Chapter 75: Brothers
Early morning.
Steam rose from the bearded man’s wonton stall.
The aroma could be smelled from far away.
Jiang Changtian, dressed neatly, passed by the stall; he usually wouldn’t stop.
He rarely ate food from outside.
First, it was a waste of money; second, his stomach was weak, and anything he ate might upset it.
Besides, he had already eaten his fill before leaving.
His appetite was light; as long as he could fill his stomach, that was enough.
But today, he actually saw someone at the stall who absolutely shouldn’t be there.
His Elder Brother, Jiang Huaisheng, whose conduct was always impeccable.
He thought for a moment, stopped his steps, and waited for a while.
He watched as the man walked over, carrying a food box with a smile on his face.
To think his Elder Brother would come in person to buy such street food; surely there were cooks in the manor who could make it.
“Elder Brother.”
In the cold wind, Jiang Changtian trembled slightly and called out.
Jiang Huaisheng looked up and saw the man before him; he had grown taller than him.
He was stunned for a moment.
“Elder Brother, why are you here?”
The smile on Jiang Huaisheng’s face had not yet faded, showing he had encountered something very happy.
“Fei’er is pregnant.”
Jiang Changtian replied subconsciously: “That has nothing to do with me.”
Jiang Huaisheng:…
His smile vanished completely, his expression turning serious.
“What are you doing here?”
“I am going to work. I am not like you, Elder Brother, living without worry for food or clothing. I must work to support my family,” Jiang Changtian said indifferently.
Hearing this sarcastic remark, Jiang Huaisheng felt his temper rising uncontrollably.
He knew that Mother had Aunt Yao secretly provide for his younger brother, and there was always an expense in the household accounts. Although he didn’t manage the household, he would occasionally check the ledgers. Otherwise, in these times when others had nothing to eat, how could Changtian, who knew nothing, keep himself and his child so plump and healthy?
He was angry at his lack of ambition, his absurd behavior, and his constant lies, which often made Mother sad.
Jiang Huaisheng was very filial, so he hated unfilial people the most.
Father had favored his younger brother since childhood, yet he had shattered the medicine that could have saved Father’s life. Father had died with his eyes open, and this was a thorn in his heart—a beast.
His wife, Fei’er, had always been kind to his younger brother, worrying about his food and clothing in both winter and summer, yet he could harbor such filthy thoughts; he was worse than a beast.
“You are now a father, take care of yourself.” Jiang Huaisheng did not want to speak to him; his good mood from the morning had completely dissipated.
Fei’er said she wanted to eat street food, and he didn’t dare to trouble others, worrying that Mother would fret, so he had come to buy it himself.
Jiang Changtian suddenly spoke: “I heard Ronger was frightened; is he better now?”
“Ronger suffered in Fenger’s stead, but previously, his guard, Guard Wu Liu, injured Fenger. Now Guard Wu Liu is dead, and Mother says his death must have something to do with you. I don’t want to pursue it; let it end here.” Jiang Huaisheng loved his eldest son very much; deep love leads to strict discipline.
Seeing Ronger’s current state, he had personally killed several bandits only to learn that they had grabbed the wrong person; they were supposed to grab Jiang Feng, and it was Jiang Feng’s doing on purpose.
His younger brother had a strange personality since childhood; he hadn’t expected his child to be the same, his nature twisted from the very root.
He considered himself an upright gentleman, and looking at his younger brother, his eyes grew more and more disgusted.
Jiang Changtian just looked at his Elder Brother. His Elder Brother’s hem was brand new, unlike his own, which was worn thin. Sister Xia tried her best not to patch the outside, but it was still worn white.
He said with a smile: “The day after tomorrow, Master Liu from our village is taking my Sister Yu as a concubine. Elder Brother, would you be willing to come over for a celebratory drink?”
Jiang Huaisheng widened his eyes in disbelief, nearly smashing the food box in his hand onto his younger brother’s head.
How could he be so shameless to say such things? He would actually let his daughter become a concubine.
“Are you crazy?”
“I’m not crazy. Master Liu is six years older than you this year. He said he wants to take Sister Yu, otherwise he will drive us out of the village and leave us with nowhere to stand.” Jiang Changtian looked at his Elder Brother.
His face at this moment was painted to look exactly like his Elder Brother’s, just a bit thinner.
He remembered his Elder Brother’s appearance very clearly because, as a child, he had extremely admired him. His Elder Brother was healthy, decisive, fair in doing things, and treated him very well.
The winter was very cold; standing and talking for a while, his body felt a bit stiff.
Actually, he didn’t feel too cold. Since the beginning of winter this year, his constitution was much better than before.
In the past, winters were always hard to endure, with severe coughing.
His joints would ache.
This year, he rarely coughed, and his joints didn’t ache much.
He felt it was Sister Xia’s credit. To strengthen his body, Sister Xia had climbed mountains and crossed ridges to find all sorts of nourishing things for him to eat.
But at this moment, standing before his Elder Brother, he still felt a bit cold.
He really shouldn’t have said those things.
But he said them anyway.
Perhaps, deep down, he still had longing for his Elder Brother.
Because in the past, when his Elder Brother looked at him, there was affection in his eyes.
He still remembered on the road of exile, his Elder Brother had carried him for a very, very long way. That day, his Elder Brother’s feet were covered in blisters and bleeding profusely.
He remembered his Elder Brother only had one steamed bun, and he broke off a large half for him.
Those times were truly good; he had hoped to walk on that road for a lifetime.
That road was so difficult to walk, yet for him, it was the last bit of warmth.
Because on the road, Mother hadn’t pushed him away; he had even slept for a night on the cart, leaning against Mother’s leg.
Jiang Changtian looked at his Elder Brother with a smile.
His Elder Brother had come to buy snacks in person; his Elder Brother had expectations for his next child.
He also wanted to praise his own daughter to his Elder Brother—she was very good, clever, sensible, and obedient, and she looked exactly like him.
The cold wind rustled.
He just spoke:
“Congratulations, Elder Brother, on becoming a father again.”
To be a father is to protect one’s own children.
He still had to hustle.
After saying this, he turned and walked away quickly.
His figure was slightly unsteady, walking fast and hurriedly.
He soon disappeared into the white mist.
Jiang Huaisheng watched that back, which was almost running—thin and tall.
In winter, others would look bloated when dressed, but he didn’t; he was still loose, as if he were filled with wind.
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