Chapter 274: Bangeng Gets a Beating

~14 min read 2,651 words

A son not taught.

Mother's mistake.

Even if Qin Huairu doesn't consider Bangeng and Xiao Dang, she still has to think of Huaihua; she doesn't want to bear the label of an unfit mother.

The feather duster in her hand.

She couldn't help but grip it tightly.

Bangeng truly is the Jia family's mainstay.

The more he steals, the bolder he gets; at first he stole neighbors' cabbage and sweet potatoes, now he's progressed to stealing his own family's money, pulling out twenty bucks each time.

That amount.

Enough to land Bangeng in jail.

I let you steal.

Qin Huairu grabbed Bangeng with one hand, pressed him onto the table, and, holding the feather duster, whipped it at him with extreme speed.

The feather duster is really a good tool for beating children.

It landed on his buttocks.

That's called "blossoming everywhere."

Bangeng's mouth instantly filled with miserable howls.

"Mom, stop hitting, I don't dare steal anymore, I really don't dare steal anymore, it hurts, it hurts, stop hitting, I was wrong, I really was wrong, I don't dare steal again."

The sound of crying.

It tore through the night sky.

It flew into the ears of everyone in the siheyuan.

At first the neighbors thought it was just the Liu family's routine, after all Liu Haizhong would occasionally beat the kids, saying that's the so-called "under the rod comes filial sons."

They sneaked over to listen and felt something was off.

Why are they calling "Mom"?

Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu, when beaten, always shout "Dad."

Upon listening more closely.

They detected a hint of childish innocence in the pleading voice, and the voice came from the back courtyard, immediately understanding the whole story.

It was Qin Huairu disciplining Bangeng.

It's also strange.

Jia Zhangshi, the overprotective type, how could she just watch Qin Huairu violently beat Bangeng? Why didn't she stop Qin Huairu?

More neighbors.

They muttered, "The Jia family's Bangeng deserved a beating long ago; Qin Huairu's hitting him now seems a bit late."

The old saying goes well.

A small tree left unpruned won't become a beam.

The Jia family's Bangeng is over ten years old, already set in his ways; even if Qin Huairu hits him with all her strength, it's hard to correct his mistaken behavior.

Moreover, don't forget.

Jia Zhangshi is still around, and the neighbors have personally seen how she ruined Bangeng's upbringing.

Hitting is better than not hitting.

……

The Liu family.

Liu Haizhong truly is an official-obsessed man, treating himself like a dish; hearing the noise of Qin Huairu beating Bangeng next door, he wanted to go out and see, assess the situation, and decide whether to call a meeting of the grand courtyard.

He said it was to let the neighbors rest peacefully.

Actually he just wanted to satisfy his own official cravings.

He stepped to the door, just opened it, then turned back.

He thought.

Still decided not to go.

Qin Huairu educating her child, what does that have to do with him, Liu Haizhong?

Besides, Bangeng once ruined the Liu family's cabbage.

Liu Haizhong is an adult; he doesn't want the reputation of bullying the small, and besides, Jia Zhangshi and Yi Zhonghai both suffered a silent loss.

He also wouldn't mind seeing Bangeng get beaten.

That's one reason.

On the other hand, as Liu Haizhong pulled open the door and was about to step out, he inadvertently heard a commotion from Xu Daming's house.

He immediately felt something was off.

Xu Daming and Shazhu entertained Yan Fugui, the second steward, but ignored himself, the head steward.

If it were really because Qin Huairu beat Bangeng that they called a grand courtyard meeting.

The fact that Yan Fugui, Shazhu, and Xu Daming were drinking together would certainly become known to the neighbors.

This makes Liu Haizhong seem not very good at being a person.

Rather than lose face.

Better to stay at home.

……

At Xu Daming's house.

The three of them exchanging cups.

He again began to joke around wildly.

He started joking around again.

As the saying goes, at the drinking table there are no fathers and sons, only brothers; when the drinks are flowing, even strangers can kowtow and become sworn brothers.

Translation: "There's a saying: at the wine table, there are no father-son relationships, only brothers; when the drinks are flowing, even strangers can kowtow and become sworn brothers." Need to keep meaning. We'll produce: "As the saying goes, at the wine table there are no father‑son ties, only brothers; when the drinks are flowing, even strangers can kowtow and become sworn brothers."

Xu Daming and Shazhu stopped calling Yan Fugui 'Third Elder' and began calling him 'Brother Yan'.

Yan Fugui also kept calling them 'Brother Daming' and 'Brother Shazhu'.

"Brother Yan, leave the matter of my nephew Yan Jiecheng to me, brother. It's just about finding a girl—nothing big. I've been a film projectionist for many years; I have wide connections, I know all the ten or so communes around, and I'll surely find a nice girl for Yan Jiecheng."

