Chapter 53

At this moment, not only was Yin Xiaoman anxious, but even Grandpa Hua was alarmed!

He hurriedly grabbed Erniu and asked: “Do you know where they went? Where is the wasp nest?”

This was no small matter. Being stung was painful enough, but what if they were poisoned?

Wasp stingers carried venom, and if someone was stung too badly, it could be life-threatening!

Moreover, they were on a deserted island, with no resident doctor. If anything serious happened, they would have no way to handle it, no matter how anxious they became.

Without saying a word, Yin Xiaoman pushed Erniu aside and dashed toward the door. Grandpa Hua didn’t even return to his research lab and followed closely behind her.

Erniu took a few steps after his mother, then hesitated. After a moment of thought, he turned back, ran into the kitchen, grabbed a rolling pin, and held it high as he chased after them.

Yin Xiaoman’s heart pounded wildly, and her legs felt weak. She gritted her teeth in anger, wishing she could catch those two little troublemakers right now and give them a good beating!

However, despite her frustration, she couldn’t stop the wave of anxiety flooding over her. Cold sweat broke out on her forehead. In the sweltering heat, she was so tense that her hands and feet felt icy, and the sweat in her palms was cold and sticky.

She sprinted up the narrow path leading to the back mountain, no longer caring whether the old man and the little girl behind her could keep up.

She ran until she was breathless, her vision blurred by sweat.

After about ten minutes, she finally reached a gentle slope. She was completely exhausted and had to stop, gasping for air.

Just then, a surprised voice called out from ahead: “Mom! Why are you here?”

As the voice rang out, Da Bao came running down the mountain, bouncing with excitement.

Yin Xiaoman wiped the sweat off her face forcefully and blinked. First, she looked him up and down carefully. After confirming that he was unharmed, she turned her gaze toward the path behind him.

“Where’s your brother?”

She strained to look ahead.

Although her tone was relatively calm, Da Bao was a sharp child—how could he not sense that something was wrong?

He immediately grew cautious, taking a few steps back to maintain a safe distance from Yin Xiaoman.

Only then did he say: “Big Brother Dami is behind me. He told me to run ahead.”

“He told you to run ahead? What did he do that made him tell you to run?!”

Hearing Da Bao’s words, Yin Xiaoman’s anger flared up instantly!  

Oh? So now he suddenly knew the importance of brotherly love?  

Now he remembered to protect his little brother at a crucial moment?  

That little bear child really didn’t take his own life seriously!  

Did he think he would always be so lucky? That he could escape unscathed every single time?  

The more Yin Xiaoman thought about it, the angrier she became. Her hands and feet even started to tremble with rage.  

At this moment, she didn’t even have the energy to scold her son. She shoved Da Bao aside and continued charging up the mountain.  

Although Dami hadn’t been with them for long, he was actually a very sensible child.  

Obedient might not be the right word, but he was always considerate of others, smart, and capable. It was impossible not to like him.  

And considering his past experiences, anyone who knew even a little about him couldn’t help but feel a bit more compassion toward him.  

So now, upon discovering that this little bear child had done something so reckless and worrisome, Yin Xiaoman’s emotions had already shifted from anxiety to full-blown fury!  

She lowered her head and sprinted forward with all her strength.  

Da Bao could tell that his mother was truly angry this time. And this wasn’t the usual kind of anger where she just scolded them a little—this was real, deep-seated anger.  

For the first time, he felt genuinely afraid.  

He didn’t dare make a sound and could only follow behind his mother cautiously, trailing her into the mountain. As they walked, he couldn’t help but constantly rise onto his tiptoes, peering ahead nervously, terrified that Big Brother Dami might accidentally run straight into their mother.  

If that happened… then it wouldn’t be just a simple scolding.  

The little boy furrowed his brows tightly, his eyes filled with worry.  

He wasn’t sure if he was more afraid that his mother would get too angry or that his brother was about to walk right into a disaster.  

But no matter how uneasy Da Bao felt, that bear child really did end up running straight into Yin Xiaoman.

Just as they turned a corner and were about to reach a steep slope, Yin Xiaoman took a deep breath, preparing to push forward in one final burst of energy.  

But before she could even exhale, she suddenly saw a half-grown boy with a shirt draped over his head, sprinting downhill at full speed while shouting loudly: “Move! Get out of the way!”  

Yin Xiaoman’s breath caught in her throat, making her choke and cough violently.  

