As for what he was sorry for, he couldn't say for sure.
The hardship and pain of training alongside them goes without saying.
Let the children come along into the mountains to face wild animals.
Or should we let the child face the criminals...?
Every event carries both danger and opportunity, but Tang Sumei has always treated Cheng Chao like her own child, and Cheng Chao feels that she would definitely love him dearly.
Tang Sumei paused for a moment, wiped her eyes, and asked her son first.
Do you like following your brother?
"Do you want to be idle good-for-nothings, or do you want to follow your brother and suffer, to become useful people?"
Having spent so much time in the army, enduring snowstorms and remote mountains, and having just done something daring, the two young men are no fools. Standing before Tang Sumei, they were resolute.
"Mom, we want to follow my brother. We are boys, and we must hone our skills so that we can protect our country and make you proud."
Cheng An is more practical.
“Mom, we are boys. Even if we don’t achieve great things or protect our country, it’s good if we learn skills so that we can protect ourselves and you in the future. At least you can feel more at ease about us when you’re not around.”
If these words were spoken when a child was young, parents would take them as youthful chivalry.
But after going through all that, and having been with Cheng Chao for so long, they are no longer impulsive children. Tang Sumei's eyes immediately welled up with tears again. Her children have grown up, and they are still sensible in this way. How could she, as a mother, happily accept this price?
"Okay, okay."
She could tell right from wrong, but she also understood Cheng Chao's feelings. The two children were suffering, and he was worried about making her, their mother, feel bad. She turned and slapped Cheng Chao's arm.
"Did you hear that? What kind of words are those? What 'I'm sorry'?"
You are their older brother, and they are your younger brothers. With the elders not around, isn't it normal for the older brother to discipline them?
Or have you always treated them like outsiders?
"No......"
"That's settled then. Your second uncle and I think the same way. They're not young anymore, and they're not without their own opinions. Did you force them to do these things? They're capable of taking responsibility for their actions."
Xiao Chao, actually, in the end, it's your second uncle and I who should thank you and Dandan. Back then, if it weren't for you, we might be in some farm undergoing renovation now, and we wouldn't even have the chance to complain.
These past few years, you two have been the ones worrying about these two children. Nominally they're the older brother and sister, but you've taken on the burdens of your parents. Saying things like that makes your aunt feel utterly ashamed.
"No, Auntie, I didn't,"
Cheng Chao denied it somewhat anxiously. He wasn't stupid, but perhaps in front of family, his mind wasn't as sharp as usual. He couldn't articulate any grand principles, and could only repeat simple words over and over again.
"Second Aunt, I didn't mean it that way. Please, please don't cry, Second Aunt, I didn't mean it that way..."
There were quite a few people on the roadside. It had been noisy just now, but it had quieted down, making the commotion here more noticeable. One person was crying, and the other was helplessly trying to comfort them. Jian Dan and the two children standing to the side were somewhat dumbfounded and speechless.
"Mom, brother, can we talk about this somewhere else? Why are people giving us these looks?"
Cheng Rui, a young man with a thin skin, was the first to lose his composure, covering his face and turning his back to the gazes of people on the street.
Cheng An also smiled and said,
"Mom, brother, let's find a quiet place to have a good talk."
Tang Sumei wiped her eyes, rolled her eyes at her son, and then looked at Cheng Chao and Jian Dan with a broad smile.
"Are you all hungry? Let's eat first. After we finish eating, I'd like to go and see Dan Dan."
Jian Dan suddenly remembered seeing her at the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative when she first arrived, and pointed back.
"Second Aunt, are you buying things to visit me?"
"yes,"
Tang Sumei nodded with a smile.
"I've been here for so long, and I've been so busy that I haven't had a moment to spare."
After finally finishing up all the work, I asked around and found out the autumn harvest was over, so I thought I'd go see you.
"hey-hey!"
Simply scratching one's head,
"Second Aunt, we're on the same page. I also wanted to see if you were having any trouble adjusting here. What a coincidence."
"How about we eat first, and then we can go back together? Second Aunt, how many days off can you take? What about you two, how many days off do you have?"
“I haven’t had a break lately. When I heard I was going to see you, Lao Yang agreed to cover my shift.”
Does this mean you're in charge of everything?
The two children immediately turned their gazes to their leader, looking on expectantly. Cheng Chao had a sour face, thinking, "Isn't this just taking advantage of the fact that I don't have time?"
However, the two children have indeed been working very hard lately. Even Cheng Jin advised him to take it easy, since the two children are still unofficial and shouldn't be exploited like this.
Heaven knows, it really wasn't him who squeezed them. From the last time the refugees came to the deep mountains, it was always the two children who volunteered to participate. After much consideration, he decided that the danger was not high, and he could stay by their side, which would be a good opportunity for them to train. That's why he agreed.
However, it was indeed not easy. They were already young, and every training session with the soldiers involved the same level of exertion, intensity, and difficulty, which was quite challenging for them.
"Go ahead, relax, and come back in three days."
Cheng Rui was overjoyed and jumped up immediately.
"Yay! That's great, sis, mom, we're with you too."
Sister, can we go up the mountain? I want to eat your grilled fish.
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