Da Ge

Chapter 18
For two whole days, Wei Zhiyuan steadfastly refused to utter a single word to his adversary, Song Xiaobao. Whenever Wei Qian was at home, the boy would diligently follow him around, in and out.QCgAVRVYaItHGgaTiiklkcZgQXDMfb

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Every time Wei Qian turned around, he would stumble over Zhiyuan, who was always right behind him. Wei Qian was truly annoyed by this constant shadowing, but he understood why Zhiyuan was acting so petulantly and thus did not want to scold him.RcNjnBdLGSgotEreWAALBTUdOyKvgo

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Consequently, Wei Qian uncharacteristically suggested in a light manner, “Play nicely together, no fighting.”bThUJGWRwXcCLqhluZOpENPuUkaIMk

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This decree was like an imperial edict for Zhiyuan, who had no choice but to graciously accept, albeit with a heart full of grievances, and reestablish relations with Song Xiaobao.fmxwrefZQSWgrJpxriqItZIuzkloMq

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In the competition for favor, Song Xiaobao could not hope to catch up to Zhiyuan—even if she tried, she was naturally at a disadvantage in this regard.IGTCyXdgskBHSuOsUMbPdUGSWkYMjP

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For instance, the moment Wei Qian opened the door, he would find Zhiyuan alone, diligently sweeping the floor and wiping the table, while Xiaobao, with her eyes seemingly only for decoration, would be oblivious to her surroundings, comfortably watching TV on the sofa. Despite just returning, Wei Qian did not wish to upset his sister over this; he merely chided her mildly. In stark contrast, he rewarded Zhiyuan with an extra ten yuan as pocket money.BFWhNedaggNLodpDAHfxowiUpGlKuC

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The following day, seeing this, an envious Song Xiaobao got up early in the morning and busily began a thorough cleaning of the house, completing it before noon. Zhiyuan observed coldly, almost wanting to sneer. Indeed—when Wei Qian returned that evening, he completely failed to notice the cleaned house.flOKEdsqBrnnuNifNPdnrQMFLLAYLo

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Another time, after Wei Qian had taken a shower in the evening and was looking for his dirty socks to wash, he discovered that Zhiyuan was already hanging the cleaned socks on the drying rack. That day, Zhiyuan basked in the slightly embarrassed praise and head patting from his brother.JmuaYWTQpqeCNRxhIVjfhhBLXgaEvc

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Jealous and resentful, Song Xiaobao attempted to emulate this, reaching for her brother’s underwear the next day, only to be embarrassingly intercepted by Wei Qian, who scolded her as if she were meddling with something she shouldn’t.CtaYUVcCJhvfvLfpgHFCUTmCGvVeee

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It was clear how unfair the world could be—Wei Zhiyuan and Song Xiaobao were actually of the same species!ccwztwyyVWEzWcPvBvNEKztWHoUdir

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Once Grandma Song realized Xiaobao was missing, she knew the girl had returned to the “little hooligan’s” place.kEKEwnkmsdViQvlvGIZvfsOxmrWwLK

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Not far from where Wei Qian and his family lived, in a shantytown, was a privately operated dormitory, segregated by gender, intended for migrant workers, charging one yuan per person per day—if Xiaobao and her grandma shared a bed, they would only need to pay for one.yGFpASIWTsWGrRiZjFtPHreLwmDcCo

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Grandma Song had planned to save some money to rent a small flat for them, or if that failed, to take Xiaobao back to their hometown.HCMgqjJCcHdjqukgujkjElWTpPhmlJ

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But just as the idea of “returning home” was introduced, Xiaobao ran away, unable to bear leaving the home she had lived in for nearly ten years.bRoMmVOhGgGGZWIvBZvNViVLQDwjQk

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Since her return, Grandma Song would sneakily circle Wei Qian’s house every day, hoping to catch a glimpse of Xiaobao when Wei Qian was out.LVfCKAXJZMWvYKFcobprZYrJKnqwZy

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As the end of the year approached and winter intensified, a young woman in the workers’ dormitory unfortunately contracted contagious tuberculosis, causing everyone to hastily move out while fearing for their own health.ifYynsPRgceFKrdEYJbXUtiOMikLCk

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Grandma Song, too, packed her belongings and moved out.jHbKPNSXRhVuSWOduyakENpYivNpGl

