Reborn in 1966

Chapter Sixty-Seven: My Sister

Peitian said, "As long as you don't say anything, everything will be fine. Besides, if Tian Xiaomin hadn't spoken so harshly, I would have fought with him. Our father has always told me to be courteous in everything."

Qi Xiangnan said, "Xiaomin, tell me, what did you say that made Peitian so angry with you?"

Xiaomin was feeling very down. He felt that his older brother and sister didn't take care of him as well as Peitian's older brothers, and his younger sister wasn't as cute as Peitian's younger sister. Looking at his own brother, this little man became completely depressed.

Qi Xiangnan didn't quite understand Xiaomin's mentality. He found it very strange to see the once lively child now acting like a melancholy prince.

Qi Xiangnan went over and squatted down next to Tian Xiaomin, asking, "Xiaomin, what's wrong?"

Xiao Min sighed and said, "Brother Qi, it's alright."

Qi Xiangnan said, "Then why are you fighting with Peitian? Good kids don't fight."

Xiao Min said, "Brother Qi, I only said two words, and Pei Tian started it. I don't know why he wanted to fight me."

Qi Xiangnan stood up and went over to Peitian, asking, "Peitian, did you strike first?"

Pei Tian said, "Yes, Tian Xiaomin's words were too harsh, and I couldn't help but hit him."

Shen Jinhua frowned, and Pei Yin looked at her third brother disapprovingly. Pei Tian, ​​seeing his sister's expression, said, "Tian Xiaomin is talking badly about my second aunt. You know, our second aunt is about to give birth, and Grandma is so nervous that she can't eat or sleep well. And he's still talking nonsense here. I'll be lenient by beating him."

Shen Jinhua said, "Beating people up is too lenient. What more do you want from them?"

Pei Tian opened his mouth but didn't say anything. When Qi Xiangnan heard that the young daughter-in-law of the Shen family was involved, that is, the daughter of the village secretary of Shenjia Village, he didn't say anything more. In general, this was just a childish quarrel. If neither family cared about it, then there would be no problem.

Tian Xiaomin said, "I only heard it from someone else. I said a few words, and then Shen Peitian came over and beat me up. I was caught off guard, which is why he succeeded. Otherwise, how could he have pinned me down?"

Pei Yin was speechless. She no longer wanted to know what he was saying. Now she just wanted to calm Tian Xiaomin down and get home as soon as possible.

Pei Yin came over and stood next to Tian Xiaomin, who was squatting on the ground. She said, "Brother Xiaomin, I'm sorry. It was wrong of my third brother to hit you. I'll go home and tell my parents so they can teach him a lesson."

When Tian Xiaomin saw Pei Yin standing prettily in front of him, apologizing to him, he stood up somewhat flusteredly and said, "It's okay, it's okay. How can we boys tell our families about our fights? We'll find a secluded place sometime and I'll get my revenge. There's really no need to tell our families, otherwise people will look down on us."

Not only Pei Yin, but Qi Xiangnan, Shen Jinhua, and Meng Ruolan were also speechless. These boys' thoughts were truly hard to fathom. When Pei Tian heard his sister was going home to tell their parents, he quickly said, "Good sister, you can't tell Dad and Mom, otherwise your third brother won't be able to go out to play anymore. Tian Xiaomin, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have hit you like that. I won't do it again. Please forgive me, okay?"

Tian Xiaomin waved his hand and said, "It's nothing, it's not my fault. I just believed whatever people said. I won't talk nonsense like that with people again."

In no time, the two children who had been fighting made up again. Qi Xiangnan couldn't help but think about his own childhood. Children's friendships are strange. They can argue until they're red in the face and fight until they're bleeding, but they can still play and be friends as usual. It's so simple and pure.

Shen Jinhua said, "Then let's go home if there's nothing else. Xiaomin, hurry home later, otherwise your mother will worry if she can't find you for dinner."

Tian Xiaomin nodded, watching enviously as Shen Peitian carried his sister's small basket in one hand and held her hand in the other, following behind Shen Jinhua and Meng Ruolan out of the brigade headquarters courtyard and heading home.

Looking into Tian Xiaomin's eyes, Qi Xiangnan understood somewhat. Seeing that Tian Xiaomin didn't seem to want to go home, he pulled Tian Xiaomin to sit on the bluestone slab by the well and asked him, "You seemed upset earlier, what's wrong?"

Tian Xiaomin glanced at Qi Xiangnan and thought it would be good to talk to this older brother about her feelings. Otherwise, who would she talk to when she got home? Her older brother and sister were too tired to move after a long day's work, and they wouldn't pay any attention to her when she tried to talk to them. Her younger sister was even less talkative; she would always keep her head down when she was told something. She was nothing like Shen Peitian's sister. As for her own parents, all they cared about was how many work points they had earned and how much money and grain they would receive that year. They wouldn't listen to her if she told them her worries.

After Tian Xiaomin told Qi Xiangnan his worries, Qi Xiangnan was a little stunned. How could such a young child have such complicated thoughts? But since the child had told him, he had to give him some advice.

