RYEY -Chapter 370 Paying for the Damage

“Mom, we have to go. If we don’t leave now, we’ll be too late.”

Cheng Qiao hugged Mother Li by the shoulders. She was a good mother-in-law, always quietly giving everything she had, sharing the burden of the children. No matter how hard or tiring it was, she would smile and say she was fine.

Mother Li nodded, letting them go ahead to carry the luggage. She wanted to spend a few more minutes with her grandson.

Seeing Mother Li looking at little Cheng Li, Zhao Hui quickly helped Cheng Qiao move the large and small bags onto the train. After all, they had bought hard sleeper tickets. Once they arrived, Cheng Liguo and Li Bing would come to pick them up.

“Uncle, I put that box of gold at the county house. Here’s the key to the main door. You can take it to exchange for money. If you can’t find it, just ask Li Huan.”

Zhao Hui took the key, sighing at his niece’s boldness. A whole box of gold—how much money was that? Yet she left it there so openly.

Cheng Qiao glanced at her watch. The train was about to depart in a few minutes. She could only take her mother’s hand and advise:

“Mom, just take a casual look at the grocery store’s affairs. Don’t overwork yourself. Otherwise, why hire so many sales clerks? You must take care of your health.

And if Li Ming misbehaves, punish him. Don’t hold back. I can’t keep him in line, and if it gets really bad, send him to your son’s place.”

Mother Li nodded and finally released her hand. Cheng Li took a “Three Good Student” medal from his schoolbag and handed it to his grandmother.

“Grandma, whenever you miss me, just look at this medal.”

“Oh, my eldest grandson is really capable. When you get there, listen to your mom and grandpa. Don’t go with strangers, okay?”

“Don’t worry, Grandma. I’m leaving. Lele Auntie, thank you for taking care of Grandma.”

Lele smiled and patted little Cheng Li’s head. Every feast must come to an end, and the family was going their separate ways, but she believed that when the time was right, they would reunite.

“Uncle, let’s go back together.”

“Ah, Lele, do you want me to drop you off at school first? You’ll graduate next year, right?”

“No need, Uncle. I’ll take my mom back to the grocery store first and go to school tomorrow. I’m no longer living at the dorm, so I can come back every day.”

“That’s good. I’ll return to the capital once I finish my matters here. If anything comes up, call me. Oh, here’s my business card, with my phone number on it.”

Zhao Hui handed the card to Li Le. She glanced at it and couldn’t help but be impressed: Chairman of a Limited Company, Director and General Manager, a whole string of titles.

“Uncle, you’re amazing! You can manage so many businesses.”

“Yes, now is the best time to invest. Later, I plan to invest in manufacturing too. It will not only create jobs for many people but also improve the supply of goods.”

Stars sparkled in Li Le’s eyes. So business could be done this way! No wonder this little shop seemed insignificant in her uncle’s eyes—it was too weak.

“Let’s hope Second Sister-in-law gets to school smoothly and graduates without trouble.”

Zhao Hui nodded. He would stay at the grocery store tonight and take the morning bus to Xiangyang Village tomorrow. He just hoped Cheng Qiao and the child would be safe on the train.

The train departed. Cheng Qiao held Cheng Li’s hand as they sat in their hard sleeper seats. Hard sleepers had three tiers: upper, middle, and lower. They had purchased the lower and middle tiers, which were relatively spacious.

Many unused luggage items had been quietly stored in hidden spaces under Zhao Hui’s watch, so the mother and son only carried a schoolbag and two additional parcels, one large and one small.

The large parcel contained two thin blankets and some change-of-clothes for sleeping. The small parcel had enamel containers, lunch boxes, and some snacks.

“You must be hungry. Eat some rice first, Mom will go get hot water.”

Cheng Qiao saw the hot water room was located between their car and the next. She picked up a teacup and walked over, waiting in line like everyone else.

But when she returned, she saw little Cheng Li lying awkwardly between two seats, with a foot pressed on his back.

Without thinking, Cheng Qiao poured the hot water directly onto the man stepping on Cheng Li’s back. While he covered his face in pain, she kicked him hard, nearly sending him flying out the window.

“Ah… my face…”

The man’s face instantly turned red from the burn. Cheng Qiao ignored him and picked up little Cheng Li to check for injuries.

“What happened?”

Seeing the swelling on Cheng Li’s face and a possible strain on his hand, Cheng Qiao’s anger was obvious, though she tried to restrain herself—she needed to understand what happened.

“Mom, she tried to steal my egg fried rice. I wouldn’t give it, so she snatched it. They both beat me, I couldn’t win.”

Cheng Qiao had prepared egg fried rice for little Cheng Li. It was very filling. Half a lunchbox of fried rice, plus some warm water, could keep him full all day. With some small pastries, the two-day train journey would pass quickly—but someone dared to snatch his golden fried rice.

Cheng Qiao’s expressive eyes turned to the old woman who had attacked her son. The woman, hearing Cheng Li’s words, looked at Cheng Qiao.

When their eyes met, the old woman was shocked. How could such beautiful eyes hold such murderous intent?

But her usual cunning and rudeness had lowered her guard. She opened her mouth to curse, calling them “capitalist hedonists” and threatening to report them to prison.

“Besides, my son’s face was burned! If you don’t compensate a thousand or two, don’t even think about getting married!” Cheng Qiao walked over, grabbed the old woman by the hair, and dragged her in front of Cheng Li.

“Son, did she hit your face?”

Cheng Li nodded. Understanding his mother’s intentions, he stood on the seat and slapped the old woman twice hard:

“You tried to steal my rice and hit me. One, two, and you also took my rice—you have to pay!”

The old woman had assumed an eight- or nine-year-old child couldn’t be strong, but as her face burned, she realized that without her son’s help earlier, she might not have won against this kid.

Someone had already reported them to the train attendant. The attendant quickly arrived and asked for their tickets. Seeing the old woman held a hard-seat ticket, he frowned:

“Your seats are in the back. Why are you here in the hard sleepers?”

“We were just getting hot water.”

“There’s hot water over there too. And your teacup—are you going to use your hands?”

The attendant had seen many ill-intentioned people on trains. Unable to access soft sleepers, some would try to make a fuss in the hard sleepers.

“Look at my son’s face—you have to compensate, don’t you?”