IDYTRAA - Chapter 96

Chapter 96 Classic danmei manhua scene

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Thank you for the Ko-fi and review on NU unicorn squad! Much appreciated! Muah~ this story gets so much hate on NU (ToT) It's good to see a positive review.

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Pan Lei finished running quickly but the others were slow. Leizi’s father and two uncles were all in their sixties. They were panting and sweating profusely as they ran laps. Their clothes were saturated in perspiration. They were envious and jealous of Pan Lei, and glared at him as if he were a small Jap who had invaded China.

You’re such a good kid, ah! You were scot-free after only 5-6 laps, your sweetheart offered you water and a towel to wipe your sweat, and you even showed off your love in front of us! Why are you so unfilial?

The story about the Pan men running laps spread like wildfire. The guards and residents of the military compound all gave them funny looks. These veteran soldiers in their sixties had never lost so much face. As time passed, an increasing number of people arrived to witness the show. Could there be anything more humiliating than running around in circles?

And the most annoying was… Can you guess it? As they passed political commissar Old Wang’s residence, the young Wang lady was cheering them on…

“Uncle Pan, jiayou^[1]!”  

Father Pan was so enraged that he sneered. This type of girl who casts meaningful glances at a married man would never be able to enter our family in her entire life!

While running, he whimpered like a small puppy.

Tian Yuan chuckled before coughing. He couldn’t say such things about his father-in-law. ‘Father-in-law is tired like a dog. Pan Lei is a dog.’

Pan Lei had completed his laps, but Pan Ge had to go 20 laps, and Father Pan had to run a dozen laps as well. They had to run since Grandpa Pan was monitoring them with a whip in hand.

Grandpa Pan stood majestically and lashed his whip to indicate that he was keeping an eye on who was running slowly. He scared the group into hastening their pace. It would be a disgrace to be beaten by the old man at their age.

“Pan Ge, quicken your pace! Did you miss your meals? You can’t even pass your father! How can you carry on our family’s excellent tradition?”

The old guy roared at Pan Ge as he passed by, turning the handle of the whip in his hand. His voice was so strong that he didn't sound like a man in his nineties.

Forget about anything else. He'd live to be 100 just by the sound of his voice.

Pan Ge almost howled in grief. Dear Grandpa, your eyes aren’t all for show, right? I’ve passed my father twice. I’m three laps ahead of him QAQ

He gave Pan Lei a fierce stare. You filthy scumbag! Look at how your second brother is being tortured to death!

Pan Lei averted his gaze. Second brother, I won’t feel guilty if I don’t look at you. Recall the two years you spent in the special forces and run.

Pan Ge turned to face Tian Yuan. Are you also devoid of conscience? Have you forgotten how much your second brother helped you?

Tian Yuan couldn’t stand Pan Ge’s begging eyes. While Grandpa Pan was distracted, he swiftly lowered his voice and requested that Pan Lei intercede.

“Hurry up and think of a way quickly. These are men in their sixties. Are you really going to let them run twenty kilometers?”

They were too pitiful to bear. They were sweating buckets and running while carrying a 25kg load on their backs. The more they ran, the heavier it felt. Was it necessary to torment people like this?

“Grandpa, let Tian’er supervise. I’ll bring you back. It’s time for you to eat breakfast. Didn’t mom warn you? Regular meals are good for your health.”

The old man appeared to be exhausted. He must be exhausted. After all, he stayed up until midnight yesterday playing Mahjong and awoke early this morning to supervise the cross-country runners. He was almost ninety years old. How could he bear it?

Grandpa Pan handed the whip to Tian Yuan.

“If they don’t run fast enough, just hit them. Grandpa is granting you this privilege.”

The old man waved his hand to dissuade Pan Lei from escorting him. He returned by himself, escorted by a guard.

He was kidding, right? Except for Ling Si’er, everyone else was older than him. Which of his father, two uncles, and two older brothers did he dare to hit?

Tian Yuan hurriedly tossed the whip into a thicket down the road. Just then, Father Pan appeared.

“Dad, take a break. Grandpa has returned home. Just go for a walk and go back.”

Father Pan abruptly came to a halt, moaning, "I'm so tired." He felt the backpack weighed 100kgs after jogging twelve laps. He was completely fatigued. His bodyguard dashed over to get him towels and water.

He couldn't return right away. He would have to wait for at least ten minutes. Otherwise, Grandpa Pan would know he was a slacker.

