Chapter 63: Strike First to Gain the Upper Hand

Although they were suddenly faced with so many adversaries, Granny Chen and Granny Six were not intimidated in the slightest. The two exchanged a glance and saw unwavering determination in each other's eyes. Having lived most of their lives, with one foot already in the grave, death no longer frightened them. Even if it meant dying, they would drag these troublemakers down with them, restoring peace to Niuluo Village.

At this moment, Granny Six and Granny Chen felt a pang of regret. They wished they had confided in the Lady; perhaps, if they had, she might have been able to save these children. But what's done is done—such is fate. They could only hope to rid the village of these pests.

The courtyard wall was not high, so when Shunzi and the others fell, they were unharmed. Still, the tumble left them dazed, especially those who had been beaten—like Little Stone—who grimaced in pain. To Granny Chen and Granny Six, their reactions only confirmed their suspicions.

Before the boys could rise, Granny Chen and Granny Six rushed forward, launching a chaotic assault with willow switches. The two elderly women wielded their branches with the ferocity of beating stray dogs. The boys, caught off guard, cried out in pain, their pleas spilling from their mouths.

Given the women's seniority, the boys dared not curse or complain, no matter how they darted about to escape. They could only beg for mercy, bewildered by their predicament.

"Please, Granny Chen, don't hit us anymore—we know we were wrong."

"Granny Li, we know we were wrong. We shouldn't have climbed your wall. We really know now..."

"Ouch! Granny Li, please go easy on me..." Little Shan had already been beaten at home, and only managed to climb the wall with Shunzi's help. Now, after the fall, his backside hurt even more, yet faced with the switches, he had no choice but to dodge and evade, making his cries the most pitiful of all.

Of course, the others fared little better.

Granny Chen and Granny Six had cornered the five boys against the wall, their long willow switches striking two or three at a time. Though both women were in their fifties, they had once been experts at herding sheep and cattle, their whips cracking with precision. Dealing with the battered boys was child's play to them.

Shunzi could have evaded them, but he couldn't abandon his friends in their hour of need. After all, they'd been caught climbing the wall, and a beating was only to be expected. Thus, the wails from Granny Six's house were now replaced by the cries of Shunzi and his companions.

Villagers passing by found the scene amusing. There was no need to guess—they knew these children must have gotten into trouble again and were now being disciplined. When it came to punishing other people's children, elders were always careful, never going too far. So the villagers laughed, chatted about it, and moved on.

Earlier, Little Six had complained about his friends' lack of loyalty. Now, seeing them beaten, he grew worried.

"Grandma, please don't hit them anymore." They had just had children themselves, hadn’t even rested after childbirth, and hurried over to see him. Look at Little Shan—once agile, quick to climb trees or walls, now moving so slowly, clearly weakened after childbirth. They had come all this way to see him, not even offered a red sugar egg, and now they were being beaten. Little Six felt ashamed; if these brothers ended up with permanent injuries, he would have to raise their children himself, even if it meant living on gruel.

Thinking about having seven or eight children of his own, plus those of Shunzi and the others, Little Six suddenly felt he might not survive until the children were five or six, worn out by illness and exhaustion. The anxiety grew.

"Granny Chen, please stop. Grandma, don't hit them anymore—they're innocent. If you must vent your anger, take it out on me..."

"Grandma, please, they're still weak from childbirth..."

Granny Chen and Granny Six paid no heed to Little Six's words. They had intended to turn and deal with him for interrupting, but realizing he was tied up and couldn't escape, they decided to finish with the others first.

Still, the two women caught the key phrase from Little Six: "just had children? Weak?"

That was all the encouragement they needed.

Their blows became even fiercer. Shunzi and his friends were already struggling to dodge, bearing the guilt of their actions and needing to let the elders vent their anger. Just as they gathered the courage to escape, Little Six's words disrupted their resolve.

Little Stone paused for a moment and was struck squarely by Granny Chen and Granny Six.

To the two elderly women, this was proof of the weakness Little Six had mentioned.

Looking at the others—some bracing their knees, others leaning against the wall, pleading for mercy but moving sluggishly—they exchanged a glance, feeling victory within reach and their strength renewed.

After a while, Granny Chen's willow switch snapped, flying straight into Little Six and leaving only half a stick in her hand.

The sudden change surprised everyone.

Shunzi and his friends rejoiced inwardly—finally, the beatings would stop.

Oh no, Granny Chen thought, she should have brought more switches. What now?

Granny Six was startled too, but quickly resumed swinging her switch, though she no longer advanced but stayed close to Granny Chen, protectively.

Granny Chen, moved by this gesture, said, "Sister, don't worry about me. I'm fine. At worst, after eighteen years, I'll be a good girl again."

"No, that's not right," Granny Six replied without turning. "None of this is your fault—you were dragged into it by me. I'll keep an eye on them; you seize the chance, open the door, and run."

"That won't do!" Granny Chen refused without hesitation.

She had already resolved to risk her old bones.

"Ah, my dear sister, just listen to me. If one of us escapes, so much the better." Granny Six kept swinging her willow switch, mostly to defend herself and Granny Chen, giving Shunzi and his friends a moment of respite.

"That won't do," Granny Chen insisted. "If I open the door and let one or two of them out, the village will be in trouble."

She still clutched the half-switch, brandishing it at Little Stone and the others, frequently glancing back, afraid Little Six might break free and attack them from behind.

Hearing this, Granny Six hesitated. It wasn’t impossible.

(Haha, Bai Xi misses you all.)