Chapter 12: A Family Confrontation

“What do you think you’re doing, Baogen!” Chen Guoliang roared, grabbing the boy by the scruff of his neck and pulling him away. He then helped Xiang Chen to his feet.

Xiang Chen brushed the dust from his hands, a small frown creasing his brow as he remained silent. His hands had instinctively shot out to brace himself, saving him from a full impact fall.

Any other unsuspecting child would have likely knocked out a tooth from such a shove.

“Get out!” After Chen Guoliang had pulled him aside, Chen Baogen watched him help Xiang Chen up. Immediately, he charged forward like a small cannonball, roaring at Xiang Chen.

Chen Guoliang frowned, intercepting Chen Baogen as he tried to shove Xiang Chen again. “What do you think you’re doing? Stand still!”

Unable to reach Xiang Chen, Chen Baogen seemed to fly into a rage. He kicked and punched Chen Guoliang indiscriminately, spewing crude, vulgar village slang that was truly unbearable to hear.

Xiang Chen’s brows furrowed incessantly as he listened. His upbringing had never exposed him to such crudeness; even his stepmother had always maintained a gentle demeanor in front of his father.

While other boys around him might occasionally swear, none had ever gone so far as Chen Baogen, who openly cursed Chen Guoliang’s female relatives with such vulgarity. Coming from a child barely ten years old, it was particularly jarring.

Chen Guoliang’s face flushed crimson with anger. If Xiang Chen found such vile words unbearable, then he, as the direct recipient, certainly could not tolerate them.

Moreover, the one hurling the insults was his own nephew. How could he possibly endure such disrespect from a younger generation?

Chen Guoliang roared several times, his hand rising to strike, but Chen Baogen remained completely unfazed. As the youngest grandson in the family, he had always been indulged.

Originally, Chen Guocai and his wife, Pangli, had intended to adopt Chen Baogen out to Chen Guoliang. Of course, it wasn’t out of genuine pity for Chen Guoliang lacking a son while they had many.

Rather, it was because Chen Guoliang was the most successful member of the family – a city worker whose father-in-law was also a cadre. He was rich!

From the moment this idea took root, they began to subtly influence Old Lady Chen, softening her stance. Simultaneously, they indoctrinated Chen Baogen, telling him that once he moved to his Fourth Uncle’s house, he must never forget his parents.

He was to report all the delicious food he ate and bring any good items home for his parents to keep.

Naturally, they also painted a vivid picture of all the tasty treats and fun things to be found at his Fourth Uncle’s home, successfully convincing Chen Baogen that becoming Chen Guoliang’s son was his heart’s desire.

Later, when Cai Zhen failed to bear a son, Old Lady Chen arrived at their doorstep with Chen Baogen, effectively forcing their hand. Chen Guoliang and Cai Zhen had no recourse but to keep him.

On Chen Baogen’s very first day, he beat Chen Fang and stole Chen Fen’s food. Anything valuable he found, he promptly stuffed into a small pocket his mother had specially sewn for him, a clear testament to his “excellent” upbringing at home.

How could Chen Guoliang and his wife endure such greedy behavior? Chen Guoliang certainly yearned for a son and had considered adopting one of his brother’s children.

However, he was not naive. This child had already been corrupted to such an extent; to keep him would simply be inviting endless trouble.

It was only later, when Cai Zhen became pregnant, that they finally had a valid reason to send Chen Baogen back to the village.

Though Chen Guocai and his wife were upset, they weren’t in the least bit anxious. Both were convinced that Chen Guoliang was destined to be childless.

With such a good job, he couldn’t possibly have everything go his way; it would be far too unfair of heaven otherwise.

Both of them were certain that Cai Zhen would never bear a son, and eventually, Chen Guoliang would have no choice but to adopt their Baogen.

Sending him back now was no concern; they could even use the time to give him more “lessons,” ensuring the child wouldn’t forget what he’d been taught, even if he was young.

For these past few years, despite living in the village, Chen Baogen had always considered himself Chen Guoliang’s son.

