Tonight, he was determined to put on a good show. He would take good care of his little sister. However, Su Li was unaware that his behavior was exactly what his father had in mind.
After the family finished dinner, Su Li eagerly volunteered to do the chores. Gu Zi thought that Su Li must have been inspired by his brother, Su Bing, to actively participate in household chores. She patted Su Li on the head in praise, and Su Li beamed with joy.
Once the kitchen and dining room were tidied up, Gu Zi called Su Bing out to the yard. She brought out a bicycle and invited him to join her for a ride. "Let's go for a few laps to help digest our dinner. I'll take you with me!"
Su Bing was surprised, but he instinctively nodded in agreement. He had been envious of his younger brother, who got to sit on the back seat of their mother's bike when they returned home in the afternoon.
Su Li and Su Le were playing with their dog, Big Yellow. Su Li wanted to join his mother and brother on their ride, but he remembered that his mother had already taken him earlier in the day. He decided that this opportunity should be his brother's.
Su Li watched his mother and brother leave, willingly staying behind to take care of Su Le.
Gu Zi noticed Su Li's behavior and was pleased.
As for Su Bing, he was more introverted and not good at expressing his needs. However, Gu Zi did not want to ignore him.
Even if she couldn't equally distribute her attention, she wanted to do her best to consider Su Bing's feelings.
Gu Zi rode with Su Bing towards the entrance of the village. There was a moon tonight, as white as a jade plate hanging in the sky, seeming to follow them wherever they went.
In this era, the night was bright as long as there was a moon. They could see clearly as they rode their bike.
A gentle night breeze blew, cooling the tear that hung in the corner of Su Bing's eye.
But Su Bing felt an unprecedented warmth in his heart. He understood his mother's intentions. She didn't want him to feel that she loved his brother more. His mother was trying to love each of them equally. The love she gave was always more than he had expected.
Just like the moon following them, he wanted to follow his mother for the rest of his life, protecting her. He needed to become even better.
After a long time, Su Bing finally gathered the courage to tell his mother about his progress in school, just like his younger brother did.
When Gu Zi heard that Su Bing had memorized the alphabet song she had taught them, she was very pleased. "Su Bing, can you sing it for me?"
Gu Zi rode to the village entrance and back. Su Bing's song echoed, accompanied by the natural chorus of frogs in the fields. Su Bing looked at the scenery he had seen countless times before, but tonight's view was something he would never forget.
Before going to bed, Su Li knocked on his parents' bedroom door, asking his mother if he could be responsible for putting his sister to sleep.
Gu Zi looked at Su Shen with a doubtful gaze. Was this his idea?
Su Shen waved his hand, his handsome, resolute face looking somewhat innocent. It probably wasn't his idea.
Gu Zi, holding Su Le, told Su Li, "You go to sleep first. I'll bring your sister to your room after she falls asleep."
Gu Zi trusted that Su Li could handle putting his sister to sleep. Both Su Bing and Su Li had taken care of Su Le before. If Su Li wanted to do it, she wouldn't stand in his way.
Children change quickly. One day, he might find a new interest and stop insisting on taking care of his sister.
Su Li agreed and said goodnight to his parents before leaving the room. Gu Zi kept her promise and brought Su Le to Su Li's room after she fell asleep.
Gu Zi woke up several times during the night to check on Su Li and Su Le. Both children were covered with a small blanket, sleeping soundly.
Gu Zi was relieved and returned to her bed to continue sleeping. Su Shen, half-asleep, pulled her close, his large hand resting on her lower back, holding her tightly in his arms.
The next day, Gu Zi woke up a bit late. Her husband and children had already left.
After breakfast, Gu Zi began cleaning the pigeon cage. When she finished, she caught a pigeon, planning to make a nourishing pigeon soup for lunch. She would roast the pigeon once the clay oven was ready.
She quickly prepared the pigeon, blanching it after cutting it into pieces. The pigeon needed to simmer for over two hours, so she started preparing early to ensure a nutritious and delicious pigeon soup for lunch.
At noon, Su Shen returned home for lunch. Gu Zi was working on her clay oven in the yard. Seeing Su Shen return, she put down her work and went into the kitchen to prepare lunch.
Su Le was playing on the sofa, her little hands reaching everywhere. Suddenly, she pulled out a yellowed piece of paper from under the sofa cushion. Su Shen saw it and bent down to pick it up.
...