It was Dabao's voice.
Liu Zhixia and Liu Zhiqiu exchanged a glance, "Zhiqiu, stay here with Nannan, and the others go with me."
With that command, he hurried to the opposite side with the others.
"Brother," waiting for the others to walk away, Liu Yusheng tugged on Liu Zhiqiu's sleeve, "let's go see if it's okay too?"
"Brother," Waiting for the others to walk away, Liu Yusheng tugged on Liu Zhiqiu's sleeve, "Let's go check it out, too?"
The little madman would hit anyone and she was worried that her big brother wouldn't be able to handle it. After all, they are all a bunch of little brats around seven or eight years old.
"No way, that lunatic hits anyone. Big brother is worried about this, that's why he let me stay with you here, Nannan, let's not go there." Liu Zhiqiu flatly refused.
"Brother, go, go." Shaking Liu Zhiqiu's arm, Liu Yusheng inclined her little face and blinked at him asking sweetly, "I'm worried about big brother, we'll just take a look, big brother...."
…Liu Zhiqiu was immediately defeated in battle.
The two huddled together and stealthily inched closer to the scene of the incident.
Hiding behind a slope of grass, they split aside the tall grass and peeked over.
They both saw Lu Zhixia and the other kids forming a semi-circle, while Dabao and Gouwa stood at the forefront. Dabao was holding a bamboo pole in his hand with his eyebrows raised, trying to put on a fierce appearance, scolding the person hunched in front of them.
From Liu Yusheng's angle, she could only see the side of the little boy, who in her estimate was about seven or eight years old. He must be emaciated, because now that he's stooping low, the ridges of his spine are clearly visible from the raised area under his grey clothes. His hair was tied in a child's bun with messy bangs falling down his forehead, blocking his face.
"…. You are not from our village, this place belongs to our Xinghua Village, you are not allowed to step a foot here! Get lost, or I'll really beat you up!" With more kids backing him up, Dabao's guts redoubled. He straightened his waist and his domineering front became even more vivid.
"Little lunatic, you hear me, get lost! Don't go running around and scaring people in the future, or we'll go and smash up your shabby hut!" Gouwa also raised his fist and swung it around with a great deal of air.
The little lunatic never spoke a word, leaving them to drink and threaten, unresponsive as if they were puppets.
Liu Yusheng pursed her small mouth, her eyes slipping inadvertently down his profile, and then her pupils suddenly shrank.
That little boy is not unresponsive!
The fingers at his feet scraped back and forth across the ground, faster and faster along with the intensity of their scolding, and getting more manic!
She'd witnessed a similar condition in her previous life, which is a manifestation of mania!
His hand suddenly stopped then grabbed a stone in his hand!
"Brother!" Liu Yusheng's heart tightened and she rushed out.
"Nannan!"
Liu Zhiqiu failed to grab her, so he could only slap his forehead in chagrin and run on her heels.
No one noticed that when the little lunatic heard the word "Nannan", all his movements stopped.
Over there, Liu Zhixia was also startled in place, "Nannan?"
His face suddenly sank as he pulled Liu Yusheng behind him and glared at Liu Zhiqiu, "Liu Zhiqiu, what did I tell you about Nannan? Take Nannan back!"
Liu Zhiqiu grimaced bitterly, whenever his elder brother calls him by his full name, it means he's totally angry.
Nannan, you pitted your brother!
"Nannan, go back with your second brother first Big brother will be back in a moment, go." Watching the little madman in front of him vigilantly, Liu Zhixia coaxed his sister.
"Yes, Nannan, don't come any closer, this lunatic is fierce and will hurt people!"
"Nannan, back off, be careful not to get hurt by him!"
The little friends seconded each other, like enemies of the little madman.
Liu Yusheng shook her head and turned away from Liu Zhixia, then faced the hunched figure.
The little boy actually raised his head as well, the dark eyes behind his messy hair were staring intently at her.
And his hand, which had been gripping the stone tightly, relaxed a little.
Liu Yusheng observed him carefully and felt no malice in his eyes.
When she took a tentative step forward, Liu Zhixia and Liu Zhiqiu immediately exclaimed, "Nannan!"
They were about to reach at the same time to drag her back, but their sister suddenly swivelled around and smiled at them. The smile seemed infused with magical power, for it inexplicably stopped their outstretched hands.
Liu Yusheng turned at the hunched boy again, took two more slow steps forward, and softly said to him, "No hitting, okay?"
A fist-sized rock, rolled out from under the boy's feet.
The group of children realized that there was a rock in the hands of the madman, and they broke out in a cold sweat.
If it weren't for Nannan taking a step forward, someone might have to be scooped up here!
In front of the crowd, Liu Yusheng's small face rippled with laughter as she walked over to the little boy, crouched down and locked eyes with him face to face.
Then extended a small hand and slowly took hold of the hand that was hanging at his feet and scraping the ground restlessly.
She gripped his hand firmly, but his hand didn't move. His knuckles stiffened, highlighting his disbelief and apprehension.
"He's not a little crazy." Turning back, Liu Yusheng said to his dumbfounded brothers and playmates behind her.
"Nannan, he…"
"He's not a little madman." She said again, seriously, solemnly.
"But, but, but he hits people!" Dabao is holding on to his neck and is so unconvinced. How could Nannan side with the little madman, who was about to throw a rock at him!
Liu Yusheng tilted her small head, "If someone scolded me fiercely and wanted to kick me out, I'd be angry and hit someone too."
"… Nannan, you're siding with him, you're not helping me!" Dabao felt so aggrieved, his eyes turned red. The rest of the friends were now at a loss.
How could Liu Zhixia and Liu Zhiqiu bear anyone from scolding their sister, "Come on, Dabao, how old are you to still need my sister's help!"
"I also care for Nannan! But Nannan immediately helped that madman the moment she met him, so don't you let me squirm!" Dabao shouted.
"Brother Dabao, Nannan likes you too!" The soft and delicate voice of the baby can make one's furious heart melt into a puddle, "Brother Dabao is very nice to me and to other kids in the village. Everyone loves Big Brother Dabao because you will take care of everyone, kind-hearted and speak righteously!"
Dabao froze for a moment, feeling a blush creeping up his ears, "….Re, really? Am I really that good?"
"Of course, it's true! You're so good brother, so Big Brother Dabao, and everyone, don't exclude him, okay? He looks as old as we do, and also a little baby. It's hard to be ostracized and be driven away."
Everyone blinked their eyes and stared at this little girl, feeling soft, a little warm, a little sour, but they couldn't tell what it is.
But without exception, no one objected from all she addressed.
Liu Zhixia glanced at the little girl, then nudged Dabao's arm.
Causing Dabao to stumble.
"Then, then, he'll have to promise not to hit anyone again!" That's a compromise.
Liu Yusheng pursed her lips and smiled.
"What's your name?" She crooked her head to the side asking the little boy who had been staring at her.
"…Axiu." He said.
The children gasped, hiss! They thought this guy was mute, but he can talk?
Nannan is so great!
"In the future, don't hit anyone, okay?"
Her smiling face was right in front of his eyes, as bright as at first sight.
"Okay." He said.