"I went to another compound to exercise with my friends. Sister Zhang, what's for breakfast? I'm hungry."

Mu Nanfang didn't want to talk too much with his eldest brother, so he changed the subject. His second brother stood at the kitchen door, looking at him with a half-smile and a mocking expression.

"Second brother, time to eat."

Mu Beifang understood what Mu Laosan meant: to shut him up. He knew his limits and wouldn't say anything recklessly; it wasn't the right time yet.

Apart from Mu Beifang, no one in the Mu family knew Mu Nanfang's little scheme.

"The South does this well. Getting up in the morning to exercise improves physical fitness, which is essential for contributing to the country. North, you should learn from the South. You often go to the laboratory, which requires even higher physical fitness."

Commander Mu did hope that all his children would join the army, but as they grew up and developed their own ideas, he eventually gave in.

"Okay, Dad, I'll get up and go for morning exercise tomorrow too."

After Mu Beifang finished speaking with his father, he glanced at Mu Nanfang with a half-smile, which made Mu Nanfang kick himself under the table.

"North, do you and South have some secret? Why are you exchanging glances all morning?"

Sister-in-law Mu has seen them twice now. These two younger brothers-in-law have been around all morning. I wonder what they're up to.

"No, we made a bet before, and I won. Nanfang is a little unconvinced."

Mu Beifang found an excuse to smooth things over and stopped provoking Mu Laosan, otherwise, he might anger him and end up in trouble.

Sister-in-law Mu didn't say anything more; she was just curious.

"Hey bro, did you go to that compound over there again? Sister Xiaoman said you've been seeing that dark-skinned girl surnamed Gu a lot lately, is that true?"

"What do you mean, 'dark-skinned girl'? Stay away from Zhao Man from now on. Giving people nicknames so casually, what kind of manners are you?"

Mu Nanfang's face darkened as soon as he heard Mu Jiaojiao's words. What did it matter to her whether she was dark-skinned or not? She was just fair-skinned, like she had fallen into a pile of flour.

"You've said other girls are dark-skinned before, and besides, Sister Xiaoman said she likes you."

Mu Jiaojiao was spoiled by her family and spoke her mind directly.

“I don’t like her. Stay out of these things. How old are you? If I see you hanging out with Zhao Man again, I’ll beat you up.”

Mu Nanfang was one of only two people in the Mu family who didn't spoil this girl; the other was his second brother.

"knew."

Mu Jiaojiao was a little afraid of her brother, so she stopped talking about Zhao Man.

The rest of the Mu family assumed that Mu Nanfang really didn't like Zhao Man, so they didn't pay much attention, mainly because the child was still a minor, only seventeen years old.

This winter morning has passed just like that.