Chen Ke always said the same thing: "They are still young, and their parents passed away early, so I should take on the responsibility of being their older brother."
His parents passed away early, but Chen Ke wasn't very old then, only sixteen, the same age as his younger brother now. Yet he acted like he was thirty-five, worrying about this and that all day long.
However, this time Wang Jingjiang heard a completely different answer.
With a thoughtful expression, Chen Ke solemnly said, "I've realized I might have made a mistake before. Children can't be raised simply by being nice to them; education is more important. I don't want them to become dependent on me; I want them to grow into independent and strong trees. So now I'm trying to let go and nurture their autonomy and independence."
Now that things have been said to this extent, I doubt anyone will say he's heartless and doesn't care about his younger siblings anymore.
Wang Jingjiang looked at Chen Ke with admiration, "I didn't expect you to have such an educational philosophy. Not bad, Chen Ke. I didn't misjudge you. You are a friend I truly admire. To celebrate your sudden enlightenment, I'll treat you to dumplings made with Fuqiang flour at the state-run restaurant."
Chen Ke, who had tasted all sorts of delicacies, found his mouth involuntarily watering the moment he heard the word "dumplings"...
Chen Ke: ""
The original owner's body had incredibly strong muscle memory.
Finally, Chen Ke was forcibly dragged to the restaurant by Wang Jingjiang.
Wang Jingjiang's family was indeed extraordinary. Since the restaurant had run out of fermented bean flour, Wang Jingjiang asked the chefs to make whatever they had on hand. In the end, they made a fish and a dish of cabbage, pork, and vermicelli.
The portion size is generous; it's more than enough for two people.
Wang Jingjiang picked up a piece of pork with satisfaction. "See this? This is what you call cabbage, pork, and vermicelli. The one we had in the cafeteria at noon was at best called 'ants climbing a tree,' which was mostly minced meat."
Chen Ke smiled but remained silent. There is a gap between the rich and the poor in every era. What you scorn is what others desperately want.
The two sat by the window, watching the workers leaving get off work on the street outside. The crowd was mostly blue and gray, when suddenly a bright pale yellow figure burst into the flow of people.
"Chen Yu, the color of your dress is really beautiful."
Chen Yu raised her head high and said smugly, "Right? When I saw it, I thought it suited my skin tone, so I bought it." Her tone was as casual as if she had just bought the cheapest fruit candy at the supply and marketing cooperative.
Little did she know that among her classmates were those who couldn't even bear to buy a piece of fruit candy. The girl couldn't stand Chen Yu's arrogant, rich-lady-like attitude and whispered, "But Chen Yu, this must cost your brother a month's salary, right? Your parents passed away so early, and it wasn't easy for your brother to raise you. You're still spending money so extravagantly. Your brother has worked so hard."
Upon hearing this, Chen Yu immediately thought of her older brother's sudden change in attitude yesterday, and her mood suddenly became very irritable. Her tone also turned bad, "Mind your own business! My brother spoils me and is willing to buy me things. So what if our parents passed away early? I have my brother to spoil me. I don't care about you. Our parents are still living such a miserable life!"
"You, you..." The girl's eyes instantly turned red with anger at Chen Yu's words. Looking at Chen Yu's smug and boastful appearance, she had a sudden thought and wanted to attack him with the most vicious words.
"Don't be so smug. Your brother will get married sooner or later, and then his wife might kick you all out!"
These words directly triggered Chen Yu's already irritated point after a day of frustration. His expression changed, and he rushed over, intending to scratch the girl's face.
"Hey, Chen Yu, calm down, calm down."
"Chen Yu, look who's that? Isn't that my brother?" At this moment, a girl who was close to Chen Yu grabbed her tightly and shouted.
Chen Yuxin was taken aback. She turned her head and saw two people eating by the window of the state-run restaurant.
Who else could it be but her brother!
"Haha, Chen Yu, didn't you say your brother spoils you rotten? Why doesn't he take you to restaurants?" the girl said sarcastically.
Chen Yu was already upset, and now she felt even more aggrieved. Her brother had really changed; he didn't even take her with him when he went out to eat something delicious!
"Chen, Chen Yu, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"
"Hmph, leave me alone, I'll go by myself!" Chen Yu flung his hand and ran off on his own.
Sitting by the window, Chen Ke watched everything out of the corner of his eye, somewhat surprised that Chen Yu hadn't come to find him directly.
After finishing his meal, Chen Ke thanked Wang Jingjiang and then walked back home.
Although the whole street looked gray and drab, it had a distinct character of the era, and most of the workers walking on the street were full of energy.
Chen Ke sighed with emotion, saying that in this era, resources are scarce and food is in short supply, but people's mental state is really good, and everything is supported by the spirit of hard work and simplicity.
Imagine a future world where the economy is highly developed and resources are abundant, yet people on the streets are either rushing around or have listless eyes, busy all day long, not knowing what they're doing it all for.
Ah, the word "spirit" is quite mysterious.
Back in the compound, I was greeted by familiar faces along the way.
"Chen Ke, why are you so late today? The two kids are back, I'm afraid you haven't cooked yet, they're all hungry."
Chen Ke laughed and said, "My colleagues treated me to dinner today, and I ate out. They're all grown up; they can cook for themselves if they're hungry. I don't need to worry about them."
"Really? You've finally decided to let them do it themselves?"
"If you ask me, poor children learn to be independent early. Look at other families, whose children don't start doing laundry and cooking at ten years old? Only your two are raised so pampered."
"Yes, yes, I was wrong before. Now we're starting to train them. Chairman Mao said, 'Self-reliance leads to abundance.' We can't let them develop the bad habit of being lazy."
Chen Ke's words were met with a chorus of agreement. The two younger children, upon hearing someone calling Chen Ke in the yard, had been eavesdropping behind the door. After listening, their expressions turned rather grim.
Chen Yu whispered, "These people are so awful! They don't spoil their own children, but they won't allow others to do so!"
Chen Zhi looked dejected. "It's over, it's over. My brother has already said that, and considering his attitude last night and this morning, don't you understand?"
Chen Yu blinked. "Understand what?"
Chen Zhi affirmed, "My older brother is definitely going to marry his wife and separate us from the family. That's why he's making us do our own laundry and cooking now, so that we can be independent!"
The girl's words from that afternoon suddenly flashed into Chen Yu's mind: Don't be so smug, your brother will get married sooner or later, and then his wife might kick you all out!
Could it be that she was right? Is she going to be abandoned?
"Waaaaah... Waaaaah..."
Chen Yu suddenly covered her face and ran into the room crying. Hearing her sad and desperate voice, Chen Zhi also felt a sense of shared sorrow.
That's it, Chen Ye's sixteen years of carefree life are about to end.
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