The Spirited Daughter-in-law and the Mountain Man

Chapter 856: 856 Third Brother’s Childhood 2

“I also remember when I was a child, I always made Mom angry,” he said. “Big Sister, Second Brother, and you were never beaten by Mom. Only I…” A shade of sorrow flashed through his eyes. “No matter what I did, it seemed I always managed to displease Mom. Right or wrong, I would always end up being scolded and hit by her.”

When it came to this matter, Qinghe found it difficult to explain. “Perhaps Third Brother is of a lively nature, and Mom is a very gentle person. Her way with you might have been… out of deep love.” He knew clearly why Mom treated Third Brother thus, but he couldn’t tell Third Brother.

Xiao Yuchuan picked up a bowl of rice from the tray, piled it high with pork, and passed the rice bowl to Qinghe. “Come on, have some dinner.”

“I’m not hungry…” Xiao Qinghe merely glanced at it and shook his head.

Xiao Yuchuan sighed, “How can you not be hungry? If I’m not mistaken, Fourth Brother, you haven’t had a meal since this morning.”

Xiao Qinghe’s body stiffened as he looked into Third Brother’s caring eyes, and a wave of warmth passed through his heart. “Even Second Brother didn’t notice, but I didn’t expect Third Brother to be so attentive.”

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He forcefully pushed the bowl into his hands. “Fourth Brother, you need to take care of your own body. A person who does not love himself, how can he expect others to love him?” This was something his wife had just recently mentioned to him.

Qinghe accepted the bowl and retorted. “What about you, Third Brother? In front of so many villagers, to hold onto… Qingyue, you directly took poison, as if you were willing to give up your life. Have you ever cherished yourself?”

“Indeed,” Xiao Yuchuan replied with a rueful smile. “I’m usually very rational, but everything falls apart when it comes to my wife. Nevertheless, even though I took the poison, even if my wife really left, I wouldn’t die. I still needed to stay alive to find her.”

“That’s good to hear,” Qinghe said. “This family seems to rely on Second Brother as the most mature and stable one, but I know, you, Third Brother, are truly the wisest.” Even without Third Brother saying it directly, he knew that the poison he took was harmless.

“Hurry up and eat, if you don’t and you get sick, Third Brother will feel distressed,” Xiao Yuchuan considered for a moment and said. “I still remember when we were kids. Mom always used to hide the tasty food from me, but you, Fourth Brother, would often secretly share the things Mom kept for you to eat with me.”

“Third Brother…” Xiao Qinghe looked at him with a caring expression, hesitant to speak.

“What?”

“Actually, when Father and Mother were still with us…” Qinghe’s voice grew slightly muffled. “They often either hit or scolded you. After they left, your life became much better. No one was withholding food from you anymore.”

Xiao Yuchuan also recalled the past. “Ever since I was young, Mom liked to hit and scold me. I remember before I was ten, Dad was very good to me. After I turned ten, he suddenly became harsh towards me. Maybe I was too stubborn. Unexpectedly, when I was twelve, they went out and encountered bandits, both unfortunately losing their lives.”

Xiao Qinghe actually knew the reason why. The encounter with the bandits was an unfortunate event for Father and Mother, but why they went out, why they were harsh towards Third Brother… the reasons were probably known only to him in the world, and he would never speak of them in this life. “Third Brother, Father and Mother neglected you previously, so I apologize to you on their behalf.”

“Silly Fourth Brother!” Xiao Yuchuan patted Xiao Qinghe on the shoulder nonchalantly. “As a son, being beaten and scolded by one’s parents a few times, what’s the harm? There’s no need for you to apologize. Don’t take it to heart. Father and Mother gave birth to me and raised me; no matter what, I couldn’t possibly hold a grudge against them. If they were still alive, I would surely treat them with the utmost filial piety.”