This guy is not Ma Chao

  Juzhen City, the residence of the Governor.

  Inside another courtyard, in the bedroom.

  Targeted educational work for adolescents is still being carried out in an orderly manner.

  "In short, to sum up, cough, secondly," I said in a calm and serious tone, bringing the discussion back to the central idea and main direction of this meeting.

  "This morning's incident, you don't need to feel ashamed or embarrassed at all. On the contrary, you should be aware that it proves you're growing up now. As Ma Jia's second son, you're gradually becoming a man." My restless feet stopped in front of him just in time, and I slightly bent down to put my hand on his right shoulder.

  My hand felt a slight sinking, and I saw Lao Er seem to be stunned for a moment, his body slightly lowered, then he raised his head and stared at me, his eyes which were originally deep and dark suddenly burst out with joyful red light.

  "Big brother," his voice was shrill and trembling, "can I go into battle now?"

  "Go to the battlefield?" This sudden, inexplicable reaction and response couldn't help but shock me. I asked back, "What battlefield? Whose battlefield?"

  The corner of his eye inadvertently swept to both sides, and Lao San, who was sitting still beside him, tightly pursed his lips, fiercely biting his lower lip without letting go. On his face, apart from the inherent childishness of that age group, for a moment, he couldn't find the usual laughter and ease.

  "Big brother, are you still trying to deceive me?!"

  Lao Er lowered his gaze, but his voice became even more piercing. I saw a slight bulge in the Adam's apple on his neck - was this 12-year-old boy's vocal cords already changing?

  "Have you forgotten your mother's grudge?"

  I shuddered all over, my palms slid down from his shoulders and hung lightly at both sides of my body.

  Lao Er's gaze remained downcast, staring fixedly and rigidly at his tightly clenched fists. Those fists still looked immature and wouldn't have much strength, but at this moment he was gripping them tightly, his mouth set in a firm line, and his not-yet-grown body was trembling with fear. I seemed to see my own self from four years ago, hugging my mother's corpse and slowly walking forward in the courtyard.

  From the age of eight to ten, almost every night I had the same dream, dreaming of that hellish scene four years ago! Every time I woke up from this nightmare, my whole body was covered in cold sweat. Every night, I felt as if I had returned to that afternoon, with strong winds blowing outside, dark clouds covering the sun, and large fires burning all around, he...

  When mentioning this name, Lao Er's body still couldn't help but tremble slightly, and his voice suddenly became high-pitched and agitated.

  "Han Sui, that scoundrel, rushed into the courtyard alone. He kicked me with one foot and didn't even glance at Old Third, who was stunned with fear. Laughing loudly, he said: 'Sister-in-law, I've been thinking about this for a long time!' And then he charged in!"

  Lao Er's two rows of teeth were chattering uncontrollably with a "de de" sound.

  "Xiao Qing rushed up to stop him, but was instead killed by a single slash of the dog thief's knife!"

  His whole body trembled more and more violently, tears and nasal mucus gushed out together, flowing slowly down the corners of his mouth, dripping onto his toes.

  I was speechless, just staring and listening.

  Lao San was just like me, never so quiet before, his hands were tightly clasped on his thighs, the small fingers faintly turning white.

  I listened as the wooden door in the inner room creaked open with a "creak", and then...

  The young man buried his head deeply in pain, as if he had returned to that terrible nightmare once again.

  I was already stunned.

  All along, I thought only I, Lao Die and Ma Dian knew about this extremely humiliating thing for us, but it turns out that Er Ge and San Ge were the eyewitnesses.

  I want to laugh, laugh loudly, and shed the burden of worries I've had for four years. Today, I can finally put it down.

  I'd rather cry, wail, and cry for myself who has been keeping my lips tightly sealed all this time, not wanting to let my younger brothers know about it, but today I found out such an ironic ending.

  I clenched my teeth tightly, unwilling to shed tears in front of my younger brothers. I could only stretch out my hand to hold onto the thin shoulder of the second brother, and with all my might, maintain a calm tone: "Don't cry... don't cry."

  The second child did not cry at first, but once he started crying, he could no longer hold back his tears. The sorrow in his voice was so piercing that it moved the listeners to tears of sadness.

  Old Three was also infected by him immediately afterwards.

  He also burst into loud sobs.

  A handful of snot and a handful of tears.

  I sighed, thinking to myself that at this moment I should loudly shout: "What are you crying about? Wipe away your tears and let's practice our marksmanship together! In two years, we'll personally take down that old thief Han Xi! A real man has tears but doesn't shed them easily!"

  But at the same time, I also felt that this scene should be a common practice for passionate young people in inspirational TV dramas, so I refused to imitate such a cliché shout.

  So I had no choice but to let out a sigh, stretch out my other hand and gently press it on Lao San's messy hair, using the palm of my hand to exert a little force, and also add some strength to the palm pressing on Lao Er's shoulder, so that they could feel my determination.

  "Cry," my voice was barely audible, but I knew they could hear me, "just cry this once when I kill the dog thief, and never cry again."

  Both hands feel light, and the palms are already empty.

  The two children stood up together, opened their small arms and hugged me around.

  I faintly felt two low nasal sounds:

  "Uh-huh."

  The sobbing continued.

  I gently dropped my hands and hugged my two younger brothers, shaking my head.

  I always thought they were little kids, but I didn't know that growing up happens in an instant, and it's always imperceptible, happening so fast that it's unimaginable.

  No child will never grow up forever.

  There is no youth that will last forever.

  They are growing up.

  Growing rapidly yet imperceptibly.

  Fortunately, I felt it in time.

  I have indeed experienced it myself.

  I was shocked.

  It's okay, it's okay.

  I am relieved.

  These two little ponies, as long as they have this determination and spirit in their hearts, at least when they grow up in the future, they will not die mediocrely at home.

  Yes, I hope so, I believe it will be so.

  Even the youngest eaglet will have its wings full, when it flies out of the nest and becomes a fierce eagle, the sky is no longer a dream, but a stage for soaring.

  Even a mediocre horse can gallop across the sky, when it kicks off its iron hooves and runs freely against the wind, the earth is no longer a constraint, but a path forward.

  No longer helpless lone wolf, will always proudly howl on the grassland, when it licks its claws and pounces on ferocious tigers and leopards, bloodshed will not be a nightmare, but a battlefield of life.

  I smiled slightly with relief.

  But all I could feel was a numbness at the corner of my mouth, and my muscles had stiffened so much that I couldn't smile.

  The bedroom fell silent.

  Except for the faint sound of sobbing.

  I hold two younger brothers in my arms.

  The hem of his garment was all tears and water.