Yellow Earth Slope. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Outside a barren village, a group of children’s playful sounds were very loud. Behind several five- or six-year-olds were two little ones, less than two years old. The little ones bore smiles on their faces, happily chasing after the older children.

Not far from these playful kids, there was a row of tall poplar trees and some willows hanging low. Under the shade, a young woman sat casually, sporting a smile, her attention entirely on the two little ones. Although she dressed simply, it was still clear that she was different from the other ordinary women in the village.

This woman was Wan Chu’er, and the two little ones chasing the older kids were Chuanqi and Hunter.

Jiang Kechu’s military family quarters were near this village. Wan Chu’er and her two kids had moved to the family area a month ago.

Because the stationed place was really remote, not many families came with the soldiers. Even a five-story family building was not fully occupied.

A week ago, when Wan Chu’er took the two little ones out for a walk, she discovered this small village five kilometers from the military base. So every evening, Wan Chu’er would take the two little ones out for some fun.

Although most of the children here were older than Chuanqi and Hunter, because Wan Chu’er taught Chuanqi and Hunter to make friends with candies, these children indeed enjoyed playing with Chuanqi and Hunter.

Sounds of a fight suddenly broke the harmony not far away.

"Beat up this little brat, dare to steal cucumbers from our home, I’ll teach you to steal, you thief!"

The spirited voice belonged to Zhang Xiaoqiang, a notorious troublemaker in the village. Zhang Xiaoqiang, backed by his fiercely aggressive parents, always ran rampant in the village. Most children didn’t like to play with Zhang Xiaoqiang.

Once, Zhang Xiaoqiang tried to snatch candies from Chuanqi and Hunter’s pockets, but a little demonstration from Wan Chu’er scared him off. Zhang Xiaoqiang’s parents were aware that Wan Chu’er was part of a military family, so they dared not easily do anything excessive when they were in the wrong.

Usually, Wan Chu’er’s advice regarding the mischievous Zhang Xiaoqiang was: Don’t provoke trouble, don’t fear trouble.

Within Zhang Xiaoqiang’s tough and crude words, a stubborn child’s voice could also be heard: "I didn’t steal your cucumbers. This half cucumber I picked up near the front ditch."

"Rubbish! You picked it up? You try picking one up for me again; this cucumber is mine. You surely stole it from me." Zhang Xiaoqiang loved to call himself ’boss,’ showing that his upbringing was rather effective.

Hearing the fighting sounds, the running children were immediately drawn and ran towards the fight. Hunter and Chuanqi didn’t think twice and ran over as well.

Wan Chu’er had no choice but to stand up and chase after them.

Turning around the village school’s wall, she saw a group of children forming a circle. Tomboy Chuanqi, being small, was squeezing through the big kids’ legs toward the center, while Hunter was observing everything to find a high spot to watch the fight.

Wan Chu’er approached, picked up Chuanqi, and walked toward the crowd, instantly spotting little Chuanqi inside.

In the circle’s center, the oversized Zhang Xiaoqiang was riding on a ten-year-old boy. The boy on the ground, with apparent malnutrition, clearly stood no chance against Zhang Xiaoqiang’s stout fists. Even using all his strength to fight back, he was still beaten black and blue.

Nearby, half a cucumber was thrown, broken, and covered in yellow earth.

As an outsider to this village, Wan Chu’er always kept herself clear of local conflicts.

Having a deep understanding of human complexity, she couldn’t trouble Jiang Kechu or the military.

Wan Chu’er was about to call out little Chuanqi when suddenly little Chuanqi charged at Zhang Xiaoqiang with fury.

"Bad guy, you can’t hit people!" shouted Chuanqi, grabbing Zhang Xiaoqiang’s arm with small hands.

Zhang Xiaoqiang didn’t even look at Chuanqi, reflexively swinging his arm to throw off the tiny obstruction. To him, any interference was a presumptuous challenge.

Wan Chu’er’s face changed. She quickly separated the children in front, trying to get hold of little Chuanqi.

Unfortunately, due to the resistance from the front children, she was a step too late, and little Chuanqi tumbled forward with her face about to hit the ground.

At this moment, a skinny arm stretched out from the side to support falling Chuanqi, but the arm was too weak, and little Chuanqi was a solid little chubby.

Thus, after briefly slowing the fall, Chuanqi landed firmly on the arm. Wan Chu’er could clearly hear the crisp sound of bones breaking.

She quickly took two steps, grabbed Zhang Xiaoqiang’s back, and tossed him into a pile of grass nearby. Then she lifted the wriggling Chuanqi. After confirming little Chuanqi was fine, she turned her attention to the boy lying on the ground.

Noticing this boy’s expression of extreme pain and endurance, with cold sweat like yellow beans on his forehead, and the arm pinched by Chuanqi was still.

Wan Chu’er softened her tone, "I’ll check your arm. Don’t be afraid; you’ll be okay."

Her hand gently touched the boy’s arm. Indeed, it was fractured, pressed into a fracture by Chuanqi.

Wan Chu’er’s face turned serious. Seeing their mom so focused, Hunter and Chuanqi didn’t make noise to bother her. Wan Chu’er looked around and directed the largest child in the crowd to fetch two sticks for her.

By then, Zhang Xiaoqiang had flipped up from the grass pile, threatening Wan Chu’er fiercely, "You damn woman, how dare you throw me! Just you wait, I’ll get my dad to break your legs!"

Wan Chu’er squinted and glared fiercely at him, her cold, menacing aura instantly intimidated Zhang Xiaoqiang.

This woman is too fierce. Zhang Xiaoqiang gulped and turned to run home.

Then the sticks arrived, and Wan Chu’er quickly took off Hunter’s small jacket, tore it into strips, and gently but firmly tied the sticks to the boy’s arm.

Throughout, the boy gritted his teeth, not uttering a sound. Wan Chu’er quietly praised him, telling her children, "This little brother got his arm broken by Chuanqi."

Little Chuanqi and little Hunter immediately widened their eyes, Chuanqi even clasping his mouth in shock.

"Mommy’s going to take the little brother to the hospital. You two follow on foot, okay?"

The two little ones said nothing, but the boy managed, "I don’t... need to... go to the hospital."

Wan Chu’er ignored him. Chuanqi worriedly said, "Mommy, quickly take the little brother to the hospital. My brother and I will run."

"Alright," Wan Chu’er said in a low voice to the boy, "Don’t move, or this arm might be crippled." Then she bent down to pick him up and briskly walked toward the village’s edge, with Hunter and Chuanqi trailing closely with their small steps.