The two uncles also came to a halt and gathered to complain. The old man is becoming increasingly terrifying. While harassing his children and grandchildren, he doesn't even blink. While fighting the Japanese devils, the army always marched quickly, even trekking 200 kilometers in one night. It wasn't a smart idea, though, to train them as if they were in their twenties and thirties. They were getting elderly and couldn't take any more of this.

Pan Ge nearly collapsed and couldn't get up. He despised his terrible luck the night before. He had completed twenty laps and was quite exhausted.

The Pans were a large family, and anytime they got together, something entertaining was guaranteed to happen. Every time, it would be the highlight of the military compound.

The eldest daughter of political commissar Wang's family had been thinking about Pan Lei for a long time. She'd heard he was supposed to arrive yesterday, but despite keeping her eyes peeled all day, she hadn't seen him. She couldn't go looking for Pan Lei in front of so many people because it was a Pan family gathering. Finally, in the morning, she noticed the Pan men jogging laps. Miss Wang put on her most beautiful attire and stood at her front door, hoping to greet Pan Lei.

Pan Lei walked around the military compound, holding Tian Yuan's hand. He refused to keep it hidden. He always held Tian Yuan's hand, no matter who he met. When he encountered a familiar face, he would greet them. It went somewhat like this:

“Oh! Good morning, uncle Wang. Who is this man? He’s my beloved. Tian’er, this is uncle Wang from the general staff department. Call him ‘Uncle’.”

“Uncle Zhang, I haven’t seen you in a long time. How are you doing? This is my partner. He works at the city’s No.1 hospital. If you ever need medical assistance, go to him. Tian’er, uncle Zhang is Zhang Hui’s father. Hurry up and call him ‘uncle’.”

“Good morning, aunt Lin. Is Lin Mu back? Aunt Lin, isn’t my baby a handsome young man?”

Pan Lei was on a “show off” spree. He introduced Tian Yuan to everyone he came across. Look, this is my lover. My husband is handsome, young and promising. He has a good temper.

He made no attempt to disguise his lover's identity. He didn't care if they liked it or not. It was up to them whether they accepted or not. He simply wanted to inform everyone that he had a boyfriend and that he was more important to him than anyone else. I will not allow even a minor injustice to befall him, nor will I allow anyone to disparage him. Don't hurt him if you're my friend. I adore him. I want everyone to know who my lover is.

Tian Yuan felt a little embarrassed at first. He was not an extroverted person who made a point of greeting strangers. Pan Lei introducing him in this manner confused him at first, but he gradually grew accustomed to it. He had nothing to conceal. His mother-in-law and father-in-law were extremely gracious to him. Everyone in the family had acknowledged them. They wanted to spend the rest of their lives with one other since they were so in love. Were they meant to say "this is my friend" every time they saw someone they knew? He was a man, and they were both men, but they loved each other. Love was love, regardless of color, gender, or country. Since he liked him, he should declare ‘I love this man’.

As a result, he straightened his back. Whoever Pan Lei introduced him to, he would address them nicely and according to Pan Lei's remarks.

Pan Lei noticed Miss Wang standing at the door of political commissar Wang's residence like a little flower blooming early in the morning.

It would be bad if she called out. He must hide! Damn! Why did I walk over here?! I don’t want Tian Yuan to be jealous just yet!

In an instant, he made a fast 180-degree turn to return the way they had come.

Tian Yuan was perplexed. What was the problem?

“Oh! Is it faster to get home from here?"

Pan Lei covered his eyes.

"Ahhhh, Tian'er, please help me! Come here and see. I think a small flying insect has entered my eye."

Tian Yuan rapidly shoved him against the small stone stool by the roadside and raised his chin.

"Don't rub it. Be careful of infection. Let me see."

In the evening, there were a lot of little insects flying around. How is it possible for him to have a small flying insect in his eyes? It's early in the morning.

At this point, they were very close to each other.

Pan Lei raised his chin, as if requesting a kiss. Tian Yuan softly raised his jaw and leaned up. The rising sun filtered through the foliage and mist to create a lovely glow on them. A tall rogue was in the same frame as a gentle and elegant man. It was a lovely scenario, like something out of a classic manhua. Of course, this was the classic picture in a Danmei manhua.

In the early morning light, the two of them kissed.

Miss Wang, who had trotted over, came to an abrupt halt.

