Chapter 25: Reversal of the Situation

“Bullying!”

Jiang Yue had originally wanted to say that she was worried Ningning might be mistreated, but she felt a bit guilty and feared that people would associate it with herself. So, the words were on the tip of her tongue, but she changed them to “bullying” instead.

As soon as Jiang Yue’s words left her mouth, the sound of crying came from the courtyard.

“Little fool, what do you have in your hand? Let me see!”

“What are you playing, you fool? The more you play, the dumber you get! Hand it over!”

“Don’t cry! If you cry again, I’ll cut your ears off!”

In the courtyard, Li Xiuxiu was holding five-year-old Niu, while a dirty little girl was following closely behind her, clutching something in her hand. The sturdy Er Niu suddenly snatched whatever the little girl was holding, and when she tried to cry, Er Niu shouted at her, causing the little girl to cover her ears in fear, trembling all over.

“Er Niu, shut your mouth!” Li Hongying saw that not only Jiang Yue’s expression darkened, but even Sister-in-law Zhao and the others furrowed their brows, realizing something was wrong. She rushed out and slapped Er Niu several times on the head.

After hitting Er Niu, Li Hongying scolded Li Xiuxiu again: “Are you dead or something? You don’t do anything at home, where have you been all morning?”

Li Hongying was fuming and had nowhere to vent her anger. She squeezed Li Xiuxiu’s arm, slapped Er Niu, and continued to curse.

Li Xiuxiu lowered her head, enduring the pain, and softly said: “San Niu hit Wu Niu, Wu Niu cried so badly, I took him out for a walk.”

“A walk? Can’t you see there’s so much work to do at home?”

“Mom, why are you hitting me?” Er Niu, wiping his nose, was as angry as a little bull. He suddenly charged at Li Hongying’s stomach, knocking her aside, and ran off to the side.

When Da Niu tried to snatch something from his hand, the two immediately started fighting again.

“Ah! You little brat! You’re going to break my stomach!” Li Hongying, hurt, couldn’t straighten her back and was sweating from the pain.

Jiang Yue didn’t pay attention to the mess at Li Hongying’s house. She was focused on the scruffy little girl standing beside Li Xiuxiu. She hesitantly called out: “Ningning?”

Hearing Jiang Yue’s voice, Ningning instinctively flinched but immediately looked up at Jiang Yue. Her big, timid eyes were filled with two pools of tears.

“Mom…”

“How did this happen?” Jiang Yue was shocked. She had been staring for a while and hadn’t dared to recognize her.

Ningning had been clean and neat when she left the house in the morning, her hair beautifully braided. Now, she was covered in mud, a button had come off her clothes, her braid was undone, her hair was messy and piled on top of her head, and her little face was smudged with dirt, looking like a little beggar.

“Li Hongying, is this how you take care of children?” Jiang Yue recalled how Er Niu had just bullied Ningning, calling her a “little fool.” and her anger flared instantly.

She suddenly exploded, causing Ningning to jump in surprise.

“Li Hongying, you’re truly worthless!” Sister-in-law Zhao quickly pulled Ningning to her side, using her sleeve to wipe Ningning’s face and gently patting her back to comfort her.

“Look at how familiar Er Niu is with bullying Ningning, it must not be the first time!” Lan Rongrong clicked her tongue, shaking her head in amusement. She felt secretly satisfied, knowing that Li Hongying was definitely going to get in trouble this time.

The other military wives also began discussing among themselves.

Li Hongying clutched her stomach, forcing out a fake smile. “Isn’t it normal for kids to play and fight? Look at my Da Niu and Er Niu, they fight every day, what’s the big deal?”

“I don’t care if your Da Niu and Er Niu fight every day, but bullying our Ningning is not acceptable!” Jiang Yue casually picked up the fire poker that Li Hongying had dropped on the ground and weighed it in her hand.

Her tone was calm, but it sent a chill down everyone’s spine.

At that moment, Ningning looked up at Jiang Yue. The little girl’s big eyes flashed with surprise. Was Mom defending her?

“Jiang Yue, what are you going to do?” Li Hongying tensed up, realizing the situation was escalating.

