assenger seat:"Three Master, we have a tail following us. It looks like some foreign stuff."His words were like shattering the tranquility of space.Wu San-sheng, hearing this, pulled the A4 paper from...Wu Xie glanced at the shrimp in his bowl. He noticed his third uncle's gaze, but only smiled downcastly without saying a word.
He knew his third uncle worried deeply about him being trapped in a dangerous and treacherous situation, like a muddy chess piece.
But Wu Xie did not regret making this choice.
In this filthy world, how many people can truly be 'clean'
Especially these nine men who are caught in the mist vortex.
Among these people, whether they were powerful family heads or innocent infants just born, seemed to be marked invisibly.
Some things seem fated, unavoidable, inescapable...
Dirty and unpleasant things always need to be done, the only difference is who does those dirty deeds.
In their Lao Wu family, if he doesn't shoulder the responsibility, this burden will fall on his younger brother.
Over the years Wu Xie has spent inside the bureau, he has seen too many treacherous and two-faced villains.
Those people can smile at you one second, and the next, the blade in their hand will viciously pierce your heart, leaving you dead.
Whenever Wu Xie thought about his younger brother possibly interacting with those vicious, wolf-like individuals, unease would grip his heart. His mind raced uncontrollably with disturbing thoughts.
As for his younger brother, he's just a simple fellow with a narrow mind and a mischievous, troublesome nature.
Anyone with ill intentions is likely to be completely devoured, leaving nothing but bones.
So, all Wu Xie could do, and had to do, was stand in front of his younger brother, doing everything in his power to protect him.
...while his younger brother just needed to stand carefree behind him, grinning and offering him a half-eaten candied hawthorn, asking if he wanted to eat it.
That's enough.
This is... what they had once agreed upon.
Perhaps Wu Xia doesn't have great abilities and can't protect everyone.
But, he gave his all and protected one person with everything he had… that should be enough…
At this point, Wu's gaze hardened even more.
He habitually reached out and touched the small silver trinket hanging around his neck, which he had worn for over a decade.
When he is facing a breakdown or feeling overwhelmed, touching this small silver ornament can quickly calm his anxious and restless emotions.
This is a habit he has cultivated over the past decade.
Wu San province noticed his little move, and also saw the thing hanging on Wu's crooked neck.
He looked at the silver necklace, touched his chin and grinned, saying:
"I remember this little thing was given to your brother by your second uncle at his full moon wine."
Because your younger brother is a monkey and you are a snake, your uncle carved a silver ornament of a big snake holding a monkey in its arms. The monkey still holds a feather in its hand.
"I remember your second uncle once said that there is a reason and an implication to this."
"Oh"
Wu Xie, upon hearing this, raised his head and curiously looked at Wu San province in front of him. He asked excitedly, "Third Uncle, is there any particular reason for this"
He has been wearing this necklace for almost 20 years, knowing that it is the only thing he and his brother have in common.
He really doesn't know the intricacies and symbolism behind it.
Wu San Province saw that he was curious and didn't play coy. He recalled those distant memories, took a puff of his cigarette, and slowly said:
Your second uncle said that if these two characters are stacked one on top of the other, they mean "思念" (sīniàn). "思念" is a character in ancient Chinese texts that means longing or missing someone. For example, “願賜數刻之間,極竭思慕之。” This silver ornament also has your younger brother's name engraved at the bottom: "淩".
“Your second uncle carved this thing originally, hoping that you two brothers would always be inseparable.”
"You, as your older brother, should be like the big snake inside. When danger comes, you must protect your younger brother in your arms and always keep him safe."
Here, Wu San Province pointed to the silver ornament on Wu Xie's neck where a big snake was tightly protecting a monkey, then continued:
If you must be separated by circumstances, remember each other constantly.
However, he was just on a whim at the time, so he only carved that one.
"At the time, your grandfather even said, 'With two children in the family, how come only one was made As your uncle, how can you be so biased'"
Wu Xie heard this and also remembered what his grandmother had told him about his grandfather's embarrassing stories when he was young.
