Suddenly, everything became so unfamiliar, an experience she had never had before.
She muttered disconsolately, "I’m feeling really confused..."
Shujun lay down beside her, putting an arm around her small shoulders, helping her analyze why Yixuan was angry.
"Is Little Liu angry? Don’t be fooled by Little Liu’s appearance, he might seem like a gentle lamb without temper. But, in reality, he has plenty of little schemes up his sleeve."
"I believe that among the six brothers in the family, the eldest, Lao Er, I, and Little Liu, we four truly resemble real brothers. On the other hand, Lao Si and Little Wu, these two are like mutants, exceptionally different! They are a bit duller and less smart, their minds not as nimble."
Dong Huiying was a little upset before, but now she couldn’t help but laugh.
What was this person spouting now, some hard truths?
She snuggled closer into Shujun’s embrace, "Are you trying to tell me that Yixuan is... very smart?"
Shujun shook his head, saying, "Although that’s part of it, it’s not all. Firstly, you’ve overlooked a very important issue."
"What?" She sat up, intrigued, looking at him.
Shujun said, "The eldest brother used to travel widely, Lao Er wasn’t well, but even he was taken by the eldest to seek medical treatment far and wide. And me... I often traveled outside, even having done business a long time ago. But Yixuan is different."
"For us, when we are tired or weary, there’s a home to return to. Home is a place where we can rest at ease. But for Little Liu, home—for him—is more like shackles, like a prison, locking him up, trapping him."
Dong Huiying touched her chest.
There was a dull, tingling pain.
Shujun held her tighter and continued, "In fact, Little Liu wasn’t always . As a child, he was more well-behaved and sensible compared to other kids his age. Whether it was because our fathers left us early or because our mother used to treat us badly..."
"Our brothers seem to mature earlier compared to others, don’t they? But Little Liu was still just a child after all. It’s natural for children to love playing."
"One time, Little Liu went to the riverbank to catch eels. For him, that was probably a kind of game. Not only could he improve the family’s meals by bringing eels home, but he also found pleasure in the activity. Speaking of which... he’s been quite pragmatic since he was young."
Shujun sighed and continued, "That night, he played until he forgot the time. I’m not clear about the specifics, because Lao Si and I happened to be hunting in the mountains. When Little Liu came back, he saw Shu Yu collapsed on the ground, delirious."
"Little Wu, as a child, was like a little wolf cub. When bullied, he was sure to retaliate fiercely. That day he had his own little trouble, fighting with some kids and ended up with a bloody head."
"When Little Liu returned, he saw Shu Yu seriously ill, and Yue Ning lying motionless on the ground covered in blood. He was terrified. Later... he sought Aunt Lin’s help, and together with her, they took one injured and one sick member of the family to the clinic in town."
"All the way there, he was scared out of his wits. When the eldest brother and I came down from the mountains and got the news, rushing to the clinic in town, we saw Little Liu already paralyzed with fright, his little face pale and especially pitiful."