The moment the broom swung down.
Nan Qingqing caught it with one hand.
Although facing a boy, he was only five or six years old, naturally no match for an adult’s strength like hers.
Nan Qingqing gripped the broom.
Easily pulling it into her own hand.
The boy’s hands were instantly empty.
But he refused to accept defeat.
Crouching low.
Using his hard head as a weapon, he recklessly charged toward Nan Qingqing’s stomach.
Nan Qingqing sidestepped.
The boy, like a little bull, crashed straight into the wall.
With a loud thud.
Nan Qingqing was also startled.
A child’s fontanelle isn’t fully closed yet—a collision like this could easily be fatal.
Nan Qingqing craned her neck to look at the boy, who seemed stuck to the wall.
Yuanbao hurried over, gently tugging at her brother’s sleeve with her small hand.
After what felt like a long time.
Lu Xiaoliang finally straightened up, but unsteadily, staggering on his feet.
Probably feeling embarrassed.
Lu Xiaoliang picked up his sister and immediately ran outside.
Nan Qingqing took a deep breath.
Of the two children Lu Baiyang had adopted, the girl was quite well-behaved and likable, but as for the boy…
He was quite a handful.
Although Nan Qingqing had lived two lifetimes, she had absolutely no experience dealing with children.
In her previous life.
Because Lu Jianguo had azoospermia, they never had children of their own.
Later.
Nan Honghong gave birth to a son and a daughter, and often brought them to their house, but Nan Qingqing was always too busy to entertain them. They didn’t really need her hospitality anyway—they’d come for a free meal, eat their fill, and leave with their hands full…
She was getting off track.
Nan Qingqing quickly pulled her thoughts back.
Just as she was worrying about how to get along peacefully with a half-grown child.
Outside.
A delicate voice suddenly rang out.
Full of confidence.
It sounded like someone coming to pick a fight.
Nan Qingqing steeled herself, casually tied her hair into a small bun on top of her head, and walked out yawning.
In the courtyard.
A girl in a bright green dress, holding Lu Xiaoliang’s hand, was glaring fiercely at her.
Nan Qingqing: “…”
Well, well.
He’d brought backup.
The girl was named Song Meizhi, the sister of Lu Baiyang’s instructor, twenty years old this year, working at a clothing factory.
Quite pretty.
The flower of the Military Compound.
Song Meizhi was therefore somewhat arrogant.
She had heard early that morning that a new bride had arrived at the Military Compound. She hadn’t thought much of it at first, but when she was about to go to work, she saw Lu Xiaoliang with a red, swollen forehead. She asked what happened.
What infuriated her was that this new bride actually belonged to Baiyang’s family.
She instantly flew into a rage.
After getting the whole story from Xiaoliang, she brought him along to settle accounts with this new bride.
Because Song Meizhi knew that Lu Baiyang had taken leave to return home for his nephew’s wedding.
Therefore.
She was certain that the new bride Lu Baiyang brought back was also from his hometown village—must be ugly and rustic, wearing a dull gray jacket and faded homemade shoes, utterly unappealing.
But she never expected that the moment she laid eyes on Nan Qingqing.
Her heart was seized with complete panic.
She had never seen a female comrade so beautiful.
Fair-skinned and beautiful, with hair that was black and glossy, she had styled it in an unfamiliar way that made her face appear small and round, adding much to her charm.
Song Meizhi secretly felt a sense of rivalry.
If anyone were to see Nan Qingqing, her title as the “flower of the Military Compound” would have to be handed over.
Song Meizhi felt even more resentful.
As soon as she arrived, she had taken away the two most important things in her life.
Xiaoliang gently tugged at Song Meizhi’s finger.
Song Meizhi looked down at Xiaoliang.
Suddenly, an idea struck her, and a plan formed in her mind.
She accused Nan Qingqing, saying, “Why did you hit the child?”
Nan Qingqing asked with amusement, “I hit the child? Do you have any proof?”
Song Meizhi pointed to the red swelling on Xiaoliang’s forehead and said, “The wound on Xiaoliang’s head is proof!”
Lu Xiaoliang felt a bit panicked.
He instinctively glanced at Song Meizhi.
Song Meizhi tightened her grip on Lu Xiaoliang’s finger.
Lu Xiaoliang suddenly felt he had found someone to rely on.
Aunt Song treated him well; he couldn’t let her down. Aunt Song was here to support him, and he had to unconditionally back her up.
Nan Qingqing sighed leisurely and asked, “Did you see it with your own eyes?”
Song Meizhi pointed at Xiaoliang and said, “He’s only six years old. Would he lie?”
Nan Qingqing glanced at Lu Xiaoliang out of the corner of her eye and said, “Yes, he absolutely would.”
Song Meizhi snorted heavily and said bluntly, “I think you just don’t want Xiaoliang and Yuanbao. You deliberately bully the children to drive them away. You want Baiyang all to yourself—you’re a selfish person!”
After saying this,
Song Meizhi declared firmly, “This matter must be brought to Baiyang’s attention. He needs to see what kind of person you are and divorce you!”
Nan Qingqing retorted, “After divorcing me, will he marry you instead?”
Hearing this,
Song Meizhi’s face flushed crimson.
She stamped her foot shyly and scolded, “Don’t change the subject! We’re talking about you hitting the child!”
A tall, straight figure entered from outside.
Lu Baiyang asked in a deep voice, “What’s going on?”
Song Meizhi stiffened slightly.
She quickly turned around.
Grabbing Lu Baiyang’s arm, she said, “Baiyang, the woman you brought back has broken Xiaoliang’s head.”
Lu Baiyang’s deep gaze lowered.
It fell on the center of Xiaoliang’s forehead.
On his full forehead, a plum-sized bump had swollen, stretching the skin until it turned pale. Upon closer inspection, it seemed there was pus inside.
The injury looked quite severe.
Lu Baiyang frowned and asked, “What happened?”
Song Meizhi immediately said, “This morning, Xiaoliang went…”
Before Song Meizhi could finish her sentence,
Lu Baiyang’s voice, cold and calm, cut in, “Let Lu Xiaoliang speak for himself. He has a mouth.”
Hearing this, Lu Xiaoliang trembled uncontrollably.
Song Meizhi crouched down.
She placed one hand on Lu Xiaoliang’s shoulder and wiped his face with the other, saying, “Xiaoliang, tell the truth. Tell your dad what happened. He’ll stand up for you.”
After speaking,
Song Meizhi nodded firmly at Lu Xiaoliang.
Lu Xiaoliang took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and said loudly, “It… it was her who hit me. She kicked Yuanbao off the bed first, then pushed me against the wall, and I hit my head.”
As soon as these words were spoken.
The courtyard was so quiet one could almost hear everyone’s breathing.
Nan Qingqing did not immediately defend herself.
She leisurely crossed her arms and looked at Lu Baiyang with amusement.
She wanted to see.
If Lu Baiyang could see through Lu Xiaoliang’s lie at a glance.