Pan Lei opened one eye slightly and cast a sidelong glance. She was a lovely young lady, but she had read far too many fairy tales. She had spent a lot of time as a child playing with him, which caused her to fall into fantasy and be unable to get out of it. He'd come out of the closet a long time ago, but the girl was dead set on him and fantasized about Pan Lei driving a Hummer and snatching her away. Sorry - marry home. Pan Lei mentioned he liked males eight hundred times, but the girl was not enlightened. Why did he refuse to return home? On the one hand, the people at home were just too frightening. Every time he returned, they messed around. On the other hand, he wanted to avoid Miss Wang.

Pan Lei wrapped his arms around Tian Yuan's waist and drew him into his embrace. Tian Yuan pressed up against him.

"Don't make trouble. Let me take another look. It is extremely difficult to handle when small flying insects enter the eyes. If it is not handled well, keratitis^[2] can easily occur."

"Baby, I think it’s lucky to kiss you like this."

Pan Lei opened his eyes, smirked at him, placed one hand on his nape, one on his waist, gazed up, and kissed him.

Regardless of who was watching, his family's husband was taking good care of him, which made him pleased. As a result, he desired to kiss him. He had wanted to put on a show for Miss Wang at the time, but now he couldn't stop himself. They rushed out of bed this morning, and he hadn't yet received his good morning kiss.

Tian Yuan leaned against his arms, his legs splayed. This posture was quite difficult to maintain. Pan Lei continued to kiss him and wouldn't let go. He caressed him since kissing wasn't enough. Tian Yuan was kissed as soon as he took a breath.

The timing and location were incorrect; otherwise, it would have progressed to an X-rated level.

It was so hot, you could see the crackling sparks between them.

Miss Wang, who had previously refused to believe, now believed - Pan Lei had a boyfriend. Pan Lei adored him and was passionately kissing him.

Miss Wang covered her mouth, turned around, and ran away in tears.

A girl with long hair wore a tiny skirt and cried like raindrops on a flower in the early morning.

Tian Yuan wanted to slap him to death. He’s acting so wildly early in the morning! He pulled Pan Lei away, took a step back, and gasped, his face reddened. He was ready to reprimand Pan Lei for being a beast when he noticed a girl stare at them with resentment, and run away crying.

Tian Yuan sneered and stepped onto the stone stool. He had learned this action from Pan Lei, who liked to put his foot on chairs and act like a bandit.

He yanked on Pan Lei's collar.

"Be honest with me. Do you owe that girl anything romantically?"

"Heaven and earth are my witnesses. My heart is yours, my body is yours, everything I have is yours. How can I wrong you? This is a simple matter. You should be aware that your man will be followed by bees and butterflies since he is so handsome and charming. But I assure you that I’m devoted to you. Except for you, any man or woman is a piece of trash in my eyes."

"Don't try to trick me with lovely words. I'm going to warn you, Pan Lei. If you dare to wrong me, the scalpels Lin Mu provided me are quite simple to use. I'll go to the pharmacy and get you some sedatives, then I'll practice my knife skills."

Pan Lei gave him a flattering smile, took him in his arms, and sat him sideways on his legs.

"Honey, don't speak such things about our family's separation and devastation this early in the morning. We can't be that bloodthirsty. We should mix like oil and honey. It's our honeymoon period. Kindness and love is the right way."

No one could play tricks on him. Pan Lei was not at all serious, yet he always managed to make Tian Yuan laugh. His rage just poofed away.

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Footnotes:

[1] Come on!

[2] Inflammation of the cornea.

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Translator:

Our Tian'er has changed so much after meeting Leizi. He has learned to act like a bandit as well😂

ATTENTION PLEASE! I'm busy editing IDYTRAA chapters. The earlier chapters were terrible. I cringed when I read them. I've edited Chapters 45 to 60 as of 23th August. New chapter will be released once I'm done editing. 

Edit: 3rd Sep: Finished editing till Chapter 80. 

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IDYTRAA - Chapter 95

Chapter 95 The Pan men run together

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The Mahjong battle lasted until midnight. Grandpa Pan couldn't keep on much longer. He was about 90 years old and had begun playing Mahjong in the afternoon and continued until midnight. He'd lost a lot of money at the table. He was left with a balance of three laps after adding and deducting them, which he found quite satisfactory.

That night's dinner was actually midnight snacks. No one left after eating. Tian Yuan was still on vacation. Pan Lei had discussed it with him beforehand, and they had agreed to stay. He wanted Tian Yuan to see his room in the days before he became a soldier.

Fortunately, there were plenty of available rooms, so they could all stay over.

Grandpa Pan waved his hand before retiring to bed.

