Xu Zhi looked at the few sheets of paper on the table and said to Chen Zhaoci, "Mother, my brother has been practicing martial arts and fitness since he was a child. He is much better than Father in terms of health. I think he should be able to persevere through these days of the examination."
Hearing Xu Zhi's words, Xu Bai scoffed and said, "If Big Brother can't even do this, won't people laugh at him? Everything else is fine, but we really need to think about the food. Mother, think about it, it's so cold now. If you eat cold food and get an upset stomach, how can you concentrate on the exam?"
Chen Zhaoci nodded and said, "This is something we should really think about. Back in your father's day, he would bring snacks to the examination hall and eat a couple of bites whenever he got hungry."
Xu Bai stroked his chin and thought for a long time, but still couldn't come up with a good idea, when Xu Di came looking for him.
Xu Bai said with a smile, "See? My brother was bound to come here since my sister-in-law is here. You've come at the right time, brother. Let's have a good discussion about what kind of food we should bring when we take the exam."
Xu Di said, "I had already thought about it. I'll bring a small charcoal stove made of purple clay and plenty of charcoal. When I get there, I'll light the stove."
Xu Bai thought for a moment and said, "It will take nine days, brother. How much charcoal will you need to bring? Won't you have to carry it in baskets?"
Xu Di smiled mysteriously and said, "You'll find out when the time comes."
Xu Bai was itching with curiosity. If Xu Di could say something, it must mean he had something like that. But he wouldn't tell him, much less show it to him.
Xu Bai glared at Xu Di with a resentful look, expressing his unhappiness. Xu Di pretended not to notice, picked up the things on the table, looked at them for a while, and said with a smile, "These things you prepared don't look very good to me. Alright, stop wasting your time here. I've already prepared everything I needed to. You're rarely back, so relax and go wherever you want. Just have fun."
Chen Zhaoci and Xu Zhi looked at each other, and finally Chen Zhaoci sighed to Xu Di and said, "Why are you always so capable, leaving us with no chance to use our talents?"
Xu Di laughed and said, "You all don't know how lucky you are. I can do all the work, so you don't have to do much and can just wait to enjoy yourself. What's wrong with that? Mother, I'm not trying to be mean, but with my brain, all four of you combined are not as good as me, especially Xu Bai. Isn't this giving me a chance to cause trouble?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Bai's hair stood on end. He grabbed Chen Zhaoci's sleeve and said angrily, "Mother, Mother, did you see how arrogant your eldest son is? Who gave him the courage to be so arrogant? Did Liang Jingru give him that?"
Xu Bai spoke quickly and urgently, and Xu Zhi and Li Yuexi only managed to catch what sounded like a name. However, Xu Bai was really angry at Xu Di's words, and Li Yuexi and Xu Zhi were too embarrassed to ask any further questions.
Chen Zhaoci pulled Xu Bai into his arms, stroking Xu Bai's head as he said to Xu Di, "You know, how old are you and he's only a few years old? Do you have to be so harsh on him? People who know you know you two are brothers, but people who don't might think you're enemies."
Xu Bai held Chen Zhaoci's hand and said, "Mother, I don't see him as an enemy. I've always respected him as my own brother. Look at how my own brother belittles me every day. Why am I so unlucky to have such a heartless brother who takes pleasure in belittling me all day long? I'm asking you, when will you stop with this perverse pleasure? Mother, why am I so unlucky?"
Chen Zhaoci quickly tried to appease Xu Bai, and even Li Yuexi looked disapproving. She looked at Xu Di, but because Xu Di was her husband, she didn't say anything.
Xu Di gently patted Xu Bai's head and said, "That's enough. You're such a grown man. Look at how pathetic you are. What's wrong with me criticizing you? As long as you can withstand the criticism from your own brother, you'll be an impenetrable fortress outside. No one can hurt you. Be content."
Xu Bai buried his head in Chen Zhaoci's arms and said, "Mom, he's just being smug after getting a good deal. It makes me so angry."
Xu Di felt awkward watching Xu Bai act coquettishly towards Chen Zhaoci. He had been independent since childhood and could still show tenderness towards his younger sister. Xu Zhi was a sensible and obedient child who had never caused any trouble since childhood. Later, they had a younger brother. Xu Bai wasn't a child in the real sense, so Xu Di naturally couldn't treat him like an ordinary child. Who knew that this guy would become addicted to acting like a child?
Xu Di patted Xu Bai on the shoulder and said, "I still have a cement factory here, and I can't guarantee I'll remember it forever."
Xu Bai suddenly sat up from Chen Zhaoci's embrace, rubbed his eyes, and said, "Big brother, I'm here. Just tell me what you need."
Xu Di couldn't help but laugh and said, "What, are you not going to continue accusing me?"
Xu Bai wiped his face and said nonchalantly, "That's enough. If we keep doing this, people will laugh at us. I'm not a two or three-year-old anymore. Do you think I'd do something that would make people laugh at me?"
Xu Di took a piece of paper out of his sleeve. Xu Bai was about to take it when Xu Di held the paper up high and said, "Take a look and write it down. Don't do anything before you have the ability, or you'll cause trouble for yourself and your family. Got it?"
Xu Bai nodded and said, "Big brother, I've got it."
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