CH 47

Chapter 47 – Gang Fight

Bai Er Lang’s two pals might have said that, but they also tried to hold on to Bai Shan Bao.

But was Bai Shan Bao someone who would just stand still and wait to be captured?

Of course not. In any case, he is used to fighting. As soon as the sack touched his head, he struggled to get free. A second later, when the other two boys tried to hold on to him, he shouted and kicked.

A moment later, when Man Bao appeared from the thicket of reeds, she was stunned to see Bai Er Lang jumping and pinning Bai Shan Bao on the ground, while trying to put a sackcloth over his head.

But she was only stunned for a moment before she started shouting for Da Tou who was waiting outside and ran forward to push Bai Er Lang away.

So, the five kids were entangled in a fight, you push me, I’ll hit you.

When Bai Er Lang’s pals saw him resolutely trying to cover Bai Shan Bao’s head with the sackcloth, they shouted, “They’ve seen us, you fool!

Bai Er Lang was stunned and then, he furiously asked, “Who are you calling a fool?”

His pal paused, but he was not alarmed. He continued suppressing Man Bao and Bai Shan Bao while retorting, “You! You are the fool!”

We are all pampered kids at home! Although your father is a landlord, your family is richer than mine, and you often have delicious snacks, and as such, we are willing to listen to your orders, but we are not as stupid as you are.

When the two pals started fighting, Bai Er Lang’s pressure on Bai Shan Bao was relieved, and with Man Bao resolutely kicking Bai Er Lang, Bai Shan Bao eventually managed to push him away and got up from the ground. He then pinned Bai Er Lang to the ground while shouting and punching him with his fists.

The servants who were on the higher ground were alerted to the situation below when Bai Shan Bao first shouted, and immediately ran down in a panic.

It took them a while to reach the fighting spot, which was slightly far from the riverbank.  

However, Da Tou got there first. He immediately threw off the person who was fighting with his little aunt and fought against the boy.

The two of them were about the same age and soon entangled into a ball.

Actually, when he was facing Man Bao, Bai Er Lang’s pal didn’t dare to hit her. After all, she was a girl and younger than him.  However, he wasn’t afraid of Da Tou, and soon, the two boys were having a good time fighting, as they pinched and slapped each other.

Man Bao was, of course, helping Bai Shan Bao and Da Tou. When the servants finally arrived, the six kids were embroiled in a gang fight.

The servants roared, and after intimidating the kids, they separated the two groups and then, went to check on their young master.

Bai Shan Bao’s face and body were covered in mud, his forehead was cut, and his face was bruised in several places.

They noted that all the other kids looked about the same.

One of the servants hugged his young master and wanted to bawl. Their family only have this single seedling. Their mistress asked them to keep an eye on the young master, but they failed to do a proper job. They would definitely be reprimanded when they get home.

Bai Shan Bao didn’t have as many thoughts as his servant. He pushed him away, took a step forward, and spoke harshly to Bai Er Lang, “Scoundrel, you ambushed me! If you have the guts, invite me to fight, and see if I don’t crack open your head.”

Man Bao also felt Bai Er Lang was treacherous! Not only did he ambush Bai Shan Bao, but he got the older kids to bully the younger kids, and there were more of them than Man Bao and group. However, when she glanced at the kids, she actually thought that their method was pretty good!

Bai Er Lang couldn’t be provoked. He immediately rolled up his sleeves and said, “You want to fight? Who afraid? Come on!”   

“Come on,” Bai Shan Bao also rolled up his sleeves, “Come on!”

Man Bao shouted encouragement and cheered him on from the sidelines, “You can definitely do it! Punch his face! Pinch his arm!”

Da Tou turned around and found Bai Shan Bao a chunk of hardened mud.

The servants looked at the group of children. They finally couldn’t help crying. They knelt on the ground, hugged their young master’s legs, and said, “Young master, spare us please. If madam and young madam know you are fighting outside, she’ll peel off our skin! Let’s go home quickly. Let’s go home now.”

Just as they finished pleading, Si Lang leisurely wondered in. This group of people were in the middle of the tall reeds. So, although he could hear sounds, he really couldn’t see anyone from outside the reed thicket.

The most important thing was that the servants were kneeling.

So, he shouted, “Man Bao, Da Tou, where are you? Come out quickly!”

So, Si Lang and the Bai servants led a group of sorry-looking children home. They walked into the village, just as every family was going home for their evening meal. Everyone looked at the six-mud covered naughty kids without much concern.

It was normal for village kids to look like this.

But when they saw Man Bao aka the Zhou family’s youngest daughter walking at the forefront, they were surprised, “Aiyo, Manbao, why did you get into the fight as well?”

Then, they glanced at Si Lang, “Si Lang, did you beat up your youngest sister?”

Si Lang made a face, “Am I that brave?”

That’s true. How would he dare to hit the Zhou family’s most treasured child if he didn’t eat a bear’s heart and a leopard’s guts?

The villagers watched Man Bao enthusiastically, and a couple of them asked her, “Man Bao, did you win or lose?”

The smart little girl knew those villagers who asked the question didn’t mean well. She grunted, “Of course I won. If you don’t believe me, get your grandson out here. I’ll fight with him in front of you.”

The other party laughed, “This girl is fierce! How can she fight?”

“I’ll teach my grandnephew a lesson.”

The other party was dumbfounded. It suddenly struck him that he and Zhou Da Lang were of the same generation. It meant he was of the same generation as Man Bao! So, his grandson was her grandnephew!

He didn’t dare to tease her any further, for fear that Man Bao would beat up his grandson.  

Man Bao has always been pristine clean and accompanied by one of her family members. It was rare to see her covered in mud.

He recalled that two years ago, Man Bao had just learnt to run and was playing with Da Tou and the others under the big tree at the entrance of the village. As she had a sweet in her pocket, two children from the village grabbed her candy and pushed her, and she fell straight into a puddle.

One of those two kids was the village chief’s grandson. After the incident, Si Lang resolutely led his friends and nephews to teach those two kids a lesson.

The village chief’s wife and daughter-in-law didn’t even bat an eyelid. The village headman even brought a lot of eggs to visit Man Bao. It was said that she was both startled and delighted, so much so that she had a high fever immediately.

The families of the two children were terrified. They were afraid the fever would kill Man Bao and their children would be blamed for her death.

From then on, the adults told their kids that they can fight with Da Tou and everyone else but they were not allowed to bother Zhou Man Bao.

This child almost didn’t make it when she was young, and her health is weaker than the average child. Who knows whether she would be fine once she had a fright?

When the villagers saw Man Bao’s current condition, they kept quiet although they were very worried for her and the group of children who hit her.

Si Lang glared at the bunch of kids, and took Man Bao home for a bath, after which they would apply medicine on her bruises.

Naturally, the servants took the rest of them back to the Bai family home.

In the Bai residence, the elders were startled.

When Zheng saw the bruises on his son’s face, she nearly fainted. She hugged him and cried bitterly.

Although Madam Liu was shocked, she was way steadier. As she reprimanded her daughter-in-law, she also instructed Zheng to take Shan Bao out of the room.

Then, she looked at Master Bai and said, “Your brother’s wife is naïve and inexperienced. Bruises are just part of every child’s journey to adulthood.”

But her heart ached as well.