How can someone travel through time and space and become a beggar?

Zhang Zhou was the first to notice his eldest brother was worried. He was always attentive. At first, he thought it was because of a recent bad blind date, but Dong Xiaohuan hadn't mentioned it in a few days, and Xia Tian was still a little worried.

When he got home from school, he brought back a small pot of wine. Before going to bed, he went to Xia Tian's room and asked, "Brother, can you have a couple of drinks?"

Xia Tian was stunned at first, then smiled teasingly, "Why? Do you need help from big brother?"

Zhang Zhou smiled and shook his head, then walked to the table in front of the window and sat down. He poured two glasses of wine and extended his hand to invite Xia Tian to sit down, "Brother, come here."

Xia Tian sat down obediently, picked up the cup and smelled it, "Good wine."

The two drank two cups facing each other. Xia Tian looked up at the bright moon in the sky and let out a long sigh.

Zhang Zhou turned his gaze towards him, carefully considering his words, and asked, "Brother, what's been bothering you lately? Can you tell me?"

Xia Tian smiled helplessly and shook his head slightly.

Seeing that his elder brother was unwilling to speak, Zhang Zhou took a sip of wine and said, "Brother, how many years have passed since you picked me up?"

Xia Tian narrowed his eyes, thought for a moment, and said, "It's been more than ten years, but I've been a beggar in a muddle, and I'm not sure how many years it has been."

"My life was saved once by my elder brother and once by Xiaochu." Zhang Zhou toasted Xia Tian with a glass and drank it all.

"Why are you talking about this?" Xia Tian raised the corner of his mouth and drank it all.

"Big brother has been so kind to me, yet I can't even share his worries." Zhang Zhou sighed, his movements a bit exaggerated, but there was also sincerity in his heart. "I'm so ashamed!"

Xia Tian was amused by his pretentiousness. After thinking for a moment, she decided it would be okay to tell him, "I want to join the army."

Zhang Zhou was stunned by this. He exclaimed in surprise, "Brother, why did you suddenly have such an idea?"

"When I met Zhao Huazhang and his group that day, I realized my martial arts skills might not be worth mentioning in front of them." Xia Tian poured another glass of wine. "I don't know if you've noticed, but the soldiers have an extraordinary fierce look in their eyes and eyebrows, and their temperament is completely different from that of ordinary people. The stories they told about suppressing bandits also made me yearn for it."

"Learn the arts of civil and military, and sell them to the emperor." Zhang Zhou understood his brother's feelings after hearing this. After a sigh, he asked, "So, brother, instead of marrying and having children, you plan to try your luck in the military camp?"

Xia Tian didn't reply, but the answer was obvious.

"Brother, are you worried about how to tell Mom and Dad about this? Dad will probably support you, but Mom..." Mom cares deeply for them and treats them like her own children. If she knew that Brother was going to the military camp, she probably wouldn't agree easily.

"If I leave, I won't be able to leave my family at home." Xia Tian sighed.

"Where are you going to play, big brother? I want to go too!" Wang Qiuyu suddenly stuck his head out of the window, scaring his two brothers so much that they fell back at the same time.

Oh no, Qiu Yu heard it. Xia Tian almost forgot that this guy was so elusive, and after drinking, he lost his guard.

"Qiu Yu, look what this is?" Zhang Zhou raised the wine jug in his hand. Just as he was about to say the rest, Wang Qiu Yu had already run away.

"You guys are drinking secretly!" Wang Qiuyu shouted as he ran, "Mom, mom, my brother is drinking at home again!"

Dong Xiaohuan came over after hearing the noise, but she was actually heading towards her youngest son, "Why are you yelling so late at night? Wait a minute, the neighbors will come over and beat you up! Is it worth it for your eldest brother to be so loud just because he's drunk?!"

She had indeed taken care of Xia Tian, but that was because he took Guan Xu drinking. Xia Tian was already so old, a few sips of wine was nothing. But Guan Xu was different. He was only a little old, and he still had to study.

Zhang Zhou sighed. This kid's temperament was so fickle. In the past, he would have definitely asked for something and agreed to keep the drinking secret. But this kid was a loose-lipped person, so he couldn't be expected to keep it a secret. If he revealed it, he would definitely only remember the drinking. And this was exactly Zhang Zhou's goal.

Who would have thought that he would tell the truth on the spot, which was a mistake.

Wang Qiuyu had indeed forgotten about leaving and was only worried about his eldest and second brothers drinking secretly. Dong Xiaohuan didn't care. The two sons were so old, what was wrong with them drinking a little in their own room? They weren't going to get drunk.

"I just love watching Qiu Yu get scolded, hehe..." Xia Chu leaned on the window to watch the fun and waved to the brothers opposite.

Zhang Zhou looked at his gloating sister and whispered to Xia Tian, "I'll take care of the house. Dad is still healthy. If big brother really wants to go, only your sister can help with this matter."

"Xiaochu?" Xia Tian also looked at Xia Chu, looking very childish. Seeing his brother in trouble, he almost clapped his hands.

"It would be best if you ask your sister for help with this matter." Seeing that the eldest brother was still puzzled, he added, "You can ask your sister to tell mother first. Mother is always more tolerant of your sister."

Xia Tian asked softly: "Xiao Chu, will you agree?"

"What?" The voice was too soft and Zhang Zhou couldn't hear it clearly.

"What?" Xia Chu stood up in surprise, then realized that his voice was a bit loud, and covered his mouth, "Join the army?"

"Yes." Xia Tian nodded.

"I'm afraid mother won't agree, right?" Xia Chu frowned, then looked Xia Tian up and down, "Besides, big brother, aren't you a little old to join the army now?"

What? Old? Xia Tian almost couldn't help but rub his ears, suspecting that there was something wrong with his ears. "I'm old?"

"Ah, no, I mean, aren't you a little old to go now?" Xia Chuyi thought that this was not right, but in their era, those who joined the army seemed to be younger. In fact, she didn't have any idea. Who said that you can't join the army in your twenties? "Let's not talk about this. Have you told Mom?"

"That's exactly what I want you to help me talk about." Xia Tian said.

"Me?" This was not a big deal, so Xia Chu nodded in agreement.

"Then I'll trouble you, Xiaochu. I'll go back first. You should go to bed early." Xia Tian walked to the door and turned back. "Is there anything you like recently?"

Xia Chu felt very warm in her heart, "No, Dad gave me some money a few days ago."

"That's good. Just tell me if you want anything." Xia Tian said and went back to his room.

After everyone left, Xia Chu finally thought: Why didn't he say it himself? Why did he ask me to say it? Was he afraid that his mother wouldn't agree? There's no war now, so being a soldier shouldn't be dangerous, right?

The next morning, when the others went out, Xia Chu stopped Dong Xiaohuan and told her about this.

Dong Xiaohuan's first reaction was no, but looking at her daughter's delicate face, she still asked, "Join the army? Why do you suddenly want to join the army?"

"Isn't being a soldier good? The last time I saw Zhao Huazhang and the others, they looked so majestic and heroic. Maybe you're envious." Xia Chu showed some admiration. The most respected profession in modern times is the soldier. No matter earthquakes or floods, no matter how hopeless, as long as you see the green uniforms, it's like seeing hope.

"But military service is so dangerous," said Dong Xiaohuan, who originally lived in the village. She heard from the elders that the villagers dreaded military service the most. Ten men went, and only one returned, often with a disability. While military service has been less frequent in recent years, it's not nonexistent. Still, few were willing to go. Those whose families could afford it opted to pay a fee to avoid it.