Hard work after winning the lottery

The night, like thick ink, gradually seeped into every corner of Baixi Village.

At this time of year, the Hua family's courtyard is usually filled with laughter and chatter, the noise from the television set and the children's playful shouts mingling together.

But tonight, the incandescent light in the main room cast a dim, yellowish glow, stretching everyone's shadows long and projecting them onto the mottled walls, making them appear somewhat distorted and bizarre.

The dining table was laden with a generous amount of dishes.

Li Guifen had specially killed a chicken and cooked some of her signature seasonal vegetables.

By this time, the dishes were no longer steaming, and a thin layer of oil had condensed on them.

Everyone was holding a bowl, but no one touched their chopsticks.

The only sound, the occasional crisp sound of chopsticks touching the edge of the porcelain bowl, seemed particularly jarring in this quiet space.

Hua Shu held a dry cigarette between his fingers, not lighting it, just sitting there in his mouth, his brows furrowed into a deep "川" shape.

With red eyes, Li Guifen would glance at the closed door every now and then, then sigh and poke small holes in the white rice in her bowl with her chopsticks.

The chair that once belonged to Hua An was now empty.

Hua Yun sat at the table and put a mouthful of rice into her mouth.

The rice was a bit hard, like chewing wax.

She swallowed the food, her gaze falling on the empty chair. There wasn't much anxiety in her eyes, only a deep calm.

"Yunyun, how about... you go and call Xiao An again?"

Li Guifen finally couldn't hold back and cautiously spoke up.

Hua Yun put down her chopsticks and gently shook her head.

"Mom, let him go hungry."

"You're such a big person, you won't starve to death."

"If he doesn't want to eat, then don't eat. Don't spoil him."

Upon hearing this, Hua Shu took the pipe out of his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just sighed heavily and turned his head to the side.

Dinner was quickly finished.

Hua Yun deftly cleared away the dishes.

She specifically chose the largest bowl.

He filled a bowl with white rice, topped it with a thick layer of braised chicken, and then added a few bites of Hua An's favorite stir-fried green peppers and eggs.

After thinking for a moment, she poured another spoonful of rich meat broth over the rice, letting the broth soak into every grain.

She placed the large bowl into the large iron pot in the kitchen, where the bottom of the pot still retained the warmth from the embers of the stove fire.

Cover the pot with the lid to seal in the enticing aroma and warmth.

Night deepened.

The barking of dogs in the village has stopped, leaving only the tireless chirping of insects in the grass.

The family members gradually went back to their rooms to sleep, with only the occasional sound of turning over and a few muffled coughs.

The lights in the main room went out, and the whole world seemed to fall asleep.

Hua Yun put on a light coat and quietly walked into the kitchen.

She lifted the lid of the pot.

A warm, fragrant aroma of food wafted over, feeling especially comforting in the cool night air.

She picked up the large bowl; its warmth seeped through her palms and into her heart.

After walking through the dimly lit corridor, Hua Yun stopped in front of Hua An's door.

No light shone through the crack in the door; it was pitch black inside.

Hua Yun took a deep breath and adjusted her breathing.

She raised her hand and bent her index finger.

"Tap, tap, tap."

The knocking was soft, rhythmic, and unhurried.

There was no response from inside the room.

Only the silence of deliberately holding one's breath could be heard through the door.

Hua Yun neither spoke nor left.

She stood quietly at the doorway, holding the bowl, like a silent sculpture.

Time passed by, second by second.

One minute.

Two minutes.

Just as Hua Yun's arm began to ache slightly.

Finally, a rustling sound came from inside the door.

That was the sound of slippers dragging on the ground, carrying a hint of reluctance and a hint of compromise.

Followed by.

A soft "click" sounded.

The sound of the door lock turning was exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

The door slowly opened a crack.

A hand pulled the door open from the inside.

By the faint moonlight in the corridor, Hua Yun could see her younger brother standing behind the door.

Hua An is still awake.

His white shirt was wrinkled and the collar was open, making him look somewhat disheveled.

My hair is a mess, as if I've scratched and rubbed it countless times.

That young face was etched with exhaustion and stubbornness.

Her eyes were still slightly red, and there was a faint bluish tint under her eyes.

He didn't look at Hua Yun, but turned his head away, his gaze falling on the mottled walls of the corridor.

He looked like a wounded little animal that was still trying to be strong.

Seeing her younger brother like this, Hua Yun felt a sharp pang in the softest part of her heart.

She didn't say anything sentimental; she simply held the bowl and squeezed past him into the room.

"Close the door."

Her tone was so natural, as if nothing had happened.

Hua An stood stiffly for two seconds, then silently closed the door, turned around, and leaned against the door panel.

The room was dark, with only the cool moonlight streaming in from the window.

Hua Yun walked to the desk and turned on the desk lamp.

The dim light instantly filled the entire space, illuminating the basketball star posters on the wall and the stacks of programming books on the desk.

Hua Yun placed the heavy, large bowl she was holding on the desk.

The aroma of steaming hot food instantly filled the room, which was filled with the scent of books.

"Let's eat something first."

Hua Yun pulled out the chair in front of the desk, but instead of sitting down, she turned to look at Hua An, who was still stuck to the door panel.

"The chicken leg that Mom specially saved for you is buried at the bottom of the bowl."

Hua An's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

That's a physiological hunger response.

But he still didn't move; only his clear black and white eyes finally turned and stared fixedly at his sister.

There was inquiry and grievance in his eyes.

"I'm not hungry."

His voice was hoarse, carrying a stubbornness unique to young people.

Hua Yun sighed softly.

She didn't force him to eat, and pulled up a chair to sit down herself.

She placed her hands on her knees, her back straight, and gazed at her younger brother with gentle and profound eyes.

"Xiao An, come sit here."

Hua Yun patted the spot next to the bed.

"It's been a long time since my brother and I have had a face-to-face chat like this."

Hua An hesitated for a moment, but still took a step.

He walked to the bedside, sat down a short distance away, placed his hands on the edge of the bed, lowered his head, and looked at the light and shadow on the floor.

"What are you trying to say?"

"How rich are you? How much benefit can you bring to your family?"

Hua An's voice was barbed.

"If that's the case, I won't listen."

Hua Yun smiled.

His smile was tinged with helplessness.

"Why can't you think of anything else?"

She reached out, wanting to pat her younger brother's head like she did when he was little, but found that he had grown up and was now a grown man.

Her hand paused in mid-air before finally landing on Hua An's shoulder, where she gently patted him.

"I'm going to tell you a story."

Hua An's body stiffened slightly.

Hua Yun withdrew her hand and looked out the window into the void, as if she had pierced through the mist of time and returned to that night that changed her destiny.

Six years ago, I was in City A...