CH 4

Chapter 04: Tripping Aunt

Without any surprises, the two brothers, Ye Zhou and Ye Huan, attracted a lot of disdainful looks and gossip as they walked outside. Almost everyone they encountered huddled together after they passed, whispering and pointing fingers. Ye Huan, being timid and sensible, clung to his older brother, his small frame trembling, his widened eyes filled with anger and injustice. At such a young age, he couldn't understand why it was his brother who was being mocked and insulted when it was others who had done wrong.

Ye Zhou, who had been so embarrassed before that he wished to find a hole to hide in, now comfortingly patted his younger brother's back. His handsome and slender face still bore a trace of a smile. Regardless of how others mocked them, he acted as if he hadn't heard or seen anything, with a thick skin that could probably withstand bullets.

"You shameless dog, how dare you walk around so brazenly? I'm embarrassed for you, damn it!"

Ye Zhou's house was located at the far end of Dongquan Village, while the Ye family resided in the middle section. As the brothers passed by the Ye family's house, the old lady stood at the doorway, hands on her hips, as if she had been waiting for them.

Startled, Ye Huan hid behind his brother, his two small hands trembling, clutching onto his clothes. Ye Zhou, who initially didn't want any trouble, decisively stopped in his tracks. He glanced at the people gathered in small groups nearby and a dazzling smile curved at the corner of his lips.

"Well, if it isn't our dear grandmother. What are you doing standing at the door like a teapot?"

Ignoring the gazes around them, Ye Zhou confidently approached, challenging the old lady with his words. When it came to verbal insults, could he possibly lose to an old lady?

"You, you... you little bastard... you..."

"During this broad daylight, grandma, were you waiting at the door specifically to invite us brothers over for a meal? Oh, how polite of you to have someone shout for us. Isn't that enough?"

Taking advantage of her breathlessness and inability to speak coherently, Ye Zhou interrupted with a mocking tone. He deliberately raised his voice, causing the neighbors to cover their mouths and laugh softly. As for that old lady from the Ye family, could she ever afford to treat the Ye brothers to a meal? It was impossible. Ye Zhou's words were truly cutting. Didn't they see how the wrinkles on her old face turned red like pig liver?

"Who would invite you shameless dogs to have a meal? Ye Zhou, you disgraceful scum, always running to our house for no reason, do you think my Ye family is easy to bully?"

"Who would invite you shameless dogs to have a meal? Ye Zhou, you disgraceful scum, always running to our house for no reason, thinking my Ye family is easy to bully?"

A red figure suddenly rushed out from the yard, accompanied by sharp and cutting insults. Ye Zhou focused his gaze and recognized that it was his unmarried cousin, Ye Bao'er. Behind her was a thin and pale teenage girl. Ye Zhou's eyes turned cold, his gaze becoming icy. The young girl was Ye Xiaoyu, his younger sister. Back then, he didn't know what that despicable old lady was thinking when she brought her to the Ye family at the age of four, coaxing and deceiving her. His parents initially thought that the old lady liked having a daughter, but they didn't expect her true intention was to find a maid for her precious daughter. Unfortunately, even if his parents later found out, they couldn't do anything about it because they were too honest and couldn't reclaim their daughter. The original owner seemed to care about her, but Ye Zhou discovered that she had already been raised as a child of the Ye family. Bringing her back would likely result in her becoming nothing more than a scornful wolf, no matter how they raised her.

"Cousin is right, I..."

Thinking of this, Ye Zhou decisively stopped paying attention to her and instead looked at Ye Bao'er, who thought she was all dressed up but looked more like an old red hen.

"Who's your cousin? I wouldn't dare to have a first cousin who specializes in seducing men."

Before he could say more, Ye Bao'er interrupted him. Ye Zhou pretended to look extremely aggrieved, holding his hand over his heart and said, "Cousin, you're my real cousin. What did I do wrong? It's fine if others call me scum, but why do you also insult me like this? Is it my fault for being good-looking? Do I have to look unattractive like my cousin here, so I can't find a husband?"

While feeling wronged, he couldn't help but be self-centered. Probably no one except Ye Zhou would do that, but Ye Bao'er was infuriated by his words. "Who do you think looks unattractive and can't find a husband? I'll tear your mouth apart!"

"Ye Bao'er spoke and rolled up her sleeves ferociously, rushing over. Ye Zhou quickly protected his younger brother and turned around to run. 'What are you trying to do, little aunt? I'm just speaking the truth. Look at your face, red like a monkey's bottom. And you're dressed in all red. Isn't it unattractive?'"

"Haha..."

"I dare you to say it. If you have the guts, don't run. I'll tear you apart..."

The three of them, aunt and nephews, chased each other outside the Ye family's house. Ye Bao'er was so furious that she lost her sanity. Ye Zhou instigated and provoked from time to time, causing the onlookers to burst into laughter. It was as if they were watching a monkey show. It seemed that no one had noticed that they had forgotten to criticize Ye Zhou.