Jiang Yue walked over to Da Niu and Er Niu, her gaze fierce as she pointed at Er Niu. “Give Ningning her toy back!”

She had just seen that Er Niu had snatched a bamboo whistle from Ningning.

“Not giving it! Not giving it! I’m not giving it!” Er Niu stuck out his tongue at Jiang Yue, deliberately putting the whistle in his mouth and blowing it, making a whistling sound.

Without hesitation, Jiang Yue swung the fire poker and struck Er Niu’s bottom.

“Jiang Yue, if you dare hit my son, I’ll fight you!” Li Hongying was now furious and tried to rush toward Jiang Yue to confront her.

Lan Rongrong quickly grabbed the spatula in her hand and blocked Li Hongying.

“Are you going to give it back?” Jiang Yue asked sharply.

Er Niu, enraged by the hit, roared in fury and lowered his head, charging toward Jiang Yue. “You damn woman, I’ll smash you!”

Jiang Yue had already anticipated this move. She swiftly dodged to the side, just as Li Hongying shoved Lan Rongrong aside and charged at her. Er Niu, in his rush, collided headfirst with Li Hongying’s stomach.

“Ow!” Li Hongying was now completely unable to straighten her back.

Er Niu turned around and was about to charge at Jiang Yue again, but this time, a large hand firmly grasped his neck.

“Let go of me! Who’s your mother? Damn—” Er Niu struggled desperately but couldn’t break free. He was immediately overcome with anger and started cursing.

He didn’t realize that, at that moment, the small courtyard had suddenly fallen into an eerie silence.

“Gu, Gu Ye?” Jiang Yue turned around, thinking she must have seen it wrong, but with that appearance and build, who else could it be but Gu Ye?

“Dad…” Ningning was stunned when she saw Gu Ye appear.

Gu Ye first glanced at Ningning, his sharp, wolf-like eyes showing a flicker of hidden emotions. Suddenly, his gaze shifted and landed on Jiang Yue.

Jiang Yue’s heart skipped a beat. She instinctively hid the fire poker she was holding behind her, her eyes beginning to flicker nervously.

Why was Gu Ye looking at her like that? Was he upset that she had hit someone?

“Gu, Regiment Commander Gu…” Li Hongying finally snapped out of her daze, her face immediately turning pale. How could Gu Ye come back right now? What should she do?

Li Hongying quickly thought of a plan and collapsed on the ground, slapping her legs and wailing: “Regiment Commander Gu, you have to stand up for us! Jiang Yue brought all these people to my house early in the morning, causing trouble and even hitting my Er Niu. Look at how badly Er Niu was beaten, woo woo…”

Jiang Yue was furious when she saw that Li Hongying was trying to turn the tables. She immediately raised the fire poker again. “Li Hongying, you’re lying! Keep lying!”

Sister-in-law Zhao was the first to scold: “Regiment Commander Gu, don’t listen to her. Li Hongying is really no good. She took your money and gave Jiang Yue spoiled meat and rotten vegetables while keeping all the good food for herself!”

Lan Rongrong followed with accusations: “Li Hongying even condoned her son bullying Ningning, calling her a little fool! Look at Ningning like this, who knows how long she’s been bullied!”

Other military wives joined in: “Li Hongying is really disgusting! Eating someone else’s food and then ruining their pots! No wonder Jiang Yue got mad!”

“…”

With so many people speaking up, Li Hongying’s face grew darker, turning the color of a purple pig liver.

Only then did Gu Ye release his grip on Er Niu, kicking him hard in the backside and sending him flying a good distance away.

“Get lost!”

Er Niu had already heard the others mention that it was Gu Ye who had arrived, and he was so frightened that he wet himself and crawled into a corner, too scared to speak another word.

Da Niu and San Niu quickly hid as well. Li Xiuxiu, who hadn’t expected Gu Ye to show up, stood frozen in place, holding five-year-old Niu, unsure of what to do.

“I told you, you don’t need to go to my house again!” Gu Ye frowned sharply when he heard that Li Hongying had been to his house again today.