Chapter 14: Heartbreaking Moments

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Lu Mingyue held a small package in her hands— a gift she had bought with her own spare change for the two children as a token for their first meeting. As an elder, it was only proper to bring a little something. She hoped the two little ones would like it. Lu Mingyue had prepared a surprise for the children, little did she know they had prepared one for her as well.

In the family housing compound.

“Brat, get down here this instant!”

A middle-aged woman with a sharp, pointed face stood beneath a tree, shouting fiercely at the people above.

Huo Mingyao glanced down, accidentally locking eyes with the woman’s fierce glare. She shrank her neck and, voice trembling, asked, “Brother, what should we do? Could that woman climb up and catch us?”

Huo Minglei pulled two pieces of cotton from his pocket and comforted his sister, “She can’t climb trees, only yells from below. I’ll stuff your ears so you won’t hear her.”

Huo Mingyao looked up to her brother with admiration. “Brother, you’re so smart.”

Thoughtful as ever, Huo Minglei tucked the cotton into her ears and handed her a piece of candy from his pocket. The siblings swung their little feet, feeling quite uneasy.

Below, the woman’s shouts grew hoarse with anger as she watched their actions, nearly bursting with fury.

“Just wait, don’t you dare go home.”

Huo Minglei made a mocking face at her. That wicked woman bullied them while their father was away; when he came back, she’d pay dearly. At such a young age, Huo Minglei already understood the importance of having a protector. In his eyes, their father was the strongest man in the compound, many men were no match for him.

The woman bullied them, her son bullied them, but if their father found out, he would be furious — and the consequences would be severe.

Seeing no sign of the two children coming down, she crossed her arms and muttered curses as she left.

“I need to find someone to settle this properly. How does the Huo family raise their kids? Fatherless and motherless brats with no manners.”

Grumbling, she walked away.

The two children, sensing the danger had passed, climbed down from the tree.

“Brother, where are we going now?”

Huo Minglei pursed his lips in thought, then said, “Let’s go home.”

Uncle Qin had said their father would be back today, bringing someone with him. Hearing the aunts talk about a stepmother and stepfather, a flicker of sadness passed through Huo Minglei’s eyes, but he quickly hid it.

Their father was not that kind of man. The aunts’ words seemed to sink in uninvited, seeping into his ears word by word.

“Brother, what’s wrong?”

Noticing the odd expression on her brother’s face — almost as if he wanted to cry — Huo Mingyao anxiously grabbed his hand and asked with concern.

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“It’s nothing. Let’s go.”

They were still inside the compound, but about ten minutes away from their home.

Before they reached the doorstep, the woman caught them hiding nearby.

“Well? Caught you just like I said.”

“Dogsheng, go find Director Wang right away.”

Since they were all residents of the compound, if she couldn’t punish the children privately, at least a public reprimand would suffice.

Wang Lixia had barely settled in her office when Dogsheng dragged her outside.

“What’s going on, Dogsheng?”

“Grandma Wang, Huo Minglei and his sister threw feces in my house.”

“What?”

Wang Lixia felt as if she was losing her grip on reality and hurried after Dogsheng.

On the way, she asked Dogsheng what had happened. He scratched his head, shaking it. “I don’t know either.”

At first, Dogsheng thought his mother was coming to confront Huo Minglei because of him—after all, a few days ago, Huo Minglei had beaten him up.

He had only lost seven or eight times before finally winning against Huo Minglei. Now his mother’s fussing might ruin his hard-won reputation.

But after Huo Minglei had thrown the feces, Dogsheng realized it wasn’t about him.

Unfortunately, his small mind couldn’t figure out why it was happening.

From a distance, Wang Lixia saw the standoff between the two adults and the two children.

“Cuifen, what are you doing here?”

Such a big person quarreling with two kids—wasn’t she afraid of being laughed at?

Li Cuifen showed a look of grievance. “Director Wang, you don’t know. These two children are so naughty. Not only did they throw feces in my house, it landed right on my head. Who would believe it wasn’t on purpose?”

She pouted, nose wrinkling as if smelling the stench, a wave of nausea rising from her stomach nearly making her vomit.

Today, those little brats had to apologize on their knees, or else how could Li Cuifen face anyone after being bullied like this?

“You big bully, it was you who badmouthed Dad.”

Huo Mingyao’s face flushed red, eyes blazing as she stared at Li Cuifen.

“You little brat, you’re too young to talk nonsense. Which ear did you hear me speak badly of your father? Your father is so formidable, who would dare say a bad word about him?”

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That was true; Huo Zheng was known as one of the strongest fighters in the compound, few had ever bested him.

Though Li Cuifen spoke boldly, she might not utter a word if she stood face-to-face with Huo Zheng.

Her sharp voice grated on Wang Lixia’s ears, giving her a headache. “Enough, say whatever you want slowly.”

Turning to the children, she asked, “Yaoyao, can you tell Grandma what happened?”

Huo Mingyao was only three years old and couldn’t explain well. She looked at her brother pleadingly.

“Grandma Wang, this was my fault. I apologize to Auntie.”

Li Cuifen, ready for a showdown, deflated instantly upon hearing this.

How could she carry out her solo act now?

She had planned to demand compensation from the Huo family for her soiled clothes. If he apologized, should she forgive them or not?

Li Cuifen was conflicted.

Wang Lixia gently stroked Huo Mingyao’s head and spoke softly, “Grandma is here to make things right. If you’ve been wronged, tell Grandma so she can help.”

From what she knew of the children and Li Cuifen, the kids didn’t seem to cause trouble without reason.

Li Cuifen’s sharp tongue had often led to conflicts with other residents.

When Dogsheng came to find her, Wang Lixia had a bad feeling, but she hadn’t expected this argument with the children.

Huo Minglei shook his head stubbornly. “No, Grandma Wang, it’s my fault. Punish me.”

“Director Wang, you heard it yourself, right? I didn’t falsely accuse him. So young and already so bad, always doing annoying things. Truly a disgrace to Comrade Huo. If I were Comrade Huo, I’d have gotten rid of them long ago.”

Li Cuifen said with malicious glee.

“Li Cuifen!” Wang Lixia’s voice turned stern, signaling her to stop.

But Li Cuifen kept prattling on as if oblivious.

Huo Mingyao’s eyes reddened, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I want Dad… boohoo…”

Huo Minglei’s little head drooped, clearly affected by Li Cuifen’s words as well.

“Leilei, Yaoyao, Dad’s home.”

Huo Minglei’s ears twitched—was that their father’s voice?

“Oh dear, look at these poor little things crying so pitifully. It truly breaks the heart.”