Auntie Wang, I don't know what kind of temper you have...

Young Master Cao was invited into the house.

Little Wang heard the commotion and came out of his room.

Sporting a single black eye, Little Wang instinctively took a defensive stance upon seeing Cao Cheng, exclaiming in shock:

"What are you doing in my house?"

"Look at you, kid. I’m just here to check on you, brought some gifts to help you recover," Cao Cheng said with genuine sincerity.

Little Wang scowled: "I don’t need it. You’re not welcome here."

Little Wang was standing his ground.

Cao Cheng understood.

After all, even a dog acts tough when it has backup.

In his own home, with Aunt Wang nearby, the kid thought Cao Cheng wouldn’t dare lay a hand on him—so he got cocky.

But…

Does he never leave the house?

Cao Cheng feigned surprise: "Do you never go outside?"

Little Wang didn’t catch on: "What do you mean?"

"What I’m saying is, don’t you ever go out to internet cafes? Aren’t you afraid of being caught alone? Since when do you talk to me like that?" Cao Cheng asked, pretending to be puzzled.

"…" Little Wang’s confidence wavered.

Aunt Wang’s expression darkened: "Cao Cheng, what are you implying? Are you threatening my son?"

"Not at all."

Cao Cheng chuckled: "Aunt Wang, don’t misunderstand. I know you’re upset, but hear me out. What I mean is, if Little Wang ever runs into trouble outside, and I happen to be around, I’d help him out. We’re neighbors, after all."

"As the older brother in this courtyard, I can’t just stand by and watch the younger ones get bullied by outsiders."

"But Aunt Wang, look at how your son’s treating me—I came bearing gifts, and this is the attitude I get? If that’s the case, next time I see him in trouble, I might just walk away. Wouldn’t want my kindness thrown back in my face."

"Helping someone only to be scolded for meddling?"

"And Aunt Wang, don’t say I never looked out for the younger ones."

Hearing this,

Aunt Wang glared at her son: "What nonsense are you spouting? Since when do you decide who’s welcome here? Hmph."

"Xiao Cao, don’t take it to heart."

Cao Cheng set down the gifts and waved it off: "I’m not bothered. But Aunt Wang, I don’t know your temperament, but if my own younger brother spoke to a guest like that, I’d give him a beating."

"I’m not trying to stir trouble—this is about discipline."

Cao Cheng adopted a serious tone:

"Let me break it down for you."

"Boys need strict discipline from a young age."

"Otherwise, they’ll suffer for it later. Take today’s incident at the internet café—he lost big time. If he hadn’t cursed at that guy’s mother, would he have ended up in a fight?"

"And if there was no fight, would you have had to pay all that money?"

Aunt Wang’s face grew darker.

Her mood soured further.

He had a point…

The thought of those thousands spent made her blood boil.

Little Wang paled: "Cao, you—"

Aunt Wang pointed at him: "Shut your mouth and get back to your room!"

Little Wang flinched, shot Cao Cheng a glare, and slunk away.

Cao Cheng sighed with a faint smile and pressed on: "Aunt Wang, don’t be too upset. Today’s incident was minor—just some money."

"Problems that can be solved with money aren’t real problems."

"But think about it—how old is he? He’s still dependent on you."

"Once he’s on his own, studying, working, living alone—life’s hard enough. What if he picks a fight with the wrong person?"

"Fights are one thing. Breaking things just means paying up."

"But if someone gets seriously hurt? Tsk tsk tsk… That’s not just about money anymore. He could end up behind bars."

"And worse than him hurting someone? Him getting hurt."

"Aunt Wang…"

"Uncle Zhou… passed too soon. You raised these two kids alone, especially this boy—he’s the only heir to the Zhou family, your hope for old age. If something happens to him, what will you do?"

"When your time comes, how will you face Uncle Zhou?"

"If that day comes, this family… it’ll fall apart."

"So…"

"Aunt Wang, discipline him now. Don’t go soft."

"There are too many stories of mothers ruining their sons with indulgence, especially without a father around. If you don’t step up, it’s over."

"He’s only eighteen—you don’t have much time left. Once he’s in college, it’ll be too late."

"Beat him now while you can. Every beating counts!"

"…"

Aunt Wang’s eyes burned with fury.

Her fists clenched tight.

Her face cycled between rage and dread.

That little bastard Cao Cheng was annoying, but… he wasn’t wrong.

Losing money today was nothing—just an apology to the café owner.

But if someone got stabbed over his foul mouth?

Unthinkable.

All because he couldn’t keep his curses to himself.

"Aunt Wang."

"You seem to get it now, so I’ll stop. Don’t want to overstay my welcome."

"I’ve delivered the gifts and my apologies. I’ll get going."

"See you at the gossip hub later." Cao Cheng smiled and stepped out.

Aunt Wang snapped back to reality.

She didn’t know what "gossip hub" meant, but assumed he meant the neighborhood entrance.

"Thank you, Xiao Cao."

"Ah, Aunt Wang, no need for thanks. Sure, we bicker, but that’s what neighbors do—it’s part of life. But when it matters, we look out for each other."

Aunt Wang nodded. "True."

"Alright, no need to see me out. Focus on teaching your son. Strike while the iron’s hot—today’s the best time. Wait too long, and you’ll lose the excuse."

Aunt Wang agreed: "Makes sense."

"Keep your steps, Aunt Wang."

Cao Cheng turned and headed downstairs.

Aunt Wang watched him disappear around the stairwell.

Then—

BANG!—she slammed the door shut and marched off to fetch the feather duster…

Soon, agonized screams filled the house.

Downstairs, Cao Cheng winced at the sound: "Yikes… She actually went through with it? Aunt Wang’s… impressively decisive. Maybe I’ll hire her as a janitor when I start my company."

"With her around, the place’ll be spotless."

"Decision made."

Flick—he lit a cigarette.

Couldn’t bear to listen any longer.

"Little brother… I’ve done all I can for you."

"You’ll thank me someday."

Off to the gossip hub.

Huh.

Almost 9 p.m., and the usual crowd of women was gathered, fanning themselves in the evening breeze.

Cao Cheng squeezed onto a stool and "borrowed" a fan.

The woman whose fan he snatched scowled.

Quick to distract, Cao Cheng announced:

"Hey, have you heard? The Wang family’s place is echoing with screams—blood-curdling, carry-for-miles kind of stuff."

The fanless auntie blinked. "Wang family? Wang Youtian’s?"

"Ah, my bad—not the Wangs. The Zhous. Aunt Wang’s place."

"Ooooh."

The crowd nodded in collective understanding.

An elderly woman asked, "I heard about this. The Wang family—pah, no, the Zhou family—someone from their household went out today and apparently lost quite a bit of money."

"Why? What happened?"

Everyone was curious.

As for the reason, no one knew.

None of them were hitting the mark.

That’s where Young Master Cao came in.

Holding a feather fan and waving it leisurely in front of his chest, Young Master Cao chuckled with an air of wisdom. "I happen to know a thing or two about this matter. Would you all care to hear it?"

"Go on."

"We’re listening."

"Come on, Young Cao, spill it already."

A sharp-eyed older sister handed him a handful of sunflower seeds.

Cao Cheng took the seeds and began, "Well, it all started with Little Wang—no, wait, Little Zhou, Aunt Wang’s son. And it also involves Zhou, Aunt Wang’s daughter, who has a boyfriend..."