Chapter 31: Foolish child Shu Gen’er

The three of them made quite a bit of noise but didn’t wake Shu Gen’er.  

Something was off.  

Zhao Ke squatted down and pressed the back of her hand against his forehead.  

Zhao Yunyun squatted beside her and asked, “His face is so red. Is he running a fever?”  

“Maybe a slight fever.”  

The two of them sealed the cave entrance tightly.  

Chen San’er stood at the back, glancing at Shu Gen’er out of the corner of his eye. Unable to see clearly, he craned his neck for a better look.  

As soon as Zhao Ke and Zhao Yunyun moved, he quickly averted his gaze and, acting nonchalant, shook his leg vigorously with a careless expression. “He stays in the kitchen during winter.”  

Zhao Ke turned her head. “How do you know he stays in the kitchen during winter?”  

Chen San’er looked up at the sky and shamelessly said, “Just know, that’s all.”  

Zhao Ke warned him, “You’d better watch yourself and not cross any lines.”  

Chen San’er, who never learned his lesson, smirked. “What’s the big deal if I do?”  

Zhao Yunyun gave him a disgusted glance.  

Chen San’er grinned at her, playful and shameless. “Careful, I might pay your house a visit tonight.”  

Before he finished speaking, a clump of dirt, the size of a fist, suddenly flew at him.  

Chen San’er’s expression changed instantly as he jumped to dodge it.  

The dirt clump hit the ground and shattered into pieces.  

With lingering fear, Chen San’er looked up at Zhao Ke. “You didn’t have to go that hard—trying to kill me?”  

Zhao Ke stared at him coldly.  

Chen San’er sulked. “Tch~ I’m leaving.”  

“Wait a minute.”  

Chen San’er stopped and turned back impatiently. “Now what?”  

“We need to take Shu Gen’er to the clinic. If you leave, how are we supposed to carry him?”  

Great, more hard labor.  

Chen San’er, clearly unhappy, walked back, turned his back to the straw cave, and squatted down.  

Zhao Yunyun, seeing his posture, felt an itch in her foot and kicked him in the butt.  

“Hey—”  

Zhao Ke tried to stop her, but it was too late.  

Chen San’er fell forward onto his knees, spun around, and angrily snapped, “Zhao Yunyun! You itching for a beating, huh?”  

Zhao Yunyun stuck out her tongue and made a face at him. “Afraid of you? Never~”  

Zhao Ke disapproved and said to her, “Don’t mess around.”  

How could she provoke a mad dog?  

Zhao Yunyun instantly straightened up and behaved obediently.  

Zhao Ke then turned to the furious Chen San’er. “Don’t take it out on her. Let’s focus on getting Shu Gen’er to the clinic.”  

Chen San’er glanced at Shu Gen’er, still unconscious, and told Zhao Ke, “I’m doing this as a favor to you.”  

Then he pointed his finger fiercely at Zhao Yunyun. “You brat, if there’s a next time, just you wait!”  

Zhao Yunyun, who had never known the meaning of “fear” in the Zhao Village Production Team, stared at him with wide eyes, unflinching.  

Chen San’er… couldn’t actually hit her. He kept his finger pointed at her for a good ten seconds. The longer he stayed like that, the less intimidating he seemed and the more awkward it became, so he grudgingly withdrew his hand.  

Damn it, this brat—he’d get her back someday!  

Chen San’er glared at her, squatted back down, and moved with obvious irritation.  

Zhao Yunyun, feeling triumphant, raised her chin and arched her brows at Zhao Ke, looking smug.  

Zhao Ke sighed. “Hurry up and help.”  

The two of them each grabbed one of Shu Gen’er’s arms and pulled him out.  

At thirteen, Shu Gen’er was thin and light, so it wasn’t much effort for them to lift him onto Chen San’er’s back.  

Chen San’er carried Shu Gen’er and walked off first.  

Zhao Ke followed behind, closing the gate. The straw rope was wrapped around it but wasn’t tied in a knot.  

At the clinic—  

Chen San’er set Shu Gen’er down and left without a word. 

Zhao Jianguo removed Shu Gen’er’s ill-fitting shirt to examine his body. “There aren’t any obvious external injuries, so it seems the beating wasn’t too severe.”

Hearing this, Zhao Ke felt a little less burdened.

“Huh?”

