Chapter 100: Chapter 99: Another One Conquered

Liu Ji and Liu Facai were arguing fiercely in front of the Clan Leader, and things were in a state of chaos for a while.

It wasn’t until everyone from the Liu Family’s old house arrived, and Jinbao and Jinhua stood up as witnesses, saying that it was Da Niu and Er Niu who brought the older kids to bully them, which is why Da Lang and Second Lang fought back, that the situation became clear.

The children from other families who were bullied also nodded their heads in acknowledgment when asked by their parents.

Liu Ji presented the child’s completely ruined kickball, with both testimony and physical evidence in place, leaving Liu Facai with no room to argue.

The Clan Leader was speechless. Childish brawls shouldn’t involve him, but both families’ adults got into a fight over it, and both men were notorious troublemakers in the village, giving him a headache just thinking about it.

Seeing that the crowd was lingering around to watch the drama, which wasn’t appropriate, the Clan Leader called for the ancestral hall’s doors to be opened and had Liu Facai and Liu Ji taken inside.

Outside the ancestral hall, Liu Facai’s wife and children stood on the left side of the door, while Qin Yao led four children to stand on the right side, both sides clearly intent on protecting their own children.

Liu Facai’s wife said in frustration, “None of them are your biological kids, yet you’re protecting them like none other. Do you think they can remember your goodness?”

Standing so close, Qin Yao was not deaf and immediately shot a cold look over.

“As long as they call me ’Mother,’ I’ll protect them for a lifetime, teaching them right and wrong, unlike your biological ones who can’t tell right from wrong, bullying the small with the big, and being unreasonable.”

Her tone was always calm, as if carrying an innate confidence and resolve, making Liu Facai’s wife feel uncomfortable and diminished for no apparent reason.

Yet fearing Qin Yao’s prowess, she dared only to mutter to herself in the air.

Qin Yao didn’t even want to glance at her more than once, standing with her arms folded outside the door, waiting patiently for a result.

Little did she know, the four children behind her, upon hearing what she just said, found their feigned strength collapsing instantly, their eyes all turning red.

In the dark of night, they stepped back against the wall, quickly wiping away their tears, unwilling to be noticed.

But Qin Yao’s senses were incredibly sharp, and hearing someone sniffle softly behind her, she turned, catching sight of four pairs of teary eyes.

Qin Yao couldn’t help but laugh gently, reaching out to pat each head, then bending down to kiss each on the forehead; gathering the four little ones into her arms, she chuckled, “Now you know how to cry? Ordinarily, when I tell you to train properly, it goes in one ear and out the other; otherwise, you wouldn’t get bullied by those two good-for-nothings.”

Da Niu and Er Niu huffed, who are you calling good-for-nothings!

Second Lang poked a face out from his stepmother’s embrace, stuck his tongue out, and made a face, glaring, what are you staring at! Just saying it like it is!

But no sooner had he done this little act than he got a light tap on the head, warning him to behave and not to worsen the conflict.

In the hot weather, being huddled together with her four kids was quite warm; thinking she’d comforted them enough, Qin Yao was about to let go.

Unexpectedly, four small pairs of hands immediately clung to her: the taller ones hugged her waist, while the shorter ones hugged her legs, turning her into a human coat rack with their soft whining and charming like little beasts, melting Qin Yao’s heart completely.

Indeed, one’s own children are always the cutest.

Da Lang could feel the comforting palm stroking up and down his back, from his neck to his ears, turning all shades of red, yet the warm embrace and the scent of soap made him linger. So, he allowed himself to indulge a little longer, leaning into that warmth.

If possible, he wished he could, like his younger siblings, unreservedly treat her as ’Mother,’ snuggling up for comfort and complaints, trusting her completely.

But if he really did that, it would seem disloyal to his biological mother.

The sensitive and meticulous heart of a teenager was acknowledged by Qin Yao as she watched, letting out a sigh in her heart.

Sensible children often bear more; she’ll have to pay more attention to this little guy in the future.

A quarter of an hour later, the men emerged from the ancestral hall.

Liu Ji looked disgruntled, but couldn’t hide the joy in his eyes.

Liu Facai hung his head, glaring at Liu Ji with eyes filled with resentment, looking like a defeated rooster.

The Clan Leader looked upon these two families, shook his head wearily, and left.

The ancestral hall was locked, and both families watched the Clan Leader leave before each prepared to head home.

“Wait a minute,” Qin Yao suddenly called out, stopping Liu Facai’s family.

The family of four was startled, turning back warily.

Qin Yao pointed to Da Niu and Er Niu, “Shouldn’t you apologize?”

Liu Facai’s wife angrily replied, “Enough already, you expect children to apologize after a fight? What’s there to apologize for, look at how badly Da Lang and Second Lang beat our Da Niu and Er Niu, and we haven’t asked you to apologize yet!”

Qin Yao’s expression remained unchanged, gesturing for Da Lang and his siblings to step forward. She looked at them and said:

“No matter who starts a fight, it’s wrong; solving problems with violence is always wrong.”

Liu Ji stood by with wide eyes, Qin Yao, aren’t you being hypocritical? You’re the one who solves problems with violence!

Qin Yao acted as if she didn’t see Liu Ji’s astonishment, remembering this isn’t a lawless world without moral constraints; there are rules here.

Da Niu and Er Niu exchanged glances, fearful and wanting to retreat, when Qin Yao sternly commanded, “Come apologize! Or this matter won’t be over!”

She meant it literally, that once it started and ended, it would be over.

But to the other side, it sounded like a serious threat.

Da Niu and Er Niu were so frightened they mumbled, “S-sorry…”

Qin Yao nodded to Da Lang and the four, and though reluctant, Da Lang still took the lead saying, “We shouldn’t have beaten you so badly, I apologize, but if you bully us again next time, I’ll beat you again!”

Qin Yao knit her brows, this kid, there was no need to say that last bit, too honest.

“Let’s go home for dinner,” Qin Yao waved towards the family of four across, leading her children home as if nothing had happened.

Liu Ji snorted at Liu Facai, quickly joining his mother’s and siblings’ strides.

The family returned home, where the food in the hall had long gone cold, but that didn’t stop the six of them from sitting around the table and enjoying a delicious meal.

After dinner, Liu Ji collected the dishes and began washing them, while Qin Yao held up a lamp to check the children’s injuries.

Nothing serious, Sanlang and Si Niang were fine aside from being dirty.

Da Lang and Second Lang had a few bruises on their faces. When she poked them, they hissed through the pain.

But for some reason, whether it was because of the laughter caused by seeing each other’s expressions or something funny that came to mind, the brothers suddenly burst out in giggles.

“What’s so funny?” Qin Yao glared at them in exasperation, you’re laughing after getting hit?

Second Lang chuckled mischievously, then replied, “Mother, I had Er Niu pinned down, locked his neck with my legs, and just pummeled his face until he was dazed.”

Mother?

Qin Yao raised an eyebrow, did that count as winning over another one?

Second Lang thought he said it quite naturally, continuing to recount how his big brother was beating Liu Daniu.

Stealing a glance at Qin Yao’s expression, he wanted to see if she noticed.

Unexpectedly, she appeared entirely focused on wiping Si Niang’s face, seemingly oblivious, leaving him with a sense of frustration.

Seeing him like that, Qin Yao’s inner self was almost laughing to tears.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep