1990s: Spring Water Family

Chapter 52 Bin's arms were all red.
Gu Bin stared blankly for a moment at the muddy, dirty little paws stretched out in front of him.

"This child eats without washing his hands."

He was hesitating whether to take it or not when Chen Xiulan blushed and slapped her son on the back of the head.

"Ouch, that hurts so much!"

Xu Yi was displeased and howled at the top of his lungs, "Mom, what are you doing? You're even killing your own son!"

"You little brat, you dare talk back?"

Chen Xiulan got even angrier and slapped him again.

This time, Xu Yi learned his lesson and started circling around Gu Bin.

Before Chen Xiulan could react, she slapped Gu Bin's arm, the crisp sound of the slap silencing the entire courtyard.

It was hot in the summer, and Gu Bin was only wearing a short-sleeved shirt.

I was slapped hard; five finger marks were clearly visible on my fair skin, and it stung terribly.

It's clear how strong Chen Xiulan's hand was; no wonder that slap earlier made Xu Yi scream and howl.

"Mom, what are you doing?"

The unusual noise startled the people in the kitchen. Lin Xiyu turned around in surprise and glanced at Gu Bin through the window.

"Sister, Mom hit me, and she also hit Brother Bin."

Xu Yi peeked out from behind Gu Bin and preemptively complained.

"what?"

Lin Xiyu's expression changed slightly. She handed the strainer to her grandmother and ran out of the kitchen.

"Nothing."

Chen Xiulan explained awkwardly, "Don't listen to your brother's nonsense. He doesn't wash his hands before eating, so Mom scolded him and he accidentally bumped into your classmate."

"This wasn't just a light touch."

Xu Yi showed no awareness of being a biological son and immediately contradicted his mother, saying, "Sister, look! Brother Bin's arm is all red."

"Mom, you're going too far."

Lin Xiyu approached and saw the scarlet five-finger mark. She was about to make a comment.

"It's okay, it doesn't hurt."

Gu Bin didn't want the mother and daughter to argue over him, so he quickly interrupted her.

"We have safflower oil at home." Grandma called out through the kitchen window, "Xiyu, go get it and apply it to Xiaobin, it'll be fine in a little while."

"Hey."

In front of outsiders, Lin Xiyu didn't know what to say and turned to go inside.

"no need."

Gu Bin grabbed her arm and said, "This little red mark is nothing. Auntie, that was barely a bit of force. It's much lighter than when my grandpa hit me with the sole of his shoe."

"You were beaten when you were a child?"

Lin Xiyu's lips twitched almost imperceptibly when she heard the sound of the shoe sole.

"Cough cough."

Gu Bin deliberately eased the tension, feigning embarrassment, and joked, "Who wasn't mischievous when they were little? There's a saying, 'Even dogs dislike six- or seven-year-old brats.'"

"Pfft."

Lin Xiyu couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh out loud.

"Is there such a saying?"

Seeing his sister laugh, Xu Yi joined in the joke: "Luckily, I'm eight years old, past the age where even dogs wouldn't want me."

"You still have the nerve to say it?"

Lin Xiyu poked her younger brother's forehead and scolded him with a smile, "It's all your fault for making Mom so angry."

"It wasn't me who got angry. It's just an occupational hazard for Mom."

Xu Yi retorted defiantly, "How many deans of students have good tempers? They're used to bullying students every day. Otherwise, why would they puncture her tires out of all the other students' tires?"

"You brat, what nonsense are you spouting?"

Chen Xiulan was enraged when her son exposed her past: "If you dare to talk nonsense again, I'll break your legs!"

"Brother Bin, help me!"

Xu Yi wasn't about to wait to be beaten; he hid behind Gu Bin again, yelling at the top of his lungs, "My mom's going to beat me to death!"

"Is that the head of the student affairs office, auntie?"

Gu Bin was both amused and exasperated, and had no choice but to make an excuse for him: "No wonder Xi Yu's grades are so good, it turns out that Auntie is a great teacher."

(End of this chapter)