"Children, get out of bed early tomorrow and start the heavy load cross-country run at six."

Even if they went to bed immediately, starting at six o'clock in the morning meant they could only sleep for around five hours.

There was a large bed draped in a green army quilt. Except for when he was in college, Tian Yuan had never used a quilt like this.

Pan Lei spread the quilt across the bed and climbed in with Tian Yuan. While lying on his bed, he had his hands wrapped over his boyfriend. His heart was bursting at the seams with excitement.

The military quilt was intended for a single individual. Now there were two mature males lying together, digging into the quilt. To be honest, it was a little uncomfortable. The quilt would be displaced as soon as one of them rolled over. Tian Yuan was afraid to move. He was stiff, and he pushed Pan Lei.

"Get yourself another quilt. I feel uncomfortable sharing it with you."

"How is it possible for a couple to not sleep together? Go to bed. I'm going to wrap my arms around you."

"The quilt will fall if one of us turns over."

"The quilt is small, but I have a good idea."

Pan Lei grinned mischievously and devised another evil scheme.

He grabbed Tian Yuan's arm and yanked him to his chest, causing their chests, lower abdomens, and little heads to stick together. Was it conceivable to sleep like this? Stuck together?

Pan Lei had long desired to sleep with Tian Yuan in this manner. He could hear Tian Yuan's heartbeat because of the close physical contact. He could caress Tian'er's back and even feel his little brother when he dropped his hand. What a great position!

Pan Lei had always wanted to try it. His hubby was thin-skinned. With the exception of "that" time, he never sat on his body. Tian Yuan sat on his lap and moved around only when he was lost in his desire.

This level of stimulus was too much for Tian Yuan. He was going to flee in a panic the instant their little brothers touched.

Pan Lei, however, clutched him in his arms while breathing heavily.

"My parents are sleeping next door. If you want them to know how loving we are, feel free to move about."

Tian Yuan was terrified and instantly stopped squirming. It would be preferable to return home for that kind of thing.

"Darling, honey, can you please go to sleep? The Pan family's old and young men will be running together tomorrow. Heh heh! What lovely scenery that will be! The commander-in-chief is so old and he is still required to run as punishment. Hah! The men under his command will be overjoyed to see it. They have always been the ones that observe soldiers in training. It is now their turn."

He only caressed Tian Yuan's back, not daring to touch him for fear of catching fire. He didn't dare to consider it. Despite the fact that his sweetheart was in his arms and his body was glued to himself, the thought of his parents sleeping next door made him abandon any notions of fooling around.

They should return home. There was nothing they could do in the military compound.

Tian Yuan fell asleep, his breaths full of Pan Lei's scent, which he found the most soothing.

Pan Lei carefully laid him down and spooned him. Tian Yuan slept soundly in Pan Lei’s arms. He was securely wrapped in the comforter, his head pillowed on Pan Lei's arm. In other words, the single quilt was insufficient. One of them stood 1.89 meters tall. It was obviously difficult for two men to fit within a single quilt. Tian Yuan was shielded by Pan Lei's warm body. Tian Yuan wouldn't be cold at all thanks to Pan Lei's warmth and the quilt.

Pan Lei had draped the majority of the quilt over Tian Yuan. He had half of his body exposed to the night air.

His physical fitness was excellent. So it didn't matter if he didn't have a quilt. But the next day, he'd urge his mother to replace it with a large, thick double duvet, so that no matter how much they rolled around, it wouldn't be a problem.

His biggest concern was ensuring Tian Yuan had a good night's sleep.

Pan Lei was overjoyed. As he saw his beloved Tian Yuan fall asleep, he couldn't help but kiss him.

"Baby, I love you so much."

He stepped in through the door^[1] with his sweetheart and introduced him to his parents and relatives, receiving blessings from everyone. It was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

They were sound asleep, the sun had just begun to rise on the horizon, when they were startled awake by a piercing whistle, common in the army.

Pan Lei's body reacted the instant he heard it. He jolted Tian Yuan, who was dozing in his arms.

"It's time to get up, baby. Hurry up."

When Pan Lei woke Tian Yuan, who was deliriously asleep, he was perplexed. Who gets up at such an ungodly hour?

Pan Lei had already leaped out of bed and started changing into his military gear, which consisted of camouflage off-road uniform, high-top military boots, a black vest, and finger-less leather gloves.

Sounds were heard from the other rooms as well. A check out the window revealed that all of the lights in the house were turned on.

