Chapter 5: The Cheap Little Brother Is a Mute

Wen Yao led him into the house and handed him the steamed bun.

Big Head tilted his head, looking at her as if asking where it had come from.

“Father bought it back, he specially saved one for you. Hurry and eat,” Wen Yao pressed the bun into his hands.

But Big Head just stared at the bun for a while, then raised his hand to offer it back to Wen Yao.

“This is for you. Why are you giving it to me?” Wen Yao asked.

Big Head pushed it toward her again.

“You want me to eat it?” Wen Yao tried.

Big Head nodded.

Wen Yao was nearly moved to tears. How could someone as gentle as this little brother be used as a mere tool by that wretched Meng?

“I’ve already eaten, this one is yours. Big Head, you should eat it yourself.” Wen Yao was so touched—she finally felt like a real big sister, not just someone’s little sister.

Only after confirming several times that Wen Yao truly wouldn’t eat it did Big Head sit on his small stool and nibble on the bun, bite by tiny bite.

Wen Yao worried he might choke, so she poured him a bowl of water.

Once Big Head was settled, Wen Yao rushed out to find Wen Jun.

“Doctor Wen, could you find a moment to check on our cheap little brother? He’s nearly four, but still hasn’t spoken a word.” Even though in the book Big Head eventually spoke, there was never an explanation for his silence as a child. Seeing a child this age still mute made Wen Yao anxious.

Wen Jun glanced into the room at the little carrot-top sitting there. The child seemed to sense his gaze and looked back at him.

With no chance to avoid his eyes, Wen Jun could only respond with the warmest, kindest, most doting smile he could muster.

Fortunately, Big Head just glanced at him, then returned to eating his steamed bun quietly—no fuss, no tears, no restlessness. Truly the model of a well-behaved child.

“He’s much better behaved than you were at his age,” Wen Jun remarked, earning himself a hard slap from Wen Yao.

After a bit of playful bickering, the siblings went to help Wen Xiuyi organize what could still be used in the kitchen. After all, they’d need it again tomorrow—they couldn’t always rely on the space to provide food.

The three of them didn’t mind, but now that they had Big Head, they needed to be more careful.

By the time they finished and returned to the room, their little angel had already finished his bun, taken off his shoes, climbed into bed, and fallen asleep.

He was so sensible, there was nothing to worry about.

The three looked at each other and reached a silent agreement: This lifetime, they would never, ever let Big Head be taken away by Madam Liu or that Meng scoundrel!

“Tomorrow I’m planning to go into town to see if there’s any work I can do. Xiao Jun, you’ll stay home to look after your brother and sister,” Wen Xiuyi said. His memories of this era were quite complete, and he knew well that money was essential. He wanted to see what sort of work might suit him; after all, his predecessor had at least earned a scholar’s title.

Wen Jun, feeling that at sixteen he was old enough to help, wanted to go too.

But Wen Xiuyi disagreed. “You’ll stay home with your siblings. Go to the old house and ask your second and third uncles to help rebuild the kitchen stove. If there are enough materials, put up a shed as well.”

Without a kitchen, things were truly inconvenient.

Wen Jun had to give up the idea of going along and promised to take good care of his younger siblings.

Satisfied, Wen Xiuyi nodded. Looking at his youngest son, who was already sound asleep, he added, “We only have two rooms left. Xiao Jun, you’ll share with me. Yao Yao, you’ll have to share with Big Head for now.”

“I’m OK with that,” Wen Yao replied quietly, even flashing an OK hand sign.

Wen Xiuyi shot her an exasperated look. Good thing Big Head was asleep—if someone else saw, who knows what they’d think they were up to.

The next morning, Wen Yao woke to find Wen Xiuyi was already gone.

“Dad left before dawn,” Wen Jun said. “He said it takes more than an hour to get to Yunwu Town, and we should stay home and tidy up. He’ll find a way to make money, so there’s no need to worry.”

Wen Yao felt a pang in her heart. Their father had always been like this—never complaining about hardship, doing everything for his children. Even when he used to work at the Agricultural Academy every day, he’d still get up before five to make them breakfast before heading out.

Sniffling, Wen Yao said, “Since Dad is working so hard, we can’t just stand by. Let’s take Big Head to Grandma’s at the old house, and then you can come up the mountain with me.”

With Big Head around, they had to be careful about taking things from the space, and besides, she didn’t have any achievement points at the moment.

Without anything else, they could only rely on the mountain’s bounty. The hills were rich with things to gather; perhaps she could earn some achievement points there, and with points, she’d finally have some spending money.

The siblings got ready to take Big Head to the old house, but he stood still, eyes wide in his thin face, looking at them so blankly that Wen Yao and Wen Jun’s hearts melted.

“Big Head, be good. Big Brother and I are just going to the mountain to see if there’s anything to eat. You’ll be good at Grandma’s, and we’ll come pick you up when we’re back, alright?” Wen Yao coaxed gently.

Big Head seemed to ponder this, watching them for a while before running back into the room. When he returned, he held a little pouch, which he offered to Wen Yao.

The siblings exchanged a glance.

“What’s this?”

Big Head pushed the pouch forward, signaling her to open it.

Wen Yao opened the pouch and gasped.

“Brother, there’s money!” The pouch was stuffed with copper coins—there must have been two or three hundred.

They looked at Big Head, amazed that such a young child had secret savings.

After handing over the money, Big Head sat down on the threshold, making his meaning clear: now that you have money, you can’t just leave me at Grandma’s.

If Wen Yao didn’t already know how clever this child was, she might have thought he was another transmigrator just like them.

But money was money—they still needed to go up the mountain.

Wen Yao put the coins away and explained, “This will feed us for a few days, but what then? Once it’s gone, there’s nothing left. We have to find a way to earn money, right? We need to rebuild the house and keep you well-fed; all that costs money. So be good, go to Grandma’s and wait for us, alright?”

Big Head seemed to consider her words, and after a while, he nodded.

Wen Yao breathed a sigh of relief. She always felt a bit of pressure dealing with this child.

Before leaving, she took five coins from the pouch, then brought Big Head to the old house.

The folks there hadn’t expected Wen Yao and Wen Jun to bring Big Head back.

“Grandma, my brother and I are going up the mountain for firewood and to look for food. We’ll leave Big Head here for now. Here’s five coins for his meals today.” Wen Yao handed the coins to Mrs. Luo.

If they wanted to repair relations with the old house, they couldn’t keep taking advantage of them.

Mrs. Luo looked at her, then at the coins.

“Where did you get this money?” Mrs. Luo asked.

Wen Yao certainly couldn’t say it came from Big Head, so she lied, “Father left it before he went out. He’s gone to town to look for work.”

Mrs. Luo looked utterly shocked, as if she’d just heard something unbelievable.

“Your father? You mean your father went to town to look for work?” Was she going deaf with age? That wayward son of hers would actually seek out a job?