Chapter 690 - 683_1
"Brother, I know our mother isn’t our birth mother. Xiaosi and I were so young when our real mother left; we barely remember what she looked like. I sort of remember that even then, she didn’t take much care of me and Xiaosi, let alone you and second brother, who weren’t her own. Mother was even worse towards you. After every quarrel with father, she would take it out on us by beating and scolding us. After mother passed away, we brothers were bullied and looked down upon by children of the same age in the village because we didn’t have a mother. Grandparents and great-aunt didn’t like us either," said Sanlang as if lost in his memories. Although he wasn’t old, the harshness of their family had made him mature early. The brothers were all smart and understood many things, forming their own opinions. Now, studying in the academy and guided by their teacher, they understood even more about right and wrong.
"Until mother came along, I’ve heard people in the village say that stepmothers are bad, and I was a bit scared. I was thinking about how to drive mother away, and you probably had the same idea, second brother. But mother has been really good to us, better than our own mother! We were still so poor back then. As for any good food or drinks, mother would always save them for us brothers first, then herself. Even one’s own mother might not do as she did. But deep down, knowing she isn’t our birth mother made me uneasy, yet I couldn’t help but grow fond of her. I wished she were my own mother and feared she might leave us someday."
"Later on, I realized that mother would be with us for a lifetime, forever my mother, and I was overjoyed. I swore to treat her as my own mother, to be even more filial than a birth son. Whenever I saw mother being bullied by those villains, I made up my mind to study hard and earn a title to protect her, to provide her a good life where no one could make her suffer!"
Hearing Sanlang’s words, both Dalang and the second brother were touched, and even Xiaosi, who was listening intently on the side, seemed to agree, although it was hard to tell if he really understood.
Dalang and the second brother exchanged looks, feeling a mix of emotions. They, as the older brothers, should have been taking care of their mother and looking after their younger siblings. Yet, it was their younger brother, whom they thought too young to understand, that had such thoughts and clarity. They were both proud and heartened by his sentiments, albeit at such a time.
"Sanlang, your words are clear to both me and big brother. We need to find a way to escape. Those people kidnapped us intending to threaten our mother. We can’t let their schemes succeed. Before father left, we promised to take good care of mother and the home. Now, it’s time for us to act like men," the second brother said solemnly.
"The second brother is right. We’d rather fight the kidnappers than let them use us to threaten our mother! From what those kidnappers let slip earlier, it seems they’ve already sent word to mother. They’ll surely take us with them. When the time comes, we’ll adapt to the situation. Second brother, if I’m busy dealing with the kidnappers, you protect Sanlang and Xiaosi. If I can’t get free, lead them to safety," Dalang said with the responsibility and dignity of an eldest brother.