Chen Li Shu came up from behind and didn't pay much attention to the three little heads huddled together whispering. She smiled and said, "Yan Chao, have you and your brothers finished your homework? If you have, you can come over to our place to watch TV."
The Wang brothers' eyes lit up. Their gaze fell on Rui Rui, and then they scratched their heads, saying in unison to Chen Li Shu, "Aunt Gu, we're not watching TV today. We'll help you with your chores."
"Help me with my chores?"
"Yes, Gu Rui said you..." Wang Yan Hui, being quick with his words, was about to speak when Rui Rui coughed to interrupt him.
Chen Li Shu took out her keys to open the door, and the things in her hands were taken by Rui Rui and the Wang brothers.
As soon as the door opened, the three children entered the house together, carrying the items. After putting them down, they came out and pulled Chen Li Shu to sit on a stool.
"Mom, you must be tired, so you should rest well. Leave any chores to us."
Looking at Rui Rui's serious expression, Chen Li Shu couldn't help but feel a warmth in her heart. She smiled and said, "My son has grown up. He knows how to care for his mother."
Although the children meant well, Chen Li Shu still refused their kindness. "There's nothing much to do around here. I'm already very grateful for your thoughtfulness. Go out and play."
Rui Rui was immediately a little disappointed. He was still too young to help his mother share her work.
Watching the children leave, Chen Li Shu sat on the stool for a while longer, then got up and started cleaning.
The three children left the house. Wang Yan Chao saw that Rui Rui was in low spirits and suggested again, "I think what my brother said is right. Why don't we buy Aunt Gu a bottle of canned fruit? Anyway, my brothers and I feel great after eating it. If my mom bought it for me, I'd be willing to get spanked."
Rui Rui was a little tempted. He hadn't eaten much bought canned fruit; Chen Li Shu always bought him fruit and stewed it for him. It was indeed sweet and sour, and he liked it very much.
"Why don't we go and take a look?"
Wang Yan Chao asked, "Gu Rui, do you have money?"
Rui Rui nodded. Chen Li Shu usually gave him pocket money, which he rarely spent. He had already saved over two yuan.
Soon, the three children walked towards the military service center.
"Auntie, I want to buy a bottle of canned fruit," Rui Rui said, looking at the canned fruit behind the counter.
"What flavor do you want? We have orange, yellow peach, and hawthorn."
"How much is a bottle?"
"Hawthorn is one yuan, the others are one yuan and five fen."
Hearing the price, Rui Rui secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He turned and asked the Wang brothers, "Which flavor is delicious?"
"Orange." "Hawthorn."
After the brothers finished speaking, they looked at the yellow peach canned fruit and licked their lips. "Gu Rui, we've only ever eaten orange and hawthorn flavored ones. We've never tried yellow peach."
Buying a bottle of canned fruit for one yuan was truly a luxury. Ever since they could remember, Zhao Gui Ying had only bought it for the brothers three times. Now, they couldn't remember the flavor, only that it was exceptionally delicious.
"Auntie, I'll buy a bottle of orange flavor." Chen Li Shu had bought him oranges before, and they tasted good, so Rui Rui decided to buy a bottle of orange canned fruit.
After paying and holding the canned fruit, the three children left the service center together. As they were walking home, someone suddenly called out to them from behind.
"Wang Yan Chao."
The three of them turned around. When Wang Yan Chao clearly saw who was calling him, his brow furrowed involuntarily. "Liu Bing, what is it?"
Liu Bing was a student in a higher grade than him, already in third grade this year. He usually relied on his tall and strong physique to associate with several other children and specialized in bullying younger students like them.
He usually extorted food or money. However, since they had a mutual friend, Liu Bing gave them some face and had never robbed him.
"Who is this little brother?" Liu Bing's gaze fell on Gu Rui as he asked.
Wang Yan Chao, with a twist of his thoughts, knew that Liu Bing had his eye on the canned fruit in Gu Rui's arms. So, he introduced, "This is my good buddy Gu Rui. He doesn't attend our military school."
Although he said this, Liu Bing didn't show any respect. He continued to look at Gu Rui and commanded, "Kid, hand over the canned fruit in your hand, and we'll let you go. Otherwise, you'll get a beating, and then you can leave after we take your things."
Gu Rui frowned but didn't speak. However, he held the canned fruit in his arms even tighter.
"Liu Bing, this canned fruit is for his mother. You can't have it."
"I don't care who it's for. I've been craving canned fruit lately. If you don't give it to me, you'll get beaten," Liu Bing said fiercely.
Another helper next to him echoed, "Hurry up and hand it over. If you really fight, you're no match for Brother Bing."
Wang Yan Chao immediately became a little anxious.
"Bai Er Pang is my good friend. We watch TV together. Don't you even give us that much face?"
In front of canned fruit, there were no friends.
Liu Bing took two steps forward, looking down at Gu Rui. "Kid, be sensible and obediently hand over the canned fruit."
As he spoke, he reached out to snatch it from Gu Rui's arms. Gu Rui held on to the canned fruit tightly, refusing to give it to him. However, there was a three- to four-year age difference between them, and their strength was vastly different. Just as the canned fruit was about to slip away, Rui Rui got desperate and bit Liu Bing's wrist.
"Ah!" Liu Bing cried out in pain and let go. When he saw the clear teeth marks on his wrist, he was instantly enraged and pushed Rui Rui to the ground.
The canned fruit accidentally fell to the ground, hitting a brick beside it. The glass bottle instantly shattered into several pieces, with orange segments and juice splashing all over the place.
Anger flashed in Rui Rui's eyes.
"Gu Rui, are you okay? Get up quickly." Wang Yan Chao quickly went over to help him up and even reached out to pat the dust off his clothes.
"I told you to give it to me, but you didn't. Now, no one gets to eat it," Liu Bing said, feeling regretful. On the surface, he glared fiercely at Rui Rui.
Rui Rui's small hands clenched tightly into fists. As soon as Liu Bing finished speaking, he charged forward. Liu Bing, unprepared, stumbled back a couple of steps, almost falling.
After reacting, he immediately started fighting with Gu Rui.
Gu Rui was small and no match for Liu Bing. He was soon pinned down by Liu Bing.
Good brothers should be loyal. At a time like this, they naturally couldn't stand idly by. The Wang brothers quickly joined the fight.
The boys accompanying Liu Bing also went to help. The five children soon rolled into a ball.
Chen Li Shu finished cleaning the room and was preparing vegetables for dinner when she suddenly heard someone knocking on the door. After knocking on her door, they went to knock on Zhao Gui Ying's door.
"Wang family, Gu family, come out quickly and take a look. Your children are fighting with someone."
Chen Li Shu hurriedly put down what she was doing, wiped her hands, and took off her apron to go out.
Hearing the commotion, Zhao Gui Ying quickly came out with her third son in her arms, scolding angrily, "These two little rascals! They get itchy skin if they don't cause trouble for me all day. Just you wait and see how I'll deal with them!"
The two women hurried out of the unit building and bumped into Wang Jian She and Gu Xing Dong, who were returning home from work.
"What are you two rushing out for?" Wang Jian She asked curiously.