Sweet Nostalgia of the 80s

”Does it hurt?” Sheng Xiaoguang asked sympathetically, looking at him.

”Isn’t that a stupid question? My butt is made of flesh, not tree bark. How could it not hurt?” Bean Sprout was on the verge of tears. ”I was already in such a bad state, I thought I’d skip school today. But then, my dad forced me to come. However, my mom said she’d secretly take me back home once my dad leaves.”

”Hahaha!” Ning Chenyang, who was in a heavy mood just a moment ago, burst into laughter. ”Looks like you’re the most miserable one.”

”Not him. It’s me!” Sheng Xiaoguang remembered last night’s events and almost cried. ”Last night, my dad kicked me out into the hallway. I thought I’d just have to stand there for ten minutes as a punishment for being naughty. But guess what happened?”

”An hour?”

”No.”

”Two?”

”No.”

”Three?”

”Half the night.” Sheng Xiaoguang said, feeling down. ”I forgot my mom and dad outside the door! Wouldn’t you say I’m pitiful? I’m starting to wonder if I’m even their real child.”

”Ahahaha!” Ning Chenyang and Bean Sprout laughed so hard they doubled over.

”Are you guys competing to see who has it worse?” Wang Xiaohu swaggered over, having heard about what happened the day before. Now he was here to watch the show.

”Wang Xiaohu, you have no sympathy at all.” Bean Sprout glared at him angrily. ”Do you just wish to see us all suffer?”

”Yes! You’re absolutely right. I feel really great seeing you guys get in trouble.” Wang Xiaohu laughed heartily.

Everyone in the military district compound knew he was often the one getting a beating.

His dad had many creative ways to deal with him.

”What a guy!” Sheng Xiaoguang stood up. ”Let’s go, I don’t like him! Seeing him makes my chest hurt.”

”Kid, do you even know where your chest is?” Wang Xiaohu laughed loudly.

The boys behind him also laughed along. The two groups had been rivals for a long time, each hoping the other team would mess up.

Bean Sprout’s face turned pale from the laughter of this group. ”Chenyang, can you still fight? Shouldn’t we team up to teach Wang Xiaohu a lesson?”

”No need.” Ning Chenyang rubbed his sore legs enough and stood up from the ground. ”Wang Xiaohu, do you remember the bet we made yesterday?”

”Bet? What bet?”

”You forgot?” Ning Chenyang smiled. ”Yesterday, on our way to the amusement park, we made a bet. If I couldn’t drive, I’d call you grandpa. But if I could drive, you’d lose. So shouldn’t you call me grandpa now?”

”Huh?” Wang Xiaohu had completely forgotten about this. ”I actually made such a bet with you?”

”Yeah! Don’t play dumb. You’ve already lost. So according to our agreement, you have to call me grandpa in front of all the kids now.” Ning Chenyang said.

”Come on, let’s not do this?” Wang Xiaohu was getting nervous. ”We were just fooling around at the time. You can’t take it seriously.”

”Just because you don’t take it seriously doesn’t mean the rest of us don’t. Ask everyone here if they take it seriously.” Ning Chenyang waved his hand, and all the kids started shouting, ”Wang Xiaohu, keep your word! Call him grandpa! Call him grandpa!”