Jiaojiao’s punches had no technique whatsoever, but they carried the reckless fury of a child who no longer cared about anything.
Her tiny fists rained down on Li Tao’s chubby arms and shoulders.
Li Tao had first been stunned by Yunsheng’s surprise tackle, then completely dumbfounded by Jiaojiao’s sudden outburst.
All of his usual arrogance disappeared without a trace.
All that remained were pig-like squeals as he bawled at the top of his lungs, his face covered in tears and snot.
He could only raise his hands to shield his face while wriggling desperately across the ground, trying to escape.
Yunsheng was startled by Jiaojiao’s ferocity at first and hesitated for a moment. But when he saw the tears streaming down her face, he pursed his lips tightly, his expression growing even more determined.
He continued pinning Li Tao’s kicking legs to the ground, refusing to let him struggle free.
“Waaah! I’m going to tell my dad! I’ll tell my mom!”
Li Tao cried so hard he could barely breathe, his voice cracking from all the screaming.
Nearby, Fatty Liu hopped around excitedly.
“Cry baby! Shame on you! You can’t win, so you’re running to tell your parents!”
The commotion grew louder and louder until it finally caught the attention of the older children watching the military drills nearby, as well as several soldiers.
The first to notice was Luo Weiguo, the eldest son of the Luo family.
His expression changed.
“Oh no—they’re fighting!”
He immediately grabbed his younger brother Luo Weijun and ran over.
Several young soldiers standing beside the training ground also noticed the disturbance.
One squad leader shouted sternly,
“You kids over there! What are you doing? Stop right now!”
Hearing an adult’s shout didn’t frighten Jiaojiao in the slightest.
Before anyone could reach her, she gritted her teeth and landed two more solid punches.
The sheer ferocity of the little girl’s attack stunned the adults for a brief moment.
Taking advantage of that split second, Jiaojiao even kicked Li Tao a few more times, looking both fierce and oddly adorable.
As soon as the adults arrived, Yunsheng immediately let go, scrambled to his feet, and instinctively stepped in front of Jiaojiao to shield her.
The other little children also hurried over, standing shoulder to shoulder beside Jiaojiao.
Each puffed out their tiny chest with the unmistakable attitude of:
“If we’re in this together, then we’ll face the consequences together too.”
The sight left everyone watching both amused and exasperated.
Only Li Tao continued screaming at the top of his lungs.
“I want my daddy! I want my mommy!”
It wasn’t long before Li Yanchuan and Bai Lili were called over.
The moment Bai Lili heard her son had been “bullied,” she rushed over with tears already in her voice.
Li Yanchuan swept his cold gaze across the scene.
Without asking a single question, he barked directly at Jiaojiao,
“Jiaojiao. Apologize.”
Jiaojiao trembled with anger.
She lifted her chin stubbornly and refused to say a word.
Just as Li Yanchuan stepped forward, preparing to discipline her, Su Jiuyue arrived in time and shoved him aside.
“Brother-in-law, even favoritism has its limits!”
Only then did Li Yanchuan suddenly remember—
Right now, he was supposed to be Li Haichuan.
Su Jiuyue quickly checked Jiaojiao and Yunsheng first.
Only after confirming that neither child was hurt did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Then she pulled Jiaojiao behind her and faced Li Yanchuan directly.
“You don’t even bother finding out what happened before demanding an apology? What exactly are they supposed to apologize for?”
Li Yanchuan was stunned.
Since when had Su Jiuyue become so sharp-tongued?
“You’re so crude!”
“I’m more than crude—I can be downright vicious!”
Su Jiuyue’s temper flared.
Her eyes swept around instinctively, already looking for something she could use as a weapon.
Bai Lili immediately shouted,
“Your Jiaojiao bullied our Taotao! Why shouldn’t she apologize?”
Fatty Liu instantly yelled back,
“Li Tao shoved Jiaojiao first! She only fought back!”
Yunsheng stood frozen in place, his tiny fists clenched tightly.
His head hung low, his shoulders trembling slightly.
He wasn’t afraid of Li Tao.
He was afraid…
Afraid Su Jiuyue would be angry.
Afraid she’d think he was a troublemaker.
Afraid…
She wouldn’t want him anymore.
He secretly looked up, nervously stealing a glance at Su Jiuyue.
Su Jiuyue was indeed furious.
Her brows stood upright with rage.
But every ounce of her anger was directed at Li Tao.
“He shoved someone first, then ran to complain like the victim? Who taught you such disgraceful behavior?”
“Su Jiuyue! Just look at the wonderful daughter you’ve raised! And this little wild brat who came from who-knows-where!”
Bai Lili screeched.
