At the beginning, he took his seven younger siblings to join Yi Zhonghai.

Mid-January 1953.

At this point, half a month had passed since the phone call between Yi Zhonghai and Yi Zhongding.

Yi Zhongding met Yi Zhonghai at the Songluo Township Committee. Yi Zhonghai looked travel-worn and tired, but his eyes were full of energy.

"Ding Ya Zi?"

When Yi Zhonghai saw the boy walk in through the door, he immediately shouted excitedly.

It was simply because Yi Zhongding's face was exactly the same as the fourth uncle in his memory.

"Hey, are you the eldest brother, Yi Zhonghai?"

Yi Zhongding also looked excited.

"Hey, it's me, it's your eldest brother Yi Zhonghai. Little brother, I've finally found you. I can give an account to the ancestors of the Yi family now."

Yi Zhonghai rushed forward and hugged him tightly, crying and shouting.

Although Yi Zhongding was not quite used to it, he did not feel embarrassed by the genuine emotions of the man in front of him.

The two brothers cried for a long time before they stopped.

"You've grown up. When you were little, we held you in our arms, you were such a chubby little bundle. Now you've grown up, almost as tall as your older brother."

"You're just too skinny. When we get home, your older brother will buy you meat so you can eat your way up and become stronger, even stronger than your older brother, haha."

Yi Zhonghai looked his younger brother over for a while, squeezed his arm, and said repeatedly.

"I'm just not gaining weight. My dad hunts, so we never lack meat. But you, big brother, you're still so young, and you already have gray hair."

Yi Zhongding also expressed his concern.

"Our hair turned gray early, it's been gray for a long time. Look at your physique, brother, you're still very strong."

Yi Zhonghai touched his hair and patted his chest, making a "thumping" sound.

"Big brother, let's go home. Our younger siblings are waiting for us."

Yi Zhongding said with a smile.

"Hey, right, right, let's go home, let's go, look what your brother brought: milk powder, he specially asked someone to get it for his younger siblings, and some snacks... Your sister-in-law prepared all of this, there's still some at home."

"And your sister-in-law is at home tidying up the house for you. When we get back, everything will be ready."

Yi Zhonghai opened the two large packages he had brought and began to talk incessantly.

Even though Yi Zhongding knew perfectly well that he had traveled from another time.

However, I was also moved by Yi Zhonghai's deep paternal love.

"Brother, we're not home yet, why are you taking these things out?"

Yi Zhongding, both amused and exasperated, stopped him from taking something out.

"Yes, yes, come on, look at me, haha, I'm so happy, so incredibly happy."

Yi Zhonghai chuckled sheepishly, shoved the things back haphazardly, picked up the bag, and followed.

"Brother, let me carry one for you."

Yi Zhongding reached out his hand and said.

"Don't carry it, it's not heavy, brother can carry it, don't tire yourself out, lead the way."

Yi Zhonghai dodged his hand and said with a loud laugh.

"Alright then, I'll go and tell Uncle Township Head first."

Yi Zhongding quickly walked a few steps to the township head's office and gave him some instructions.

The two brothers then headed home.

"Brother, we've arrived. This is the house the township committee arranged for me after my father's sacrifice."

Yi Zhongding said as he opened the door.

"Oh, big brother, you're late. You've all suffered."

Yi Zhonghai looked at the mud-brick bungalow in front of him for a while, and felt a lump in his throat.

As soon as Yi Zhongding opened the door, the five little radish heads rushed up in a flash.

I had just called him "Big Brother" when I saw a stranger standing in front of me.

The four little ones hid behind Yi Zhongding.

Four little heads gradually peeked out.

She timidly looked at the stranger in front of her.

The second brother, Yi Zhonghua, stood next to his eldest brother, looking at the person in front of him with curiosity.

"Dingya, are these your younger brothers and sisters?"

When Yi Zhonghai realized he had frightened the children, he immediately stopped and dared not go any further, forcing a kind smile.

"Yes, brother, let's go inside. It's cold outside, let's talk inside."

"Little one, don't be afraid. This is our eldest brother, not a bad person. I've been telling you about him these past few days. He's the son of our father's eldest brother."

Yi Zhongding patted the heads of the little ones and said softly.

"No rush, no rush, don't frighten the child."

"I'm your older brother, not a bad guy. Don't be afraid. Look, I brought you lots of delicious food."

Yi Zhonghai quickly chuckled softly.

"It's alright, brother, come in. I grew up in the mountains and I'm quite brave, but I'm a little shy at first glance."

Yi Zhongding said with a smile.

"Eh."

Yi Zhonghai responded and then cautiously entered the house.

His eyes were still fixed on the little babies.

It was as if they would immediately retreat the moment they showed any fear.

"Big brother, there are two more little ones, Xiao Qi and Xiao Ba."

After Yi Zhongding entered the room, he pointed to the two little ones who were sleeping soundly and said...

"Hey, good, that's great! Our Yi family has an heir, a successor."

Yi Zhonghai said with a broad smile.

Yi Zhongding knew what he meant, but pretended not to understand.

"Brother, have some water. It's wild tea picked from the mountain, and I roasted it myself."

Yi Zhongding handed him a teacup.

"Haha, good, I've seen you guys. Now even plain water, no, bitter water, I can taste the sweetness of honey."

"Dingya, come here, this is milk powder. Make some for your younger siblings, and you drink some too. You're all too thin; you need to eat more. We'll have more when we get back to Beijing."

Yi Zhonghai picked up the teacup, took a sip, and laughed heartily as he spoke.

He then took out two bags of milk powder from his bag.

"Then let's bask in the glory of our big brother. Little one, tell your big brother your names. He's our own big brother."

Yi Zhongding hugged the four little ones behind him and said softly.

"My name is Yi Zhonghua, the Chinese nation."

The second son was bolder and spoke first.

The four little ones in Yi Zhongding's arms looked up at their eldest and second eldest brothers before introducing themselves.

Yi Zhonghai smiled indulgently, his arms slightly outstretched, wanting to reach out and hug the little guy, but he didn't dare, and could only smile sheepishly.

"Can I have a hug from my big brother? I'll go make you some formula, it'll taste delicious."

Yi Zhongding looked down and spoke to the four little ones.

"No, I want to go too!"

The third sister shook her head repeatedly, her little hands tightly gripping his sleeve, as if afraid he would run away.

The other three little ones followed suit and tugged at their eldest brother's clothes.

He looked at Yi Zhonghai with a wary gaze.

"Haha, it's okay, big brother won't hug you, don't be afraid."

Yi Zhonghai quickly smiled and withdrew his hand.

Yi Zhongding didn't force them and got up to make them some formula.

The four little ones followed him closely.

The second brother, being very considerate, carried the water bottle and poured water for the unfamiliar older brother.

Yi Zhonghai looked at the two little babies who couldn't run away from the cradle with a smile, his eyes overflowing with love.

Yi Zhongding prepared the milk powder and distributed it to the little ones.

Then I sat down opposite Yi Zhonghai.

The two talked about their respective situations over the years.

The main question was from Yi Zhonghai, who was asking about what had happened since they separated in 1938.

But Yi Zhongding was still young at that time.

He doesn't remember either.

I can only talk about what happened from the time I fled famine in the autumn of 1941 until now.