Chapter 18: The Elder Brother’s Past

During that period, Bai Yuze set his sights on the couple, Bai Xingjian and his wife, just as a small group of homeless children did. However, their intentions were fundamentally different: the former sought adoption, while the latter sought theft. It was in the struggle to reclaim a stolen wallet that Bai Yuze suffered his most severe injuries. Fortunately, his gamble paid off.

When Bai Xingjian asked the battered, bloodied boy why he had gone to such lengths, Bai Yuze replied, "A kind homeless man once told me that one should repay kindness with gratitude, and I have always kept that close to my heart."

Having transmigrated into this world, Bai Yuze knew his character was by no means as noble as he claimed. On the contrary, he considered himself a hypocrite; he did these things only to survive better. After entering the Bai household, he became even stricter with himself, excelling in every aspect—from chores and studies to his conduct toward others. Later, when Bai Youqing was born, the contrast between them was striking. Bai Youqing’s mischief often made her parents wish they could stuff her back into the womb. The way the couple treated Bai Yuze as their own child even sparked jealousy in their biological daughter, leading to a vicious cycle of tantrums. Bai Yuze never resisted; he simply retreated, knowing that living under another's roof required a certain sense of humility.

This dynamic only truly changed with the arrival of Ning Zixuan.

Looking at the bustling crowd on the street, Bai Yuze realized that after more than a decade, he could no longer distinguish between what was real and what was fake. After his adoptive parents passed away, he was left with a girl about to transition from elementary to middle school. Had he been ruthless or cold-hearted, he could have claimed the entire Bai family inheritance for himself. He did not. Instead, he poured all the gratitude he felt toward his adoptive parents into caring for Bai Youqing. Unknowingly, the philosophy of repaying kindness had become ingrained in his heart, and "repaying kindness with kindness, and grievances with justice" had become his code of conduct.

"What are you spacing out for? The noodles are almost ready."

After a while, a fair, jade-like hand waved in front of his face, as if trying to summon his soul back.

"It’s nothing, just thinking about some things." Bai Yuze looked down and saw several pieces of beef added to his bowl, a wave of warmth washing over him.

"It’s early in the morning; it’s bad luck to think of them! You’d be better off thinking more about me." Bai Youqing pouted. She still hadn't come to terms with her parents' favoritism, though since they were gone, she had no one left to bicker with.

Hearing this, Bai Yuze grinned helplessly. "That is truly an act of 'unfilial' devotion."

"If Mom and Dad were still here, they wouldn't want us stuck in the past. They’d want us to look to the future and live in the present! Besides, they were so biased. Every time we went out, you always got more snacks than me. I'll hold a grudge over that for the rest of my life."

"Why hold a grudge? Every time we got back, didn't I give all my snacks to you?"

Speaking of the past, Bai Yuze felt a headache coming on. The girl was easygoing about most things, but she held a special grudge when it came to food. They say children rarely have memories before the age of six, but Bai Youqing remembered this perfectly.

"The principle is different! When you give them to me, it's a brother's favoritism toward his sister. When Mom and Dad gave them to me, it was parental favoritism toward their children. Based on the amount of snacks, the love we received was clearly different." Bai Youqing puffed out her cheeks, her eyes wide, looking utterly indignant as if someone owed her millions.

"Oh, look who it is—Xiao Ze and Xiao Qing! What a rare treat. It’s been a long time since you two came by to eat."

A robust voice came from the kitchen. As they looked up, an middle-aged man emerged. His face was full of soft, fleshy folds, framing a pair of small, kind eyes. He was short, around 168 centimeters, slightly plump, and wore a white apron that had turned a bit dingy.

"Uncle Li!"

"Uncle Li, do you still have those old-fashioned popsicles for sale?"

"Hey!" Uncle Li responded warmly before turning a speechless gaze toward Bai Youqing, muttering, "You girl, you never visit Uncle Li unless you’re eyeing our freezer."

"That's because your popsicles are delicious! I wouldn't even take them if others offered them to me!" Seeing Uncle Li, Bai Youqing shed her earlier reserve and skipped excitedly toward the freezer.

