I emptied my family's possessions to join the army, and my abstinent superior doted on me.

Chapter 27 My Favorite Aunt

The bus stop for buses going to the city is located next to the park in the middle of the street.

When Qian Lai passed by the garden, there were several children chasing and playing inside, and the flower beds next to them were full of grandparents watching the children.

"Slap!" One child raised his hand and slapped another child across the face.

The little boy opposite immediately burst into tears, feeling wronged.

"What's wrong? What's wrong?" The parents on the flower bed rushed over to check when they heard the crying.

"Hey, Wenquan, can't you even give Guangming a little cookie?"

An old woman scolded loudly and shoved all the cookies from Wenquan's hand into the boy's hand.

After snatching what was in his hand, they tried to grab what was in his pocket. Wen Quan clutched his pocket tightly, refusing to give it up and pleading incessantly.

The old lady was so angry that she raised her hand to hit the child's bottom, but someone grabbed her wrist tightly.

"Who's there? Why are you pinching me?"

Qian Lai shouted, "I'd like to see if you dare hit him!?" Then he forcefully shook off the old lady's hand, squatted down, and hugged Wenquan into his arms.

Upon seeing Qian Lai, Wen Quan cried as if she had seen a family member, bursting into heart-wrenching sobs.

"Hey? Who are you? What business is it of yours?" The old lady glared angrily and tried to grab Qian Lai.

Qian Lai forcefully pushed away the old woman's withered hand, staring at her coldly: "Who do you care who I am? I saw this brat with my own eyes and slapped him. And you, you snatched things and tried to hit the child."

Qian Lai looked like a mother animal protecting her cubs, her eyes practically bulging out of their sockets.

Seeing her imposing presence, the old woman immediately began rallying the crowd: "Did anyone see that? Did anyone say my grandson hit him?"

Everyone knew that it was the old lady's grandson who was bullying Wenquan because his grandmother was around, but no one said anything.

We're all neighbors in the same compound, seeing each other all the time. Nobody wants to be the first to offend anyone.

Fearing things would escalate, some tried to smooth things over: "They're just kids. Kids inevitably bicker and fight. Adults shouldn't get involved!"

"Easy for you to say!" Qian Lai picked up Wenquan, glared at the old lady, and questioned, "You say it's just kids playing around, but it's clear my child was the one who got hurt. Your family, one big and one small, ganged up on a two-and-a-half-year-old—how dare you!?"

“If this brat has violent tendencies, I advise you to take him away from here. There are only children here, and he might bully someone next just because he's tall and strong.”

Yes!

Ma Guangming is almost five years old, but he still spends all his time with his grandmother hanging out with a group of children under three years old.

Which of these children hasn't been beaten and scolded by him?

When his parents came to visit, his grandmother treated them differently depending on who they were dealing with.

He would bow and scrape and apologize to anyone whose parents were of higher status than his son. But he would be unreasonable and argumentative with anyone whose parents were of lower status than his son.

Many children who have been wronged do not receive the justice they deserve, and their parents are also humiliated by the family.

In the end, they could only swallow their anger.

But this very fact has encouraged both unruly children and their parents.

Qiao Muting applied for a daycare center for Wenquan, but unfortunately, it's no longer possible to get in this semester.

With only two months left, I decided to spend more money to hire Grandma Ma.

He probably didn't know how Grandma Ma treated the hot springs.

Old Mrs. Ma, who was adept at reading people's expressions, believed that Qiao Muting was just an ordinary military doctor with no background. Otherwise, how come he couldn't even get into a daycare center?

This child is only two years old and won't repeat what his parents say.

He gradually grew bolder.

Not only did all the delicious food Qiao Muting brought for Wenquan end up in her grandson's stomach, but Wenquan also had to endure Ma Guangming's bullying every day.

I happened to run into Qian Lai today. All the grievances I had were like a fountain, turning into tears. The little guy was so upset that he couldn't stop crying.

"Auntie, my brother is going to the hot spring. Grandma is going to the hot spring too."

There was no food at the hot spring, so my brother ate the food from the hot spring.

Wenquan's language skills were originally better than those of other children his age. He was also more sensible than other children his age.

