After a few moments of silence, Gu Jin’an said, "Your Second Sister still wants all the gold mines and silver mines in the world to be hers, but that’s just dreaming. We have to remember, things in this world aren’t ours just because we want them."

Brother Cheng felt very sad after hearing this. He turned his head to look at Gu Jin’an and said, "So that means, even if Big Brother really likes Third Sister, even if Big Brother works as hard as he can, Third Sister still won’t marry Big Brother?"

Gu Jin’an clenched his teeth. This brat really knows how to stab his brother right in the heart, yet he still had no choice but to nod. "Right, under normal circumstances that’s how it is."

He was just a farmer’s son, while she was a noble lady born into a Rich and Powerful family of generations’ standing, her clan at the height of its power. Even if she were to marry beneath her station, it would never be his turn.

Unless something happened to her.

Unless he achieved some immortal, unparalleled merit.

But even if he had to stay single for life, he would never wish for something to happen to her. And by the time he could possibly achieve such immortal merit, she would most likely have already, under her elders’ arrangements, married into some well-matched noble family, being a good wife and mother.

After hearing this, Brother Cheng looked at his big brother’s expression and started crying. He felt unbearably sad inside, and hugged Gu Jin’an, saying, "Big Brother, don’t cry. Big Brother will definitely have all his wishes come true."

Gu Jin’an had been feeling miserable, but when he heard this, he laughed. "Who’s crying? The one sniffling is clearly you."

Then he teased him again, "I’m the one who can’t get what he wants, what are you crying for? Truly useless."

Though he spoke mocking words, his heart felt very warm. The little thing who used to be as skinny as a kitten, who would turn pale with fright at the slightest scare, had grown up and now knew how to comfort him.

"I don’t know, I just feel sad in my heart and want to cry..." Brother Cheng still didn’t understand that kind of love between a man and a woman that could not be had, but he knew that if Big Brother could not marry Third Sister, he would surely be in great pain. He didn’t want Big Brother to suffer.

Gu Jin’an smiled and hugged Brother Cheng. "Don’t be sad, Big Brother’s fine." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

He gently patted Brother Cheng’s back and told him, "Remember, we are people who escaped the famine and survived great catastrophe. For us, as long as it’s not a matter of life and death, we can get through it. If we keep dwelling on one thing that we can’t have, that would truly be letting down all those who died on the road while fleeing the famine."

Others wanted to live but couldn’t; they died. Not only did they survive, they had food to eat, a roof over their heads, and books to read. That was already lucky enough; one should know contentment.

But... he still couldn’t accept it in his heart!!

Gu Jin’an tightened his arms around Brother Cheng... He was only twenty, at the age of youth and impulse. Even though he knew this was as hard as ascending to the heavens, the defiance in his bones still pushed him to want to climb up and try for that flower blooming high in the heavenly palace!

Brother Cheng was squeezed so hard by Gu Jin’an that he felt a bit uncomfortable and cried even harder. Big Brother must be very unwilling to accept this; what could he do to help Big Brother?

Maybe he could...

"Don’t do anything stupid. If you all act rashly, you’ll only make trouble. Behave yourselves and listen, go to class and come home as usual—that alone is helping Big Brother a lot." Gu Jin’an let go of Brother Cheng, spun his body around, and went on twisting the water out of his hair. "Things are chaotic lately. Be careful going to and from school, don’t get grabbed by Evil Men. Otherwise Big Brother will have to find ways to save you, and that’ll be enough to kill me with exhaustion."

Brother Cheng said, "Big Brother, don’t worry. I know martial arts. Brother San Lang even gave me a Dagger and a bow and arrows, and he sent people to protect us. We won’t have any accidents. Even if we run into Evil Men, we’ll run. We’ll definitely never let ourselves be caught."

Second Sister had said, if you can win, then fight; if you can’t win, then run. Stay alive first, then take revenge.

"Mm, that you can listen to your Second Sister about; you have to know how to run away." Gu Jin’an stopped what he was doing and said, "All right, the sun’s strong. Let it dry for a bit; it’ll be dry in a while."

