Chapter 21 You Should Be Grateful Dahua Can Beat You Up
Time doesn’t stop for tears. But time can blur scars, just like the sky clears after the rain. Morning on Flower Street. It unfolded like an ink painting. The small courtyard of Flower Street in the morning!
Since before dawn, it had been filled with clanging sounds. Those used to the rhythm of life here didn’t find it noisy. Dahua’s mom sold soy milk, fried dough sticks, and sesame balls, so she started early.
“Dahua, get up! Don’t be late!”
Shao Xingchi’s mom sold pastries and also had to get up early to prepare.
“Xingchi, I’m heading out to the stall. Are you awake yet?”
“Zimo, time to get up and wash up!”
“Siyi, you have school today!”
Zimo’s grandma and Grandma Ma were busy too. Every adult in the courtyard was the same. No one walks lightly burdened through life. There was no such thing as an effortless, peaceful life!
A group of kids, backpacks on their backs, shouted and laughed, running towards the rising sun. Only Ma Siyi was falling behind a little. She wasn’t used to the group’s pace, and her “gear” wasn’t up to par. The kids actually noticed Siyi’s predicament.
Without a mom and too embarrassed to ask her grandma, even her school bag was just an old, worn tote. Although Bai Zimo had plans to help her make money, that hadn’t started yet.
“Zimo, Xingchi, Haikuo, come over here!”
“After school today, we’ll do this… and this…”
Bai Zimo didn’t refuse Xie Wanghe’s suggestion. Sure, he could have solved Ma Siyi’s problems with his own money, but if he kept doing that, he’d eventually lose his friends.
“Hey, what secret are you boys whispering about?”
Dahua squeezed her little head in.
“We’ll tell you… but you have to keep it a surprise for Siyi.”
Ma Siyi tilted her head, curious about what strange thing they were planning.
Ding ding ding! Ding ding ding!
The class bell rang urgently, as if it couldn’t wait to step on everyone’s heels.
In those youthful classroom days, the same things always happened—sleeping, snacking, daydreaming, and chatting with classmates. In a blur, another class period passed. Recess was always everyone’s favorite time.
And just like any youthful campus, the school beauty would often run into a little thug, and the little thug would meet their match!
Sanliangzi blocked Ma Siyi in the hallway when she was coming back from the restroom. Ma Siyi panicked until she saw Bai Zimo, finally breathing a sigh of relief.
“Sanliangzhi, what are you doing?”
“Of course! He’s my neighbor!”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Just wanna make a friend!”
Bai Zimo smiled and said, “Sanliangzi, you think you’re something now, huh?”
“Introduce us! I’ll buy you ice cream — any flavor you want!”
“You think I need your two bucks? Get lost!”
“She’s your neighbor, not your girlfriend. Why so protective?”
“What did you just say?”
“Bai Zimo, I’m being polite, but if you don’t accept it, fine.”
Before Bai Zimo could even get serious, Dahua charged down the stairs.
“Zimo, move aside, move aside, let me handle this!”
Same angle, same force!
Dahua kicked Sanliangzi aside with one blow.
“F*ck, Dahua, you hit me again! You think I really can’t beat you?”
But before he could fight back, Bai Zimo landed a powerful Bajiquan “Mountain Lean” move, slamming him against the wall. Bai Zimo had only learned entry-level Bajiquan, but using it on elementary schoolers?
“Ow, ow! Bai Zimo, you win, put me down!”
“Sanliangzhi, you better be thankful Dahua can beat you.”
Everyone’s childhood had that one little punk — the kind who thought bullying classmates was cool. The kind who preyed on the weak and feared the strong. The kind who deserved no sympathy.
“If I find out you’re bothering Dahua or Siyi again, I’ll beat you every time I see you.”
“They’re just your neighbors, not your girlfriends, why are you so protective?”
“What do you think? I’ll cripple you.”
While Bai Zimo said that, he kneed him hard.