Chapter 141: 140 I Walked In and Saw Anna Beating Mélanie

“Sister?”

Just as the two siblings embraced warmly at the front door, silently vowing in their hearts to always be each other’s harbor, a round, chubby little head popped out, curiously asking:

“So big brother’s back? Then are you still beating Mélanie today?” ???

With this highly informative question, Li Ang felt the person in his arms suddenly stiffen, and beside his ear came the unmistakable sound of grinding teeth.

“Beat her! Absolutely beat her!”

After pulling her arms free from Li Ang’s waist, the frail girl stomped her foot hard, gritting her teeth as she spat out:

“Even if big brother comes back, it won’t help—today, even if Mom and Dad return, she’s getting beaten!” ???!?

Huh?! Is it really that serious?

Seeing Anna—rarely ever mentioning their parents—so furious she was babbling, Li Ang feared a family massacre might erupt, so he tightened his grip on his furious sister and pleaded:

“No, no, no—don’t rush to hit her! Education first, education first!”

“I’m beating her to educate her! Brother, let me go! Let go!”

Reminded by William, Anna’s anger flared anew; the girl who had just moments ago been gentle as water now struggled violently, shouting in fury:

“It’s all because you keep stopping me! Don’t you know what they did?”

“Um… what did they do?”

“In their first week of school, they teamed up with the noble kids, chased away the teachers, and set up some kind of class council!”

“It’s the Class Assembly.”

Correcting his sister’s wording, William, still buttoning his pants, explained earnestly:

“We’re learning the kingdom’s bicameral system: kids from major noble families go into the Upper Assembly; those from extremely wealthy families, or who study exceptionally well or fight fiercely, join the Lower Assembly.

The Upper Assembly drafts class rules, but those rules must be voted on by the Lower Assembly to pass, then enacted by the class monitor elected by the Lower Assembly, who also handles negotiations with the principal and teachers—the system’s very strict.”

“…“

Good heavens, it’s a perfect replica. Are today’s kids just too fierce? When I was their age, I was still arguing with my desk mate about whether the girls’ bathroom had urinals!

“How can you even say that!”

After hearing William’s grown-up correction, Anna struggled even harder in Li Ang’s arms, shouting:

“Mélanie asked me for two packs of sweet biscuits, saying she’d share them with classmates—but she used my baked cookies to buy votes, won support from that assembly, and became class monitor!

Brother, do you know? The very first class rule she passed after becoming monitor was to unite all the kids and drive away the Religion and Home Economics teachers!

Those two teachers are nearly a hundred years old combined. When I went to visit, one was pointing at my nose and yelling, the other was clutching the textbook and sobbing uncontrollably—I didn’t even know how to apologize to them!”

“…“

Ah… that really is too much. They definitely need proper discipline.

Frowning with a throbbing headache, Li Ang carried his still-wriggling sister inside, glanced at the closed inner door, then turned to William beside him, his expression grave:

“Never mind the rest—but why drive out the teachers? If the reason isn’t valid, don’t blame big brother for not shielding you.”

“The reason? Those two teachers really are terrible.”

Little William tilted his head, thought for a moment, then answered:

“The Home Economics teacher is the homeroom teacher’s cousin-in-law. She cooks terribly, always favors noble kids, and treats kids like us who wear plain clothes harshly.

William and Mélanie were always assigned the worst chores: washing potatoes, cleaning guts, scraping fish scales—and then forced to eat the noble kids’ failed dishes. It was extremely unpleasant.”

“The Religion teacher was the same—he only made us shout-read the scripture, then randomly tested memorization. If we couldn’t recite, he slapped our palms and called us impious little brats who’d go to hell and be dragged off by demons.

Mélanie and I had just transferred in a week ago, didn’t know the scripture well, so we always got slapped.

Mélanie got furious, found some tricky questions in the scripture that stumped him, then asked if he, for not answering, was also impious and deserved a slap—and he kicked her.”

