Chapter 17: Useless and Playful

Qiao Jianguo, lying in the west room, was half-asleep when he was woken by the noise outside.  He pricked up his ears and heard his father had returned.

He immediately perked up, rolled over, and rushed out, clutching his still swollen and painful face, “Dad, Dad, you’re finally back! I was almost beaten to death!”

Qiao Jianguo pointed at Qiao Youcai, “It was him, Qiao Youcai and Qiao Youfu, those bastards! Dad, look at my face! If Mom hadn’t stopped them, you would have found me dead when you got back! I haven’t had a chance to be filial to you, look what they did to me!”

“Yes, they killed and ate the chickens! They killed all the chickens! My mother fainted from anger! They’re dissatisfied with this family! Dad, if you don’t discipline them, will we have a place in this family? They’re rebelling because they see you’re old…”

Lei Honghua, spurred into action, jumped up from the ground and lunged at Qiao Youcai and Liu Afang, “You’ll pay for my chickens, pay for my chickens!!!”

Qiao Jiangxin and Qiao Youfu heard the commotion before they reached home. They exchanged glances and ran quickly towards the house.

They saw Lei Honghua and Qiao Jianguo pulling at Qiao Youcai. Qiao Youcai was protecting Liu Afang, and his face and neck were scratched by Lei Honghua.

“Dad!”

Qiao Jiangxin shouted, lowered her head, and charged forward.

With a bang, Qiao Jianguo was knocked away.

“Aaaaaah”

A piercing scream echoed, making everyone’s scalp tingle.

They looked and saw Qiao Jianguo had fallen onto the freshly sharpened hoe.

“Oh my god, I’m dead, I’m going to die, oh my god~,” Qiao Jianguo screamed as he rolled over, his body trembling in pain.

Lei Honghua’s eyes widened in shock.

It was hot, and Qiao Jianguo was wearing loose four-cornered pants.  As he fell, his pants rode up, revealing a seven or eight-centimeter gash on his thigh, about three inches below his buttocks. The flesh was torn open, with the fat bulging out, accompanied by bright red blood, making people’s scalps tingle.

Lei Honghua collapsed to the ground, crawling towards Qiao Jianguo as if her son were dead, wailing, “Jianguo, oh no, my Jianguo~”

Qiao Jiuwang was also shocked, but Qiao Youcai reacted fastest. He grabbed a cloth from the wall and pressed it firmly against Qiao Jianguo’s leg.

“Aaaaaah,” Qiao Jianguo let out another bloodcurdling scream.

Qiao Jiuwang, without hesitation, kicked Qiao Youcai, “Get out! If anything happens to Fourth Son, I’ll kill you!”

“Dad,” Qiao Jiangxin quickly stepped forward to help Qiao Youcai, and saw that besides his face and neck, his wrist was also scraped, revealing the veins and tendons.

Without thinking, she glared at Qiao Jiuwang, “If something really happens to Fourth Uncle, it’s good for our family. At least you don’t have to support this leech at your age. If anything happens to my father, then Grandpa needs to consider that our family’s livelihood is not guaranteed.”

“Didn’t you just watch my father being scratched by Lei Honghua and her son? Now you’re worried?  Grandpa really treats everyone equally.”

Qiao Jiuwang trembled with anger, “You killed the chickens and beat Jianguo. It’s your fault. Even if he was wrong, that’s not a reason to be so brutal.”

“You dare do this in front of me. Will you hit me next time?”

Qiao Jiangxin was fearless, “What does it have to do with my father? I did it. Besides, it wasn’t intentional. Even if it was, I’m a junior, I’m not sensible. Fourth Uncle, as an elder, shouldn’t hold it against me.  Grandpa always tells Dad and Uncle to be more tolerant, you should teach Fourth Uncle too.”

Lei Honghua finally reached her son, “Jianguo, Jianguo, what’s wrong? Are you alright?”

Qiao Jiangxin rolled her eyes sarcastically, “What could be wrong?  See, not much blood, right?  Just some fat squeezed out.  Push it back in.  Anyway, he doesn’t work.  It’s best if he stays in bed for three or five years, less food, less trouble.”

“Bitch, shut up! It’s you, you harmed my Jianguo!” Lei Honghua swiped at Qiao Jiangxin. Qiao Jiangxin leaned back, dodging the blow, and kicked Qiao Jianguo three times in the leg.

Qiao Jianguo howled in pain, blood flowing from the wound.

Lei Honghua’s hands trembled, her mouth agape, her eyes bulging.

Qiao Jiuwang roared, “Qiao Jiangxin!!!”

Qiao Youcai quickly stood up, shielding his daughter.

Qiao Jiangxin shouted back even louder, “Are you blind? Didn’t you see Lei Honghua hit first?  Can’t take a joke, but loves to cause trouble!”