When Xu Yaozu was on his way home from get off work, he ran into Xu Yaoqiang, who had just returned from work. If he hadn't been so familiar with his younger brother, he really wouldn't have recognized him.

Xu Yaoqiang was not only skin and bones, but his back was also hunched. He looked listless and much older. If he stood next to Grandpa Xu, they could easily be mistaken for brothers.

Xu Yaozu and Xu Yaoqiang are less than two years apart in age, and the two brothers have been the closest since childhood.

As the eldest son, Xu Yaozu had a strong sense of responsibility, and he started helping with household chores as soon as he became a little sensible.

Perhaps because he had a powerful older brother to protect him, Xu Yaoqiang was soft-hearted and lacked his own opinions from a young age. He followed Xu Yaozu around every day, doing whatever Xu Yaozu told him to do without having to use his brain.

The two brothers had a close relationship and were inseparable since childhood.

If we were to ask who Xu Yaoqiang is closest to in this family, it would undoubtedly be Xu Yaozu.

The two brothers were separated when Xu Yaozu went to the army and Xu Yaoqiang refused to go with him.

The most assertive and resolute thing Xu Yaoqiang ever did in his life was to defy his family and marry Niu Zhaodi. The facts proved him wrong, and the birth of a selfish, ruthless, and vicious daughter was almost the last straw that broke Xu Yaoqiang's back.

Xu Yaozu was stunned for a long time upon seeing Xu Yaoqiang like this.

Because of his busy work schedule, he didn't really pay attention to his brothers who went out with him when he got home every day, unless his family mentioned it at the dinner table.

In Xu Yaozu's mind, no news meant everything was normal. He never expected Xu Yaoqiang to turn out like this. It was obvious that something was wrong, and something was on his mind.

Xu Yaozu looked at Xu Yaoqiang and called out softly, as if afraid of startling him: "Qiangzi~"

Xu Yaoqiang raised his numb eyes, staring for a long time before he could recognize the person as his most respected elder brother. Suddenly, the string that had been holding him back seemed to snap. Guilt, grievance, and helplessness all surged into his heart. It felt like something was blocking his throat. He opened his mouth several times, his Adam's apple trembling, before he finally managed to utter two words: "Elder brother~"

Xu Yaozu had witnessed Xu Yaoqiang's hardships. He knew his younger brother very well. Although he was gentle, timid, and lacked assertiveness, he was actually quite proud and would bear his suffering alone.

When he was younger, he would secretly confide in Xu Yaozu. But after he married Niu Zhaodi, perhaps he realized he had made a mistake, and his personality became more sullen. The number of letters he wrote to Xu Yaozu decreased, then decreased, and finally stopped.

After Xu Yaozu returned from retirement, he was too busy to give his younger brother much attention. He only knew that Niu Zhaodi was unreliable, but he would often remind Yang Chunqin to take better care of the two children.

Xu Yaozu stepped forward and patted Xu Yaoqiang on the shoulder. The middle-aged man, who was not talkative, expressed himself in a very subtle way, and a lot of emotions seemed to be gathered in this gentle pat.

Xu Yaozu: "Let's go home together. Let's have a good drink with our older brother today. I've been busy with work these past few years, and we haven't had a proper conversation."

Xu Yaoqiang wanted to refuse, feeling that Xu Daya's push had somehow severed his connection with his older brother, but emotionally he couldn't bear to reject his brother's closeness.

Seeing that he hesitated for a moment, Xu Yaozu immediately added, "Don't worry about Zeyu and Daya. Just have Lao San make a trip there later."

Xu Yaozu was completely unaware of Xu Daya's situation, so he included Xu Daya in the calculations.

Hearing Xu Yaozu mention Xu Daya again, Xu Yaoqiang's face suddenly froze. He hadn't expected that his older brother didn't know about Xu Daya, which made him afraid that if Xu Yaozu found out, he wouldn't treat him the same way as before.

Xu Yaoqiang lowered his eyelids, and after several internal struggles, he still told Xu Yaozu about Xu Daya.

Although Xu Yaoqiang spoke simply, he made everything clear.

After Xu Yaoqiang finished speaking, the two brothers fell silent.

Xu Yaozu never expected that such a big thing would happen in his family in such a short time. If Xu Yaoqiang hadn't told him today, he might never have known that his precious daughter almost lost her life. No wonder he hadn't seen Wang Ying for so long.

Perhaps this was fate; he helped the Chen family solve a huge problem, and the Chen family immediately repaid such a great favor.

Xu Yaozu sighed and still pulled Xu Yaoqiang back home.

Xu Xinning frowned when she saw Xu Yaoqiang's appearance. Although she held grudges, she never implicated the innocent. In her impression, she always felt that her second uncle was too cowardly.

If he could stand up for himself, Niu Zhaodi wouldn't have been so daring and unscrupulous in indulging her family, and perhaps Xu Daya wouldn't have become so vicious out of jealousy.

Niu Zhaodi was wrong, Xu Daya was wrong, and Xu Yaoqiang was wrong as well.

But seeing his honest yet listless appearance, it's hard to get angry at him.

Xu Yaozu looked like he was about to have a long talk with Xu Yaoqiang, so Xu Xinning took the opportunity to check Xu Yaoqiang's pulse.

Overthinking leads to pent-up emotions.

Xu Xinning prepared medicine to boost his immunity, and as for the matter of helping him to let go of his worries, she left that to Xu Yaozu.

Grandma Xu and Grandpa Xu were also taken aback when they saw Xu Yaoqiang enter the door.

Since the day Xu Daya got married, it seems that Old Mrs. Xu and Old Mr. Xu have made a pact and stopped mentioning Xu Yaoqiang's family matters, as if they could forget about them that way.

Over time, although you can't forget it, you can eventually become numb to it.

After burying my head in the sand for a while, seeing Xu Yaoqiang again today brought back memories of that day like a movie playing in my mind.

But seeing their son like this, the parents softened.

Xu Yaozu said something to Xu Yaoqiang, and when Xu Yaoqiang came out of the study at dinner time, it seemed as if the shackles on Xu Yaoqiang had just been broken.

Xu Yaozu made the decision that Xu Yaoqiang and his son should hand over their grain and eat at the old house from tomorrow onwards.

The happiest person was Xu Zeyu. Ever since he learned about his sister's situation, he has hardly ever gone out.

Life seems to be back on track now. After dinner, I went to the fields with Xu Laosan and Du Zhong to catch loaches.

Du Zhong's grandson stayed at the Xu family's house for two days, asked Xu Xinning some questions, and then went back. As for Du Zhong, the research institute has urged him to go back several times, but he still refuses. He seems to never get enough of being with Xu Laosan. Now he has even moved his bed to Xu Laosan's room.

August 15th is almost here.

Mu Jingheng was eager to return to Kyoto, but he was reluctant to be separated from Xu Xinning for so long, so he persuaded Xu Xinning to go to Kyoto with him.

In truth, Xu Xinning was also reluctant to leave Mu Jingheng. She seemed to be becoming more and more dependent on Mu Jingheng, as if she felt safe when he was by her side.