Da Bao was the first to react. He grabbed her and yanked her sharply to the side, barely managing to create enough space on the narrow path that was only wide enough for one person.  

And in the very next instant, that little rascal came whizzing past her like a gust of wind.

A few large wasps buzzed angrily behind Dami as he ran.  

Clearly, he had already spotted Yin Xiaoman when he was up there.  

But with the wasps still chasing him, he didn’t dare stop, afraid that they might sting his little aunt or Da Bao as well.  

He forced himself to keep running another forty or fifty meters before leaping into a nearby thicket. Then, he yanked the shirt off his head and started frantically swatting at the air, wildly smacking at the wasps until he had killed them all. Only then did he crawl out from the bushes.  

By this time, Yin Xiaoman had already recovered.  

Seeing that he could still run so fast and even jump around fighting off wasps, she knew that the little rascal was probably fine.  

Her heart, which had been suspended in worry, finally settled back into place—but the anger that followed only burned hotter.  

She stood there coldly, unmoving.  

Dami hesitated at the edge of the thicket, torn for a long moment. Finally, he scratched his head sheepishly and walked toward Yin Xiaoman.  

Just then, Grandpa Hua and Erniu came chasing up, panting heavily.  

Seeing the three of them locked in a tense standoff, Erniu’s eyes lit up before Grandpa Hua could even speak. She charged forward, holding up the rolling pin, and ran straight toward them.  

Then, she eagerly shoved the rolling pin into Yin Xiaoman’s hands. “Mom, here! Hit him! Hit him hard!”  

Grandpa Hua, caught off guard, choked on a breath and ended up laughing in exasperation.  

He walked over and flicked a finger against Erniu’s forehead. “You little troublemaker, are you afraid the world isn’t chaotic enough?”  

Erniu didn’t care about any so-called chaos. All she knew was that Mom had promised to punish her Brothers.

No matter what Grandpa Hua said, she stubbornly pushed the rolling pin toward Yin Xiaoman again.  

Grandpa Hua sighed and reached out, trying to stop her while attempting to smooth things over. “Come on, they’re just kids being mischievous…”  

But before he could even finish his sentence, Yin Xiaoman had already snatched the rolling pin from her daughter’s hands. She pointed it directly at Dami’s nose and commanded: “Come here!”  

The entire scene fell into sudden silence.  

Da Bao’s face turned pale in an instant.  

The smile on Grandpa Hua’s face stiffened, looking slightly uneasy.  

Erniu, however, remained blissfully ignorant. The rolling pin she had brought was the biggest one in the house—almost as tall as she was, with a shaft thicker than her own wrist.  

It was fine for scaring little kids, but if it actually hit someone…  

Well, that would be a pain no one wanted to imagine.  

“Go over there and lean on that tree.” Yin Xiaoman pointed the rolling pin at a massive tree by the roadside, its trunk wider than a person’s embrace.  

“Xiaoman…” Grandpa Hua spoke up again, sensing that she really meant to follow through. He tried to stop her.  

But before he could finish, Dami didn’t hesitate. Without a word, he walked straight to the tree, leaned against it, and obediently wrapped his arms around it.  

Grandpa Hua closed his eyes in frustration, feeling like these kids were going to be the death of him today.

“Xiaoman!” He emphasized his tone and shouted loudly.

“Grandpa Hua, stay out of this. ‘Jade must be polished to become a gem.’ If I don’t correct him today, there will be a next time.”

Yin Xiaoman stopped in her tracks and explained briefly. After speaking, she did not hesitate at all as she walked toward the tree. Lifting the rolling pin in her hand, she swung it down hard onto that boy’s backside!

Dami tensed up in pain, biting his lips tightly, but he still couldn’t hold back a muffled groan.

Even though his pants covered him, making it impossible to see the condition of his little backside, the dull, heavy sound of the stick striking flesh made everyone present involuntarily stiffen.

Erniu burst into tears with a loud wail.

Clearly, when she had handed over the stick earlier, she had never expected to witness such a scene.

“Mother!” Da Bao ran over and clung tightly to Yin Xiaoman’s leg. “Mother, don’t hit Brother Dami! Hit me instead! I was the one who wanted to eat the honey!”

Yin Xiaoman glanced at him indifferently. “There’s no need for you to act like a hero now. Stand aside, it’s almost your turn.”

Her words made Da Bao freeze instantly. His hands, which had been clutching Yin Xiaoman’s leg, stiffened as if frozen. He did not dare to move at all.

