"Don’t worry, dad, no matter how many years have passed, my second brother will always be my brother, we could never be strangers!" He Dongxue replied with a laugh. She didn’t understand why her father forbade her from pestering her older brother and sister-in-law. Regardless, she complied and went to her younger brother, He Da.
By this time, He Da had already left the room and was in the yard fixing his crutch with a knife. He Dongxue walked up to him and squatted by his side, "Second brother, how long have you been using this crutch? Dad is really skilled at making these! After he finishes cooking, we’ll ask him to make you a better crutch!"
Having said that, He Dongxue patted her chest and declared, "Second Brother, when I go to college, I’ll study medicine diligently. When I’m done learning, I’ll treat your leg and help you stand again!"
Although He Da knew his leg was gone and he wouldn’t be able to stand again, he didn’t want to discourage He Dongxue given her confident posture. So he simply nodded at her with anticipation, "Deal! I’ll be waiting for you to become a super knowledgeable doctor to help me stand up again."
The chatter of He Da and He Dongxue could be heard in the courtyard. Although He Teng couldn’t make out the words, he was awakened by the sound. Seeing He Zhilan sound asleep on him, he gently moved.
But that small movement brought a wave of discontent from the dreaming He Zhilan. With one sleepy motion, she landed a palm on his chin. Unaware of what she had just done, she shifted her sleeping position and muttered, "Brother, don’t move, let me sleep a bit more!"
He Teng was in a dilemma, not knowing if He Zhilan was confused or awake.
But her attitude, it was indeed quite... expansive. He Teng didn’t know, did He Zhilan have morning grumpiness too?
Seeing that He Zhilan was still not fully awake, He Teng stopped moving and allowed her to continue sleeping. It was not until high noon that he saw He Zhilan slowly wake up, rubbing her slightly swollen eyes.
"What time is it? Why do I feel even more tired the more I sleep?" He Zhilan sat up, craned her neck to look at He Teng and subconsciously began to scratch her back. Fortunately, He Teng quickly grabbed her hand.
"Why are you scratching your back when it’s injured?" He Teng reprimanded He Zhilan, "You’re a grown woman, be a bit more cautious. Turn around, I’ll apply medicine to your wound once more then you should go wash up and eat breakfast!"
Still groggy from sleep, He Zhilan managed an affirmative grunt and obediently turned her back to He Teng. But she made no further movements, only lifting her hand occasionally to rub her eyes.
Infused with a sense of helplessness, He Teng picked up the ointment, lifted He Zhilan’s clothes, checked her injury that hadn’t changed much overnight, and applied the ointment before urging her to get dressed and get up.
He Teng was quick and efficient when it came to dressing. He took off his sleepwear, put on his regular clothes, and left the room ahead of He Zhilan. When he entered the courtyard, he saw their father, along with He Da and He Dongxue, working on something. Upon closer inspection, he realized their father was making a new crutch for He Da.
"Big brother, you’re up? Where is sister-in-law? You two sure love to sleep in, Dad, second brother, and I have been up for a while, but you two are just waking up now!" He Dongxue teased innocently.