“Mom, I’m back.”

That day, Song Jing’an hadn’t gone to work. He was at home tutoring Bai Zhizhi when he suddenly heard someone calling outside the door.

Before Bai Zhizhi could react, Song Jing’an already knew who it was.

It was Bai Junyu—Bai Zhizhi’s younger brother.

“Who are you? Why are you in my house?” Bai Junyu walked in and, upon seeing Song Jing’an, even doubted whether he’d come to the wrong place.

The next second, he spotted Bai Zhizhi peeking her head out from behind Song Jing’an. His eyes widened instantly, and he rushed forward to pull her out, shielding her behind him.

“What did you do to my sister?”

Looking at the bristling Bai Junyu, Song Jing’an couldn’t help but want to laugh. The boy thought he looked fierce, but in Song Jing’an’s eyes it was nothing more than a bluff.

Being shielded like this, Bai Zhizhi finally pulled out the figure of Bai Junyu from her memory and called out: “Xiaoyu, you’re back.”

Bai Junyu turned his head, giving her a comforting smile. “Sis, don’t be afraid, I’ll protect you.”

From him, Bai Zhizhi felt a strong sense of protectiveness, and it made her feel very close to him.

Seeing Bai Junyu becoming increasingly wary of him while Bai Zhizhi made no effort to explain, Song Jing’an quickly opened his mouth to clarify: “Hello, I’m Song Jing’an, a newly assigned educated youth. I’m temporarily staying at the Bai household, and I was just teaching your sister to read.”

He was afraid that if he didn’t explain, Bai Junyu might actually rush up and punch him. After all, this boy was always so reckless.

Hearing this explanation, Bai Junyu was very skeptical. He looked Song Jing’an up and down. That he was an educated youth who’d just been sent down and was temporarily staying at their house—fine, he believed that. But teaching his sister to read?

As unwilling as he was to admit it, everyone knew his sister was…

Wait a minute!

Bai Junyu suddenly turned his head toward Bai Zhizhi. She smiled at him, her eyes curving into crescents.

“Ah!” Bai Junyu let out a loud cry, startling everyone present. Even Liao Guizhi, who had just come back, was frightened and thought something serious had happened.

Astonished, Bai Junyu exclaimed, “Sis, you’re better now?”

Smack—

Before Bai Zhizhi could say anything, Liao Guizhi stepped forward and gave him a slap to the back of the head.

“You brat, what are you making such a fuss for? Didn’t I tell you already?”

Bai Junyu covered his head aggrievedly, casting a look of accusation at Liao Guizhi: Who told me anything?

Liao Guizhi rubbed her nose, realizing she had indeed forgotten to tell the fourth child.

“Well, you were at school. Knowing now isn’t too late.”

Bai Junyu felt incredibly wronged, but he didn’t dare to challenge his mother’s authority. Instead, he shuffled over to Bai Zhizhi, seeking comfort.

“Sis, it’s so great that you’ve recovered. Let’s see who dares to talk about you again.”

Ever since he was young, he had known his sister was different from everyone else’s. Other people’s sisters protected their little brothers, but his sister needed her brother’s protection.

At first, he had resented her—especially when others mocked him for having a “fool” for a sister. He had even denied she was his sister, calling her an idiot himself. But when he did, Bai Fumin and Liao Guizhi gave him a combined beating, leaving him bedridden for two days.

During those two days, Liao Guizhi didn’t allow anyone in the family to see him. Yet Bai Zhizhi had secretly snuck in and given him a piece of candy.

At that moment, he suddenly realized: his sister was clearly so kind—how could anyone call her stupid? Outsiders saying so was one thing, but for him, her own brother, to say that—he was nothing but a jerk.

From then on, Bai Junyu changed. He stuck by Bai Zhizhi’s side as her protector. Whenever he heard someone speak ill of her, he’d rush out to fight them, regardless of whether he could win. Plenty of village kids had been beaten up by him.

Even now, protecting Bai Zhizhi had become second nature to him.

“Sis, I brought you candy. This one’s called chocolate. We don’t have it here—try it and see if you like it. If you do, I’ll ask my classmates to bring more.”

As if presenting a treasure, Bai Junyu took out two or three pieces of chocolate from his schoolbag. They had been sent from the south by a classmate’s relative. He thought his sister would like them, so he had kept them until now.

Bai Zhizhi took one, unwrapped it. The weather was a bit hot, so the chocolate had slightly melted and stuck to the wrapper, but that didn’t stop her from eating it. At first bite, it was slightly bitter, followed by sweetness—a taste very different from fruit candy.

“Delicious.” Bai Zhizhi liked it very much. Whether fruit candy or chocolate, both were sweet.

Seeing she liked it, Bai Junyu decided to ask his classmates for more once he returned to school.

“Ahem!” Song Jing’an cleared his throat twice, drawing the siblings’ attention back to him.

He smiled. “Shall we continue studying?”

Bai Junyu looked at him warily. “Song Zhiqing, right? I can teach my sister myself. No need to trouble you.”

