In the evening, Mom brought back a box lunch. I knew it was Mom's lunch, and she hadn't eaten it, but had brought it back for me as my dinner. I was growing, so I had a large appetite and always felt hungry. Mom would save her portion to let me eat. She would eat a little of others' leftovers, enduring hunger to let me eat more.
Watching my tired mother busy in the kitchen, I gave her the half-eaten box lunch and told her to eat it.
Mom was simmering porridge. The money Mom earned in a month, after my father's expenses, was only enough to buy a bag of rice. The three of us lived on this bag of rice, eating a fixed portion every day.
Mom refused, telling me she would eat thin porridge that night, as too much would cause indigestion, and that I should finish my meal.
I knew Mom was lying to me, but since she wouldn't eat, I took it back to my room. Later, when the porridge was ready, I would eat some to make do, and get through the night.
I wanted to save this half box of rice for breakfast, so I wouldn't be hungry in the morning. Eating breakfast would give me energy, and I had important things to do tomorrow.
I heard my father cursing as he returned. I knew he had been drinking outside, and his return meant that Mom and I would suffer. Mom told me to quickly hide in the room and not come out. She wiped her hands on her apron and went to help my unsteady father.
My father was cursing obscenities and refused Mom's help, plopping down on the living room sofa. He even waved his hands and hit Mom.
My father hadn't always been like this. He used to be refined and gentle, kind to everyone. It was the incident of the false accusation that changed him.
That woman was a year ahead of me and was a troublemaker in my father's class, with a group of followers like Big Toad. They specialized in bullying. I don't know how my father offended her, but she bit him, and his life was ruined from then on.
The family was already poor, and Mom still had to come up with money for his expenses to buy him alcohol, which is why we couldn't even afford food.
Mom always said that Dad earned everything for the family and it was right for him to spend it, saying things would get better once Dad found a job, and they wouldn't be so miserable. BAfeng Novel
My father, labeled as a rapist, was not hired by any unit. He couldn't return to the education sector, and he couldn't do regular jobs. He found it demeaning to work as a laborer or a security guard, so he drifted, unable to secure a high-paying job or a low-level one.
He would spend a few dollars at a restaurant for half a jin of loose wine, getting himself drunk before returning home.
The next morning, I deliberately avoided Little Fatty. I showed myself only after he had entered the school gate. I knew Big Toad must be waiting for me. He had disciplined me yesterday, and he wanted to see if I had been subdued before he felt at ease.
There were few people at the school gate. I saw them emerge from behind a large tree nearby, looking around furtively. I knew they were looking for me.
I walked over and said to them, "Stop looking, your grandpa is here."
Big Toad: "Is it really you? Just as expected of a rapist's son. What, have you come to grovel to me?"
I said, "Yes, I apologize to you. But this is not the place to talk. Let's go to the woods behind the school. I'll apologize to you in person, and we'll be even from now on."
Big Toad and his four companions, while I was alone, were fearless and didn't worry about me causing trouble, so they said, "Okay, I'll let you go if you kneel and beg for mercy. I'll see if you dare to ruin my plans again."
I didn't wait for them and walked ahead, heading straight for the back of the school.
Behind the school was wasteland, overgrown with weeds and plants. No one came here, so no one would discover anything that happened.
Normally, I was the one being beaten, so they followed me easily, knowing that when we reached the place, I would be punished by them again.
I didn't look at them, just kept walking forward.
Reaching an open space behind the school, I deliberately slowed down to let Big Toad approach. Big Toad, unaware of my trick, came up wanting to grab my collar. I suddenly turned, pulled out my belt from my waist, and fiercely struck Big Toad's face, drawing a bloody mark instantly.
Big Toad didn't expect this move. In a fit of rage, he shouted at his subordinates, "Damn it, you're playing dirty! All of you, attack him, hold him down!"
Before he finished speaking, I swung my belt again, forcing him to double over. The others stared at me, looking like they were about to charge.
I said, "Whoever dares to come over, I'll kill them. All of you, back off!"
Perhaps intimidated by my fierceness, they froze and took a few steps back, staring at me. I swung my belt again, hitting Big Toad again and again, on his head, his face, his body, making him howl in pain and writhe on the ground.
I stepped on him and said, "Today's business isn't over. And you few others, I know where you live. As long as you keep following him and harming me, if you dare to go out alone, I'll kill you. Believe it or not?"
I even dared to hit Big Toad, so they could only nod. I pointed at them and said, "All of you, squat down. Watch what kind of trash your damned leader is. He hasn't even grown any hair yet and he's already learning to be a hoodlum. Do you know how hoodlums die?"
The few subordinates lowered their heads, not daring to speak. Big Toad was still moaning on the ground. I swung my belt at his body again, "Why are you still crying? Where did your fierceness go? Is it fun to bully people? In front of your damned subordinates, I'm telling you today, since I dared to make a move, I never intended to go back alive. Today, it's either you or me, either me or you. Get up, you damn thing, let's have a real fight, whoever dies is unlucky!"
After saying that, I threw away my belt, grabbed him by the collar, and pulled him up.
As the saying goes, the aggressive fear the tough, and the tough fear the desperate. If you don't fear death, what else is there to fear?
Big Toad was pulled up, glaring at me with bloodshot eyes. I said to him, "Come on, you make the first move. Don't say I bullied you later."
I knew Big Toad was suppressing a surge of anger. I had only gained the upper hand by surprise earlier. If we really fought, he wouldn't accept me.
I wasn't in a hurry and waited for him to make a move.
Big Toad spat out a mouthful of blood, suddenly rushed over, shouting, "I'll kill you!"
Seeing his fist coming, I didn't dodge. When his fist landed on my head, I struck his chest with a "Black Tiger Digs Heart" move. His fist immediately lost its power, and I knocked him back several steps before he could steady himself.
I said, "Didn't you want to kill me? Come on!"
I deliberately provoked him, wanting him to go berserk, which would make him lose his composure.
Big Toad had taken another "stealing heart" punch from me and was already enraged. He was always the one beating others, but now he had not only been hit with a belt but also outmatched in a physical fight. He couldn't possibly swallow this insult.
Big Toad was sturdier than me and definitely stronger. My ability to subdue him today relied entirely on sneak attacks and skill. In a head-on confrontation, I would still be at a disadvantage.
I was not afraid of him. I had gained the upper hand in this battle today. No matter how unconvinced he was, he had already lost. I just wanted him to lose completely.
Looking at his subordinates squatting there, obediently subdued, was proof enough.
Big Toad came at me wildly, looking like he wanted to fight to the death and devour me, but I paid him no mind, calmly waiting for his move.