Chapter 9: What Great Sons He Had

Could he be upset because he thought they were spending too much of his money?

Zhou Chengbei instinctively grabbed his oldest brother’s hand, his innocent face filled with panic and unease.

Zhou Chengdong squeezed his younger brother’s hand and comforted him softly, “It’s fine. As long as I’m here, he won’t hurt you.”

Oblivious to the intense internal drama playing out in their minds, Chen Liyang put away his phone only after fully accepting that he was dead broke.

He then looked at the nervous children with a trace of confusion. “What’s wrong with you guys?”

It wasn’t like he had done anything, had he?

“Don’t worry, I’ll pay you back for everything we spent today,” Zhou Chengdong replied, ignoring his question.

“Aren’t you father and sons? Kids, tell me, is he really your dad?” The shopkeeper felt more and more that something was off. He was a father himself, and this was not how parents and children interacted.

Who ever heard of kids paying back the cost of a meal? For children this young, shouldn’t a father provide for them as a matter of course?

Zhou Chengxi scoffed, “He’s not our dad!”

It was just a bowl of noodles. That was hardly enough to make him acknowledge an enemy as his father.

Seeing that the other kids didn’t dispute it either, the shopkeeper immediately looked at Chen Liyang with deep suspicion. “What is your relationship, exactly? If you don’t tell the truth, I’m calling the police.”

“I really am their father. The kids are just throwing a fit with me,” Chen Liyang explained helplessly.

Why did he get the feeling the shopkeeper was treating him like a human trafficker?

To the shopkeeper, his explanation sounded completely hollow. Without another word, he dialed the police.

“I’ve already called the cops. They’ll be here soon, so don’t even think about running.”

In his past life, Chen Liyang had never once dealt with the police. He hadn’t expected to be so unlucky on his very first day after transmigrating that he’d end up dealing with them.

He couldn’t help looking at the four boys. He had kindly treated them to noodles, and in return, they had handed him such a grand gift on day one. What great sons he had^[1].

The four boys didn’t dare meet Chen Liyang’s gaze. They knew that once the police arrived, their parent-child relationship would be verified immediately.

Yet by doing this, they wanted to send him a clear message.

He wasn’t worthy of being their father, and they couldn’t be bought off so easily with a bowl of noodles.

Chen Liyang hadn’t expected them to admit their relationship out loud in the first place.

Still, the household registry couldn’t lie, so he wasn’t afraid of the police actually arresting him as a human trafficker. It was just that the situation left him feeling deeply frustrated!

The police arrived quickly. The lead officer was a middle-aged man with an imposing air of justice.

Even though Chen Liyang’s face was beaten beyond recognition, the officer recognized him at first glance.

Within his jurisdiction, Chen Liyang had been brought to the police station countless times for brawling.

Just last week, he had been brought in over an argument with a neighbor, given a stern lecture, and made to write a self-criticism letter.

How long had it been, and now a shopkeeper was reporting him again? The officer felt exasperated. “Alright, spill it. What did you mess up this time?”

Before Chen Liyang could answer, the shopkeeper cut in. “Officer, I was the one who called. I suspect he’s a human trafficker. Who knows where he abducted these five children from.”

“I’m innocent! They really are my kids. If you don’t believe me, check our household registry^[2],” Chen Liyang said, aggrieved. But covered in bruises as he was, he looked thoroughly comical.

The officer glanced at the five children beside him. As a frequent guest at the station, Chen Liyang’s family situation was known to him better than anyone, so he naturally knew these were all his stepchildren.

Just as he was about to explain their relationship to the shopkeeper, the shopkeeper spoke up again. “Don’t believe him! The kids admitted it themselves just now; they aren’t father and sons!”

“Did you beat your kids again? Didn’t I tell you that if you dared lay a hand on them again, it wouldn’t end with just a verbal warning?” Ignoring the shopkeeper, the officer stared sternly at Chen Liyang.

To him, if Chen Liyang hadn’t gone too far, the children wouldn’t have denied their relationship in front of an outsider.

His words caught the shopkeeper off guard. As the truth sank in, cold sweat broke out across his forehead. Had he just filed a false police report…?

Chen Liyang shook his head repeatedly. “As Heaven is my witness, Officer, I didn’t hit the kids! These kids just have a problem with me, which is why they refuse to acknowledge me!”

The officer couldn’t actually arrest Chen Liyang over something like this, especially since the five children still needed care and he didn’t seem to be lying.

After giving Chen Liyang a few more words of reprimand, he explained the situation to the shopkeeper and left with the other two officers.

Watching the police leave, the shopkeeper turned awkwardly to Chen Liyang. “Man… buddy, I’m really sorry. I didn’t know you guys were…”

He didn’t finish the sentence. If the police hadn’t confirmed their relationship, he still wouldn’t have believed they were actually father and children.

In all his life, he had never seen a father and children who acted so much like total strangers.

Chen Liyang knew the shopkeeper was only acting out of concern for the five kids, so he didn’t take offense. “You did the right thing. If I really were a human trafficker, you would’ve been the hero who rescued these five children.

“Just… next time you run into something like this, you shouldn’t just take the kids’ word for it.”

With that, he cast a cool glance at the four boys and said flatly, “Let’s go.”

With that, he took Zhou Wanning by the hand again and walked out, the four boys quietly trailing behind.

They could clearly sense that Chen Liyang was angry, giving them the feeling that a storm was brewing.

Truth be told, Chen Liyang was genuinely annoyed.

He had sincerely treated them to noodles without expecting them to appreciate it, only to be bitten in the back, framed as a human trafficker, and left to be interrogated by the police while they watched on.

He didn’t say another word all the way back.

“Big Brother, do you think he’ll beat us when we get back?” Zhou Chengnan whispered to the eldest brother beside him.

At the mention of a beating, Zhou Chengbei’s face turned instantly pale.

Sensing his fourth brother’s panic, Zhou Chengdong gently took his hand. “Big Brother will protect you.”

His voice was very quiet, yet strangely reassuring.

With his eldest brother’s reassurance, Zhou Chengbei’s heart finally stopped racing so wildly.

The four of them followed behind Chen Liyang, each harboring their own thoughts, remaining silent the entire way.

They were already mentally prepared for the coming storm. They were grown now, at an age where they could fight back if Chen Liyang actually dared to lay a hand on them.

This time, they would not sit by and wait to be beaten. They refused to believe the four of them couldn’t take down one man.

By now, darkness had fallen completely.

The dim lights by the roadside stretched their shadows long, making the atmosphere feel exceptionally heavy.

Once they got home, Chen Liyang turned to look at the four brothers, his expression deadly serious. “I know that because of everything in the past, you hold deep prejudices against me. But no matter what, I am your father in name.

“Even if you refuse to acknowledge that status, I am your father until the day I die.

“I don’t want to hear anyone say I’m not your father ever again.”