Chapter 103: 90: A Family by the Spring Chapter 103 A Sudden Kiss

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

Li Liang's father was a soldier and knew Guben's father.

He was in the navy, away from home for long stretches, and entrusted Guben's father with looking after his relatives back in their hometown.

Guben and Li Liang's friendship had been passed down from their fathers' generation; they were true old family friends.

Qu Peng was different—he got to know Guben only by riding on Li Liang's coattails.

The Qu and Li families lived in the same siheyuan, old neighbors for many years, helping each other, closer than family.

Li Liang and Qu Peng were the same age; among the three Qu siblings, Qu Peng was closest to him.

The two had truly grown up wearing the same pair of pants, climbing roofs and tearing off tiles, causing mischief, getting beaten together—ironclad buddies.

——

When Wu's mother stormed in in a rage, Qu Peng and Li Liang had just finished playing basketball and were coming back from outside.

She was furious and, without asking questions, grabbed the broom left in the yard and rained blows down on Qu Peng's head and face.

Qu Peng's father was not home; his mother was in the kitchen, and hearing that her son had bullied someone's daughter, she trembled so hard she dropped a whole stack of plates on the floor.

"Qu Peng, tell your mother the truth—did you bully Mengmeng?"

She rushed up to Qu Peng and slapped him on the head, her voice trembling.

"It's a frame-up, I didn't."

Qu Peng had been beaten for no reason and was utterly depressed: "I've never bullied her; at most I asked her to help copy some homework and carry my schoolbag..."

"Your own schoolbag, you won't carry it, you make a girl carry it for you."

Qu's mother was furious and slapped him again.

"I just came back late from playing basketball..."

Qu Peng explained with a bitter face: "I asked her to bring it back for me, and copy some homework first..."

"Auntie, I can testify."

Speaking out of brotherly loyalty, Li Liang spoke up for him: "He really didn't bully Wu Meng; we're together all day, and I know best whether he has any ulterior motives."

"And you too..."

Wu's mother glanced at him, got angry again, raised the broom to hit him: "Come clean—what are your intentions toward my Mengmeng? Why did Xiyu say you're involved too?"

"What does this have to do with me?"

Li Liang was innocently caught in the crossfire, nearly vomiting a mouthful of old blood.

"Li Liang, what do you mean?"

Qu Peng was equally baffled: "What's going on between you and Wu Meng? Why are you getting beaten too?"

"What could there be between me and her?"

Li Liang gritted his teeth in anger: "Isn't it because you dragged me into this?"

"This can't go on..."

Seeing Wu's mother was still furious and wouldn't listen to anyone's explanation, Qu Peng thought of slipping away.

He winked at Li Liang; the two were of one mind, and taking advantage of the commotion, they ran toward the doorway.

"You two, stop right there."

The commotion in the yard alarmed the elders of both families—Qu Peng's grandfather and Li Liang's grandfather—who almost simultaneously came out of the house.

"Grandfather, I'm wronged; calm down first, and I'll come back when you're not angry."

Qu Peng didn't stop but sped up, rushing out.

He had been mischievous since childhood, unafraid of the two elders; the only one who could cow him was his father.

"Li Liang, come back here."

Li Yeye was also a military man, the absolute authority at home, quite dignified.

Li Liang had been raised by his grandparents since childhood and was very close to the old couple.

Qu Peng wouldn't listen, but he had to.

At the old man's command, as if by reflex, he stopped in his tracks, frozen in place.

"Sigh."

Seeing his good buddy like that, Qu Peng resignedly sighed.

"You brat, I told you to stop, and you still dare to run."

Qu Yeye felt he had lost face in front of the old neighbor, grabbed the broom, and gave Qu Peng a few whacks.

Qu Peng had been beaten since childhood and was thick-skinned; his grandfather's hits didn't hurt or itch, carrying no deterrent power at all.

With outsiders watching, he still pretended it hurt terribly and wailed a few times.

"What's going on? What's all the fuss about?"

Qu Peng's father, Qu Jianguo, came home from work, saw people crowding his doorway, and frowned tightly.

"Qu Lao San, you're finally back—look at the good son you've raised, up to no good, bullying my daughter."

Wu's mother, seeing him, finally let out all the pent-up anger she had been holding in.

——

Speaking of which, Wu's mother's maiden family and the Qu family had some connections,

the Old City District was small, only a slap-sized area within the moat.

The old residents who had lived in the siheyuan for a lifetime mostly knew one another, more or less connected by ties of kinship.

Qu Peng's grandmother and Wu Meng's grandmother were relatives, not particularly close, a relationship beyond three generations.

Qu Peng's father, Qu Jianguo, when he was young, had once dated Wu Meng's mother through the introduction of two elders.

