Chapter 25

Chapter 25 He’s Still Just a Kid!

In the year 2005, small counties like Bai Mei didn’t have large amusement parks like those in big cities; they were more like the precursors to later inflatable castles.

This was a multi-functional comprehensive play facility composed of slides, trampolines, swings, and ball pits, but it was clearly less safe than those made entirely of inflatable materials.

Young children were too scared to play, while older kids found it childish. They preferred to go to arcade halls or internet cafes instead, leading such playgrounds to gradually become obsolete.

Of course, in this day and age, the amusement park in Bai Mei remained a dreamland for children.

The group arrived at the playground that Mei Ya had longed for. At the entrance, there were shoes of children scattered on the ground.

[For children under 10 only]

[Children under 6 must be accompanied by an adult]

[Play 10 yuan, accompany 5 yuan]

Mei Fang paid and prepared to enter, but he was stopped by an old woman at the gate.

“Your money isn’t enough. Aren’t you three?”

Mei Fang frowned, “We two are here to accompany her. Look, we’re all grown-ups who don’t know how to play.”

“Read the sign! Are you an adult? You can all go in together.”

Mei Fang was about to argue further when Xia Yuan beside him comforted him.

“Forget it, Mei Fang… It’s okay.”

Xia Yuan paid the remaining 10 yuan.

“You’re always so accommodating. One day you’ll be taken advantage of.”

“They work hard for their money, it’s not easy…”

Xia Yuan smiled, “Come on, don’t worry about such trivial matters. Let’s go play, to avoid being upset.”

Ten yuan wasn’t much for Xia Yuan’s family, but even Mei Fang now felt it was unreasonable.

One could say her good character was closely tied to her upbringing…

At this moment, Mei Ya tugged at his arm, urging him to hurry up. Mei Fang finally held back from educating Xia Yuan.

As soon as Mei Ya entered the playground, she immediately ran around like a wild horse.

There were children aged five to ten everywhere, and Mei Ya, being young, still played with the older kids on the slides. Xia Yuan worried about Mei Ya’s safety and followed along, asking Mei Fang to meet them at the ball pit area below the slide.

“Wow!”

Mei Ya wouldn’t let Mei Fang help her, diving headfirst into the ball pit. She then climbed out, pulling Xia Yuan back onto the slide. Mei Fang lay in the ball pit, though the noise was loud, it was quite comfortable.

“Brother, brother! Catch me!”

Mei Fang poked his head out of the submerged ball pit, seeing Xia Yuan and Mei Ya standing together at the top of the slide, ready to slide down.

“Go!”

Xia Yuan carried Mei Ya down the slide, both of them diving into the ball pit with Mei Ya’s joyful cries. The balls flew up, hitting Mei Fang in the face.

Mei Fang struggled through the ball pit to reach Mei Ya and Xia Yuan, pulling Xia Yuan out of the ball pit.

“Look at you, so grown-up, still playing on the slide.”

“Since we paid for everything, we should enjoy it.”

Xia Yuan tidied her hair, “Come play too.”

“No way.”

Xia Yuan pouted.

“I bought your ticket, come play with me!”

“Right, brother, come play with us, don’t waste Yiyuan’s money!”

Mei Fang reluctantly joined them, playing on the slide.

“I never came here as a child… I’ve always wanted to come after hearing about it from Lin Youxi.”

“Pity you’re not my parents’ daughter,” Mei Fang sighed. “They used to drag me here often when they had nothing else to do.”

“Brother, is that true?”

Beside her, little Mei Ya looked shocked, almost trembling, “Why don’t Mom and Dad take me here? Because I’m a girl?”

“Because Dad has to support four people, the work pressure is huge! Your grandma hasn’t been well, and Mom has to take care of her and us.”

“Don’t burden kids with stress…” Xia Yuan pushed Mei Fang, then comforted little Mei Ya, “Actually, your brother stays home and plays games, so Mom and Dad force him to go out.”

“Why didn’t Yiyuan also come?”

“I… I…” Xia Yuan scratched her head, “My parents are busy…”

“But your family has money, why are they still so busy?”

Little Mei Ya was puzzled, “Isn’t having money supposed to mean enjoying life, buying lots of snacks and toys, going out every day?”

“That’s… I can’t answer that,” Xia Yuan changed the topic, “Let’s play something else!”

The trio played various attractions, running through tunnels, walking across narrow bridges, rolling over barrels, swinging on swings, and jumping on trampolines, having a great time with Mei Ya.

But by the end, even Xia Yuan was too tired to continue, letting Mei Ya jump alone on the trampoline while she and Mei Fang sat down, panting heavily.

“You… Your sister has so much energy…”

“There was a time I wished for a sister, but once I got one, I only complained about her.”

Mei Fang sighed, “She’s like this now, what will happen when she grows up? Better give her to you as a sister…”

“No need, she’s already my sister…”

Xia Yuan looked up at Mei Fang, her messy, sweaty hair and her smile were unexpectedly charming, making Mei Fang feel inexplicably excited.

Noticing Mei Fang staring at her, Xia Yuan’s gaze drifted, landing on little Mei Ya on the trampoline.

Little Mei Ya was happily jumping with some kids when a big, chubby boy rushed in, jumping on the trampoline, causing other kids to fly off. The sudden impact startled the children, who couldn’t get up in time. The big boy continued jumping, scaring some kids to tears.

Seeing this, Xia Yuan and Mei Fang quickly pulled Mei Ya away.

The boy looked about seven or eight, young but with a temper. After jumping for a while, he stopped and shouted at a little boy who wanted to join, “This is my territory, no one else can jump here!”

“Who says only you can jump? This is everyone’s playground, everyone can play…”

A little boy, seemingly five or six, tried to reason with the big boy. The big boy suddenly glared at him and slapped him.

“Want a beating?”

The slap left a red mark on the boy’s face, who started crying and hitting the big boy. They immediately started fighting.

The little boy’s father rushed over, pulling him back with another fresh wound on his face.

“Whose kid is this? How dare you hit like that?”

The big boy’s mother, a middle-aged woman, hurriedly came over, protecting her child.

“What happened? Little Bao… Oh my, who did this to your face? That’s outrageous!”

The little boy’s father pointed to his son’s wound.

“You don’t control your own kid! Unbelievable. You still protect him! Look what you did to my child!”

“Oh, kids fighting is nothing, no blood… If they can’t fight, it’s their own lack of ability, not because of age.”

“Is it right to bully the weak? Our child is just a few years old?”

The little boy’s father was about to continue when the big boy suddenly spat at him. The enraged father clenched his fists, but the old woman immediately shielded her child.

“He’s still a kid, what does he know? A grown man arguing with a child, how shameful.”

“You—”

The old woman’s unreasonable argument left the man speechless. Beside them, the little boy stuck out his tongue, enjoying his moment of victory.

At this moment, someone grabbed the boy and gave him a hard slap.

This person was naturally the righteous Mei Fang.

(End of Chapter 25)