Zhao Ergou was focused on climbing the tree to make a slingshot and didn’t notice anything unusual about the soil beneath his feet.

But as he walked closer to the big tree, he felt the soil under his feet become loose, with a tendency to collapse downwards.

How many times had he come to this place and never noticed anything unusual?

Just as he was thinking about this, there was a sudden cracking sound under his feet, and Zhao Ergou stumbled and fell with a thud into a large pit.

"Hahaha!"

"Serves you right!"

Voices came from all around. Zhao Ergou, still dazed from the fall, hadn’t figured out what was going on before he saw a group of children surrounding him in the pit.

"What are you trying to do?" The pit wasn’t deep; with a little jump, he could get out. After all, it was a hole dug by about a dozen children in half an afternoon; how big could it be?

The children ignored him, pulling stinky eggs they had prepared out of their pockets and throwing them at him.

The stench from the eggs was so strong that Zhao Ergou almost gagged.

"Zhao Ergou, you had bad intentions! We know you wanted to bully Chenguang, but we’ve figured out all your schemes! This time, take it as a lesson!" Pang Di said, arms akimbo, pointing at Zhao Ergou and shouting.

People like him, lazy and idle, were looked down upon even by children, who contemptuously called him by his full name.

"What are you talking about? Don’t wrongly accuse an innocent person! Listen to me! You little rascals, have you all turned against me?" Zhao Ergou realized he was pranked by a bunch of kids and felt both humiliated and enraged.

"Peh! You’re a good person? If you’re a good person, there would be no bad people in the world!" He Mu spat at him and directed the children to throw dirt clods at him.

Covered in dirt and struggling to climb out, Zhao Ergou said, "You little brats, just you wait! Today you have offended Grandpa Dog! Soon, you won’t know what hit you!"

"Who’s afraid of who! Hmph!" The group of children spat at him.

As it grew dark, He Mu figured it was enough and stopped the children.

"Let’s go! It’s time to head back, or our parents will get worried when they can’t find us!"

"Let’s go home!" The group of children dispersed briskly.

When He Mu returned home with his brother and sister, they saw their mother, Liang Xiuzhu, sitting alone in the courtyard, wiping away tears, with food scattered all over the ground.

"Mom, what happened?" He Mu saw his mother crying, immediately crouched in front of her, and asked.

"It’s nothing, I just had a little argument with Liu Qiaoqiao. I just made a meal for you, and now it’s all spilled over," Liang Xiuzhu said, sniffling.

He Yue, seeing their mother cry, went forward to hug her to provide comfort, only to notice the bright red palm print on her face.

Her little face tightened with anger: "Mom, did that woman Liu Qiaoqiao hit you again?"

"It’s nothing. Mama is fine. Where did you all go to play? Why did you come back so late? Go inside first; Mama will make you another meal," Liang Xiuzhu wiped her tears and got up to go to the kitchen.

"Mom, why does she bully you?" He Mu pursued the question, "Where’s my dad? Why isn’t he here?"

"Your dad got some work; someone in town is building a house and asked him to help for a couple of days! A few days ago, didn’t I splash her with a pail of cold water? She’s taking advantage of your dad being away to get back at me!" Liang Xiuzhu didn’t hide the truth from the children and told them directly.