Chapter 34: Life Is So Tough

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

“How did you manage to sell it?” Chen Dashu asked, confused.

“I sold it to those who were willing to pay,” Chen Xiaosang responded proudly, puffing out her small chest.

This was a county town, after all, and wealthy people were not in short supply.

Old Chen quickly briefed his sons on the situation, concluding, “From now on, we can set up a stall next to the bun shop to sell soup.”

The boys could barely conceal their joy. Each gave Chen Xiaosang’s head a pat, taking turns showering her with praise.

“Xiaosang is just too clever.”

“She’s our family’s good luck charm!”

Chen Xiaosang basked in the compliments, not forgetting to hold her elder brother’s hand, saying, “Big brother, remember your promise. Come home with me.”

Chen Dashu wiped the sweat from his forehead, glanced at his three brothers behind him, drenched in sweat, and patted Chen Xiaosang on the shoulder.

“Alright, let’s head home.”

With a more lucrative opportunity in sight, they wouldn’t need to haul bags at the docks anymore.

Sishu ran up to Chen Xiaosang in excitement, lifting her into a hug, resting his head on her shoulder, sobbing, “We can finally go home, Xiaosang, you’re the best!”

Chen Dashu gave him a disdainful slap, “Get a grip.”

Chen Sishu, with tear-stained eyes, retreated a few steps, distancing himself from his elder brother.

The other brothers chuckled at his reaction, but he paid them no mind.

Chen Xiaosang wiped away his tears, her hands now muddy.

She softly wrapped her arm around her fourth brother’s shoulder, comforting him, “Don’t worry, Fourth Brother. I’ve bought lots of delicious food for our return home.”

Chen Sishu sniffled, asking excitedly, “What kind of delicious food?”

Chen Xiaosang began counting on her fingers. “There’s white flour, we’re going to cook an old hen from home, and then we’ll go to Shen Dalang’s to buy some ribs. You’ll eat until your bellies are full.”

The brothers listened, salivating, wishing they could teleport home instantly.

Old Chen could only shake his head at the mention of food, but seeing his thin sons, he couldn’t help but sigh.

They’ve had a hard time lately, they deserved a hearty meal.

Once Chen Dashu collected half a day’s wages, the family set off for home, a sight to behold.

Chen Xiaosang chatted cheerfully all the way, asking about their lives in the county. Chen Sishu expressed his grievances in a woeful tone.

Eventually, he confided in Chen Xiaosang, “If you hadn’t decided to bring us home, I think I would’ve died at the docks.”

As soon as he finished speaking, his second brother smacked him. “Speak nonsense again, and I’ll slap you!”

Chen Sishu, always wary of his second brother, immediately closed his mouth.

Chen Xiaosang reassured Chen Sishu, “Don’t worry. Now that we’re going home and starting our own business, you won’t have to haul bags anymore.”

Chen Sishu felt comforted as he nuzzled into Chen Xiaosang’s shoulder, making her chuckle with delight.

Not far away, a tanned girl surrounded by a group of bullies lit up when she saw them. “Help me!” she cried out.

Chen Xiaosang turned to see a family of three who had bought bone soup from her earlier that morning, now circled by seven rowdy hooligans.

Old Chen squinted and yelled at the bullies, “What do you think you’re doing?”

One of the bullies was about to lash out, but on noticing the imposing figures of the five brothers standing beside Old Chen, he cooled down. “This is none of your business, beat it!” he snapped.

Hearing their father getting insult didn’t sit well with the sons, their faces twisted in anger.

The tanned girl shouted desperately, “They saw that we’re weak, and demand money from us!”

No sooner had she finished speaking, than one of the bullies slapped her across the face.

The girl was stunned, and the elderly couple held her tightly, trembling with fear.

The old man nervously handed over their money bag. The bully snatched it away, counted the money, and spat on the ground in disgust. “Just twenty coins? You think we’re beggars?”

“All we have is this much…”

The bullies exchanged smirks and one of them suggested, “Since you’re broke, why don’t you give us your pretty little daughter?”

After saying this, they broke into lewd laughter.

The old man shielded his daughter, panic-stricken, pleading with them.

Chen Xiaosang was furious, her grip tightened on Chen Sishu’s clothes. These men were beyond cruel, not only robbing them but also threatening the girl!

They had seven men, but so did her side, including her. They were not outmatched!

The more she thought about it, the more defiant she felt. She pointed at them and shouted, “Stop!”

The bullies turned to look and saw a small yet fierce girl glaring at them with big, round eyes.

“Where did this little toddler come from?” one of them sneered.

Chen Xiaosang’s anger flared. She held her fourth brother tightly and shouted back, “I’m not a toddler, I’m six years old!”

“Haha!”

The bullies threw back their heads in laughter, as though they’d heard the funniest joke.

The leader’s gaze wandered over Chen Xiaosang.

She was a beautiful girl. If sold, she could fetch at least ten taels of silver…

His blatant stare angered the Chen brothers.

Sishu quickly pushed Xiaosang into Wushu’s protective arms, then rolled up his sleeves and charged at the bullies. “Dont you dare to lay a finger on my sister?” he yelled.

Old Chen had had enough. He grabbed a pole and shouted at his sons, “Give them what they deserve!”

The brothers rolled up their sleeves and charged at the bullies. Each of them grabbed one, pinned him to the ground, and started to give a well-deserved beating.

These idle bullies were no match for the brothers who worked hard on the farm every day.

Even Old Chen, wielding his pole, sent the remaining bullies hopping around in pain.

Little Chen Xiaosang was filled with excitement, struggling to lend a hand, but was held down by Wushu.

“They’re all bad people. You can’t go there.” Chen Wushu reminded.

“I’ll stand far away and throw stones at them,” Xiaosang pleaded.

“Absolutely not!”

“But father and Eldest Brother are outnumbered,” Xiaosang protested anxiously. “I need to help them. You should help too, Fifth Brother.”

Thinking of lending a hand, she should first take a look at herself.

Chen Wushu shot a glance at Xiaosang and hugged her even tighter. “They may be few, but they are strong. Look at those hooligans. They’re no match for our family.”

Xiaosang let out a sigh, “I wish I could grow up faster.”

In the apocalyptic times, she was a formidable fighter, adept at using bricks as weapons and skilled in poisoning.

But now, all she could do was watch when she saw someone who deserved a beating.

“Life is so tough,” she lamented.

Chen Wushu couldn’t help but glance at her several times, ultimately choosing to ignore her dramatic comment.

The group of hooligans was beaten to tears, begging for mercy.

Chen Sishu, the fourth brother, landed several punches on the gang leader who had set his sights on Xiaosang, demanding furiously, “Do you dare lay your hands on my sister again?”

The gang leader’s nose was askew from the beating, and all he could do was cry out, “I won’t dare, I won’t dare!”

“That’s enough, don’t beat him to death.”

Sishu, looking up, noticed his third brother and gave the gang leader a couple more punches before standing up.

Chen Sanshu, the third brother, demanded from the gang leader, “Where’s the little lady’s purse?”

The leader hastily pulled out the purse from his pocket and handed it over to Chen Sanshu.

“Let’s go,” said Sanshu.

The gang leader, struggling to his feet, dashed off in a hurry.

Seeing their leader run off, the rest of the hooligans quickly got up and followed, hurriedly leaving the scene.

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