Educated Youth in the Countryside: She is the Village's Embroidery Queen!-Chapter 452: Shining Bright Like a Lightbulb
Ji Jian was stunned for quite a while before she understood what Chichi meant, and she burst out laughing.
"Got it, I’ll report today’s assignments to him when he comes home from work tonight."
Seeing that Ji Jian understood, Yi Chichi refrained from saying more.
As they were about to reach home, the wife of Battalion Three’s Commander, Zhang Qiao Zhen, came rushing over with a broom.
Her delicate face was expressionless, but her eyes were filled with rage.
Yi Chichi and Ji Jian exchanged a look, knowing surely that her household must have been turned upside down by her kid.
Suddenly, their gossip radar was on high alert.
"Qiao Zhen, you look like you’re ready to go into battle," Ji Jian said as she stopped her to find out what was going on.
Zhang Qiao Zhen greeted them and started complaining loudly, "It’s that little rascal Qiangzi. He cut up one of my yarn balls and sliced up his dad’s clothes and pants too."
Yi Chichi listened, dumbfounded. She had met Wei Qiang before, a smart kid, with a mouth as sweet as if it were coated with honey. He was particularly good at pleasing people.
His grades weren’t bad either, but he was a bit different from the traditional good child.
Too naughty.
Climbing trees to dig out birds’ nests, going down to the river to catch fish, and setting off firecrackers in the midden were things he did more than once.
A child who warmed parents’ hearts yet made their heads ache.
However, he always had a reason for his mischief.
For example, climbing the tree to dig out birds’ nests was because the mother bird wasn’t there. He had observed for a long time before he found out that only two baby birds with mouths open were chirping inside.
Their voices were growing weaker. If he didn’t think of a way to rescue them, they’d die.
So, he climbed up the tree and took the nest out.
In the end, the two baby birds couldn’t be kept alive.
Going down to the river to catch fish happened after Zhang Qiao Zhen mentioned wanting to eat some shrimp from the river. The kid went to the river on his way home from school and brought back more than a pound of shrimp for his mom.
Setting off the firecrackers in the midden happened after he had a spat with a partner. He didn’t win the argument, and the more he thought about it afterward, the angrier he got.
Then, impulsively, he ran to his partner’s backyard to blow up the midden.
As for this time...
"Why did he cut up your yarn ball and Old Wei’s clothes and pants?"
Yi Chichi felt there must be a reason, so she asked.
Zhang Qiao Zhen was caught off guard, "I don’t know. I came home from work to find the place looked like it had been ransacked and was a complete mess."
Speaking of which, she looked at the two, "By the way, have you seen my Qiangzi?"
"No."
They had just returned home; how could they have seen Qiangzi?
Zhang Qiao Zhen tightened her grip on the broom, "Alright then, you go about your business; I’ll find him first."
Today was Wednesday, and the local school’s schedule was half-day on Wednesday, full-day on Saturday, and closed on Sunday.
Judging by the time, there’s no doubt Wei Qiang should be after school.
As for whether he’s still in the residential area, it’s hard to say.
But some advice still needed to be given.
"When you find him, no need to rush to a beating; first ask why."
In case the child had a valid reason.
Zhang Qiao Zhen twitched her mouth, "I will."
If he could be convinced, the beating could be avoided; if not, his behind would blossom.
"I think Wei Qiang won’t escape today’s beating."
Watching Zhang Qiao Zhen’s briskly departing back, Ji Jian spoke with a hint of laughter.
Yi Chichi glanced at her, "I sense you’re enjoying this chaos."
Ji Jian burst into laughter, "You think our fun is nothing other than the end of a busy day watching which kid misbehaves, angers their parents, and then gets spanked."
This fun had a bit of sick pleasure to it.
But it sure was lively.
Current parenting ideas differ greatly from those of the future, and it’s quite common to hit kids.
Yi Chichi didn’t comment on it—she didn’t intend to change or challenge existing notions with her own efforts.
She wasn’t capable of that.
