When people started arriving, Yaya had already called Little Bear back to her side, and the birds scattered in all directions.
So all anyone saw was Malai Di lying flat on her back on the ground, with a half-eaten banana beside her.
Malai Di’s first instinct was to deny everything. She pointed at Yaya and shouted, “You’re lying!”
“Such a little kid, and already spewing nonsense—careful, or your tongue will rot!”
“Malai Di! Watch how you speak. How old is Yaya? How could a little child possibly lie?”
Tian Man absolutely adored Yaya—she treated her like her own daughter. With Ye Zhiqiu away, seeing Yaya suffer such a grievance nearly broke her heart.
She stepped forward and scooped Yaya into her arms. The little girl rested limply on her shoulder, her small body heaving with sobs. It was clear she had been terribly wronged.
“How could I have stolen her banana? I bought these bananas for my son! She’s the one who tried to steal from my boy!”
Malai Di figured no one had seen anything. Even if Yaya could talk now, she couldn’t possibly out-argue a little brat like her.
“Bananas you bought? When did you buy them? Where? From whom?” Tian Man fired back at her.
Malai Di was momentarily at a loss, then started yelling at Tian Man: “What’s your problem, Jianping’s wife? You treating me like a criminal or something?”
“If you really did take Yaya’s banana, you owe us an explanation. You think our compound has no rules anymore?”
This wasn’t Tian Man’s first fight with Malai Di. The last time, Malai Di’s son had snatched candy from Beibei and shoved her to the ground, and they’d had it out then. Ever since, Tian Man hadn’t given her the time of day.
“Ohhh, bullying me now, are you?!”
Every time Malai Di couldn’t win an argument, she’d plop down on the ground and throw a tantrum: “Just because I’m from the countryside, you look down on us farmers and push us around!”
“Malai Di, don’t give me that act! Who’s really bullying whom here? We’re getting to the bottom of this today!”
The last few times Malai Di had pulled this stunt, Tian Man couldn’t be bothered to keep arguing—it was beneath her.
But this time, she’d gone after a child as young as Yaya. There had to be consequences.
“Go call Ding Jincai and tell him to come back!”
Tian Man called over Tan Nan: “And you—call your dad and have him come too.”
Meanwhile, someone had gone to notify Wan Jiayin, and soon she and Feng Wan arrived together.
The residents parted to make way: “Sister Wan, Sister Feng.”
Nobody dared step out of line in front of these two.
Even Malai Di dropped her act, standing up with her head hanging low.
On the other side, Tan Jianping and Ding Jincai hurried back as well. After learning what had happened, Ding Jincai walked up and slapped Malai Di across the face: “I’ll deal with you when we get home!”
“Honey, I didn’t steal her banana.” Even now, Malai Di refused to admit it.
Yaya had been crying softly the whole time. Huo Jiusi knew she was faking it, but it still tore him up inside.
“Grandma Wan, Grandma Feng, she’s the one who took Yaya’s banana. I saw the whole thing.”
“Yaya said she was thirsty and asked me to go home and get her some water. I was halfway there when I realized I forgot the bottle. When I came back, I saw her snatch the banana from Yaya’s hand, and she was about to hit her too. If it weren’t for Little Bai swiping at her, she would’ve hit Yaya right on the head.”
The more Huo Jiusi spoke, the angrier he got. He wished he had been Little Bai, and that it was his paw that had scratched Malai Di.
“Grandma Wan, Grandma Feng, her son was there too. You can call him over and ask.”
The chubby boy was brought over, and Ding Jincai asked him: “Shitou, did your mom take this little sister’s banana?”
The boy glanced at Malai Di and shook his head hard: “No, no.”
“Tell the truth, and I’ll give you this chocolate.”
Huo Jiusi pulled a chocolate bar from his pocket: “Did your parents never tell you that lying kids get carried off by wolves?”
The scene of Little Bear lunging at Malai Di had left a deep scar on the boy’s mind. Huo Jiusi’s threat immediately scared him into changing his story: “I’ll tell the truth! I don’t wanna get taken by wolves!”
“Dad, Mom did take her banana. She even said a little brat like her didn’t deserve to eat something so good.”
Ding Jincai’s face turned all shades of purple and green—it was beyond ugly. He’d had enough. He gave Malai Di another hard kick: “First thing tomorrow morning, you’re getting out of here!”
Malai Di quickly threw her arms around Ding Jincai’s leg: “Honey, I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Don’t send me away!”
Ding Jincai yanked and pulled but couldn’t break free. If there weren’t outsiders around, he’d have beaten her senseless.
This woman never helped him with a thing—she only caused trouble.
He should never have married her!
“Get home!”
Ding Jincai grabbed both Malai Di and the chubby boy by the scruff and dragged them back. The boy squirmed and whined, still thinking about the chocolate in Huo Jiusi’s hand, making Ding Jincai want to throw him away.
“Yaya, come here. Let Grandma take a look.”
Wan Jiayin saw Yaya’s red-rimmed eyes and flushed nose—she looked just like a little bunny. Her heart ached terribly.
Back at home, she quickly soaked a warm towel and pressed it over Yaya’s eyes. Yaya took Wan Jiayin’s hand: “Grandma, I’m fine. I did it on purpose.”
In front of her family, Yaya never hid her little schemes: “That bad woman came here before and cursed at Mom. She cursed at me too—hmph!”
“She didn’t hit me. Little Bai and Little Bear both protected me—and the little birds too.”
Yaya nestled into Wan Jiayin’s arms and rubbed against her: “Grandma, later I want to give the little birds some extra treats.”
“Alright!” Wan Jiayin ruffled Yaya’s hair.
“Yaya, next time something like this happens, don’t do that again.”
Meng Fang had been scared stiff too. If it weren’t freezing outside, she’d have gone with them: “Arguing with that kind of person just dirties your mouth.”
“Second Aunt, I’m not afraid of dirtying my mouth. I wanted to teach her a lesson—she had no right to bully my mom.”
Yaya’s little expression was fierce, but somehow that made her even more adorable.
Meng Fang waved her over. Yaya slid down from Wan Jiayin’s lap and sat beside her, placing her little hand on Meng Fang’s belly to say hi to the baby inside: “Little brother.”
Right where Yaya’s hand rested, a tiny lump rose on Meng Fang’s belly—as if the baby were greeting her back.
“Little brother, when you come out, big sister will protect you. Big sister is really, really tough!”
As soon as Yaya said that, Meng Fang’s belly bulged here and there—she could clearly feel the little one stirring with excitement.
Meng Fang gently patted her belly: “Alright, you little rascal, settle down.”
“Little brother, settle down,” Yaya echoed. And just like that, Meng Fang’s belly went still.
Meng Fang shook her head with a helpless smile: “Yaya, looks like you’ll have to be the one to keep this troublemaker in line—I can’t even manage him.”
“Okay, okay! Second Aunt, I’ll take care of him for you. I promise he’ll behave.”
Yaya pressed her ear against Meng Fang’s belly: “Little brother, did you hear that? You have to be good and not give Second Aunt any trouble, okay?”