“That last strike was for running so far away without informing any adults. Do you accept it?”

Yin Xiaoman looked at Dami and asked in a calm tone.

Before Dami had come to their house, she had already set this rule for the siblings. Later, after he sneaked away to live in a cave for a night, causing the entire camp to search for him, this rule was added to the list of household rules he must follow.

Now, hearing her question, Dami bit his lip and nodded.

“Don’t nod. Speak! Do you accept it?”

“I accept!” Dami responded loudly.

Before he could even finish his sentence, there was another loud crack as the stick landed heavily on his backside again.

This time, there was no mercy in the strike. A portion of it even overlapped with his previous wounds, making the pain searing and unbearable.

At that moment, Dami felt as if his entire lower body no longer belonged to him—it had all gone numb.

A tear slipped uncontrollably from his eyes and fell with a splash.

“Mom, don’t hit Brother Dami! No more!”

Seeing him cry, Erniu sobbed even harder, to the point that she was gasping for breath. Even though Grandpa Hua was holding her tightly, she still struggled with all her might, trying desperately to break free.

“This strike is for not acting like an older brother, for failing to set a good example for your younger siblings. You were too playful and even led them into danger. Do you accept it?” Yin Xiaoman continued to question him.

Sweat covered Dami’s forehead. His arms, shoulders, and even the swollen bumps behind his ears—stung by wasps—were becoming more swollen and increasingly red, looking terribly alarming.

He wiped his face forcefully with the back of his hand, then hugged the tree tightly once more. Lowering his head, he shouted loudly: “I accept!”

“Alright.” Yin Xiaoman nodded.  

“The third strike is for not knowing how to take care of yourself! You think you know a lot, that you understand everything, so you can gamble with your life and disregard safety? Liang Dami, let me tell you—you are a fool! A fool who knows nothing! Your life was exchanged with your father’s life. If you throw your own life away like it’s nothing, let’s see how you dare to face your dead father!”  

These words struck directly at the deepest, most hidden part of the child’s heart.  

“Father!” Dami let out a howl and suddenly burst into uncontrollable sobs.  

But Yin Xiaoman showed no mercy at all. Without hesitation, she swung the rolling pin again, landing another harsh strike on his backside!  

…  

Dami squatted at the side, crying so hard that he could barely catch his breath. Meanwhile, Yin Xiaoman turned her gaze toward Da Bao.  

At this moment, Da Bao was also crying, his face covered in tears and snot. It was unclear whether he was regretting his actions or feeling sorry for his Brother Dami.  

The moment his eyes met his mother’s, his cries were immediately stifled. Instinctively, he took several steps backward, tightly covering his backside with both hands.  

Grandpa Hua watched the scene with deep concern.  

He opened his mouth slightly, clearly intending to plead once again. However, after glancing at Yin Xiaoman’s face—calm but filled with unwavering determination—he swallowed the words back down.  

Without wasting a single word on her own son, Yin Xiaoman simply used the rolling pin to tap the spot where Dami had just been lying.  

Da Bao sniffled but did not disobey. Pressing his lips together, he walked forward and obediently lay down in position.  

“Punish me. I didn’t take good care of my younger brother.”  

Dami stood up from the ground, lifted his shirt to wipe the tears and snot off his face, and stepped in front of Da Bao to shield him.  

His words made Yin Xiaoman’s eyes flicker slightly, and she couldn’t help but glance at him.  

This was the first time since Dami had arrived that he had called Da Bao “younger brother.” Before this, he had only addressed them by name or simply called out “hey.”  

However, she did not reveal any of her emotions. Instead, she responded bluntly, without giving him any face at all. “If you know you didn’t take good care of your younger brother, then change your ways in the future. For now, stand aside!”  

Dami still wanted to stop it, but Da Bao, lying on the ground, pushed him away forcefully.  

“Mother, I know I was wrong. I was the one who tricked Brother Dami into digging for honey. Punish me instead.”  

Da Bao sniffed, his eyes clearly filled with fear, but he still tried to maintain his composure as he spoke.  

Yin Xiaoman nodded. “You knew it was wrong, yet you still did it. You deserve to be punished!”  

With that, she swung the rolling pin down on Da Bao without hesitation.

The strike was swift and precise. Before Dami could even rush over to take the punishment in his brother’s place, it was already over.  

Da Bao blinked a few times, taking a moment to register the pain before finally bursting into sobs.  

