Broken Sword's
Ch. 26: Punishment Part 2

Dadang's father was a merchant who often did business in many places. Having connections from a variety of backgrounds has increased the level of the family once considered to be ordinary traders.

Opened more than twenty-one branches of stores that sell cloth, groceries, and household appliances the annual income of the Dadang family can be said to be rich.

"Let's see where you get hurt. I'll sue!"

Fang hissed. The increasingly worried Juan stared at the two nervous Dadang parents. If today's quarrel problem was blamed on him, he might have to quit school.

Juan's eyes turned red.

Juan's parents have two children. Juan was born when his older brother was fifteen. The presence of children is a blessing, but if the family does not have the resources, the child can be said to be a burden that needs to be fed and clothed.

Juan's older brother was originally a healthy and intelligent child but when Juan was three years old and his older brother was only about to turn nineteen, Juan's older brother contracted a strange disease. Juan's entire body has red patches that appear all over the body. At first it only itches but the longer the body becomes fever and coma.

There were no doctors in their village. Juan's father took his older brother to the city but doctors were unable to treat him until he recovered even though their family had emptied all the savings. Juan's older brother wakes up from a coma and suffers from autism. The high fever had boiled his own brain and caused stupidity.

Their families who used to live poor but peaceful became unbecoming. Father and mother always quarrel, plus it is known that the mother is actually cheating. Two months after a violent altercation, the mother runs away with the old widower of the village next door. Juan's father grew old in a short period of time, his black hair turning white overnight.

Forgetting his grief after his eldest son became ill and his wife ran away, Juan's father did not continue to live in the puddle and chose to continue living. There is still Juan, the youngest son needs to go to school.

Juan, who thought it was impossible for him to attend school because some of the money was spent on curing his older brother's autism, did not ask why at the age of five he did not go to school like other children.

The following year, Juan's father saved enough money to enroll in school. Not buying a new uniform, Juan was wearing a kept brother's uniform. The night before Juan went to sleep, he hugged Dad as tightly as he could.

***

Gana doesn't care about the two people who just came. Touching Fang's face to look at him. "You beat up your friend because he's being disrespectful?""

Fang nodded. The index finger pointed with hate, "the fat boy said bad words. Said Juan smelled fishy and didn't deserve to go to school to study here."

"Then, then he began to bully Juan's parents! Saying more cruel things continuously. I can't stand it."

Gana patted Fang's face. "But the beating is still wrong. It's not good to start a fight."

Fang knew he was wrong for starting the beating but he had no magic! If his magic could work, Fang would eliminate Dadang's mouth forever. Huh! See if he can talk or eat!

"Well I know. I'm sorry dad." Fang was being sorry.

Madam Dadang ruffled her waist, "why do you apologize to your father and not to Dadang?! Look at his blue-blue face from being hit by you."

Gana glanced sharply at the woman who scolded her son. "I don't hit women but I can beat your husband or your son."

Dadang's fat dad is retreating regularly. Looking at her short fat self then at the tall burly Gana, one slap could turn her face into a swollen pig face.

Dadang who was first threatened to be hit by a thug-like uncle cried in fear. "Me, me." Said stammering.

The principal tries to mediate. The female picket teacher also took over the three children to get out of the room and not listen to the adult chatter.

Fang believes his father won't be soft. Holding Juan out, Fang who was upset at Dadang kicked the boy's butt. Dadang who was hit again did not complain, judging from the ferocity of Gana, his parents had lost terribly.

***

Swallowing all the contents of the lunchbox, Fang also fed Juan three pieces of meat to eat. "Eat this"

The conversation didn't take too long. Gana came out first while Dadang's parents walked slowly behind.

"Dad, how?" Fang ran to hug Gana's feet.

"Go home, your friend can go home too."

Juan who was not reprimanded or scolded for being the cause of the fight breathed a sigh of relief. The smile on his thin face made Gana pity.

"Son, where do you live?"

"Uncle Tui village."

Gana thinks he misheard, "Tui?"

Fang who had yet to learn the geography of the lower region map was tugging at Gana's clothes, "father what are you doing! Juan's so embarrassed."

***

Hugging Gana's neck after getting off the ox cart, Fang was a little sensitive. The poor are very sorry. Knowing from the mouth of Gana, it turns out that Tui village is the poorest village in the lower region and relies on the sea as a livelihood.

Unfortunately the sea in Tui village is not so easy to fish. The waves are very high, sometimes it will topple the ship upside down and cost the lives.

So in the spring or fall the fishermen dare to find fish and the other two seasons rely only on savings. Not enough to eat because the results of fish must be captured by many heads of families, Tui village whose land is only sand continues to live in poverty until now.

"Father, if finding fish is difficult and not profitable why not move to another village that is more fertile land or trade?"

Gana who helped Fang remove the shoes sighed, "this is due to the strict government regulations. No one should migrate unless there is an outbreak that requires people to evacuate."

"The prohibition aims to flatten the small population. If it were only in one place where everyone lived, the difficulty of natural resources and human beings would be higher."

Fang's rarely used head thinking for mutual interest still did not understand. The government knows that Tui village is poor, why not provide help!

"Dad, I'll be the strongest."

Gana hugged Fang into the house. "At this moment, Fang is already strong. Great has helped a friend to maintain his pride."

"You can also be happy, the evil-mouthed Dadang has been given a sentence not to go to school for one month."

Fang jumps down from Gana's embrace. "Hahahaha, that fat boy will cry from not being able to attend school lessons!"

"Stop saying fat and fat. You are the same."