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Seeing the two kids enjoying their meal so much, Zhou Jinchuan felt very pleased.
In the past, every time he cooked, the kids would finish their meals, but they didn’t seem to enjoy it as much as they did now.
When the three of them were together, he wondered if it was because he was too serious; the kids would always be quiet and reserved.
Today, however, it was as if they had become different people. They were talkative and had a particularly good appetite.
Not just the kids, but even his own appetite seemed better than usual.
Zhou Jinchuan was used to being busy and didn’t usually care much about the food when eating out, just having a few bites to fill his stomach.
Additionally, he had grown up eating rice, but in the northwest, where wheat-based foods are more common, he had found it somewhat uncomfortable, though he had never mentioned it to anyone.
It was rare to have a meal with such a good mix of meat and vegetables, with both rice and soup. He couldn’t remember the last time he had such a satisfying meal.
After everyone had eaten enough, Su Yi stood up to refill the rice for everyone. Since they were guests, she felt she should be a bit more diligent.
Ye Nuannuan was full, so Su Yi didn’t want to let her eat more. Instead, she divided the remaining rice between Zhou Jinchuan and Ye Xiaowu.
Ye Xiaowu quickly asked, “Sister Su, why aren’t you eating anymore?”
Su Yi smiled and said, “I’m full.”
Although she had been very hungry before, the original owner’s stomach wasn’t very big.
Just after making this remark, Su Yi couldn’t help but let out a burp, feeling quite embarrassed.
Ye Xiaowu and Ye Nuannuan both let out a satisfied burp as well.
What a rare sight—a trio that’s actually full!
The three of them laughed together.
Seeing Su Yi so happy, Ye Nuannuan gathered her courage and asked, “Sister Su, today my brother and I saw you in the courtyard.”
“My brother said that people were bullying you, but you were very brave and didn’t cry.”
Su Yi smiled awkwardly.
Zhou Jinchuan was also puzzled and asked tentatively, “Comrade Su, it seems like you’re not really upset after breaking off the engagement?”
Su Yi twitched her lips. “I am upset, but there’s nothing to be done. People have to move forward.”
[That kind of scum doesn’t deserve a single second of my sadness.]
[I’ll turn my sorrow into appetite. Men can’t compare to a good meal.]
Zhou Jinchuan lowered his head to eat, a smile curving at the corner of his lips where no one could see.
He had started to understand her well. Her true feelings mostly surfaced when she was either being candid or venting.
Zhou Jinchuan and Ye Xiaowu finished off the remaining food, even mixing the sauce from the braised pork into their rice.
As everyone was getting ready to clean up, they suddenly heard a hurried knocking on the door from outside.
Given Su Yi’s situation, it wasn’t appropriate for her to go out, so she volunteered to stay behind and wash the dishes.
Zhou Jinchuan stood up and opened the door, only to find Liu Dajie, who usually took care of Ye Xiaowu and Ye Nuannuan, standing outside. She was accompanied by the two children she was looking after.
Ye Xiaowu and Ye Nuannuan quickly hid in the kitchen when they saw Liu Dajie.
Su Yi was puzzled and peered out the window. “Are those the two kids? Are they bringing their family over to complain? Why is Comrade Zhou being so polite to Liu Dajie?”
Ye Xiaowu pressed his lips together. “She’s the one who usually looks after us. Uncle Zhou pays her thirty yuan a month.”
Su Yi suddenly understood most of the situation.
Then, she heard Zhou Jinchuan calling the two children out.
Su Yi patted the kids on the shoulders and said, “Go on, with Comrade Zhou here, you can tell everything that happened today. Don’t be afraid!”
“People are always bullies when they think they can get away with it. Don’t be soft targets. Be like the stone that your sister threw out today—make them think twice before messing with you!”
Ye Xiaowu nodded and took Ye Nuannuan out.
Su Yi strained to listen, hearing Liu Dajie complaining to Zhou Jinchuan:
“Comrade Zhou, I’ve always treated the two kids well, but I didn’t expect them to start bullying others. Look, Qiang Qiang and Liang Liang both had their front teeth knocked out!”
“Not only that, but the two kids told me that Ye Xiaowu stole their candied hawthorns to give to Nuannuan, which is why they had a fight.”
“I can’t handle these two kids anymore; their behavior is just too bad. I think Comrade Zhou should find a way to send them away soon. If this keeps up, other kids in the courtyard won’t dare to go outside!”
Zhou Jinchuan was irritated by her complaints and interrupted before she could finish.
“Xiaowu and Nuannuan are here now. I need to ask them about this first.”
He then turned to Ye Xiaowu and asked, “Is what Qiang Qiang and Liang Liang said true?”
Liu Dajie scowled and shot a fierce glare at Ye Xiaowu.
Ye Xiaowu felt a pang of anxiety, worried that if he spoke up, Liu Dajie might take it out on Nuannuan later. However, he couldn’t swallow his anger and decided to speak up, remembering Su Yi’s encouragement.
With a deep breath, he explained, “The candied hawthorns were something I bought for my sister, not stolen. When they saw it, they demanded it, and when I refused, they falsely accused me of stealing it. Not only did they take our candied hawthorns, but they also beat us.”
Upon hearing Ye Xiaowu’s explanation, Zhou Jinchuan shot an angry look at Liu Dajie and the two children behind her.
“Qiang Qiang, Liang Liang, is this true?”
The two children, who were usually terrified of Zhou Jinchuan, had only come back to complain to their parents. They hadn’t expected that their parents would then come to Zhou Jinchuan to seek justice, hoping to find an opportunity to get back at Ye Xiaowu and Ye Nuannuan.
Seeing Liu Dajie insist that the two children’s broken teeth were proof of their story, and hearing her loudly dismiss Ye Xiaowu’s explanation as lies, Su Yi’s patience wore thin.
She was originally trying to avoid escalating the situation, but Liu Dajie’s persistent accusations and the unfair portrayal of the children finally pushed her to act.
Stepping out from the kitchen, Su Yi confronted Liu Dajie. “Enough. Your accusations are unsubstantiated. I was there and saw what really happened. The truth is that your children were the ones who started the fight after demanding something that didn’t belong to them.”
She faced Zhou Jinchuan directly. “Comrade Zhou, the children’s claims are false. Liu Dajie’s accusations are baseless, and it’s clear that the two children are being unfairly treated.”
The atmosphere grew tense as Su Yi stood firm, ready to clear the air and ensure that the truth was heard.
After dinner, many neighbors came out for an evening stroll and gathered around to watch the commotion from a distance.
In the public eye, Zhou Jinchuan, a man of stature, couldn’t afford to get into a prolonged argument with Su Yi.
Ye Xiaowu, frustrated and helpless, clenched his fists, while Ye Nuannuan silently shed tears out of fear.
Seeing the distressing situation, Su Yi rushed forward.
“I can testify that Ye Xiaowu is not lying. I happened to pass by and saw everything clearly.”
Liu Dajie recognized Su Yi as the woman who had caused a stir in the courtyard earlier. She sneered and said, “Aren’t you the ex-fiancée of Deputy Company Commander Qin? What are you doing in Comrade Zhou’s home?”
Her voice was loud, drawing the attention of the onlookers who had been more interested in the drama unfolding at Zhou Jinchuan’s residence than the initial quarrel between the children.