“Say that again!” Shen Meixiu, seeing his lack of fear, was furious. Her face flushed red as she pointed at his nose, “I’m asking you, say it again if you dare!”
Ye Ziyu had always taught them that no matter who it was, if the other party provoked and bullied them first, they should retaliate without politeness. They were not to initiate trouble, nor were they to endure being bullied.
Xiao Ran kicked the stool that had fallen by his feet, and with a fierce glare, he approached her, “You’re going too far. You take your unhappiness out on us. You bad person!”
Slap!
Blood rushed to her temples. Without thinking, Shen Meixiu raised her hand and slapped Xiao Ran across his fierce face.
The force rebounded, numbing her palm. Xiao Ran, standing before her, fared no better. Half his face swelled up, marked with four angry red finger imprints.
Xiao Ran was stunned, unable to react for a long time.
“How could you hit someone!” Yu Ze stepped forward to defend Xiao Ran.
Normally, even when they misbehaved, Ye Ziyu would never slap them. Moreover, it wasn't their fault this time; she was the one who started it.
Shen Meixiu rubbed her stinging hand. “I am disciplining you on behalf of your parents. Even if Ye Ziyu stood before me and disrespected me like this, I would still slap her. What more you children.”
Fearing Shen Meixiu might strike again, Yu Ze quickly stepped forward, blocking Xiao Ran.
“All of you remember this, I am the mistress of this house. If you defy me again, argue with me, I’ll make sure to teach you a lesson.” Shen Meixiu pointed at them, warning them fiercely.
With a loud bang at the living room entrance, Di Mingjue’s brows furrowed into a deep crease as he walked over angrily. “Then tell me how you’ll teach me a lesson?”
Shen Meixiu, thinking it was one of the children speaking again, was about to reprimand them. When she realized it was Di Mingjue, her entire face turned ashen.
“Why aren’t you talking? You were quite capable of speaking to the children?” Di Mingjue pressed forward.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, he had heard Shen Meixiu scolding the children inside, her words treating them like criminals, filled with personal humiliation, threats, and inducements.
Those unaware would have thought the children had committed some heinous crime to warrant such impolite treatment of minors.
Facing Di Mingjue, Shen Meixiu became a stutterer. Her once imperious mouth now stumbled, unable to utter a coherent sentence.
“Did you hit his face?” Di Mingjue finally noticed Xiao Ran’s swollen face.
He himself had never laid a hand on him, yet she, an outsider, had managed to swell half his face.
Shen Meixiu retreated a step fearfully, swallowing and attempting to defend herself. “The reason these children disrespect me is clearly due to you parents. This slap is me teaching them, along with your discipline, how to respect elders and love the young.”
“Respect elders?” Di Mingjue sneered. “Does an elder who constantly threatens and resorts to violence deserve respect? Conversely, have you shown love to these young, vulnerable children? If not, then what right do you have to demand anything from them?”
No matter how one looked at it, Shen Meixiu was in the wrong. The more she explained, the more awkward her situation became.
Di Mingjue looked at the children, their faces etched with grievance, and felt a surge of relief that he had returned. If he hadn't witnessed it himself, how would he have known that Shen Meixiu would torment them in his absence?
“I am not returning this slap you delivered, but that does not mean this matter is over.” Di Mingjue turned to the children and said, “Go and pack your clothes.”