Chapter 38 : Both His Uncles Are His Uncles

“Help! Someone help me!”  

“Fang Xiaoluo, make him let go!”  

Xu Yaqiu screamed in anger and pain, her vision darkened, and her face flushed red.  

She raised her hand, ready to hit Shen Haiping, but Fang Xiaoluo grabbed her arm instantly.  

“Xu Yaqiu, let me tell you, if my son gets further traumatized because of you, we’re not done! You dare lay a hand on him, and I swear I’ll end you!”  

Shen Zheng leaned close to Shen Haiping and spoke softly into his ear, “Haiping, let go. Haiping, can you hear me?”  

But Shen Haiping couldn’t hear anything, he was entirely lost in his own world.  

Xu Yaqiu was on the verge of a breakdown. In her past life, on the night she married Shen Zheng, this fool had bitten her.  

Now, she still couldn’t escape the fate of being bitten by him.  

“Fang Xiaoluo, make him let go! I’m going to die! Get him to stop!”  

Fang Xiaoluo whispered gently into Shen Haiping’s ear, “Haiping, can you hear your sister? Sister’s fine, nothing’s wrong. Let go, and I’ll get you an apple to eat.”  

“Haiping, be good. Don’t be scared. Sister is here, always by your side.”  

Fang Xiaoluo’s soft voice and words gradually soothed Shen Haiping. The stubbornness and fierceness in his eyes slowly faded, and his grip loosened.  

Taking the chance, Xu Yaqiu quickly pulled her arm free.  

When she rolled up her sleeve, she saw two deep rows of teeth marks, bloodied and raw. In the middle, a piece of flesh was swollen and already turning dark purple.  

Shen Haiping lay against Fang Xiaoluo, seemingly retreating back into his own world.  

Xu Yaqiu, drenched in sweat, pointed to her wound. “Fang Xiaoluo, you have to take responsibility!”  

Fang Xiaoluo handed Shen Haiping over to Shen Zheng and said coldly, “Responsibility? Fine, let’s go to the police station right now and sort it out. Let’s see whose fault is greater. My son bit you, and we’ll cover your medical expenses, no problem. But my son suffered emotional trauma, he was a perfectly healthy child before this! Xu Yaqiu, you’ll bear full responsibility. From now on, all his rehabilitation and treatment costs will be on you!”  

Xu Yaqiu clutched her arm. “Fang Xiaoluo, you’re shameless! Twisting the truth!”  

Fang Xiaoluo sneered. “I don’t argue with fools. Let’s go to the police station and see who’s really at fault!”  

Xu Yaqiu shouted angrily, “Zhou Yanwen, are you dead? Can’t you see how badly I’m hurt?”  

Zhou Yanwen pulled her aside. “That’s enough! Xu Yaqiu, haven’t we embarrassed ourselves enough?”  

“Arguing at home, arguing outside, if you keep this up, let’s just divorce and end it!”  

Xu Yaqiu glared at him. “You… you’re thinking of divorcing me for her?”  

Zhou Yanwen ignored her and turned to Fang Xiaoluo with an apologetic expression. “Xiaoluo, I’m really sorry. I’ll take her away now. It’s all Xu Yaqiu’s fault. Please don’t hold it against her.”  

With that, he dragged Xu Yaqiu out of the house.  

From the house to the courtyard, Xu Yaqiu’s cursing and yelling echoed.  

Their voices grew fainter and finally disappeared, leaving the Fang household in peace.  

Fang Xiaoluo glanced at Shen Haiping, who was now fast asleep in Shen Zheng’s arms.  

Zhang Xinyan quickly laid out a mattress and brought a blanket. Shen Zheng placed the child on the bed, where he slept soundly.  

Zhang Xinyan sighed. “Who would’ve thought Yaqiu and her husband would show up and cause such a scene.”  

Shen Zheng reassured her, “It’s fine, Mom.”  

Zhang Xinyan looked worried. “Does Haiping need to go to the hospital for a check-up?”  

