Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 47: Chapter 47: These Mushrooms, They’re Poisonous

”Thank you, thank you. I’ll leave this matter concerning Qianqian to Officer Zhang.” Luo’s Mom, accompanied by her three children, left home and headed straight for the police station. When they arrived, only Luo’s Mom entered the station. The three children refused to step inside, so Luo’s Mom had to go in alone to inquire.

”No worries, orders have come from above, I dare not refuse, right? It just so happens that Grandpa’s place is quite safe, and it’s convenient for me to question the children and such.” Zhang Ye said with a smile, shaking his hand, and handed the freshly written address to Luo’s Mom: ”Just follow this address. It’s not far. I will call Grandpa in a bit, and he should come to meet you at the door.”

”Alright then, thank you, Officer Zhang. If there’s anything, I hope you can tell me. The kids have also been quite frightened recently.” Luo’s Mom took the note, her expression filled with worry as she thought about her daughter’s indifferent demeanor.

”I understand, please rest assured. You should go now, don’t be late for work. I’ll be off duty soon too,” Zhang Ye said, glancing at his watch and covering his mouth with a hand as he yawned.

”Alright, thank you for your help.” Luo’s Mom, clutching the small note, walked out of the police station, leading the three children away.

”Vice Director, I won’t interfere with the remaining matters. I’m heading home to sleep.” Zhang Ye watched Luo’s Mom walk away and spoke to the Vice Director, who had been standing behind the screen.

”You’re just lucky, aren’t you? Alright, scram.” The Vice Director, deep in thought about the call from the ’Black-faced Evil God,’ felt a pang of fear. He had been dealing with something for three years, and with just one phone call, someone could send people down for an investigation. Connections between officials were useless, especially when the other person had a stronger backing:

”Old Li, make every effort to meet their demands. I’ll also cooperate from my side. Get it done quickly. I fear if they get idle, they might wander off again.”

”Yes, yes, but about the higher-ups...”

”I’m sending someone down tomorrow, and it must be resolved by tomorrow!”

”Yes, I guarantee the task will be completed.”

The Vice Director shook his head, dismissing the fresh directives in his mind. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry—three years of feigned compliance were less effective than a potent person’s single command. He laughed that such opportunistic, profit-driven people finally faced downfall.

”Mom, I just remembered, we didn’t unplug the power at home.” We could go some other day, or just let brother go alone. Luo Qianqian saw the neighborhood getting closer and frowned more tightly. Her eyes rolled around, thinking of a solution, but the more nervous she became, the less she could think of one.

”It’s okay, no need to make excuses. It’s safer at Officer Zhang’s grandpa’s place, and Mom can be more at ease,” Luo’s Mom said as she looked at her reluctant daughter, grabbing her small hand and half-dragging her along: ”What if you earn Grandpa Zhang’s praise? Mommy might even reward you.”

Mom, I’m not really a five-year-old child, and earning rewards through studying isn’t my style: ”Mom, if I get praised and brother Xiao Yu can vouch for it, maybe next time I can skip going.”

”Skip just because of one time? That won’t do,” Luo’s Mom responded without hesitation, then seeing her daughter’s sullen face, she softened: ”One time won’t do, how about five... four... at least three times, and no less. If you get praised three times in a row, you can have a day to play at home by yourself. And remember, one criticism is equal to losing two praises.”

”Three times, huh? Okay... Can it be done in one day?” Luo Qianqian bargained coyly, while Shufan held his forehead, shaking his head, and He Wenyu, sucking on the lollipop his father bought, happily watched the drama unfold.

”Luo Qianqian, don’t push it too far, or do you want to be tied up and brought here every day?” Luo’s Mom glared, exhausted by the recent events—fights leading to police stations, fainting in hospitals, kidnappings. She didn’t want to control her little tyrants too much. Laissez-faire upbringing usually worked fine; they learned well enough. But too much freedom had led to all these troubles.

”Alright, alright, I get it. That red... monster... over there... could it be...” Luo Qianqian looked towards the entrance of the neighborhood, which attracted a crowd of children, and immediately wanted to turn back home. What oddities had she come across this time?

”Wow, isn’t that from the Aotu World?” Luo Shufan’s eyes immediately widened as he stared intently.

Hey, Luo Shufan, no matter how mature you pretend to be, you’re just a ten-year-old kid. I’ve been reborn, so I won’t be easily charmed. Considering psychological age, you should be calling me sister. At least I’m not that childish to still like those kinds of dolls.

”...” Luo Qianqian hadn’t finished her internal rant when she saw He Wenyu excitedly run towards the little monster, followed by Luo Shufan after receiving a permitting glance from Luo’s mom.

”Qianqian, aren’t you going?” Luo’s mom asked, unable to resist teasing the girl who wore a look of disdain.

Luo Qianqian glanced at the red little monster and then at Luo’s mom, lazily saying, ”Mom, if that little monster were Grandpa Zhang, would you still tease me so happily?”

”What are you talking about, child? How could Elder Zhang possibly...” Luo’s mom’s words were abruptly swallowed as the red little monster waved at her.

”What could possibly what?” Luo Qianqian asked, smiling and tilting her head back to enjoy Luo’s mom’s expression through squinted eyes.

”...” Luo’s mom, maintaining a twitching smile, approached Elder Zhang: ”Elder Zhang, why are you dressed so... festively? I’m really sorry to trouble you to come out and greet us.”

”Oh, it’s just for the kids. I won the costume in a raffle a few days ago in the evening news, and I thought I’d show it to them for some fun,” said Elder Zhang as he took off the little monster’s head and casually handed it to He Wenyu, who had been playing with the tail of his outfit, ”Seeing the kids happy makes it worth wearing it despite the embarrassment.”

”......” You really realized it’s embarrassing? Luo Qianqian silently remarked to herself.

”I’ll leave the kids with you then. You can decide what the tuition and fees should be and just tell them. I’ll bring it when I drop off the kids tomorrow,” Luo’s mom said as she placed her daughter’s hand in her son’s: ”Take good care of your sister.”

”Go on to work, I’ll take the kids home,” Elder Zhang waved off, not particularly concerned about the tuition issue.

”Grandpa Zhang, you should put the head back on, don’t ruin the children’s beautiful childhood,” Luo Qianqian remarked, glancing at the children, who had gathered and were whispering since Elder Zhang took off the headgear, including her brother with his mouth agape, unable to accept the reality.

Elder Zhang turned to glance at the children and then at the monster’s head, tightly held by He Wenyu, and said, ”It’s boiling hot. If it weren’t to scare you, I wouldn’t want to wear it. I didn’t even walk the dog because of it, and now that it’s off, I sure don’t want to put it back on.”

August is the summer vacation, and the sun during the dog days isn’t joking— even though it’s morning, people are already sitting under the trees with small stools, enjoying the cool shade while playing chess.

”Grandpa Zhang, may I wear it?” He Wenyu asked, clutching the monster’s head excitedly, his excitement bringing a flush to his cheeks.

”Wear it...”

What does it feel like for a tiny body to support a giant headgear? A matchstick? No, no, no, the body isn’t that long... It’s more like a mushroom. The really skinny-legged type. Since the headgear is red, imagine a little red mushroom. Red? A poisonous little mushroom.

He Wenyu, you’re a poisonous little mushroom.