After a night of pain, Su Xiangwan now felt that Song Qingshan wasn’t even handsome anymore.

That steel-like physique she once liked, she no longer cared for.

She realized that all those bookish experiences were just lies.

This was a true donkey, purebred.

Soon, Gou Dan sneaked in: “Mom, I’m hungry.”

He rested his little head on her chest.

In fact, they had slept together for six or seven years, and this was the first time they were apart, an indescribable feeling.

Gou Dan also sneaked in: “Mom, did he hit you last night?”

Su Xiangwan found the question strange: “Why would you say that?”

Lu Dan looked at her with meaningful eyes: “The bed was creaking all night.”

The child lifted her wrist, and sure enough, there were dark marks on her fair skin.

Lu Dan became upset, picked up a stick, and ran off: “Mom, wait. I’ll avenge you!”

When Su Xiangwan chased outside, she saw Song Qingshan and the two boys sparring.

You wouldn’t believe it, Lu Dan, although he only occasionally practiced a few moves when his father was home, his punches were fierce, and his legs were as steady as a rock.

After a few rounds, Song Qingshan lifted his son up and said to Su Xiangwan, “Our kid has potential, he’s got the makings of a martial artist.”

Su Xiangwan agreed, thinking Lu Dan did look like someone who could learn martial arts, so she quickly said, “Should we find him a teacher to teach him?”

Song Qingshan turned around with bright eyes and quietly asked, “You really don’t feel bad? I gave it my all.”

When entering the army, soldiers often exchange experiences, and they always say that if the bed doesn’t collapse, you can’t leave the battlefield.

Su Xiangwan looked at this man with “male chauvinism” and was so frustrated she almost wanted to slap him: “Go now, but remember, find a good teacher for Lu Dan.”

You have to know, in the future when Lu Dan becomes a detective, he’ll need some martial arts skills for self-defense. It’s necessary, right?

Song Qingshan shook off the tractor’s reins: “The old master in our village is a great teacher. I’ll take Lu Dan to pay him a visit one of these days.”

“Dad, Dad, you hit Mom last night, and we still need to settle the score,” Lu Dan was still chasing after his father, holding a stick.

Song Qingshan said, “We’ll pick this up again when we get back tonight. How about that?”

Lu Dan held his stick out in front of him and loudly declared, “You’re my dad, I won’t hit you, but I won’t let you hit my mom!”

The child cupped his hands like a loudspeaker, standing on the road and shouting as if his life depended on it.

Song Qingshan laughed in the wind: “This silly kid, there’s no saving him.”

Lu Dan turned back, walking happily, grinning from ear to ear. “Mom, he definitely won’t dare to hit you tonight. If he does, I’ll sleep between you two.”

Su Xiangwan frowned for a moment, then lightly patted Donkey Dan’s little bottom: “Who told you your dad hit me?”

“I heard it. Look at your arm, it’s all bruised,” Donkey Dan insisted.

Su Xiangwan gave him another pat on the bottom: “Silly child, your dad and I are married, understand? Being a couple isn’t just about raising kids, there are other things we have to do too. When you’re older, you’ll understand.”

Lu Dan looked at her with a confused expression: “What things, Mom?”

Su Xiangwan quickly got back to tidying the house and said, “Anyway, just know your dad didn’t hit me. Practice your fighting skills. If Old Master really has some martial arts skills, he’ll teach you. One day, when Golden Huai comes, you’ll have the skills to take him down.”

Lu Dan’s eyes lit up, and he immediately said, “Okay, Mom, I’ll go now.”

In Xiao Song Village, there was an elderly, lonely man known as Old Master.

Although he was a rural elder, his hair was white, and even at sixty or seventy, he could still stand straight. People in the village all said he had martial arts skills.

Lu Dan had always dreamed of practicing martial arts, but not like the kids of later generations who wanted to defy the heavens.

He was simply interested in solid, practical fighting skills.

One time, Old Master had praised his bones, saying the boy had strength and resilience, and that he was indeed cut out for martial arts.

At that moment, Lu Dan was secretly excited. Hearing that his father was really going to arrange for him to study with Old Master, he didn’t even go out to play anymore.

He pulled Gou Dan, and the two of them started sparring in the open field.

It was just a few simple sets of martial arts moves. Gou Dan was weak and hadn’t practiced much, so they stopped quickly.

Soon, Gou Dan couldn’t keep up and sat on the ground panting.

Around them, other kids like Xiong Dan, Chou Dan, and others were watching.

Xiong Dan also liked fighting a little.

Seeing that Gou Dan couldn’t continue, he stepped forward and said, “Come on, Lu Dan, I’ll spar with you.”

Lu Dan kicked into the air with a whoosh, followed by a swift palm strike, both moves accompanied by wind.

In just a few moves, Xiong Dan was gasping for breath.

However, he wiped the sweat off his face and still gave Lu Dan a thumbs up: “Lu Dan, you really have skills. Let’s keep going.”

“Hey, isn’t this Lu Dan? Where’s your mom?” Suddenly, a young man’s voice, full of disdain, asked.

Gou Dan trembled when he heard the voice, then immediately shouted, “Gou Dan, run, run fast.”

Gou Dan froze and stood there, motionless.

Meanwhile, kids like Xiong Dan, Xi Dan, and Chou Dan scattered like birds and animals, running in all directions.

“Golden Huai is here! Everyone, run!” Xiong Dan suddenly yelled at the top of his lungs.

Fang Jinhui was riding a motorcycle, one of those that the Japanese soldiers loved to ride during the war. It was the kind where one person rides, and another can sit beside them.

But he wasn’t alone; he was accompanied by a lackey named Jin Liang.