Grandpa Pan's words last night were as authoritative as an imperial decree. They had to be completed first thing in the morning.

Pan Lei grabbed Tian Yuan's clothes and assisted him in dressing.

"Hurry up, little ancestor! At this speed and state, the enemy would have breached by now. You haven't even put on your pants yet. Stretch out your arms."

He assisted Tian Yuan into the T-shirt, brought him the pants, and helped him put his legs in.

"Wear it on your own. I'll get you a pair of socks and sneakers."

His mother had always been hesitant to get rid of his belongings. Tian Yuan's feet were three sizes smaller than his. He should be able to wear the shoes he wore when he was 16 or 17.

Pan Lei eventually found a pair of white sneakers and socks after rummaging around. Tian Yuan was still fumbling with the belt when he turned around. Tian Yuan had low blood pressure and was often dizzy when he awoke. Even if he was pressed for time, his actions could not be quick.

Pan Lei swiftly buckled his belt, pressed him on the bed, put on socks for him, and then assisted him in putting on his shoes. He tightened his shoelaces since the shoes were too big.

"Pan Lei, what did you do to Tian Yuan last night, huh? Hehe, why can’t he get up? The enemy is already at the door!"

Pan Ge yelled out in the yard.

"Coming, coming!"

Pan Lei squatted and fastened the shoelaces tightly, tugging Tian Yuan and running out.

The yard was brightly lit, and everyone stood at attention.

Grandpa Pan stood aside, clad in a moon white satin kungfu outfit, while the others wore field uniforms. Pan Zhan and Pan Ge had also changed into their field uniforms from their time as soldiers. Pan Lei dragged Tian Yuan and joined them.

Everyone stood at attention, their posture ramrod straight and chests puffed out, ready to accept Old Man Pan’s inspection.

"Pan Lei failed the roll call today. He dragged his feet, and it took five minutes after the whistle blew for him to report. He'll be shot dead if he moves so slowly during an enemy attack. Pan Lei, as punishment, you will run three laps while carrying your 25-kilogram rucksack. Those who lost at Mahjong yesterday will complete the laps as planned."

Grandpa Pan had spent his entire life commanding men and exuded awe. They had to obey the command regardless of their current rank.

"Tian Yuan, get out of the line. The rest of you, turn left and start running."

Tian Yuan was finally sober. It was strange that he was the only one spared, while the others began their cross-country run with a heavy load.

"Tian Yuan, you cannot be treated like them. They’ve been on the front lines for a long time. They are physically fit and can run 20 laps, but you haven't done this type of training. Let's not join in the fun with them. Come along with Grandpa and be a supervisor. If anyone runs slowly, lash him with a whip."

It was then Tian Yuan noticed the old man was carrying a riding whip in his hand.

His back started hurting all of a sudden. Grandpa is so old. How does he have the energy to continue tossing people?

The old man laughed out loud making Tian Yuan secretly rejoice that he could escape this torture. He walked briskly behind the old man.

The military area compound was not large, but it still took around ten minutes to run around it, not to mention carrying a backpack weighing twenty five kilograms.

It was already well past dawn. People in the military area compound got up early. They would usually get up at six o'clock. It was a good habit instilled in them by the army, and the majority of individuals exercised first thing in the morning.

They were astounded to see three generations of the Pan family sprinting along the path with training backpacks.

They also saw the gentle young man who accompanied Old Man Pan on his walk.

Grandpa Pan naturally knew everyone. Whenever he passed by a soldier, they saluted this old chief and wished him a good morning. The old man seemed to enjoy it.

It was no surprise that someone knowledgeable with the Pan family's collective training would taunt the old guy, and the old man would reply in kind.

Guards and patrol personnel were stationed at each intersection. When they saw the group of leaders carrying backpacks and going cross-country, they all stood at attention and saluted them.

Tian Yuan recalled what Pan Lei had said the night before. The soldiers must be thrilled to see their leaders training hard. They were usually the ones who ordered others to train to death. But it was now their turn. It made no difference whether they were a commander, a general, or a major. There was no way out. Grandpa Pan had ordered them to run, so they had no choice but to run. If they couldn’t run, Grandpa Pan, who was following them with a whip, would lash the whip at anyone who dared to stop.

Pan Ge despised Pan Lei the most at this point. What kind of stupid notion did he have? Running twenty laps? Wasn’t this just killing him? He'd been the director of the Public Security Bureau for many years and had long since retired as a special soldier. This degree of intense training was too much for him.

