Cheng Rushan drove straight home.

Four years ago, they moved into a new apartment building designed by Jiang Lin and others.

Wen Sheng, a key member of the drama troupe, was given a two-bedroom apartment with a kitchen and bathroom.

He lived there with Yan Runzhi and Cheng Yunzhi.

Cheng Rushan shared a three-bedroom apartment with Jiang Lin.

For work, the company even installed a telephone. Last year, they added a black-and-white TV and a refrigerator, both of which were placed in the elderly family’s room.

The two apartments were on the same floor and very close to each other, which was very convenient.

When they went upstairs, they first greeted Yan Runzhi, who was at home with several elderly women watching the newly aired “Dream of the Red Chamber.”

When they first bought the TV, “Journey to the West” was very popular.

Since May this year, “Dream of the Red Chamber” has swept the nation.

The elderly women, who used to gather to chat and watch children’s programs, were now all gathered to watch “Dream of the Red Chamber.”

“Wow, this young lady is really beautiful. Look at how pretty Lin Meimei and Baojie are. I wouldn’t know how to choose if it were me.”

Yan Runzhi said, “You should pay attention to the plot, not just the actors.”

“I listen to stories and radio dramas for the plot, but when watching TV, it’s all about the actors, right? Just look at how pretty they are!”

When Jiang Lin and Cheng Rushan returned, one of the elderly women quietly said, “If they went to film TV shows or movies, it would be even better.”

Cheng Rushan poured water for Jiang Lin, who then greeted the elderly women.

Yan Runzhi asked, “Bao’er Mother, are you full? Do you want me to make you a bowl of noodles?” She said they were going out for a meal, but it wouldn’t be enough to fill them up.

Jiang Lin replied, “Mother, you all watch the TV. I’m full.”

She suggested that Yan Runzhi and the others continue watching TV while she and Cheng Rushan went to their own room.

With the changing season, she felt a bit tired and wanted to take a nap before dinner, planning to work after eating.

Cheng Rushan helped her close the window, sat by the bed to keep her company, and waited for her to fall asleep before heading back to work.

He was now working most of the time except for meals, sleep, or special family situations.

When Jiang Lin woke up, it was already dark outside, and she could hear excited talking from the next door.

It turned out that new books by Dabao and Xiaobao had been published.

Since middle school, the differences between Dabao and Xiaobao had become more pronounced.

Dabao leaned towards science, being more rational, focusing on logic, writing, and analysis.

Xiaobao, on the other hand, was more into the arts, with a strong imagination and passion, and his stories of adventure, fantasy, and legends were extremely popular nationwide.

The personal styles of the two brothers are very distinctive.

One of their pen names would drive a reader with OCD crazy, so now they each have a new pen name.

Da Bao is now called Jiang Sheng, and Xiao Bao is called Lin Sheng.

Both names were chosen by Xiao Bao. Da Bao initially didn’t want to use his new pen name, but eventually he complied and started using it.

Currently, Da Bao is publishing the second book of his novel series “The War of the Future,” writing roughly one book per year.

Xiao Bao is publishing the second book of “Young Heroes,” also at a rate of one book per year.

Over the years, the brothers have gotten used to doing everything in sync.

If one publishes a book, the other publishes a book too.

If one wins first place in a physics competition, the other strives to win first place in a chemistry competition.

This silent competition has led to both of them consistently taking first and second places, leaving their classmates far behind in third and fourth places, creating a significant gap.

It has almost left a shadow over the other students because as long as the brothers are around, no one else can get first place, making them a nightmare presence.

As a result, the brothers have earned the nickname “First Brothers,” although their classmates now prefer to use the English term, thinking it sounds cooler.

Jiang Lin got up after lying in bed for a while and went over to join the family.

Yan Runzhi and Cheng Yunzhi were cooking, and Wen Sheng was polishing all the leather shoes at home.

He liked seeing things get polished and shiny.

Whatever he did, he did with full concentration and seriousness, as if the task at hand was the only thing in the world.

Starting three years ago, Wen Sheng began to change as if he had truly grown up.

He became increasingly quiet and steady, but his eyes remained as clear and pure as ever.

Jiang Lin used a towel to wipe some shoe polish off Wen Sheng’s face and sat down to help him.

Wen Sheng smiled and said, “Mom, you don’t need to help. It’s my turn today.” He and Da Bao and Xiao Bao took turns polishing the shoes, but Wen Sheng was the most meticulous, as if he were polishing something invisible.

Bao Sheng sought advice on her writing from her two older brothers, asking them to read the beginning of her story.

Bao Sheng, nine years old and in the second semester of second grade, loved dancing, learning piano from Wen Sheng, and, like her brothers, enjoyed writing.

Although she lived a happy life, she had a very strong sense of empathy and could deeply feel for others’ experiences.

She was currently preparing to submit a story called “Xiao Zhi’s Magical Journey.”

Dabao leaned against his desk. At 17, he was already over 180 cm tall, slender and upright, with fair skin.

He had a clean and refined appearance.

