"Mom, where are you going tomorrow? Can you take me with you?" Yaya knows how to take advantage of her strengths. She puts on a smiling face and acts coquettishly.

Wu Xiufang reached out and touched her head, but still refused, "No. I have something to do tomorrow and I'm going to the city with your neighbor Shuyi. You two should behave yourself at home. Yaya is a good child and will be obedient, right?"

Yaya pursed her lips. She really wanted to say no, but when she saw her mother's expression, she couldn't say it.

I don’t know why, but I feel like her mother is different from before.

At this time, the eldest son of the Zhao family, who had been watching silently, spoke up, "Mom, go wherever you want. I'm at home. Don't worry, I will take good care of my brothers and sisters."

Looking at this eldest child, to whom she owed the most, Wu Xiufang felt a pang of sadness in her throat.

This child was born early, when the family was not so well off, and he suffered a lot with her in his hometown. He was very sensible since he was young. He envied other children eating candy and swallowed his saliva, but when he came back to her, he never asked for anything.

Later, when the family conditions improved and he had younger brothers and sisters, he took on the responsibility of taking care of them. The little ones all grew up on his back.

But he is still a child!

Recalling the past, Wu Xiufang felt her mind clear up. She had always seemed muddled. She had always thought her family was harmonious and her siblings were close, but now she realized that this good relationship was achieved at the expense of some people. This was true for her, and for the eldest brother, too.

Looking at the child in front of her, Wu Xiufang touched his forehead with a slightly trembling hand, just like when he was a child, and smiled at him and praised him, "Mom knows that our Shitou is the best!"

"Mom!" An imperceptible blush appeared on the dark face of the eldest son of the Zhao family.

When he was little, every time he helped the family with something, his mother would pat his head and praise him for being so good, just like she does now. Later, as he grew up and there were more and more children in the family, this happened less and less.

He did not blame his mother. His mother was the best mother in the world. His mother loved him, but his younger brothers and sisters took up too much of her energy. Many times he saw his mother dozing off when she was resting, but she would soon be awakened by the crying of her younger brothers and sisters, and would cheer up to comfort the children.

He didn't want his mother to work harder, so he learned to take care of his younger siblings, do farm work, and do housework. Gradually, his younger siblings grew up, and his mother was able to go out and chat and laugh with other aunts.

Now the family's life is getting better and better, but for some reason, he still misses the life in his hometown. At that time, although they were tired, his mother's eyes were bright and beautiful, just like the stars in the sky.

I don’t know when it started, but the stars seemed to be covered with a layer of dust and no longer shine.

Now, he saw the shining stars again...

"Oh, is our Shitou shy? What mom said is true, Shitou is the best!" Wu Xiufang felt a little better when she saw her son's long-lost shyness.

This child is thin-skinned and hasn't changed after all these years.

"The best! Brother is the best!" Yaya on the side was very supportive, clapping and jumping on the spot.

It wasn't enough for her to show her support by herself; she also wanted to bring her brothers and sisters along. The eldest brother of the Zhao family had always been very much like an elder brother at home, and was deeply loved by his younger brothers and sisters. Soon, a round of applause broke out.

“Pah pah pah——”

"Brother is awesome!"

The eldest son of the Zhao family became even more shy, his cheeks flushed, but the corners of his mouth unconsciously raised high.

Wu Xiufang watched this scene with a smile, but some things still needed to be agreed upon in advance.

"Big brother, this is your food allowance for the next week. Please keep it safe. You will also be responsible for arranging the housework starting tomorrow. Mom has only one request: your younger brothers and sisters must do their own things. You cannot help them." Wu Xiufang wrapped the money in a handkerchief and handed it to the eldest brother, looking at him seriously.

"Of course, Mom isn't saying you can't help. There are some things you can help with, like fetching water. Your younger siblings aren't strong enough to do it, so you can help a little. But for things like washing clothes, they can do it themselves, so you can't help them."

"Mom, Yaya and the others are still young, they can't wash clothes clean. These things are not troublesome, I can do it." The eldest son of the Zhao family was a little puzzled. His younger brothers and sisters were so young, what could they do? He had originally planned to take over the housework himself, and occasionally let them wash dishes and vegetables.

"No!" Wu Xiufang refused outright. She knew her own situation well. If she didn't explain things clearly in advance, her eldest son would definitely do all the housework again, just like before, which would go against her original intention.

Pulling the man in front of him, he told him in a gentle yet firm voice, "If the clothes aren't clean, rub them a few more times. If the floor isn't clean, sweep it a few more times. They're not children anymore. Back then, when you were younger than Tiedan is now, you already helped me with housework and took care of your younger siblings every day. If you could do it back then, why can't they?"

"Shi Tou, even though you're their older brother, it doesn't mean you have to do everything for them. You don't have that responsibility or obligation. It was my fault all these years for not noticing your grievances. I'm sorry. You're just a child, and there's no reason to expect you to make sacrifices all the time."

"Mom, I don't feel wronged. I did it all voluntarily." The eldest son of the Zhao family felt a lump in his throat and almost burst into tears.

"Even if it's voluntary, it doesn't make sense." Wu Xiufang wiped the tears from his eyes. "Okay, listen to mother. Let them do things they can do by themselves. If they can't do it, you can help them. This is your intention as a brother, but you can't let them rely on you for everything. No one can rely on others for their entire life. For their own good, you should let them learn to do things on their own."

The eldest brother of the Zhao family was silent for a moment, then nodded with red eyes, "Mom, I understand, don't worry."

Wu Xiufang smiled, patted his back gently, then looked at the children beside her, her lips twitching slightly.

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