The three brothers, their clothes soaked through, sat on the riverbank, basking in the sun's heat.
It's already June, and I don't feel cold even wearing wet clothes.
Xiao Jian and Gao Hu were only wearing tank tops and shorts, so they dried their clothes in no time.
Xiao Weiguo, on the other hand, was dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, with slightly long hair that was soaked by the river and clung to his body, making him look rather disheveled.
Xiao Weiguo and Xiao Jian sat quietly by the river, remaining silent for a long time.
At this moment, they seemed to have returned to their childhood, to the happy times when they herded sheep and cut grass together by the river, occasionally caught some fish, stole a few sweet potatoes, picked a couple of ears of corn, and made a fire by the river to satisfy their cravings.
It seems that the sky was bluer, the water clearer, and happiness could be prolonged indefinitely back then.
Xiao Weiguo's eyes were fixed ahead, as if he were lost in memories.
He didn't turn his head, but said something softly.
"Xiao Jian, come back with me."
Xiao Jian was looking down, carefully plucking each blade of wild grass from the ground.
Upon hearing Xiao Weiguo's words, his hand suddenly paused, and he stopped pulling the grass.
He looked up at his older brother but didn't say anything, continuing to look down at his feet.
“Xiao Jian, we are family and should not be separated. I was wrong before, and I hope that we brothers will not be like that again in the future.”
Xiao Weiguo carefully considered his words and continued to persuade Xiao Jian.
What was it like before?
Xiao Jian understood what he meant: the brothers had turned against each other, and the family had almost fallen apart.
He curled his legs up, hugged them with his arms, and rested his chin on them, thinking quietly.
Memories flooded back; he had hated, cursed, and cried, but nothing could change anything, so he chose to escape.
But when he returned, he discovered that his older brother had truly changed.
Unlike before, when they would beat and scold people at the drop of a hat.
He has become incredibly attentive, protecting all his younger siblings under his wing.
In the eyes of others, he is a hawk soaring in the sky, doing his best every day to protect his young cubs who have not yet hatched.
Although Xiao Jian doesn't talk much, he is very sensitive. Now, he can feel his brother's love and care in every move Xiao Weiguo makes.
But who would have thought that the eldest brother is only nineteen years old this year, and beneath his strong exterior lies a heart that has just begun to grow.
Even at his age, the eldest brother is still considered a child among ordinary people.
Does he still have any reason to hate?
there is none left.
There is no real hatred between brothers.
So-called hatred is just a way of expressing disappointment and frustration.
"Although I don't have great abilities, I can still ensure that each of you will have enough to eat and wear for the rest of your lives. Even if you do nothing, I will be just as happy as you can stay by my side every day. I don't ask for anything else, I just want our family to be happy together for the rest of our lives."
These are Xiao Weiguo's true feelings. The lack of family affection in his previous life has led to family affection becoming an obsession in his heart in this life. No matter what the cost, he wants to hold onto it firmly in his own hands.
"elder brother......"
When Xiao Jian looked up, his eyes were a little blurry.
This was the first time he had called out "brother" since he returned. Although his voice wasn't loud, it still brought Xiao Weiguo immense joy.
He stretched out an arm, put his arm around his younger brother's shoulder, and pulled him into his embrace.
The two brothers sat side by side, enjoying a warmth they hadn't felt in a long time.
Gao Hu sat not far away, watching all of this with a hint of envy in his eyes.
He felt very fortunate to have met Xiao Jian, a friend and brother, in his lifetime.
But he knew this moment belonged to Xiao Jian, so he remained silent and quietly looked away.
For Gao Hu, he longed for the love and care of his family more than anyone else, including Xiao Weiguo and his siblings, but it was just a pipe dream.
The family affection he once possessed, which belonged to him, has long since turned into a mound of yellow earth and vanished into the world.
There are always many regrets in life. Some people can make up for it, while others lose the opportunity forever.
After a long while, Xiao Jian finally managed to pull himself out from under his older brother's arm.
The sun was scorching, and his clothes had long since dried, but now sweat had soaked his short hair.
"Brother, I understand you."
Before Xiao Weiguo could speak, he continued.
"But have you ever thought that some things are predetermined?"
Xiao Weiguo glanced at his younger brother, somewhat confused by his meaning.
"Brother, we're all growing up every day. Maybe in three years, maybe in fifty or ten years, whether it's the eldest sister, the youngest brother and sister, or of course me, we'll all have our own little families. What will you do then?"
At this moment, Xiao Jian no longer seemed like a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy. Years of hardship seemed to have made him more prone to thinking about many things.
Xiao Weiguo's mind went blank; Xiao Jian's words exploded in his head like a thunderclap.
Yes, since his rebirth, Xiao Weiguo has been thinking about how to bring his family together and give his younger siblings a better life so they can no longer suffer like before.
However, he never considered that one day in the future, they would grow up and leave him.
No, perhaps he had considered this issue long ago, but deliberately avoided it. The human brain always automatically filters out things it cannot face.
Shanshan and Xiaoyue will get married sooner or later, and Xiaojian and Xiaojiang will get married and have children someday.
At that time, he, as their older brother, would no longer be their only family, and he himself would one day get married and have children, and his younger siblings would no longer be any of his ties.
They grew up drinking the same milk, but in the end, they had to embark on their own separate journeys.
At this moment, Xiao Weiguo was even a little scared.
Are there few examples in this world of brothers turning against each other and sisters becoming enemies?
He was truly afraid that one day, when his brothers and sisters were separated, their hearts would still be together.
So what should we do? Should we let them fly free?
No, Xiao Weiguo was unwilling. At the very least, now was not the time to let them fly on their own.
Although he couldn't protect them for a lifetime, Xiao Weiguo wanted to use his own wings to carry them to a higher sky before they took flight.
That will be the time for them to soar into the sky and take flight.
Their parents gave them life, and Xiao Weiguo, who took over the family business, has to do his best to help them reach the highest level.
"Xiao Jian..."
Xiao Weiguo was about to speak when Xiao Jian interrupted him.
"elder brother."
Xiao Jian's gaze hardened. He finally reached out and grabbed his elder brother's wrist tightly.
Xiao Weiguo looked at his wrist, at the hand that was now almost as big as his own, and waited for his younger brother to continue.
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