Xia Tao then picked up a broom. The bristles of the broom were somewhat sparse, indicating that it had been used for a long time, and the bamboo handle was worn smooth.
But he continued sweeping the floor with great effort, each sweep filled with energy. The broom scraped against the floor, making a "swish-swish" sound that was particularly clear in the quiet room, as if playing a symphony of labor.
The dust kicked up made him cough a few times. He covered his mouth with his hand, coughed a few more times, and then continued cleaning.
As he swept, he recalled the times he and his friends used to chase and play around at home, making a mess of the house and getting scolded by their parents. Those mischievous and joyful days of his youth now filled him with warmth and nostalgia.
He also remembers an incident where he and his friends accidentally broke a vase while playing football. His father's stern gaze and his mother's helpless sigh became unforgettable memories of his childhood.
He felt both scared and guilty at the time, but his father’s serious teachings made him understand the importance of responsibility: “If you do something wrong, you have to bear the consequences. Be careful in the future.”
They worked quickly and skillfully, without the slightest hesitation. After wiping down the tables and chairs, Xia Wan immediately began tidying the bookshelves.
She took out the dust-covered books one by one, her movements as gentle as if they were rare treasures.
She gently patted each book, dust falling in a soft patter, and then neatly put them back. Under her arrangement, the books became orderly, as if they were lined up in a neat row on the bookshelf.
She picked up a yellowed old book, opened the title page, and saw her reading notes written many years ago. The childish handwriting, crooked and messy, was full of thirst for knowledge, which made her smile. It was as if her naive and ignorant self was right in front of her.
There was also a dried maple leaf tucked inside the book, which she had casually slipped in during an autumn stroll. Seeing it now, it was as if she had returned to that poetic autumn.
That day, sunlight filtered through the leaves and dappled the ground. She strolled along the forest path, the fallen leaves crunching under her feet. She picked up a maple leaf, wanting to capture that beautiful moment. At that time, she was filled with hope and dreams for the future.
After sweeping the floor, Xia Tao began to tidy up the clutter, picking up the items scattered everywhere and carefully putting them back in their places.
In his hands, the messy items gradually found their place, and the originally cluttered room gradually became neat and orderly through their efforts.
He put an old toy back in the drawer. It was his favorite toy when he was a child, a slightly faded tin frog that could still hop a few times when pressed lightly.
Seeing it now fills me with memories. I recall how proud I was when I showed off this toy to my friends when I was a child, and a smile involuntarily crept onto my face.
He still remembers one time when he accidentally lost the tin frog and cried for a long time. Later, his father helped him find it again, and he still remembers the joy of that moment.
Back then, his father searched high and low for this toy. When he returned home, he was exhausted, but when he saw his son smile through his tears, his father also smiled with relief, a smile full of love for his son.
After an unknown amount of time, the two finally stopped what they were doing as the last item was neatly arranged.
Xia Wan straightened up and wiped the sweat from her forehead. The sweat glistened in the sunlight, like sparkling pearls.
Looking at the newly renovated house, a satisfied smile spread across her face. That smile was like a flower blooming in spring, bright and warm, full of love and contentment for her home.
Xia Tao let out a long sigh of relief, leaned the broom against the wall, and stretched his sore arms. His arms were still trembling slightly from the long hours of work, but his eyes were filled with a sense of accomplishment, as if he had accomplished something incredibly great at that moment.
Looking at this tidy home, he was filled with emotion. This place had witnessed their growth and their hard work, from innocent children to their gradual maturity. This home had always been their strongest support.
Just then, a "gurgling" sound broke the silence. Xia Wan and Xia Tao exchanged a glance and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
It turned out that their stomachs were starting to protest; after all that work, they were both feeling hungry.
Xia Wan frowned, looked towards the kitchen, and said helplessly, "Brother, don't start cooking at this time."
She glanced at the wall clock; its hands moved at a leisurely pace, and it was still some time before the state-run restaurant opened.
After thinking for a moment, she suggested, "How about we just grab something to tide us over for now, and then go to the state-run restaurant tonight to get a takeout meal?"
Xia Tao suddenly rushed in front of her, opened his arms to block her way, and said softly, "Wanwan, look at you, you've been busy all day, you must be exhausted! Go back to your room and get some rest, leave the cooking to me."
His deep eyes were filled with concern for his sister, as warm and gentle as the spring sun.
That firm yet gentle tone was like a solid barrier, keeping all weariness and worries out, all to create a peaceful and tranquil world for his younger sister.
Xia Wan gazed quietly at her brother, a warm feeling welling up in her heart.
This warm current, like a flood bursting its banks, quickly spread to every corner of her body, filling every place it reached with warmth and peace of mind.
She pursed her lips slightly, revealing a faint smile, and replied softly, "Okay, then thank you for your trouble, brother."
After saying that, Xia Wan turned and walked towards her room.
As soon as she entered the room, she collapsed onto the bed with a sigh of relief, sinking deep into the soft mattress as if being gently embraced by a huge and tender hand.
She slowly closed her eyes, savoring this hard-won moment of relaxation.
The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The only sound was the occasional melodious birdsong from outside the window, like a beautiful symphony played by nature.
In this tranquility, Xia Wan's thoughts began to drift uncontrollably, gradually wandering into the distance...
Her mind was filled with beautiful memories of being with Li Chengjun—strolling side by side through the streets and alleys, cuddling each other to admire the beautiful sunset, sharing the joys and sorrows of life... These memories were like twinkling stars in the night sky, dazzling and unforgettable.
Immediately afterwards, all the meticulous care and attention her brother had given her came flooding back to her.
Whether it was taking meticulous care of her by her bedside when she was sick, or lending a helping hand without hesitation when she encountered difficulties, her brother was always her strongest support.
As Xia Wan thought about it, her heart was filled with warmth, and a happy smile unconsciously appeared on her face.
She silently hoped that in the future, her family would be safe and healthy, and that she would be able to bravely face everything in life, so that this happiness could continue.
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