"Brother Daming, with your words I can relax, brother—let's drink." Yan Fugui gestured to Shazhu: "Brother Shazhu, you accompany one, brother will say nothing; on the day Yan Jiecheng gets married, I will definitely have his uncle kowtow to you once."

"Is one kowtow enough? If this works, my nephew Yan Jiecheng must kowtow six times, I, Xu Daming, three times, and Shazhu three times."

Translation: '"Is one kowtow enough? If this works, my nephew Yan Jiecheng must kowtow six times, I, Xu Daming, three times, and Shazhu three times."' We'll output: '"Is one kowtow enough? If this works, my nephew Yan Jiecheng must kowtow six times, I, Xu Daming, three times, and Shazhu three times."'

The bottle of erguotou that Yan Fugui brought is strong liquor.

Translation: "The bottle of baijiu that Yan Fugui brought is strong liquor." We'll output: "The bottle of baijiu that Yan Fugui brought is strong liquor."

It is also known as 'knock‑down donkey'.

Translation: "It has another name, called 'Muffled Donkey'." We'll output: "It has another name, called 'Muffled Donkey'."

It is erguotou packed in a one‑and‑a‑half‑jin container.

Translation: "It is 1.5 jin of baijiu." We'll output: "It is 1.5 jin of baijiu."

Shazhu drank one‑tenth of it, six‑tenths went into Yan Fugui's stomach, and three‑tenths of the baijiu went into Xu Daming's stomach.

Translation: "Shazhu drank one‑tenth, the remaining six‑tenths went into Yan Fugui's stomach, and three‑tenths of the baijiu went into Xu Daming's stomach." We'll output exactly.

They drank the two kinds of liquor miserably.

It would be strange if it weren't much.

All three were drunk.

Translation: "All three got drunk." We'll output: "All three got drunk."

Speaking under the influence of alcohol.

Translation: "Taking advantage of the drink," or "Taking advantage of the alcohol." We'll output: "Taking advantage of the drink,"

What's more, they spouted nonsense without restraint.

Translation: "Moreover, they spouted nonsense without restraint." We'll output: "Moreover, they spouted nonsense without restraint."

"Ran Qiuye is a fine person, but unfortunately our Yan family lacks the fortune. Brother Shazhu, when you have time, as the elder brother I'll call her to the courtyard so you and Ran Qiuye can size each other up; Brother Daming will also be there, and you can also size each other up. By the way, where is my younger sister‑in‑law Yu Li? And what about younger sister‑in‑law Xiao E? Come back with me a moment, I'll have your sister‑in‑law cook a few dishes, then we'll keep drinking—this liquor must be drunk; drinking is just to get drunk."

Now translate the whole line:

"Ran Qiuye is a good person, but unfortunately our Yan Family lacks the fortune. Brother Shazhu, when you have time someday, I, as the elder brother, will call her to the courtyard; you and Ran Qiuye can size each other up, Brother Daming will also be there, and you can also size each other up. Right, where is my younger sister-in-law Yu Li? And what about younger sister-in-law Xiao E? Come back with me a moment, I'll have your sister‑in‑law cook a few dishes, we'll keep drinking—this liquor must be drunk; drinking is just to get drunk."

We need to keep the quotes. We'll output: '"Ran Qiuye is a good person, but unfortunately our Yan Family lacks the fortune. Brother Shazhu, when you have time someday, I, as the elder brother, will call her to the courtyard; you and Ran Qiuye can size each other up, Brother Daming will also be there, and you can also size each other up. Right, where is my younger sister-in-law Yu Li? And what about younger sister-in-law Xiao E? Come back with me a moment, I'll have your sister‑in‑law cook a few dishes, we'll keep drinking—this liquor must be drunk; drinking is just to get drunk."'

Check for any missing nuance: the phrase 'as the elder brother, I will call her to the courtyard' is correct.

The phrase 'you and Ran Qiuye can look at each other' can be rendered as 'size each other up'.

The phrase 'Brother Daming will also be there, and you can also look at each other' is fine as is.

The phrase 'Right, where is my younger sister-in-law Yu Li? And what about younger sister-in-law Xiao E?' is correct.

The phrase 'Come back with me a moment, I'll have your sister‑in‑law cook a few dishes' is accurate; 'your sister‑in‑law' can be plural.

The phrase 'We'll keep drinking—this liquor must be drunk; drinking is just to get drunk.' is correct.

……

Translation: "……" (ellipsis). We'll output: "……"

The Jia family.

Qin Huiru did not stop her action.

Translation: "Qin Huairu did not stop her action." We'll output: "Qin Huairu did not stop her action."

