As soon as Ye Yaodong got home, he heard his mother shooing people away, along with the racket the children were making.
He frowned. "What's all this noise? Your third aunt and little sister need to rest. If you want to make noise, take it outside."
The children had never seen him look so stern before and were genuinely a little frightened. At once, none of them dared make a sound, and even the hands clinging to Mother Ye's arms and legs let go.
"You're all itching for a beating, pushing your luck like this! I told you to go home and do your homework, but you just wouldn't. Do you know what time it is? Still want to hear more? Don't need to study anymore, do you? Where's the switch?"
Mother Ye planted both hands on her hips in anger, pointing at them one after another as she scolded them. They had just teamed up to pin her down, leaving her unable even to get the switch.
At the mention of the switch again, they scattered like startled birds.
Mother Ye chased them to the doorway, still scolding. "Three days without a beating and you're ready to tear the roof off! Just wait until your mothers have their hands free in a few days. They'll give every last one of you a good thrashing. With nobody keeping you in line, you're all running wild!"
Before long, Ye Eldest Sister-in-Law and Ye Second Sister-in-Law could be heard scolding from inside their homes too.
Once everyone had run off, Ye Yaodong turned his stern gaze on his two sons. Both boys panicked. After exchanging a glance, Ye Chenghu ran into the room first, with Ye Chengyang right behind him.
They had both forgotten that their father was sleeping in the same