Chapter 107.1

Inside the dormitory building of the food processing factory

Zhang Chunying was so angry that her pregnant belly started to hurt. She could only rest in Liang Hongmei’s room.

Da Bao and Xiao Bao stood facing the wall, pinching their own ears as a punishment. Both little ones hung their heads, not daring to move.

Su Zhenhua held a feather duster in his hand and pointed at the two brothers who hadn’t been let off yet, pacing back and forth in anger.

Liang Hongmei, feeling dizzy from Su Zhenhua’s actions, said, “Second Brother, you’re making me dizzy. Sit down, have some tea, and then let’s talk.”

Su Zhenhua pointed the feather duster at the two disobedient kids and said, “I’ll deal with you both later!”

Su Zhenzhong and Liang Hongmei felt a sense of fear afterward. If these two naive boys actually managed to buy tickets and board the train, that would be one thing. But what if something unexpected happened to them—like being kidnapped or encountering an accident? The entire family would be devastated!

After being hit with a sense of fear, Liang Hongmei became angry and said, “Su Dabao! What do we, your parents, usually tell you? Is this how you teach your younger brother?”

Dabao was usually a well-behaved child. His parents never raised their voices at him. But when scolded by Liang Hongmei, his eyes reddened as he said, “Mom, I was wrong. I didn’t teach Xiao Bao well. I also want to go find Auntie Wuwuwu…”

Xiaobao couldn’t take it when he saw that his brother was taking responsibility for him. With a stiff neck, he said, “Auntie, it’s not Dabao’s fault. Don’t scold Dabao. It was my idea to find Auntie, and I asked Dabao to accompany me. If you want to scold or punish someone, do it to me!”

Su Zhenhua usually doted on Xiao Bao and treated him more like a brother than a son. They often played and fought together over food. Xiao Bao feared his grandmother the most but listened to his aunt the most. Among the family members, he wasn’t scared of others much, especially not his father.

Xiao Bao wasn’t as obedient as Dabao, but he wasn’t a troublemaker either. He had a mischievous side but rarely caused any major troubles. Plus this stinky kid is really clever, everyone in the family adored him, so they tended to indulge him a bit. However, no one expected him to attempt something as audacious as running away from home to another province to find his aunt. Despite his cleverness, he was still just a seven-year-old child. If Su Zhenhua hadn’t come across him just now, who knows? He might have been kidnapped!

Upon hearing Xiao Bao’s words, Su Zhenhua’s anger surged. He directly swatted Xiao Bao’s backside with the feather duster. “Su Xiao Bao, do you even realize your mistake? Are you trying to upset your mother? Do you think you’re right? It’s not enough for you to misbehave on your own, so you want to drag your brother into it too?! How old are you both? What if someone kidnaps you and we never see you again? Is that what you want? You want to find your aunt, right? Then go, leave immediately!”

Xiao Bao was seven years old, and this was the first time Su Zhenhua had physically disciplined him.

Strictly speaking, it was also Xiao Bao’s first time being punished. He was tough and didn’t feel much pain in his backside, but being scolded in front of so many people was embarrassing. Xiao Bao burst into loud sobs.

Xiaobao cried miserably for the first time. It was even worse than when his aunt got married, and he cried. After the punishment, Su Zhenhua felt sorry. The child was still young; couldn’t this be resolved slowly? But he was genuinely angry. This mischievous boy had too much courage and cunningness. If he wasn’t made to realize his mistake, he might do something daring again!

Su Zhenzhong also felt that these two naughty kids should learn a lesson. He gave Da Bao a slap on the buttocks: “Your younger brother doesn’t understand, can’t you, as the older brother, advise him? Can’t you tell him how dangerous it is outside? How many times has Dad told you not to run around randomly? Normally, I don’t even let you go out to this yard alone. You just encountered bad people. What if they put you in a sack and take you to some remote valley? What do you plan to do?”