As soon as they arrived, Jin Liang offered him a cigarette: “Big brother, this is your maternal uncle’s place. It sure looks impressive.”

Fang Jinhui took a deep puff of his cigarette, slowly exhaled, and through the swirling smoke, admired his maternal uncle’s new courtyard.

The two large iron gates were painted in a faded green, and the entire courtyard was surrounded by a row of brick walls.

It indeed looked impressive.

Fang Jinhui didn’t resemble either of his parents.

He had small, fish-like eyes, but his face was unusually large—really large.

Of course, he was tall and very muscular.

For some reason, his hair was naturally curly.

All in all, he had that heavy, dull appearance of a big, solid man. He probably ate well and was incredibly strong.

From his face, there was no trace of a child’s innocence; instead, it gave off a vibe of natural shrewdness and worldly wisdom.

He had always been wandering outside and could be said to have traveled across the vast landscapes of the country.

After returning, he was angry because all of his lackeys had been taken by his two uncles, but he didn’t dare say anything.

He was hiding and laying low for the time being, acting meek and submissive.

Fang Gaodi had beaten up Song Qingshan and Song Tingxiu, but he refused to say exactly where they had been beaten. It wasn’t until Fang Jinhui reached down to feel his father’s pants that he discovered it was his manhood that had been hit.

The reason why Fang Gaodi didn’t dare to speak up was because he had been beaten into submission by others.

At the time, Fang Jinhui had thrown a punch at Song Dahu, and of course, the cowardly Fang Gaodi didn’t dare to make a sound outside.

But once home, he liked to take his frustration out on his wife. Jinhui had learned from the best; when he was ten years old, he first hit Dahua. Dahua only cried and didn’t fight back.

Since then, Jinhui had become more and more arrogant.

Imagine, his uncle had incapacitated his father—could Fang Jinhui not be furious?

He was very angry.

However, Song Qingshan was a regiment commander. It was said that back in the West Sea, he had knocked down dozens of prison guards and escaped. Even with thousands of police and soldiers chasing him, he managed to escape back to Dongfeng City.

Song Tingxiu, though always working in a civilian role in the army, was now the deputy director at the police station.

Even more importantly, Song Tingxiu had a bad temper, and while he couldn’t beat people up, he liked to force the issue.

Lately, the whole county had been looking for him, planning to give him a hard time if they found him.

Originally, Jinhui had been hiding well. But after the old lady came into the city and mentioned something, Fang Jinhui couldn’t hold back anymore.

It turned out that last night, the old man had given Su Xiangwan a precious jade that the old lady had been keeping. This jade, originally promised to Jinhui, had been given to Su Xiangwan instead.

Today, Jinhui came not only to snatch the jade but also to teach the little brats, Gou Dan and Lu Dan, a lesson, taking revenge for his father.

Gou Dan stood in front of Jinhui with clenched fists, looking like a little dog, muttering softly.

Jinhui kicked him lightly: “Isn’t this the little dog brat?”

Gou Dan didn’t respond.

He raised his head, still clutching his fists, staring at Jinhui.

The boy was thinking about his little Ah She, the cute little Ah She who always hid in the corner.

Together, they fantasized about all kinds of delicious food.

After eating something sweet, Ah She would be so timid she wouldn’t even dare to swallow her saliva but would save it for Jinhui to try.

At this moment, Lu Dan stepped forward and suddenly landed a punch on Jinhui.

His tiny fist, like an ant trying to kick an elephant, was an innocent but determined attempt.

….

As for the jade that Song Dahua gave to Su Xiangwan, here’s its backstory:

When the liberation was about to happen, a division commander had passed through their house.

During a break on the march, Song Qingshan and Song Tingxiu—just a little older than Lu Dan and Gou Dan—had served the commander by washing his feet and offering him water. The two brothers were handsome, filial, and obedient, especially towards their mother.

This division commander, Li Shizhang, was in his sixties, his wife having passed away, and he only had one daughter.

It was said that his father had once followed Sun Dianying, so he had some precious items.

When Li Shizhang left, he adopted Song Qingshan and Song Tingxiu as his godsons, and gave Qingshan a small jade watermelon and Tingxiu a small jade lotus root.

At that time, Li Shizhang promised that when he returned, he would visit his godsons.

However, a few years after the liberation, he was sent down to Yunnan due to political reasons.

The old lady Song had kept these items for herself, even though she had promised to give one to Jinhui and another to Song Fu.

It wasn’t until yesterday that the jade was found and given to Su Xiangwan.

“Is this really something from Empress Dowager Cixi?” Su Xianghong asked, looking at the jade, which was quite cute—a jade carving of a small watermelon, round and lovely.

Su Xiangwan, having come from the modern world, replied, “It looks like it, but I don’t know if it’s real.”

If it were real, it could be worth a fortune one day.

Su Xianghong tied a red string around the jade watermelon and hung it around Zhi Zhi’s neck. “Should we just keep it on the child like this?”

Su Xiangwan replied, “He’s so small; what if someone snatches it? Take it off and keep it safe.”

Just then, she heard Lu Dan’s voice outside: “Gou Dan, run! Run fast!”

Lu Dan hadn’t been beaten much, but Gou Dan, on the other hand, was a troublemaker who seemed to get beaten by everyone he encountered.

Then, Su Xiangwan heard someone shouting Jinhui’s name.

Fang Jinhui was the person Su Xiangwan had heard the most about since arriving here, but had never seen until now.

“Xianghong, I’ll close the door. You stay here with Zhi Zhi. Don’t open it unless I call,” Su Xiangwan said, looking around but not finding anything useful.

She grabbed a steel pipe from the corner, one of the ones used for scaffolding yesterday, and rushed out the door.

In her haste, she didn’t even have time to bring along Da Shan, who had been barking in the corner.