Both families had originally thought of strengthening ties through marriage, with the two children marrying, which would have been a fine match.

But things went against their wishes; on the eve of the wedding, during the political review, it was discovered that Wu Meng's mother's family background was poor.

Political reviews were strict in those days; the organization did not agree, and Qu Jianguo, being determined to get ahead, dug in his heels and insisted on breaking off the engagement.

The two families fell out over this matter and parted on very bad terms.

Wu Meng's mother was also disheartened, and not long after married her current husband, severing all ties with them completely.

Although many years had passed since this matter, in Wu Meng's mother's heart it still felt like a thorn stuck in her flesh.

And for this reason, hearing that her daughter had been bullied by his son made it even harder for her to accept.

The thorn buried in her heart for many years was like an invisible bomb; at this moment, with a boom, it exploded.

——

"Qu Peng, you Elder Brother, what trouble have you caused again?!"

Qu Jianguo felt guilty toward Wu Meng's mother; seeing her glare at him with resentment, he flew into a rage and, without asking questions, snatched the broom from her hand and beat his son again.

"Ouch, Grandma save me, Dad is going to beat me to death."

Qu Peng was truly in pain this time, clutching his head and jumping up and down.

"You just got back and didn't even ask what happened; how can you be a father like this, beating the child so hard?"

Qu Peng's grandmother indeed felt heartache; she rushed over with small quick steps and snatched the broom away in one grab.

"You tell me, what trouble have you caused this time, that someone has come to our door?"

Qu Jianguo did not dare to talk back to his mother, so he vented all his anger on his son.

"I really didn't bully Wu Meng......."

Qu Peng hid behind his grandmother, sticking out his neck to argue: "You don't believe us? You can call her over and confront her face to face."

"She's just a girl; how could she have a face as thick as yours?"

Seeing Wu Meng's mother change expression in an instant, Qu Jianguo hurriedly spoke before her: "You ask her to come for a confrontation—does that mean she will come?"

"Speaking of this, it is indeed Qu Peng's fault......"

Qu Peng's mother was embarrassed, probably guessing the truth: "Mengmeng is a good child; Qu Peng shouldn't treat her like that."

Hearing this, Qu Jianguo's face darkened further: "Qu Peng, tell me, what exactly are you thinking? Whether you like her or not, say it clearly. If you dare bully her like this again, I'll break your legs."

"It's because you said no early dating."

Qu Peng, driven desperate by his parents, blurted out a piece of nonsense.

"Do you like her or not?"

Qu Peng's mother, angry, slapped him again.

Qu Peng clutched his head and wailed: "I've never even dated; how would I know?"

"You child."

Qu Peng's mother scolded him in a bad mood: "You have no sense at all; can you not feel whether you like someone or not? Did you pop out of a stone? You have no heart or lungs......."

"Alright, you two husband and wife, no need to put on a show in front of me."

Wu Meng's mother disliked the sight of the couple; she snorted and coldly mocked: "I came today not to hear your son's explanation, but to tell you: our daughter doesn't care for your son; even if he likes her, we won't let her marry him."

"Auntie Mengmeng, don't be angry."

Hearing this, Qu Peng's mother felt embarrassed too; she smiled awkwardly and said: "No need to be so absolute; feelings are unpredictable; who knows if the two children might......"

"There is no afterwards."

Wu Meng's mother felt a lump in her throat; in public she slapped both their faces: "Our Mengmeng is so good; plenty of boys like her. I think Li Liang is not bad; I've taken a fancy to this son-in-law."

"Clack."

Li Liang was so shocked his hand shook, and the basketball fell to the ground.

——

On the road to County West Lane, Guben and Lin Xiyu happened to run into Wu Meng and her father.

Hearing that Wu Meng's mother, to vent for her daughter, had actually gone to the Qu family alone, father and daughter both changed color at once.

Wu Meng regretted it deeply, fearing this commotion would harm the harmony between the two families; from then on, meeting Qu Peng would be like meeting an enemy, and they couldn't even be friends.

Wu Meng's father smiled bitterly; he knew of the grudges between his wife and Qu Lao San, and understood that his wife had a thorn in her heart that she had never been able to let go of.

Suppressed for twenty years, what was bound to come still came.

He didn't worry about anything else; he just feared his wife, eager for revenge, would momentarily lose her head and do something irreparable.

——

When Guben's group arrived at the Qu family's, not early nor late, they happened to hear Wu Meng's mother's astonishing words.

There was a moment of silence in the small courtyard; along with the onlookers watching the show, everyone was stunned, staring wide-eyed in disbelief.

"Good that you've taken a fancy to my grandson."