Pan Lei was the fastest runner. Despite the fact that he was fined three laps, he was used to this type of training. It was, in reality, a piece of cake for him. He finished his run swiftly.

Tian Yuan, who was following in Grandpa Pan’s footsteps, was a little distressed when he noticed him sweating profusely.

"Hurry up and wipe off your sweat."

Fortunately, he did not enlist in the army. This kind of rigorous training was too much for him.

Pan Lei's backpack was taken by a guard. The towel and water in Tian Yuan's hand proved useful. Pan Lei wiped his brow, grabbed the water bottle, and gulped it down.

"It feels great to sweat after working out. It feels so good to go back and have breakfast after taking a shower. Tian'er, come run with me in the future."

Tian Yuan desperately shook his head. He didn't want to run. It was too exhausting. He wouldn't be able to withstand it if he trained like Pan Lei.

“Exercise is beneficial for young people. They can only be active at work if their physical fitness is high. Take Tian Yuan to exercise more often in the future, Leizi. You should run a few laps with him while he runs.”

Tian Yuan believed that in the future, such family reunions should be reduced. Did they truly want him to run? He'd be exhausted and paralyzed if he ran with 25 kilograms on his back, right?

Treat myself so harshly early in the morning and then work all day? He didn’t want to live anymore.

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Footnotes:

[1] Another way of saying “got married”.

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Translator:

Did you guys watch the Tokyo Olympics? Hope you had as much fun as I did.

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IDYTRAA - Chapter 94

Chapter 94 The Mahjong Conference

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Eating was not important, drinking was not important. Everyone sped up for the upcoming face off. Mom picked up vegetables for Tian Yuan, and Pan Lei was responsible for sweeping the rest into Tian Yuan's bowl. Within minutes, the food in his bowl had piled up into a small hill.

“This is good, it’s high in protein. That's also good, it’s your favorite. Where’re the spare ribs? Grandpa, can you pass me the ribs? Tian'er likes them best.”

Pan Lei was busy plundering. He stood up and piled dishes on Tian Yuan's plate one after the other.

"Eat more, alright? I don't know when the next meal will be served."

Tian Yuan wanted to roar at him. Let Laozi sit and eat peacefully. This is not a gathering of bandits! They were not in the era of famines. Was there any need to rob?

No one at the table cared about Pan Lei's predation. He speeded up his movements and continued stuffing Tian Yuan's bowl with food.

"Eat quickly, don't be embarrassed. That’s it! Eating is the same as fighting."

Mama Pan comforted her new son, and gave him a piece of braised fish in passing.

A table of food, plus drinking and eating, finished in just half an hour.

The servants hurriedly cleaned up. The guards had already set up three mahjong tables in the living room by pushing aside the sofa and moving the coffee table. Three mahjong sets and a small box containing a deck of playing cards were arranged on the tables.

Pan Ge had been delayed and arrived quite late. He had barely finished drinking a bowl of soup when he was called over to join the fun.

Grandpa Pan, Pan Lei, Tian Yuan, and Pan Ge sat at a table and began playing Mahjong.

The three elders of the Pan family and Pan Zhan sat at the adjoining table.

Grandma Pan and her three daughters-in-law sat around the third table.

Sister Pan had no choice but to go sit on the sofa and play cards with Ling Si'er.

Since all players were in place, the battle began in earnest.

The generals removed their jackets and unbuttoned the top buttons of their green shirts, relaxing completely.

Wasn’t this crowd gambling?

It was clear no one would dare to come over and catch these gamblers. Every member could make the police poop their pants...

Tian Yuan was usually inundated with work, and was not very good at playing cards and such. Pan Lei spent most of his time in the army, and when he was idle, he more often than not spent time with his fellow soldiers, or played “Fight the landlord”.

There was not a single member in the Pan family who couldn't play Mahjong. It might sound unbelievable but just a look at the present situation was enough to confirm this. Even the youngest member, Ling Si’er, was having fun.

"Peng^[a]. West Wind."

The old man threw a tile and looked up at Tian Yuan.

"Leizi said earlier that you were kidnapped a few days ago. What happened? How did the society outside become so messed up? How could a good doctor encounter such a thing?"

Pan Lei drew and discarded one tile.

Tian Yuan was sitting next to him and could scoop up all the tiles sent his way. Pan Lei said he wanted to win against Grandpa, and the two of them had to work together. Tian Yuan quickly picked up and dealt the tiles.

