Chapter 36: If you beat your brother, you can’t beat us.
Chapter 36
When [Ji Ruochu] and her father returned home bickering, by the time they reached the front door, their conversation had already moved on to whether they would have braised fish or sweet and sour fish for lunch. The atmosphere was warm and even the livestream comments went from laughter and joking at the beginning to sighs of envy.
【Haha, do this father and daughter even remember what they were just arguing about?】
【Ahhh, [Ruochu] is so clever! How can such a young child be so logical already? I really want to ask how [Ji's] parents educated their child.】
【I'm crying, he was so angry just now but didn't bear to scold his child loudly. When he ran into the yard, he dropped the ingredients in his hands and teleported 5 meters away hugging little [Ruochu].】
...
Of course, this warm moment did not last long, because in the next second, a large number of people flooded into the livestream room and the comments suddenly became lively.
【Huh? Why does this livestream look so peaceful? [Fan Jin] next door already got beaten twice.】
【That's right, even [Geng Zhenzhen] and [Mao Ziqing] were criticized and almost lost beans.】
【Before I came, I thought among the dad streamers, [Lin Yan]'s emotions were the most stable. He doesn't hit or scold, just has the child reflect on their mistakes facing the wall. How come this side looks like nothing happened? [Ji] really dotes on his daughter.】
【Two beatings? Isn't [Fan] being too harsh? I think one beating is enough, how did he get a buy one get one free?】
【...Is it possible that it's because not only did the child take his dad's lighter, but he also burned his sister's bangs? Even the pot they used to cook congee was taken.】
Viewers of [Ji] family's livestream: ...Oh right, I almost forgot about that.
So the pot that was burnt black earlier was taken by [Fan Jin] himself.
The other children also took bowls, chopsticks, spoons and other good things from their own homes.
In the end, the program team managed to persuade the little overlords to exchange the noodles for tissues and the rice for mud.
But even so, the tableware of the other families was still declared destroyed since the mud the children used to cook was dug from the water ditch at the door. The tableware obviously couldn't be used anymore.
Luckily, the director team had gone to buy a new set of tableware early on and gave the ones discarded today to the villagers to use for feeding livestock.
And so, just as the families were about to discipline their children again, the director team timely stepped in and announced a new segment.
"Considering the afternoon activities, the dads can cooperate to complete lunch today. The damaged tableware will be provided by the program team."
As for the location of the cooperation, [Ji]'s home was obviously the most suitable since they had zero losses, a full set of seasonings, and were close to the village chief's home.
Hearing this, the other families and babies all breathed a sigh of relief. It looked like they would be able to eat/avoid a beating this meal.
But [Ji]'s wish to show off his cooking skills to his daughter again still failed to be fulfilled. Even the position of head chef was taken by stay-at-home dad [Lin Yan].
The other dads consciously put on aprons to assist him.
Seeing their old fathers start working busily, the children who had just dodged a bullet immediately gathered together.
But unlike their frolicking in the morning, the few beans who had just made mistakes were a bit downcast.
The first order of business was crowding around [Ji Ruochu] and worrying about her missing bangs.
"I'm fine~" The little milk baby hugged a bottle of chilled milk tea and drank it boldly, while reassuring them, "It's even cooler now."
Hearing this, [Fan Jin] felt even more guilty. At first when he saw that [Ruochu] didn't cry and didn't think it was a big deal since it was just some hair.
But after his father taught him, he finally understood how dangerous this was.
Dad said if his hand had moved just a tiny bit forward, it might not have just been hair. [Ruochu]’s eyes could have been injured.
And if her eyes were injured, she might have gone blind and not been able to see anything.
Just thinking that pretty [Ruochu] almost became blind because of him made [Fan Jin] feel awful, even more than when his dad hit him.
Therefore, when he saw [Ji Ruochu] again, the little guy's eyes turned red again, making his little buddies think he had been punished too terribly.
"[Fan Jin], are you okay? Did Uncle [Fan] hit you very painfully?" [Mao Ziqing] lived near [Fan Jin]. Hearing him cry so sadly earlier led the little girl to also become frightened. Before [Mao Zhu] said a few words, her eyes were already red.
