bayedsolid Chapter 322 Brothers' Honesty
Chapter 322 Brothers' Honesty
"Give up drinking? That was a long time ago. Thinking about the responsibilities on my shoulders, looking at the expectant eyes of my family, and then touching my empty wallet, I just can't bring myself to drink anymore."
We've come into this world, we can't just drift along aimlessly, eating and waiting to die, can we? Thinking back to when we chatted and dreamed together, we all had big ambitions. I can't go to the faraway places, so I can only be down-to-earth. If we want to live a good life, we can only rely on ourselves! Song Wanli's thoughts drifted back to the past. Those days were truly unbearable to recall. Every time he thought about them, he wanted to slap himself a few times. He tormented not only himself, but also his wife and children.
Later, Master Gao advised him not to dwell on regrets of the past, but to live in the present and forgive himself.
His exact words were, "Don't blame your past self, because he was also confused when he was standing in the fog."
Song Wanxing asked in a low voice, "Brother, do you hate me?"
"I hate you, don't I? Before, when I saw you healthy and able to study, and so high and mighty, I hated you, but you risked your life for me. And then, you left irresponsibly, and when I saw Mingli's three children surrounding Xiaojuan, I hated you too, those innocent children."
Now that Mother is gone, only the three of us siblings are left in this world. Xiuying lives far away, and we can only see her twice a year, so I no longer hate her.
Mother said that brothers are the closest of relatives and should help each other. Song Wanli also took a sip of wine; it was strong, and it brought tears to his eyes. "Wanxing, I've always owed you a thank you. Thank you! You've had a hard life before!"
"Big brother?"
“I am the eldest brother, yet I have made you bear the expectations of our parents. I have always known that you are not a cold-hearted, aloof, or arrogant person; it’s just that you are unwilling to associate with those who have mocked me.”
"Big brother!"
“Wanxing, I know you look down on them, they're two-faced, and you look down on me too, thinking I'm pathetic. You're angry because you feel that I'm associating with people who used to criticize and mock me just to make money. You've shrunk your social circle and narrowed your heart for my sake. Meanwhile, I can chat with anyone. You're growing more and more disgusted with me, aren't you?”
"Big brother!"
“Back then, I really thought you were being overly sentimental. Wanxing, when you can’t make a living, face sometimes really doesn’t matter.” Song Wanli patted his face and took another sip of wine. “In the past, they did buy my things out of politeness, but I also earned my living with my own hands. I paid with one hand and delivered the goods with the other.”
Later, I followed Nan's advice, and our home became increasingly well-stocked with high-quality, inexpensive, and convenient items. This changed from them pitying me or giving me handouts to it becoming a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Song Wanxing lowered his head. During his days of wandering outside, he had long understood that when survival was difficult, staying alive was the most important thing.
“Wanxing, in this world, people stand on the ground beneath their feet and walk on the road beneath their feet. Everyone has to make a living and everyone has to go home. Who has the leisure to follow along just to see someone else make a fool of themselves? Wanxing, you have read more books and know more principles than I do, but you always get stuck on trivialities. Most of the time, we just need to have a clear conscience.” Song Wanli felt that he was becoming more and more enlightened. He couldn’t remember who said, ‘Walk your own path and let others talk,’ but it was a magnanimous and practical statement.
"What are your plans for the future? Do you want to do business with me? There's no one managing the small market, why don't you give it a try?" With his mother gone, Song Wanli wanted to take on the responsibilities of an older brother. He didn't mind putting in extra effort when it was time to offer advice or show concern.
Seeing that Song Wanxing had fallen silent again, Song Wanli sighed and said, "Little brother, these days, there's nothing shameful about earning money with your own abilities and making a living with your own hands. Don't be so stubborn..."