"Peng. Jiu tiao^[b]. Grandpa, it’s nothing. A lady passed away due to the negligence of a doctor in our hospital. To be honest, that man is quite pitiful. Strictly speaking, I was at fault. The dean promoted me to be the deputy director. I had a competitor. My promotion frustrated my colleague and she delayed the operation. The situation was critical and the patient died. The husband could not bear the blow and acted wildly. If that man has a good lawyer, I don’t think he’ll get a long jail sentence. After all, he has a two-year-old child. It's too pitiful."

Pan Ge discarded a tile.

"That woman in your hospital is a monster. She has angered everyone and still has the gall to cry."

Grandpa Pan played a tile.

“Third daughter-in-law, quickly find a job for Tian Yuan at the Armed Police Hospital. No matter which hospital or people, no one can bully our family.”

Dang Hong was also busy at the adjoining table.

"Dad, our family’s Tian Yuan doesn't like to be nepotistic. Give him some time. I will reserve the position for him. He can come over whenever he wants."

Eldest Uncle, who was sitting diagonally opposite to her, was the next to speak.

"Pan Ge, how do you plan to deal with that doctor? You can't keep such a doctor to endanger society."

Pan Lei continued giving tiles to Tian Yuan, letting Tian Yuan grab a Kong^[c].

"The doctor has an ambiguous relationship with the director of surgery. Bah, she’s a little mistress raised by the old man. I heard that she took a leave of absence saying she was frightened and shocked."

Grandma Pan slammed the table, making the entire table shake.

"The nerve of this woman! She dares run over my precious grandson because of her backer? Pan Ge, when you deal with this matter, you must deal with it seriously. Don’t let that woman get away."

Tian Yuan grabbed a Kong and pushed a tile.

"I’ve won."

Pan Ge and Grandpa Pan paid him the money. Pan Lei grinned. Winning more than a hundred at a time? His family’s darling was very lucky.

"This is an internal affair of the hospital. I don't know how the dean will deal with it."

Father Pan was also pissed off. Someone had dared to bully a member of the Pan family. Humph! If they have the ability, let’s cross swords and see who has the better support!

"That damned woman! Call the Health Bureau and let them intervene in this matter. This kind of woman shouldn’t be allowed to practice as a doctor. The Health Bureau will revoke her medical qualifications."

Dang Hong agreed, and threw a tile. Grandma Pan won the game. She collected the money, smiling like a flower, and went on.

"Just revoking her qualifications is not enough. She must be held legally responsible."

Eldest Uncle laid his tiles on the table. He had won the round.

"All-in-one dragon^[d]. Pay up! Pay up! Sue her for jeopardizing social harmony, disrupting public order, and negligence of duty."

Second Uncle lost more than fifty dollars in one fell swoop and fumed. He was more furious when he heard the others discuss this matter.

"Sue the heck out of this little mistress and lock her up for a few years."

Grandpa Pan was the most ruthless.

"If we were at war, I would’ve tied her up with explosives and tossed her at the Japanese Military Headquarters. At least she could’ve made a little contribution."

The three older Pan brothers laughed out loud. They had clearly learned arrogance from their parents.

At last, the matter was crystal clear to Tian Yuan. The Pan family was a bandit den. None of them were good.

Grandma Pan gave the final order.

"Regarding this matter, Pan Ge, you are in charge of interrogation. Pan Zhan, find a good lawyer to sue the woman. Pan Lei, you brat, protect Tian Yuan from now on. He is a talented man and gentle in conduct. He doesn't have your skills and has never experienced war or violence. He is an ordinary, good child. You must take good care of him. Brat, the next time I see him, if he’s lost weight, I will make you suffer the military regulations."

A lot of matters about the Pan family were discussed at the Mahjong table. The family was gathered around the three tables. There was no obstacle to the conversation. Everyone expressed their own opinions and after arriving at a decision, it was the duty of the juniors to implement it.

They were not ignoring Tian Yuan, but attaching great importance to him. The family gathering had turned into a discussion about Tian Yuan’s matter, enough to prove the importance the whole family placed on him. Please overlook the fact that they were playing Mahjong, okay?

Such was the Pan family’s Mahjong Conference.

Time flies when you’re having fun. Tian Yuan had more and more money in front of him as they continued playing Mahjong. Grandpa Pan was unlucky. He lost six out of the eight rounds played. Tian Yuan was seated opposite the door. In Pan Lei’s words, the purple clouds^[e] coming from the east were raking in money for him.

