HNYWEF -Chapter 84 Younger Brother

Tianshu 3rd year, the twelfth day of the first lunar month.

The gate of the Zhou family blacksmith shop was open, and the furnace fire was burning bright.

Zhou Xiong stood in front of the long workbench, hammer in hand, forging a hoe.

Zhou Yi stood nearby working the bellows—pulling it for a while, then pausing for a moment.

Footsteps came from the mouth of the alley.

Unhurried. Steady. One step at a time.

Zhou Yi lifted his head and glanced toward the entrance.

Someone walked in.

He looked to be in his early thirties, wearing a somewhat worn coarse cloth robe, carrying a bulging bundle over his shoulder.

Dusty and travel-worn, his face full of fatigue—clearly someone who had come from far away.

Neither tall nor short, neither fat nor thin—an entirely ordinary man.

Zhou Yi looked once, then withdrew his gaze.

And then suddenly, he snapped his head back up.

He froze.

That face—

The eyebrows looked like his father’s. The eyes too. The nose, the mouth—everything matched.

Not exactly identical, but the resemblance was uncanny in a way that couldn’t be described.

It felt like looking at his father’s reflection in a mirror—but not quite precise.

Zhou Yi opened his mouth, wanting to call for his father, but something seemed stuck in his throat. No sound came out.

The man stood at the doorway and glanced inside.

His gaze swept over Zhou Yi and landed on Zhou Xiong.

He set down the bundle from his shoulder, placing it by his feet.

Then he smiled.

A rather simple, honest smile.

“Brother.”

Zhou Xiong’s hammer froze in mid-air.

He slowly turned around.

Looked at the man at the doorway.

Looked at that face.

Looked at the bulging bundle at his feet.

Zhou Xiong froze.

Completely still.

Zhou Hong took another step forward.

“Brother, it’s me. Zhou Hong.”

Zhou Xiong still didn’t move.

He stood there, staring at that face, at that person, his mind completely blank.

Zhou Hong?

Who was Zhou Hong?

A brother of this body?

He finally reacted.

The year he transmigrated, he had woken up in the mountains. This body hadn’t been his.

Who he was, what his name was, where he came from, whether he had family—he had never thought about it.

Ten-plus years.

He had never once considered it.

Now the question stood right in front of him.

This person was calling him “Brother.”

Zhou Xiong opened his mouth, but didn’t know what to say at all.

Seeing his reaction, Zhou Hong slowly withdrew the smile on his face.

He stood there, looking at Zhou Xiong.

He looked for three breaths.

Then he spoke again.

His voice was slightly hoarse.

“Brother… you don’t recognize me anymore?”

Zhou Xiong stood frozen, his expression completely stiff.

His mind was in chaos.

He had no memory of this body.

Not even a fragment.

He didn’t know who this man was.

Didn’t know what their past relationship was.

Didn’t know why he had come.

He only knew one thing—

This man was calling him brother.

The bundle lay on the ground.

Zhou Xiong took a deep breath.

He set the hammer down.

Walked over to the man.

Stopped in front of him.

Looked at that face.

A face so similar to his own.

“Zhou Hong?”

His voice was hoarse.

The man nodded.

“It’s me.”

Zhou Xiong stared at him.

For a long time.

Then he lowered his head and looked at the bundle.

And raised his head again.

“You… this is…”

Zhou Hong followed his gaze toward the bundle.

Then he looked back at his brother, his voice suddenly trembling.

“Our hometown suffered a disaster. The house is gone, the land is gone. I had nowhere to go…”

Zhou Xiong froze slightly.

“Brother, I came to seek refuge with you…”

Zhou Xiong stood there without speaking.

After a breath, Zhou Hong saw he still wasn’t responding and added:

“If it’s not convenient, I’ll leave right away.”

As he said that, he bent down to pick up the bundle.

Zhou Xiong finally spoke.

“Wait!”

Zhou Hong’s hand stopped mid-air.

He looked up at his brother.

Zhou Xiong looked at him.

Three breaths of silence.

Then he stepped aside.

“Come in.”

Zhou Hong froze.

Zhou Xiong added:

“Bring the bundle in with you.”

Zhou Hong stood there, looking at his brother.

His eyes suddenly turned red.

But he didn’t cry.

He picked up the bundle, stepped over the threshold, and walked inside.

Zhou Xiong pointed at a stool.

“Sit.”

Zhou Hong sat down.

The bundle was placed by his feet. He didn’t let go.

Zhou Xiong also sat down nearby.

The two of them faced each other.

Zhou Yi stood to the side, glancing between them, not daring to make a sound.

Zhou Xiong spoke.

His voice was very slow.

“I… hit my head before.”

Zhou Hong froze for a moment.

Zhou Xiong continued, “I don’t remember things from before very clearly.”

Zhou Hong opened his mouth.

He looked at Zhou Xiong, something in his eyes growing more intense.

“Brother, you…”

He couldn’t finish.

Zhou Xiong didn’t speak. He just sat there, waiting.

Zhou Hong lowered his head and looked at his hands.

After a long while, he raised his head.

“Brother, I’m your biological younger brother.”

Zhou Xiong nodded.

Zhou Hong added, “Our parents are gone.”

Zhou Xiong’s hand paused.

Just for a moment.

Zhou Hong continued, “You left home when I was fifteen. I’m already thirty now.”

He looked at Zhou Xiong.

“I’ve been looking for you for years…”

The room fell silent.

So quiet that only the crackling of the stove fire could be heard.

Zhou Xiong sat there, motionless.

He looked at the man in front of him.

That face.

A face strikingly similar to his own.

Zhou Hong suddenly gave a faint smile.

A bitter one.

“Brother… you really don’t remember anything?”

Zhou Xiong was silent for a moment.

Then he shook his head helplessly.

“I don’t remember…”

“If you don’t remember, then forget it.”

He stood up.

“I’m leaving.”

Zhou Xiong froze slightly.

“Leave?”

Zhou Hong said, “If you don’t remember me, there’s no point for me to stay here.”

He bent down to pick up his bundle.

Zhou Xiong stood up.

“Put it down.”

Zhou Hong’s hand stopped midair.

Zhou Xiong looked at him.

“Aren’t you here to take refuge?”

Zhou Hong nodded.

Zhou Xiong said, “Then stay.”

Zhou Hong froze.

He looked at his brother, something in his eyes shaking violently.

“Brother…”

Zhou Xiong didn’t let him continue.

“Zhou Yi.”

Zhou Yi quickly responded, “Yes.”

“Go prepare a room for your uncle.”

Zhou Yi nodded and ran off immediately.

Zhou Hong stood there, still holding the bundle.

He looked at Zhou Xiong.

For a long time.

Then he put the bundle down.

“Brother…”

Just one word.

Zhou Xiong nodded.

“Mm.”

They stood there, neither of them speaking.

Zhou Yi ran out from inside the house.

“It’s ready, Father!”

Zhou Xiong tilted his chin toward Zhou Hong.

“Go.”

Zhou Hong looked at his brother.

For three breaths.

Then he picked up his bundle and followed Zhou Yi inside.

After a few steps, he suddenly stopped.

He turned back.

“Brother.”

Zhou Xiong looked at him.

Zhou Hong said, “Thank you.”

Zhou Xiong didn’t respond.

Zhou Hong followed Zhou Yi inside.

The curtain swayed once, then settled.

Zhou Xiong stood in the main room, staring at the curtain.

He looked for a long time.

Then he sat down on the stool.

The stove fire crackled softly.

So this man… is my younger brother?

Forget it. Since he’s already here.

And he called me brother.

Then… he is my younger brother.