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Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Did big brother really say that?
"Big brother’s smooth sailing now, forgetting the hard times we used to endure," Si Xiaohui grumbled, wanting to remind her eldest brother of the days when the three of them relied on each other as children. She hoped that it would make him cherish their familial bonds more and improve their sibling relationships. However, he didn’t seem interested in revisiting those tough times.
Understandably, who would want to reminisce about life’s struggles after reaching a period of ease and comfort?
Second brother mentioned not forgetting our roots after moving to the city, but who is the one truly forgetting here?
Sichen gave her a glance, "By the sound of it, you seem to be pretty nostalgic for our hard old days. Are you dissatisfied with city life? Want to go back to the village?"
"..."
Si Xiaohui was taken aback, feeling wronged she said, "Who said I’m not satisfied with life in the city? I...I only meant to say that it’s heartbreaking to remember those difficult times. I don’t want to go back to the village where the roads are all muddy and you can’t even step outside when it rains. Whoever wants to go back can go, but once I’ve left, I don’t want to return."
Initially, she didn’t understand why everyone was so keen on getting married into the city - no fields, no land, life seemed uncertain. However, once she moved to the city, she realized just how comfortable it could be, so unlike the countryside where everything was dirty and muddy, where she had to labor in the fields from dawn to dusk, under the burning sun, for a meager income.
How much better is life in the city!
Living in brick houses, eating meat and fish, not trudging through the mud on rainy days - those were days she couldn’t even dream of before. Anyone who wishes to return to the village can do so, but she will never go back.
"What do you feel sorry about?" Si Boyi ruthlessly tore apart her words, "Even during our family’s poorest times, while your brothers starved, we never let you go hungry."
"I...I won’t discuss this with you anymore." Si Xiaohui was frustrated and in a huff, quickly walked ahead of the brothers.
"We’ve spoiled Xiaohui. Now that she’s in the city, she looks down on our village. Even the pickles made by our mother are beneath her. I bet she’s planning to get married in the city too, with no plans to return to the village," Si Boyi is straightforward, but he isn’t foolish. He’s aware of certain things. Since noon when they arrived in the city, Xiaohui has been complaining about him.
After Tong Yao left, Si Xiaohui was even more critical of him. Even when he takes out his clothes and puts them on the bed, Xiaohui yells at him to pick them up, claiming that they are dirty. His clothes are all clean, he doesn’t know how they could possibly be dirty.
She even criticized him for bringing old clothes into the city, claiming that he would be the butt of jokes. Being rejected by his cherished younger sister hurt Si Boyi deeply.
As he said earlier, during their childhood, his brother and he would go hungry, but they never let Xiaohui starve. Yet, she started criticizing him just a few days after arriving in the city. If she truly married a wealthy city man, wouldn’t she break ties with their family like their uncle did?
"Wherever she wants to marry in the future, let it be her choice. She’s an adult now. You should worry less about her and think more about yourself."
While Si Chen and Si Boyi were walking leisurely, neither had chatted casually like this in many years. Si Chen felt compelled to advise him, "You’re also not young anymore, it’s about time you got married. If you meet the right person, start dating her. When it comes time to marry, Yaoyao and I will do our best to help. For now, work at Yaoyao’s milk tea shop in the city. Although Yaoyao is young, she’s more resourceful than you and Xiaohui. Listening to her more often wouldn’t hurt. Life at home will gradually improve. Don’t be impatient."
Although Si Boyi didn’t expect his elder brother to help him, hearing these words made him very happy. It even gave him a sense of being protected by his older brother, as if he were still a child.
He felt touched, his eyes reddening.
Since he grew up, he had always felt inferior to his eldest brother. He believed he couldn’t compare to him in any way, but one thing he was sure of: no matter how excellent his elder brother was, he was still his brother. Blood ties couldn’t be severed. He knew that no matter how well-off his eldest brother, he wouldn’t look down upon him like Xiaohui did. Perhaps, this was the difference between a brother and a sister.
"Big Brother, rest assured, I will work hard and listen to my sister-in-law’s words. If you’re able to help me find a wife in the future, that’s great, if not, no worries. I won’t blame anyone. Life in the city isn’t easy for you two either, and I understand that." Your elder brother, already married and with a family, isn’t obligated to help him find a wife. This was something Si Boyi understood.
Si Chen nodded, "First off, work hard in the city. Once you’ve earned enough money, fix up our old house back home. It’ll help when you are ready to find a wife."
Better living conditions at home would also make it more convenient for Si Chen and Yaoyao to visit and stay.
"Brother, we have a big family. If we ever come into money, we should build a two-story house! I’ve seen people in the city living in beautiful two-story buildings. We could each have a room of our own, the thought alone brings great comfort."
Upon hearing about building a house, Si Boyi’s eyes lit up. He couldn’t hide his excitement. Although he didn’t quite understand cars yet, he was very fixated on houses. In the village, your house was representative of your capabilities.
From childhood to now, Si Boyi had never had a room of his own. His greatest desire was for each of his family members to have their own rooms.
If Xiaohui had her own room, she wouldn’t have to vie with his brother and sister-in-law, he wouldn’t have to sleep outside, and their mother would have a place to sleep. The thought alone was comforting.
"Agreed." Seeing that they were about to arrive at their school, Si Chen stopped, "We’re almost there. You and Xiaohui should head back and get some sleep."
"Alright, big brother, take your time."
Si Boyi watched his big brother leave, feeling very happy about the idea of building a two-story building. In the village, a house was a symbol of status. If you had a good house, people would assume that you had made it in the city and had gained face in the village.
He wasn’t particularly talented, but if he could earn enough money to build a large house at home, he could hold his head high and make his mother proud. It would show people that his mother was right in choosing not to remarry and look after her three children instead. He was determined to be successful and provide a better life for her.
"Second brother, why are you so happy? Your big smile makes you look like a pair of stretched pants." Seeing her elder brother leave, Si Xiaohui slowed her pace, curious about what her two brothers talked about that made Si Boyi look so happy.
Si Boyi laughed and said, "Our big brother said that once we’ve earned some money, we’ll build a two-story house in the village. It’s such a grand idea."
Si Xiaohui’s eyes lit up, "Did big brother really say that?"
"Does it look like I’m lying?" said Si Boyi, brimming with happiness, "Xiaohui, you should also start saving some money. Your brother and I don’t want you to contribute to this, what you save can be your dowry. If your brother and I make it well in the future, we’ll certainly support you with a decent dowry when you get married. If we don’t do well, having your own dowry will bring you some peace of mind in your future life."
Though he might get mad at Xiaohui at times, blood ties and familial love can never be totally severed. He cherished his sister since she was a kid, and a little quarrel wouldn’t change this. At heart, he wishes that Si Xiaohui will marry well and lead a good life.
He might not be very capable, but if he were able, he would work hard to provide a dowry for his sister. He believed that if his big brother were to come into some ability, he wouldn’t be stingy either.
