Song Ci was watering the flowers in the courtyard with a watering can when she saw her youngest son coming with a face full of dejection, and couldn’t help raising an eyebrow.
"Mother." Song Zhiyu came near, gloomily taking the long-spouted watering can from her hand, taking over her task.
Song Ci took the cloth handed over by Hongtao to wipe her hands and said, "Did your elder brother lecture you?"
"Mother, did you know long ago about elder brother plotting against us uncles and nephews?"
Song Ci said, "I heard your elder brother mention it a few days ago; what, hurt your pride?"
"Elder brother is just too much. If he wanted to educate us, he could have just reprimanded us directly. Why go through such an elaborate ploy, frightening us to death, and embarrassing us." Song Zhiyu pretended to be aggrieved.
As soon as he finished speaking, he was knocked on the forehead with a sweet flick.
"You’re just stubborn and refuse to admit it, and you dare to badmouth your elder brother?" Song Ci glared at him.
Song Zhiyu howled twice: "Mother doesn’t love me anymore, doesn’t comfort me either."
"You’re at the age to marry a wife, still wanting comfort? Do you think you’re a little chubby child? When you get married, you might soon become a father. Do you think you’ll still want your mother to comfort you?" Truly a spoiled big child.
Song Zhiyu dropped the watering can in his hand and wrapped his arms around Song Ci’s arm, saying, "I don’t care, even if I become a father, I’m still your son and still want your comfort."
"You wish, by then I might have forgotten who you are." Song Ci rolled her eyes, does she not get old, not get dementia?
Song Zhiyu felt a bit uncomfortable in his heart and said, "If you forget, I’ll remind you over and over again."
Song Ci chuckled and said, "Alright, stop being glib here. Your elder brother did the right thing, I stand by him. Learn from experience, once you’ve suffered a loss, you’ll be able to handle things in the future, always be vigilant."
Song Ci sat down on the wicker chair in the courtyard and had him sit as well, saying, "Silang, your father and I are just common folk, never had great achievements in life. The greatest success is having you siblings. You can’t rely on your parents, we’re not capable. But your elder brother is different, he’s clever and resourceful, just follow his lead in the future."
"Mother, when did I ever not listen to elder brother? All it takes is one look from him and I’m practically wagging my tail like a little puppy." Song Zhiyu rubbed his nose and said.
"I’m not talking about now, I’m talking about the future. Whenever you’re unsure, can’t figure it out, or can’t decide, asking your elder brother will never go wrong."
Song Zhiyu’s heart tightened, and his eyes turned red: "Mother, are you leaving Silang to fend for himself?"
"Nonsense." Song Ci’s eyes dodged; even if she wants to care, she’s powerless. She will age and who knows when she might just leave this world one day.
"You are. Look, you’re even avoiding my gaze, clearly passing the buck to elder brother."
Song Ci coughed twice, somewhat sheepishly: "You child, saying such blatant truths."
"I’m just being proactive so that one day I won’t forget to explain things. So I’m telling you clearly now, who knows if I might forget such important wisdom in the future. I’m uneducated, you know."
Why does it feel like she seems quite honored when she says she’s uneducated?
Song Ci pinched his face: "I can’t take care of you either, look at you refusing the blind date I set up for you."
Song Zhiyu gritted his teeth: "I’ll go, I’ll take a look, alright? Just don’t leave me alone."
Song Ci’s eyes lit up, and she held out her pinky: "Pinky promise, okay? When the girl comes, don’t get impatient or badmouth her."
Oh no, even mother is annoyed with me.