He smirked, a sly glint in his eye, and continued,
Then my second uncle got angry, blowing his beard and glaring, even my second cousin tried to persuade him but it was no use.
“At that time, my second uncle had just come back from underground with some people, and he was injured in the leg. When he heard this, he was so angry that he dragged his wounded leg all over the yard chasing after my grandfather. No one could persuade him, and he chased for more than an hour, not even catching up to a three-inch piece of meat from a four-legged animal.”
"In the end, our grandfather simply couldn't run anymore. He lay down on the stool and surrendered with his hands up. Second Uncle didn't let him off easy either. After scolding him for a while, he kicked our grandfather hard in the backside. Grandfather was beside himself with injustice and kept muttering angrily at Second Uncle."
"Haha, you're right. Back then, your grandfather got a real beating from the two old men. It was so chaotic, the full moon banquet almost turned into a wake."
When Wu Sansheng heard Wu Xie say this, he laughed and patted the table, just like a storyteller. He was so excited that it was as if he were bragging about Zhang Fei's exploits, his face completely devoid of any embarrassment at his own father being kicked by his uncle.
"At that time, the old man couldn't take it anymore and crawled directly into your grandma's arms. This made your second uncle furious, he cursed for a while and almost lost his temper."
"Well, my old man didn't fare too well either. After getting beaten up, your grandma grabbed his ear and gave him a good scolding. It was quite a sight!"
Wu San Province said, upon reaching this point, recalling the scene, a trace of "filial piety" appeared on his face. Then he spoke like Zhang Fei, breaking out in a bellow:
“The day after your younger brother's full moon wine, your second uncle came early that morning, grumbling and muttering as he brought another peace charm. He shoved it straight into your hand. As he was leaving, he also kicked your grandfather, making him angry. Your grandfather, holding his three-inch (wooden) sword, scolded him relentlessly all the way back to where your second uncle had come from. At that time, the weather was at its hottest. Your grandfather was so stubborn, he almost got heat stroke scolding himself. Even the dog was panting with its tongue out.”
Although Wu Xie has never seen this scene, he can still imagine it.
His doddering old master, thinking he could escape trouble by hiding in his wife's arms, was caught off guard when his wife betrayed him.
Then the next day, I thought things had passed, but I got kicked again. I wanted to fight back, but I couldn't. I wanted to yell, but I didn't dare.
Finally, I could only hug the dog and grumble in private. I almost got heatstroke.
Thinking of this, Wu's face involuntarily revealed a smile.
Wu San Sheng talked for a long time, he felt his mouth was a little dry. He licked his somewhat dry lips and picked up the beer on the table and drank it all in one gulp, then continued smiling:
"Speaking of which, your second uncle gave Xiao Ling that peace necklace that day. Because it was too late, and the next day your second uncle engraved another necklace for you, so your grandfather just put both on you two that very day."
But a strange thing happened when I wore it, which is why you and your brother switched necklaces.
"Oh What's up, Uncle Three"
When Wu Xie heard this, his curiosity was immediately piqued.
He has become somewhat hazy about his childhood memories, and of that incident, he can only vaguely remember a fragment.
He only remembered seeing his younger brother crying at the time, his heart was in a panic, he originally comforted his younger brother, as a result of comforting and comforting himself, he cried.
Wu San-sheng saw his nephew looking at him with curiosity, and coughed.
When your second uncle arrived, your grandmother was rocking in a rocking chair with little Ling in her arms, listening to music. You were probably doing homework beside your grandmother at the time. When the old man took the necklace from your second uncle's hand, he directly handed it to your grandmother along with yesterday's one.
"Your grandma put it on for Xiao Ling, but the moment she wore it, Xiao Ling's smiling face from the previous second turned into a bitter gourd in the next. Then she started crying loudly."
"Xiao Ling's voice was even louder than the barking of the dogs outside, and the birds in the trees were startled away."
Speaking of this, Wu San province's face still showed a hint of fear. He had never forgotten the demonic sound from back then.
At that time, he thought his house had turned into a kindergarten. The child's cries were truly deafening!