When playing with his village friends, he would boast that his father was a city dweller, and that he, too, would one day work in the city, eat white steamed buns, and consume cornmeal every day.

Then, Old Lady Chen announced she was visiting her youngest daughter, Chen Hongying, in the neighboring Wangjiawa.

Upon her return, however, she declared that her Fourth Son now had a son—a city child, intelligent, handsome, and destined for greatness.

It was a bolt from the blue! Chen Guocai and his wife simply couldn’t believe it. Hadn’t his Fourth Brother been unable to have sons? How could he suddenly have one now?

Old Lady Chen felt there was nothing to hide from her own family, but she wasn’t so foolish as to admit to buying a child. Instead, she claimed that a family unable to raise the boy had given him to them.

Chen Guocai grew agitated, arguing with Old Lady Chen. He insisted that if an adoption were to happen, it should be within their own family, questioning the legitimacy of adopting someone with no blood relation.

He even threatened to take Chen Baogen to the city to confront Chen Guoliang, demanding he send the other child back and keep Chen Baogen instead.

Old Lady Chen’s eyes widened, and her face hardened, immediately intimidating Chen Guocai. “You are not to go,” she declared. “The child’s household registration has already been completed. This matter is settled.”

Who was Old Lady Chen, after all? A woman who had raised six children, she certainly had a shrewd mind and her own calculations.

She had witnessed all the foolish acts committed by Chen Guocai and his wife. Her initial agreement to the adoption had been based on the belief that the child was still young and could be guided back onto the right path with proper teaching.

However, ever since Chen Guoliang sent Chen Baogen back, and as Chen Baogen grew older, Old Lady Chen had long dismissed the thought of Chen Guoliang adopting him.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have asked her youngest daughter, Chen Hongying, to help her search for a child, specifically requesting one with no attachments to purchase.

Yet, Chen Guocai and his wife remained completely oblivious to Old Lady Chen’s true intentions.

For years, they had indulged in the beautiful dream of Chen Baogen bringing them to the city to enjoy a life of ease, even calculating countless times how many corn cakes they would eat per meal.

To now tell them to abandon their dreams, that there was no hope for this matter, how could Chen Guocai and his wife possibly accept it?

Old Lady Chen had forbidden Chen Guocai from going into the city to confront Chen Guoliang. Chen Guocai did attempt to sneak off once, but Chen Guomin intercepted him halfway, bringing him back.

After a thorough dressing-down from Old Lady Chen, he finally quieted down.

Once inside his own room, however, Chen Guocai naturally needed to vent his frustrations. Pangli, empathizing with his feelings, joined him.

Together, they hurled insults at Chen Guoliang and his wife, and at the child who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, spewing every vile and foul word they could conjure.

Chen Baogen, being young, hadn’t initially understood what was happening and was still playing innocently.

Pangli, however, snatched him up and burst into tears, wailing that all his things had been stolen and his parents no longer wanted him. Chen Baogen was utterly bewildered by her words.

Only then did he grasp the gravity of the situation. No more delicious food? No chance to go to the city? How could he possibly tolerate that?!

Thus, the moment Chen Guoliang entered the village today, Chen Baogen sprinted home, only to overhear neighbors at the entrance discussing how Chen Guoliang had returned with his son, praising the child’s handsome appearance and so forth.

The instant Chen Baogen stepped through the door, he spotted a small figure in fine clothes standing by his grandma’s entrance.

A surge of fury ignited within him. Without a word, he charged forward and shoved Xiang Chen. Had Chen Guoliang not reacted so swiftly, Chen Baogen would undoubtedly have followed up with two more kicks.

“What is all this commotion about?” Old Lady Chen emerged, holding a bowl. Seeing the chaotic scene in the main hall, she barked out a question with a stern expression.

Upon seeing Old Lady Chen, Chen Guoliang, though still seething, knew it wouldn’t be right to chastise his nephew in front of his mother. He swallowed his anger, intending to let the matter drop.

Cai Zhen had been observing the entire time. She hadn’t reacted when Xiang Chen nearly got beaten, nor had she moved when Chen Guoliang was about to discipline Chen Baogen.

