Siheyuan: I live next door to Xu Damao, my last name is Cao

Evening, at Liu Haizhong’s house.

The dim light flickered in the room, as if trembling in this depressing atmosphere, casting shadows on the furnishings in the room, adding an indescribable feeling of dullness and depression.

The old furniture looked lifeless in the dim light, and the stains on the walls were like mottled tear marks left by the years, silently witnessing the joys and sorrows of this family.

The two brothers Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu lowered their heads, not daring to breathe. Their bodies leaned forward slightly, their shoulders slightly raised due to nervousness, like two frightened quails.

The two of them slowly picked up the brooms and began to clean the house. Every stroke of the brooms across the ground seemed to carry their inner uneasiness and anxiety. Every sweeping movement seemed so mechanical and stiff, like two puppets being controlled, hoping that their father's anger would be reduced through such performance.

Their eyes were full of fear and flattery. They dared not slack off in the slightest. They cleaned every corner very carefully. Even a speck of dust seemed like their hope to please their father.

They knew that even the slightest oversight could once again provoke their father's wrath.

After cleaning, the two people said goodbye to Liu Haizhong and went out to the bathroom on the pretext of going to the bathroom.

Then, the two of them walked out of the house carefully as if they were walking on thin ice and came to the corner of the yard.

The watery moonlight poured down, sprinkling coldly on them, as if covering them with a layer of silver frost.

Under the reflection of the bright moonlight, two blurry and shadowy figures were clearly outlined on the ground, like a mysterious and profound painting unfolding before our eyes.

This originally silent corner now seemed even quieter and more eerie because of the presence of these two figures and the cold moon, revealing a faint, heart-pounding aura.

The cold moonlight was like a pair of invisible eyes, quietly peeping at them, as if trying to see through the secrets hidden in their hearts.

The grass around them rustled gently in the night breeze, as if sighing softly for the choice they were about to face.

The wind blew the grass and the moonlight swayed, making the whole scene even more dreamlike.

The two of them looked at each other at the same time. The moment their eyes met, they both read the unconcealable nervousness and vague expectation in the depths of each other's eyes.

They are about to discuss a crucial matter together - the final distribution plan of their "little secret wealth".

Liu Guangtian had already handed over his share of the money, but Liu Guangfu still had some of the money safely hidden away. To be exact, it was a full one dollar and seven cents left.

For them, every penny of this money was hard-earned. They saved it secretly with great difficulty after suffering countless physical tortures and risking being discovered.

Recalling the experiences of being beaten, it was like an unforgettable nightmare that haunted them.

Every time the thick and powerful leather belt in Liu Hai's bangs mercilessly whipped his body, it brought not only the piercing pain in his body, but also the deep fear and helplessness in his heart.

However, in order to successfully save this precious private money, they gritted their teeth, silently endured the beatings again and again, and used their strong will to fight against the double torture of physical and mental.

The sound of the belt hitting their bodies still echoes in their ears, and every scar is a pain in their hearts.

They remembered that one time, Liu Guangfu was beaten so badly that his back was covered with bruises and he had to sleep on his stomach for several days. But even so, they never thought of giving up saving money, because that was their only remaining expectation and comfort for the future.

They were calculating in their minds, thinking that since they would be beaten anyway, they might as well just insist that they had not hidden the money.

After all, they knew that although their father was strict, he would not really beat them to death.

He knew very well that if his father Liu Haizhong discovered that Liu Guangfu had hidden the money, the consequences would be disastrous.

Therefore, even if he had to hand over a part of it, as long as he could calm his father's anger and dispel his doubts and not be cruel to the two brothers, it would be worth it.

.....................

.....................