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After feeding the mule, Liu Tiezhu sighed and turned to walk towards his younger sister's courtyard.

He realized that his second brother didn't not want to get married, but rather that he had a girl he liked.

If that's the case, then things are much easier!

He thought to himself that since his second brother liked Qingge but was too embarrassed to pursue her, he would help him out today.

Qingge is a girl my younger sister brought back. If she doesn't reciprocate those feelings, my second brother should give up on the idea as soon as possible.

As the eldest brother, he couldn't bear to see his younger brother sink deeper and deeper into a hopeless relationship.

We should resolve this before my second brother falls deeply in love.

With that thought, Liu Tiezhu turned and strode away.

The sound of two children laughing and playing came from the front yard.

Liu Tiezhu walked in and saw Ayan squatting on the ground, with five-year-old Huanhuan riding on his back, her little hands clutching his collar, shouting "Horse, run fast!"

Ayan then crawled around on the ground twice, laughing so hard he almost fell over.

Then, a little while later, Huanhuan also lay down on the ground, letting Ayan ride her like a horse.

The two children were having a great time.

Little sister Tao'er stood to the side watching, a smile on her face.

He asked and found out that the two children were playing rock-paper-scissors, and whoever lost would be the other's horse to ride.

Moreover, Ayan didn't actually ride on Huanhuan with much force; he got up after a short while.

The two started a third round, and Ayan lost again. Liu Tiezhu suspected that the boy had lost on purpose.

"Big brother?" Tao'er saw him first.

I wondered what my older brother was doing here at this time.

Liu Tiezhu nodded, then looked at Ayan and Huanhuan, appearing hesitant to speak.

Tao'er understood and said to Ayan, "Ayan, take your little sister back inside to play. Mother and Uncle need to talk."

Ayan got up from the ground, patted the dirt off his knees, and took Huanhuan's hand to walk into the house.

Huanhuan was having a great time, but she still nodded obediently and let Ayan take her hand and lead her into the house.

After the two children went inside, Tao'er sat down on the stone bench in the courtyard and poured a bowl of water for Liu Tiezhu.

"Brother, is there something you want to tell me?"

Liu Tiezhu picked up the bowl, took a sip, then put it down, considering how to begin.

He's not good with words, not as eloquent as his second brother, and not as quick-witted as his younger sister.

After thinking for a long time, he finally spoke frankly: "Little sister, I know why your second brother doesn't want to get married so soon."

Tao'er asked with a smile, "Oh, big brother, do you know why?"

In fact, she had already guessed it in her heart.

"It's because my second brother has a girl he likes, so he absolutely refuses to meet any girls."

Liu Tiezhu asked in a low voice.

"Oh, Second Brother has someone he likes?"

Do you know who it is, brother?

"Which family's daughter is this? I'll have my mother propose marriage to her!"

She never expected her older brother to be so observant; she thought she was the only one who had noticed!

"He likes Qingge, the girl next to you!"

"What? Miss Qingge, brother, you can't say things like that, it'll ruin her reputation."

Tao'er speaks very seriously.

"The way my second brother looked at Qingge was different from how he looked at others."

Liu Tiezhu spoke with such certainty.

"Big brother is indeed amazing. To be honest, I could also tell that my second brother, that silly boy, had taken a liking to Qingge."

He would glance at her every now and then while he was eating, but Qingge, being rather naive, didn't notice.

Tao'er stopped teasing her older brother and smiled.

"Alright, little sister, you figured it out a long time ago. Then why were you teasing me earlier!"

Liu Tiezhu was at a loss for words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

When did my little sister become so mischievous?

"Brother, I was just joking with you. Did you come all this way just to tell me about this?"

"Yes, that's what I came here to tell you."

You know your second brother's personality; getting him to confess his feelings to a girl is harder than slaughtering a pig.

I was thinking, could you ask Qingge privately if she likes your second brother?

If she doesn't mean it that way, I'll talk to my second brother and make things clear, so he won't keep thinking about that girl and end up heartbroken.

Since you are a girl and you are familiar with Qingge, it is most appropriate for you to ask her about this.

My parents and I are afraid it will be difficult for us to bring this up.

Tao'er answered irrelevantly, "Big brother, although we both can tell that second brother likes Qingge, we've never heard him say it himself."

Are you sure he really likes Qingge?

Liu Tiezhu nodded and said with certainty, "I haven't asked him, but I'm sure he likes Qingge."

He was very happy when he heard me at the stable that his parents were no longer pressuring him to get married.

And then guess what?

"What's wrong?"

"Good heavens, Iron Hammer practically ran to find Qingge to learn martial arts."

After hearing her eldest brother's words, Tao'er was certain of her second brother's feelings for Qingge.

"Little sister, I'm thinking that since our second brother has this idea, we, as his elder brothers, should lend a hand."

So I came here to check things out without telling him.

If two people are destined to be together, that's a good thing.

"This Qingge girl is quite nice; no wonder my second brother likes her."

Liu Tiezhu prayed in his heart that his sister could help him with this.

"Big brother is right."

Tao'er raised her head and said very seriously, "But I can't make decisions about Qingge's marriage."

Although she followed me, I never treated her as a servant; she had her own ideas.

Even if my second brother likes her, I won't let her marry him because of that.

Liu Tiezhu quickly waved his hand: "Of course, of course!"

I just asked you to ask around; whether it works out or not depends on fate.

If Qingge is unwilling, then let's drop this matter and not mention it again.

Tao'er nodded, "Yes, I'll find a chance to ask her."

"Brother, don't tell Mom and Dad yet. I'll handle this."

Liu Tiezhu stood up, dusted off his pants, and felt a little more at ease.

When my sister says that, it means she agrees to help me ask.

He took two steps outside, then turned back and said, "Thank you, little sister!"

Tao'er shook her head. "Big brother, don't be so polite. Second brother is also my family."

Liu Tiezhu then left.

As he left, he glanced back and saw Tao'er still sitting on the stone bench, one hand supporting her chin, seemingly lost in thought.

Could it be that my younger sister has other ideas?

Both children went to sleep that night.

Ayan slept in the outer room, while Huanhuan and Tao'er slept in the inner room.

Tao'er coaxed Huanhuan to sleep, then quietly got up, put on an overcoat, and went to the outer courtyard, thinking about what her older brother had just said and how to bring it up with Qingge.

The moon wasn't very bright tonight, and the courtyard was filled with shadows. The light was still on in Qingge's room.

Tao'er stood in the courtyard for a while, the moonlight shining on her face, making it impossible to discern her expression.

She walked to the door of Qingge's room and knocked.

"Who is it?" came Qingge's voice from inside.

"It's me."

The door opened quickly.

Qingge was wearing an inner garment with a worn-out blue vest over it, and her hair was loosely tied up, clearly preparing to go to sleep.