HNYWEF -Chapter 88 Misjudgment

The twenty-eighth day of the first month, in the third year of Zhenguan.

It had been half a month since Zhou Hong arrived.

Zhou Yi discovered that his second uncle was a man of few words.

Every day, before dawn, he would get up to chop firewood, light the furnace, and tidy the workshop.

Whatever Zhou Xiong did, he would quietly watch. After watching, he would silently do his own part.

At first, he only helped out—handing over tools, pumping the bellows, carrying water.

Later, Zhou Yi noticed that his second uncle had begun to work on his own.

That day, Zhou Xiong went out to deliver a batch of forged farm tools, leaving only Zhou Yi and Zhou Hong in the workshop.

A customer came with a hoe that needed repair. Zhou Yi was about to take it, but Zhou Hong moved first.

Zhou Yi froze for a moment.

Zhou Hong carefully examined the chipped edge. After looking it over, he placed it into the furnace.

Once it turned red-hot, he pulled it out with tongs and picked up the hammer.

Clang.

Clang.

Zhou Yi watched from the side, his eyes widening more and more.

That technique, that rhythm, that force—

It didn’t look like someone doing this for the first time at all.

When Zhou Xiong returned, he just happened to see that the hoe had already been repaired and placed on the workbench.

He picked it up, examined it, then glanced at Zhou Hong.

He said nothing.

But that night at dinner, Zhou Xiong added an extra chopstick of food into Zhou Hong’s bowl.

Zhou Hong froze for a moment, then lowered his head and ate.

Still saying nothing.

The next day, Zhou Yi was chopping firewood in the courtyard, while Zhou Xiong and Zhou Hong worked in the forge.

As Zhou Yi chopped, he suddenly heard the hammering inside stop.

He looked up and glanced in.

Zhou Xiong was standing by the long workbench, hammer in hand, staring at Zhou Hong.

Zhou Hong stood beside him, unsure what was happening.

Zhou Xiong spoke.

“Come here.”

Zhou Hong walked over.

Zhou Xiong pointed at a piece of iron on the anvil.

“Strike it for me to see.”

Zhou Hong hesitated for a moment, then picked up the hammer.

Clang.

One strike.

Clang.

Another strike.

Zhou Xiong watched from the side, narrowing his eyes.

After more than ten strikes, Zhou Hong stopped and looked at him.

Zhou Xiong said nothing.

He walked to the corner, picked up two iron billets—one hard steel, one soft steel—and placed them on the bench.

He looked at Zhou Hong.

“Do you recognize them?”

Zhou Hong leaned in and examined them, then used a file to test them directly.

“One is hard, one is soft.”

Zhou Xiong frowned slightly, but still nodded.

He then pointed at a wooden barrel in the corner.

“What is that?”

“Oil,” Zhou Hong said.

“What is it used for?”

“Quenching.”

Zhou Xiong looked at him.

He looked for three breaths.

This man… seemed to know too much.

Then he suddenly said:

“Imperial Jade Liquid Wine.”

Zhou Hong blinked.

“Huh?”

Zhou Xiong repeated it again.

“I said, Imperial Jade Liquid Wine.”

Zhou Hong scratched his head, looking at him.

“Brother… what are you talking about? You want to drink?”

Zhou Xiong waited another breath.

Zhou Hong still looked completely confused.

Zhou Xiong withdrew his gaze.

“Nothing.”

He put the two iron pieces back in the corner and returned to the workbench.

Zhou Hong stood there, watching his brother’s back.

“Brother… did I do something wrong just now?”

Zhou Xiong didn’t turn around.

“No.”

Zhou Hong wanted to ask more, but seeing his expression, he swallowed his words.

Zhou Yi poked his head in from the doorway.

“Dad, what did that mean earlier?”

Zhou Xiong glanced at him.

“Nothing.”

Zhou Yi didn’t believe it.

But he didn’t dare ask further.

That night at dinner, Zhou Hong couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“Brother, that question you asked this afternoon… what did it mean?”

Zhou Xiong picked up a chopstick of food and put it in his mouth.

Chewed.

Swallowed.

Then looked at Zhou Hong, as if preparing to brush it off.

“Did I say anything?”

Zhou Hong froze.

“Huh?”

He stared at his brother for a long time.

Then suddenly he laughed.

“Brother, do you think I’m someone else?”

Zhou Xiong said nothing.

Zhou Hong continued, “We all learned from the old blacksmith at the village entrance. I know you might be confused, but…”

He paused.

“If you think I’m in the way, I’ll leave tomorrow.”

Zhou Xiong looked at him.

Three breaths.

Then he finally spoke, slightly awkward:

“Eat your food.”

Zhou Hong froze again.

Zhou Xiong added another chopstick of food into his bowl.

Zhou Hong looked down at the piece of meat.

Then up at his brother.

Zhou Xiong was already eating, not looking at him anymore.

Zhou Hong ate the meat.

After finishing, he suddenly said:

“Brother, no matter what you become… you will always be my brother.”

Zhou Xiong’s chopsticks paused.

Just for a moment.

Then he continued eating.

Zhou Yi, sitting nearby, looked left and right.

He didn’t understand what the “Imperial Jade Liquid Wine” line meant.

But he could feel it—his father had been thinking about something earlier.

He wanted to ask.

But he didn’t.

After dinner, Zhou Hong went to wash the dishes.

Zhou Xiong sat at the table, unmoving.

Zhou Yi leaned closer.

“Dad.”

Zhou Xiong looked at him.

Zhou Yi asked, “Does second uncle… have some kind of problem?”

Zhou Xiong was silent for a moment.

Then he shook his head.

“No.”

Zhou Yi froze.

“Then earlier today…”

Zhou Xiong didn’t let him finish.

“It’s me who has a problem…”

Zhou Yi was stunned.

But he didn’t ask further.

Zhou Xiong stood up and walked to the doorway.

Outside, the sky had turned dark. The moon had just risen, hanging at the end of the alley.

He stood there, looking at it for a long time.

Zhou Hong came out from the kitchen and saw him.

“Brother, it’s cold outside. Don’t stand too long.”

Zhou Xiong didn’t turn around.

“Mm.”

Zhou Hong went back inside.

Zhou Xiong remained standing.

Looking at the moon, his thoughts drifting back to what had happened in the afternoon.

Did I misjudge too quickly?

I should have thought of it earlier… from the very first day he arrived.

Zhou Xiong suddenly let out a soft laugh.

Very light.

Then he turned and went inside.

The door closed behind him.

Inside, Zhou Hong and Zhou Yi were sitting at the table, talking about something.

Zhou Xiong walked over and sat down.

Zhou Hong looked up.

“Brother.”

Zhou Xiong nodded.

“Mm.”

The three of them sat there.

No one spoke.

But no one felt awkward either.