They stood by the river, lightly dressed; if they went in, they would freeze to the bone. These two children had grown up on the charity of others. Now, Wang Cheng was older and could earn more work points, but his small body looked like it was all bones.

Jianjun watched his own child running around wildly, and then he noticed two other children on the shore. They didn't go down to play, so he paid attention to them.

"Whose children are you two? Why are you dressed so scantily?"

"Uncle, my name is Wang Chengcai, and my younger brother's name is Wang Youcai. We're going out to gather some firewood by the woods. The mountain isn't closed yet."

Jianjun had also heard of the two brothers; the older one was quite something and it wasn't easy for him to take care of his younger brother.

"Do you two want to play? Uncle will make you a sled tonight too."

"Uncle, no need. We have sleds here, but they'll freeze to the bone in no time, and we'll get sick. We don't have money for medical treatment. Thank you, Uncle."

Jianjun felt a pang of sadness upon hearing their words. These two young children were raising their younger brother on their own, so capable. He decided that if he had the ability, he would help the two children, provided it didn't affect his own family.

Okay, you two go first, you're a man.

That evening, Jianjun told Tingting about the incident and asked if there was anything they could do to help. Although neither of them were busybodies, they felt sorry for the child, who was so big and all skin and bones, and they also had children of their own.

“Honey, those two brothers have really had a tough time. I think this child is a responsible person. How many people his age can take care of their younger brother? It’s not easy, considering how difficult the past few years have been.”

"How about this, honey? We have an old quilt that we haven't used for a long time. We're planning to take it apart and use it to make cotton-padded jackets for the two kids. It won't look out of place. We can just use the old quilt cover on the outside, and no one will notice."

"Okay, honey, no matter how we help this child, it can't affect our family."

“Yes, go ahead, sons. We should learn from the Wang brothers, Wang Youcai and Wang Youcai. Look at them, they are self-reliant and strong even without parents. You have clothes to wear, food to eat, parents, and opportunities to learn. You should cherish your life now.”

"I understand, mother."

The three children nodded in agreement. The role of role models is very important. The people and environment around you also determine what kind of person your child will be. Tingting wanted her children to learn this kind of perseverance.

Chengcai, you two come here. This morning, Jianjun was watching the two kids collecting firewood, and then called them back to their own home.

"Uncle, what's wrong? Is there something you need help with?"

"Jianjun was quite moved when he saw these two children. They had a heart to help others, and he liked them even more."

"I'm going to my uncle's house; I need to talk to you about something."

The two brothers also went home with Jianjun. Although they didn't know what was going on, they felt that Jianjun wouldn't do anything to them, so they went along.

"The children are here. Come on, sit on the kang (heated brick bed), come on," Tingting said to the two brothers.

The two children, seeing how big the kang (heated brick bed) was and how warm the room was, felt embarrassed to go in because they were so dirty.

"Auntie, I just finished collecting firewood on the mountain, so I won't do it anymore. Don't make this place dirty."

Tingting felt a little uneasy looking at the two children. They were both good children, just unlucky.

Tingting made this thick cotton-padded coat overnight. It's a little big, but the child can wear it later.

Chengcai, Youcai, the cotton quilts in my house are old and not very useful anymore, so I used them to make two cotton-padded jackets and two cotton-padded trousers for you. Please don't mind them. I asked your uncle to boil some water for you to wash.

"Thank you, Aunt and Uncle," the two brothers said, tears welling up in their eyes. They would have starved to death long ago if it weren't for the village's help.

Tingting measured the two children's foot lengths and, when they weren't looking, gave them two pairs of cloth cotton shoes and some cotton shoes made of ulao grass.

I washed and dried the two children, and changed their cotton-padded jackets, trousers, and shoes.

"I'll wash your old cotton-padded jackets and then alter them to make you bigger ones."

The two little ones also burst into tears and knelt down before Jianjun and Tingting. Tingting quickly told the children to get up.

After all, the two brothers hadn't experienced this kind of warmth since their parents passed away. It was the first time they had new clothes to wear and could be clean and tidy.

Jianjun took the two children home and gave them a lot of chestnuts, hoping to make their lives easier. He also gave them a sled, and he noticed their envy.

Zhu Zi felt uncomfortable seeing the two older boys crying like that.

"Mom, we have such good food at home, why can't my two older brothers eat at our house? That way they won't go hungry."

"Son, the food we have is thanks to your parents' hard work. And remember, you can help others in any way, but not too much."

"Why, Mother? Didn't you and Father help too?"

“It’s okay to help them occasionally when they’re in trouble, but helping them for a long time will make them feel unbalanced. They will feel inferior because they have suffered since childhood and you are living too well. Even worse, they will feel jealous.”

"Son, if you are able to help others in the future, you can do so, but only if you can ensure your own safety."

This was Jianjun and Tingting's first life lesson for their children. Even though they felt sorry for their two children, they didn't invite them to eat there. They wouldn't let others affect their children's meals, but they would still lend a hand if they could.