Wu Xie saw Wu San Sheng talking halfway, stopped suddenly, patted his arm on the table with some urgency, and curiously urged:
"Then, Uncle Three"
He has never heard his grandmother mention this matter.
He still enjoys hearing about his and his younger brother's childhood.
Wu Sansheng came to his senses, smacked his lips, and then said:
Then your grandma saw this scene and couldn't bear it, so she took off the necklace.
"Strangely enough, the moment the necklace was taken off, Xiao Ling, who had been crying with snot and tears on her face, burst into a smile the next second. She stretched out her little hand to grab the other pendant engraved with your name placed on the table, not even glancing at the necklace in your grandmother's hand."
"When your grandma saw the situation, she put the necklace you were testing on your brother's neck. As a result, your brother grabbed the necklace and giggled, showing no sign of wanting to cry at all."
"And originally, whenever that necklace was placed in front of him, his brows would furrow, his lower lip would pout, and his little nose would wrinkle, giving him the look of someone on the verge of tears."
“No matter what method they used back then, as soon as your younger brother saw the necklace, he couldn't stop crying. His little chubby arms kept flailing, reaching for you, and he was babbling incoherently. Then your grandma tentatively hung the necklace around your neck.”
"Well, at that time your brother didn't cry anymore, he even reached out and played with the necklace on your neck. Your grandfather even suspected that your second uncle might have cursed you from above. Then, as expected, your second uncle got kicked by him."
"So the two of you exchanged necklaces. Your uncle said that this is also a good omen. You and your younger brother each have something on your person to accompany the other as you grow up, just like the old saying, 'Meng does not leave Jiao, Jiao does not leave Meng.'"
"That's how it is."
Wu Xie heard this and suddenly nodded in understanding.
Speaking of which, my younger brother's personality just follows after our grandfather.
Usually, he is a timid and cheerful person. However, in crucial moments, he has never let anyone down.
When in danger, the child who was still whining and sitting in someone's arms for candy one second could instantly stand in front of them, spreading out their chubby arms and glaring with bright eyes at the approaching person, putting on a protective stance.
And when feeling wronged, they would shrink into someone's arms, looking pitiful and aggrieved.
When bullied and unable to fight back, they would secretly draw circles in their notebook out of frustration.
Otherwise, it's pulling at someone's legs and crying pitifully while begging for a hug.
After being held in your arms, the child will cry and whine, cling to you, and complain, so adorable.
But now that she's grown up, Xiao Ling doesn't cry as much as she used to when she was a child.
However, his personality is exactly the same as when he was little, cute and mischievous.
However... ever since that incident happened, my brother's health has been deteriorating day by day. His organs are failing more and more seriously, and in the end, he can only rely on medication to prolong his life...
It had been ages since he'd seen his younger brother face-to-face.
Wu Xie thought of this, his eyes dimmed, and he still subconsciously felt uneasy and guilty.
If he hadn't been playing with his classmates that day and had gone to pick up his younger brother from school on time, maybe his younger brother wouldn't have encountered this hardship.
Wu Xie thought about this, his heart growing heavier and heavier. He looked at the beer in front of him, intending to pick it up, but his eyes inadvertently swept across the A4 paper on the table.
Thinking about the reason my younger brother has been hospitalized for so many years, it's all because of these people.
A few more threads of her habitual coldness appeared in Wu's oblique gaze.
He withdrew his hand that was about to reach for the beer, leaned forward slightly, and picked up the A4 sheet of paper covered in names from the table.
And as he moved with the paper, faint scars like venomous snakes appeared on his neck and abdomen.
He had a scar on his neck that was one finger long, and another on his waist and abdomen that was 20 cm long.
The ferocious scar on Wu Xie's head, illuminated by the dim light above, was indistinct and eerie.
It was as if a real poisonous snake were coiling around him, hissing menacingly.
These two long, narrow scars appeared on Wu Xie's face, which was otherwise gentle and handsome.
He somehow added a few points of fierce spirit to his original gentle and scholarly air.
