Lin Xia slowed down and smiled at Lu Shaotang, “Brother-in-law, you’re back.”

Lu Shaotang’s originally imposing demeanor instantly softened, becoming as gentle as the two children, “Second sister.”

Lin Xia was quite pleased, “Let’s go home.”

Lu Shaotang, however, said, “I need to take the kids to the factory office.”

Lin Xia: “Is there something going on?”

She thought Lu Shaotang might have some tasks or something to handle.

Lu Shaotang said, “If someone bullies my children, I need to bring it to the leaders to handle it.”

Lin Xia immediately agreed, “Yes, that’s the right thing to do.”

She hadn’t expected this before.

She thought that usually, when kids fought, the adults would sort it out, either by having the kids apologize or by cutting off contact if things got too serious.

Usually, people didn’t involve the leaders for such small disputes.

She decided she wouldn’t associate with the Tong family in the future due to their behavior.

She was concerned that Lu Shaotang might be held back by her, so she said, “The Tong family is usually so overbearing. Besides their daughter, I won’t have any dealings with the rest of them. We don’t need to give them any face.”

She planned to accompany Lu Shaotang, but he insisted on taking the children himself.

Lin Xia agreed to his decision.

Lin Shu was waiting ahead and saw Lu Shaotang taking the kids in another direction.

She quickly went back to ask her sister about it.

Lin Xia explained briefly and said happily, “I think my brother-in-law is really great.”

Lin Shu asked, “Will it cause you trouble? We might have to face the Tong family again later.”

Lin Xia replied, “I’m not worried. I never liked Tong Ailian’s mother anyway. She’s always been a troublemaker with my mother-in-law.”

Lu Shaotang took the children to the steel factory office to find the leaders.

Did the Tong family think that slapping Tong San and making trouble was enough?

They bullied his wife and children and spread rumors about her—was that going to be ignored?

Lu Shaotang was a serious person.

Whether they knew if her husband was alive or dead was one thing, but spreading rumors about her remarrying was unacceptable.

Pan Pan and Tian Tian insisted on reporting the issue to the leaders.

Tong Xiaojun had first provoked them, insulted them, and even insulted their parents.

Tong’s mother didn’t discipline her child but instead hit them and insulted them.

And Tong San, a grown man, was trying to hit children!

Pan Pan felt it was necessary to report it.

The factory manager wasn’t there, but the secretary and the office director were present.

The factory manager handled production, but the secretary could deal with internal conduct and moral issues.

Lu Shaotang put the children down, introduced himself, and showed his official work ID.

The factory secretary and office director greeted him warmly. “Comrade Lu, welcome. Although we haven’t met before, we’re very happy to see you safely return. It’s truly wonderful news.”

After some pleasantries, Pan Pan and Tian Tian began to report their grievances.

The two children chattered away, with Tiantian covering the whole situation and Panpan focusing on the key points, especially detailing how Tong Xiaojun was rude, arrogant, and how Tong San and Tong Mother were exactly the same.

The children even acted out the roles, one playing Tong Mother and the other playing Tong San.

“If it weren’t for my dad coming, they would have definitely beaten us up!”

The factory office director, sweating on his forehead, quickly said, “No, he wouldn’t dare. He’s just trying to scare the kids.”

The factory committee secretary continually reassured the children, “You’re frightened. Even I find it scary. I must properly reprimand them!”

He turned to his secretary, “Go call Tong San over and have him apologize to the children.”

Soon, Tong San came in with the secretary. Everyone, except Lu Shaotang, was taken aback.

In such a short time, Tong San’s face had swollen up like this?

Half of Tong San’s face was swollen, with five purple finger marks clearly visible.

Usually, a slap would leave at most three marks, but his had five.

He glared resentfully at Lu Shaotang.

Lu Shaotang ignored him and didn’t speak, only letting the children speak.

Hearing Tiantian talk about how Tong San and Tong Mother had taught their child to bully others, and how they had forced the children to listen, Tong San became anxious. “N-No, that’s not the case. We’re educating our children properly.”

The factory office director said, “Kids fighting, let’s sort it out and move on. No hard feelings.”

He told Tong San to apologize to the children for scaring them.

Reluctantly, Tong San had to apologize.

The factory office director also asked Tong San to call Tong Mother and Tong Father to bring Tong Xiaojun over to apologize to the children.

Tong Xiaojun was clearly in the wrong, causing trouble for the other children and forcing them to listen to him.

