Splendid Twins

Old Man Si had been in bed for five or six days before anyone remembered him. It was when Mrs. Si went in to get something in the morning and glanced at the side. She felt something was wrong and walked over to touch him. He was cold and hard...

When the crying sounded, Wang was so frightened that she could not sit still. She came out to look into the room. She was frightened by the gray and swollen face of Old Man Si and took a few steps back.

"Someone, come quickly..."

Wang reacted and hurried out to call for help. However, most of the villagers had gone up the mountain to plant trees or build new houses, so it took a while to call anyone.

Just as she was getting anxious, she happened to see Si Lao Er at the corner of the road. He was driving a donkey cart from the other side, pulling a few bundles of saplings. Wang was still shouting as before:

"Second brother, Dad is gone..."

When Si Lao Er heard this, he turned his head and looked over. He was startled, then pretended not to hear and continued walking. Wang then remembered that they were two families now, and her tone was somewhat pleading:

"Please help, he's...hard...my mother-in-law and I don't have the strength..."

The key is that she was afraid, she didn't dare to touch it, the old woman was crying and howling, there was a dead person lying in the house, and she didn't know how many days he had been dead...

When she thought about how she had to go out to relieve herself in the dark these past few nights, and if his ghost was staring at her from behind...

The whole person shuddered instantly, his face turned even paler, and he choked up a little:

"Just help me. The eldest and the third brother are not here. No matter how things were in the past, he...he is gone now. Everything is gone."

Si Lao Er had already walked for a while, but he stopped when he heard this, with a look of struggle on his face. After a moment, he turned around and replied:

"I'll pull the sapling over to Yaoyao first, and I'll be back in a while."

Si Yao was on the top of the mountain ordering the five men to work. They were frightened by a terrifying talisman from Si Yao and lost their minds. They actually saw ghosts and spirits in their lifetime...

After completely admitting defeat, they all vied with each other to perform, just because Wang Dahu said that whoever performed well could have a bowl of porridge, and whoever dared to play tricks would see ghosts every night.

Jin Quan and Yin Quan had never seen such a scene before, so they followed closely behind, ostensibly to supervise but actually to watch the fun.

Although Si Laoer had no expression on his face, he just unconsciously cracked the whip in his hand a few more times, and the donkey cart quickly went up the mountain.

The trees on the mountain swayed in the wind, lush and green. The young saplings took root tenaciously in the barren land, and the whole barren mountain was full of vitality.

"Yaoyao, he...is gone..."

When Si Yao heard the noise and looked back, she saw that her father looked unhappy.

Thinking of what he just said, he said softly:

"Everyone will take this step, it's just a matter of time."

Yin Quan took over the donkey cart from Si Lao Er. He dusted himself off and came over to sit next to Si Yao. He sighed and said:

"You're right. Everyone would take this step..."

"You want to go and see it?"

Si Yao asked back, the answer was written on her father's face.

"I... don't want to be called mean. I can be as calculating as I want while I'm alive, but if I'm dead, I still care about those things..."

"Then go ahead, I have no objection."

Si Yao looked at the people digging a hole not far away with a nonchalant expression, as if he didn't take the matter to heart.

Si Lao Er was speechless. He nodded silently, then got up and walked down the mountain along the path.

When Si Yao returned home, she didn't see Liu Niang inside or outside the house, but Si Qing was at home.

Why is he back when the ten-day holiday hasn’t even started yet?

"Brother, what happened?"

Si Yao's face darkened as she looked Si Qing up and down.

"Nothing. I came back to ask the village chief to stamp a document, but he was over there..."

Si Qing looked in the direction of the old house. He heard the noise just after entering the village. He met the village chief who was talking about how miserable the man's last days were. He felt nothing in his heart at the time, but pretended to be regretful on his face. The praise in the village chief's words made him feel ashamed, and he had to leave in a hurry.

All the grievances and injustices that he suffered in his childhood disappeared with the death of that person, and it was time for him to let it go. After all, he had more important things to protect.

"I am preparing to take part in the county exam. The teacher also thinks I have some hope, so my brother wants to give it a try."

Si Yao knew that he was modest. He had read all the books on the three rows of bookshelves in the study one by one. They were densely covered with his unique insights and marks. He had compared them with the books in the space system and found that they were on par with the best articles on them.

"Okay, then I wish you success."

Si Yao smiled and wished him well with all her heart, hoping that he could get what he wished for.

The brother and sister did not mention Liu Niang. Si Yao sat in the yard waiting for Si Qing to cook. The two chatted intermittently. Si Qing washed the rice and cooked it. Then he quickly fried two dishes, one stir-fried cabbage and the other chopped cabbage with minced meat.

Si Yao suddenly remembered something and asked:

"How's Siyu?"

Si Qing rolled up his sleeves and stir-fried the food in the wok. The lines of his exposed arms were smooth and his muscles were clearly defined. His lean arms revealed a strength that should not be underestimated.

"Intelligent and alert."

Si Yao nodded, but thinking that Si Qing couldn't see, she had to speak:

"That's very good."

Two dishes were served on the table. Si Qing handed Si Yao half a bowl of rice, and the two sat in the yard, eating and chatting.

"I saw two people following you..."

Si Yao knew he was asking about Jin Quan and Yin Quan, so he swallowed the food in his mouth and explained:

"Aunt Huang's nephew has been planting trees for me these two days. He will go to Aunt Huang's house to build a house tomorrow."

Si Qing nodded: "Guess who I met in Qingshi Town?"

Si Yao rolled her eyes in annoyance. She was not active in eating and there must be something wrong with her brain.

"I ran into Si Yao's father, who was in a hurry with an old doctor."

He was too embarrassed to say the rest. He knew that the old doctor specialized in gynecological diseases and postpartum rheumatism because there was a bookstore opposite the pharmacy. After finishing his homework, he went to the bookstore to copy books. As a result, he got to know some gossip.

Si Yao was not surprised at all. She had not forgotten the woman she met with Wang Dahu in Guanzi Lane. She ran out of another courtyard in a panic with disheveled clothes, and the fat lady was chasing after her...

"He and Wang were getting divorced a while ago, and they fought each other. That bastard actually blamed me..."

Si Yao told Si Qing about how Boss Si had blocked her on the mountain, and mentioned in passing that she had given the man a beating.

Si Qing put down his bowl and chopsticks, his expression changed, and his tone was slightly cold, but not directed at Si Yao:

"idiot!"

Si Yao nodded: "If a son is not well-educated, it is the fault of the father. If a family is not peaceful, it depends on whether your ancestors have done good deeds. You blame me? How shameless!"

"They are used to blaming others for all the bad and unpleasant things that happen to them, and never reflect on themselves. This is their sorrow and our misfortune."

As Si Qing spoke, a hint of gloom flashed in his eyes. He knew very well how that family favored Si Yao. The old lady only cared about food and clothing, and it was the old man who decided his and Si Yang's future, making them Si Yao's slaves, depriving them endlessly and forcing them to farm and guard the fields for Si Yao in this small space.