Chapter 123: Granny Has Spoken

When everyone gathered and learned what those few troublemakers led by Little Shunzi had done, they immediately felt the punishment was well deserved.

You see, it’s one thing to wade across a river or climb a tree—mountain children all grow up like that. Though they might get a few scoldings or even a beating now and then, it’s nothing serious. But to damage newly planted jujube trees and trample watermelon seedlings? That’s simply wasting food.

So, no one stepped forward to stop the adults; they only murmured a few words of caution from the sidelines.

“Be gentle with them, don’t hurt the children too badly.”

This was all happening right beside the Bai family ancestral home, not far from Bai Xi’s treehouse.

Bai Xi just wanted to teach Little Shunzi and the others a lesson. After all, if they messed around too much and ended up with a broken bone, someone would have to borrow money for hospital bills.

Hearing those howls that sounded like ghosts or wolves, Bai Xi hesitated for a moment, then decided to go over and calm the parents of those kids down. She would never admit it, but she was also a bit bored and curious to see the commotion.

“Auntie’s here…”

“Hello, Auntie.”

“Greetings, Auntie.”

Bai Xi nodded and stepped through the parted crowd, pretending not to understand the chaotic scene inside the enclosure, and asked, “What’s going on? I could hear all the crying and shouting from a distance.”

Little Hei stood nearby, suppressing a smile.

When the adults who were punishing their own children saw Bai Xi, they looked sheepish.

“Auntie…” Little Shanzi’s father called out, but couldn’t find the words to continue.

Little Shitou’s mother also felt ashamed, but under Bai Xi’s clear, pure gaze, she finally spoke up. “Auntie, I’m just disciplining my ungrateful Little Shitou.”

“It’s like this, Auntie,” Zhuzi’s mother added, glaring at her son, steeling herself to explain. “These kids have damaged the newly transplanted jujube trees.”

There was no point hiding it. The damage was done. They could only give the children a good scolding, apologize to Auntie Bai, and then figure out how to fix the problem. After all, they were stuck with these troublesome children.

Even if it couldn’t be fully repaired, they couldn’t keep it from Auntie Bai.

“And the watermelon seedlings, too,” Chen Daliu chimed in.

Those jujube trees had been brought back from the farm by Chen Weiguo. Everyone had hoped that after a couple of years, the trees would bear fruit they could taste. Yet, less than half a month after planting, the children had taken turns wreaking havoc on them.

They also trampled the just-sprouted watermelon seedlings into the ground. This was no small matter.

“Auntie.” Unlike the angry adults, Little Shunzi and the others looked up at Bai Xi with tear-filled eyes. Though they didn’t beg further, their expressions said it all.

Bai Xi glanced at the jujube trees, which were now leaning awkwardly—clearly abused. She thought to herself, so this is what jujube trees look like.

As for the watermelon seedlings, she looked at the ground, now covered with countless footprints—there was no sign of any seedlings left.

Seeing Bai Xi silent, the already furious adults thought about punishing their children again for the watermelon seedlings.

With Bai Xi present, Little Shunzi and the others dared not cry out too loud, but their mixture of tears and snot still looked quite pitiful.

“That’s enough. Stop hitting. Just straighten the jujube trees and replant them, isn’t that enough?” Bai Xi finally spoke, coming back to her senses.

Zhuzi’s father was quick-tempered. When Bai Xi spoke up to calm things, the corner of his mouth twitched a few times, but he couldn’t help himself. “Auntie, you can’t go easy on them. These kids need a real good beating.”

Chen Daliu added, “Auntie, you don’t know—these jujube trees were brought back from the farm by Weiguo. The farm recently got a batch of fruit trees, and these jujubes are supposedly grafted with advanced technology. They produce lots of fruit, very sweet, and their size is impressive.”

Such a rare and new thing—no one had tasted it yet. Everyone was taking great care of it, so how could they not be angry to see the kids ruin it?

“Right?” Bai Xi nodded, praising, “Weiguo was thoughtful.”

“Auntie, these boys are so mischievous; they deserve a good punishment.”

Bai Xi looked puzzled. “But didn’t you already punish them just now?”

“Well…”

At Bai Xi’s words, everyone looked at Chen Daliu in unison.

Chen Daliu thought for a moment and said, “As the saying goes, ‘No pain, no gain; a jade stone must be carved to become a gem.’ Auntie, they usually get away with being naughty, but this time they went too far. The jujube trees might be saved, but the watermelon seedlings are beyond hope.”

“...There were only about ten seeds planted, but only a few watermelon seedlings sprouted. Who would have thought those kids completely trampled them into mush?”

Hearing this, the anger that had been half-suppressed in Little Shunzi’s parents flared up again.

“Wait a moment,” Bai Xi raised her hand to interrupt. “Xiao Liu, what did you say just before that?”

“Before that?” Chen Daliu was momentarily confused but answered honestly.

“Auntie, I said there were only about ten seeds in total.”

“No, the sentence before that,” Bai Xi shook her head.

“The sentence before that? Oh, that was: These were all brought back by Chen Weiguo after much effort as a gift for Auntie. Unexpectedly, in the bustle, those kids ruined them.”

A gift for her?

“I see,” Bai Xi nodded. “Now I understand. Then, let them have it.”

There was nothing more to say. They truly had had the audacity to ruin her things.

“Ah?”

“What?”

Everyone was stunned. Didn’t Auntie just say not to hit them? Why had she changed her mind now?

Seeing no one moved, all eyes turned to Bai Xi, who said irritably, “Hit them! What are you waiting for? No pain, no gain. No carving, no gem.”

“Didn’t you hear Auntie’s order? Why are you just standing there?” Chen Daliu glared nearby.

“Hey! Auntie is right.” Little Shanzi’s father quickly agreed, raising his hand. Just as he was about to strike, Bai Xi called out.

“Think it through. Use a stick. If you slap them, won’t it hurt your own hand?”

At Bai Xi’s words, not just Little Shanzi’s father but others also realized that a slap would indeed hurt.

How could it not?

Little Shunzi and the others were dumbfounded. This was it—they had no chance today. Since Auntie had spoken, they were doomed.

Though they had screamed loudly before, the slaps on their bottoms weren’t so painful, and some they had even dodged.

But with sticks? They already knew before the first blow that they would be bedridden for days.

“Use a handy stick. If you slap, you’ll tire yourself out after a few hits.”

Bai Xi’s words made sense to everyone. They turned to look for sticks, but there were none nearby. Zhuzi’s father saw someone in the crowd holding a pole and quickly stepped forward, snatching it away.

Others, seeing this, brightened and soon pulled out more poles as well.

(Are they all watching the Spring Festival Gala or playing games? Meanwhile, I’m still typing away.)