Chapter 26: The slap came too fast

Listening to the broadcast, Jia Dongxu couldn't help bursting into loud laughter.

He was gloating!

He has always disliked Shazhu and Xu Damao.

Both of them got punished, so how could he not be happy?

Although Shazhu usually brings back leftovers and shares a portion with their family, most of the time he gives them all of it.

He also occasionally helps out, like buying some flour or lending money.

Every time he lends money, it's never paid back.

But he always feels that Shazhu has given him a cuckold's hat.

Every time he looks at his wife Qin Huairu, his eyes shine.

As for Xu Damao,

Likewise, he also feels that this guy is always thinking about his wife.

However.

Listening further, his face instantly darkened.

At the same time, it earned him the mockery of his coworkers.

"The third notice: First-class fitter Jia Dongxu of Workshop One, due to inadequate supervision, caused his son to steal company property; he also left early today, resulting in a demotion of one pay grade, a fine of two yuan, and a deduction of two points."

"Jia Dongxu's son is still in the Security Section; please go there after work to claim him."

"This is to notify all factory workers to take this as a warning."

Jia Dongxu flew into a rage.

"This little brat, just wait till I get home and deal with him!"

Muttering to himself, he stormed out without caring whether it was quitting time.

He is currently a first-class fitter earning 31.5 yuan.

With this salary he has to support a family of six.

It's a tight squeeze.

Now his pay has been cut by one grade, five yuan less—how could he not be furious?

Given his income, if he scrimps and saves, he can barely get by.

Yan Bu Gui in Qian Yuan also supports six people on his meager wage, and most of them are adults.

To top it off, Yan Bu Gui's wage is even lower than his as a first-class fitter—short by a full five yuan.

Jia Dongxu's household has three adults, one almost-grown child, and two young children.

How could that not work?

It's simple.

They're all lazy gluttons.

It's no wonder birds of a feather flock together.

Their hereditary genes are truly strong.

They turn up their noses at coarse cornmeal, demanding fine flour or whole wheat, and occasionally buying meat.

Just look at how puffy-faced and big-eared they all are—it speaks volumes.

As for Yan Bu Gui, he dare not buy meat for months on end.

Before Jia Dongxu even reached the Security Section, he could hear Bang Geng's wailing from afar.

This filled Jia Dongxu with anguish, and he also started cursing his mother.

Entering the Security Section, Bang Geng sat on the ground, slapping it with both hands while wailing.

No wonder—he inherited this trait straight from his grandmother Jia Zhangshi.

Throwing tantrums and rolling on the ground, he's notorious—even ghosts would worry at the sight.

Seeing Jia Dongxu, Bang Geng burst into even louder tears.

Jia Dongxu pointed at Bang Geng and shouted:

"Shut your damn mouth!"

Bang Geng immediately clamped his mouth shut.

Jia Dongxu snorted, gave a hostile glare to Section Chief Wang sitting at the desk, and said:

"Section Chief Wang, he's just a kid—why won't you let him sit?"

Section Chief Wang laughed: "You kid also have to be willing to sit."

"Is this kid your son?"

Jia Dongxu looked glum: "He's not my son—he's yours!"

Section Chief Wang frowned: "Jia Dongxu, speak properly—don't vent your anger here."

"Instead, use this time to discipline your son properly."

Saying that, he pushed a folder across the desk to Jia Dongxu: "Sign here and take him back."

Jia Dongxu gritted his teeth, picked up a pen, and signed his name.

Then.

He walked over and grabbed Bang Geng's shoulder.

In his fury, he didn't know his own strength and hurt Bang Geng, who cried out "Wah!" again.

Infuriated, Jia Dongxu backhanded him a slap.

Bang Geng's face instantly showed several red finger marks.

He was so stunned by the blow that he saw stars and forgot to cry.

Section Chief Wang hurriedly stood up, pointed at Jia Dongxu, and demanded:

"Jia Dongxu, how could you hit a child?"

Jia Dongxu snorted and said irritably:

"I like it, can you stop me?"

Section Chief Wang could no longer tolerate it, "Pa!" he slammed the table, stood up, pointed at Jia Dongxu angrily and said:

"Jia Dongxu, I gave you respect, didn't I?"

"With that attitude, I could lock you up for ten days or half a month—believe it?"

He finished speaking.

He shouted toward the doorway:

"Someone, come!"

Two people rushed in quickly and restrained Jia Dongxu.

Jia Dongxu was already so frightened his face turned a ghastly white.

He wore a forced smile and kept begging:

"Section Chief Wang, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Section Chief Wang snorted coldly and said:

"Sorry? Too late!"

"Thump!" Jia Dongxu fell to his knees and pleaded:

"Section Chief Wang, I really am sorry!"

"You, as a superior, do not remember the faults of a lesser one."

"I was just angry, I won't dare again."

Section Chief Wang shouted, "Get out!"

"If you offend again, it won't just be a ten‑day or half‑month lockup."

Jia Dongxu didn't dare speak any more, got up, grabbed the trembling Bang Geng, and slunk out.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got; today was really his unlucky day.

