Foolish Kindness 08

As soon as Liu Mei returned home, she saw a room full of people and happened to hear about her son getting into a fight. After these past few days, her mood had calmed down quite a bit, but upon hearing that Fang Ning had caused trouble, she couldn't keep her mouth shut.

"How many times have I told you? Our family has no money, so don't cause trouble outside. If someone hits you, don't fight back!"

The several adults present all looked at Liu Mei in astonishment.

"Ahem, I am Shao Zhijie's parent," a man spoke up. "I also asked Shao Zhijie. It's true that he was the one who told people to hit Fang Ning first, but he didn't raise a hand himself, and Fang Ning hit him too. I'm here just to discuss how we should resolve this matter."

Liu Mei glared, furious at her son's failure to meet expectations, and stepped forward, raising her hand to slap him. Just as the slap was about to land, Fang Zhiyi pulled Fang Ning away, and Dean Huang also stopped Liu Mei.

"Children need proper education, you can't just beat and scold them, right?" Dean Huang said soothingly. "We came today mainly to talk about this. It's best if you parents discuss and come to an agreement."

Liu Mei only needed one glance at the other party's clothes to know that Shao Zhijie's family was wealthy. She immediately grew anxious. "How about we take the child to the hospital for a check-up?"

Shao Zhijie's parent smiled. "I mainly just want to clear the air about this incident. My son has already been checked at the hospital."

"I am truly so sorry," Liu Mei apologized profusely.

"It's fine, it's fine. It's just kids fighting; as long as the parents talk it out, it's all good."

Seeing that both sides had reached an agreement, Dean Huang stood up to leave, adding, "Also, Fang Ning, what you did has a very bad influence. Calculate how much money you collected and return it all to everyone!"

Fang Ning bit his lip and said nothing.

Fang Zhiyi, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke up. "Wait a moment, I still have something to say."

Everyone turned to look at him. Fang Zhiyi first smiled at the others, then stared at Shao Zhijie's parent. "In that case, I demand that your son apologize to my son. That shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Everyone froze, including Fang Ning. Fang Ning slowly lifted his bowed head, looking at his father in disbelief.

"Excuse me, what did you say?"

Fang Zhiyi repeated, enunciating every word, "I said, have your son apologize to my son."

"Mr. Fang, you..." Dean Huang was somewhat surprised.

"If my son injured yours, I would willingly pay any amount of compensation. But as you already know, it was your son who ordered people to attack first. I think it's only right for him to apologize to my son. As for the rest, I will teach my son a lesson."

"Fang Zhiyi! Are you out of your mind?" Liu Mei grew furious again. She had finally smoothed things over, and now this man was stirring up trouble again!

The man was stunned for a good while before he suddenly smiled. "Alright!"

Fang Zhiyi smiled too. "Then how about I treat your kid to a meal and let them talk it out themselves?"

The man looked Fang Zhiyi up and down, shook his head, and then nodded. "Okay. My name is Shao Qianjun, and you are Fang Zhiyi, right?" He reached out his hand, and Fang Zhiyi shook it.

Fang Ning was still in shock. Were these really words his father would say?

Liu Mei was also shocked. What kind of turn was this taking? But when she saw the look in Fang Ning's eyes, she gritted her teeth resentfully.

"Since that's the case, you two families can discuss it privately. However, the disciplinary action will still stand, and remember to return the money." Dean Huang got up to leave. After taking two steps, he suddenly turned back, looked at Fang Zhiyi and then at Liu Mei, and leaned in to whisper in Fang Zhiyi's ear, "Also, Mr. Fang, someone reported to me that Fang Ning has been hanging out with idle delinquents outside of school. You need to keep an eye on him. This child... sigh."

It wasn't that Fang Zhiyi was being soft-hearted. It was just that in the original plot, after Fang Ning ran away from home, he nearly fainted from hunger on the streets. As luck would have it, he ran into his school rival, Shao Zhijie. Although Shao Zhijie mocked him verbally, he didn't just watch him starve to death. He even used his own pocket money to rent a small room for him. The two of them couldn't stand the sight of each other, but as they grew older, their relationship became as close as brothers.

Even when the news of Fang Ning being killed came out, Shao Zhijie was still cursing, but his face was full of fury. Although he hadn't stepped into the underworld, he chose to avenge this sworn enemy in his own way. Unfortunately, he couldn't withstand the male lead's plot armor either.

Once everyone had left, Liu Mei opened her mouth to start scolding again. Fang Zhiyi glared at her. "I told you, either shut up or get out!"

Liu Mei immediately felt wronged. "Fang Zhiyi, it's all your fault that your son turned out like this! And you're threatening me! Fine! I'm done living like this!" She shouted and stormed out the door. Her shrill voice made Fang Zhiyi cover his ears. He turned to look at Fang Ning. Fang Ning was also covering his ears, but the moment he saw Fang Zhiyi turn around, he quickly dropped his hands.

"Alright, I'll let the fighting slide. After all, maybe you fought so you wouldn't get bullied... But collecting protection money? Is your brain short-circuiting?"

Fang Ning froze for a moment, then stiffened his neck and retorted, "I... I don't have any pocket money! They do!"

Fang Zhiyi's eye widened. "Say that again."

"I don't have pocket money! They all do! They have everything, and I have nothing!" Fang Ning threw caution to the wind. He knew he was definitely getting a beating today anyway.

"You never asked me for any," Fang Zhiyi's words left Fang Ning a bit stunned.

He thought back for a moment and shook his head. "I did ask you. When I was in sixth grade, you gave my cousin fifty yuan. I wanted five yuan, and you said a little kid like me didn't need that much money."

"No, what about after that?" Fang Zhiyi knew he was being a bit shameless, but to clear his name, he was going all out too.

"After that?"

"Yeah, did you ever ask me again after that?"

Fang Ning thought carefully, and after a long while, he shook his head. "Because I knew you wouldn't give it to me anyway. You couldn't even bear to buy me a new school uniform."

Fang Zhiyi raised his hand and slapped him on the back of the head. Fang Ning didn't feel any pain and looked at Fang Zhiyi in confusion.

"You base everything on past experience? If you want something, just ask! If asking doesn't work, then figure out another way! Day in and day out, have all your studies gone to the dogs?" Fang Zhiyi scolded.

Fang Ning stood blankly for a moment, then suddenly held out his hand. "I want pocket money."

Fang Zhiyi was very cooperative. He pulled a stack of cash from his bag, counted it for a moment, and pulled out a twenty-yuan bill to hand to him. "Spend it sparingly."

Looking at the twenty yuan in his hand, Fang Ning fell into confusion once again.

Could he really get it just by asking? Was he wrong all along?

Fang Zhiyi, however, suddenly smiled. "Alright, now let's talk about you messing around outside of school." At some point, his hand had grabbed a thin bamboo cane.

Fang Ning opened his mouth to defend himself, but he didn't know what to say.

At this moment, the Original Host watched everything quietly, his eyes full of bewilderment. Little Hei watched Fang Ning scurrying around to escape and suddenly remembered a famous saying.

"Three strikes scatter the gangster soul; your dad, I, am a scholar."