Sweet Nostalgia of the 80s

”I’m going to reason with him! This is just too unreasonable, bullying people like this! What did our family do to offend her? Treats us so harshly!” He Mu shouted angrily.

”He Mu, don’t go! If you go now, it’ll just be a fight!” Liang Xiuzhu hastily stopped him.

”What’s wrong with fighting? Can’t let her bully mom!” He Yue supported her brother’s decision.

”Don’t go! He Mu!” Ning Chenguang blocked He Mu, ”We’ve got a good hand, we can beat her easily, don’t go looking for a fight.”

”Beat her? How?” He Mu looked at Ning Chenguang baffled.

Ning Chenguang winked at him, signaling him to be patient.

The He siblings held onto their curiosity, and after dinner, they couldn’t help but gather around Ning Chenguang.

”Guangguang, now you should tell us, what ’good hand’ are you talking about?”

Ning Chenguang pointed to the yard next door and said, ”Do nothing, just listen for noises.”

Although the siblings didn’t know what Ning was up to, they listened as he said.

They kept listening for noises, and there was nothing coming from the yard next door.

Finally, around ten o’clock, they heard someone leaving the house next door.

”Let’s go! Follow her.” Ning Chenguang said.

So, on the dark path, several shadows headed towards Zhao Ergou’s house.

Liu Qiaoqiao was in the front, and the He siblings and Ning Chenguang were behind.

Though Liu Qiaoqiao was very cautious along the way, she never noticed the people following her.

Once at Zhao Ergou’s house, she knocked on the door, and someone opened it.

As soon as she entered, Zhao Ergou’s rancid smell of rotten eggs nearly knocked Liu Qiaoqiao off her feet.

”Did you fall into a manure pit? Why are you so smelly?” Liu Qiaoqiao pinched her nose and frowned.

”Don’t mention it! I got tricked by a bunch of brats this afternoon!” Zhao Ergou said indignantly.

He recounted the afternoon’s events to Liu Qiaoqiao, which made her laugh until tears came out.

”You’re such a fool! I’m impressed, an adult getting played by kids in circles! Look at you!” Liu Qiaoqiao laughed enough, then pointed at his nose and scolded.

”I did it for you, but you don’t care, and you’re gloating!” Zhao Ergou was quite annoyed.

He was still angry, the rancid egg smell lingered stubbornly.

He had used soap and water to wash many times, but the smell still got in his nose.

”Alright, I know you tried your best, learn from this failure. Try for another opportunity next time.” Liu Qiaoqiao saw Zhao Ergou was really angry, and decided not to provoke him further.

”What opportunity are you talking about? The kids already know what I intend to do!” Zhao Ergou said.

”You’re not backing out now, are you?” Liu Qiaoqiao caught the underlying meaning.

Zhao Ergou said nothing.

At this moment, Liu Qiaoqiao took fifty yuan out of her pocket and placed it on Zhao Ergou’s table, ”This is for you to buy some snacks, since you got hurt, can’t let you suffer. But...”

”Last time, okay?” Zhao Ergou, eyes brightened at the sight of money, said.

”Alright, I was waiting for you to say that. Taking care of a kid is easy, just pay more attention next time! As long as the kid can walk, I’ll give you another two hundred yuan.” Liu Qiaoqiao tempted him with money.