Sweet Nostalgia of the 80s

Chapter 1131: Chapter 1131: Telling Lies with Eyes Wide Open

Qin Fen knew his misdeeds had been exposed, so he hung his head and hurriedly apologized to Qin Jian, ”I’m sorry, brother! I was bewitched, our family isn’t just short on money, we’re desperately in need. My medical expenses require money, and mom and dad are constantly dipping into their savings. We can’t even afford to have vegetables with our meals...”

”Making up stories! Keep making them up!” An Ping could no longer stand listening and lunged at Qin Fen, and the two of them scuffled once again.

”Stop it, all of you!” Qin Jian barked.

The fight today with An Ting was evenly matched, neither wanting to stop first, leading Qin Jian to step in. He grabbed an arm of each and twisted them backward.

Suddenly, both of them let out a wail.

”Let go, brother! It hurts like hell!”

”It hurts, hurts, hurts! Are you still my brother-in-law? Why are you so heavy-handed?”

”From now on, I will ask a question, and you both will answer. If there’s any more fighting, I won’t be nice,” Qin Jian said with a frown and a menacing face as he watched the two.

”Okay,” Qin Fen and An Ping replied in unison.

”Qin Fen, tell me, what’s the deal with the vegetables?” Qin Jian asked.

”Because our family is running short on money...”

Qin Fen hadn’t even finished his sentence when An Ping angrily interrupted him, ”Don’t speak! All you do is lie! Brother-in-law, let me tell you! He took the vegetables out, but on the way, he took a detour into an unknown alley. He sold most of the fresh, good-quality vegetables at a low price to someone and bought their rotten ones at an even lower price to mix in with ours! Then he exchanged some vegetables for money at the military base.”

Qin Jian’s infuriated glare fell upon Qin Fen, and seeing his downcast silence, he was certain that what An Ping said was true.

The warriors at the base tolerated the occasional spoiled or un-fresh produce from his baskets because they respected him as the chief of staff, and they chose not to complain.

It was this one incident of mass diarrhea that made the warriors unable to endure any longer.

Overnight, complaints were abundant!

”You, come here!” Qin Jian gestured to Qin Fen with his finger.

Qin Fen looked up at Qin Jian’s dark eyes, hesitant to step forward: ”Brother, you’re not going to hit me, are you?”

”Say it again! I told you to come here,” Qin Jian repeated sternly.

”Then just go!” An Ping angrily pushed him from behind.

That very moment, Qin Fen lurched towards Qin Jian.

Before he could steady himself, his face was struck by a heavy punch.

It was the left cheek before, now it was the right.

One for one, now balanced.

”Brother!” Qin Fen covered his face, tears in his eyes as he looked at Qin Jian, but he didn’t dare to say anything more.

It was rare to see anger on his brother’s face; the angrier he got, the less expression he showed. You could only tell through his eyes.

”Do you know why I hit you?” Qin Jian said icily as he looked at Qin Fen, ”You lost your conscience! By doing this, you jeopardized the health of our soldiers and ruined the An family’s garden’s reputation, as well as lost a substantial amount of business!”

”I... I won’t dare to do it ever again,” Qin Fen said softly, covering his face, ”Brother, I was wrong!”

”A gentleman earns his money in a just way! Everyone needs money, but the money you make by harming others, especially those who have helped you, is heartless and shameless,” Qin Jian said, every word striking Qin Fen’s heart.

Shamed, he could not lift his head, his face flushing red.

From when he was old enough to remember to now, his older brother had always been reserved and quiet, but in critical times, he would always step forward to shoulder everything for him.