In a moment, a joking laugh broke the silence of the small courtyard.

Li Liang's grandmother beamed with joy, clapping and cheering with great delight.

"What business is it of yours?"

Li Yeye's mouth twitched.

"My grandson is not bad either."

Li Grandma said righteously: "Why can he like his grandson but not like my grandson?"

"What twisted logic is this?"

Li Yeye was speechless.

"Xiao Liang joined the Buban; finding a wife will be hard after that."

Li Grandma had her own reasons: "I've long thought to settle his marriage before he leaves home. I've met that child Mengmeng—she studies well, her looks aren't bad, and it's rare to know her background. Such a fine granddaughter-in-law must be settled early; miss the chance and there's no opportunity."

Li Yeye laughed in anger: "That still depends on whether your grandson is willing."

"You still don't understand your grandson."

Li Grandma disdainfully glanced at her old partner: "That brat didn't refuse on the spot, so there's hope."

Qu Peng was startled by the words and subconsciously looked at his Lao Pengyou.

Li Liang met his surprised gaze, open and aboveboard—he certainly didn't admit it, but neither did he deny it.

"Hiss."

Qu Peng drew a sharp breath, suddenly feeling inexplicably as if someone had put a green hat on him.

"Auntie Li, we've been neighbors for many years; you suddenly sticking your nose in is a bit too much."

Qu's mother's expression changed too, her words sharp and unpleasant: "You want a granddaughter-in-law? Even if your grandson doesn't mind other people's gossip, you have to see if Mengmeng is willing. Who says that just because she likes my son, she must like your grandson?"

"I'm willing!"

A clear voice suddenly rang out at the doorway of the Small Courtyard, unlike the girl's usual timidity and softness, carrying a firm decisiveness that could not be ignored.

Wu Meng walked straight toward Li Liang in front of everyone.

Before he could react, she grabbed the collar of his upper garment, yanked him down hard, stood on tiptoe, and blocked his lips.

The Small Courtyard fell quiet again.

This time the silence lasted even longer.

Even Li Grandma was stunned by the future granddaughter-in-law's feat, remaining silent for a long while.

—

Worth it!

So worth it!

Watching the show to this extent, even Director Du, who claimed to have filmed many romantic blockbusters, had to admit this melon was eaten at a high level.

"Are young people nowadays this fierce?"

The assistant director jeered sourly: "Not even TV dramas dare to act like this."

After a brief shock, the remaining staff expressed their admiration with actual action.

A commotion rose at the doorway of the Small Courtyard, mixed with sharp whistles.

Wu Meng heard the whistle, suddenly reacted, let go of Li Liang, and covered her face, both shy and annoyed.

Li Liang was already dumbfounded, maintaining his leaning posture, his spine stiff and unable to move.

"Silly child, what are you standing there for?"

Li Grandma walked over with small quick steps, hating iron for not becoming steel as she hammered him a few times: "Hurry up and invite Qinjiayi's family into the house to sit for a while, and brew a pot of good tea."

"Oh."

Li Liang's reflex arc was a bit slow; he thought for a long while before realizing what Qinjiayi meant.

He looked blankly at Wu Meng, his cheeks instantly turning red.

"Hurry up, don't dawdle."

Li Grandma shoved him hard: "So many people are watching; how can you let Qinjiayi stand outside? Hurry and take Mengmeng into the house."

Li Liang glanced at the doorway, a shiver running through him as he came to his senses, finally understanding his grandma's meaning.

"Come on, follow me into the house to hide for a while."

He tentatively reached out, grabbed Wu Meng's wrist, and pulled her in long strides back to his own home.

Wu Meng was both shy and embarrassed, too ashamed to lift her head, until she crossed the threshold and let out an annoyed wail, once again covering her face.

"Stop wailing; you're trying to anger Qu Peng, aren't you?"

Li Liang tried to make amends, finding an excuse for her: "I understand. You don't need to take it to heart; I won't take it seriously."

"What do you understand?"

Wu Meng's face turned white, and she suddenly let go of his hand: "You think I kissed you just to anger him?"

"Then isn't it?"

Li Liang's heartbeat skipped a beat.

"Of course not..."

Wu Meng glared at him resentfully: "You think I'm such a casual person? That I'd kiss any man?"

"Then what do you mean?"

Li Liang's breath caught, and his heartbeat skipped another beat.

"What did you mean on Taishan?"

Wu Meng asked angrily: "Why suddenly treat me so well, block the wind for me, let me sleep leaning on your leg?"

"Cough cough."

Li Liang's Brain flashed with her dumb-cute expression when she slept, and he guiltily averted his gaze.

He himself didn't know why; in the instant she leaned against him, he was possessed by a ghost and didn't push her away.