Zhao Jianguo took a thermometer to check his temperature and noticed small patches of bruising on the inner side of Shu Gen’er’s upper arm.

They were likely caused by pinching.

Zhao Yunyun fumed, “What kind of person does that? So wicked!”

Zhao Jianguo chuckled. “It’s obvious you’ve never been hit before. When beating a child, you never aim for the face. Hitting the butt or pinching the inner thighs and arms doesn’t cause lasting damage.”

Zhao Yunyun, now burdened with useless knowledge, glanced at Zhao Ke.

Zhao Ke, sensing her gaze, didn’t even need to look at her expression and said, “Zhao Feng is quite experienced in this.”

Zhao Jianguo laughed, “That’s right. Zhao Feng was quite a troublemaker as a child.”

A few minutes later, Zhao Jianguo took out the thermometer, held it up, and said, “Low fever, nothing serious. I’ll wipe him down and cool him off—no need for medication.”

Zhao Jianguo wet a piece of cotton cloth and began wiping Shu Gen’er’s body.

Shu Gen’er was so skinny that as Zhao Jianguo’s large hand moved over his bony frame, it seemed like his ribs might snap under the pressure.

Zhao Yunyun couldn’t bear to watch. “Third Uncle, be gentler.”

Though nearly all the children in the Production Team were thin, Zhao Jianguo didn’t mind her comment and lightened his touch even further.

……………….

Zheng Guangmei, who usually brought her six-year-old son Liu Xiaobao to work every day, came home and noticed the straw rope wasn’t tied. She was shocked.

“Did we get robbed?!”

Panicking, Zheng Guangmei rushed in to check the house door, the storage room door, the chicken coop, and the vegetable patch in the backyard.

Nothing was missing.

Liu Guangzhi said, “Maybe you forgot to tie it and just remembered wrong?”

“Impossible!” Zheng Guangmei said firmly. “How could I forget to tie it?”

Her gaze swept around and landed on the straw pile. Suddenly, she looked as if she’d figured it out. “It must be that brat Sha Gen’er! I have to give him a beating…”

Liu Xiaobao, copying her tone, followed behind and shouted, “Beat Sha Gen’er!”

Liu Guangzhi remained where he was, showing no intention of stopping her.

When Zheng Guangmei saw the empty straw cave, she cursed, “That idiot ran off somewhere again. Almost made the house lose stuff. He’d better just drop dead outside and never come back!”

At the Liu family’s gate, Zhao Yunyun, holding the work points ledger, retorted angrily, “What do you even have that’s worth stealing? How can you speak so viciously?”

When Zheng Guangmei saw who was speaking, her expression froze.

Liu Guangzhi forced a smile. “Yun Yun, you’re here to record work points? Come inside and have some water.”

“I’m not going in. Don’t want you blaming me for losing something,” Zhao Yunyun replied sarcastically. She opened her ledger and asked stiffly, “How many?”

Liu Guangzhi reported two numbers with a sheepish grin.

Zhao Yunyun, following procedure, reminded them, “These will be verified later.” After recording the points, she said, “The person who untied your gate was Zhao Ke. If you have any issues, take it up with her.”

Liu Guangzhi chuckled awkwardly. “Why would Director Zhao come to our house?Could there be some misunderstanding?”

Zhao Yunyun, unimpressed by their attitude, replied curtly, “A fellow member reported that you were abusing a child. When we arrived, we found Shu Gen’er lying in the straw pile with a fever. He’s at the clinic now.”

“Who’s so nosy to make a report?” Zheng Guangmei shoved Liu Guangzhi. “Go get him back. And I’m telling you now, I don’t have a cent to spare—don’t make me pay for medicine.”

Zhao Yunyun was annoyed. “Why shouldn’t you go? You’re the one who was reported.”

Feeling embarrassed about being called out by a young girl, Zheng Guangmei relented reluctantly. “Fine, I’ll go. I refuse to believe anyone doesn’t discipline a naughty child in their household.”

…….

At the clinic, Shu Gen’er woke up and immediately tried to climb off the bed and run home in fear.

Zhao Jianguo quickly grabbed him. “Where are you going?”

Shu Gen’er struggled desperately, clawing at his hand and yelling anxiously, “Home, I need to go home!”

Zhao Jianguo didn’t let go and coaxed, “Shu Gen’er, be good. Take your medicine first.”

