Guan Lian took out a large cabbage. Luckily, there was some salted pork at home, so she used the salted pork to stew the cabbage and added some firm tofu.
The pot on the coal stove made a bubbling sound, and the aroma gradually wafted out. Guan Lian hurriedly added the tofu, only then noticing that her youngest son was still standing to the side.
"What are you standing here for? Your brother is inside. Hurry up and go in. It's been more than half a year since you last saw him."
After urging her son a few times, she started chopping scallions on the cutting board.
Chen Junsheng gripped the strap of his schoolbag, took a deep breath, and silently pushed open the door and went inside.
Several large packages were on the stool. Seeing him come in, Chen Junliang sat down at the desk and said, "You're back."
"……elder brother"
Chen Junliang reached out to flip through the books he had spread out on the table, but Chen Junsheng quickly took a few steps to pick them up. He then realized that he had paused for a moment and looked a little embarrassed.
“I was just about to come in and tidy up. You two can each have half of this desk. Don’t keep putting your things on your brother’s side.”
The package contained various foods packed by her parents. Guan Lian came in and pulled out a bag of dried vegetables. The vegetables outside were already being stewed, so there was no rush. She simply tidied up all the things her eldest son had brought.
"You brought all the clothes with you."
The package was filled with his various clothes. Guan Lian felt somewhat relieved. Even though her eldest son could no longer wear some of the clothes, they could be altered and given to her younger son. If all else failed, they could be used for something else.
Chen Junsheng's hand holding the book clenched involuntarily. He glanced nervously at his older brother, Chen Junliang, who didn't look at him and whose expression remained flat.
Unaware that something was off with the atmosphere between the two brothers, Guan Lian continued her rambling with a smile on her lips.
Chen Junliang quickly got up to help his mother pack up, as he had brought his textbooks with him, and put them on the table.
“Young man, your brother is tall, so let him sleep on the lower bunk. Otherwise, you won’t be able to sleep well because he’s climbing up and down every day.”
Chen Junsheng lowered his head. The desk, which used to be entirely his, was now crammed to one side, while the other side was filled with his brother's textbooks.
After asking around, the mother decided to pack up her things and move her brother to the lower floor.
"No need, Mom, I'll sleep on the top bunk."
Guan Lian paused in tidying the blankets, thinking that her youngest son was still young and it wouldn't be good if he fell while climbing up and down. "Alright then."
If only our family's financial situation were better.
After putting everything in the cupboard, Chen Junliang went outside to help his mother cook. To prevent the heat from escaping, he kept the door closed except for a heavy curtain hanging on it.
Chen Junliang stood alone in the room, silently putting his schoolbag aside. He looked around the room, which used to be empty except for him, and pursed his lips.
Today's meal was exceptionally lavish, including a pot of stewed salted pork with cabbage and tofu, a bowl of steamed dried vegetables, and a bowl of steamed salted cured pork.
Chen Junliang looked at the familiar food his mother had prepared, his eyes reddening slightly, and quickly turned his head away.
Guan Lian did most of the talking at the table, which she was used to. Her eldest son hadn't been very talkative since starting junior high school, but her youngest son was acting a bit strange today.
"By the way, Liang... does your dad know you're coming?"
Chen Junsheng suddenly raised his head, his mother lowered her head, and his elder brother's hand, which was picking up food, also stopped.
"Should know"
Guan Lian actually wanted to ask if they had done anything to their parents, but the children probably didn't know what happened afterward, so she could only keep it to herself and planned to write home in a few days.
Everyone fell silent when the topic was brought up, so Guan Lian quickly changed the subject.
"Now that it's snowing, most students aren't going to class anymore. I was planning to send you to No. 1 High School, but it seems I'll have to wait until the start of next semester."
However, the school requires entrance exams, and if my grades aren't good enough, I might not get in.
Chen Junliang didn't attend many classes this semester, but he has a good foundation. If the exam is held next semester, he can study more during the holidays and do well.
"Where am I studying now?"
“The textile factory where Mom works is located in a residential compound, and the children of the employees can also attend the school there, although it only has a primary school.”
After finishing their meal, it was almost time for them to go back to work in the afternoon. They had been delayed at the train station for a while, so they planned to pack up the dishes and wash them when they got back.
"Mom, you go to work, I'll do the washing."
Guan Lian didn't want her eldest son to do the washing, since the child had just arrived, but he often helped her with housework at home. She glanced at him.
"Then put some hot water in a pot and wash it with cold water."
After instructing her eldest son and telling her younger son to be careful on his way to school, Guan Lian hurriedly put on her work clothes and ran downstairs.
Chen Junliang carried the pots and pans to the tap, glanced at the sky outside, and realized that things here were very different from back home.
Not wanting to use too much coal, he used the remaining embers in the coal stove to boil some water, just enough to wash the dishes.
Chen Junsheng was alone at home again. Actually, it had always been like this before. Whenever his mother went to work, he was always alone. But now things were different at home.
He waited for a while, then finally couldn't resist going outside and standing by the sink.
Chen Junliang had already washed the dishes and looked at his younger brother with a puzzled expression.
"What's wrong?"
"……fine"
Hearing that he was alright, Chen Junliang didn't ask any more questions and took all the things home and put them away.
Back when he was at home, his mother had to work, his father had to work, and his grandmother refused to take care of his younger brother, so Chen Junsheng was practically raised by his older brother.
The two brothers used to talk about everything, but unexpectedly, after only half a year, it was as if an invisible and intangible barrier had appeared between them, separating them.
Chen Junsheng tucked his hands into his sleeves, his fingernails tracing across his palms.
People in the building gradually went to work. Chen Junliang opened his books and sat on the table to study, while his younger brother dawdled and walked to the side.
"...Dad didn't know you were coming?"
Chen Junliang slammed his textbook shut. "He'll know when he finds out I'm gone. What do you want to ask?"
"Brother, that's not what I meant."
Chen Junliang gave him a deep look, then turned back to his studies and ignored him.
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