Chu Xia ignored Black Dog’s mother, pulled Cen Huai’an behind her, and turned to him, “An’an, tell Mom what happened.”

When Cen Huai’an was dragged over by Black Dog’s mother, his once clean and neat clothes were now dirty, his face had scratches, and his eyes were filled with tears.

He bit his lip stubbornly, refusing to let the tears fall.

When Chu Xia asked, he couldn’t hold back the tears anymore.

He pointed at Black Dog, his voice choked with anger and sadness, “He called me a raggedy thing and a liar, and said my clothes were stolen! I’m not a liar or a thief!”

He didn’t want to cry, thinking it was a sign of weakness, so he desperately wiped his face with his hands, turning his head away to avoid letting others see him cry.

Chu Xia pulled him close and let him rest on her lap.

She looked at Black Dog’s mother and said, “I believe my son. Ask your son if he insulted mine. My son’s clothes were bought by me, and he went out to play only after having a full meal. If your son hadn’t insulted him, he wouldn’t have bitten him.”

They lived in the same family quarters, so everyone knew each other.

Black Dog’s mother was a pampering and unreasonable mother, known for her tough attitude and unwillingness to back down in disputes.

Upon hearing Chu Xia’s words, Black Dog’s mother pointed at Chu Xia and yelled, “With your poor and pitiful appearance, do you really have the money to buy clothes? Stop talking nonsense. I don’t care about that. The fact is, my son was bitten by yours. You need to compensate me!”

“Compensate for what?” Chu Xia remained calm. “I haven’t even complained about the scratches on my son’s face. If my son’s handsome face ends up scarred, how much will you compensate?

Besides, your son started the insults first—if he hadn’t insulted mine, would he have been bitten?

And do you know how much these clothes cost?

Look at them; they’re torn and ruined. How will you compensate for that?

And whether or not I can keep money is none of your business. You seem so concerned about my money—are you planning to steal it when no one’s looking? Oh my, our family quarters might have a real thief after all.”

Chu Xia pointed at Black Dog’s mother and exclaimed in surprise, causing the people around them to laugh.

They found it amusing that Black Dog’s mother was making such a fuss.

Fighting among children was normal.

As long as it wasn’t malicious bullying, it wasn’t worth involving adults.

Otherwise, if every minor issue was disputed, neighborly relationships would become impossible.

It was ridiculous to demand compensation for a fight between two children—both sides were hurt, so who would compensate whom? It was laughable!

Black Dog’s mother was humiliated and enraged by Chu Xia’s words, her anger reaching the boiling point.

She began to hurl curses and various threats.

Chu Xia’s face turned pale, and she suddenly clutched her chest with one hand, tears streaming down her face, making her look exceptionally pitiful and helpless.

“Wah, this is so unfair. You’re taking advantage of my husband not being home and bullying us—me and my child, one small and one weak—looking for an excuse to extort money. If you don’t get it, you start causing a scene and cursing. Is there any justice left?

Zhengnian, you made contributions to the country, and now your wife and child are being bullied.

I’m going to find the union chairman, the secretary, the factory director. If the factory director doesn’t care, I’ll go find the mayor. I don’t believe there’s no place in the Textile Factory No. 3 that upholds justice. Wah…”

As she sobbed and spoke, the tears continued to fall.

When she looked at the foul-mouthed and obnoxious Black Dog’s mother, the sympathy of the onlookers shifted.

As Chu Xia cried and spoke, she pulled her son to leave.

The surrounding neighbors quickly stopped her and began to criticize Black Dog’s mother: “Enough with you! Look at yourself; do you have any sense of being a mother? The things you’re saying are so nasty. There are so many children listening!”

“Exactly, children fighting is a common occurrence. Besides, Black Dog started the insults. An’an also has injuries. You’re in the wrong and still trying to extort money. You’re in the wrong, no matter where you go.”

“Chuxia’s husband is a soldier who contributes to the country. We’re all from the same residential compound. Instead of helping, you’re bullying her. Do you really want us to call the union president to give her a proper talk?”

Black Dog’s Mother was someone who feared strong people and bullied the weak.

Upon hearing that the union president might be involved, she quickly pulled her son away and said, “I… I didn’t mean it seriously.”

Then she hurriedly left.

Others began comforting Chuxia, telling her not to take it to heart. Black dog’s mother was just an unreasonable shrew.

They advised her to ignore her in the future.

With tears still on her face, Chuxia sobbed, “Even if she’s unreasonable, she shouldn’t bully people like this! Her son insulted mine, and she came to our door to scold both of us. If I give in today, will she keep bullying us?”

“Not at all, not at all,” everyone quickly said. “We’ll help you. If she dares to come again, we’ll all help you scold her!”

“Yes!” Sister Li added, “If she dares to come back, I’ll be the first to scold her!”

Chuxia thanked them gratefully; that was already enough for her.

But still, she wondered if the union president would come to understand the situation and if they would call the black dog’s mother to talk.

If not, she wouldn’t mind going to the union again to cry for help.

Everyone knew Cen Zhengnian was a soldier, but Chuxia knew more—he was an important researcher affiliated with the National Defense Institute, protected by the state.

Such an identity was confidential, and Chuxia wouldn’t have known if she hadn’t read the contents of the book.

Although the factory director and others didn’t know exactly what Cen Zhengnian did in the military, they had received some orders to favor his family and not allow them to be bullied.

The previous issues with Cen Huaian were considered family matters, and the union had already intervened, trying to address the situation with the original owner.

Since the original owner showed no change, the union had secretly given Cen Huaian some food.

After all, this was a family matter.

Chuxia hadn’t asked the union for help, and since Cen Huaian was too young to understand, they had no reason to intervene unless she personally sought help.

And if Chuxia did ask, the union would definitely support her, especially when they were in the right.

Once Chuxia and Cen Huaian were inside, she first drank the nearly cold herbal medicine and then knelt down to check his wounds.

Fortunately, being children, neither of them had serious injuries—just scratches from nails.

Even so, while applying the red medicine to Cen Huaian’s wounds, Chuxia’s face showed no smile, and she avoided looking at him.

Cen Huaian knew she was angry.

Despite the sting of the medicine, he kept quiet and endured it, gritting his teeth.

“Does it hurt?”

Cen Huaian nodded and shook his head at the same time.

Chuxia put away the red medicine, sat down on a stool, and looked at Cen Huaian.

It was the first time she saw him so obedient in front of her.

She snorted and said, “How foolish. There are so many ways to take revenge, but you chose the lowest one. You harmed yourself more than the enemy.”

Cen Huaian didn’t understand the last part of what his mother said, but he could tell she thought he was foolish for fighting.

“He insulted me,” Cen Huaian said, feeling a bit hurt.

Clearly, it was the boy called Black dog who started insulting him first.

What was wrong with him hitting back?

“You don’t need to feel wronged. I’m not blaming you for fighting. I’m blaming you for getting hurt while fighting,” Chuxia said.