But Shu Gen’er wouldn’t have it, resisting fiercely, insisting on going home.

Zhao Ke brought the cardboard to the clinic and was sitting outside patching holes in the newspaper when she heard a commotion inside. She entered and asked, “Shu Gen’er, what’s going on?”

The moment Shu Gen’er heard her voice, he stopped struggling, and his entire body calmed down.

Zhao Jianguo found this remarkable. “Is this kid like a switch?”

He let go of Shu Gen’er’s wrist, which wasn’t even thicker than a fire poker, and Shu Gen’er didn’t try to run anymore. Instead, he stared at Zhao Ke with a silly grin and called out, “Director Zhao!”

The so-called Director Zhao was caught between laughter and tears. “Where did you learn that from?”

Shu Gen’er only giggled foolishly.

Zhao Jianguo handed over a paper packet of medicinal powder. “Perfect timing. Have him take his medicine.”

As soon as Shu Gen’er heard the word “medicine,” all his hackles went up, and he darted under the wooden bed like a frightened animal, refusing to come out.

Zhao Ke crouched down to look under the bed and tried to coax him. “Shu Gen’er, you’re the most obedient. Come out and drink your medicine. If you don’t, you’ll have to get an injection, and the needle is thiiiis long…”

Zhao Jianguo, playing along, picked up the largest syringe and squatted down to show it off. “Shu Gen’er, see this? The needle goes right into your butt. Hurts so bad you’ll cry out loud.”

Terrified, Shu Gen’er scrambled even further under the bed. “No, no, no…”

Zhao Ke tried another approach, tempting him. “Do you want some candy? If you drink the medicine, I’ll give you a piece of rock candy. Deal?”

“I want candy! Give it to me! Don’t give it to Sha Gen’er!”

A domineering childish voice echoed through the clinic.

Immediately afterward, Zhao Ke felt her shoulder fabric being grabbed and tugged.

“You heard that, right?”

Zhao Ke: “…”

When was the last time a brat from the Production Team had been so impertinent with her?

With her left hand steadying the bed frame, Zhao Ke slowly raised her head and said politely, “Kid, let go.”

Liu Xiaobao didn’t let go. Instead, he tightened his grip. “Give me the candy. Sha Gen’er’s is mine.”

His nails were filthy, and Zhao Ke’s shoulder now bore black claw marks.

She’d been polite. Don’t blame her for not being nice now.

Zhao Ke reached out and pinched the soft flesh on his upper arm.

Liu Xiaobao immediately wailed, “Moooom! She pinched me!”

Zheng Guangmei rushed in like a whirlwind, scooping up Liu Xiaobao and demanding, “Why did you pinch my son?”

Zhao Ke stood up and brushed at the black marks on her shoulder. “Compensate me for my clothes.”

Zheng Guangmei’s gaze fell on her shoulder, but she remained defiant. “Just wash it. Why make a big deal over something so minor with a child?”

Zhao Ke grabbed the large bandage scissors her father used and snipped off the hem of Liu Xiaobao’s pants.

Zheng Guangmei shrieked, “What are you doing?!”

Zhao Ke tossed the irregularly shaped cloth strip aside and mimicked her tone. “Kids are always roughhousing. Who knows when clothes might get torn? Just patch it up. Why make a fuss over such a small thing?”

Zheng Guangmei was speechless.

At the clinic entrance, Zhao Yunyun covered her mouth, stifling laughter. Serves her right.

At this moment, Liu Guangzhi walked in, wearing a concerned fatherly expression. “Scissors are sharp. Did they hurt Xiao Bao?”

Zheng Guangmei immediately said, “If you hurt my Xiaobao, can you afford to compensate?”

Zhao Ke set the scissors down and sat on the wooden bed with her arms crossed, scrutinizing the two of them. “The younger son is precious, and the older son is worthless? Why not show some concern for how Shu Gen’er is doing?”

Zheng Guangmei scoffed. “He’s just a fool. How could he compare to my Xiaobao? Does he even deserve it?”

Liu Guangzhi showed no interest in his elder son’s condition, only grinning awkwardly. “Director Zhao, everyone spanks their kids. Whoever reported us is just making trouble out of nothing. It’s really no big deal.”

After speaking, he finally thought to ask about Shu Gen’er. “Where’s Shu Gen’er?”

“Here I am!”

