It was a hot day, devoid of any coverage at the door.
After cheerful greetings, Feng Qingxue walked right in.
Qi Gang and Chen Ju were taken aback momentarily but quickly stood up, "Qingxue, what brings you here?"
Instead of answering Qi Gang’s question, Feng Qingxue simply smiled.
"My son Xibao caused some trouble and scratched little Qi Xiang’s face. After learning what happened, I brought some twisted doughnuts as an apology!" Raising her jade-like wrist, she flashed a bag full of doughnuts. These were the same doughnuts Xibao usually gave out. However, the bag was a net bag this time rather than a cloth one, clearly displaying the crispy golden-brown doughnuts inside.
Qi Xiang noticed the doughnuts right away and jumped up, allowing Feng Qingxue to get a good look at his face.
Qi Xiang was quite chubby, even chubbier than Xibao. His obesity had altered the shape of his facial features. His skin was very dark, especially so compared to his swollen left cheek, which bore a thin scratch mark. This was likely Xibao’s doing, as Feng Qingxue often trimmed Xibao’s fingernails and knew they weren’t very sharp. The scratch would probably heal in a couple of days.
Taking them with his grimy hands, Qi Xiang took a big bite of a doughnut, "This is delicious!"
Watching his son devour the treat enthusiastically, Qi Gang said awkwardly, "This is too much, Qingxue."
"Being a mother, I should take full responsibility for all the consequences of my child’s misbehavior. You need not feel embarrassed, General Qi. Look, little Qi Xiang is enjoying the doughnuts!" Feng Qingxue now had an empty bag, and her left hand rested on her right arm, "Also, I have another matter. I would appreciate your patience, General Qi."
"We can always talk." said Qi Gang.
"Since you said we can talk, so let’s talk." Feng Qingxue turned to Chen Ju, who was watching her son eat with a look of affection. Chen Ju didn’t even notice when the crumbs fell on the floor. "Comrade Chen Ju," Feng Qingxue gave her a kind smile, "our families share an identical tradition. Do you want to know what it is?"
"What is it?" asked Chen Ju absentmindedly as her eyes focused on her son.
"When children are scolded, the adults immediately intervene!" Feng Qingxue’s hand flew down hard on Chen Ju’s hand as she finished speaking. Before Chen Ju could react, Feng Qingxue had struck her three more times, each slap quick and brutal.
Qi Gang and Chen Ju were caught off guard. By the time they had reacted, Feng Qingxue had already stepped back.
"Feng Qingxue, why did you hit me?" Chen Ju cradled her hand. Her hand was visibly swollen and purple, with clear handprints stamped all over. Tears welled up in her eyes as the pain twisted her face.
Qi Gang hurried over to inspect his wife’s swelling hand.
"Feng Qingxue, you owe us an explanation!" Qi Gang’s eyes flashed with anger as he spoke in a deep voice.
Yet, Feng Qingxue responded with a bright smile, "Didn’t you say everything was amicable, General Qi? Then why are you angry now? I was just following your wife’s example. She supports her child in a fight, so why can’t I defend an adult? Just because I wasn’t present at the time, doesn’t mean I won’t pursue the matter now!"
Qi Gang, lost for words, and Chen Ju sat angrily as Qi Xiang munched on his doughnut, paying no heed to his mother’s ordeal.