“I’m not dead! Your dad’s dead, and your whole family’s dead!”

“You son of a bitch!”

“Your grandpa’s an old dog, and your dad’s a big dog!”

An old woman scolded, “You little bastard, no manners!”

“You’re the real bastard, and your whole family is too! Your Father is dead, and you’re finding a new dad for your son!”

Lu Shaotang instinctively strode over and saw a crowd of old men and women surrounding his two beloved children.

Tian Tian’s eyes were red from crying, and her neat braids were a mess.

Pan Pan had a red mark on his face and was frenziedly struggling like a wild wolf cub.

An old woman was struggling to hold him back.

Lu Shaotang’s usually hard heart ached intensely.

Was his “sacrifice” causing such harm to his children?

Frowning deeply, he quickly walked forward, reaching out to lift his children into his arms.

Pan Pan, who had been thrashing around, was suddenly lifted off the ground. He looked up at Lu Shaotang’s dark eyes, which were filled with deep pity and guilt.

There was no doubt now.

Pan Pan’s eyes, which had been blazing with anger, suddenly brightened even more, “Dad!”

He called out loudly, wishing everyone in the world could hear him.

Tian Tian wasn’t as strong; she called out “Dad” and buried her head in Lu Shaotang’s neck, crying loudly, “Dad, they bullied me and hit me, waah…”

Lu Shaotang’s heart was breaking at the sight of his children’s suffering.

At this moment, Tong Xiaojun’s grandfather and third uncle arrived.

Tong San used to be a local thug who liked to fight.

He was a troublemaker, often extorting money from young people and vendors in the street.

He wasn’t a rapist but would force people to pay “mediator fees” or protection money.

Though he was a small-time crook and had never committed a serious crime, he was a nuisance and hard to deal with.

The police didn’t handle his minor offenses, so he kept bothering people.

Hearing that his nephew was being bullied, Tong San was determined to make the other party pay, at least demanding five or eight bucks in compensation.

Even if he didn’t get money, he intended to make sure that Qi Sheng was ousted from the election for deputy director!

He rushed over without saying a word and started hitting people.

Old Lady Jiang scolded, “Tong San, are you being a thug? Get back!”

Tong San ignored her. “Others might be afraid of you, but I’m not. Who’s the bastard who hit my nephew? Who’s the bastard insulting our Tong family?”

Tong Xiaojun pointed at Tiantian, Panpan, and their father.

Lu Shaotang was tall and upright.

Even though he was holding the two children, his imposing figure was still clearly visible.

Tong San, although also tall and robust, could not compare to Lu Shaotang’s iron-blooded aura.

But Tong San, used to being aggressive, didn’t consider the strength of his opponent.

He swung his hand to slap Panpan, “I’ll teach you some manners. If your parents won’t, I’ll…”

“Slap!”

Tong San’s face was slapped hard, and the sound was loud and crisp.

Five red finger marks immediately appeared on his big pancake-like face.

No one saw who slapped him!

Even Tong San himself didn’t see clearly.

He just felt that half of his face went numb and ached severely.

If Lu Shaotang had slapped him, he was holding a child in each arm and couldn’t use his hand to hit.

Panpan knew what had happened.

For a brief moment, his father had gently tossed him up, and then with a “slap,” he was back in his father’s left arm.

Wow, that was really fast! He wanted another slap!

Lu Shaotang had slapped Tong San.

Generally, men fight with fists, and slapping is a form of humiliation.

However, Lu Shaotang was afraid that a punch might crush Tong San’s cheekbone and knock out half of his teeth, so he chose to use a slap instead.

He coldly looked at the bewildered Tong San, “Can you speak properly now?”

Tong Xiaojun still wanted to argue, claiming that Panpan was the one not speaking properly, but when he caught a glimpse of Lu Shaotang’s icy gaze, he yelped and hid behind his grandfather, wetting his pants.

Elderly Jiang looked at Lu Shaotang in disbelief.

---

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Elderly Jiang had thought her son, after joining the army, had a strong military demeanor and was tough, even causing her hand to hurt when she hit him.

But looking at Lu Shaotang now, she felt her son was far inferior.

This young man, standing here with his fierce gaze, could truly scare someone into cramping up.

Oh my, this is Lin Shu’s husband?

He hasn’t… sacrificed himself?

Looking at it now, they’re a perfect match. Lin Shi, so delicate and beautiful, with such a… formidable man.

Can the little wife handle it?

If he knew that I was trying to hook up with his wife and marry her off to my son… Oh my, would he slap me?

Elderly Jiang felt her teeth ache slightly.

Time to leave.