He never told Qiao Muting anything about what happened during the day because he had seen how difficult it was for Uncle Qiao to find someone to take care of him. He couldn't bear it, and he didn't dare let Qiao Muting know what had happened. He worried that if Grandma Ma wasn't around, his father would have to find someone else to take care of him.

If Dad gets tired of him because he can't find anyone, will he abandon him?

Even young children think just as much as adults.

Qian Lai felt so sorry for her, as if her own child had been bullied.

"Nonsense. You're such a young child, and you've already learned to lie!" Old Mrs. Ma rushed over to pinch the hot spring, but Qian Lai dodged her, almost causing her to fall flat on her face, which drew laughter from everyone.

"Who are you, troublemaker? Are you trying to become this child's stepmother and use me, an old woman, to establish your authority?"

Grandma Ma started to become hysterical.

"Oh dear, what a terrible misunderstanding! I kindly offered to babysit someone's child, and it turns out I've created an enemy!"

"Alright, I've seen this kind of tantrum and shameless behavior a million times. Let me tell you, if you use the child's name to steal his things or hit him again, I'll report it to the military region and let the leaders judge this."

I need to let you know exactly what kind of crime it is to wantonly bully and insult the children of soldiers.

"You fart."

It's just a matter of taking sides in a fight between kids, and they actually went all the way to the leader's office.

Take a closer look at this woman's clothes and tone of voice. Does she have some kind of background?
Immediately, Grandma Ma's tone softened, "Who can prove that I hit him?"

"Grandma Ma, you just raised your hand. If this woman hadn't stopped you, your bottom would have been covered in red marks from that fall."

Looking towards the sound, a simple young woman carrying a net bag walked towards the crowd.

"Ma Guangming always bullies children younger than himself because you condone it. What kind of role model have you set for the children?"
"Does Dr. Qiao pay you 25 yuan a month just so you and your grandson can bully his child?"

The woman stopped beside Qian Lai and questioned Old Lady Ma.

"Shuangqin, how could you say that? Just because Dr. Qiao is your commander Wan's doctor doesn't mean you're taking his side!"

Although Lan Shuangqin came from the countryside, she was the wife of the regimental commander.

His own son was only a company commander, while the other man was two ranks higher.

She dared not openly contradict Lan Shuangqin, and her eyes became evasive.

"Grandma Ma, we all have children. When you harm other people's children, think about how you would feel if your own grandson were treated the same way!"

"Yes, Grandma Ma. The child is not even three years old. It's one thing for your Guangming to hit someone, but you also bully the 'little mute child,' just because you think he won't tell on you."

"Hehe, now that the magistrate has seen it, let's see how you explain yourself."

With Lan Shuangqin speaking out righteously, those who had suffered losses immediately joined in the condemnation.

“The child was so lively and adorable when she first came, but now she’s so afraid to even breathe loudly because of her.”

"That's right, they gave the best food to their own grandson, leaving other people's children hungry."

Qian Lai grew angrier as she listened, even taking her anger out on Qiao Muting for not investigating.

Seeing her chest heaving with anger, Lan Shuangqin smiled and asked, "Comrade, do you know about hot springs?"

"She's my aunt, the aunt that Wenquan likes the most."

Before Qian Lai could speak, Wen Quan wrapped his arms around her neck and kissed her on the cheek.

Lan Shuangqin burst into laughter.

"It seems Wenquan likes you very much. Do you know his father?" Lan Shuangqin looked at Qian Lai with anticipation in her eyes.

Qian Lai did not want any further contact with Qiao Muting, and it would be best if they never crossed paths again.

“I’m more familiar with this child.”

That's it!

Lan Shuangqin: "Don't worry, I will definitely tell Dr. Qiao about what happened today. We must not let anyone bully him like this again."

"Yes, sister-in-law. If I find out again that someone is incorrigible, then we'll see each other at the military region." Qian Lai glared fiercely at Old Lady Ma, staring at her until she and Ma Guangming ran away.

Lan Shuangqin comforted Qian Lai: "Don't be angry. Come on, I'm going to the hospital anyway. Do you want to hand the child over to Dr. Qiao yourself?"

(End of this chapter)