Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Big Brother and Second Brother Want to Join the Army
Yun Linhai and Yun Linhe exchanged a glance. Neither had any objections.
It was indeed too crowded for two families to live together.
Yun Linhai and Yun Linhe were twin brothers who had been close since they were little.
Mr. Yun’s generation had lived through even harder times, including a famine. After giving birth to the two brothers, Granny Yun’s health was damaged, and she couldn’t have any more children.
So, the two brothers grew up playing together.
Even after splitting the household, they planned to build their houses right next to each other. As long as they remained close, splitting the household wouldn’t change the fact that they were practically one big family.
"Dad, we have no objections."
The two brothers said in unison.
Yun Xiaowu’s eyes lit up. "Does that mean we’ll get to live in a big house and have our own rooms soon? Jiaojiao can live with me then."
Yun Xiao Liu retorted, unconvinced, "Why? I want to live with Jiaojiao too."
Their little sister smelled nice and was so soft. Plus, she never got mosquito bites. Sleeping next to her was incredibly comfortable.
Yun Xiaojiu held Yun Jiao’s hand. "Little Nine wants to be with our sister too."
The brothers Yun Xiaoqi and Yun Xiao Ba stood with their hands on their hips. "We already agreed that Jiaojiao would sleep with us next week! Fifth Brother, don’t be such a tyrant! She’s our sister too!"
Yun Jiao: ’...’
’Sometimes, having too many older brothers is a burden.’
"Alright, alright, we’re talking about serious matters! All of you, quiet down!"
Under the patriarch’s stern gaze, the little rascals quieted down, but their eyes still darted around, glaring at one another. Each one looked more defiant than the last.
"If you want a new house, then everyone needs to work hard and pull together. You kids need to spend less time running off to play and more time with your mother foraging by the sea. Even if you don’t find anything valuable, digging up more sand clams and oysters will help save money on groceries."
"We know."
After they finished discussing the boat and the house, the usually quiet eldest and second eldest brothers of the Yun family, Yun Chendong and Yun Chenxi, suddenly spoke up.
"Grandpa, Dad, Mom, I want to join the army."
"We’ve already asked around. We have to go to the county town to sign up, and we just need to pass the physical examination."
At the mention of enlisting, Eldest Brother Yun’s eyes burned with intensity, and the other Yun boys’ eyes lit up as well.
Joining the army—what a glorious thing to do in this era.
Everyone’s gaze turned to the head of the family, the old master, Yun Mu.
Mr. Yun said, "You’ve looked into it thoroughly?"
Eldest Brother Yun, Yun Chendong, nodded. "Yes, we have. Second Brother and I both plan to give it a try."
Beside him, Yun Chenxi flashed a grin, revealing his big, white teeth. "That’s right. I want to try, too."
Although the two brothers were twins, they didn’t look alike.
The elder resembled Yun Linhai more, while the younger resembled Shen Yunlian more and had more delicate features.
"It’s just... the family."
Their only worry was that if they left, there wouldn’t be enough hands to work at home.
Yun Linhai patted his two sons on the shoulder.
"What are you worried about at home for? Being able to join the army is a good thing, something to bring honor to our ancestors. Your uncle and I are still here."
Mr. Yun also chimed in, "I’m not so old that I can’t work."
Clearly, the entire family supported the eldest and second eldest brothers’ decision to join the army.
Yun Chendong and Yun Chenxi had also found out what items would be checked during the physical examination.
On the day they were to go to the county town, they set out for the town early to get ready.
The adults at home were worried, so in the end, Father Yun went with the two of them.
Yun Jiao wanted to go along to see the town as well.
So she grabbed Father Yun. "Dad, I want to go."
"Brothers, I want to go."
Although she didn’t deliberately try to act pitiful, with her pretty, innocent face, her little eyebrows would droop, making her look pitiable all on their own.
Her big, dark, bright eyes stared at them expectantly.
In any case, Father Yun and her two older brothers couldn’t resist.
"Alright, Dad will take you to look around the county town!"
Yun Linhai picked his daughter right up.
After the father and sons packed their things, they said goodbye to the family and set off.
The other boys at home tried to tag along by whining and pestering, but all they got were a few slaps on the behind, not an ounce of sympathy from their parents.
They took the village tractor to town and then walked to the recruitment office.
Family members couldn’t accompany them for the physical examination that followed.
"There are so many people."
Yun Jiao clung to Father Yun’s neck, her big eyes looking around curiously.
Little did she know, many people there were also looking at her.
A little girl so delicate, lively, and snow-white was a rare sight in the entire county town.
Even in the county town, its coastal location meant the sun was quite harsh, and most people had darker skin.
Wouldn’t a little girl who was fair enough to glow and looked like a porcelain doll attract attention?
"This child is a real beauty."
Someone next to them struck up a conversation with Father Yun.
Father Yun said proudly, "Of course she is. She’s my daughter. You couldn’t find a girl as pretty as mine in all the surrounding villages."
"How did you raise her? What does she eat to have such fair skin?"
"My daughter’s skin is naturally fair. She doesn’t tan. She often goes out to forage by the sea and run around with her brothers. My boys are all tanned as dark as charcoal, but my daughter just gets fairer. She’s been like that since she was little."
It was something others could only envy.
When it came to praising his daughter, Father Yun didn’t hold back at all.
Yun Jiao wasn’t shy either. She generously let people look at her, while she also stared back at them with wide, curious eyes.
For the most part, everyone looked at her with kindness.
After sending his two sons in for their physicals, Father Yun knew they wouldn’t be out for a while, so he took his daughter for a walk.
"Come on, daughter. Let’s go buy some meat Baozi to eat."
They couldn’t afford a meal at a restaurant, but they could afford meat Baozi.
"Boss, two pork Baozi, please."
The Baozi here came in not only pork but also fish fillings.
But people living by the sea were tired of fish; pork was what tasted delicious.
Yun Jiao took the meat Baozi from her father’s hand. It was still steaming hot.
Her mouth was small, and she had to take two nibbles before she reached the meat inside.
Father Yun was still buying mantou and more Baozi. His two sons would need to eat when they came out, and he also wanted to bring some back for the family.
But spending the money pained him. The meat Baozi were fifty cents each. Then again, they were huge, almost as big as Yun Jiao’s little face.
He was haggling with the vendor.
Yun Jiao stood beside him, exceptionally well-behaved, her snow-white skin dazzlingly fair.
Suddenly, she felt someone staring at her.
Following the gaze, she saw it was an old woman.
To be precise, she was staring at the Baozi in her hand.
Yun Jiao tilted her head and glanced at her.
"Do you want some?"
The old woman fumbled in her pockets and said, a little awkwardly, "I don’t have any money."
Yun Jiao thought for a moment, then broke the Baozi in her hand and offered half to the woman.
"It’s my treat."
The old woman accepted it with a chuckle. "Thank you, sweetie."
Yun Jiao took a big bite of the meat Baozi. The delicious taste made her squint her eyes in delight.
’Delicious!’
"Here, sweetie, come over here. I have something pretty for you."
She pulled two red hair ties from her pocket.
It was hard to tell how long the hair ties had been stored. Although they were red, they had faded to a pale shade.
But it was clear they were very clean and had probably been well-preserved.
Father Yun noticed the old woman and pulled Yun Jiao behind him, a little wary.
"Who are you?"
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