CH 3

Jiang Jianguo brought four toys back. Two palm-sized bear dolls, a lego, and a four-wheel toy car.

Jiang Tianyang piled the toys into his arms and made a move to carry them back to his room.

“Xiaobao, wait.” Yin Yin stopped him, “Where are you going with the toy?”

“They’re Xiaobao’s toys. I want to hide them.” Jiang Tianyang has an unusually strong desire to monopolize his toys at such a young age. There were times where a child came to their house, but Jiang Tianyang was unwilling to share his toys with him.

Yin Yin squatted down and pointed to one of the palm-sized bear dolls and the lego, “Xiaobao, these two toys belong to you sister. You can’t take them both.”

Jiang Tianyang became unhappy in an instant. He hugged the toys in his arms tighter, “No, it’s all mine. I will not give it to my sister.”

“Xiaobao, when your father came back last time, he asked you about what toys do you want, and you said you wanted a bear doll and a toy car. While your sister said that she also wants a bear doll and a lego. How can you take away your sister’s toys now?” Yin Yin patiently explained to him.

“But I like these toys very much. I don’t want to give it to my sister. Anyway, what belongs to my sister also belongs to Xiaobao’s.”

Just when Jiang Zhaodi was about to enter the door and before she could recover from the joy of her father’s return, she heard her brother’s complaining voice.

“Dad, Mom.” Jiang Zhaodi greeted Jiang Jianguo and Yin Yin obediently.

“Zhaodi is back.”

Jiang Zhaodi looked at her mother who was smiling at her warmly and was taken aback. She tightened her hands on the strap of her schoolbag.

On the other side, Jiang Tianyang was still unwilling to give up the toys.

In a fit of anger, he threw all the toys on the ground. He laid his chubby body on the floor and started to bawl loudly.

“I want all the toys! It’s all mine! All mine!”

Seeing Jiang Tianyang like this, Yin Yin can feel a seething anger in her heart. Her face sank a little.

“Wife, how about we give some of Xiaobao’s old toys to Zhaodi, and give all the new toys Xiaobao.” After that, Jiang Jianguo looked at Zhaodi who has been silent all this time and said, “Zhaodi, your brother is still young and not sensible. Let’s just give all the toys to your brother, okay?”

Jiang Zhaodi’s mood at this moment is unexpectedly calm. She has heard this sentence many times, and she was already numb with it. Two years ago, she might cry for the new toy, but now she won’t.

“It’s alright, Dad. Just give the toys to my brother.” Although Jiang Zhaodi said this sentence countless times, she still couldn’t help but feel soreness in her eyes.

Just when Jiang Jianguo was about to praise her for being a considerate sister, Yin Yin opened her mouth coldly, “Xiaobao is already five years old, not young anymore. There is no rule that the eldest sister should give in to her younger brother. What was agreed in the start, and what should be done now, I am very clear. Zhaodi, come here.”

Jiang Zhaodi walked over in a daze. Yin Yin picked up the palm-sized bear doll and the lego and put them on her arms, “This is your toy. Take it and keep it.”

Holding the toys in her arms, a feeling of unrealness washed over her. Her mind was filled with many emotions, which is very strange and new to her.

Jiang Zhaodi glanced at Jiang Tianyang who kept crying in Jiang Jianguo’s arms. She hesitated for a while and asked timidly, “Is it really okay?”

“Of course. This is what your father promised you back then. Alright, go back to your room and do your homework.”

“Thank you mom.” Jiang Zhaodi’s eyes brightened up a little, and she turned her head to Jiang Jianguo to thank him. “Thank you dad.”

Jiang Zhaodi went back to her room, leaving the still crying Xiaobao in his father’s arms.

No matter how Jiang Jianguo tried to coax him, Jiang Tianyang just couldn’t stop crying.

“Wife, why don’t we let Zhaodi give back the toys…”

Jiang Jianguo was interrupted by Yin Yin before he could finish his words.