Wang Aixiang was stunned for a moment by his sudden remark, and then her entire face turned crimson. The redness spread, even coloring her neck and the back of her ears with a blush.
"Wang Dazhu, do you know how to speak? Many people wear these clothes. It would take someone blind to think that you and I... that we're that kind of couple!"
Wang Dazhu hadn't expected such a strong reaction from her. He was taken aback, raised a hand to touch his nose, and said softly, "I... I was just joking."
"I don't like jokes," Wang Aixiang glared at him, then turned and left.
Seeing her walk away without looking back, Wang Dazhu was dumbfounded. He and Wang Aixiang had bickered before, but this was the first time she had been this angry.
Zhao Xingwang shook his head helplessly at the sight. "Brother, you really went a bit too far with that joke this time."
Everyone knew that Wang Aixiang was raising her child and an elderly person alone, and her reputation was even more crucial to her.
Wang Dazhu, not understanding, said aggrievedly, "I... I didn't say anything, did I?"
Thinking of Wang Aixiang's reaction just now, Chen Lishu glanced at the bewildered Wang Dazhu and suddenly had an idea.
After Wang Aixiang left the shop, the anger in her heart gradually subsided. She suddenly felt a pang of regret, wondering if her reaction had been too much. It was just a joke, after all; there was no need to take it seriously.
Before going home, she went to the vegetable market, bought some greens and meat, and then took the bus home.
As soon as she walked into the courtyard, a woman with a boy of about ten years old, looking furious, rushed towards her.
"I say, Wang family, look at the good deed your son Xiao Peng has done! Look how he's beaten my son's face! We all live in the same courtyard and see each other every day. I didn't want to come to you, but this isn't the first or second time. Look at this face, it's bleeding."
It was the time when families were getting off work and cooking dinner. Several people washing vegetables by their doors stopped what they were doing and looked over at the sound of the woman's voice.
Wang Aixiang's gaze fell on the face of the boy opposite. She saw not only a bruise on his mouth but also two scraped wounds on his forehead, faintly streaked with blood.
"Xiao Jun's mother, I am truly sorry. When I get home, I will definitely have a good talk with my Xiao Peng and make him apologize to Xiao Jun. From the looks of it, the child is not lightly injured. Why don't we go to the clinic to get it bandaged first? Don't worry, I'll cover the cost."
Although she was already seething with the desire to grab her troublesome son and give him a good beating, Wang Aixiang had to prioritize. She suppressed her anger and apologized politely.
But the woman wasn't willing to let it go: "I'm not short of that little bit of medical expenses. Everyone cherishes their own child. Your Wang Xiaopeng has become a little bully in this area. Whose child hasn't he bullied?"
An elder woman chimed in, "That's right, Wang family. Your Xiao Peng knocked over one of my flower pots just two days ago. I didn't plan to say anything, but since it's been brought up, I'll add my two cents. This child really needs to be disciplined."
Another man couldn't help but add, "Exactly. Last month, my window was smashed by a slingshot. When I asked, I found out it was your Wang Xiaopeng who did it. I thought about it, it wasn't much money, and it wasn't worth getting upset over, so I replaced it myself."
"Please, please. No matter how much it costs, it's all my son Xiao Peng's fault. I haven't educated my child well. When I get home, I will definitely give that brat a good beating. Auntie Zhang, Brother Zhou, I will compensate you for your flower pot and glass."
Wang Aixiang usually disciplined Wang Xiaopeng quite strictly, but she hadn't expected so many incidents. Her mother-in-law hadn't told her a single word.
The woman was relentless: "Who is short of that little bit of money from you? You can't even educate your own child properly. Truly, you have parents, but it's as if you were raised by no one. At over ten years old, he has no manners at all. Look at how your Wang Xiaopeng has caused trouble for everyone in this compound! Our compound is full of factory workers, and your husband has been dead for eight hundred years, yet you still linger here. I think your whole family should just move away, and we'll have some peace."
Hearing her words, Wang Aixiang felt as if her cheeks had been slapped hard. She had always been strong-willed and never allowed anyone to speak ill of her. Yet, because of her son, she was so humiliated that she wished she could disappear into the ground.
Auntie Zhang sighed, "Mrs. Da Jun, forget it. Even if you're angry, don't go too far with your words. Aixiang, a woman raising her child and taking care of her mother-in-law, already has it tough enough. Everyone should be a bit more understanding."
"We understand her, but who understands us? It's so difficult to get an apartment from the factory these days. My family of over ten people is still crammed into those two dilapidated rooms. Your younger son must be of age to get married, right? Why should outsiders like them occupy such spacious housing? Everyone is suffering with her..."
The woman's words were piercing, but Wang Aixiang had no rebuttal.
Her husband had died in a safety accident because he drank too much in violation of factory regulations. It was by relying on the factory's pity that she had stayed.
Everyone sympathized with her, a widow with a child and an elderly person above her, so they turned a blind eye.
Wang Aixiang didn't know how she got home. As soon as she pushed open the door, she saw her son Wang Xiaopeng watching television. Something interesting must have appeared on the screen, as he was grinning and laughing heartily without a care in the world.
Wang Aixiang felt the pent-up frustration in her heart instantly turn into an unnameable rage that shot straight to her head.
"Slap!" She walked over expressionlessly and directly turned off the television.
Wang Xiaopeng was displeased: "Mom, what are you doing? I was at a crucial part, why did you turn it off?"
"Kneel," Wang Aixiang said with a wooden expression.
"Mom?"
"I told you to kneel!"
The sudden roar made Wang Xiaopeng flinch instinctively, but he didn't obey Wang Aixiang and knelt down. He remained standing, looking stubbornly at Wang Aixiang: "I didn't do anything wrong, why should I kneel?"
"Fine." Angrily, Wang Aixiang turned around, picked up the feather duster from the cabinet, and pointed at her son. "You didn't do anything wrong? What about the injuries on Zhao Xiaojun's face? And Aunt Zhang's flower pot, Uncle Zhou's glass, were those all you? You're getting more and more capable as you get older. If I don't discipline you, won't you cause even bigger trouble tomorrow and end up in jail?!"
As Wang Aixiang spoke, her actions didn't stop. She fiercely whipped her son's body several times.
Wang Aixiang's mother-in-law, who was cooking, heard the noise and quickly stopped her work to come over.
"What's going on now? The child finished his homework. I let him watch TV. Do you have to hit him for that?"
"Mom, don't butt in when you don't know anything. If you keep indulging this brat, he'll dare to kill or set fires!"
Wang Aixiang's mother-in-law shielded the child behind her: "He's only ten years old this year, how could he be as serious as you say?"