"Okay." Brother Cheng answered obediently. When he turned his head back, he saw his big brother already leaning against the tree trunk behind the stone bench, eyes closed, resting.

Brother Cheng didn’t disturb him and sat there obediently, waiting for his hair to dry completely.

Gu Jin’an wasn’t actually asleep; he just didn’t want to answer any more of Brother Cheng’s questions, so he pretended to sleep.

After a bit more than two quarters of an hour, Zezi stood at the courtyard gate and called, "Young Master, Second Young Master, time to eat."

Gu Jin’an opened his eyes, picked up the hair ribbon on the stone table, deftly tied up Brother Cheng’s hair, then stood up and said, "Let’s go."

Brother Cheng followed behind Gu Jin’an, then suddenly grabbed his hand and asked in a small voice, "Big Brother, what does it feel like to like a girl?"

Gu Jin’an was startled. He lowered his head to look at his little brother and gave him a light smack on the head with a "pa": "You’re how old and already asking about this? Way too early."

Brother Cheng rubbed his sore head and said, "I’m curious, so I wanted to ask."

Brother Luo Wu liked Big Sister; San Lang liked Second Sister; Big Brother liked Third Sister. Looking around, all the older brothers and sisters in the family had someone they liked. Seeing how they were sometimes happy and sometimes sad because of it, he felt very puzzled and extremely curious. He just wanted to ask what it felt like to like someone. Why would they be happy and sad over it?

"Besides, I’m not that little anymore. When it’s the twelfth month, I’ll be nine."

Gu Jin’an said, "Only nine, you don’t need to know about this yet. Come ask me again when you’re fifteen."

Your big brother here doesn’t even have it figured out yet, and you’re asking me? How am I supposed to answer?

He added, "Enough nonsense, hurry up and eat. I have to leave as soon as we’re done."

Gu Jin’an didn’t give Brother Cheng any chance to keep asking. He pulled him along and walked quickly.

In the dining room, Mrs. Cui and Gu Jinxiu, together with Zhu Chahua and Tong Xiaoxue, had already laid out the dishes. It was a whole table of good food, mostly sweet-and-sour dishes, which were Gu Jin’an’s favorites.

"Good Brother An, come sit quickly. You haven’t eaten at home for several days already. Today we made the dishes you like; you eat more." Mrs. Cui personally came out to welcome him. Seeing her eldest son at home less and less, her heart felt a little sad.

"Okay, today I won’t stop at being eighty percent full. I’ll eat until I’m completely full." Gu Jin’an looked at Mrs. Cui, then at Gu Jinxiu, and said, "Mother, Big Sister, you’ve worked hard."

Mrs. Cui said, "It’s not hard, it’s just cooking a meal. How hard can it be?"

Back then, even if she wanted to cook them a good meal, there was no grain. Now they had every kind of ingredient, and she could make it for them, yet Good Brother An was home less.

Gu Jin’an saw the sadness in Mrs. Cui’s eyes and comforted her, "Mother, once things at the new bank settle down, your son will have time to stay at home."

"Really?" Mrs. Cui was very happy. "Then when the time comes, I’ll cut back on going to the workshop, and I’ll make you all tasty food every meal."

"All right." Gu Jin’an didn’t say anything like telling Mrs. Cui not to cook for him and just rest well. He knew that only when she was doing these things would Mrs. Cui feel happy.

"Enough talking, hurry and eat, don’t delay Good Brother An’s schedule," Third Grandma said as she picked up a chicken leg for Gu Jin’an.

Gu Jin’an didn’t particularly like chicken legs, but he still ate it. All the dishes his family picked out for him, he finished them all.

By the time the meal was over, he was so full it felt like the food was up to his throat, and then they even poured a bowl of soup into him. Only then were Third Grandpa and Third Grandma, Mrs. Cui and Gu Dashan satisfied enough to see him off at the door.

Gu Dashan was still worried about those Evil Men. "Good Brother An, those Evil Men won’t come again, will they? How about, after you finish your work at the bank, you ask Brother Wu or San Lang to send you to the government office. Spending the night at the government office is safer than at the bank."