Qi Xiangnan said, "Why don't you go and ask Shen Peitian how he treats his sister? I think if an older brother treats his sister well, the sister will definitely treat her older brother well in return."

Tian Xiaomin looked at Qi Xiangnan with some doubt and said, "I'm pretty good to my sister. I even help her close the chicken coop. Sometimes when my mother complains about her, I stand up for her and talk back to my mother. I think I've been pretty good to her."

Qi Xiangnan understood somewhat. Tian Xiaomin's younger sister was probably not valued at home. Because of the long period of neglect, the girl was somewhat introverted and even had low self-esteem. Unlike the Shen family's little girl, who was the center of attention wherever she went. Not only was she beautiful, but she also had a sweet tongue. When she went out with the adults, she would call them whatever they told her to call her, and after she knew what to call them, she would greet them when she met them outside.

Qi Xiangnan thought for a moment and said, "Why don't you go ask Shen Peitian how they get along at home? Then compare it with how you treat your sister and how Shen Peitian treats her. Hmm, I think if there are differences, then that must be the reason. Then go home and treat your sister the way Shen Peitian treats her. I bet your sister will be better to him than Shen Peitian's sister in the future. What do you think?"

After reciting this tongue-twisting speech, Qi Xiangnan broke out in a sweat. He realized he was really not suited to handling these kinds of children's affairs.

Tian Xiaomin thought carefully about Qi Xiangnan's words, which even made him a little dizzy, nodded, and said, "Brother Qi, thank you. What you said makes a lot of sense. I'll go find Shen Peitian and ask him now." After saying that, he ran off like a gust of wind.

Qi Xiangnan was somewhat surprised by the child's ability to follow through. Li Lei, who had been listening for a long time, laughed and said, "You're quite the talker when it comes to kids."

Qi Xiangnan shook his head with a wry smile and quickly fetched water to wash up, as he still had to eat later.

When Tian Xiaomin caught up with Shen Peitian, they had already arrived at the Shen family's courtyard.

Shen Peitian panicked when he saw Tian Xiaomin running up behind him, panting. If his parents found out he had gotten into a fight, he would definitely get a beating.

Tian Xiaomin said, "Shen Peitian, I have something to ask you, not to complain."

Peitian was finally relieved.

After Tian Xiaomin asked his question, Peitian scratched his head and said, "A sister is meant to be cherished. My father said that it's not easy for girls in the family. They can't enjoy happiness at home for many years before they have to find a husband and suffer in someone else's home. So remember to cherish them well."

Tian Xiaomin asked, "So how do you love your sister?"

Pei-Tien said, "When Pei-Yin was little, she couldn't go out. Every day I would come back and tell her what I did outside. Later, whenever there was something good to eat at home, I would give it to my younger sisters first."

Thinking it over, Tian Xiaomin slowly returned home.

Later, Tian Xiaomin became a well-known sister-obsessed man, but that's another story.

Peitian stood at the door, motionless.

Shen Jinhua asked curiously, "What's wrong with you? Let's go."

Peitian said, "Sister Jinhua, can you check if I still have any dirt on me?"

Shen Jinhua smiled and said to Meng Ruolan, "No, we've patted it all clean and washed your face. We won't tell your family. Go home now."

Several people were standing at the gate. When Shen's mother saw them from the yard, she came over and said, "Why are you all standing at the gate and not coming in?"

Peitian looked at his mother nervously. Shen Jinhua said, "Auntie, we won't go in. Ruolan and I are going home for dinner. Could you help carry Peiyin's basket inside?"

Mrs. Shen smiled and said, "Alright, you should all go home and rest."

Carrying a basket, Shen's mother took Pei Yin's hand and returned to the yard. She said to Pei Tian, ​​"Your father knows about your fight with someone. You're going to get a beating this time."

Upon hearing this, Peitian's face changed, and he stopped in his tracks, saying, "Mother, if I run away now, do you think I can avoid this beating?"

Shen's mother said, "Then run away. If you run away, I promise your father won't beat you to death."

Pei-Tian followed him into the house with a bitter face.

Mr. Shen was waiting for his youngest son inside when he saw him come in. He said, "Peitian, take your pants off yourself. I'm going to give you a beating to teach you a lesson."

Peitian obediently walked over, took off his pants, and climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed). Shen's father raised his hand and slapped Peitian's buttocks hard, leaving five red handprints on his bottom.

Peitian burst into tears from the pain. Shen's father's facial muscles twitched a few times, and Shen's mother turned her face away, heartbroken.

When Pei Yin was slapped by her father, she was startled. When she saw Pei Tian's bottom again, her father had already slapped it twice more. There was not much flesh on the little bottom, and now there were several red, raised marks.

Pei Yin burst into tears, grabbed Shen's father's hand, and said, "Dad, please don't hit Third Brother anymore. Third Brother has made up with Xiao Min. They said they will never fight again. Please don't hit him."