CH 36

Chapter 36 – Punished

Man Bao’s elders were called to school on the very first day she attended class.

Even Mrs Zhou, who was in poor health, dashed out of her room and rushed to school with Xiao Qian’s help.

The Bai family also rushed to school.

Master Bai was called to the school throughout the year. He knew his son had a notoriously bad record, and he also knew that his son must be the perpetrator. So, he took his own sweet time.

But as soon as he heard that Bai Shan Bao was also involved in the fight, he became agitated. Bai Shan Bao was different from his son, Shan Bao was his aunt’s family’s treasured child.

Master Bai didn’t dare to procrastinate any longer, and quickly notified his aunt and sister-in-law. A big group of them rushed to the school.

Coincidentally, the two families bumped into each other at the school’s entrance.

The Bai’s were attired in silk and satin, while the Zhou’s in cloth patches. However, all of them were equally anxious.

And they were evenly matched in the number of apprehensive family members.

Neither party intended to size up each other at the moment.  Mrs Zhou and another senior lady who seemed to be of the same age walked briskly towards Mr Zhuang’s residence.

Xiao Qian who was supporting Mrs Zhou and the Bai’s met on the narrow path which led to Mr Zhuang’s residence. Although Mrs Zhou was anxious, she and his daughter-in-law stopped and allowed the Bai’s to proceed first.

The Bai’s also paused. When Master Bai’s aunt, Madam Liu saw that Mrs Zhou stopped and made way for her, she didn’t stand on ceremony, and helped her daughter-in-law through the door and rushed in.

They saw four children standing in a row in the yard, while a furious and fuming Mr Zhuang was sitting in a chair.

When the two families saw their respective kids standing upright, and even occasionally glaring at each other competitively, they knew it was just a minor issue. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

They ignored their children, who were watching them, and went in unison to apologise to Mr Zhuang.

Even if they didn’t know the reason for the fight, they were embarrassed.

Mr Zhuang’s angry expression eased slightly when he saw that they were polite and courteous.

Then, he pointed to the four children and said, “These four children, Er Tou aside, the other three are my students. They fought outside the school because I didn’t teach them well enough.

“I called you over today. Firstly, to ask you to go home and teach the children, and secondly, to tell you that I will pay more attention to these three kids. As parents, you should have a clear idea of rewards and punishments for children.”

When Mr Zhuang went to the Bai’s residence yesterday, he met Bai Shan Bao. At that time, Madam Liu (Shan Bao’s paternal grandmother) and her daughter-in-law also met him. They agreed that Bai Shan Bao would go to the school to study, so in a strict sense, Bai Shan Bao was also Mr Zhuang’s pupil.

Madam Liu looked at the little girl next to her grandson, and knew she was Zhou Man, Mr Zhuang’s disciple as he went to the Bai’s residence yesterday to discuss her school enrolment.

Naturally, Madam Liu didn’t believe that her grandson would fight with a little girl, so she glanced at Bai Er Lang and Er Tou. She lowered her head and asked, “Mr Zhuang, why did the kids fight? “

Mr Zhuang was obviously angry. When Madam Liu asked the question, he grew angrier, and placed the stone in his hand onto the stone table and said, “Because of this stone.”

Everyone stared at the stone. They didn’t see anything special. Weren’t these stones everywhere?

Master Bai was the first to turn on Bai Er Lang. He slapped him on the head and said angrily, “Why didn’t you study properly? What’s this about some stone? You fought with your cousin over a stone?”  

Bai Er Lang covered his head and said, “I didn’t fight with him, I was helping him! I don’t care about this stinking stone. I have countless more beautiful stones in my room!”

Master Bai then looked at Er Tou. He must be the one who fought with Shan Bao.

Although Er Tou was about the same age as Shan Bao, a village boy was stronger. He can’t help but worry. If Shan Bao was injured, his aunt would probably cry to death.

Madam Liu was also slightly worried, but with Mr Zhuang here, she couldn’t do anything, but her daughter-in-law, Zheng, couldn’t restrain herself.

She pulled Bai Shan Bao to her side, checked his body repeatedly while asking, “Shan Bao, where are you injured?”

Man Bao, who was standing at the side, made faces at Shan Bao. The little boy who was initially teary eyed and wanted to wail suddenly stopped. He stared at Man Bao fiercely. Having garnered courage with his grandmother and mother’s presence, he wanted to stretch his hand out to shove her!

The sharp-eyed and deft-handed Xiao Qian hurriedly pulled Man Bao over and held her in his arms.

The adults in the two families looked at each other.

Master Bai was glaring at Er Tou and frightened the little boy. When he turned around and saw his father, he plunged into his father’s arms while crying, “Father, father, I didn’t beat him, he beat me!”

Bai Shan Bao also turned around and looked at Er Tou, and made faces like Man Bao, “He lost!”

He turned back to his mother and complained, “Mother, he didn’t beat me, it’s her!”

Everyone looked at Man Bao whom he was pointing at and fell silent.

Mr Zhuang added, “Bai Shan hit Er Tou, Man Bao fought with Bai Shan, Er Tou wanted to help and so Bai Cheng fought with Er Tou. All four were fighting.”

He said, “I think the kids have too much energy. Excluding Er Tou, I’ll have to teach them well.  Bai Cheng, you have to write 20 characters this evening. Bai Shan, Man Bao, each of you write 10 characters. I’ll check them tomorrow.”

Bai Cheng was unhappy, “Sir, why do I have to write more characters?”

“Because you are older than them, and when they were fighting, not only did you not admonish them, but you also added fuel to the fire and got into the fight. Shouldn’t you be punished?”

“But my punishment shouldn’t be heavier than theirs.”

“25 characters.”

Master Bai stared at his son so Bai Er Lang could only cower and lowered his head.

After knowing it was Man Bao who was fighting with Bai Shan Bao, Madam Liu and Zheng were embarrassed. They glanced at Man Bao, a little girl, who was obviously shorter and thinner than Shan Bao. They smiled embarrassedly, put their arms around Bai Shan Bao, and stopped mentioning his injuries.

Xiao Qian surreptitiously checked Man Bao’s body, but the little girl felt itchy, so she giggled and hid.

Both Mrs Zhao and Xiao Qian, who were watching attentively, breathed a sigh of relief in unison; the kid didn’t look like she was injured either.  

The parents accepted the punishment on behalf of their children. The Bai family elders also made Bai Er Lang and Bai Shan Bao apologize to Er Tou and Man Bao.

The Bai family had no option as Bai Er Lang was older than Er Tou, while Bai Shan Bao was not only older than Man Bao, but he was also a boy. The Bai family felt their kids took advantage of the younger kids.

And they fought over a stone, such a trivial item.

Let alone Bai Er Lang, even Bai Shan Bao refused to apologize, and even snorted twice at Man Bao.

Not to be outdone, Man Bao glared at him as well. Since the two Bai kids didn’t want to apologize, the Bai family elders smiled apologetically to the Zhou family and dragged the kids home in order not to embarrass themselves further in front of Mr Zhuang.

They plan to take the children to the Zhou’s to apologize later.