Song Wei nodded in understanding, feeling a pang of regret for Lin Zhen.
She had quietly observed him earlier. At an impressive height of around 1.96 meters—practically two meters tall—Lin Zhen was a towering presence, rare in this era. He stood out in any crowd.
More than his stature, it was his aura that struck her. Song Wei could tell with just one glance that Lin Zhen had been through numerous battles.
His appearance was striking, sun-kissed skin, bold brows, deep-set eyes, and a chiseled jawline. He carried himself with a rugged handsomeness, his features sharp and masculine.
Heidan, though still a child, showed hints of similar good looks. A closer look revealed the resemblance between the two brothers.
As Song Wei chatted with the two soldiers, Heidan’s cries gradually subsided.
Noticing this, Song Wei excused herself, heading toward Aunt Xinghua.
“Aunt Xinghua, could you keep an eye on Heidan for a bit? I’ve got things to take care of back at the courtyard.”
Aunt Xinghua grabbed her arm.
“Why leave now? We’re already preparing food. Heidan’s brother and his comrades deserve a proper meal. Stay and eat with us!”
Song Wei shook her head.
“No, thanks. I’ve got some things I brought back from the mountain that need sorting. Another time, perhaps. Let Heidan know I’ve gone back if he asks for me.”
Seeing that she couldn’t persuade Song Wei to stay, Aunt Xinghua sighed and walked her to the door.
At the entrance, Song Wei spotted Deng Chunhua and Lin Lao Si’s wife still lingering, their necks craned as they peered anxiously into the house.
They hadn’t left yet?
Without hesitation, Song Wei rolled her eyes dramatically at the two women.
Aunt Wang sidled up to her and whispered, “Song Wei, did you get a good look at Heidan’s brother? What’s his situation?”
“People are saying his leg’s gone bad. Is that true?”
Rumors had spread like wildfire, with some claiming they’d seen Lin Zhen limping, while others insisted his injuries were so severe he’d been discharged from the army.
Nearby, Deng Chunhua and Lin Lao Si’s wife perked up their ears, eager for details.
Song Wei, however, wasn’t one to gossip recklessly. She loved a juicy story as much as anyone, but she knew when to keep her mouth shut.
Shrugging, she replied vaguely, “I saw his leg’s injured, but he seemed fine otherwise. I can’t say if he’ll recover.”
Her response was deliberately noncommittal. Who didn’t already know about his leg injury?
Disappointed, the onlookers sighed as Song Wei seized the opportunity to slip away.
Inside, Heidan was now feeling a bit embarrassed after his tearful outburst. Especially when he noticed his brother’s clothes were damp from his tears—and even his snot. His cheeks flushed crimson.
Lin Zhen didn’t seem to mind, though.
“Big Brother, what happened to your leg?” Heidan asked, his wide, concerned eyes fixed on the injury.
Lin Zhen’s response was blunt: “It’s useless now.”
His tone was matter-of-fact, devoid of self-pity.
Hearing this, Heidan’s eyes welled up again, and he burst into tears.
Lin Zhen: …
Lin Zhen was a typical stoic man. He’d never shed a tear, no matter how badly he was hurt. He also couldn’t stand seeing men cry.
But this was his little brother—the brother he hadn’t seen in years. For Heidan, he could make an exception.
“Alright, enough crying. I’m not crying, so why are you? It’s just my leg, not my life.”
Heidan sniffled and wiped his tears. “Then… I’ll take care of you from now on.”
Lin Zhen shot him a look. “Take care of me? What nonsense. My leg may be useless, but I can still take care of both myself and you just fine. Save your worrying for later.”
Heidan nodded, then added hesitantly, “Then… I’ll take care of Sister Song.”
Lin Zhen: “Who’s this ‘Sister Song’ you keep talking about?”
Heidan turned toward the door to point her out, only to realize she was gone.
“Huh? Where’s Sister Song?”
He immediately abandoned his brother, shouting at the top of his lungs as he bolted outside:
“Sister Song!”
Lin Zhen: …
He muttered under his breath, “This little rascal, ditching his own brother for her!”
Still, an image of the girl flashed in his mind. Small, frail-looking—how on earth had a village like theirs produced someone who seemed so delicate?
Heidan soon learned from Aunt Xinghua that Song Wei had returned to the educated youth dormitory. His little face fell in disappointment.
“Why didn’t Sister Song tell me she was leaving?”
Aunt Xinghua playfully smacked the back of his head. “Silly boy! Your brother just came back. Don’t you think you should be spending time with him?”
“Oh, right. My brother… hehe…”
Heidan’s face lit up again, his cheeks rosy as he broke into a wide, silly grin that refused to fade.
Watching him, Aunt Xinghua felt a pang in her heart.
He held no resentment for his brother’s absence all these years. What a rare, good-hearted child. Old lady Lin and her lot would live to regret how they’d treated him.
“You must be happy your brother’s back. With him here, no one will dare bully you again.”
Heidan puffed his chest out proudly and replied, “Even without him, no one dared bully me when Sister Song was around. Anyone who tried, she got revenge for me!”
By “anyone,” he mostly meant the Lin family.
Aunt Xinghua chuckled. “Alright, alright. We know your Sister Song is amazing. But for now, go spend time with your brother. You’ll be eating dinner here later.”
Heidan hesitated. “But I want to see Sister Song.”
“Sister Song isn’t going anywhere. Your brother just got back and needs you. Go on.”
Reluctantly, Heidan nodded and trotted back to the house.
Lin Zhen glanced at him as he entered.
“Back already? Did you find your Sister Song?”
“No, she went back to the educated youth dormitory.”
Lin Zhen gave a low “Hmm.” So, that frail-looking girl wasn’t from the village but a educated youth.
He grabbed Heidan by the collar and pulled him closer.
“Tell me about these past years. Who’s been bullying you?”
Heidan blinked, surprised. “How did you know?”
Lin Zhen smirked, though it carried a sinister edge.
The two soldiers nearby instinctively stepped back. They knew that smile too well—it meant someone was about to have a very bad day.
“Because I know what kind of people live in the Lin family.”
Heidan’s eyes widened, and he began recounting everything in detail:
“Everyone except Grandpa bullied me. But Grandpa didn’t help me either. My cousins stole my food. I was always hungry and had to do chores for them. Grandma and the others hit me with sticks and yelled at me…”
As he spoke, he lifted his shirt to show old scars. Despite the grim topic, his tone grew cheerful.
“But Sister Song took me to see a doctor! Now that I live with her, I’ve eaten so much meat. I get two boiled eggs with sugar water every day and even oil-stuffed buns and white bread!”
He paused, scrunching his nose.
“The only bad thing is the medicine. It’s so bitter. I wish I didn’t have to take it.”
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