How could he possibly let them off easily after they ruined his grand vegetable hiding operation?

While they were using the restroom, he hid in the shadows and kicked out. Originally, he had meant well—only intending to kick the ringleader since targeting all five of them would be too much. But who knew their bond was so strong? When the leader fell into the cesspit, the others pulled each other in one after another.

What a truly heartwarming display of brotherhood.

They called him and his sister “brats,” so he turned them into “shit brats”!

Shouts of scolding erupted from the courtyard.

“I told you to go out and play, not to play with shit!”

Covered head to toe in filth, the boy climbed out of the cesspit. The overwhelming stench made it hard to breathe, and he burst into loud sobs.

“Shut up! You’re going to get filth in your mouth!”

She had just returned from work only to be greeted by a “shit brat”—what a miserable sight.

Chen Qing caught a whiff of the overpowering odor and frowned. She closed the main hall door and asked He Yuting, “Tell me, who bullied you?”

“Lots of people, five of them. They always curse at my brother. This time, they pulled my hair and said if my brother didn’t give them the vegetables, they’d make me become a nun.”

Tears streaked the little girl’s face. Her cries were nearly soundless, like whimpers from an abandoned animal. Her cheeks and the tip of her nose were flushed red.

She looked utterly pitiful.

Enough to soften anyone’s heart.

As an orphan herself, Chen Qing deeply understood that feeling. Her heart ached with a mix of distress, heartache, and anger.

She desperately wanted to pull little Yu into her arms and comfort her properly.

But constrained by her persona, Chen Qing could only march to the kitchen, grab the firewood chopper, and say to the stunned siblings, “Let’s go. Show me who bullied you. They must be tired of living!”

“A-Auntie…” He Yuting stammered, slightly frightened.

He Yuxiang didn’t believe Chen Qing would actually stand up for them and directly provided the name: “Shorty Tiger from the front courtyard of the third tenement house on our right.”

That overly fierce name “Shorty Tiger” needed to be changed.

He was going to make him known as “Shit Brat”!!!

Chen Qing also recalled the kid called Shorty Tiger.

His father worked in security. The boy was 150 cm tall, with arms as muscular as buckets—it felt like he could punch her to death!

Noticing her hesitation, He Yuxiang smirked scornfully.

The mockery was palpable.

Chen Qing’s cheeks flushed. She crouched down and said to He Yuting, “Don’t worry, Auntie will definitely get justice for you. It’s one thing if I bully you two, but if anyone else dares to, I’ll skin them alive!”

Her words were fierce.

He Yuting smiled sweetly. “Okay.”

She had a strange feeling—Auntie had changed.

The old Auntie would never have applied medicine for her or crouched down to speak with her.

He Yuxiang pulled his sister behind him and glared coldly at Chen Qing, his brow furrowed.

Chen Qing flicked his forehead with her finger, then walked out holding the chopper.

Changing this child’s mindset would take time, but she had to start somewhere.

She wasn’t entirely sure how to be a good parent, but she had been a child once.

When bullied, she had desperately wished for an adult to stand up for her.

No matter the outcome, she would have been happy.

Then, the next time she was bullied, she could confidently say, “If you bully me again, I’ll tell my family.”

Evening was setting in. Smoke curled from kitchen chimneys, and the clatter of dishes and utensils filled the air—a scene vibrant with life. When Chen Qing stepped out holding the chopper, the dramatic spectacle quickly drew attention.

He Yuting toddled quickly behind on her short legs.

He Yuxiang called out, “Xiao Yu, be careful not to fall. You still have a chin injury.”

“Got it,” He Yuting replied softly, but her steps remained swift.

Neighbors nearby, seeing Chen Qing making such a scene, quickly came out holding their bowls and chopsticks, all heading toward the third tenement courtyard.

When Chen Qing arrived at the third tenement courtyard, Shorty Tiger was being hosed down by his mother to wash off the filth.

Shorty Tiger was already a ten-year-old—a kid at an age where pride matters. Being laughed at all the way back from the public restroom was bad enough, but now, during his rinse-off, a crowd had gathered to watch. He couldn’t hold back and burst into loud sobs.

He Yuxiang curled his lip: So weak.

Shorty Tiger’s mother, Li Hehua, also scowled and asked, “What are you all here for?”

The crowd turned their eyes uniformly toward Chen Qing.

Chen Qing took a deep breath and said, “Sister Li, your son stole vegetables from my house.”

“Nonsense! Why would we want your family’s dirty stuff?” Li Hehua naturally looked down on Chen Qing.

As a woman, she knew her place and stayed within bounds.

But Chen Qing?

She was fickle, flirtatious, and promiscuous!

A disgrace to women!

Most importantly, her family of six lived in a 30-square-meter room. Back when Chen Qing’s sister died, she had gone to Chen Qing to ask if she could move into their place, but Chen Qing had thrown her out.

She would never forget that grudge!

Chen Qing’s face was cold. “I don’t want to argue with you. Just ask your son—did he and four other kids gang up on my nephew and niece today?”

Shorty Tiger guiltily averted his eyes, only to get a faceful of water from the hose.

Chen Qing glanced at Shorty Tiger and continued, “They bought two pounds of eggplant, two pounds of long beans, along with garlic and peppers from the supply and marketing cooperative. More than half of it is gone.”

“How do I know you didn’t eat it yourselves and then frame us?” Li Hehua snarled viciously. “A shameless hussy like you, who’s always chasing after men—it’s only natural you’d turn to petty theft too.”

The entire scene fell silent.

Plenty of people called Chen Qing a slut behind her back—flaunting her pretty face and living a reckless life.

But most didn’t want to get involved and never said it to her face.

Li Hehua must have been pushed to the edge.

Chen Qing also froze on the spot.

Seeing that she had bested Chen Qing, Li Hehua felt even more triumphant than if she’d outshone the factory beauty. She couldn’t resist adding, “If you ask me, a shameless hussy like you deserves to be drowned in a pig cage!”

The onlookers felt the words were harsh, but no one stepped forward to defend Chen Qing.

She had simply gone too far.

She was lazy at work, mistreated the families of martyrs at home, and always dressed flashily—completely contrary to the current ethos of simplicity.

Chen Qing’s expression remained calm. “Are you jealous of me?”

Li Hehua: “Ha?”

“Jealous that I’m beautiful, jealous that my nephew and niece are more capable than your foolish son, jealous that my job is better than yours, jealous that I live in a big house, jealous that I have suitors.”

“You’re talking nonsense!!!”

Li Hehua’s face turned livid. She squeezed the hose until it flattened, and the powerful spray hit her own son.

Shorty Tiger yelped in pain.

Chen Qing chuckled. Under the glow of the setting sun, she was dazzlingly beautiful, like a soul-stealing enchantress. “Am I, though?”

The scene seemed to shimmer before many of the onlookers’ eyes.

Li Hehua forced herself to stay composed. “Of course you are!”

“Then why would you encourage your son to bully the family of a martyr? Now that I think about it, I’ve always heard you despise your husband for being short, and you don’t care about the child he gave you. If I report your son for bullying my nephew and niece, he could go to jail. Then, naturally, you could get a divorce. Seeing how jealous you are of me, and how you’re always bringing up Director Yang in front of me… could it be that you have feelings for Director Yang Xiujin?”