Da Bao couldn’t cry at the top of his voice. He kept sobbing, tears falling continuously. He was already scared and had advised his younger brother. However, he couldn’t persuade him, so he had no choice but to follow along. He couldn’t betray his brother, although he knew he was wrong. He apologized, “I-I know I was wrong. I won’t dare to do it again.”

Seeing that his father wasn’t hitting him, Xiao Bao stopped crying loudly. He said with a grievance, “Uncle, I was wrong. Please don’t hit Da Bao again. It was me who insisted on going, but it was my grandmother who didn’t keep her word. She promised to take us there, but she secretly left. And you refused to take me there, so I had to figure out a solution on my own.”

Liang Hongmei pulled Xiao Bao over and said impatiently, “It’s not that we don’t want to take you there. Your uncle and I really wanted to go see your Auntie and the younger siblings, but do you know how tired Auntie is after giving birth? Auntie’s house already has Fantuan and Xiao Doubao, and now your two younger siblings, making it four children. You two naughty kids, when together, create chaos. Taking you two more would make it six children at their house. Even if you’re quieter, it would disturb your auntie and your younger siblings’ rest. If you truly care for your Auntie, let her take care of herself first, don’t disturb her, okay? Can’t you wait until your younger siblings grow a bit older, and Auntie’s health improves before going there?

Moreover, your mom is about to have a baby soon. Your Grandma will be back soon. Can’t we refrain from causing trouble at Auntie’s house for now? Auntie Liang promises you that if your Aunt Su doesn’t come back by the Chinese New Year when I have time, I will take you there. Is that okay? “

Su Xiaoxiao mentioned in the letter that Zhuzi found his biological parents and returned to his own home, and she is now living next door to their house. The Su family is very happy for him.

Liang Hongmei knew that Xiao Bao was different from Da Bao. When Da Bao turned three, they sent him to the county’s daycare center. After that, he stayed with them all the time. Su Zhenhua and his wife didn’t usually take much care of the children. Xiao Bao used to live with his grandma and aunt all the time, and his bond with them was not any less than that with his parents. Xiao Bao’s desire to visit them was very normal. However, they really didn’t expect these two little rascals, who were so young, to be so daring.

Xiao Bao, who has followed his grandmother on a long journey, is different. He knows how to hide money in a secret compartment and remembers to bring his own towel and toothbrush. He was quite well prepared.

“Did you hear me?” Su Zhenhua crouched down and wiped tears from the naughty boy.

Xiao Bao was really not afraid of his father. He hugged him and rubbed his tears and nose against him. “I heard you. My name is not Su Xiaobao, my name is Su Guoliang, and Big Brother is not Su Dabao. His name is Su Guodong.”

Su Zhenhua: “…” Of course, he knew that. Wasn’t he getting confused out of anger?

“What you did was run away from home. Do you realize that? If something happens to you or if you get kidnapped, your dad won’t be able to live. Do you understand at all? “

Xiaobao groaned and patted his buttocks. “I don’t know, all I know is that you don’t love me at all. You just spanked my buttocks!”

Su Zhenhua picked up the stinky boy and rubbed his hair, saying, “You’re mischievous. If I don’t discipline you, you won’t learn. I’ll write a letter to your aunt and see if she won’t get upset.”

Xiao Bao flattened his mouth and said, “Then maybe don’t tell Auntie, so she won’t worry. I’ll write to Auntie and Fantuan. Can you send them for me?”

Su Zhenzhong also pulled Da Bao to soothe him. This son has a personality similar to his and is a very obedient and gentle child. He rubbed his head and said, “You can’t do this again, do you understand?”

Da Bao nodded and said, “I know Dad.”

Su Zhenzhong held the hands of Dabao and Xiao Bao: “Let’s go. I’ll take you to the post office to call your uncle. We need to hurry; otherwise, your uncle will finish work.”