Melanie, furious, found some tricky questions in the scripture to stump him, then asked if his inability to answer meant he was also impious and deserved a spanking on the palm—only to get kicked in return.

So that’s how it was…

After hearing William’s explanation, Li Ang and Anna both froze slightly. Anna’s eyes flickered with regret, and she lowered her voice:

“Then why didn’t you tell me when I asked you?”

William stayed silent, hesitating slightly as he glanced at Li Ang. From the boy’s expression, Li Ang vaguely guessed why they hadn’t spoken up before.

Knowing her children had been wronged, Anna would have stormed over immediately—but her health hadn’t fully recovered, she still needed months of medicine, and Li Ang himself had been away all these days. They figured telling her would only make things worse, so better to just take the beating.

Also, most children might assume parents can always right wrongs—but these two knew well that their older siblings weren’t omnipotent. If a beating and a written apology could resolve it, they’d rather just take the beating.

These two kids… so responsible it tugs at the heart, yet so reckless it gives you a headache…

These two little ones are truly… heartbreakingly sensible, yet maddeningly clueless…

“Maybe they’re growing up and don’t want to tell home about everything.”

Worried the truth might upset Anna, Li Ang gave a vague reply, then turned to William:

“Hold on a few more days. I’ve been swamped with work lately and haven’t been able to look after home—but once this phase ends, I’ll come straight to your school.”

Releasing his now-still sister, Li Ang crouched down, patted William’s head, and solemnly promised:

“Big brother guarantees you—if it’s really as you say, those two teachers will be replaced, and they must apologize to you and all the other kids.

But next time you face something like this, don’t take matters into your own hands and rally classmates to chase people off—tell home first. If you’re in the right, big brother will stand up for you!”

But if you ever face something like this again, don’t take matters into your own hands by rallying classmates to chase people off—tell your family first. If you’re in the right, your big brother will stand up for you!

As long as we’re in the right?

Looking at Li Ang’s serious expression, William tilted his head, thought for a moment, then nodded vigorously.

“Fine! Next time we’ll make sure we’re in the right first!”

“Alright! Next time we’ll make sure we’re in the right first!”

The words made sense… but why do I feel like you’ve misunderstood everything I meant to say?

With a helpless smile, Li Ang ruffled William’s ever-unconventional little head, then stood up and patted his back.

“Alright, go call Mélanie out. Tell her she doesn’t have to take the beating.”

“Enough. Go get Melanie and tell her she doesn’t have to be punished.”

With his excellent persuasion, William had successfully defused the family war. He dashed to the inner room and banged hard on the locked door.

Having successfully defused the family conflict with his sharp tongue, William rushed to the inner room and pounded hard on the locked door.

“Come out—it’s all over!”

From inside, Mélanie’s wary voice shouted back:

“You’re just pretending the beating’s over to trick me into opening the door so you can get me beaten again! Give up—I won’t come out before dawn!

If I go out now, I might get beaten for an hour—but if I hide until tomorrow’s school time, Sister Anna won’t want me late, so she’ll only beat me for ten minutes!”

If I go out now, I might get beaten for an hour—but if I can hide until tomorrow when Anna-sis drags me to school to avoid me being late, she’ll only hit me for ten minutes!”

After pounding on the door for a long time with no success, William clearly grew impatient and shouted:

“Big brother’s back! Sister doesn’t have time to beat you now!”

“No way! You’re lying—you just want me to get beaten with you!”

“Then don’t blame me!”

Seeing how untrustworthy she was, William narrowed his eyes and turned to Li Ang and Anna:

“I’m reporting: Mélanie stole my pocket money to buy roses and mailed them to the Home Economics teacher’s husband, making him think she was having an affair!

Yesterday she also wrote a letter to the Holy Church, accusing the Religion teacher of being too unfamiliar with the scripture, and suggesting they investigate whether he bought his priest credentials!”

Yesterday she wrote a complaint letter to the Holy Church, reporting that the Religion Studies teacher was too unfamiliar with the sacred texts, and recommended the Holy Church verify his clerical qualifications to see if they were bought with money!