A mother always knew her own children best.  

Among the three of them, if Dami was the reckless one, then Da Bao was the cunning one. Back when they were in Vanguard Camp, he was always full of tricks, managing to lead Qiangzi and Huzi around in circles.  

And now, he had once again used his “cleverness” on Dami.  

When Yin Xiaoman first learned about what had happened, she had panicked. But after confirming that both boys were unharmed, her mind gradually cleared.  

Thinking it through, she immediately understood how everything had unfolded.  

She had always spoiled the children when it came to snacks and sweets, never letting them go without. As a result, they had developed a habit of loving sweet food.  

But then, just a few days ago, she suddenly discovered a cavity in Erniu’s mouth.  

This left Yin Xiaoman speechless.  

In a time when most people could barely afford to eat sugar a few times a year, her daughter had somehow ended up with a cavity… It was something she couldn’t even bring herself to mention to others.

But that wasn’t what worried her the most. Her biggest concern was that both Da Bao and Erniu were still in the middle of losing their baby teeth.  

Having come from the palace, she was not like the people of this era, who paid no attention to a child’s changing teeth. She knew better than anyone that if a girl’s teeth grew in crooked or unattractive, it could greatly affect her appearance in the future.  

So, from then on, she began strictly controlling their sugar intake.  

Whenever Erniu whined for sweets and she grew tired of hearing it, she would simply reply: “There’s none left. You already finished them.”  

Apparently, both children had believed her. And then, Da Bao had started scheming to find sweets for his little sister on his own.  

“The second strike is for being a younger brother who didn’t stop his elder brother, and an elder brother who failed to discipline his little sister. Do you accept it?” Yin Xiaoman stared into Da Bao’s eyes and questioned him sternly.  

Grandpa Hua, standing beside them, rubbed his temples as he listened. He couldn’t hold back anymore and shot Yin Xiaoman a disapproving glare.  

To expect something like this from a six-year-old child—it was simply too much!  

But under his mother’s gaze, Da Bao lowered his head guiltily.

“I accept!” He gritted his teeth and shouted loudly.  

Smack! The rolling pin came down with full force, without a shred of restraint.  

The pain made the little boy wail instantly.  

This time, Dami truly refused to stay silent.  

He immediately positioned himself in front of Da Bao, shielding him completely. Wrapping his arms around him, he wedged him tightly between himself and the tree. Only then did he turn his head, his face filled with sorrow as he looked at Yin Xiaoman and said: “Auntie, hit me instead! Punish me for not taking care of my little brother, for dragging him across the mountains!”  

His stance made it clear—he would not move no matter what.  

Yin Xiaoman glanced at them before retracting the rolling pin.  

“The third strike was meant for you—because you broke the household rules and kept testing my limits. You need to understand that whatever your mother says will always stand.” She fixed her gaze on Da Bao as she spoke.  

Then, after a pause, she looked at Dami. “But this time… for your brother’s sake, I will let this one slide. Next time, the punishment will be doubled.”  

“Yes, yes, remembered! He has remembered it!”  

Grandpa Hua finally found an opening and hurriedly stepped in to mediate.  

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and swiftly snatched the rolling pin from Yin Xiaoman’s hand, gripping it tightly as if afraid she might change her mind.  

Then, with his free hand, he reached out to help Da Bao up.  

For all his bravado, Da Bao was still just a child. Yin Xiaoman had struck him hard this time, intending to make sure he learned his lesson in one go. She had shown no mercy.  

Though it had only been two strikes, the little boy was now in so much pain that he could only squat on the ground, unable to stand.  

Dami crouched down, ready to carry him on his back, but Yin Xiaoman yanked him aside.  

She crouched down herself, lifted her son onto her back, and silently started walking at the front of the group.  

At first, Da Bao’s body was stiff. It was clear he was deliberately keeping his distance from his mother.  

But when Yin Xiaoman reached back and gently rubbed his sore bottom, his body gradually relaxed.  

Then, slowly, just like Erniu would, he reached his small arms around her neck and clung to her.  

Before long, she felt something warm and damp against her skin—hot tears sliding down her neck.  

Yin Xiaoman did not speak, nor did she attempt to comfort him. She simply carried him on her back, step by step, making her way down the mountain.  

They walked until they reached the end of the narrow path, nearing home.  

At that moment, she suddenly heard the soft voice of the child leaning against her back, whispering into her ear: “Mom, I know I was wrong. I will never do it again.”