Returning to the small mountain village of '86, intelligence updated daily.

Chapter 123 Separation and Reunion (Fifth day of writing 10,000 words, please support!)

Thoughts flashed through my mind one after another, dispelling much of my earlier unhappiness.

Zhou Rui took his younger cousin and sister to the supply and marketing cooperative, while Zeng Jiamei went back ahead of time to cook. Yang Laidi would cook the rice.

Zhou Shijie also went back.

So Zhou Rui took his younger cousins ​​to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some small items, including soy sauce, vinegar, and eggs.

Eggs at home are used up quickly, so we need to replenish them frequently.

As usual, Zhou Jian stood guard by the counter.

"Uncle Zhou, thank you so much. If you hadn't introduced us to this factory to buy the tricycle, we would have had to spend more than a hundred yuan more if we had just gone to the county supply and marketing cooperative or the department store."

Zhou Rui pointed to the pedicab parked outside the supply and marketing cooperative and sincerely thanked Zhou Jian.

Zhou Jian, standing by the counter, shook his head dismissively and said, "It's just a small matter. My life was saved by the old sergeant, so this is nothing. It's alright, Uncle Zhou is here for you."

Zhou Jian comforted Zhou Rui, who was filled with gratitude.

After saying thank you again, Zhou Rui bought six notebooks for his younger siblings, as well as pencils and other stationery.

With school starting soon, he noticed that his younger sister's pencil had only a small section left, and she could barely hold it in her hand.

That's why he decided to come to the supply and marketing cooperative.

After buying all the school supplies, including pencils, erasers, and notebooks, Zhou Rui also bought thirty eggs.

Because of a connection with someone I know, all thirty eggs were tested under a light, which perfectly prevented me from buying bad eggs.

The supply and marketing cooperative in Shanbian Town is not bad. I don't know if it's because Zhou Jian is here, but the sales staff try to do things with a clear conscience when selling things and eggs.

After buying everything he needed, Zhou Rui also bought some rice. The advantage of having a tricycle became apparent; he no longer had to carry it home by hand.

After loading the supplies into the tricycle bed, Zhou Rui drove Zhou Xing home, while Zhou Guo'er sensibly got off and walked.

Zhou Rui originally said that she didn't need to get down, as he could pull her, but Zhou Guo'er still got down and walked by herself. The shy and quiet Zhou Xing, on the other hand, sat up straight and obediently while holding the eggs.

The three of them got home around midnight.

Because Zhou Shiwei works as a helper at the school and the school provides meals, there is one less person to eat lunch at home.

But it was still a large table.

The two elderly people, Zhou Yong'an and Meng Dan, never stopped smiling.

Their lives are very regular now. After washing up in the morning, they go for a walk in the village and come home for lunch around lunchtime.

In the afternoon, people either play chess or gossip and chat, which is quite pleasant.

It just feels like something's missing.

While eating and pondering the problem, Zhou Rui finally realized that his family was missing something: a big yellow dog.

They used to have a big yellow dog, but it was stolen by dog ​​dealers one night, and Zhou Ming cried uncontrollably because of it.

Because that big yellow dog had grown up with him—

Zhou Rui hesitated again after thinking about this. If he brought another big yellow dog, would it remind Zhou Ming of the past?

Zhou Rui knew that his younger brother was very sensitive and emotional, treating people, animals, and even characters in martial arts novels with great feeling.

Hmm—I'll find some time to subtly ask my buddy if he's interested in this.

Zhou Rui suddenly looked at his younger brother Zhou Ming beside him.

When Zhou Ming saw the wistful and resentful look in his older brother's eyes, he immediately shivered.

"Bro, what kind of look is that?"

"It's nothing, let's eat."

"Aww————"

"Dude, just say what you want to say, why are you being so long-winded?"

"Hey bro, um, I heard Uncle Zhang's big yellow dog had some pups, how about—"

Zhou Rui originally intended to ask tentatively later, but unexpectedly Zhou Ming kept pressing him for answers, so he simply asked directly.

Since it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, Zhou Rui didn't think of how to subtly probe, and instead told the truth directly.

Everyone at the table paused for a moment, especially Zeng Jiamei, who gave Zhou Rui two frantic glances.

How could a mother not understand her own child? She knew that Zhou Ming was a sensitive person, and she was also a little resentful about Da Huang being stolen a few years ago.

"Um----"

Now that Zhou Rui has brought up this sad matter again, how could everyone not be surprised?

Zhou Ming slowly put down the bowl. In the past, he always had a smile on his face, but now he had stopped smiling.

His expression was complex, showing resentment, sadness, and grief.

Seeing that the atmosphere was not right, Zhou Guo'er cleverly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Hey big brother, what are you thinking about? Hurry up and eat! After we eat, let's play games!"

Zhou Ming remained silent. Seeing this, Zhou Rui sighed inwardly and then said something to Zhou Guo'er.

"Okay, Guo'er, let's play house later, okay?"

Zhou Ming felt very sad. He used to eat two bowls of white rice, but today he only ate the first bowl before putting down his chopsticks and going to the backyard.

Seeing this, Zeng Jiamei immediately whispered to Zhou Rui, "Go and comfort your brother. You really are something, why do you have to bring this up all the time?"

Zeng Jiamei rarely mentioned Zhou Rui, and the latter sighed deeply.

It wasn't that he intentionally wanted to upset his younger brother; it's just that the family is indeed missing something these days.

Since the regret has already happened, let's try our best to make up for it.

Zhou Yong'an also said at this moment: "Yes, Xiaoming is sentimental like Wei'er, and thoughtful like you, Xiaomei. Sigh—but what's done is done, and there's no way to avoid facing it. This is what he has to go through."

The old man's words hit the nail on the head because he had witnessed far too many partings and deaths, and therefore had a unique perspective on the coming together and parting of people.

Zhou Rui nodded and said okay, then stood up, walked across the middle of the path, and went to the vegetable garden in the backyard.

In the backyard vegetable garden, Zhou Ming squatted on the ground, poking at the soil with a small wooden stick.

"Hey bro, what are you doing?"

Zhou Rui stepped forward, squatted down, picked up a stick, and played with his younger brother.

Zhou Ming remained silent.

Seeing this, Zhou Rui patiently continued in a soft voice, "What's wrong? Are you weird, bro?"

"no."

Zhou Ming finally managed to choke out a sentence.

Zhou Rui simply sat down on the ground.

"Brother, I apologize for bringing up something painful earlier. I'm sorry."

"Brother, it's okay, I know, but—if—if we had locked him up at home that day, Da Huang wouldn't have—"

At this point, Zhou Ming began to sob softly.

Zhou Rui sat down beside his younger brother and gently patted his back, then comforted him, "Little brother, you have to grow up. We will all grow up eventually."

"There is no best solution to separation and loss in this short life. All we can do is continue to walk the path ahead well."