Step by step, a gentle breeze leads to a smooth path

"Alright! Big brother!" This straightforward "big brother" made Song Wanli feel relieved.

Buy some wine? Fine, buy some wine then. On such a good day, we should have a drink. Even if we get drunk, we shouldn't go crazy and beat people up. Besides, Master Gao is here.

Qian Shuzhen continued to stroke the new book, inhaling the scent of the ink, without stopping her. It had been so many years since she'd smelled this ink; it was wonderful. She hoped Tingnan would get better and better!

The Song Wanxing family was quite happy; it was good that their child was so successful. Tingnan was the eldest, and she would definitely be the best role model for her younger siblings in the future.

Putting aside others, the younger brother Song Tingxiang now idolizes Tingnan so much that he no longer calls her "sister" but instead calls her "Brother Nan!" to show his respect.

And you know what? Under his leadership, his younger siblings, and even the other children in Songjia Village, all called him "Brother Nan".

After all, Brother Nan is skilled in both literature and martial arts, and being from Songjia Village is a source of great prestige. Moreover, the big guys from other villages don't dare to mess with them (although Brother Nan rarely plays with them, but the other villagers don't know that), so they have to admire him.

Years later, when Hong Kong dramas came along, the villagers even got together to discuss who was more powerful, "Chan Ho-nam" in the movies or their "Brother Nam".

After much discussion, they finally agreed that while their fighting skills might be comparable and they were loyal to each other, their brother Nan didn't engage in street fights, which was more righteous for the country and the people... Of course, the friendship among the group was further strengthened, after all, they had been the same "Brother Nan" for many years.

Song Wanxing took the money his elder brother gave him to the supply and marketing cooperative, and Zhao Xiaojuan helped Qian Shuzhen prepare some vegetables that they had at home.

Song Tingnan wasn't allowed into the kitchen; instead, she was sent to call Gao Haoran over for dinner. Song Tingnan was very happy and skipped off to her master's house.

She also wanted to tell her mother and older siblings to share her joy—she was now a fourth-grade student.

Everyone was in high spirits at dinner, chatting and laughing. Song Wanli was indeed drunk again, but he didn't lose his temper. He just held onto Ting Nan's arm tightly, repeating slurredly over and over again, "You are my daughter, my daughter, Song Wanli's daughter. You can't run away. This is your home. I am your father. You told Teacher Zuo yourself..." It seems that he still took those sarcastic remarks to heart.

"I understand, your daughter. I'm not leaving. My home is here. Why would I run away?" Ting Nan gently comforted the uneasy Song Wanli.

"Good! Good! You all bear witness for me! Song Tingnan—my daughter, my eldest daughter, my only daughter. Mother, make new clothes for Tingnan. Make them, make several sets, so she can wear them in rotation." Song Wanli shouted loudly, then released Tingnan and lay down on the table.

It felt like he was using being drunk as an excuse to get Nan's assurances. He would never say such things when he was usually so aloof. Qian Shuzhen saw through it but didn't say anything.

Perhaps it was because he had been thinking about it during the day, or perhaps it was Song Wanli's obsession, but Ting Nan dreamed of going home again that night.

She was younger than her now, maybe 5 or 6 years old? Carrying a load of goods. She dreamt of the small market she had to pass through on her way home, where she ate a bowl of Kundun (a type of noodle soup), told the shopkeeper she was going home to find her mother, and then prepared to take a boat...

"Tingnan, did you dream about your mother again last night?" Qian Shuzhen asked Tingnan in the morning.

"Yes, I had a dream."

“I heard you calling for your mother repeatedly. Your mother is the same; she’s so busy, she never comes to see you even once.” Sigh! Qian Shuzhen rarely sighed.

Her daughter is utterly indecisive and has been steeped in old-fashioned ideas. She obeys her father at home, her husband after marriage, and her son after her husband's death—she embodies all of these virtues, yet both her "father" and "husband" passed away prematurely.

After her father passed away, she listened to her mother and eldest brother at home. Her eldest brother's fierce appearance made her even more obedient.

It's truly heartless of her not to return to her parents' home or see her own daughter for so many years. Even if she promised her older brother not to see her, and even if she's afraid of him and worried about his wrath or disrupting their relationship, after all these years, her own flesh and blood is gone! She just disappears without a trace.

She was heartless; the only decision she made was to send her youngest daughter away. The child truly suffered, often calling for her mother in her dreams.