After finishing reading the draft in his hand, he looked up at his younger sister and said, “Baosheng, writing a story needs to have logic. Who is Xiaozhi, why did she come here, what does she want, what did she do, and what was the result? These things need to be shown. We need to understand who Xiaozhi is; she can’t just appear out of nowhere.”

Xiaobao lazily squeezed in next to him and glanced at the draft.

Smiling, he said, “It’s not that bad. For children’s stories, they just need to be fun. Let Xiaozhi enter that magical world, write about her experiences and growth, and that’s enough. My Baosheng’s writing is getting better and better.” He smiled at Baosheng, put his arm around her shoulder, and shook her gently. “Baosheng, just write about yourself; that’s great.”

Xiaobao complimented his sister in various ways every day, never mentioning any flaws.

Dabao glanced at him helplessly but persisted, “Imaginations without logic are just random fragments and cannot become a good story.”

Xiaobao argued that many people liked his stories. “I never deliberately check the logic; I just follow my inspiration. Baosheng and I are both inspired writers, haha.” He winked at Baosheng, and she smiled back.

Dabao moved aside to let Baosheng sit between them and pointed out the connections between story elements.

He countered Xiaobao, “You think you don’t care about logic because it has become second nature to you, hidden in your stories.

You think you write this way just to make it look good, but the truth is, it looks good because it follows logic and grabs the reader’s attention. Don’t deny it; that’s how it is.”

Xiaobao protested, “No way! Baosheng, let’s not listen to him.”

He disliked the methodical approach of planning every plot point and the logical connections between them.

It would kill the passion!

Baosheng, with her bright black eyes, was a 9-year-old girl who looked as beautiful as a crafted doll, perfect but with a touch of charm beyond that of a porcelain figure.

She smiled and said, “Xiaobao, you’re wrong. Let’s ask Mom.”

Seeing Jiang Lin approaching, she ran over and took her hand, asking her to decide who was right.

Dabao pulled out a chair for Jiang Lin and let her sit under the desk lamp to read the story.

Jiang Lin smiled and said, “When it comes to writing stories, Mom isn’t as good as your brothers. Mom only knows how to design houses.”

Baosheng replied with a smile, “No, Mom is the best.”

Da Bao and Xiao Bao also wanted Jiang Lin to mediate because the two brothers had been having many disagreements in recent years, and neither could convince the other.

In Jiang Lin’s view, this was just a late stage of adolescence that hadn’t yet passed.

It was natural for boys to be competitive.

Fathers and sons, as well as brothers, share the closest blood ties and the most instinctive competitive desires.

She smiled and said, “For example, if we are building a house, we definitely need blueprints. We need to design what the house’s functions are and what it should look like. These are the logic of architecture. Without this, if we build randomly, it won’t work. From a reader’s perspective, when I read a story, I don’t focus on the logic. I just see if it’s smooth and resonates with me.”

Xiao Bao proudly nudged Da Bao, who raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Jiang Lin continued, “Maybe a skillful author hides those traces, not intentionally, but they interact with each other. If a work lacks logic, it won’t feel comfortable to read, and it won’t be smooth, nor will it resonate. Xiao Bao’s stories, both Dad and I have read them, have a strong sense of logic but don’t emphasize it intentionally.”

This is his talent; he doesn’t need to pay attention because his language instinct makes everything perfect.

This is the benefit of laying a good foundation in childhood.

Da Bao glanced at Xiao Bao, “Okay, don’t mislead Bao Sheng.”

Some people can do things themselves but can’t explain them.

Not all athletes can be coaches, and not all top students are suitable to be teachers.

Bao Sheng lay in Jiang Lin’s arms, giggling.

She whispered to Jiang Lin, “Mom, I’ll tell you a secret. Actually, my Elder Brother Xiao Bao is Elder Brother Da Bao’s most loyal reader, and Elder Brother Da Bao is the same. I saw Elder Brother Xiao Bao sneaking out with Da Bao brother’s book to read it before coming home. Hee hee.”

These two brothers, though they bicker, they support each other.

They’ve never been truly hostile like some other brothers, so the family never interferes.

They let them argue and fight, knowing that Xiao Bao can’t beat Da Bao, and Da Bao won’t seriously hurt him.

Although Xiao Bao was unconvinced, with their mom siding with Da Bao, he didn’t argue further.

Da Bao continued to help Bao Sheng with her story.

Based on what he said, Bao Sheng reorganized her story and shared it with them.

Xiao Zhi is a 7-year-old girl who originally lived a happy life like a little princess on a farm.

One day, the moon turned red, and monsters appeared. They devoured her parents, brother, and all the villagers, eventually capturing her and locking her in a dark, damp little room.

Xiao Zhi was cold and hungry, missing her family.

A demon coaxed her to hang herself so it could eat her soul.

Just when Xiao Zhi couldn’t hold on any longer, a big brother named Xiao He saved her, giving her his cotton-padded coat.

He told her stories one after another to get through the cold, dark night together.

When the sun rose, her smile became sweet and beautiful again.

She sang and worked, putting all the bad things behind her.

Some monsters couldn’t stand seeing them so happy and tried to torment them in different ways.