Pan Ge despised Pan Lei but he didn’t say anything. The couple had joined forces, Pan Lei discarding good tiles for Tian Yuan to pick, letting Tian Yuan win the game and earn money. He despised those who cheated at cards and teamed up to bully the elderly. His brother had completely discarded his righteousness, and made him lose all his money.

In other words, at their table, Grandpa Pan was not the biggest loser. It was Pan Ge who had lost a lot of money.

Mahjong was addictive. Everyone had forgotten hunger and thirst, simply refusing to end the game. As the game progressed, you could hear the sound of mahjong throughout the room. They talked about random things and had discussions at the mahjong table. Things like, If the United States and South Korea bully people, would China start a fire interception on the high seas, and declare war?

Tian Yuan was the first to make a fuss about whether to continue playing Mahjong. Just kidding. He was winning money. How could he say he didn’t want to play anymore? He was going to be a rich man! He didn't mind if they continued playing till dawn.

Tian Yuan was in high spirits, but Pan Ge pushed away his tiles.

"No more playing. I'm out of money."

He showed them his wallet. Except for a few fifty cent coins, there was really no Grandpa Mao^[f] left.

"Hey! How can you say that? You’re no fun. Grandpa, he’s disappointing you. He deserves to be punished."

Pan Lei was not afraid of such small things, adding fuel to the fire.

"Second son, second daughter-in-law, Pan Ge has no money. You’re his parents. Support him."

Grandpa Pan was finally having a good time. Naturally, he wanted to continue playing. He glanced at the clock. Hey! They played only for six hours.

Second Uncle’s face showed distress. Pan Zhan won the most rounds at their table. His wallet was also empty.

What about Second Aunt? She was playing Mahjong with Grandma Pan. Could she win against her mother-in-law? All the three daughters-in-law were losers. The little old lady was the sole winner. She was penniless as well.

"It’s not a big deal. Second brother, you can borrow some money. Tian'er, lend Second brother two thousand. Second brother, pay him three thousand tomorrow morning."

Tian Yuan was very obedient and counted out two thousand dollars. Who would expect that Pan Ge would not take the money at all.

"Bah! No matter whether I win or lose the game, I will lose a thousand dollars. No, thanks. I won’t play anymore."

If he continued to play, he would be heavily in debt. Forget profit, it was just a loss making proposition. He knew he had lost mainly because Pan Lei and Tian Yuan had cheated. He was unwilling to lose any more money. As for Grandpa Pan, as long as someone played Mahjong with him, he didn’t care if he won or lost.

The old man's face sank.

"You have to play! Three people cannot play Mahjong. You’re so unfilial to me. Sit down and play quickly. Old lady, lend Pan Ge two thousand."

Pan Lei was a rotten scoundrel. In this family of bandits, he was the worst rascal, cheating and committing all kinds of evil.

"Second brother, we won’t play for money. Let’s follow the old rule, okay? Whoever loses will run cross-country bearing weights. How about it?"

"That’s a good idea. Exercise will not cause economic losses. Come on then, let's all play like this. Just start with a random number and use laps like bargaining chips. Just like money. If you win, subtract the laps; if you lose, add them. Tomorrow morning, those who lose will go cross-country with a heavy load."

Naturally, the women were exempt from this decision. The group of men, no matter old or young, would use weight-bearing cross-country runs as bets.

After playing eight rounds, Grandpa saw the conclusion at their table.

"I lost another ten laps."

Pan Ge almost burst into tears. Cumulatively, he lost 20 laps.

The old man lost three laps, Pan Lei lost eight laps, and Tian Yuan… was still the big winner. He was their family’s treasure. The more you use it, the better. Tian Yuan's patron saint was Pan Lei. Pan Lei's treasure was Tian Yuan.

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Footnotes:

[a]said when you take a tile to complete a set of three.

[b]Nine of the bamboo suit.

[c]Kong is a complete set of four identical tiles.

[d]A Mahjong term. it means the winner's tiles are all of the same suit and contain three straights. Example: 123/456/789. Dragon is the literal translation. It means integrated chain.

[e]An auspicious portent in astrology.

[f]funny way of saying money. Chinese currency has Mao's image.

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Translator:

I know the match tiles Mahjong. Not the real play. I researched the terms used and have tried to explain the gameplay. There is a lot of info available online for interested readers.

So... Tian'er and Leizi formed a strike team and plundered money😆 and Tian'er was so nonchalant about it😂 Tian'er, you're learning bad things from Leizi.

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