It is like a beautiful and dangerous white oleander.
The petals are pure and white, the flower bud is beautiful and enchanting, yet it contains a neurotoxin that can be fatal.
However, Wu Xiagang picked up the piece of paper and hadn't had time to do anything.
in an instant.
His eyes blurred suddenly, his hand went empty, and the A4 paper was snatched away by a slender, white hand.
And in his empty hands, a rather heavy and slender wooden stick had been slipped.
There are round, red and shiny candied hawthorns strung one after another on the stick. They look extremely delicious.
Meanwhile.
A voice, extremely familiar and filled with cheerfulness, rang in his ear:
"Hey there, handsome young man, what are you looking at so intently Come on over, you look so good, I'm offering you some candied fruit skewers, they're delicious!"
The voice was crisp and decisive, yet with a touch of playful mischief. It rose slightly at the end, brimming with youthful energy and laughter. It was a very pleasant boyish voice, full of life and spirit.
When Wu Xiehe heard the sound, he and Wu San Sheng across from him both stiffened simultaneously, their eyes turning to the speaker at the same time.
The person approaching was wearing a white baseball cap, tilting their head slightly and smiling brightly at them.
This person was Wu Ling, who had a large bag of snacks in her left hand, a candied hawthorn skewer in her right, and a tambourine tucked under her elbow.
He took the paper from Wu's hand with his right hand that was holding the candied gourd.
Like a puzzled puppy, he tilted his head and with his cat-like amber eyes, scrutinized the list in his hand.
Then she raised an eyebrow, and asked curiously:
"What is this Why are there so many names Could our family owe someone money"
After he finished speaking, he didn't wait for an answer. Instead, he put the slip back into Wu Xiada's hand, which was stretched out in mid-air.
He also seemed afraid that Wu Xie might not be able to hold it steady, so he extremely thoughtfully shoved the list filled with names into his palm.
After completing this series of actions, Wu Ling nodded in satisfaction.
And as he moved, the tambourine clamped between his arms slowly let out a few soft sounds.
"Knock, knock, knock—"
With a soft click.
At this moment, Wu Ling seemed to realize that she was like a small supermarket, with things hanging all over her.
He looked at the seven or eight bags he was carrying in his hands, and the surfboard tucked under his arm. He wrinkled his nose and muttered softly to himself:
"I think I bought a bit too much."
As she spoke, Wu Ling placed the various items she was carrying onto the table.
Then, he raised his head and looked at Wu Xie, who was staring blankly ahead of him. He gave a pure smile.
Wu Ling has very fair skin, and when she smiles, her eyes crinkle at the corners, revealing a small red mole at the corner of each eye.
And the mouth would also slightly lift, revealing a pair of cute dimples and small canines, looking both childlike and handsome.
Wu Ling smiled sweetly, looking at the gentle and polite young man in front of her, his face full of surprise. Her eyes were filled with admiration.
Wu Xie is good-looking, but he's not the kind of handsome that immediately catches your eye.
But that kind of clean, warm and jade-like beauty. It's like a sunny and kind neighborhood big brother.
Although Wu Ling had the system's transmission of memories, she was still momentarily stunned.
He blinked his eyes, and took a few steps forward unconsciously, saying mischievously:
"Hello there, handsome! Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Wu Ling, Wu from Wu Ling, Ling from Wu Ling, hehe."
Wu sat slouched in the chair, as if still dazed. Her eyes stared at him without blinking.
Wu Ling stopped her steps slowly when she was only a foot away from him.
Then, with a broad smile, he opened his arms and said:
"Brother, long time no see, wanna give you a hug"
Wu stared at the smiling person in front of him, as if he had finally come to his senses.
He hastily placed the paper in his hand on the table, clutching the half-eaten candied hawthorn in his fist. He stood up, his face full of disbelief.
He looked at the person in front of him, his voice trembling with excitement:
"Little... Little Ling!"r strength, this familiar tone, it's my older brother, that's for sure.He raised his hand to touch his own little head, and after hearing Wu Xie's words, he muttered softly in his mouth:"That's not qu...