporting the old lady to walk back.

Qi Zheng, with his nimble legs, had already hurried over.

Once the remaining Qi family gathered together, Mrs. Qi, upon hearing that Qi Dalang took Qi Erlang to catch wild chickens, was immediately furious and started cursing.

“How dare they! Going into the woods when it’s dark, are they trying to reach the sky?”

“Wretched kids, when they come back, I’ll beat them senseless!”

Though angry, Mrs. Qi’s eyes were fixed toward the woods, her hands trembling.

Yi Meng was also very scared.

Going into the woods at night was especially dangerous, but she had to stay calm, comforting her mother-in-law, “Mom, don’t worry, nothing will happen. There are so many people, they’ll be fine.”

By now, Wang Daya had started crying.

Qi Dalang and Qi Erlang were both her children, and even if they were almost grown boys, she still worried like any mother.

What’s more, her husband had gone into the woods too; if something happened, it would break her heart.

Qi Ercai was worried too, but he had to consider the household’s feelings.

“Alright, alright, with Fourth Uncle there, they won’t go too far in.”

He said, supporting his father to walk back.

Qi Zheng’s face was also grim, but he said nothing.

Back by their own bonfire, villagers gathered to ask what happened.

Learning that mischievous children had gone into the woods and adults had gone after them, they sighed.

“Brother Qi, not that I’m saying anything, it’s good your family has so many kids, but you should keep a tighter rein on them. We’re not in our own village, if something happens, what will we do, help or not?”

“Exactly! The sky is about to darken, and they’re running into the woods, how worrisome.”

The villagers chatted on, some complaining, others suggesting going into the woods to look.

Qi Zheng listened, his old face flushed with a mix of frustration and embarrassment.

Seeing his father’s expression, Qi Ercai hastily told everyone, “Thanks for your concern, they’re just around the edge of the woods, they’ll be back soon. Everyone disperse, please!”

He was worried anymore talk might overwhelm his parents with fear.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep