While Wei Zhiying and her sons were unpacking their luggage, Chen Jianmin and Chen Jianguo were cooking in the kitchen.
While kneading the dough for the mixed-grain stead buns, Chen Jianmin glanced at his brother and asked, "Jianguo, if you feel uncomfortable with them staying here, we can send them to our Third Uncle's place. Tonight, when we discuss this matter, I will be the one to speak to our parents."
Shaking his head, Chen Jianguo said, "Brother, it's okay."
After a mont of pause, he continued, "For them to co here, sothing must have happened in their family. No matter what, they are Father's wife and children—and also my stepmother and half-brothers."
"Even if I can't treat them as well as I treat our family, I still can't bear to see them facing difficulties and do nothing to help. What happened back then wasn't their fault. It was Father's deception, greed, and ambition that caused everything."
At his words, the two of them fell silent. After a while, Chen Jianmin let out a sigh and said, "Since you have made up your mind, then Brother won't try to change it. As long as you are not forcing yourself to accept them, Brother will support you."
Hearing this, Chen Jianguo smiled and said, "Thank you, Brother."
After their brief conversation, the two stopped talking about the matter and continued working.
Outside the kitchen, Chen Mingze and Chen Yuze were standing near the wall, hidden from their sights and heard everything.
Initially, Chen Mingze had co to inform them that his mother brought their own food, so they wouldn't eat their family's supplies. All they needed was a place to stay, and his mother would pay for it. There was no need to treat them like beggars or thieves.
But when they reached the kitchen, they overheard his cousin talking to his half-brother about them.
He had expected to hear his half-brother's resentnt, disagreent, or even hatred. After all, they were the living proof of his father's betrayal.
Unexpectedly, instead of bitterness, his half-brother displayed a level of understanding and magnanimity that he himself couldn't imagine possessing.
He had always prided himself on being an educated boy with a good upbringing in the city. But compared to his half-brother, who was raised in a rural village, he realized just how small-minded and petty he had been.
He hated his birth father, his stepmother, and his eldest half-brother. Because of them, his mother was hurt and depressed. Because of them, his perfect family had been torn apart.
Though he hadn't protested when his grandfather sent them to this village, he had harbored deep resentnt toward this side of the family—especially his half-brother, who was about the sa age as him.
Now, aside from feeling embarrassed and ashad, he finally understood what his teacher ant when he said, 'A righteous and honest person is never afraid of being slandered or hated as a person's true worth lies in their behavior and character, not their family background or wealth.'
Seeing his brother's expression, Chen Yuze tugged at his hand and looked at him worriedly. "Brother, are you okay?" he asked.
Just after he asked, Chen Jianmin's voice rang out from the kitchen, "Cousins, you two have been standing out there for a while. Why not co in and help us cook?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Mingze patted his brother's head and led him into the kitchen. When he saw them, he nodded at them as a greeting but said nothing.
Noticing their awkwardness, Chen Jianmin said, "Based on age, the two of you should call Jianguo 'Second Brother.' He was adopted by my father and is now ranked number two in the family."
"Since our fathers have already separated their household registers, you don't have to call 'Eldest Brother'—just call 'Cousin.' But Jianguo is older than both of you, so calling him 'Second Brother' is appropriate whether you like it or not."
As soon as he said this, Chen Yuze smiled and replied, "Cousin, Second Brother, my na is Chen Yuze. It's a pleasure to et you!"
Seeing the boy's expectant gaze, Chen Jianmin asked, "Yuze, how old are you?"
"Cousin, I'm five years old this year."
Nodding, Chen Jianmin said, "So you are the sa age as Jianyan."
"You actually have several cousins besides . Other than Jianguo, I have another brother, Chen Jianbai, who's seven. Then I have two sisters—Chen Jianyan, the sa age as you, and Chen Jianfang, who's three."
"On our Third Uncle's side, we have a cousin who's nine and two younger sisters—one is six and the other is two."
When he finished, Chen Yuze's eyes lit up. "Wow, we have so many siblings!"
Chen Jianmin chuckled and said, "Well, people in the village are like this. We have lots of siblings. So if you ever get bullied while you are here, just tell us—we've got your back."
"Okay!" Chen Yuze replied enthusiastically.
Unlike his younger brother, Chen Mingze didn't say anything. Instead, he looked at Chen Jianguo with mixed feelings.
Since they had entered the kitchen, Jianguo hadn't spared them a single glance. It was as if they were invisible to him. At that mont, Chen Mingze began to doubt what he had just heard.
'Could he really be so magnanimous that he doesn't hate us at all?' he thought inwardly.
No matter how many good words or justifications they said, the truth remained.
His mother had been the third party in the relationship between his father and his stepmother and had contributed to the destruction of Chen Jianguo's family.
So, how could there be no resentnt?
Noticing he stood still without speaking or moving, Chen Jianguo finally looked at him and said, "Don't just stand there. Co over and watch the fire."
At those words, Chen Yuze quickly trotted over and asked, "Second Brother, how do you watch the fire?"
Looking at his chubby face and round body, Chen Jianguo shook his head and said, "You are too young to watch the fire. Co help wrap the stead buns."
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