Li Haopeng wanted to speak but realized he was unable to.
āSilly child, the money has already been spent. What else can I do to you? Why arenāt you saying anything?ā Liu Daifen turned a little anxious.
Li Haopeng said, āItās fine. In the future, Iāll sweep the streets with you!ā When he blurted out those words, Li Haopeng yelled inwardly, āIām not going! It sucks waking up so early. I donāt want to wake up early! I donāt want to sweep the streets! Itās so cold outside. Iām not going! You bastard, you devil!ā
When Liu Daifen heard that, she was stunned rooted to the spot. Then she looked at Li Haopeng and nodded with a grin. As though she had a lump stuck in her throat, she mumbled with wet eyes. āThe food is in the pot. Itās still warm.ā
Li Haopeng walked into the kitchen and opened the pot. There was a plate of fried green vegetables and a bowl of rice. Upon seeing this and recalling the pickled vegetables in Liu Daifenās bowl, Li Haopeng was deeply shocked. There were vegetables in the pot butā¦
āMom, why arenāt you eating the vegetables?ā Li Haopeng turned and asked. Then, he saw Liu Daifen rubbing something as her shoulders trembled.
She turned back and smiled. āI canāt eat something too oily in the morning. Itās easier to swallow something salty. Quickly eat. Donāt you worry about me.ā
With that said, Liu Daifen sat on a stool and ate by the door. Li Haopeng felt even more upset when he saw this. He wanted to cry but he had no control over his body, so no tears flowed. However, thinking of how he needed to sweep the streets in a while and how it was possible for him to meet his classmates or acquaintances, how was he to go to school with his head up in the future?
Li Haopeng felt his scalp tingle. He constantly yelled, āDarn monk, I know itās you. Canāt you spare me? Isnāt it only a five digit figure? Canāt I repay it in the future?!ā
Regardless of how he screamed, Fangzheng did not respond. Li Haopeng found something even more unacceptable. His body was eating but he did not touch any of the vegetables! All he ate was the white rice with a bit of pickled vegetables. He could fully experience its taste and his tastebuds were extremely sensitive!
āDarn monk, what are you doing? Is this something meant for humans to eat? Itās disgusting. I want to eat vegetables! Although the green vegetables arenāt delicious, they are at least better than pickled vegetables and rice.ā Li Haopeng continued roaring.
Fangzheng remained unresponsive. He continued controlling Li Haopeng to finish all the food.
After finishing the meal, Fangzheng finally spoke for the first time. āDidnāt you say itās not meant for humans to eat? But your mother eats it every day. You said that the green vegetables arenāt delicious? But your mother saved them for you. You ingrate. From this day forth, you will only be eating pickled vegetables and rice. If you shout again, there wonāt even be rice. All you get to eat will then be pickled vegetables!ā
Li Haopeng wanted to scream when he heard the first half of Fangzhengās sentence but he immediately shut up when he heard the latter half. He could survive eating plain rice but eating pickled vegetables would kill him!
Liu Daifen ate quickly and finished it in a few mouthfuls. After she cleared up the cutlery, she noticed that her son had not touched the vegetables. She frowned, crossing her arms. āWhy arenāt you eating the vegetables?ā
āIf you arenāt eating, Iām not eating. Eating some pickled vegetables is good for me.ā
āYou silly child. Youāre still growing!ā rebuked Liu Daifen.
But how could Li Haopeng eat while under Fangzhengās control? He only declined the vegetables. Liu Daifen had no choice but to give up. She changed topics by saying, āIām heading to work. Go back to sleep. Rest well so that you can pay attention in class.ā
Li Haopeng cried inwardly, āDarn monk. My mom has spoken. She wants me to sleep. You bastard, let me sleep! Iām not sweeping the streets!ā
Li Haopengās body in contrast with its mind, shouted, āIām coming with you!ā
āWhat for? Itās chilly near the end of winter. Stay home.ā
However, Li Haopeng insisted under Fangzhengās control. He followed her the entire way. Exasperated and realizing that she was about to be late, she had no choice but to abide to Li Haopengās wishes. She thought to herself, āThis kid will probably return once he feels the cold.ā
Once out of the house, the chilly spring winds blew into his collar, causing Li Haopeng to shudder. Li Haopeng yelled inwardly. āItās so cold. Why do I need to go out on such a cold day? I want to go home! You bastard, release my body. I want to go home!ā
āThe moment before the sun rises is the coldest period of the day. But your mother has to put up with such a cold to earn money sweeping the streets so as to raise you and provide for you. This Penniless Monk told you that you would be sweeping the streets with your mother every day from this day forth. You can feel disgruntled all you want but every shout you make adds another day! Shout twice and you get two days! If you keep shouting and make This Penniless Monk unhappy, This Penniless Monk does not mind letting you jump into the Songhua River. You can cool yourself by taking a cold bath.ā Fangzhengās voice rang in his head.
Li Haopeng gulped when he heard that. Jumping into the Songhua River on such a cold day? That wasnāt calming oneself down but refrigerating someone! He stopped shouting but said, āI will tell my mom.ā
Fangzheng could not help but smile when he heard that. He was a child after all. They would seek their parentsā help whenever they encountered any problems.
Li Haopeng felt the cold winds outside. His nose seemed to freeze off but he also saw his mother trembling from the cold winds. Instead of tending to herself, she turned around to help him tighten his scarf. At that instant, Li Haopeng felt something touch his heart. It seemed to wince in response.
They did not speak on the way. Li Haopeng followed his mother to collect a road sweeping cart and brooms. Liu Daifen began sweeping the streets while Li Haopeng watched by the side. After watching for a while, Li Haopeng took out a spare broom and swept with his mother. The broom was made of bamboo and it had been chilled during the cold night. It felt extremely cold to the touch. His fingers lost their feeling after sweeping for a while. As dawn broke, the entire street started to brighten. Li Haopengās eyes never left his mother.
Li Haopeng never stopped lamenting about the cold, tiredness, or discomfort. He wished to return home⦠but unfortunately, Fangzheng ignored him.
That day passed by and into the night.
āContinue tomorrow.ā Fangzhengās voice suddenly rang in Li Haopengās mind.
Li Haopeng bellowed angrily, āNo, Iām not sweeping the streets again! That isnāt a job a person should do!ā
But Fangzheng did not reply.
Li Haopeng wished to seek redress with Liu Daifen but realized that he could not move his body at all. In his despair, he could only sleep.
The next day, Li Haopeng cried out in the morning, refusing to go! He did not want to go!
But his body still went.
It drizzled that day in spring. The weather became and seeped deep into the bone. Even when Li Haopeng attended school, he would still tremble after one class. However, it continued drizzling outside. He thought of his mother and how she was still working outside.