Tong’s mother and father, used to being unruly, still wanted to defy Lu Shaotang.

Tong’s father had participated in factory brawls before, thinking of himself as not to be trifled with, regardless of whether it was a bureaucrat or a soldier.

Lu Shaotang wasn’t concerned with the troublemakers. He didn’t let himself be dragged into their mess.

He was restrained and only slapped Tong San, making sure it was a lesson he wouldn’t forget.

The pain would last a week or two, but it was the loose teeth and the serious injury that would stick with Tong San if Lu Shaotang hadn’t been careful.

If Lu Shaotang hadn’t held back, Tong San might have been seriously hurt.

Pan Pan, sitting in his dad’s arms, straightened his back and shouted loudly, “This is my dad! Do you all see? Who dares to say anything else?”

He pointed at Tong’s mother and shouted, “Didn’t you say that my dad was dead and my mom was looking for a new dad for me?”

Pan Pan’s insults were learned from the old women on the streets.

He mimicked their words without understanding them, repeating back whatever he heard.

If they called him a little bastard, he’d call them old bastards.

If they called him a bad seed, he’d call them old bad seeds and their whole family bad seeds.

Tong’s mother hurriedly picked up her grandson and dragged the old man away, leaving in a hurry.

Tong San, though tough, was stunned by the forceful slap and realized he was no match for Lu Shaotang.

He also left in defeat.

Others watching were astonished.

How could the Tong family spread such false rumors?

They had claimed that someone had died and that the young wife was looking for a new husband.

What kind of people were they?

Originally, people who had mocked Lin Shu for not showing sadness over her husband’s supposed death quickly changed their tune, acknowledging that Lin Shu’s husband was indeed alive.

They admitted that Lin Shu’s cheerful demeanor made sense since she was taking care of her sister in the city.

They realized that the Tong family was just spreading lies.

When they turned around, they saw Lin Shu and her sister Lin Xia standing there, having clearly been there for some time.

Lin Shu and Lin Xia had been tidying up at home.

When they heard that Pan Pan and Tong Xiaojun were fighting, Lin Shu rushed downstairs.

Lin Xia, worried about Lin Shu and her nephew, also hurried down.

Lin Shu ran faster than ever.

With no familiar faces around to protect them and Tong Xiaojun being a local bully, she was worried they might hurt her child.

As Lin Shu and Lin Xia arrived, they saw Lu Shaotang already dealing with the situation.

Lin Shu instinctively grabbed her sister. With Lu Shaotang present, she felt reassured.

Lu Shaotang had always protected his family, and now, he was protecting his children just as he had always protected his parents and sister.

Lin Shu was glad to see her children being protected by their dad.

Lin Xia: “… Third sister, your husband’s strength and speed. No wonder you were scared and didn’t want to marry him. He really is intimidating.

Of course, if he’s a good husband who loves his wife and children, then he’s very reassuring.Seeing him protect the kids, I believe he’s a loving husband and father.”

Lin Xia, she whispered, “Your husband is a good man. Don’t be afraid of him.”

To be honest, Lin Shu’s heart was pounding wildly just now, with a mix of fear, excitement, and… she wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

She just knew that Lu Shaotang was her ideal type.

Of course, his overly imposing and oppressive aura wasn’t exactly what she admired.

But this is part of him, and it’s inseparable, isn’t it?

A man who protects his wife and children, even if he’s not very tall or handsome, will seem exceptionally tall and handsome.

And Lu Shaotang was already exceptionally tall and handsome!

Lin Shi heard her own racing heart and wasn’t sure if it was fear or… excitement.

“Mom! Second Aunt!” Panpan shouted loudly when he saw Lin Shu and Lin Xia, “Mom, Dad, your man is here!”

Lin Shu’s face turned red, and she quickly pulled Lin Xia away to head home.

So… embarrassing!

Tiantian, who had been crying in Lu Shaotang’s arms, was now smiling through her tears, hugging his neck, her voice soft and nasal, “Dad, why did you come back so late? If you hadn’t come back, Mom would have been married off by Auntie Zhao Meifeng.”

Lu Shaotang: “…!!!

Lin Shu: “…

Panpan, like a victorious general returning from battle, forgot all about the fight with Tong Xiaojun.

He was shaking with excitement, chasing after Lin Shu, shouting, “Mom, Mom, my dad, your man… wait for us!”

Lin Shu, annoyed at Lin Xia for walking too slowly, ran off by herself.

So excessive!!!

How shameless can she be?

She, a modern young woman from the 21st century, being chased and called “your man,” it’s so…

So outdated it’s like digging up a whole planet.