"Nonsense, you're just a glutton." Uncle Li grumbled, but his hands didn't stop moving. He pulled two large, red apples from the fridge and handed one each to the siblings. "It’s early morning, why eat popsicles? Have some fruit instead."

"Thank you, Uncle Li." Bai Yuze took the fruit and thanked him.

"You’re being too polite with me. Since your father passed away, you two haven't visited the shop in a long time. I thought you had moved to another city." Uncle Li took out two cigarettes and offered one to Bai Yuze. Seeing Bai Youqing biting into her apple, Bai Yuze waved his hand and declined.

Uncle Li tucked the cigarettes away and asked, "How are you two doing? Is there anything Uncle Li can help with?" He scanned Bai Yuze; his clothes didn't look shabby, yet he didn't appear wealthy either.

Bai Yuze shook his head kindly, declining the offer. He knew that even if he needed to borrow tens of thousands, Uncle Li would hand it over without blinking. The debt of gratitude to Uncle Li was hard to repay all at once.

"Thank you, Uncle Li. Xiao Qing and I have been doing fine these past few years. I’m a teacher at the Ye Qiu City No. 1 High School, and the salary is decent. Xiao Qing is studying there too, and her grades are quite good."

Upon hearing that Bai Yuze was a teacher at the local elite high school, Uncle Li’s eyes brightened with genuine delight. It was a happy coincidence, as he had been worrying about this very subject lately. Moreover, seeing Bai Yuze succeed made him as happy as if he had won the lottery; in a way, Bai Yuze had been a protégé of his.

"Good for you, kid! You've done well for yourself." Uncle Li clapped a heavy hand on Bai Yuze’s shoulder, his voice filled with nostalgia and regret. "I remember every time your father came here for noodles, he’d brag about what a great son he had. He said that even if you didn't get into the top universities, you’d still make it to a key institution. We didn't believe him then, but it turns out he was right!"

Bai Yuze smiled. "Everything I have today, aside from my parents' upbringing, is thanks to your kindness, Uncle Li. If it weren't for you back then, I probably would have starved to death."

Uncle Li waved him off, looking at Bai Yuze, who was now taller than him, and sighed. "Don't talk like that. Just come visit me once in a while, that's enough. My own daughter is a disappointment, running wild out there every day. If only she had half your sense."

Bai Youqing, munching on her apple like a little hamster, listened intently. She didn't interrupt until Uncle Li mentioned his daughter, which suddenly triggered a sense of crisis. She asked in shock, "Uncle Li, when did you have a daughter?"

Uncle Li playfully slapped her on the head. "You silly girl, have you forgotten your sister Xuanyu? She used to hold you when you were little..."

This was precisely why Bai Youqing hated visiting relatives. Whenever someone claimed to have held or kissed you as a child, your seniority in the family tree would inexplicably drop a notch. What was worse was that she had no memory of it, leaving her no room to argue. Frustrated, she took out her annoyance on the apple. She had finally come out with her brother, only to discover she had gained an unexpected sister.

Looking at Bai Youqing, Uncle Li sighed with a sense of loss. "Xuanyu used to be such an obedient child—excellent grades, always helping us in the shop. But ever since she went on that trip last summer, she’s become a completely different person. Other kids in their second year of high school are studying at home, trying to squeeze every second out of the day. She, on the other hand, runs around wild and doesn't come home at night. I’m going to be worried to death by her sooner or later."

When it came to his daughter, Uncle Li had endless words, all ending in sighs.

"How about this, Uncle Li? Let's add each other on WeChat. My username is my phone number. If there’s ever anything I can help with, just call me or send a message." Bai Yuze smiled and handed over his number. Getting Uncle Li’s contact information had been one of his goals for the trip.

"A teacher at Ye Qiu No. 1 High School must be very busy. I wouldn't want to trouble you." Uncle Li accepted the note, though he remained hesitant.

Bai Yuze held up the red apple Uncle Li had given him and laughed, "Uncle Li, why are you being so formal with me?"

Uncle Li hesitated, still feeling embarrassed, but thinking of his daughter's future, he finally nodded. "In that case, if my daughter really needs help with her studies, I won't hold back, okay?"

"Please, just let me know," Bai Yuze replied with a nod. He had worked as a tutor during his own summer breaks before.