Chapter 36

Bang Geng this kid didn't listen to adults at all, Qin Huairu's earnest advice went in one ear and out the other. Ultimately it's still due to Jia Zhangshi's education problem.

He felt that everyone in the Courtyard House and even outside it should act according to his wishes, giving him anything tasty to eat and anything fun to play with.

If not given, he'd find a way to take it, since someone backs him up.

In the Juvenile Detention Center he initially got beaten a lot, but later had to submit to an older kid who called himself the boss, saying his little brothers could come to him if they had trouble.

"Second Dog boss, I saw my neighbor buy a new watch today; if we steal it, it'll be enough for us to eat fish and meat for several days." Bang Geng said with a grin.

Bang Geng planned to lure that boss over, then stir things up, hoping to smash a part of the grocery shop to vent his anger.

"A watch?" Second Dog expressed doubt; Bang Geng's family is just an ordinary worker, how could his neighbor afford a watch? You're not just trying to fool him, are you?

"Really, it's really nice-looking; I saw it with my own eyes."

Bang Geng was still here desperately urging Second Dog boss to go steal from the grocery shop, while Qin Huairu in the Courtyard House was already frantic.

Although the food at home wasn't good, she had already done her best; usually Bang Geng would be first in line for meals, but today there's no sign of him.

She shouted outside the door, but no one answered.

"Kids being playful isn't unusual, don't overreact." Jia Zhangshi said anxiously from the side, "The shrimp paste in the pot is already ready; if it gets cold it won't taste good."

Since yesterday's eggs weren't eaten, Qin Huairu also felt sorry for Bang Geng; today she specially bought shrimp paste, finely shredded the cabbage heart, and steamed it over high heat in the pot.

That's quite good.

After Bang Geng's tempting talk, Second Dog boss was finally moved, and he brought along two of his underlings, about the same size as Bang Geng.

They sneaked toward the Courtyard House.

In deep autumn, it got dark early; when they reached the little alley, there was hardly anyone around, and the smell of food came from every household.

"Second Dog boss, we're starving; why don't we eat first?"

"Right, let Bang Geng this kid treat us; let's go eat big-filled wontons."

Bang Geng has no money, and he called them over just to steal from the grocery shop; after eating their fill, what's there to steal? That's just being stuffed.

"All you do is eat, eat, eat." Second Dog shoved them, "There's no big-filled wonton; I'll go get a bowl, you guys scout here."

"Boss, the grocery shop has lots of tasty stuff; those sausages are meat, and there's liquor too."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go."

Don't let its small, old appearance fool you; the grocery shop's defenses are still strong—the windows have no gaps, and the iron lock on the door is no ordinary lock.

The two underlings tried prying and picking, but couldn't open it.

"Boss, we should just leave; we can't open this grocery shop."

"What are you guys, haven't you eaten? You can't even open a lock."

"Yeah, we haven't eaten; our stomachs are flat from hunger."

These kids thought and thought, came up with a brilliant idea: they planned to burn the door open with fire. Not to say, the kid who thought of this idea is really a talent.

There's definitely no gasoline; they plan to substitute with vegetable oil, plus some dry twigs and leaves as tinder; whether it succeeds is up to fate.

The vegetable oil is naturally stolen by Bang Geng from his own home.

When they had finished preparing, just as they were about to light it, a sharp shout came from not far away: "Where did you wild brats come from, daring to set an open fire on my property?"

Second Dog boss stepped forward, smiling, and asked: "Mushroom, which way did you slip?"

That person raised a hand and slapped Second Dog straight to the ground; his two underlings saw it, one left one right attacked, but upon contact their abdomens were struck hard, and they knelt, unable to get up.

Bang Geng turned and ran.

He had barely run five steps when he was grabbed by the collar and hauled back, then slapped five or six times on the face, asked why he wanted to burn this grocery shop.

Bang Geng was completely dumbfounded.

Second Dog boss was about to slip away when a foot stepped on him.

"You little hooligans, your guts are too big, daring to come to my grocery shop and cause trouble, without even checking what I, Character, do."

That's right, this person is Character, who returned from elsewhere.

Character, who once stepped on Yi Daye.

"Heroine, we weren't trying to burn your shop; it's all Bang Geng this kid's instigation, and has nothing to do with us."

"Bang Geng? Speak quickly."

Character gripped him hard; Bang Geng instantly broke into a sweat from pain, and could only honestly confess the reason.

"Sure enough, it's pretty much what Grandpa Hong said; now He Yuzhu has split with Qin the widow." Character felt a bit pleased; she had always thought well of He Yuzhu.

Thinking about their future life, the forthright Character blushed a little.

"Mom, Grandma." Bang Geng also had no other choice; he could only use this big move.

This place is just a few steps from the Courtyard House; hearing the noisy outside, someone had already come out to check.

He Yuzhu came out with a flashlight and saw a pile of dry branches at his grocery shop's door, and beside it an oil bottle.

Not far away, a short-haired girl had a half-grown boy under her foot, and in her hand she had seized someone; he took a close look and instantly it matched his memory.

Isn't that his wife Character?

"Character, what's up with these little brats?" He Yuzhu ran over, "Are you hurt?"

"No problem." Character laughed, "I've trained hard in the Technique; I can still handle a few kids like these."

"Bang Geng, you kid, you've made it, daring to burn my shop." He Yuzhu took Bang Geng and gave him a beating. This was also to show Character that he had turned over a new leaf.

At that moment Yi Daye and his group also arrived, seeing He Yuzhu still beating Bang Geng, they instantly became unsettled. Jia Zhangshi rushed in to shield Bang Geng, and He Yuzhu beat her as well.

"Zhuzi, what are you doing, why can't you just let a kid be?"

"A kid? He wanted to burn our shop."

Yi Daye saw Character emerge from behind He Yuzhu, his face darker than ink; one He Yuzhu is already hard to deal with, adding a Character, he can't bear it.

"Character, when did you come back?"

"Yi Daye, I advise you to report this upward; you can't handle this, it's arson, you don't want to become an accomplice, do you?" Character said firmly.

Yi Daye's head was soaked with sweat in the cold autumn night.