Shen Zheng replied, “For now, I don’t think it’s necessary. He listens to Xiaoluo very well.”  

Fang Xiaoluo reached out to hug Zhang Xinyan. “Mom, don’t worry.”  

Fang Shijun brought out a chessboard. “Shen Zheng, do you know how to play chess?”  

Shen Zheng stood up. “Yes, I do.”  

“Then let’s have a match.” Fang Shijun cleared the table and set up the chessboard.  

Shen Zheng sat down. “Sure.”  

As Fang Shijun and Shen Zheng played chess and chatted, Zhang Xinyan and Fang Xiaoluo went to the kitchen to prepare vegetables.  

“Xiaoluo, how have you been these past couple of days? Are you adjusting well?”  

Fang Xiaoluo picked up a bunch of bok choy, squatted down, and smiled. “I’m doing great. Shen Zheng treats me well, and his three kids are obedient and sensible. My mother-in-law is also a good person.”  

“Look, she even reminded us to bring more things when we came today.”  

Zhang Xinyan thought about the items Shen Zheng and Fang Xiaoluo had brought: everything came in pairs, canned goods, malted milk, wine, tea, snacks, powdered milk, two roosters, and two slabs of ribs.  

“You brought too much stuff. Take some back when you leave,” Zhang Xinyan said. “The things you brought last time haven’t been finished. It’s not winter now, so the food won’t last long. I had to cure the meat last time.”  

Fang Xiaoluo replied, “It wouldn’t make sense to take things back after a home visit. If there’s too much, you and Dad can just cure it again.”  

“As for the powdered milk, you all should use it. Xiaojie and the others study hard and need the nutrition.”  

Zhang Xinyan lowered her voice. “Speaking of which, why did you leave us 1,000 yuan when you already gave us the money?”  

“Mom, our family’s circumstances aren’t great. So don’t worry, I’ll keep making money, and soon, we’ll all live good lives.”  

Zhang Xinyan smiled. “I believe you. Since you’ve come back, it feels like you’ve brought good fortune to the family. Haven’t you noticed your dad’s health has improved these past couple of days?”  

By lunchtime, Fang Xiaoluo cooked while Zhang Xinyan assisted, and they made a large table full of dishes.  

Knowing it was Fang Xiaoluo’s homecoming, even Fang Qiang and the others, who usually didn’t come home for lunch, returned today.  

The Fang family bustled with excitement, and the large table was surrounded by people.  

When Shen Haiping woke up, Fang Xiaoluo took him to wash his hands and had him sit at the table.  

She introduced him to Fang Jie and the others. “This is my son, Shen Haiping. You’re his uncles and aunts, so take good care of him. Oh, and I have another son and a daughter. I’ll bring them next time so you can meet them.”  

Fang Yamei and Fang Yating were thrilled. “Big Sister, so we’re officially aunts now?”  

Fang Yamei leaned closer. “Haiping, I’m your second aunt.”  

Fang Yating, not wanting to be left out, added quickly, “Haiping, I’m your youngest aunt.”  

Fang Jie rubbed his chin. “That makes me the youngest uncle, then.”  

Fang Qiang chuckled. “And I’m the eldest uncle.”  

Fang Xiaoluo blinked playfully. “That’s fantastic.”  

Fang Yamei placed a piece of rib in Shen Haiping’s bowl. “Haiping, have some ribs. You can tell by the smell that Big Sister cooked them. They’re delicious.”  

Fang Yating added a piece of scrambled egg. “Haiping, try the eggs. They’re from our own chickens, super tasty.”  

Shen Haiping didn’t say much. He focused on the food, picked up the rib with his chopsticks, and took a bite.  

He chewed slowly, then spit out the bone after a while, and smiled at Fang Yamei. “Delicious.”  

Fang Yamei, seeing his smile, beamed with happiness and quickly gave him another piece.  

Shen Haiping then picked up the scrambled egg, ate it, and smiled at Fang Yating just as he had before. “Delicious.”