If it weren't for Bang Geng, none of this would have happened.

He also couldn't bring himself to act again.

He had just slapped him and still felt guilty.

So he only scolded him a few words.

As soon as he started scolding, Bang Geng burst into a "Waa!" cry.

Even after returning to the Siheyuan, Bang Geng kept sobbing.

Qin Huairu was standing at the Siheyuan entrance, saw this, hurried forward, and asked with concern:

"What happened?"

"Why is Bang Geng still crying?"

Jia Dongxu said irritably:

"That little brat stole something from the factory and got caught."

"It caused my salary to drop a level."

Qin Huairu exclaimed, "What?"

"What did you say?"

"Salary dropped a level?"

At this point she was too lazy to care about Bang Geng.

To her, money was the most important thing.

Dropping a level meant five yuan less.

Jia Dongxu glared at Bang Geng and said angrily, "Yeah, really unlucky, stuck with this thing."

Qin Huairu sighed lightly and said, "Dropping a level means five yuan less per month. Sigh, Dong Xu, our life will only get harder from now on."

Jia Dongxu said casually, "But it's no big deal."

"At most, I'll just get a thicker skin; if I can't make it, my master will help me."

"He earns over a hundred a month and has no children."

"And that Shazhu, you can just ask him for a loan."

At that point, he looked around and asked:

"Hey, why are you standing here?"

"Waiting for someone?"

Qin Huairu: "Waiting for you."

"I think it's almost quitting time, I have nothing to do, so I came out to wait for you."

In fact she was waiting for He Yuzhu.

Near quitting time, she always waits at the doorway.

Because Shazhu almost every day brings back leftovers.

She worries Shazhu will hide them, giving her none or only a little.

Jia Dongxu asked sourly, "It can't be waiting for Shazhu, right?"

Qin Huairu gave Jia Dongxu a white look and cooed, "What are you saying? Why would I wait for him."

"Let's go home, I have something to discuss with you."

Speaking, they grabbed Jia Dongxu's shoulder with one hand and Bang Geng's hand with the other, heading into the courtyard.

Returning home, Jia Dongxu picked up a feather duster and was about to beat Bang Geng.

Seeing this, Jia Zhangshi hurriedly shielded Bang Geng behind her and asked:

"What's going on?"

"As soon as he came back, he wanted to beat Bang Geng."

Jia Dongxu: "Mom, I think we've been too indulgent with this kid all along."

"Today I went to the factory to steal something and got caught."

"I've been disciplined, my wages have been downgraded by one grade."

"From now on, I'll be short five yuan each month."

"How are we supposed to get by from now on?"

Jia Zhangshi said dismissively: "I thought it was something major."

Jia Dongxu frowned: "Isn't this still a big deal?"

"He went to steal something."

"Stealing is stealing, but the key is that it implicated me."

Jia Zhangshi: "How can you call it stealing when it's such a small child?"

"Just call it taking; the steel plant is so big—what's wrong with taking a bit of stuff?"

"You guys at the factory really— it's just a little kid, is it necessary?"

"And they want to discipline you—what business is that of yours?"

"No way, I'm going to find your leaders right now."

"On what grounds are they disciplining you?"

Jia Dongxu: "Mom, don't make trouble for me."

"It's already a fact; it can't be changed."

Jia Zhangshi: "Anyway, I don't care—my great-grandson, you just can't lay a hand on him."

"Whoever lays a hand on him, I'll fight them to the death."

"Worst case, I'll borrow more money from Shazhu and Yi Zhonghai later."

"We're in such dire straits; they couldn't bear to refuse us."

Qin Huairu let out a long sigh and said:

"Alright, this matter is settled."

"We should think of a way to keep Eldest Uncle from bearing a grudge against us."

Jia Dongxu: "What's up? Does my master bear a grudge against us?"

Qin Huairu related what had happened today.

Jia Dongxu frowned tightly and blamed:

"Mom, why did you offend my master for no reason?"

Jia Zhangshi, face full of indignation, said:

"What do you mean I offended him?"

"I'm just worried that with this little extinguished line coming, Yi Zhonghai won't keep close to our family anymore."

"I'm doing this for our family's own good."

"You tell me, Yi Zhonghai is really something."

"This little extinguished line has only just arrived—what gives Yi Zhonghai the right to be so close to him?"

Qin Huairu: "Mom, you're saying that."

"They actually have a blood relation."

Jia Zhangshi: "Then Jia Dongxu is still his disciple—one day as a teacher, lifelong as a father."

"Jia Dongxu's father has passed away, so he is now Jia Dongxu's father."

Qin Huairu: "......"

Jia Dongxu: "Alright, let's think of a solution."

Qin Huairu: "The only option now is for Mom to go apologize to Eldest Uncle."

Jia Zhangshi shouted: "What for?"

"I'm not going."

Although she said that, after Jia Dongxu's persuasion, Jia Zhangshi eventually agreed.

Because of her protection, Jia Dongxu also gave up the idea of disciplining Bang Geng.