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Wandering through this overly chaotic city, she paused under a bridge upon seeing a homeless man nearly frozen to death, realizing that no one had paid him any attention, almost completely frozen, until a middle-aged couple passing by in the afternoon finally stopped to check on him and then called the police.EXlpyknNLOBYlOmjoNkwzWNwQeAFDg

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Police cars swiftly arrived, yanking the man away. Old Lady Song, overhearing the chatter of passersby, learned that if the man survived, he might be taken to a shelter for the homeless or even sent back to his place of origin.rFHUDYTmKwTxWgWBkqvGHVJqHJgSIz

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Origin…aIRlYyYAsqmuTbznjHwozQEHdvcZLc

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Lifting her gaze towards the vast and gloomy sky of this northern city, Old Lady Song pondered: the New Year was approaching, why shouldn’t she return to her hometown?AiaowyBgysagSQkCWCYdnxqvVVEJFD

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Yet, what kind of New Year could a lonely old woman possibly have on her own?LxWyoMWoyXdasyurKUpRQAqfMIuemO

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Bowling her head, she wiped away the snot frozen by the cold, deciding to cast aside her pride.XXhzxTgNHBaXxHnDaySoggTSxdXNRa

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And as expected, Song Xiaobao disappointingly betrayed expectations by turning her back on them once more.wcAVXXCneGcgNQjkvwyebYnLjFKLiw

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On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, the Minor New Year, Wei Qian was returning home with freshly bought candied haws and meat for dumplings when he found his doorstep in utter chaos, a silent battle unfolding within.OgSwwZnPpBHSGUtSfkGnDALSseUlaU

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Song Xiaobao, greedy at heart, couldn’t let go of the elder brother who had raised her since childhood, nor could she abandon her grandmother, with whom she shared blood ties. Thus, when her grandmother showed up at the door, tears in her eyes, Song Xiaobao let her in… despite all that had happened, enough to make anyone understand the tense standoff between grandmother and elder brother.NRpMcouDWnutCprVkGAqBNnXOiZInj

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Before the elder brother could return, Wei Zhiyuan, who had been as silent as a ghost, couldn’t stand it any longer.qtLlMYlXkkJDfchJTVNwVIFITPvkbv

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Ever since Xiaobao accepted him as her second elder brother, no longer provoking him, Wei Zhiyuan had been kind to her, hardly ever quarreling with her. It seemed a simple title was enough to teach a child the virtues of humility and care—except for a cold war a few days ago, which Xiaobao admitted was her fault.tdpZxKaBaKbiuhuouFUjbdXIMaaNoq

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Xiaobao hadn’t expected Wei Zhiyuan’s reaction to be so intense; he was like a vicious dog protecting his territory, glaring menacingly at Old Lady Song and Xiaobao at the door.UQDTeDmmgrzosvXUMUEEfTlKMCgtpY

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Any slight intention of crossing the boundary from them, and he was ready to leap into a fight to the death.lmFuMlkfBpOSIdBJlMywjDDUmGSlKx

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Old Lady Song had always disdained Wei Qian but had no issue with Wei Zhiyuan—he was just a child, handsome, and his personality wasn’t annoying. At first glance, he seemed more likable than the noisy Xiaobao.QqLxNWZnpclHBwRPWtyoclEvNPiyXq

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Old Lady Song initially tried to reason with him at the doorstep, but Wei Zhiyuan wouldn’t listen to a word, his fierce and almost venomous gaze, especially unsettling coming from such a young boy.xvqRlPEWZTBqTCkqFmnqQJEDjEjeFw

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Giving up on a peaceful resolution, Old Lady Song stepped inside, bringing her luggage with her.tzFNfETyWmCXtzPhjFwjjRLkbbGsHz

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Wei Zhiyuan snatched the old lady’s bag and mercilessly threw it out. Not satisfied, he turned to throw out Xiaobao’s schoolbag and everything she had placed on the table, scattering them all over. Then, he ran into the bedroom and tossed out the pillows and blankets from Xiaobao’s bed.oqYdYbCSUjjrIgHmQVDTgZUvUfVwlp

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If only Xiaobao didn’t exist, if only both of them didn’t exist—fury blinded Wei Zhiyuan, leaving only that thought in his mind.gmobuckvdPxhqvEazZlFruoAAcPRNr

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Xiaobao tried to push him but ended up being shoved to the ground by Wei Zhiyuan.pAjusnNMLReijYnsrlWSGQzhtRRqGe

