Qin Yong laughed as he put Qin Yi down, ruffling his hair and saying, "Alright, go play now." Then he went into the kitchen. "Zhen Niang, I'll watch the fire for you."
Qin Yi stared at the kitchen, his heart uneasy.
He realized that as time passed, his memories of this world grew, and he was increasingly immersed in the role of a child. His speech and actions were becoming more childish.
"Brothers…"
So this was what brothers were.
A family wasn't just parents—it also included siblings.
Unlike the orphanage, these people were not enemies, but family, just like father and mother.
The memories of being an orphan in his previous life grew clearer, yet somehow felt more distant.
"This feeling… actually isn't bad."
…
In the kitchen, Qin Yong watched the fire and softly said, "Zhen Niang, you know, our little Qin Yi, he's always focused on work. Is that… really good?"
Zhen Niang paused in rolling out the dough, frowned, and turned to Qin Yong. "Being sensible and diligent, focusing on work, what's wrong with that?"
"If he were eight or nine, yes, that would be great. As he grows up, it's even better—we wouldn't have to worry about him struggling in life. But our little Qin Yi is only two. At this age, shouldn't he be playing, running wild like the other children?"
"Playing… what's so good about that?"
"Playing is very good. Very important. It builds bonds among peers in the village. Friendships formed from childhood games are the strongest ones."
"What kind of nonsense is this, always making up rules like that?"
"No, Zhen Niang, this isn't nonsense. 'A good man has three helpers.' Haven't you noticed that Qin Yi is too solitary? He has almost no friends, not even with his own brothers. When he grows up, if he faces difficulties without bonds, who will help him? Zhen Niang, isn't that logical?"
"You think you're so clever!" Zhen Niang pressed the rolling pin hard, and after a moment, her eyes turned red. Choking back sobs, she said, "I know I'm biased toward Qin Yi, but… think about it, even before he was born, we had wronged him. After he was born, he's always been so sensible, never troubling me, never making me worry. Sensible children… they make your heart ache. How could I not favor him a little?"
Qin Yong scratched his head, chuckling awkwardly. "Zhen Niang, I… I'm not blaming you…"
Zhen Niang wiped her tears with the back of her hand, shaking her head. "You're right. I know what to do from now on. I'll make sure Qin Yi never ends up in trouble without anyone to help."
Then, swiftly, she finished cutting the noodles, lifting the pot lid as she spoke, "Did you wash your hands? Go wash up. It's almost mealtime."
"Alright," Qin Yong nodded obediently and left the kitchen.
…
The next morning, Zhen Niang got up early as usual, busy with chores. Qin Yi hurried out of bed, following her like a little tail.
"Mother, Mother, I can feed the chickens! Let me, let me…"
This time, Zhen Niang didn't hand over the chore to Qin Yi while she went to the kitchen. Instead, she crouched to his level and said, "Qin Yi, you helping me makes me happy, but you're still very young. This is the age to play. You should be happy, like your brothers, like the other children in the village. When you grow older, then you can help me, alright?"
Qin Yi's eyes reddened, choking back sobs. "Mother… don't you like me? Don't you want me? Wuwu… don't… don't leave me…"
He cried while rushing to hug Zhen Niang tightly, refusing to let go.
Hearing his cries, Zhen Niang's eyes turned red too. She hugged his small body tightly, then gently pulled him away, holding his shoulders firmly. Her voice was unusually stern: "If you keep crying, Mother really will stop taking care of you."
Qin Yi immediately stopped crying. His small face twitched, eyes red and nose running, but he stubbornly pressed his lips together, keeping silent.
"From today, you'll follow your two brothers to play, understand?"
Qin Yi pressed his lips and nodded.
"Go. Then come back and take a nap. Children need plenty of sleep. No need to wake up so early every day."
After Zhen Niang personally soothed Qin Yi back to sleep, she left the room and saw Qin Yong, as usual, just finished fetching water and chopping firewood.
Zhen Niang walked over, leaning against the water jar, eyes red. "You were right. I'll make sure Qin Yi is corrected. Thinking about it, the reason he's always so sensible and clinging to me… may go back to the abortion before he was born. Perhaps, even before he was born, he sensed we were incapable parents, willing to give him up for ourselves. That's why he's so insecure, so afraid of being rejected by us, so sensible… scared of causing trouble, scared we'd abandon him again…"
Qin Yong put down the axe and walked to her. Zhen Niang hugged him tightly, burying her face in his chest, quietly sobbing, her tears soaking his clothing.
Qin Yong held her, gently patting her back rhythmically, silently.
When her crying eased, Qin Yong softly said, "Zhen Niang, the decision to wrong Qin Yi was mine. As his father, it's my responsibility. You've done wonderfully—you are the best mother."
Hearing his words, Zhen Niang's eyes reddened again. Qin Yong quickly wiped her eyes and smiled, tilting his chin. "Look at the sun—if you don't make breakfast soon, it'll be noon before we eat."
Seeing the high sun, Zhen Niang quickly wiped her tears, embarrassed, and said, "I should change my clothes," rushing into the kitchen.
Qin Yong laughed, removing his soaked clothes and tossing them into the wooden tub by the water jar. Bare-chested, he continued chopping wood.
"Doh~ ka~ pu~"
"Doh~ ka~ pu~"
Soon, the rhythm of chopping wood filled the courtyard. Smoke curled from the kitchen, and the children's playful voices echoed inside.
"Brother, move! You're on top of me."
"Zhuzi, see clearly, this is my half of the bed. You crossed the line."
"I didn't! You moved me while I was asleep! Brother, you're so mean."
"You're the mean one! You were moving around in your sleep…"
Listening to the bickering of the older brothers, Qin Yong, finished with the firewood, laughed heartily and entered the second bedroom. Shouting at his sons: "Little rascals, look at the time! The sun's high already, why aren't you up yet?"
(End of Chapter)