Chapter 373
The two children hadn't realized just how stupid they were yet.
Soon, they were chattering away in discussion.
They even said it was so simple that he had learned it in just two days.
Fang Bowen thought Zhou Zehan was already dumb enough, but he didn't expect Jiang Jiu to be even dumber.
Even after explaining it so clearly, he still didn't know how to play.
Unable to stand Zhou Zehan's smug look, he walked over and placed a white piece to block the spot where the Second Child was feeling so triumphant.
The Second Child was just a beginner. Being blocked all of a sudden left him completely dumbfounded.
He had finally managed to connect four pieces, only to be blocked to death.
This really put him in a tough spot.
Fang Bowen won in just a few moves.
The Second Child refused to accept defeat and asked for another round.
Fang Bowen also got interested, sitting on the ground to play with him.
In the end, Zhou Zehan proudly achieved a ten-game losing streak.
He lost so badly he practically lost his shirt.
When Zhou Zedong returned, he was a bit surprised to see the three children at the door.
The Second Child and Jiang Jiu made sense, but why was Fang Bowen there too?
Compared to Fang Bowen's upright sitting posture, his younger brother and Jiang Jiu were kneeling and sprawling on the ground.
Their poses were more bizarre than the other.
Feeling puzzled, he walked over and asked in a low voice, "What are you doing?"
"Brother, brother, you're finally back!"
The Second Child was on the verge of tears. If he lost this round, it would be an eleven-game losing streak. How could he face anyone in the future?
Fang Bowen was even a year younger than him!
"We're playing a board game, help me beat him quickly!"
"If you win, I'll give you all my pocket money!"
Jiang Jiu chimed in, "Yeah, we'll give you all our pocket money!"
Zhou Zedong glanced over. "Gomoku?"
"Brother, you know Gomoku?"
Zhou Zedong nodded.
Zhou Zehan wondered, "Then why didn't I know about it?"
If it weren't for his sister reading a book on chess, he wouldn't even know there were all sorts of board games.
"Then do you know how to play, brother?"
Zhou Zedong shook his head, "Never played it."
Seeing disappointment written all over his brother's face, he asked again, "All your pocket money?"
He remembered that his brother had made quite a bit of money selling rabbits.
Jiang Jiu's family was also very rich.
A glint flashed in Zhou Zedong's eyes.
Zhou Zehan nodded repeatedly. "Yes, but you have to beat him."
Feeling quite embarrassed, he leaned close to his brother's ear and whispered, "I've already lost ten times. Don't tell Mom."
Zhou Zedong was speechless.
You actually have the nerve to say that.
Seeing Zhou Zedong, Fang Bowen's previously relaxed expression suddenly turned serious.
His posture stiffened a bit.
For some reason, he felt an inexplicable sense of oppression from Zhou Zehan's older brother.
He always felt he was very intimidating.
In the past, Fang Bowen didn't quite understand why he felt this way, but later he figured it out.
It was the aura exuded by someone stronger than him.
He could easily beat Zhou Zehan, but even if he tried his best, he probably couldn't beat Zhou Zedong.
But why was it that, deep down, he felt more excitement than fear?
Fang Bowen couldn't really explain this feeling.
But he didn't hate it; he even looked forward to it a little.
Zhou Zedong put down his backpack, sat over, and started playing against Fang Bowen.
Although they were assigned to the same class, he didn't interact much with Fang Bowen. He only knew this kid was very smart.
The knowledge he learned at seven was much more than what Zhou Zedong learned at ten.
Compared to peers of his age, he was indeed outstanding.
But Zhou Zedong felt he was a bit too eager for success, like pulling up seedlings to help them grow.
Of course, this wasn't something he cared about.
It was just that his idiot younger brother was being bullied like this, and as an older brother, he couldn't just turn a blind eye. It definitely wasn't for his brother's pocket money.
The two held white and black pieces respectively.
Gomoku was the simplest game; just hearing the name and taking a casual look was enough to learn it.
The difficulty lay entirely with the opponent.
Although it was Zhou Zedong's first time playing, his moves were very steady.
The two went back and forth, neither giving an inch.
Who knows how much time had passed. The Second Child and Jiang Jiu were watching until their eyelids grew heavy, yet the two of them still hadn't determined a winner.
The speed of their moves also grew slower and slower.
Si Nian was just wondering why the kids hadn't come home yet. The moment she stepped out, she almost tripped over them.
However, before she could speak, another sharp female voice rang out first: "Fang Bowen, what are you doing?"
Fang Bowen was startled, and the white piece in his hand clattered onto the board, messing up the game.
Zhou Zedong withdrew his gaze and looked up at him, seeing his face full of terror.
Only then did he realize that they had forgotten the time while playing; it was almost six o'clock.
Fang Hui, with a dark face, came over, yanked Fang Bowen up, and said angrily, "Who told you to sit on the ground and play? Why didn't you go home when you arrived?"
"Have you finished your homework? The tutor is coming to teach soon, and you haven't practiced your piano either. I'll teach you to be so playful!"
She smacked Fang Bowen heavily on the bottom twice.
The Second Child and Jiang Jiu were scared wide awake from their drowsiness. With a shudder, they hurriedly hid behind Zhou Zedong.
They were afraid that Fang Hui would beat them too in her anger.
They just didn't understand why Fang Bowen's mother was so agitated and even hit people. Fang Bowen's mother was so scary.
Fang Bowen admitted his mistake with a pale little face, "Mom, I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have been playing around."
He felt a bit remorseful. How could he have been so playful that he forgot the time?
He originally planned to play for a little while and then go back, so his mom wouldn't notice.
But playing against Zhou Zedong was so engrossing that he lost track of time.
Seeing Zhou Zehan and Jiang Jiu looking at him in terror, he lowered his head and bit his lip, a sense of humiliation welling up inside him.
After her anger subsided, Fang Hui finally realized she was being stared at by so many people.
She withdrew her hand, put on a cold face, and said in a deep voice, "Go back."
Fang Bowen didn't dare say another word. He quickly put on his backpack and ran home without looking back.
Fang Hui then smiled and said, "I'm really sorry, Teacher Si. Did I scare you? I was just too worried. After all, you know what happened to my son a while ago. Sigh, I'm busy with work and sometimes don't have time to pick him up. He usually comes home on time. Since it was getting so late today and he hadn't come back, I got a bit worried. I didn't expect him to be right at the door."
Si Nian couldn't even be bothered to keep up appearances with her anymore.
In her eyes, Fang Hui was just like the parents from her own era in the future, wishing they could treat their children like spinning tops, keeping them spinning twenty-four hours a day.
No wonder Fang Bowen got sick. With a mother like this, it would be strange if the child didn't fall ill.
Although she was also puzzled as to why Fang Bowen was playing with her sons at the door, Fang Hui's actions were truly extreme.
"So you were worried about your child. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were abusing him. Even as a stepmother, I wouldn't be able to casually beat and scold a six or seven-year-old child the way Miss Fang does."
Fang Hui's expression twisted for a moment before she smiled and said, "I heard these children aren't your biological kids. Naturally, you wouldn't understand the worry we biological mothers feel for our children."