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“Traitor!” he pointed at Xiaobao’s nose, hypocritically not voicing his true demands, hastily labeling her with a grandiose accusation to instinctively cover his own heart, “You’re a complete traitor!”YpRSsIPRdPMLwOdvKMaUsCjvAnRWtq

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At the outset, Song Xiaobao attempted to defend herself, stating, “I’m not a traitor, that’s my grandma.”cGbciPkPJQoGwDAjuZxvUnKJOqLlaO

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Wei Zhiyuan retorted with disdain, “Pah! She’s a shameless old witch!”BaOLdCyElgAIWLCkQVIgQdEmspJtbZ

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Hearing this insult towards her grandmother, Song Xiaobao couldn’t hold back any longer. Jumping up, she exclaimed, “You dare to insult my grandma! What right do you have to speak ill of her? This is my home! My brother! My grandma! You’re not part of this family! Leave!”hfTunqFXJGvBcHvvrvBclMFCiEXyoW

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Wei Zhiyuan was taken aback for a moment, suddenly at a loss for words.QQyCZMyYdJBzWkYxCDWhGXFbxaxEGA

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His fury cooled down, realizing that Song Xiaobao’s words were utterly reasonable.JEFeRcWXUzkRrVZZPZYkBUOQpOzmKL

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Wei Zhiyuan almost forgot that indeed this wasn’t his home, that Wei Qian wasn’t his real brother, and he certainly had no right to decide who could enter or not.KTSOqVIATyEkvRuIJiHvdCHNnNDAMv

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The boy’s vehement aura dissipated instantly, leaving him silently standing there, his face flushing a mixture of anger and embarrassment.VksaKdEUEOIQdcsOfaiPBSoANzxQEP

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In the blink of an eye, his young pride was shattered.JIAWbDSYpKnYtmlHdJNrfnHcrMTcXn

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Song Xiaobao blurted out her response, immediately regretting it. However, her clumsy nature in dealing with personal relationships once again took over. Even in regret, she didn’t know how to rectify the situation, so she remained standing there with a stubborn and willful expression.dlaRMkhAoOlFaXVbLEPDRznlLEPAWT

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Both children fell silent for a minute, then Wei Zhiyuan wordlessly stepped past her and headed for the door.DOtXNnVxXqIQWdqHHTxEvRtbvUmsyl

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Feeling something was amiss, Song Xiaobao softly called out to him, “Second brother.”OAXrAZSAiLoLbMZnsqWVXBcWJSDjId

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Wei Zhiyuan didn’t stop his stride.uQCTYyWRDCuXAhFhmNQKzJxfnsdcWg

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He walked out, hands empty, with a resolute determination that seemed like a final, desperate decision.OesbGPNbrAEFvnBKZIOmsyNhIczNQS

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Biting his teeth, Wei Zhiyuan thought, “So be it, I’ll leave. It’s nothing much, at worst, I’ll just scavenge from the garbage bins and compete with stray dogs for food. No matter what, it’s definitely better than before. I’ve grown three years older, I consider myself a man now. Not just stray dogs, even if I encounter those ill-intentioned adults I met the other day, I can defeat them with a steel pipe…”YrXUOEGEbxnOHZOtZtZCNgzqVoZRVO

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Then, as the cold wind whistled, he unexpectedly bumped into someone.iFYWqTmQKpCKtaJkUcRKvEdKXFscex

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The person wrapped their arms around him from behind. The familiar, cheap scent of tobacco hit him, triggering an inexplicable shift in his emotions. In the blink of an eye, he transformed from a determined young man to a boy full of grievances.rpZBJZdywYHeVJZPkoLpOzqlfhWYFE

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Wei Zhiyuan buried his face in Wei Qian’s chest, clinging to him tightly, refusing to let his brother move further inside or to look up. He struggled to hold back his tears, gripping Wei Qian’s coat into wrinkled layers.LUpMicuQlZjncDgMSDbTBzgObEnetI

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Wei Qian looked up to see the chaotic luggage and bedding in the corridor, the defensively postured old Mrs. Song… and the timidly watching Xiaobao.RYieQSGPkTjReIMBjengjtELaDudpJ

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Taking a deep breath, Wei Qian felt a strong urge to flatten the old hag with a slap. But then there was Xiaobao… his precious sister, who had just returned.yIeBYmfpUGrnIXHZfkPOEWWALgeQKC

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He hesitated, realizing that if he wanted to keep Xiaobao, he probably had to make concessions to this withered, possession-less old woman… Despite the lump of anger in his heart, so big it felt like it could burst through his chest.BFoGNSvouKnACbnOhzDlYLbFfGReQj