Shu Gen’er crawled out from under the bed, his bright eyes fixed on Liu Guangzhi. “Dad, were you looking for Shu Gen’er?”

Liu Guangzhi coldly replied, “Yeah, go home.”

“Go home!”

Shu Gen’er eagerly jumped up and followed behind his father.

Zhao Ke’s brows furrowed. “…”

Zhao Yunyun quickly raised her hand, blocking the doorway. “Leaving just like that? What about making Shu Gen’er sleep in a pile of bean stalks?”

“Shu Gen’er likes playing there. Don’t believe me? Watch me ask him.” Liu Guangzhi smiled and turned to Shu Gen’er. “You like lying in the bean stalks, right?”

Whatever Dad says is correct.

Shu Gen’er nodded earnestly. “Yes, Shu Gen’er likes it.”

Zhao Yunyun didn’t buy it.

Still fuming over her son being “bullied,” Zheng Guangmei added, “We didn’t commit any crime. Why block us?”

Zhao Yunyun had no choice but to slowly lower her hand, reluctant to let them leave.

“Wait.”

Zhao Yunyun immediately put her hand back on the doorframe, looking hopefully at Zhao Ke.

But Zhao Ke didn’t scold Liu Guangzhi or Zheng Guangmei as expected. Instead, she picked up the medicinal powder and said, “Shu Gen’er hasn’t taken his medicine yet.”

Zheng Guangmei, in a foul mood, snapped, “It’s not even serious. Are you so rich that you’re burning money to give free medicine to a fool?”

Liu Guangzhi didn’t respond, as if afraid to anger her further.

Zhao Ke, observing how the couple interacted, said, “It’s fine. You don’t have to pay. Let’s just call it even.”

Unhappy, Zheng Guangmei stayed quiet, but Liu Guangzhi quickly took the medicine powder and urged Shu Gen’er, “Hurry up and take your medicine.”

Shu Gen’er still looked resistant, but since his father told him to take it, he didn’t hesitate much. He poured the powder straight into his mouth, choking and coughing but forcing himself to swallow it.

Zhao Ke and Zhao Jianguo, knowing how much trouble he usually had taking medicine, were momentarily stunned.

Zhao Jianguo was the first to react, quickly bringing water to his mouth.

Shu Gen’er took a sip, washing the powder down, then gave his father a silly grin, the remnants of the powder still stuck to his teeth.

Liu Guangzhi averted his gaze, turning to Zhao Ke instead, asking with no energy left to argue, “Director Zhao, can we leave now? There’s a ton of work waiting at home.”

Zhao Ke stayed silent.

Liu Guangzhi took Zheng Guangmei and their younger son by the hand, leading them out.

Zhao Yunyun was anxious and asked Zhao Ke, “Are you just going to let them go like this?”

“What else can we do?” Zhao Ke said helplessly. “You heard my dad—it’s not a serious injury. Shu Gen’er wants to go back with them. What can we do, force him to stay?”

Zhao Yunyun was frustrated and vented her anger, “It’s definitely Chen San’er’s useless report that made us waste all this effort for nothing.”

At home, Chen San’er suddenly sneezed. Rubbing his nose, he muttered, “Who’s cursing me again?”

But having dealt with endless insults, he had long since grown immune—being cursed by more people didn’t make much difference.

Once Zheng Guangmei was far from the clinic, she started complaining to Liu Guangzhi. “Why did you have to let it slide? Why are you so generous?”

Liu Guangzhi, trying to keep her calm, said, “The less trouble, the better. Just let it go.”

Zheng Guangmei gave Shu Gen’er a look of disgust. “And why are we even bringing him home? I can’t stand the sight of him. We should just drive him out!”

Liu Guangzhi replied, “He’s old enough to work now. Driving him out would be a loss.”

Hearing this, Zheng Guangmei reconsidered. “Fine. Later, go ask the Team Leader to assign him some work. I’m not feeding a fool for free!”

Liu Guangzhi agreed.

Zheng Guangmei then bent down and smiled at her own son, saying, “We’ll make him earn work points to buy candy for you.”

Liu Xiaobao cheered, “Yay! Don’t give any to the fool!”

Zheng Guangme agreed, “He won’t get any.” 

Liu Guangzhi said nothing.

All this time, Shu Gen’er trailed behind the three of them, trotting along like a stray dog with no home.