She was still vigorously swinging the feather duster at Bangeng's buttocks.

Translation: "She was still vigorously swinging the feather duster at Bangeng's buttocks." We'll output: "She was still vigorously swinging the feather duster at Bangeng's buttocks."

Either don't hit him.

Translation: "Either don't hit," We'll output: "Either don't hit,"

Or hit him hard.

Translation: "or hit hard." We'll output: "or hit hard."

There's nothing else on her mind.

Translation: "There's no other thought." We'll output: "There's no other thought."

She just wanted to take the opportunity to strike at Jia Zhangshi.

Translation: "It's just to take the opportunity to strike at Jia Zhangshi." We'll output: "It's just to take the opportunity to strike at Jia Zhangshi."

You aren't feeling sorry for your great‑grandson Bangeng, are you?

You aren't reluctant to see Bangeng get beaten, are you?

Translation: "You aren't reluctant to let Bangeng take a beating, are you?" We'll output: "You aren't reluctant to let Bangeng take a beating, are you?"

I'll make you reluctant.

Translation: "I'll make you reluctant." We'll output: "I'll make you reluctant."

I'll make you feel sorry for him.

Translation: "I'll make you feel sorry." We'll output: "I'll make you feel sorry."

The feather duster kept striking Bangeng over and over.

Translation: "The feather duster kept striking Bangeng over and over." We'll output: "The feather duster kept striking Bangeng over and over."

Bangeng was repeatedly whipped, crying loudly with clenched teeth.

Translation: "Bangeng was repeatedly whipped, crying with bared teeth and a grimace." We'll output: "Bangeng was repeatedly whipped, crying with bared teeth and a grimace."

The burning pain on his buttocks made Bangeng feel agonized, yet at the same time he lifted his pleading gaze toward Jia Zhangshi, hoping she would intervene.

Translation: "The burning pain on his buttocks made Bangeng feel like he was dying, while at the same time he lifted his pleading gaze to Jia Zhangshi, hoping she would intervene." We'll output: "The burning pain on his buttocks made Bangeng feel like he was dying, while at the same time he lifted his pleading gaze to Jia Zhangshi, hoping she would intervene."

This beating.

Translation: "This beating," We'll output: "This beating,"

At the very least, it should make Bangeng remember it for half a year.

Translation: "at least it should make Bangeng remember it for half a year." We'll output: "at least it should make Bangeng remember it for half a year."

Jia Zhangshi may have been stunned by Qin Huiru's vicious lashing of Bangeng, staring blankly at Qin Huiru, completely unaware that a faint resentment was beginning to show in Bangeng's eyes.

Translation: "Jia Zhangshi perhaps was stunned by the vicious scene of Qin Huairu fiercely whipping Bangeng, staring blankly at Qin Huairu, completely unaware that a faint hint of hatred was gradually appearing in Bangeng's eyes." We'll output: "Jia Zhangshi perhaps was stunned by the vicious scene of Qin Huairu fiercely whipping Bangeng, staring blankly at Qin Huairu, completely unaware that a faint hint of hatred was gradually appearing in Bangeng's eyes."

Seeing Jia Zhangshi not help him and allowing Qin Huiru to whip him, Bangeng even began to resent his beloved grandmother Jia Zhangshi.

Translation: "Seeing Jia Zhangshi not help him and allowing Qin Huairu to whip him, Bangeng even began to resent his beloved grandmother Jia Zhangshi." We'll output: "Seeing Jia Zhangshi not help him and allowing Qin Huairu to whip him, Bangeng even began to resent his beloved grandmother Jia Zhangshi."

He resented Jia Zhangshi for watching him get beaten without helping.

Translation: "He resented Jia Zhangshi for watching him get beaten without helping." We'll output: "He resented Jia Zhangshi for watching him get beaten without helping."

He resented Qin Huiru for whipping him.

Translation: "He resented Qin Huairu for whipping him." We'll output: "He resented Qin Huairu for whipping him."

He resented Xiao Dang for lighting his firecracker.

The white‑eyed wolf trait was gradually being aroused in Bangeng.

Translation: "The trait of a white‑eyed wolf was gradually activated in Bangeng." We'll output: "The trait of a white‑eyed wolf was gradually activated in Bangeng."

I let you steal things, I let you steal money; when you were young, the family was poor, there was no way to fill your stomachs, so I turned a blind eye; I never expected that the more you stole, the bolder you'd become—you were no longer satisfied stealing cabbage and sweet potatoes, you started stealing money; I let you steal, I let you steal again; rather than let you end up in prison, I might as well beat you to death, so you won't ruin the Jia Family's reputation.

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End of Chapter

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Ch. 274 / 68040%