The Obligations of the Elderly - Chapter 11

With Xi Liu’s reminder, the first thing Gong Si did after returning to the house was to look for Qiu Xia.

Qiu Xia was still busy in the kitchen.

His older brother had gone to see the guests off, Dong Chun, who had been holding it in all the way, went to squat in the bathroom, and as the second brother, Qiu Xia felt a strong sense of responsibility and began to organize today’s spoils.

He still had his little brother on his back-using the new baby carrier they bought today.

Ah Ji really liked this thing that kept him tightly pressed against his brother. Lying on Qiu Xia’s back, feeling his heartbeat, Ah Ji’s big eyes drooped sleepily, almost closing.

This was the scene Gong Si saw.

Once again marveling at how considerate his brother was, Gong Si strode over and started tidying up together with Qiu Xia.

The two brothers knew the layout of the house inside out; they didn’t need to ask each other where things were, they just knew. In this situation, their efficiency was unusually high. Before long, the seven large bags had been sorted down to just empty ones.

Even the empty bags weren’t wasted. The two of them folded the bags together, to use next time they went shopping, or as garbage bags.

The brothers squatted on the floor, heads almost touching as they folded the bags.

Qiu Xia worked seriously, not even lifting his head. Suddenly, his forehead was covered by a hand.

Instinctively, he leaned back, startled, and looked at the owner of the hand-his brother.

Gong Si had one hand suspended in the air, the other touching his own forehead, frowning, looking very focused.

“Seems a bit hot?”

Qiu Xia’s mouth twitched, “You… what are you doing, big brother!”

Gong Si looked straight at him, then after a moment placed both hands on his knees. “Nothing, just thought you didn’t look quite well, worried you might have a fever.”

He didn’t mention Xi Liu’s reminder.

Qiu Xia was stunned.

But it was only for a moment; he quickly smiled. “Big brother, your worry is so… strange. I haven’t been sick in years.”

“Everyone gets sick sometimes. Worrying doesn’t take much time,” Gong Si said seriously.

“Hey! I really did think your temperature was a bit high just now. Our thermometer was broken by Dong Chun, you guys are so strong I forgot to buy a new one. I’ll go borrow one from the neighbors.” As he spoke, he stood up.

But Qiu Xia stopped him.

“No need~ I’m really fine. My baseline temperature is always high! If it’s higher than usual, it’s only because I took a long shower this morning…”

He sounded a bit guilty-Gong Si frowned deeply.

Looks like he really isn’t feeling well?

“No, I’m still going to borrow a thermometer.”

“The nearest neighbors are three kilometers away. If you go now, it’ll be too late and you’ll disturb them.” Qiu Xia held him back tightly.

Still smiling, Qiu Xia said, “I’ll drink some hot water and go to bed early.”

“A good night’s sleep and I’ll be fine. You’ve all been raised so strong by me.” Qiu Xia laughed again.

Gong Si looked at him seriously for a minute, then said, “I’ll boil some hot water for you. We have ginger at home, I’ll make ginger tea for you. You have to drink it all, don’t let Dong Chun help you drink it.”

Qiu Xia really hated ginger.

“Go move your quilt into my room, you’re sleeping with me tonight.” As he was boiling water, Gong Si thought for a moment and added, “Oh, and move Ah Ji out, let Dong Chun stay with him.”

“Okay~” As long as his brother didn’t insist on borrowing a thermometer, anything was fine. Qiu Xia followed his brother’s instructions, first carrying his own quilt into Gong Si’s room, then moving Ah Ji into Dong Chun’s room.

Their house had three bedrooms in total. The eldest brother Gong Si currently lived in the main room, which used to be Grandpa Rongge’s room. Grandpa Rongge’s memorial tablet, altar, and ashes were still in that room.

The eldest brother was responsible for burning incense for Grandpa Rongge every day.

Although he lived at school, he still had his own bedroom at home, about the same size as the master bedroom. It was said to have originally been their father’s room.

These two bedrooms were on the second floor.

Dong Chun lived on the first floor.

It was his own request; he liked the yard and playing soccer, and practiced juggling the ball in the house every day. The people downstairs found it too noisy, so Dong Chun insisted on living in the first-floor bedroom, so he could practice in the yard and go straight to sleep when tired.

