Zhao Guangzong rushed over and snatched the things from Zhaozhao’s hands.
But when he opened it, there was only candy wrapper inside.
He angrily threw the wrappers to the ground and burst into tears. “That’s my candy! Give me back my candy!”
The other kids looked at each other, confused.
“This candy was bought for me by my uncle. I can give it to whoever I want,” Zhaozhao said, his little face set in determination.
“That’s not true! My grandpa said you’re a bastard. My aunt only has me as her heir; when my aunt dies, all her things will be mine!”
Having heard this many times, Zhao Guangzong said it smoothly, with unwavering certainty. “You’re spending my money now, eating my candy too!”
The other kids didn’t quite understand Zhao Guangzong’s logic they just heard him calling Zhaozhao a bastard.
“Zhao Guangzong, stop lying!” Chubby Girl, who already had a grudge against him, immediately stood up for Zhaozhao.
Li Tiedan, the first kid who wanted candy, nodded in agreement. “Your mom’s too stingy. She wouldn’t even buy you candy.”
Zhao Guangzong flushed but straightened his neck, saying, “I’m not lying!”
“You’ll see! When my aunt dies, I’ll buy each of you a whole bag of White Rabbits!” he promised the others, painting a big picture.
“My mom won’t die! You’re not allowed to say that about my mom!” Zhaozhao frowned.
“I told you!” Zhao Guangzong shook his head.
Then he told the other kids, “Whoever says his mom is short-lived, I’ll give them two bags of White Rabbits when the time comes.”
The others hesitated. Those with weak resolve couldn’t help but say, “Li Zhao’s mom is short-lived!”
“Li Zhao’s mom should die early!” they repeated around Zhaozhao.
Zhaozhao clenched his fists, eyes red with anger. “If you say that again, I’ll hit you!”
“If you touch me, I’ll have my grandpa kill you and your short-lived mom together!” Zhao Guangzong said venomously.
But before he could finish, a chilling voice came from behind.
“Zhao Guangzong, what did you just say?”
Zhao Guangzong turned and met Li Qiuyue’s piercing gaze.
The memory of being tied up and splashed with water by her resurfaced instantly.
And now, there was a tall, strong man standing beside her.
He instinctively stepped back and ran.
Zhaozhao, however, leapt straight into Li Qiuyue’s arms, crying, “Mom, I don’t want you to die!”
“Don’t worry. Even if Zhao Guangzong dies, your mom won’t!” Li Qiuyue said with a sneer.
Qin Huai glanced at her, full of helplessness.
Though blunt, her words calmed the child quickly.
Zhaozhao recounted everything that had just happened to Li Qiuyue.
Li Qiuyue’s expression darkened; she silently cursed the Li family.
They truly needed to be dealt with!
She raised her fists to the other children. “If any of you dare bully Zhaozhao again, I’ll make you short-lived first!”
The kids, having heard of Li Qiuyue’s fearsome reputation, paled and didn’t dare say a word.
“Li Zhao’s mom is too scary. Next time, we’ll stay away from Li Zhao!”
Seeing this, Qin Huai added, “Also, thanks to the kids who spoke up for Zhaozhao today. You can come to our house to have some cookies with him.”
The kids who had just decided never to interact with Li Zhao immediately changed their minds, looking at Zhaozhao with eager eyes.
Zhaozhao, now calm, struggled out of Li Qiuyue’s arms.
A little embarrassed, he still nodded politely. “Come on. I’ll give you some animal cookies, and I can teach you how to build little dogs with blocks.”
The children’s faces lit up, crowding around him, promising to help him speak up next time.
Those who had insulted Zhaozhao now felt regret and fear.
They wanted cookies but feared Li Qiuyue’s wrath.
In the end, they slunk home in defeat.
Under the big locust tree, only Li Qiuyue and Qin Huai on the tricycle remained.
Li Qiuyue looked at Zhaozhao’s cheerful expression and rolled her eyes at Qin Huai. “You’re too clever for your own good, huh?”
Qin Huai, reading her reproach, couldn’t help but smile wryly. “If you scare them, they’ll only be more distant from Zhaozhao. Your relationship with him will suffer…”
He wanted to explain, but Li Qiuyue had already left the matter behind and hurried home.
Qin Huai sighed—he and Li Qiuyue really couldn’t communicate.
After the day’s investigation was once again disrupted, he worried about Zhaozhao’s anxious face and decided to make amends with Li Qiuyue, thinking it would reassure Zhaozhao.
Li Qiuyue, however, thought he was overreacting, making a fuss over nothing, and dragging Zhaozhao into it.
He sighed helplessly and followed her home.
No sooner had they returned than someone came storming in, sleeves rolled up.
“Li Qiuyue! Get out here!” Li Erni dragged her child along, following Li Gensheng, barging angrily into Li Qiuyue’s home.
But they ran into Qin Huai, who was cleaning, and swallowed their insults.
Shouldn’t Qin Huai be in town? Why was he still at home?
“What brings you to see Comrade Li Qiuyue?” Qin Huai asked, voice cold and serious, without a trace of emotion.
Li Erni hesitated but straightened her chest when she saw her father beside her.
Because Qin Huai had repeatedly defended Li Qiuyue, she no longer felt any admiration for him.
She pulled the crying Guangzong forward, stiff-necked. “Earlier, the bump on Guangzong’s head was his own doing, but this time, keeping other kids from playing with him, that’s all Li Zhao’s doing, right?”
Hearing the commotion, Li Qiuyue and the other kids came out.
She was cooking, holding a knife in her hand.
She was about to confront them but remembered Zhaozhao’s fever yesterday, so she turned and put the knife back in the kitchen.
Qin Huai noticed, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
This woman… had actually improved?
Meanwhile, Zhao Guangzong, seeing his friends gathered around Zhaozhao, started crying even louder.
Li Erni became even angrier.
Just then, a parent came to pick up their child for dinner, making the situation even more dramatic.
“Without adult guidance, these kids are hopeless three and a half years old and already scheming!”
Li Erni told the parents, “Today, they were incited to isolate their cousin. Who knows who they might bully next?”
Even parents who didn’t want to get involved became alert when their own children’s safety was at stake.
One parent, wearing a red scarf, quickly said, “Tiedan, come with me!”
“I won’t! Mom, you go home first. I haven’t finished building the little dog!” Li Tiedan refused without hesitation.
Seeing this, other kids also ignored their parents’ calls.
The adults were frustrated, thinking Zhaozhao was cunning and corrupting their kids.
Perhaps it was because his friends were on his side, and maybe because his mom and uncle were here.
Facing Li Erni and Li Gensheng, Zhaozhao didn’t feel afraid this time.
Instead, he stood his ground.