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He had always prided himself on never bowing down to anyone, no matter how debased… until his sister’s tearful gaze forced him to compromise for the first time in his life.zpxgugmuwjMdAPshVVqTNoTdMYGRnv

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After a standoff, Wei Qian finally extended his hand and gently pushed Wei Zhiyuan’s shoulder. The child, stubborn, refused to move, so Wei Qian applied a bit more force, grasping his chin to lift his head.KIBUJDcKmosHIncVjDnzVXStSSbowD

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The young man sighed, selecting the largest piece of candy melon from the paper wrap and stuffed it into Wei Zhiyuan’s mouth.gAobpaJTwoYQkkfIFdQxQuwpAOhHme

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Wei Zhiyuan, somewhat confused, licked it and found it sweet. He loved sweets but not the kind of sweetness from candy melon, so he pushed it to one side with his tongue, puffing up his cheek. He isolated the candy melon from his tongue with his teeth, waiting for it to slowly dissolve.IrbttJZReEvRUJCPfkETQgcWzsbsay

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Following this, Wei Qian stuffed the plastic bag and paper wrap into his arms, then reached under his armpits to lift him up like a kitten, carrying him inside the house.VtmAAdxMLJrQgLpKEfKIGbnXFnAivs

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“Help me wash the vegetables; we’re having dumplings tonight,” Wei Qian said, deliberately ignoring the fact that there were two other people in the room. His tone almost soft, he asked Wei Zhiyuan, “Is the candy melon tasty?”kUwSXzXtGJxZrtWCsEOmEyGsrhqbLc

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Wei Zhiyuan hesitated, then nodded. After a while, the little boy sneakily moved the candy melon, previously kept outside by his teeth, back into his mouth. Tasting it again, he decided it wasn’t so bad after all.lOxmpxDJublFEmGSsWddziDRMTGzwA

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Wei Qian paid no attention to Madame Song nor stopped Xiao Bao from letting her in, nor did he help Xiao Bao pick things up.gxmfhNFiuPSuDireowllFyNRkkJeap

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…However, Madame Song tentatively entered the kitchen, observing his reaction for a moment. As she started to chop the filling and roll the dough, he remained silent as well.eEqteSBMzFFQZOscNsyJKKnKxjPfYk

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Wei Zhiyuan couldn’t settle his feelings, and Xiao Bao was apprehensive, while the remaining adult and the teenager, almost an adult himself, reached a strange tacit agreement—they maintained a superficial peace, with neither losing nor winning.fvykdCHXPBHQoVxdtItlxAhyEYJXNT

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Madame Song ultimately failed to snatch her precious granddaughter away from the “hoodlum,” and Wei Qian had no choice but to tolerate the presence of an unwelcome old woman in his already cramped home.mxuYXzgEgCFyMFYgGIbsaMQfnkMgpw

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Despite their constant presence, they perfectly ignored each other, acting as if the other did not exist.kVTarutwPLAzoykmzMFhJavUBIuVpt

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That night, Xiao Bao awkwardly apologized to Wei Zhiyuan, who, after glancing at Wei Qian’s expression, reluctantly indicated he wouldn’t hold it against her.QCwQaMMyXyQHebheryOmoZFbmDQIGL

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The matter was considered settled, with Xiao Bao remaining the younger sister and Wei Zhiyuan the elder brother. Afterwards, they occasionally gathered together to discuss answers to their winter holiday homework.UyeiQmrqqRdxJHSyFfYSkgkaoRWClY

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They used to do their homework together in Xiao Bao’s small room, equipped with a desk and a simple bookshelf. However, since that day, Wei Zhiyuan never entered the room again.zlFKawIwHmCbuTLEujlERBvEnmrIcg

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He moved his textbooks and workbooks out, using two pieces of cardboard to stabilize a wobbly table in the living room that was rarely used, and settled there from then on.KYozCokoCxYtYgREgjlBLsABxfWtBg

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Wei Qian was aware but let him be.cdpQKtXGAEgCKfFXMIbSqfQdAvJYjm

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As Xiao Bao grew older and became slightly more scheming, she tried various excuses to get Wei Zhiyuan back into the room. Unfortunately, Wei Zhiyuan wasn’t swayed by her attempts. Even when they moved away from the historic slum, Wei Zhiyuan never set foot in that small room again.chGUfIMFqxMpSPEQSjCtijXovDWJuK

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