(Zhiqing= Educated Youth)

Song Jing’an didn’t mind his guarded tone. He just smiled casually and said, “Alright then, let’s stop here for today.”

Bai Zhizhi didn’t really mind—learning was the same no matter who taught her. But…

She glanced at Song Jing’an in puzzlement. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the way he looked at Bai Junyu was a little odd. His emotions seemed to fluctuate strongly—was it excitement? Nostalgia?

After Song Jing’an left, Bai Zhizhi asked Bai Junyu: “Do you know Calamity?”

“Calamity?” Bai Junyu was confused.

Bai Zhizhi pursed her lips and explained: “That’s Song Jing’an.”

Bai Junyu shook his head. How could he possibly know him? But—

“Sis, tell me honestly, was he really teaching you?”

He was just afraid his sister was being bullied.

“Yes.”

She had to admit, although “Calamity” (Song Jing’an) had terrible luck, he really did know a lot.

Bai Junyu refused to back down. “Sis, what have you learned so far? I’ll teach you the rest.”

Seeing how full of confidence he looked—and given that he was the only student in the family—Bai Zhizhi figured he must be quite capable.

She pointed at a problem in her textbook and said, “This one.”

Bai Junyu looked at the problem and fell into suspicious silence.

He had assumed his sister was just starting out, so it would definitely be elementary-level stuff—easy for him. Never had he expected that she was already tackling middle school content. Though he’d studied it before, he hadn’t studied it very well.

Bai Zhizhi tilted her head. “You don’t know it?”

“I do.” Bai Junyu gritted his teeth. “Sis, you’ve already studied a lot today. Take a break first—we’ll keep learning tonight.”

Bai Zhizhi thought it over and agreed, then went to her small room to sort through the herbs she had been drying.

The family all knew she was learning medicine from Uncle Lin and was interested in herbs. Every time they went up the mountain, they would bring some back for her to identify. Over time, she had accumulated quite a collection. Liao Guizhi had even set aside a small room specifically for storing them.

Seeing her fiddling with herbs again, Liao Guizhi asked, “Where’s the fourth one? Ran off again?”

Every time Bai Junyu came back from school, he never stayed home. After circling the house once, he would run off to play. Liao Guizhi assumed this time was the same.

“No, he’s right there.” Bai Zhizhi pointed.

Liao Guizhi leaned over to look and exclaimed, “Well, that’s odd. Why hasn’t he run off today?”

She had no idea Bai Junyu had been thoroughly humbled, swearing to figure out the problem so he could impress his sister.

“This brat—always so impulsive,” Liao Guizhi muttered with disdain, glancing at Bai Junyu still struggling over the problem.

Though her words were dismissive, she was actually happy he was home. She even went out of her way to cut some pork.

“Zhizhi, today we’re having braised pork.”

“Great!” Bai Zhizhi instantly brightened at the news of a good meal. She loved her mother’s and her second sister-in-law’s cooking the most.

Liao Guizhi laughed and scolded, “You little glutton.”

Just then, Song Jing’an walked over carrying something and chimed in, “Well, that’s only because Auntie’s cooking is delicious. Looks like I get to enjoy the benefits today too.”

“As long as you all like it. Jing’an, you’d better eat plenty today.”

During his stay at the Bai household, Song Jing’an had already won over Liao Guizhi to some degree. She treated him almost like one of her own children.

“Of course.” Song Jing’an didn’t refuse. He handed her what he was carrying. “Auntie, this is for you.”

Liao Guizhi opened it and found white sugar and brown sugar. She immediately tried to hand it back. “Jing’an, what are you doing? I can’t take this.”

“Just treat it as my living expenses,” Song Jing’an insisted.

It had just been sent from his family, and he couldn’t finish it all alone anyway. He figured it was better to share it with everyone.

“That won’t do. Fair is fair. Your rations are already enough for you to eat. Keep this for yourself.”

Each month the brigade gave rations to the educated youths, and Song Jing’an always handed his to Liao Guizhi. She wasn’t the type to take advantage; she simply used what she received to make sure he ate well. But extras, she wouldn’t accept.

Song Jing’an quickly stepped back. “I still have more.”

He pulled Bai Zhizhi, who was standing nearby watching the fun. “Come on, take me to see your herbs. I’ve got something for you too.”

“What is it?” Bai Zhizhi asked curiously.

Song Jing’an smiled mysteriously. “You’ll find out soon.”

Unable to refuse further, Liao Guizhi finally accepted the sugar, though she secretly resolved to make extra dishes for him. She wouldn’t let him suffer a loss.

“What are you doing?” Liao Guizhi grabbed Bai Junyu, who was about to head for the small room.

“I’m going to check on my sister.”

He didn’t feel at ease leaving his sister alone with an educated youth.

From his expression, Liao Guizhi instantly guessed what he was thinking. She understood very well what kind of person Song Jing’an was and had no worries at all. So she said: “Come here and help me stoke the fire.”

There were things she wanted to ask him.

Bai Junyu cast an unwilling glance at the small room, then reluctantly followed Liao Guizhi into the kitchen.