“They’re already so vicious at such a young age! Gang up to bully our Taotao! Just look what they’ve done to him! Have they no manners at all?
“I’d say they’re children who were born but never properly raised. That’s why they turned out to be—”
Smack!
A loud, crisp slap cut off Bai Lili’s venomous insults.
Su Jiuyue had moved astonishingly fast.
She no longer had any interest in wasting words arguing with someone like Bai Lili.
Especially not after Bai Lili dared to viciously insult Jiaojiao.
Every bit of anger…
Every grievance she had endured over the years…
Exploded with that single slap.
“Bai Lili! I’ll tear that filthy mouth of yours apart!”
Su Jiuyue was no longer the patient, long-suffering younger sister-in-law.
She became a lioness protecting her cubs.
She lunged forward.
Hair was yanked.
Faces were scratched.
The two women instantly became entangled in a vicious fight.
Jiaojiao stood there in complete shock.
Yunsheng tried to rush over to help Su Jiuyue, but the Luo brothers wrapped their arms tightly around him.
“Our little ancestor, please don’t make things worse!”
If he joined now, he’d only end up getting hit too.
The entire scene dissolved into chaos.
“Stop!”
Seeing the two women wrestling on the ground—especially the fresh scratches across Bai Lili’s face—Li Yanchuan’s temples throbbed violently.
He strode forward, grabbed Su Jiuyue by the arm, and forcefully pulled her away from Bai Lili before shoving her aside.
“Su Jiuyue! Have you lost your mind?!”
Looking at his former wife—
Her hair disheveled, yet her eyes burning brighter than ever—
He simply found her impossible to understand.
Seizing the opportunity, Bai Lili threw herself into Li Yanchuan’s arms and burst into heartbroken sobs.
“Haichuan! I only asked her how she was raising her children, and she attacked me like this!
“Just look what they did to Taotao…
“Can’t I even feel sorry for my own son anymore?
“She was trying to kill me!”
Li Yanchuan looked at the weeping Bai Lili in his arms.
Then he looked at Su Jiuyue standing opposite him, breathing heavily yet refusing to bow her head.
Listening to Bai Lili casually describe it as “just asking a few questions,” while remembering the children saying she had cursed them viciously…
He already knew, deep down, what had really happened.
But Bai Lili’s tears…
The scratches on her face…
Her helplessness as she clung to him…
Once again overwhelmed the small voice of reason inside him.
He couldn’t simply stand by while Bai Lili was being “bullied.”
Turning to Su Jiuyue, he spoke in a heavy voice filled with disappointment.
“Su Jiuyue, look at yourself.
You’ve resorted to violence.
You’re completely unreasonable.”
Without another glance at her face—which had turned pale but remained defiantly upright—
He supported the sobbing Bai Lili, took the sniffling Li Tao by the hand, and said,
“Let’s go.”
“But they still haven’t apologized!”
“I said we’re leaving!”
Li Tao still wanted to throw another tantrum.
But Bai Lili had already noticed how furious Li Yanchuan was.
She quickly covered her son’s mouth and hurried after him.
Watching the three figures walk away, Su Jiuyue felt as though countless needles had pierced her heart.
The pain spread through her chest.
Yet almost immediately…
That pain was replaced by an overwhelming sense of relief.
It hurt.
But it felt satisfying.
At last…
She no longer had to endure everything in silence.
Just as Li Yanchuan was about to leave with Bai Lili and Li Tao, a tall, imposing figure approached from the opposite direction, blocking part of the sunlight.
It was Huo Tingxuan, who had rushed over after hearing the commotion.
His eyes swept over the tearful Bai Lili, the bruised-faced Li Tao, and finally settled on Li Yanchuan’s grim expression.
There was no small talk.
His voice was calm, official, and stern.
Every word landed like a hammer.
“Company Commander Li.”
Li Yanchuan instinctively snapped to attention.
“Sir!”
Huo Tingxuan looked directly at him and said slowly,
“As a military officer—especially a company commander responsible for leading soldiers—you are expected not only to discipline yourself, but also your family.
“Allowing your family to bully the children left behind by a fallen comrade…
“And those children happen to be your own younger brother’s children.
“No matter the reason, such conduct is disgraceful.
“There is certainly nothing honorable about it.
“I hope you settle your family affairs properly and don’t allow them to affect your duties or the reputation of the army.”
Li Yanchuan’s face alternated between red and white.
His throat felt dry.
Standing before this commanding superior—who not only outranked him but was undeniably in the right—
He couldn’t offer a single word in defense.
After a long pause, he forced out two words through clenched teeth.
“…Yes, sir.”
Huo Tingxuan said nothing more.
He simply stepped aside, allowing Li Yanchuan to leave.