So she chuckled, "When you spank your kids, Madam Lei and the others watch with the same mindset as yours now."
Ji Jian didn’t care, "It’s fine, let them watch, some kids just get into trouble when not watched."
That was indeed the truth.
Kids nowadays were so free, parents didn’t know what they were up to outside.
Yi Chichi had nothing to say.
In the evening, Wei Qiang’s wailing cries echoed through the skies. Just as Wen Shi was ready to eat, hearing this pig-like wailing made him pause in bewilderment.
"Honey, why does this sound like the Zhou Family’s little Wei?"
Yi Chichi picked up a shrimp and stuffed it in his mouth, "You heard right; it’s him."
He chewed and swallowed the shrimp, took another mouthful of rice, and then had the mood to inquire about what was going on.
"Madam Wei said the young Wei cut up her yarn ball and Old Wei’s clothes and pants."
Wen Shi was silent for two seconds, then sighed, "He deserves a spanking."
Of all things to do, why cut up clothes?
Cutting other clothes would be fine; just hope this absent-minded kid didn’t cut up his dad’s military uniform.
Turns out, what you fear comes true.
Less than half an hour after finishing his meal, Old Wei charged in like he was on fire with the clothes, blurting out, "Sis, could you check if my clothes can be salvaged?"
Before his voice even faded, he hopefully handed over the clothes.
"Let me take a look."
It wasn’t a big deal, given Old Wei had a good relationship with Wen Shi; Yi Chichi had no reason to refuse.
She took the clothes and pants and examined them thoroughly, realizing Wei Qiang had truly earned his bamboo shoot stir-fry punishment.
The kid not only cut up the clothes and pants, but he selected particularly clever spots to do so.
The pants were missing a patch on the rear end.
The shirt had the chest area cut, including the pocket.
The head was filled with black lines as she asked, "Where’s the fabric cut out?"
"Made into a doll!"
Old Wei said with a look of distress, "Qiangzi found some reeds himself and made a mini doll for the little girl from the Zhou Family with the cut fabric."
Yi Chichi blurted out, "Used the yarn as hair?"
"Yep."
He replied despondently, one ill-shaped, strange little doll with green clothes and a blue-haired weird head.
Wen Shi laughed heartily, "Good boy, Wei’s already learning how to please girls!"
Old Wei gave him a resentful eye roll, "Is this the time to laugh?"
Yi Chichi couldn’t help but chuckle, "It can be fixed, provided the missing fabric is recovered."
If not, replacing the fabric with something else at such a prominent spot with a patch would make Old Wei the brightest star in the crowd, drawing all his buddies’ attention.
"Does it have to be the original fabric?"
Old Wei was somewhat troubled; his kid had already gifted the doll, and as a parent, taking it back felt wrong.
Yi Chichi unfolded the clothes and pants to show him, "If you can accept anyone’s first glance being attracted to your clothes, I’m fine with it."
Wen Shi had a sharp tongue.
At this, he chimed in, "Really patch it with other colors, Old Wei trust me, you will capture everyone’s attention just like a shining light bulb."
Old Wei felt his teeth ache, losing the mood to retort, held onto his cheek, staring at the clothes and pants in a daze.
After a long pause, he suddenly grabbed Wen Shi’s arm, "Come with me."
"I’m not going."
Wen Shi instantly knew this guy wanted him to be the bad guy and fetch the doll fabric, refusing promptly.
Yet it was of no use, for Old Wei’s eyes turned red, "You..."
"I’ll go!"
Wen Shi was startled into a shiver, this guy liked to cry, but he was no good at comforting men.
"Alright alright, let’s hurry there and back."
Dragging him away like a dead pig, Yi Chichi stared bewilderedly as they ran like fleeing ghosts, wondering if she had seen a hallucination, otherwise how could she have seen Old Wei’s eyes red?
She hadn’t heard of him being a crybaby before?!
Such a burly man, full-faced with whiskers looking tearful like blooming pear blossoms...
Whoa, even imagining that scene sends shivers down the spine!