Ps: This room originally belonged to Qiu Xia, because he liked reading, Gong Si specially arranged for him to live in the bedroom next to the study.
Holding a cup of ginger water, Qiu Xia’s face was blurred by the steam.

They were already in the bedroom. The two brothers sat side by side on the old double bed. Qiu Xia drank his hot water, while Gong Si examined the books they had bought that afternoon.

Yes, they had also stopped at the bookstore today. Except for a book on baby food recipes, all the other books were for Qiu Xia.

Books for a future medical student.

“Being a doctor is pretty good,” Gong Si said as he flipped through the books. “Although many top doctors are classified as User, ordinary people can reach the top as well.”

“I heard someone who could never beat your grades became a User and went to the User school?” Gong Si looked up at his younger brother.

Qiu Xia turned his head in surprise. “How did you know about that, big brother?”

“Dong Chun told me. You know, he’s a gossip and a big mouth,” Gong Si replied bluntly.

“Heh… I mean, it’s a small matter. You didn’t need to know about it.” Qiu Xia smiled again, lowered his head, and took a sip of hot ginger water.

“There’s no such thing as a small matter when it comes to you,” Gong Si said.

“Although being a User sounds impressive, and they really do tend to do better than ordinary people, Qiu Xia, you shouldn’t feel discouraged.”

“You are a User too,” Gong Si suddenly said.

Qiu Xia was startled by his sudden words and didn’t even notice when some water spilled onto the back of his hand.

He stared at his big brother in shock.

“I am a User too,” Gong Si continued.

His expression was unusually serious, and Qiu Xia was stunned for a moment.

Then he listened as Gong Si went on:

“My Vessel is my brain and my body. I make a living with my mind and my strength.”

“That’s how it is for me, and for you too. All of us ordinary people are like this.”

“Ah-no, not ordinary people. We should be called normal people.”

“I’ve always thought that only people like us are truly normal.”

“I heard there’s a world with only people like us-no Vessels, no User-everyone is free.”

“I really want to go to that world.”

Holding his brother’s hand, Gong Si shared his thoughts.

His eyes stared blankly ahead, and Qiu Xia’s gaze fell in the same direction.

“Yes… a place like that… would be wonderful,” Qiu Xia finally sighed.

Draining his ginger water, Qiu Xia took the thick stack of books from his brother. He turned and said earnestly to Gong Si:

“Brother, I will do my best to be an ordinary person… no, a normal person.”

“I’ll do as we hope – get into the best medical school, and then open a clinic in Lengshui Town.”

“Uh… I’m just saying, if you really get into the best medical school, of course you should go work at the best hospital!” Gong Si was stunned for a moment, then hurried to tell his brother.

Qiu Xia laughed – not the gentle, unreal smile he usually wore, but the kind of simple, even a bit goofy smile he had as a child:

“But didn’t you already ask around? Lengshui Town doesn’t have any decent doctors or clinics. There’s only one clinic at the Threshing Ground, but it can only treat minor illnesses. If I become a great doctor, not only people from Lengshui Town, but people from nearby towns will come to see me. Business will be booming!”

“That’s true!” Gong Si took the empty cup from his brother and nodded vigorously.

“I’ve already picked out a location. Actually, I’m seriously saving up. Our parents may be unreliable, but at least they send money home on time. After setting aside money for Dong Chun and Ah Ji’s future schooling, I plan to save up for you to open a clinic. I’ve got a place in mind. Oh, didn’t Xi Liu say today that all the land at the Threshing Ground belongs to his family? He’s my classmate, so if I ask him for a discount, it’ll be even better…”

Shoulder to shoulder, the Gong Family brothers earnestly discussed their future plans.

Compared to other boys their age, they were much more mature, able to make clear and practical plans for the future at such a young age.

Thanks to the unreliable parents of the Gong Family, this generation of brothers turned out to be exceptionally reliable – extremely reliable~

The brothers chatted enthusiastically, not even knowing when they finally drifted off to sleep.

However-

When Gong Si got up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, he suddenly discovered: Qiu Xia had a fever.

A high fever.