Splendid Twins

During the two days Si Yang was at home, he rode horses all the time except for eating and sleeping. Si Yao told him to stop, but the young man was in high spirits and didn't want to listen. It was not until Lu Yuan stood in front of him that Si Yang got off the horse.

As a result, he almost couldn't stand when he touched the ground. The inside of his legs were burning with pain. Si Yang's face was distorted:

"me……"

Lu Yuan glanced at him and opened his thin lips slightly:

"useless."

Si Yang was angry but dared not say anything. He just limped back enduring the pain. Si Yu went in with the ointment to help him apply it. Liu Niang and Si Yao were packing their bags.

"Let him wear a thick coat, and bring another one, as well as shoes and socks..."

Si Yao exchanged some plasters for injuries from the space and was sealing them up. She took the time to reply:

"These are almost enough. We will manage them in a unified way when we get to the military camp."

"Alas... Mother worries when her son goes out!"

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. On the day of the assembly, almost everyone stayed up all night and got up early to pack up before dawn. By the time Si Yang and his family arrived at the village entrance, many people had already arrived.

"Son, please come back safely..."

"Dad and Mom, please take care of yourselves after I'm gone..."

"Boss, I, I will wait for you to come back..."

…………

"Go over and stand with Dazhu."

Si Laoer saw the village chief at a glance, and then pulled Si Yang over. Next to Liu Niang were Aunt Huang and Liu Shen. When the women met, they said comforting words to each other. The village chief stood on the high platform, counted the number of people and said loudly:

"Cheer up, everyone! You must support each other when you are out. The village will do its best to take care of every household. It's getting late, let's go!"

The sixty-seven men from Sijia Village lined up in two rows according to their height. Si Yang and Da Zhu stood in the middle. The village chief led the team away, and the people who stayed behind all had tears in their eyes...

Si Yao and Lu Yuan watched this scene quietly from behind the crowd. Neither of them felt a ripple in their hearts. Lu Yuan stared at the departing team expressionlessly, his voice low:

"If, if one day I leave, will you be with me?"

Si Yao turned her head to look at him, the corners of her mouth drooped slightly, she lowered her eyes and said softly:

"In what capacity are you telling me this?"

Lu Yuan's Adam's apple slid slightly, and the words he wanted to say were swirling on the tip of his tongue:

"Si Yao, I like you, you can see it."

After these words were spoken, Si Yao's heart gradually calmed down. The previous tension and anxiety seemed to surge in like a wave, and then gradually faded away.

"I know, but there is a gap between us..."

"Just tell me, do you have any feelings for me..."

Si Yao recalled every little detail between the two of them. Her skin was fair and delicate, but her face had lost its former rosy color due to the inner struggle and conflict. Lu Yuan's eyes became lost and powerless when he saw this. He remained silent without making any sound.

There was a complex emotion in his eyes, including the sadness of being rejected, as well as disappointment and helplessness towards himself.

"Lu Yuan, I am free, right?"

Si Yao was silent for a moment, then looked up at him. Her already delicate facial features were lively with joy, and her eyes seemed to contain countless stars.

Seeing this, Lu Yuan's pupils trembled, and then the corners of his mouth rose. This extreme joy impacted his heart, so much so that his mind went blank, and he nodded:

"Of course, you are not bound by anything!"

This moment is so precious that he is a little nervous. He pinches his fingertips and chuckles:

"Then let's go back."

"it is good."

The two of them walked together with light steps, and their backs, one taller than the other, looked so well matched.

The villagers were returning home in groups of three or four. Aunt Huang saw this scene with her sharp eyes. She looked at the two of them talking and laughing. She glanced at Liu Niang calmly, and a smile flashed in her eyes.

Zhu Dajiang had no money and had to apply for the job by himself, leaving only Lu Zhaodi and Zhu Gou'er at home. The mother and daughter walked back in misery and happened to see Si Yao and Lu Yuan. They were stunned on the spot;

God!

Lu Zhaodi just felt that life was really unbearable!

When her husband was around, she was beaten by these two men. Now she is an orphan and a widow, and she is afraid that she will be beaten to death!

"Son, when the village chief comes back, go and borrow some food from him. Your father is not here and we are starving to death."

Zhu Dajiang sniffed his nose, his face red from the cold, picking at the dirt between his fingernails and muttering:

"We still have some rice at home..."

"No more! None at all. Listen, if you can't borrow it, you will go hungry."

Lu Zhaodi shrank her neck with her hands tucked into her sleeves, with a sarcastic look on her face. She was saving the fine rice to sell for money!

"Did you hear that?"

Not hearing her son speak, she snapped.

Zhu Gou'er nodded timidly:

"Okay, well, what about you?"

Lu Zhaodi stared at the brand new coat on Si Yao with a hint of jealousy in her eyes. Who could a little girl seduce by wearing such a good outfit?

"Mom, go back and take a nap. I'll make you something delicious when you borrow some food."

As he said this, he quickened his pace and walked back. Zhu Gou'er was left halfway on the road. The child's eyes were confused. He didn't know when the village chief would come back, so he turned around and walked towards the village entrance.

All other families were quiet except Mrs. Si's family, who were making a fuss. Since Si Yao still had the title of scholar, he was exempted from applying for the army. The reason they were making a fuss was because no one was taking over the old man.

"Brother, you know it's not been easy for me these past few years. My two daughters are getting married soon..."

"I don't care about these. It's easy for everyone. My parents are not mine alone. Stop telling me those useless things!"

Si Lao San originally wanted to play the emotional card, but when he came back this time, Zhang warned him that if he dared to take over this mess, he would divorce her. His father-in-law also hinted that he would take over all the carpentry work when he returned.

Boss Si stood up and refuted directly, his face showing a strong impatience and dissatisfaction. He had worked hard for half his life hoping that his son would become successful, but in the end he got nothing, and now he wanted to drag him down!

"You, you don't care? Son, what should I do?"

Mrs. Si's voice became hoarse due to crying for a long time, and she looked much older. The turbid tears blurred her vision. Looking at the old man lying half-dead on the bed, she felt sad and annoyed!

"Father and mother have always favored Yao Ge'er, why don't we let him take care of it?"

Si Lao San didn't want to argue about it anymore. After all, all the money his parents took from him was used to subsidize Yao Ge'er. Now he was the only one with nothing to do, so naturally he had to take care of him more!

"Oh, you can't hide your fox tail anymore? Now you want to drag my brother Yao into this? I'm telling you, no way!"

Wang didn't say anything at first, but when she heard that Si Lao San was plotting against her son, she immediately became unhappy!

"How about this, we two brothers each take care of an old man. I'll take mom to town, and you can do the carpentry work at home, and you guys can come back and take care of dad."

Boss Si spoke slowly, making up his mind not to want the old man.

"No, no, big brother, you are putting me on the spot. How can I come back? There is a mess there..."

Seeing her two sons making excuses and showing disdain, Mrs. Si shed silent tears, sniffed and said in a hoarse voice:

"Don't be a burden to you guys anymore. I'll take care of your father. I want you to give me one tael of silver every month as retirement money!"

The room was silent for a moment. Si Lao San took out three taels of silver from his sleeve and put them on the table. He looked at his mother who was crying and spoke softly:

"Mom, I really have no choice. Please take this money. I will come to see you next month."

Boss Si took out three taels of silver without saying a word. His two sons went out one after the other. Mrs. Si wiped her tears and put the silver away. There was disdain in Wang's eyes and a sarcastic smile at the corner of her mouth. It was all retribution!