Jiang Hui's words were like a bolt from the blue, leaving Jiang Ruyu stunned. She stared intently at Jiang Hui, gritting her teeth as she asked, "You said you've already registered?"

Jiang Hui was a little scared seeing his sister like this. His sister had never been this angry before. He wondered if she was really upset. "Yes, I... I've already signed up. Sis, you..."

Before Jiang Hui could finish speaking, Jiang Ruyu, unable to contain her anger, slapped her younger brother across the face. The slap stunned all three family members. Jiang Ruyu stared blankly at the handprint that instantly appeared on her brother's face, then looked at her own hand, her whole body trembling.

She was both angry and anxious, blaming herself for being too impulsive and for not being able to talk things out instead of resorting to violence. She also couldn't bring herself to apologize to her brother. With her thoughts in turmoil, she stormed out of the room. Jiang Hui, though he was hit, wasn't angry. He just felt that he had really angered his sister. He wanted to chase after her, but his grandmother stopped him.

"Don't go. Your sister is regretting it right now. She's in a mess. Let her calm down. You've always been very composed. How could you do something so impulsive today? Even if you're worried we won't let you go, you can talk to us properly. It's not good to act first and ask questions later." Grandma Jiang sighed as she looked at her eldest grandson.

Jiang Hui scratched his head, a little embarrassed, and said, "I only did this because I knew my sister would definitely be very resistant and would not agree. Grandma, I really want to go out and see the world. I don't want to be a useless person who relies on the family. Even if it's tough in the countryside, I'm not afraid. I'm still young, and I think I should go out and explore. The farthest place I've ever been is my maternal grandfather's house. I live in this city every day. I'm really tired of this kind of life where I can only see tomorrow."

As Grandma Jiang looked at him, it was as if she saw a child more than 30 years ago who had said the same thing to her: "Mother, I am a real man. If you let me go out and make my way in the world, I will definitely make something of myself and bring you honor."

The old lady snapped out of her reverie and sighed, "My child, you've grown up now. Grandma doesn't want to decide whether you stay or leave. Besides, you've already registered, what else can we do? It's just that this time you caught us so off guard. Your sister must be feeling terrible."

Jiang Hui squatted down and scratched his head in frustration. He knew he had hurt his sister's feelings this time.

As Jiang Ruyu ran out, Zheng Xiaoyue, who was across the street, saw her through the glass in her room. She quickly ran to her brother's room and said, "Brother, brother, come quickly! I saw that Sister Ruyu seemed to be crying as she ran out."

Zheng Yang stood up abruptly: "What? What happened? Where did they go?"

"I don't know, it's gone out of the alley, you should go and check it out."

Zheng Yang put on his shoes and chased after her. Before he even left the alley, he saw his girlfriend walking briskly with her head down. He quickly caught up and asked, "Ruyu, what's wrong? Who bullied you?"

Jiang Ruyu was first startled by Zheng Yang, and when she heard him say this, she couldn't help but cry: "I, I hit Jiang Hui, I shouldn't have hit him."

Zheng Yang was taken aback and asked hesitantly, "Did he offend you?"

“That brat secretly signed up to go to the countryside without telling us. I got angry and couldn’t help but hit him. Tell me, why was I so impulsive? He’s so old, how could I hit him?”

Zheng Yang patted her back: "Don't be sad. You're his sister. What's wrong with hitting him? Besides, he was in the wrong in the first place. He deserved to be hit."

Jiang Ruyu was still upset, so Zheng Yang started to comfort him: "When boys grow up, not many want to stay at home all day. That's just how things are now. It's really hard to find a job, and he knows that himself. So he doesn't want to be idle at home at such a young age. I can understand him. A few years ago, during the Great Cultural Revolution, my dad beat me but he didn't stop me from running out to join the movement. Maybe he has a bit of a rebellious streak."

"How so? Jiang Hui has always been sensible, obedient, steady, and not mischievous. He has never done anything so outrageous before."

"Because he has always been sensible and obedient, once he has something he wants to do, and he knows that you will not let him do it, he will definitely think to himself, 'What's wrong with me being willful just once? Being obedient and sensible all the time is also very tiring.'"

Zheng Yang's words shook Jiang Ruyu. Yes, she had never thought that Jiang Hui had always been so sensible and obedient. Was it because he forced her to be this way, or was it just his personality? But in fact, she should have thought of it. Without her parents to support her, she had no choice but to be obedient and sensible since she was a child. Jiang Hui's personality was naturally more stable. Influenced by her, he must also want to be like Jiang Lin, laughing when he wanted to laugh and crying when he wanted to cry. However, she had never thought about what her younger brother was really thinking.

She suddenly remembered that when she first started working a couple of years ago and went to her maternal grandfather's house, her second cousin said he wanted to go to the city to see the world. What did she think then? I really want to go out too. I've never left this city in my life.

Yes, that's what she thinks, let alone Jiang Hui, a boy. Boys naturally yearn for a free and unrestrained world, rather than a repetitive and boring life.

Jiang Lin has already joined the army. Doesn't Jiang Hui feel envious looking at his younger brother? Although he gave up the army voluntarily, it was because Jiang Lin was his younger brother.

Jiang Ruyu breathed a sigh of relief after figuring it out: "I understand. Let him go if he wants to. Maybe going out isn't so bad. When he doesn't want to stay in the countryside anymore, I'll try my best to buy him a job so he can come back."

"You're just thinking like that. Let's go back. Jiang Hui must be terrified. I'll keep an eye out for job openings and leave him a way out." Zheng Yang pulled his girlfriend home.

Upon arriving at the courtyard, Zheng Yang did not follow Jiang Hui inside, fearing it would embarrass Jiang Hui. Jiang Ruyu's return relieved Jiang Hui but also left him somewhat bewildered. Jiang Ruyu looked at her brother's face bearing the handprint and said, "Put a cool towel on it. Do you think this face looks good or something?"

Jiang Hui breathed a sigh of relief, but then suddenly felt a little wronged, and his eyes welled up with tears. He quickly lowered his head, not wanting anyone to see, but because he was tall, the old lady and Jiang Ruyu saw him lower his head.

The old lady felt bad, and Jiang Ruyu was also upset: "I'm sorry, Jiang Hui, I was too impulsive. I apologize to you."

Jiang Hui's tears fell to the ground unexpectedly. He choked and said, "It's not your fault, sister. I was too willful."

“You’re great, Jiang Hui. Ever since you were old enough to understand, you’ve never caused any trouble for the family. You’re a good student, you’re not playful, and you’re not mischievous. You’re good in every way. I was too complacent. If you want to go out, I won’t stop you. This is the first time in all these years that you’ve said you want to do something. I shouldn’t have stopped you.”

The old lady followed her granddaughter's words and recalled her grandson's childhood. Jiang Hui was really easy to take care of from a young age, unlike Jiang Lin who was naughty. Even at a young age, his clothes wouldn't get dirty after only half a day like his younger brother's, and he wouldn't cause any trouble for the family.

At seven or eight years old, he knew to wipe the table and sweep the floor after eating. When he got a little older, he knew to wash his own clothes. People who are always obedient and sensible are too easy to forget. In fact, he was just a child.