You could say they’re truly brothers; their reactions are practically identical. Watching as Big Brother and Second Brother rubbed their eyes in unison, realizing that what they saw wasn’t just a trick of their vision, they both simultaneously squatted down and, in the dim moonlight, meticulously examined the Artemisia that had seemingly sprouted from the ground, spreading dense leaves in an instant.
The foolish Second Brother even plucked a leaf of Artemisia and put it in his mouth, only for the bitter taste to make him spit intensely.
Haha, as their sister, Shuzhen really shouldn’t be laughing at this moment. But the humor was so overwhelming that an ordinary person like her couldn’t resist it, right? Plus, she wasn’t the only one lacking familial love; the corners of Big Brother’s mouth were also upturned considerably!
If someone else laughed at him, Second Brother Liu, with his short temper, would likely punch them first, not caring about the consequences. But when it’s his sister, who he can’t bear to hurt, or his brother, who he can’t provoke, he can only pretend that the fool they’re laughing at isn’t him with a thick-skinned attitude.
After spitting several times to expel all the bitterness from his mouth, he furrowed his brows and asked, "This is strange. It’s just ordinary Artemisia. Little Sister, how did it sprout and grow so quickly in the blink of an eye?"
So much had happened in just a day, successfully transforming Shuzhen’s image in Second Brother Liu Shouyi’s mind from a naive and easily fooled girl into a clever and perceptive person. Wasn’t it true that he bypassed the always smart Big Brother to ask her directly? But Shuzhen had no idea that her Second Brother valued her so much, thinking instead that he might be suspicious of her recent actions!
Stay calm and collected!
This isn’t superpowers on the side of the road that can be easily recognized!
It’s not like the 21st century where the internet is everywhere, where time-travel and rebirth novels are as abundant as floodwaters. Big Brother and Second Brother haven’t encountered those things, so they probably wouldn’t think in that direction. She herself was reborn, yet she never suspected that their father had hidden a great treasure in the coffins of their uncle and third uncle, right?
Without seeing it firsthand, who would have thought that the Liu family, who claimed to have d all their assets to support Jianguo, had left such a massive fortune for their descendants?
Even if by some chance the brothers discovered it, Shuzhen believed that with years of affection for her, they would only help to cover things up without any hint of disdain.
So what was there to fear?
This mental reassurance seemed long in words, but it was only a fleeting thought in Shuzhen’s mind. Looking at Second Brother’s puzzled gaze in the dim moonlight, Shuzhen smiled, "Second Brother, how should I know? But when you and Big Brother were covering the traces with soil, I was silently praying to our ancestors, grandparents, parents, uncles, and third uncle for protection."
"Hoping that new growth would sprout to cover our tracks. Life under scrutiny isn’t easy, and if someone were to find out, even the most righteous identity wouldn’t save us. Maybe our grandparents, parents, and uncles heard my prayers and are watching over us in this way?"
"Little sister, you must never speak of this in front of outsiders, and you must completely forget about today. These are turbulent times, and one must be cautious not to invite disaster through careless words." Liu Shouren cleared his throat and especially warned his sister, afraid that her youth and lack of resolve might cause her to act recklessly.
"Exactly, little sister, some things are best kept in our hearts and never spoken of." Liu Shouyi patted his sister’s shoulder gently, softly reminding her.
However, born with a tall frame and rugged build, Liu Shouyi’s voice was a typical booming, coarse voice of a Northeastern man. His attempts at soft speech had an unexpected comedic effect.
Seeing Big Brother and Second Brother lined up to warn her, yet clearly accepting the conclusion that their ancestors were watching over and protecting their descendants, what more could Shuzhen say?
The brothers were right; even their scolding and warnings came from a place of care for their sister, without a doubt!
After bowing and paying respects at every Liu family ancestor’s grave under her brothers’ guidance, the siblings ventured home under the cloak of night. Despite Big Brother and Second Brother insisting she only needed to bow due to her pregnancy, the Liu family’s long-standing occupation in the area meant a prosperous populace. After bowing at over a hundred graves, to be honest, Shuzhen’s waist ached.
Sigh, had she known this, she wouldn’t have brought up the pretense of ancestral protection; mentioning their parents and uncles would have sufficed.
Who would have thought that they professed disbelief, yet Big Brother and Second Brother actually believed it wholeheartedly? Witnessing their devoutness, willing to bow until dawn, Shuzhen couldn’t help but feel sorry for their foreheads.
After a night’s worth of fuss retrieving the items, now came the headache of figuring out how to securely store them. Keeping them at home risked the revolutionary guards discovering them, putting both safety and possessions at grave risk. Storing them elsewhere wasn’t an option the Liu siblings considered. After agonizing for a long while, Shuzhen had a sudden idea and suggested a reliable solution, "Big Brother, Second Brother, do you remember the room I used to live in?"
"The one Wu Xia turned into a storage room by dismantling the kang because there was no place for grain and household items in the back?" Liu Shouyi rumbled, "Of course I remember. I even argued with her back then. Where would you stay in your maiden home after she tore the kang apart? I..."
"Yes, that room." Afraid that Second Brother might say something unpleasant and spoil Big Brother’s slightly improved mood, Shuzhen hurriedly interrupted, "Now that I’m back, the kang certainly needs to be rebuilt! We could dig two or three meters deep under it and bury the items. Until the situation clarifies, we’ll steadfastly remain small red farmers. With our household’s advanced family plaque and our honorable status as descendants of heroes, who would dare push things to the extreme without solid evidence?"