Chapter 72
Madam Ma had always despised Guaizai, never willing to speak a word to him or even spare him a glance, finding his very presence revolting. The most she ever said to him were vile insults like "bastard" or "little bastard."
When something unusual happened, there must be a scheme behind it.
Zhao Ger’s expression darkened. "Why would she say that to you?"
Occasionally, peddlers would come to the village carrying goods for sale—needles and thread, dried goods, chicks and ducklings, as well as children’s snacks like candy and roasted peanuts.
All children craved sweets, but they also knew that to eat candy, they needed money.
Some bold villagers caught snakes and other wild creatures to sell, but they always avoided doing so in front of children, fearing the kids might imitate them without understanding the risks.
Fang Zichen occasionally gave Guaizai a couple of copper coins as a reward. When Zhao Ger protested that the child was too young for money, Fang Zichen laughed and said, "How can a man not have even a single coin to his name? Without money, how’s he supposed to woo girls—or ger?"
A few days ago at noon, a peddler came to the village, setting up his wares at the threshing ground. Guaizai ran over, standing on tiptoe to peer into the peddler’s basket.
A few other children had dragged their parents along, clamoring for candy.
The malt candy was cut into small, peanut-sized pieces, each costing one copper coin. Some parents, worn down by their children’s tantrums, bought them.
Guaizai watched enviously before quietly stepping back. Though he had a few coins in his pocket, he couldn’t bring himself to spend them. Madam Ma saw this and, assuming he had no money, pulled him aside despite his protests, whispering, "Little bas—Guaizai, don’t you have any money? Do you want candy? Do you want to earn some coins?"
Guaizai wanted candy, but he wanted to earn money even more.
He didn't have many complicated thoughts, unlike the adults.
Madam Ma had never been kind to him—she had beaten and cursed him for years. Over time, Guaizai had learned to fear her instinctively, but he didn’t think beyond that.
For instance, why had Madam Ma suddenly changed her attitude toward him?
Why was she saying these things now?
Madam Ma opened a bottle of medicinal wine she had just bought from the peddler, and a pungent, spicy smell immediately filled the air.
Guaizai wrinkled his nose and turned his head away, coughing from the foul smell.
Madam Ma’s face darkened, but she held back her irritation. She jabbed a finger at the centipede floating in the jar with the herbs. "You know what this is, don’t you?"
Guaizai nodded. "Yes, I know."
"This can be sold for money," Madam Ma said. "The peddler buys these—nine copper coins per centipede. If I weren’t busy working the fields, I’d go catch some myself."
____
Guaizai recounted the entire incident truthfully, and Zhao Ger trembled with rage.
Fang Zichen’s chest heaved violently.
Damn it—the Ma family again. It’s always the fucking Ma family!
He’d been keeping a low profile lately, hadn’t beaten anyone in a while, and now they were stirring up trouble again, daring to mess with Young Master Fang. They must have a death wish.
If he didn’t teach them a lesson, he might as well change his name to Fang Biesun (Fang the Turtle Grandson).
Fang Zichen clenched his jaw, forcing down the murderous impulse to break every bone in Madam Ma's body. Once he calmed down, he hugged Guaizai tightly and said seriously, "When I call you ‘my treasure’ or ‘my sweetheart,’ it’s not just for fun or to tease you. You really are my heart."
Guaizai’s eyes were still red, tears clinging to his long lashes, his expression pitiful and aggrieved. Fang Zichen kissed him over and over, his heart aching, his mouth bitter. "A person can’t live without a heart. From now on, don’t do such dangerous things, okay? Centipedes are poisonous. If you got bitten... what would your daddy and I do?"
Only then did Guaizai realize his mistake. Though only three years old, if things were explained carefully, he could understand. He cupped Fang Zichen’s face with his small, thin hands and kissed him back. "Father, don’t be angry. Guaizai knows he did wrong now. Catching bugs is dangerous—people can die. Guaizai won’t catch bugs anymore." Then he turned to Zhao Ger, wrapping his arms around his neck. "Kiss Daddy too. Daddy, don’t be mad at Guaizai anymore, okay?"
"Mn, Daddy’s not mad anymore." Zhao Ger forced down his anger but couldn’t resist a final warning. "Don’t do this again, understand? Daddy worries about you."
Guaizai: "Mm! Guaizai understands."
And so, the matter seemed resolved.
Fang Zichen didn’t bring it up again, nor did he grab a stick and storm over to the Ma house like before.
After a few comforting words from Fang Zichen, Guaizai cheered up, happily running around the yard with him.
But Zhao Ger couldn’t swallow his anger. The Ma family could insult him, curse him, even beat him—but they should never lay a finger on his son.
Before Fang Zichen came into their lives, Guaizai had been his everything—his reason to live, the only light in the endless abuse from the Ma family. He had carried him for ten months, nearly dying to bring him into this world. Whoever dared harm his son would pay with their life.
No comments:
Post a Comment