Su Zhenzhong said to Liang Hongmei again, “I will be back soon. Aren’t there a few eggs at home? Steam them for lunch. I’ll check if we can buy some meat.”

Liang Hongmei nodded and said, “Okay, go and get back quickly.”

The couple is on the night shift tonight, so they have free time during the day. They can catch up on their sleep in the afternoon.

Su Zhenhua entered the room to see Zhang Chunying calmly cracking sunflower seeds. He casually grabbed a handful: “Is your stomach still hurting? Don’t worry; this naughty kid probably won’t dare again.”

Zhang Chunying shook her head and said, “It doesn’t hurt. I just want to scare Xiaobao. If I don’t, he won’t learn.’
Su Zhenhua shook his head and said, “Do you think this stinky guy is getting smarter and braver?”

Especially after turning seven, Xiaobao sometimes speaks and handles things like a little adult, often saying things that they don’t understand. Although he was disorganized just now, don’t be fooled; when he’s supposed to cry loudly, he opens his voice and cries, but actually, he wasn’t really hurt. When it’s time to joke, he’s quite clear and knows exactly when to stop fooling around. Once he realizes there won’t be any punishment, he starts acting cute. He’s a smart little guy who, when he grows up, will definitely be clever.

Zhang Chunying spat out the melon seed skin and said, “Xiao Bao is smarter than me. If we don’t keep an eye on him, he might come back home to steal his grandfather’s seal to make an introduction letter for himself, and then go buy a train ticket to find his aunt.”

These two naughty kids didn’t lie when caught. They confessed everything clearly. Xiao Bao indeed planned to go back home for the introduction letter.
Zhang Chunying has never traveled far away herself. The farthest place she has gone is to the county town. Despite her worries, she admitted that Xiao Bao was impressive. She always felt that if they didn’t intervene, Xiao Bao might actually take Da Bao to his aunt’s place.

Su Zhenhua still felt scared and shook his head, saying, “In the future, I have to tie this rascal to my belt. What if someone kidnaps them?”

Zhang Chunying said, “Actually, Xiaobao is so smart that most people can’t take him away. He just mentioned that if he doesn’t see the red sleeve badge or us, he will take Da Bao and run to the police station. He’s quite smart.”

Su Zhenhua shook his head and said, “Still, it’s not enough.”

Zhang Chunying said, “Once he figures it out himself, he won’t go again. No reason is more important than not disturbing his aunt’s rest. Besides, can you really control him? If he rebels and goes against you, can you handle him?

Xiao Bao likes his aunt to the extent that even Zhang Chunying finds it uncomfortable. However, his aunt is really kind to Xiao Bao. Zhang Chunying knows that neither she nor Su Zhenhua are smart. Xiao Bao was so smart now because of his smart aunt’s good upbringing, something she was very clear about.

Su Zhenhua was almost at his wit’s end. “I can’t control a seven-year-old rascal.”

Zhang Chunying didn’t care much. She never really disciplined her son; she let him do as he pleased. Besides this incident, Xiao Bao hadn’t done anything outrageous. With a mother-in-law keeping an eye on him, he wouldn’t go astray.

Zhang Chunying said, “Of course, you can handle him. Didn’t you get along well with him before? If you’re friends with him, he’s willing to tell you anything. Why don’t we find a way to get his New Year’s money over first? Without money, he wouldn’t dare to go out.”

Su Zhenhua nodded and patted his wife’s head. “Stop thinking about his New Year’s money. Thinking about his belongings will only upset him.”

Su Zhenhua touched Wife’s stomach and said, “This rascal is really hard to handle. Never mind him. I’m just looking forward to you giving birth to a well-behaved little girl for me.”

Zhang Chunying also touched her stomach and said, “I also want to have a daughter.” Then, the whole family would dote on her.

“I’m about to give birth in a month or so, what if my mother can’t come back in time?” Zhang Chunying asked again.
Su Zhenhua shook his head and said, “She will. Mom knows.”

………………….