Journey 1995:Non-Stop

Chapter 49 The Second Brother's Letter
Yan Hui has always had the habit of getting up early, and every day he gets up, he cleans the house before going out, and then goes to his second brother's house to help clean up.

Maybe he was too happy last night, so he got up extra early today. Before it got light, he counted the money on him again in the dim morning light.

10902.5 yuan.

Some of the money was not sewn securely last night, so he fixed it again.

There are three main places on my body, where I put 2500, 2500, and 5000 respectively, and there are two other places, where I put 870 and 32.5 yuan respectively.

These 32.5 yuan are what he can squander now.

With big strides, Yan Hui arrived at the Dongmen Market and ordered hot soy milk, big fried pancakes, fried dough sticks, and pickles!
At this age, he had no idea what being full meant. After filling his stomach, Yan Hui went to his fourth uncle's place, picked up a few letters, and then went to his second brother's place.

Maybe it's too cold in the morning this season, and even if there is work, the drivers won't come so early, so the porters usually come after 8:30, and it's not even 8 o'clock yet.

Yan Hui blew on his hands, put on gloves, swept the floor, picked up the garbage, and sat at the door, thinking about something in his mind.

"Xiaohui, you're here early! Are you back from vacation?" The porter Daming took the initiative to greet Yan Hui when he saw him.

"Hello Uncle Ming, I'm back."

Daming was considered to be the more honest of the porters, and Yan Hui also greeted him politely.

"Has second brother arrived? What's the matter? Can we start work today?" Daming asked.

"Not yet, I don't know." Yan Hui thought for a moment and asked, "Uncle Ming, is it possible that we won't be working all day soon?"

"Yeah, nothing happened yesterday. My second brother told everyone about it this morning, and then everyone dispersed."

"Ohhhh, that's it. Looks like it's really cold!"

"Yeah!" Uncle Ming rubbed his hands and went to find a place to smoke.

Yan Hui had nothing to do, so he found a place to sit and started reading the letter.

The first letter was from my younger sister Qinglan.

Her younger sister was already in junior high school, and had also received 100 yuan from Yan Hui. Qinglan told Yan Hui that she hadn't spent all the money Yan Hui had given her last time, and that she didn't need to buy anything at school. She also knew that it wasn't easy for her brother to make money, so she hoped that he would leave her some money.

Other than that, Qinglan is relatively well adapted to life in junior high school, but she misses him a little. Qinglan said that her winter vacation will start on the 21st of the twelfth lunar month, and she hopes to see her brother then.

When Yan Hui saw what happened next, there was some sadness in the corners of his eyes, but the smile on his face never faded.

The second letter was from Grandpa, primarily to inform Yan Hui that things were going well at home and that the autumn tea harvest was good. Grandpa had previously used the village phone to contact Fourth Uncle, who had said Yan Hui was working hard and making a good living. Grandpa then asked Fourth Uncle if Yan Hui was ill, and when he said no, Grandpa felt relieved. This time, he was worried that Yan Hui wouldn't adapt to the northern climate, but Yan Hui kept saying it was fine here, not so cold, and that Fourth Uncle had installed an electric blanket for him, which was very kind.

This letter is no different from the previous ones.

The third letter was from the fourth child. He was currently in the northwest, working with his family in the bamboo business and doing OK. He wrote that this year would be busy and he might not be able to return for the Lunar New Year. The letter was short, but Yan Hui felt uncomfortable reading it.

Of course, it is impossible for him to run to the northwest to see the fourth brother now. Yan Hui is just looking forward to going home for the New Year so that he and his brothers can get together. But the fourth brother is not going home?

The fourth child didn’t go home for the Chinese New Year last year!

Last summer, after everyone graduated, Yan Hui was injured shortly afterward, and soon afterward, the fourth child left with his family. This summer, he returned, but Yan Hui wasn't home, and the fourth child only saw the third child.

I didn’t expect that the fourth child wouldn’t go home for the New Year this year!

The fourth brother is the only one with the surname Xiao among the brothers, but Yan Hui has always been the best friend to him.
Yan Hui turned Lao Si's letter over and over again, and couldn't help feeling a little annoyed.

Why is this letter so short?
Such a big thing was written in just a few sentences. When will you change your lazy habit, Lao Si?
After Yan Hui finished reading the letter, he found another letter behind it, which was sent by the second brother.

He couldn't help but feel refreshed.

My second brother rarely sends me letters. Does he have any good news to tell me?
"Lao Wu, I didn't reply to your letter last time because I didn't know what to say."

"I heard you're doing well in Northeast China, and I'm very happy. Among us brothers, you're the most opinionated and able to endure hardships. I believe you'll be able to achieve success in this country, sooner or later."

"In my life, growing up and being brothers with you, there has only been one selfish thing I've done, and it was about Liu Yu. I still remember it was May 1993. We were chatting one night about who everyone liked, and you started by mentioning Liu Yu. I was surprised at the time. Once you brought it up, I couldn't bring it up anymore. I kept this secret for a while, but the fourth brother found out, and I guess you know it too."

"Just know it now. I decided at that time that if you pursue Liu Yu, I will definitely not fight with you. After all, we are brothers."

"But I thought to myself at the time, if you can't catch up in two years, then that's your problem."

"When you left this year, I didn't see you off. It wasn't that I couldn't get out of school. Our high school was pretty average. Only the eldest one among us went to a good one, so it was normal for him not to get out. In our high school, I could always climb over the wall and get out, but I still didn't have the nerve to see you."

"I thought that you might be away for a very long time this time, so I wanted to give it a try. I also wanted to know whether Liu Yu really liked me. But unfortunately, I had already graduated from junior high school, and Liu Yu and I were not in the same junior high school. At that time, I thought, why not propose directly? So I did something bold and reckless! When I say bold and reckless, it actually has nothing to do with you. It's not because I'm afraid of you that I said it, but you know I'm not usually that outgoing. Anyway, I asked my family to propose directly, but it failed."

"I understand you. You may think you are still young. But actually, you are not that young anymore. One of my classmates is a year older than me and is already married."

"Okay, let's not talk about this. Let's talk about it when you come back."

"I have something very important to discuss with you when you get home for the New Year. I've already finished my freshman year of high school and have been in my sophomore year for a few months. I've realized that what I've learned has absolutely no relevance to real life. I feel like studying is pointless, and I want to start a business. I'll discuss this with you when you get home, but you have to help me think it over carefully, and we can talk then, okay?"

"That's all. Remember to help me think about it."

After reading it, Yan Hui was speechless for a long time, with only one sentence in his mind.

Damn it, he even took over the reins!

(End of this chapter)