"Is, is all of this true?" Liu Zhiguang was stunned, "Second brother, you, I."
Actually, even if Lin Yuan hadn’t mentioned it, Liu Zhiguang would have understood sooner or later. The two brothers had always been incredibly close, and even though one was impulsive and the other was composed, they never had any estrangement or misunderstandings over anything.
Earlier, it was just that Liu Zhiguang was too anxious and didn’t think things through. Once he calmed down, he understood his second brother’s intentions clearly.
Seeing how awkward her big cousin looked, Lin Yuan smiled, her lips curling. That’s what real brothers are like. They had just had a skirmish, but now, with only the key points addressed and no need for further words, they were already reconciled.
"Alright, big cousin, no more of this you and me talk. That punch you threw was really spot on, my face hurts just thinking about how it must’ve felt for my second cousin!"
Liu Zhiguang was extremely embarrassed, his face turning red as he lowered his head, unable to meet his younger brother’s eyes.
"That, second brother, just now, I was too impulsive, I truly wronged you. I, I should be hit, second brother, please come back, your big brother definitely won’t dodge it."
As he spoke, Liu Zhiguang puffed out his chest and thrust his face towards Liu Zhiyang, his eyes firmly shut, the very picture of noble sacrifice.
How could Liu Zhiyang truly hit him? He pushed his brother disdainfully to one side and curled his lips, but couldn’t suppress the cheerfulness in his tone, "Enough already, just looking at your old face makes my eyes hurt."
"Right, right, I’ve got an old face, hehe," Liu Zhiguang chuckled with a grin that made him look entirely punchable.
Lin Yuan bent down to pick up the money pouch Liu Zhiguang had thrown away. She spread it out on her palm, raised an eyebrow, and smiled slyly, "So, what should we do with this money pouch? Which one of you should I give it to?"
Before the two could speak, Lin Yuan quickly said with a laugh, "Of course, if neither of you wants it, then I can reluctantly take on the burden of disposing of it, oh, don’t thank me, I’m just so naturally helpful, expecting nothing in return. Hey, second cousin, I wasn’t finished, why did you snatch it away already?"
Lin Yuan watched regretfully as the money pouch in her hands ended up with Liu Zhiyang, inwardly cursing herself for having been too polite just moments before. She should have simply torn open the pouch and pocketed all the silver herself right away.
Liu Zhiguang laughed heartily, generously tapping Lin Yuan’s forehead, "This money pouch originally belonged to my second brother for helping me out, you little girl shouldn’t be envious, haha."
Oh, who was this character giggling with all teeth showing? Where had the person who angrily threw the money pouch gone? Lin Yuan contemptuously gave Liu Zhiguang a big eye roll.
Yet, Liu Zhiyang didn’t put the silver in his pocket. Instead, he took out his own money pouch and handed it over to Liu Zhiguang, "Here you go, big brother, after the New Year, you’re going to town to study martial arts. This silver is for you to buy books."
Liu Zhiguang was taken aback.
Lin Yuan was also taken aback. Buy books for Liu Zhiguang? Had her second cousin spoken out of turn in a fever?
Liu Zhiyang smiled as if uncovering a secret, raising an eyebrow, "Big brother, don’t think that second brother doesn’t know what you’ve been doing with the silver mom gave you. I know exactly what’s inside that chest under your bed."
"What’s inside?" Lin Yuan’s eyes lit up, sniffing around for gossip. Could it be, the kind of books that men are fond of?
Unaware of Lin Yuan’s current imagination, Liu Zhiguang scratched his head and blushed with embarrassment, "You, you know about it?"
How could he not know? The two brothers lived in the same room and even shared a bed. More importantly, Liu Zhiguang, that careless guy, didn’t remember to remove the books from under the bed before winter. If it weren’t for Liu Zhiyang’s attention to detail, Zhao Suxin would have already burned those books with a single fire.
"It’s okay, big brother, no need to be embarrassed." Liu Zhiyang stuffed the silver into his brother’s hands, "Those military texts aren’t anything to be ashamed of. Why hide them? If dad and mom knew you like reading about military strategy, they would be overjoyed, maybe they would have even agreed to let you study martial arts earlier!"
"So, it was military books!" Lin Yuan sighed in disappointment.
With the silver his second brother had passed him, though it was only a few taels, Liu Zhiguang felt its weight, a warmth filling his heart.