Chapter 32: Scumbag Dad Is Done For

Tongtong had tracked down Scumbag Dad’s whereabouts all the way from the trees.

She slipped silently into the storage room where Scumbag Dad and Shen Wei lived.

Tonight, Lin Zhiguo had failed to make a move on Yu Wanqin. Suppressing a bellyful of wicked fire, he took advantage of the cover of night when no one was paying attention, sneaked back to the storage room, and vented his frustrations fiercely on Shen Wei.

Now the two of them were sleeping soundly, naked and wrapped in each other’s arms.

Lin Jiaojiao and Lin Ruihu slept in another room.

Tongtong’s small figure moved like an agile kitten as she slipped into the living room with practiced ease.

Holding her breath, she sprinkled knockout powder into the room.

After waiting a while, she swaggered into the bedroom, pried open Scumbag Dad’s mouth, and fed him the medicine she had prepared herself.

Only after confirming that the old bastard had swallowed it did she feel at ease.

As she was leaving, she caught sight of the naked Shen Wei. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, and she drew a big turtle on Shen Wei’s buttocks before quietly slipping back to her own home and burrowing into her mother’s warm embrace.

Feeling her mother’s steady breathing, she nuzzled contentedly.

So good! In this lifetime, she would protect her mother!

…

The next day, when Lin Zhiguo woke up, he discovered that his little brother was completely unresponsive!

He was utterly dumbfounded.

Hadn’t he been full of vigor and vitality just last night?

Refusing to believe it, he pestered Shen Wei early in the morning for another round.

No good! Still no good!

Lin Zhiguo was stunned.

He didn’t dare look at Shen Wei’s expression, pulled up his pants, and hurried away.

He needed to find a doctor to take a look!

Shen Wei was also baffled. Lin Zhiguo had dragged her into it early in the morning but then didn’t follow through.

He had stirred up her fire but then did nothing, leaving her feeling restless and unbearably frustrated.

When she got up and looked at her buttocks,

there was a big, menacing turtle drawn on it. Her face turned green.

She hardly needed to guess—it must have been her mischievous son, Lin Ruihu, who did it!

Gnashing her teeth, Shen Wei stormed into the next room, dragged Lin Ruihu out, and gave him a beating.

Lin Ruihu cried bitterly.

What an unexpected disaster… He felt so pitiful.

Tomorrow he would run away from home!

…

In the blink of an eye, it was time for Yu Wanqin to report to Jingshi.

Early in the morning, Tongtong urged her to pack quickly, fussing over her like a little adult, telling her not to talk to strangers outside, to protect herself, to hide her money well…

She chattered on and on.

Truly worrying endlessly.

Yu Wanqin was both amused and exasperated, feeling less like a mother and more like a child being taken care of by Tongtong.

After everything was packed, she knelt down and carefully straightened Tongtong’s collar.

Her heart felt sore and swollen.

“Tongtong, Mom is going away to study for a month. Be good and play at Aunt Lan’s house, okay?”

She tucked a small stack of scattered money and grain coupons into the specially sewn little pouch she had made for her daughter.

Her heart was filled with sorrow and reluctance.

“Buy whatever you want to eat. If it’s not enough, ask Aunt Lan for more. Mom left money with her. And remember to eat well and sleep well, understand?”

Tongtong stood on her tiptoes and, imitating her mother, used her soft little hands to pat her mother’s head.

“Don’t worry, Mom! I will!”

“Mom, you have to eat well and sleep well too!”

“And study hard to become the best doctor! Tongtong will wait for you to come back!”

She was clearly reluctant too, her big, grape-like eyes brimming with tears.

But she still didn’t cry.

She couldn’t cry, or her mother would worry.

That little face, on the verge of tears yet holding back, was both sensible and heartbreaking.

Yu Wanqin hugged her daughter tightly, taking a deep breath to steady herself before letting go.

She brought Tongtong, along with the small bundle she had packed for her, to Political Commissar Chen’s home.

Liu Lan was already waiting at the door with a smile, scooping the little one into her arms.

