Joy of Life

The Fan manor was separated into two separate districts. The courtyard was luxurious and the buildings that peppered it were large. There were three study rooms, and the one from which erupted a high scream came from the west side, the side which contained the least security. This was the study room that most were familiar with and that people could get close to. Like the squeal of a pig being slaughtered, the sudden scream was a shock to all.

Two women who were also in the study when Fan Sizhe screamed cried out in fear. Fan Ruoruo and Lin Wan’er looked on in horror and quickly ran towards Fan Xian to tug at his arms. They were afraid that their big brother - or husband - was in the precarious position of kicking Fan Sizhe to death. It was a plausible possibility, given his fury.

In their eyes, Fan Xian always appeared to be a gentle and mature young man. Even though there had been previous bouts of anger and sadness, he had never once looked so frightfully mad. Seeing Fan Xian’s ice cold demeanor made chills ran down their spines. They were clueless as to what Fan Sizhe had actually done wrong, and they made sure to pull at Fan

Xian’s arms and not let him go one step further.

After Teng Zi Jing received the order from Fan Xian to return Fan Sizhe to the manor and study room, the boy was like a cat on a hot tin roof. While contained there, he managed to catch a glimpse of Lady Si Si, to whom he hurriedly requested that a message be brought to his big sister and sister-in-law, asking them to come over at once.

Fan Ruoruo and Lin Wan’er had yet to be made aware of what had happened with the Bao Yue house, and so hearing that Fan Sizhe was calling for their help was an amusing joke. When Fan Xian entered the study room that they were in and brutally kicked Fan Sizhe without warning, they immediately knew something huge had occurred. Both of their faces turned a whiter shade of pale as they looked at Fan Xian, fear contorting both of their faces.

"Let go!" Fan Xian yelled out, with eyes as if they had been frozen for a hundred days. "Father already knows about this, so get your hands off me. I’m not going to kill him."

Fan Sizhe was now lying on the floor amidst a mound of broken wood and splinters, playing dead. He peeped out

out with one eye and was able to see his big brother’s face, now a little more composed and calm, and hearing him state that he wasn’t planning on beating him to death, he felt relieved.

Unexpectedly, however, Fan Xian coldly continued, by saying, "but I am going to cripple the boy."

As he spoke, he escaped the two girls who were grabbing his shoulders. Fan Xian was too mad and couldn’t spare the time to find the family’s book of discipline and so he just grabbed the teapot that was on the table and threw it towards Fan Sizhe

Crunch!

The teapot, full to the brim with hot tea, broke into pieces near the boy, who was continuing to play dead.

The tea went everywhere, as did its broken shards of gla.s.s. Fan Sizhe let out an audible yelp, as some of the tea scorched his face and bits of gla.s.s brought blood to the surface. He couldn’t feign death anymore. He jumped up, crying out loud, and went to hide behind Lin Wan’er. Amidst his tears and screams of fear, you could discern "Big Brother! He’s is going to kill me! Help!"

Lin Wan’er saw her brother-in-law’s face, all bloodied and in shock, and repositioned him behind her. She slowed Fan Xian’s advance, who was directly

was directly in front of her, still seething with rage, and quickly spoke. "What is this? What is going on here? Is this not something we can sort out through a mature and engaged dialogue with one another?"

Fan Xian looked at Fan Sizhe’s fl.u.s.tered face as he hid behind Lin Wan’er. But the anger in his heart did not quell or subside. His mind turned to the wretched deeds Fan Sizhe had committed, and it only stoked the fire. He raised his finger and pointed it towards the cowering child and yelled, "You ask him!! Go on! Ask him what he’s done!"

When Fan Si Zhe attempted to speak, he could only mumble, for a foul metallic taste coated his tongue as he coughed up blood. He hadn’t realised until now how powerful his brother’s kick was, and he wondered if this was how he was to die. In this sudden fright, he mustered the courage to call out amidst his tears and weeping to say, "I just opened the house. Do I have to die for it…? Sister, ah… I don’t think I will live to see the next sunrise… Ah!"

After one last brutal scream, Fan Sizhe could no longer stand straight. He keeled over and fell to the floor in another act toanother act to play dead, which scared the living h.e.l.l out of Lin Wan’er and Fan Ruoruo, who both raced to his aid. They kneeled down before him and began rubbing his temples.

Fan Xian had at the very least been able to release some of his anger today upon the battered boy. As Fan Sizhe once more attempted to play dead, though, he was angry enough to begin laughing in hysteria. He looked back and noticed the door to the study room was still wide open. In the distance, servants of the manor could be seen taking a peek at the events that were transpiring in the room ,and so he approached to close the door. He emotionlessly said, "That kick wouldn’t kill you. So, you better get up."

Fan Sizhe saw how his brother’s face was twisted with rage, and did not dare to stand up. He continued to lie on the floor, hiding behind his sister-in-law and big sister, hoping he could stall long enough for his mother to arrive.

Fan Xian had now taken a seat, and as he sat there, none could pierce the veil created by his expressionless face and think of that which coursed through his mind. Fan Ruoruo pa.s.sed him a cup of tea and gently asked, "What house?"