Chapter 5 (1/2)

Chapter 5

Hei Nuo knew that if he let his brothers feel any more pain, he would be hurt too. So he unconsciously started to avoid his little brothers, afraid that he would hurt them again. Luckily, his little brothers preferred Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother because their Mama likes them, so she felt comfortable with them carrying her sons.

In the blink of an eye, another year pa.s.sed. After they celebrate Chinese New Year, Hei Nuo will need to attend school. This year, the political arena had experienced momentous changes. Even though the people were in the midst of a disaster, their leader had turned the tide and brought them out of their terrible plight. During the new year, Mama made an exception and bought two pounds worth of sweets. She called up every child in the house (the oldest had gone out to celebrate with his colleagues and cla.s.smates) to share the sweets. The third to fifth son left to find their friends once they got their sweets, while Hei Nuo stood right at the back and waited for his two little brothers to take their sweets before he took his share. Because the other brothers all left, Mama wanted the twins to take more so the two little ones both grabbed a big handful to stuff into their pockets. Hei Nuo came over and looked around before picking one sweet – he picked it because he thought its wrapper was very pretty. He was about to put it into his pocket and leave when his brother grabbed him, “I want this one.”

Hei Nuo didn’t loosen his grip on the sweet, and when his brother saw that he wasn’t handing the sweet over he looked to Papa and Mama for help, “I want this one, I want this one……”

“Don’t you already have sweets? You have so many, Hei Nuo only has one, don’t take his.” Mama just finished talking when the little one started wailing.

Mama quickly took a few more sweets and gave it to the little brother, “Don’t cry, don’t cry, there are still so many here, Mama will give you more, Mama will pick out the tastiest sweet for you.”

Sadly, little brother refused all the sweets Mama gave him and cried, “Don’t want, don’t want……”

Hei Papa saw this and told Hei Nuo, “Exchange the sweet with your little brother.”

Hei Nuo didn’t respond, and didn’t move. Hei Papa was a little unhappy, “You’re older, and you’re his elder brother, why don’t you give in to your little brother a little? Hurry and give your little brother the sweet.”

When the little brother heard his Papa’s words, he cried even more sorrowfully.

Hei Nuo lowered his head and didn’t say a word. Hei Papa got even more angry, “Are you asking for a beating? It’s the New Year and you want me to whip you a good one.”

Mama walked over and tried to make peace, “Stop it, stop it. Hei Nuo, be a good boy and exchange your sweet with your little brother, will you?” as she was talking, she reached out to hold Hei Nuo’s hand. Hei Nuo avoided her grasp, walked to the door, and mustered all his strength to swing his right arm as hard as he could out the door.