Painful? Of course it was painful, but he couldn't say that now. How embarrassing!
"I-I'm fine, it was nothing."
"Really?"
"Really, don't be fooled just because I was crying so loudly. I was acting."
"Acting?"
The beans were shocked and immediately surrounded him, full of curiosity. "You can act that?"
"Right, I learned it from my dad. He does this at home. If he upsets my mom, he'll deliberately pretend to be pitiful.
Like lowering his eyebrows like this and whining as he goes to my mom for comfort. Usually when he does this, my mom can't bear to stay angry at him. 100% success rate!"
When this was said, the children were shocked: You can do that?!
【For this round... I can only give the best actor a 6.】
【Haha, he just finished hitting his son and got exposed right after.】
【Dear me, stop talking. Quick, look back, your dad looks super pissed!】
Completely oblivious [Fan Jin] didn't know when to stop. He lifted his little head high and continued to share his experience with his buddies:
"So I'm telling you, if you make mistakes and get hit in the future, you must cry loudly. The louder the better. That way dad and mom won't bear to hit you too hard."
The children nodded, seeming to understand yet not understand. Their faces showed they had "learned" something, completely unaware that the better method was to not get hit at all.
"What are you all huddled together for? Come eat some egg drop soup."
Suddenly, [Fan Hongru]'s smiling voice sounded from behind the children.
"Ah!!"
The beans were startled and quickly covered their mouths while looking at each other. They couldn't help but think: Did Uncle [Fan] hear what they were saying?
[Fan Jin] stood frozen on the spot, his CPU nearly burnt out. It wasn't until his buddies were already eating deliciously that he carefully crept towards his father.
The whole process was extremely cautious. If the best actor [Fan]'s expression was off at all, he would definitely run away at lightning speed.
"Aren't you hungry?" [Fan Hongru] looked at his little monkey disdainfully, about to take away the egg drop soup in his hand. Only then did [Fan Jin] immediately run over.
His face was also full of the smile of one barely escaping death. [Ji Ruochu] couldn't even bear to watch. She only lowered her head to eat her half bowl of egg drop soup.
"Hungry, hungry, hungry!"
[Fan Jin] ran in front of his father, but as soon as he stretched out his hand, he was grabbed by the neck by the furious [Fan], whose expression was no longer so friendly.
"Cry loudly when getting hit?"
[Fan Jin]:!!!
Ahhhhhhh! So angry! He actually forgot again that his father is a superb actor!
"Since you have so much energy, looks like you're not hungry at all. Go with me to the convenience store to buy a bottle of soy sauce before eating."
It made him feel a bit guilty earlier after hitting his son, but who knew this brat was a roof-lifting troublemaker when left unchecked for a while!
Of course, even when disciplining a child he had to leave the boy some face and not make a scene in front of so many children.
Perhaps his expression was less than pleasant, as the children seemed somewhat worried for their little friend.
"Uncle, are you going to hit [Fan Jin] again?" Seeing [Fan Jin]'s "I'm dead" expression, [Mao Ziqing] timidly asked.
[Fan Hongru]: ...Indeed, three beatings in one day is a bit frequent.
"Uncle, don't be angry. We'll keep your secret and not tell anyone how you pretend to be pitiful in front of [Fan Jin]'s mom."
Best Actor [Fan]: Very good, even angrier now.
"Uncle, if, if you really have to hit my brother, can, can you hit him a little lighter?" Lin Xindi also spoke up for his little brother.
Hearing this, Fan Jin was already so moved that tears welled up in his eyes, and before he could say "You guys are all my good friends," he heard—
"Then uncle, after you finish hitting my brother, you can't hit us anymore, okay~"
!!
Fan Jin's tears instantly receded.
The three little beans who had spoken up for their good friend also looked at Fan Hongru in horror.
Oh my god! Does Uncle Fan also like hitting other people's children? How scary, wah wah wah wah......
Fan Hongru: Just another day of being misunderstood.