When they didn’t, he verbally abused them and insulted their parents.

Any child with a sense of dignity wouldn’t tolerate that.

Tong Father didn’t come, but Tong Mother brought Tong Xiaojun.

She was displeased.

Previously, Tong Mother had wanted to report the incident to the police after seeing Tong San’s face, but Tong Father stopped her.

He could tell Lu Shaotang was no ordinary person. If one slap could cause that much damage, a full-force punch could kill someone.

It wasn’t worth making a fuss over such a small matter, and they might even end up getting bitten back.

Overbearing people are always better at assessing the situation.

They bully those weaker than them, but once they realize the other side is stronger, they shrink away faster than a turtle.

Tong Mother wasn’t happy, “Why isn’t anyone mentioning how this child’s mouth is so foul? These country people…”

Panpan: “I learned that from you.”

He immediately copied the way Tong’s mother insulted people.

Tong’s mother turned beet red with anger.

The factory secretary was visibly disgusted.

The office director said, “You’re an old person, and you’re here cursing at children? How shameless.”

Tong’s mother tried to defend herself, “But didn’t he hit my grandson first?”

Pan Pan said loudly, “He was being rude, saying my father was dead. Of course, I had to hit him!”

The office director glanced at Tong Xiaojun and said, “He deserved a lesson. This child needs proper education!”

Tong Xiaojun was forced to apologize with his head held down.

Though he was quite aggrieved, with his uncle and grandmother present, he dared not cause trouble.

Pan Pan then declared loudly, “If you don’t teach your children, it’s the father’s fault! If you’re so unreasonable, your father must be the same!”

The office director thought that Tong Guoqiang was finished.

Not only would he lose his chance to become a workshop manager, but he might not even keep his position as workshop team leader.

He should focus on managing unruly children instead of going to Qizhou for training.

Useless.

Seeing that the children were satisfied, Lu Shaotang said goodbye to everyone.

The factory secretary said, “Comrade Lu, please come visit us again when you have time.”

Tong’s mother dragged her grandson away and grumbled on the way, “Why did you have to provoke them? Country folks are tough and poor. You can’t just mess with them.”

Family members from the countryside who heard this scolded her in response, “Are the country folks eating your food? You keep insulting country people. Without them farming, you’d be eating shit.”

Back home, Tong’s mother couldn’t help but complain to her daughter-in-law, Wang Guixiang, “How did you teach the child to make trouble outside?”

Wang Guixiang had just come back from work and was busy cooking because her mother-in-law hadn’t made any dinner.

When her mother-in-law came back and started complaining, she was unhappy, “How is it my fault? Aren’t they taught by you all? When he makes mistakes, I discipline him, but you immediately say I’m too harsh. Now he’s met someone tougher and can’t fight back, and you’re blaming me?”

Tong’s mother saw that her daughter-in-law was also blaming her, so they began arguing.

Wang Guixiang, angry, grabbed her son and gave him a spanking, “You went out and caused trouble. Now that you’ve messed with someone tough, it might affect your father’s job.”

Tong Xiaojun cried loudly, and Tong’s mother continued to scold her daughter-in-law.

Wang Guixiang suggested going to the Qian family to apologize, but Tong’s mother said grumpily, “Apologize? Do you want me to bow down to them?”

She was already frustrated from being forced to apologize by the leaders, and now her daughter-in-law was trying to order her around.

She decided to go and confront Qian’s mother to let her scold Lin Xia!

After leaving the factory office, the two children snuggled into Lu Shaotang’s arms, one on each side.

Tian Tian hugged Lu Shaotang’s neck and gave him a kiss, calling out, “Dad!”

Lu Shaotang responded, “Mm.”

Pan Pan also gave him a kiss and called, “Dad!”

Lu Shaotang replied, “Mm.”

Tian Tian gave another kiss and called, “Dad!”

They repeated this game, enjoying themselves immensely.

Lin Shu, waiting outside, found it quite childish, but her sister, Lin Xia, smiled so much that her stomach ached a bit.

…

Tian Tian: It’s so satisfying to tell Dad about grievances.

Pan Pan: Mom, now that Dad’s back, if anyone bullies you, be sure to tell him.

Lu Shaotang was overjoyed!

Lin Shu: Forget it, your dad only fights men. He can’t fight women. For fights among women, it’s better to leave it to my mother-in-law and sister-in-law.

Lu Shaotang felt a bit sour.