When Xiao Weiguo returned home, Xiao Shanshan had already put the two children to sleep.
She sat alone on a small stool in the main room, her hands supporting her chin, lost in thought.
It has been four years since my parents died in a plague.
For the past four years, her greatest hope has been that her brother can study hard, support the family, and help her take care of their younger siblings.
However, she was met with disappointment after disappointment. Her brother not only didn't get better, but became even more outrageous.
The beatings and verbal abuse of the siblings were commonplace, even driving the fourteen-year-old brother to run away from home.
Living in such a shadow, Xiao Shanshan was almost in despair.
She was surrounded by a sea of suffering, and she could never find the shore.
For her, agreeing to marry the village chief's mentally challenged nephew was a way of escaping and avoiding reality.
She was really tired; a seventeen-year-old girl carrying too much on her shoulders.
But her older brother's behavior today surprised her.
Not only did he act like a man, standing in front of his sister and driving away the wedding procession, but he also learned how to do business and made money.
It's unbelievable that the older brother who used to never care about them would now thoughtfully buy so many things for them.
Xiao Shanshan seemed to see a glimmer of hope.
Has my brother really changed for the better? I really hope this isn't just a dream.
With a soft knock at the door, Xiao Weiguo walked in.
"Shanshan, you're still awake?"
He smiled and asked his sister, "The anger I felt at Xiao Changsuo's house just now vanished the moment I saw her."
"Hmm, can't sleep. How's things going?"
She stood up, took out a clean set of worn clothes, and handed them to her elder brother.
"You've had a long day, and you've gotten caught in the rain. Go wash up and change your clothes."
"Okay, okay! Thank you, Shanshan."
Xiao Weiguo hurriedly took it. What an understanding younger sister she is! Why was he such a jerk before?
"Shanshan, everything is resolved. The money has been returned to them. Don't worry, no one will force you again."
The weather was still very hot. Xiao Weiguo rubbed his sore nose and walked into the yard.
He pumped a large bucket of cold water from the well, then lifted it up and poured it over his head.
A refreshing sensation spread throughout my body from head to toe.
Ah, how comfortable! 1986, I love you! Xiao Weiguo had an urge to raise his arms and shout.
After taking a bath and changing into dry clothes, Xiao Weiguo returned to the main room and looked at his twin brother and sister who were fast asleep on the kang (a heated brick bed).
Although it was very hot and their faces and bodies were still sweaty when they slept, they still slept very soundly. Xiao Yue's pretty little face would occasionally twitch the corners of her mouth, revealing a half-smile, as if she was having a sweet dream.
Beside them, Shanshan held a palm-leaf fan, fanning the two children while shooing away mosquitoes.
This is his home, his family. Although it's dilapidated and poor, it's enough that they're here. Xiao Weiguo felt full of energy.
Back in his small room on the far west side, Xiao Weiguo sat on the bed, staring blankly at the moon through the window.
Everything has returned to normal, but his beloved younger brother, Xiao Jian, has not yet come back.
Last spring, Xiao Weiguo got drunk and beat Xiao Jian up for some unknown reason. At that time, this was just a common occurrence for Xiao Weiguo and his other younger siblings.
But who knew that on that occasion, Xiao Jian, who had always been obedient, would finally explode.
He fought desperately with his brother, but of course, being three years younger, he was no match for Xiao Weiguo.
After being beaten black and blue, Xiao Jian was filled with despair.
This family only showed him coldness and indifference; he felt he was living worse than an ox or a horse.
That night, he left home without taking anything with him, except for yelling at his older brother.
"I can overlook my problems, but take good care of your sister and younger siblings, or I'll kill you one day."
After saying that, he turned and left, and never came back from that day on.
In his previous life, Xiao Weiguo did try to contact him after he became rich, but he never heard from him again.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Jian kept his word. The next time they met, Xiao Jian ended his life with a dagger, fulfilling his promise.
This tragic tale of brothers turning against each other was all caused by Xiao Weiguo.
In this life, he must find his younger brother; the family must never be separated again.
As dawn broke, Xiao Weiguo woke up from his dream to the sound of Shanshan bustling about outside.
He got dressed and walked into the yard. Xiao Shanshan, who was tidying up the yard, looked up and smiled.
"Brother, get up."
Xiao Weiguo was somewhat taken aback to see that breakfast was already laid out on the small wooden table in the main room.
"Shanshan, you're up so early?"
"Heh, I'm used to it. You eat first, I'll go call Xiao Jiang and Xiao Yue."
Xiao Shanshan got up before dawn. First, she separated the rice and flour that her older brother had bought yesterday using a sieve, and then she lit a fire and cooked breakfast. This was just a routine for her.
As long as her family has something to eat, Xiao Shanshan has no complaints no matter how early she gets up.
"Shanshan, thank you for your hard work."
Xiao Weiguo could understand how tired his younger sister was. It must have been so hard for her. In other people's homes, a girl this age would still be acting spoiled in front of her parents.
Xiao Shanshan didn't say anything, but just glanced at her older brother before hurriedly going into the house to wake Xiao Jiang and Xiao Yue up.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
