Fifth Brother, eyes red, also spoke up, “I’m not going to school either. I’ll learn from Little Sister at home.”
Tang Yunshu deliberately put on a stern face, pretending to be angry. “Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, if you refuse to study, don’t call me your sister anymore! I don’t have brothers who don’t strive to improve themselves.”
In her heart, Yunshu knew that Fourth and Fifth Brothers actually wanted to learn and had the talent for it. Even the eldest and second brothers harbored secret wishes to study. Only Third Brother genuinely disliked reading.
The brothers were just trying not to burden the family—education was expensive in ancient times, and they were all too sensible.
Seeing their little sister genuinely angry, Fourth and Fifth Brothers instantly panicked.
Fourth Brother quickly said, “Little Sister, don’t be mad! If I listen to you, is that okay?” Fifth Brother hurriedly added, “I’ll listen too, Little Sister! I always obey you.”
Yunshu finally smiled, showing her bright little teeth. “Don’t worry, Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother. I have plenty of ways to earn money. Supporting you to go to school won’t be a problem—don’t worry about the money.”
Second Brother chimed in, “Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, focus on studying. Third Brother and I will help Little Sister earn money so you can continue your lessons.”
Eldest Brother quickly added, “Fourth and Fifth Brothers, when my leg heals, I can help out too. With three brothers working, supporting you two in school won’t be an issue.”
Hearing this, Fourth and Fifth Brothers felt a warmth in their hearts. Tears streamed down their faces uncontrollably.
Just as they were crying, a knock came at the door.
Second Brother went to check. Opening it, he saw their eldest uncle and aunt.
Tang Dashu greeted first, “Second Brother, you’re all here!”
Second Brother stood at the door, not inviting them in, and asked flatly, “Uncle, what brings you here?”
“You kids, when elders come to your house, you don’t even offer us water? Do you not want us inside?” Li Cuicui immediately scolded him.
Hearing the commotion, the rest of the Tang family came out. Seeing Tang Dashu and his wife, their expressions remained neutral.
Tang Dashu quickly smiled, “Dashan, we haven’t visited in a long time. There are only the two of us left in the family—we should visit more often.”
Tang Dashan’s face remained cold. “Second Brother, let your uncle and aunt in.”
Though reluctant, Second Brother stepped aside.
Once inside, Li Cuicui began chatting. “Dashan, you and Dashu are brothers. You need to be close, don’t be distant. Right, Lanzi? Fifth Brother, get us some water—we’re parched.”
Second Brother immediately retorted, “Aunt, are you forgetting? You once said our water was filthy, and even told us not to visit. How could we be friends? Did you already forget?”
Li Cuicui’s face turned red and white in embarrassment. She composed herself and said with a forced smile, “Second Brother, that’s because we worried about you—couldn’t stand seeing you waste money on that little fool… I mean Tang Tang. Now, seeing you prosper, buying ox carts, I’m genuinely happy for you. We’re family—no room for grudges, right, Lanzi? Besides, we even lent your family money before!”
Second Brother shot back, “Aunt, father borrowed 20 taels from your house and already repaid it. Yet you kept picking our eggs as ‘interest,’ over fifty eggs in total. Now seeing us buy ox carts, you claim we’re family? Your audacity is shocking!”
Tang Dashu was furious. “Dashan, you’re letting your little brat disrespect your uncle and aunt? How can you allow this?”
Tang Dashan’s expression hardened. He slowly said, “Brother, I never told anyone about the past—that was to give you face. But you should know the truth yourself! When you married, the money was saved together by us. After your marriage, didn’t your wife take everything I earned from hunting? Even my wages from working went into her pockets. She complained I ate too much. I worked hard for the family for years, yet when it came time for my own marriage, you contributed nothing and even drove me out. I had no choice but to go hunting at Qing Mountain, luckily catching some game to earn money. That’s how I could marry Lanzi, who didn’t mind my poverty. Later, when our family faced hardships, I borrowed only 20 taels from your house. Your wife even took over fifty eggs. Tell me, where else would you see such treatment from an elder brother and sister-in-law?”
This was the first time Tang Dashan had spoken all of this aloud, in front of Lanzi and the children. Lanzi silently held his hand, comforting him. She had no idea he had suffered so much.
Tang Dashu’s face turned like a spilled paint box, red and blue in embarrassment, unable to respond.
After a long pause, he muttered, “No matter what, I am your elder brother. Blood ties cannot be broken. As the saying goes, the eldest brother is like a father, the eldest sister-in-law like a mother. Now that your life is better, are you going to pretend we’re strangers?”