"Huff... damn..."

After running for who knows how long, Ye Zhou gradually ran out of breath. Ye Bao'er, who was behind them, was obviously getting tired as well. Unable to bear it any longer, she shouted, "Ye Xiaoyu, you're dead! Hurry up and come help..."

"Oh..."

Ye Xiaoyu didn't dare to defy her intentions and hesitantly rushed out. In that moment, a flash of ruthlessness crossed Ye Zhou's eyes. He suddenly stopped, causing Ye Bao'er, who didn't expect it, to trip and fall face-first. Ye Zhou quickly took his brother away from her and paid no attention to Ye Xiaoyu, who had previously joined forces with her to target them. He hurriedly squatted down and helped her up, saying, "Aunt, are you alright?"

"Oh my dear Bao'er, are you okay? I'm so worried, my child."

"Ow, it hurts..."

Ye Granny rushed over while screaming, and Ye Bao'er's mouth was full of blood. Her lips were cut, and her face was covered in dirt. She looked extremely miserable. Ye Zhou carefully embraced his brother and approached, pretending to be concerned. "Aunt, it's all my fault. If I had known, I wouldn't have run. After all, you are my elder. Beating and killing me would be just a word. As long as you're happy, I don't mind sacrificing myself, right? Hurry, take Aunt to the village office to see the doctor. If Aunt's face gets disfigured, how can she marry someone from the city?"

The deliberate emphasis on the words "city people" didn't sound friendly.

"Shut up! You damn bastard, if it weren't for you, how could Bao'er end up like this?"

The dear old lady, who was filled with affectionate pain, cursed him with venomous eyes. Ye Zhou 'feigned fear' and took several steps back, muttering in a low voice, "Is it my fault that Aunt fell down while walking? We're all your biological children. Why is the gap so big?"

Ye Zhou mastered the art of speaking in a low voice perfectly, just within earshot of the surrounding crowd.

"Ye Granny, you better take Bao'er to see the doctor."

"Yes, Ye Granny, what Ye Zhou said is not wrong. After all, Bao'er hasn't married yet. If she gets disfigured, what will happen?"

"Even without disfigurement, no one would dare to marry her. Look at her temper, calling her own nephew a bastard and cursing at him. Which family would dare to take such a daughter-in-law? Does she think city people would be interested in her? How did Ye Ying manage to marry into the city back then? We all know about it, don't we? It's truly laughable..."

"That's right! Look at Ye Zhou and his brother, with no parents, yet they are being bullied by that tigress and her daughter..."

"Yeah, you're absolutely right..."

After the previous commotion, the crowd of onlookers had increased. Along with Ye Zhou's deliberate manipulation, everyone gathered around, and various opinions and comments filled the air. Ye Bao'er was so frightened that she couldn't even cry, while Ye Granny lost her domineering attitude in front of Ye Zhou. In reality, this mother and daughter duo were typical bullies who only dared to be arrogant within their own circles.

Meanwhile, Ye Zhou, the catalyst of this verbal battle, had quietly disappeared with his brother. No one noticed when they had left, and by the time someone remembered their presence, their figures were nowhere to be found.

"Brother, did you intentionally trip that woman with your foot just now?"

On their way to the town road, Ye Huan looked up curiously and asked. It seemed like he had caught a glimpse of his brother extending his foot.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Big brother was just stretching his legs after running for a long time. Who knew she would stumble on my foot?"

Ye Zhou was exposed by his six-year-old younger brother. He didn't feel annoyed; instead, he deliberately put on a serious face, maintaining a righteous and imposing demeanor.

"Oh, so she tripped over your foot, and it wasn't big brother who deliberately tripped her."

The little guy was also clever, but why did his words make Ye Zhou feel like he was mocking him more and more? Ye Zhou couldn't help but look at him with some doubt. Could his little brother be a natural joker or cynic?

"What are you looking at, brother? Let's keep going."

Sensing his brother's perplexed gaze, Ye Huan wore a natural expression of confusion.

After staring for a while, unable to make sense of it, Ye Zhou had to pull his hand and continue walking forward. However...

"Brother, can I frequently trip those who bully us in the future?"

"Hmm..."

Ye Huan's innocent voice made Ye Zhou stumble for a moment, almost falling forward. After coughing twice, he pretended to regain his composure and said in a serious tone, "Well, in a situation where no one is watching, it's completely possible. But it requires a certain level of skill, and you're still young. It's better not to learn it. Let big brother handle it."

The majestic image of the elder brother acting like a father figure seemed to be collapsing completely. However, Ye Zhou was trying his best to restore it.

"Oh."

Ye Huan seemed to understand but not quite. Nevertheless, he obediently nodded. Ye Zhou awkwardly patted his head and, for the first time, seriously considered the issue of child-rearing. It seemed that he wasn't cut out to be responsible for raising children. Would a child brought up by him end up with the same twisted values and lack of principles?