“Sister Wanqin! Don’t worry about your studies! Leave Tongtong with me—I’ll make sure she’s plump and healthy!”

Tongtong obediently waved goodbye to her mother.

Yu Wanqin took one last, deep look at her daughter before turning away resolutely.

She would—she absolutely would—succeed in her studies and become a doctor her daughter could be proud of!

She wouldn’t let their hardships be in vain!

Tongtong watched her mother’s slender figure until it disappeared from sight, then turned around.

Buried in Liu Lan’s embrace, she began to cry softly.

She whimpered quietly, biting her little hand as tears streamed down her face.

Unlike her own rowdy son’s loud wails, this fragile display was utterly heart-wrenching.

Liu Lan’s heart ached terribly as she soothed and comforted the child.

Just as she had finally calmed Tongtong down, a thunderous cheer and the pounding of footsteps erupted from inside the house.

“Mom! Is Tongtong really coming to live with us?!” Chen An’an, sturdy and energetic, burst out like a little cannonball.

His eyes were wide with unconcealed delight.

An’an already adored the soft, gentle Tongtong, and with Aunt Yu having saved him once, he now regarded her as his own little sister.

“You silly boy! Be careful! Don’t go charging around and scare your sister!” Liu Lan rolled her eyes helplessly, exasperated by her own lively son.

“Hehe! I know, Mom!” An’an scratched his head sheepishly, his excited gaze repeatedly drifting toward Tongtong.

Next, a boy around ten years old ran out.

His face flushed with shy excitement—this was Liu Lan’s second son, Chen Kangkang.

He, too, was overjoyed to see the adorable, snow-like Tongtong.

Finally, the eldest son, Chen Pingping, emerged. At seventeen, he was already beginning to take on a more mature demeanor.

Pingping tried hard to maintain a serious expression, but the corners of his mouth betrayed him, curling upward uncontrollably.

He cleared his throat. “Mom, where will Tongtong sleep? Should I take the quilt out to air it so it’s softer for her tonight?”

“I’ll make sweet water for my sister!” Kangkang chimed in, not to be outdone.

An’an jumped up. “Don’t any of you try to beat me! I—I’ll catch bugs for my sister!”

Summer vacation had just begun.

With all three boys at home with nothing to do, they could spend plenty of time playing with their little sister!

Liu Lan watched her three silly sons with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

“Go on, all of you! Look at you—don’t scare Tongtong!”

“Pingping, tidy up your small study today so Tongtong can sleep there.”

“Kangkang, go fetch the new floral quilt I made!”

“An’an, you…” She paused abruptly, seeing her youngest son’s hopeful expression, and sighed, her face stiffening. “Put away your marbles and wooden guns so your sister doesn’t trip over them!”

This silly boy was a bit clueless—he could only handle simple tasks like that.

“Got it!”

The three boys answered in unison, their voices loud enough to lift the roof, then rushed back into the house like a whirlwind, creating a clatter of activity.

Never before had they been so diligent and united.

It made Liu Lan chuckle with delight.

Tongtong was even more embarrassed by this enthusiasm. Blinking her big eyes, she whispered softly, “Thank you, Pingping Gege, Kangkang Gege, An’an Gege.”

Her soft, sweet little voice rang out, and the three boys paused in unison.

Their silly grins grew even more obvious.

Chen An’an immediately leaned over, took his little sister’s soft hand, patted his chest, and declared heroically, “Don’t be afraid, Tongtong Meimei! From now on in the compound, I’ll protect you!”

How annoying! He actually managed to show off like that.

Chen Pingping and his brother exchanged a glance and spoke in unison, “And us too!”

Tongtong smiled until her eyes curved, nodding emphatically, “Mm-hmm~”

Si Muchen, who had just slowly walked to the political commissar’s doorstep, watched this irritating scene with his dark, inscrutable gaze.

His eyes were pitch-black, and his little expression was sour.

Why was the little girl calling others “gege” and smiling so sweetly at them!