Now, seeing Chen Guoliang trying to calm things down, she refused to stand by.

She disliked both troublesome children equally, so she didn’t care if they fought.

However, she had seen Chen Baogen kicking Chen Guoliang moments ago, and she thought it would be excellent if that obnoxious braggart finally got a thorough beating.

So, Cai Zhen stepped in front of Chen Guoliang and tearfully complained to Old Lady Chen. “Mother, you wouldn’t believe it,” she began, “Baogen came in and immediately hit our Dabao. Guoliang tried to stop him—just look at how he was kicked! And he even hurled insults! Let me show you.”

As she spoke, Cai Zhen launched into a vivid, word-for-word imitation of Chen Baogen’s recent tirade. Had she possessed such an impressive skill during her school days, she might not have failed the junior high entrance exams.

Cai Zhen was getting carried away with her performance, but those listening were far from amused. After all, Chen Baogen’s earlier insults had included Chen Guoliang’s female relatives, which naturally encompassed Old Lady Chen herself.

“Stop talking!” Seeing Old Lady Chen’s face darken further, Chen Guoliang quickly intervened, holding Cai Zhen back. ‘This foolish wife,’ he thought, ‘if Chen Baogen shouldn’t say such things, why are *you* repeating them? Keep going, and Mother will end up resenting you as well.’

Cai Zhen caught Chen Guoliang’s warning glance and immediately understood. She quickly stopped, stammering, “Mother, I was just angry on your behalf…”

Old Lady Chen was far from foolish when dealing with her daughters-in-law. She knew perfectly well where Chen Baogen had learned such language, and she had ample opportunities to address it herself. Cai Zhen, too, harbored ill intentions; she was no good.

With a stern face, she let out a cold snort, completely ignoring Cai Zhen. Instead, she offered the bowl to Xiang Chen, a smile gracing her lips. “Dabao, come here,” she said, “see what delicious treats Grandma has for you?”

Inside the bowl lay several dried sweet potato slices and a small handful of fried soybeans—truly rare and prized snacks.

‘Who is Dabao?’ Xiang Chen mused silently. However, with food on offer, he flashed a wide grin at Old Lady Chen, happily reaching out to take the bowl.

“This is mine!” Chen Baogen, who had been momentarily intimidated by Old Lady Chen, exploded with fury upon seeing her hand the bowl to Xiang Chen. He lunged forward, intent on snatching it.

Xiang Chen quickly clutched the bowl to his chest, terrified his meager rations would be stolen. Of course, his small frame was no match for Chen Baogen.

Fortunately, a formidable presence stood beside him. Old Lady Chen let out a cold snort, which immediately froze Chen Baogen in his tracks, clearly demonstrating her considerable authority within the household.

Old Lady Chen, her face set, grabbed Chen Baogen and dragged him outside, evidently planning to deal with him. Before she exited, she even smiled at Xiang Chen, which left him a little flattered.

Seeing this, Chen Guoliang and Cai Zhen followed them out. Chen Guoliang wanted to assess the situation, while Cai Zhen was simply there for the spectacle, hoping Chen Baogen would receive a severe beating, which would bring her satisfaction.

Xiang Chen, however, had no interest in their affairs. He happily held the bowl and began to eat. The dried sweet potato slices tasted just as he remembered; they must have come from the same batch.

The soybeans were a bit hard, but chewing them slowly made them quite fragrant.

These were foods Xiang Chen would never have given a second glance to before, yet now they were a rare delicacy.

Having only drunk half a bowl of thin soup that morning, Xiang Chen’s stomach had been grumbling for a long time. Once he started eating, he couldn’t stop.

The filling, easier-to-chew sweet potato slices were finished first. When only a small handful of soybeans remained, Xiang Chen hesitated for a moment.

Then, seizing the chance while no one was paying attention, he clutched the small handful of soybeans tightly in his palm.

He wanted to take them back for Chen Xiaohua. He couldn’t hide the sweet potato slices; if he took them back, Chen Fen might snatch them. But these few soybeans could be secretly hidden and given to the little girl to taste.