books44 Chapter 321 Drinking Together
Chapter 321 Drinking Together
"Alright!" When Mother left, she was most worried about her younger brother. Although she didn't say anything in the end, let's hear what Song Wanxing has to say this time.
"Brother, do you remember when we were kids, we'd fight together and get punished by Dad together?"
"I remember you were very brave back then, even though you were very thin. By the way, you got into that fight because of me, right?"
"Yeah, because...they were cursing you behind your back, and they were even imitating how you walk, and you knew that?"
"How could I not know? There were plenty of people who laughed at me." Song Wanli gave a bitter smile. He remembered that back then, he hadn't given up on his fate.
His father wouldn't let him go to school, so he would secretly go outside the school to audit classes. His younger brother would also secretly teach him. Back then, the brothers had a very good relationship. They weren't afraid of being punished together, and they would squeeze together in a small dark room to keep warm.
"That's right. Those people couldn't beat us, so they went back and complained, which made Dad lock you up at home."
"Hehehe... You were a little madman back then. You were so small, but you fought like your life depended on it. You were really ruthless."
"That's right, Mother said that brothers are the closest and should help each other. I didn't want to hear them scold you, but later..." But later they drifted further and further apart. Back then, he was studying hard and thought that as long as he studied hard and became successful and a high-ranking official, no one would dare to laugh at his brother.
But from when did everything fall into chaos? Many intellectuals, professors, and experts were persecuted and sent to the countryside. They had to be careful what they said, let alone write articles.
Although no one from their brigade was sent down to the countryside, other communes did. He and his classmates secretly went to see for themselves. They lived in a stinking, dilapidated cowshed, freezing in winter and scorching in summer, and were called "stinking intellectuals" who were arbitrarily scolded and beaten. They were also frequently criticized and denounced, without any dignity. He was confused.
But his father still forced him to read, read, and continue reading the 'books of sages,' secretly. And his older brother? He no longer secretly went to school; his mother taught him to read at home.
His father became increasingly strict, while his mother remained very gentle. One day, after being hit with a ruler by his father again, he sought comfort from his mother.
He saw his mother gently helping his older brother tidy his clothes and urging him to soak his feet outside the window. The heartwarming scene between the mother and son made his eyes red. He felt envious and jealous of the contrast between them.
Why should he? His older brother can stay at home and enjoy his mother's care, while he has to go to that dilapidated school alone, rain or shine, to be scolded by the teacher and beaten by his father. All of this should have been borne by his older brother.
His father also said that he was the hope of the whole family and that he had to take care of his older brother in the future. Why should he be the one to do that? He was indignant.
Later, his father passed away, and the school closed down, but he still habitually picked up a book to read. It was simply because working in the fields was too hard and tiring, and he didn't want to become a dirty, muddy laborer; it was also because when he held a book, no one would ask him to do anything, especially his newlywed wife, Zhao Xiaojuan, who looked at him with adoration, making him feel even more elated…
The eldest brother is undoubtedly smart. Father was right. If Song Wanli hadn't been disabled, he wouldn't have had the opportunity to study or support the family.
The eldest brother was also resilient. After their father passed away, he didn't want the family to be involved together and proposed dividing the household. In particular, his sister-in-law was mentally unstable, and he didn't want to be a burden to her.
I thought they wouldn't make it, since both of their daughters died young. But I never expected that even in his most difficult time, he would adopt his sister's daughter, talking about "adopting a child," something only someone like Song Wanli, who had never been to school, would believe. I've seen him laugh at him a lot behind his back; he's just a "blindly filial son," listening to everything his mother says.
They did indeed suffer for several years, their home was in chaos, and the older brother even became an alcoholic and abusive. Unexpectedly, he later sobered up and used his skillful hands to make bamboo products. He also had Song Tingnan sell the goods, and things started to change at home. A son was born, but so what? What could small-scale hustles accomplish? How could they compare to him?
Whether they can compare or not is now crystal clear. "Brother, I'm sorry, and thank you for raising my three children." Song Wanxing took a sip of wine. This wine is truly harmful. Before, his brother... "Brother, how did you manage to quit drinking?"