The next day, everyone went to work or school as usual. Wu Guihua gave a few instructions at breakfast, and Jun Jiuli took Zhao Siming to surrender.
Zhao Siming's eyes were red and swollen, with dark circles underneath. He remained silent all the way, slowing his pace as they got closer to the police station.
Jun Jiuli was patient and didn't rush him. Zhao Siming, however, kept looking at Jun Jiuli with a sad and hurt expression.
The police station was just ahead, and Zhao Siming stopped.
"Third Brother, I'm so scared."
Jun Jiuli also stopped and looked at him leisurely, "Then what do you want to do? Go or not go?"
Cold sweat broke out on Zhao Siming's back. He had completely lost the resolute demeanor he had yesterday.
"Let me have a moment."
"Alright."
Jun Jiuli found a shady spot to wait for him, while Zhao Siming stood frozen, unwilling to move.
He looked at the entrance of the police station as if it were an abyss, fearing that once inside, there would be no way back.
He stood there for an hour, but his fear did not diminish; it only grew.
His feet felt as if they were welded to the ground, and he dared not step forward. Finally, he couldn't help but turn and run back. Jun Jiuli didn't call out to him, and he ran faster and faster.
When he reached the doorstep of his home, he leaned on the wooden door, panting. As he turned around, he saw Jun Jiuli standing there with a blank expression.
"Third Brother, I'm not going."
As he said this, he opened the door and went inside, feeling like he was fleeing. He was afraid Jun Jiuli would try to persuade him to go back.
When Wu Guihua returned from work, she saw Jun Jiuli and asked, her eyes full of tears, "Third Son, what did the police say? How long will your fourth brother be sentenced?"
"My fourth brother didn't go."
Wu Guihua froze for a moment, then her voice suddenly rose, "He didn't go? Why didn't he go? If it's any later, it will be too late. If they find out about our family, it won't count as a voluntary surrender."
"I think fourth brother was scared."
Hearing Jun Jiuli's words, Wu Guihua cried even harder, "He's still so young, it's normal for him to be scared. It's all my fault for harming your brother. Third Son, why don't you..."
Jun Jiuli raised his hand to stop her, "Stop. I'm the same age as him. There's no reason for him to be scared and I not to be. Mom, if you act like this, I'll be sad too. I'm your son too."
"Third Son, are you blaming Mom?"
She looked at Jun Jiuli with disbelief, "Mom's character..."
"Don't say any more. If you were fair, you wouldn't have said that just now. Either let Eldest Brother go, or let Fourth Brother go. They are both your sons, and it's normal for you to find it hard to give up on either.
You chose to abandon Fourth Brother yesterday, so don't pretend to be a loving mother, and don't think about dragging me into this. You are my mother, and I accepted it when you said we would draw lots.
If it's not my business, don't expect me to grudgingly accept it. Anyway, Eldest Brother and Fourth Brother both listen to you, so you should think clearly."
"You unfilial son, how can you speak to me like that? If it weren't for your mother, you would have starved to death long ago.
Your Eldest Brother didn't do it on purpose. If he had, I would have made him pay with his life for that boy. But what could be done? You are my son."
"You have a scale in your heart. Can you honestly say you haven't been biased towards us brothers?"
Seeing Jun Jiuli's cold eyes, Wu Guihua couldn't even cry anymore. Jun Jiuli didn't want to listen to her wailing and went back to his room.
Soon, Zhao Daming also came home from work. Since he was the one who caused the death of the person, he dared not speak out and just sat beside Wu Guihua, sighing.
Wu Guihua gave money to Zhao Erhua to make up for the class fees. After being criticized by the class teacher, she also had to apologize to the whole class.
During school, she was pointed at and whispered about, and she had cried several times in secret. She was already feeling unhappy, and when she learned that Zhao Siming had gone back on his word and wouldn't go, she went completely mad.
Rolling up her sleeves, she ran to the door of the Zhao brothers' room and shouted, "Zhao Siming, you cowardly little scaredy-cat! You promised so well yesterday, and today you go back on your word. Are you trying to ruin our entire family?"
Zhao Siming was sitting blankly on the bed. Hearing this voice, he came alive as if resurrected, rushed over, and pulled the door open.
Zhao Erhua lunged in and almost fell. After regaining her balance, she pointed at Zhao Siming's nose and started scolding him again.
"Are you crazy? Do you still have any respect for me as your second sister? We didn't force you yesterday..."
*Slap!* A very loud sound.
"You dare to hit me? You actually dare to hit me?"
Zhao Erhua rushed forward desperately, scratching at Zhao Siming's face with both hands.
Zhao Siming grabbed her hair, immobilizing her, and ruthlessly kicked Zhao Erhua in the stomach.
Zhao Erhua fell to the ground with a thud, breaking out in a cold sweat from the pain, only able to let out small moans.
Zhao Daming had intended for Zhao Erhua to make a scene, but now that he knew a fight had broken out, he rushed over to mediate.
Seeing Zhao Erhua lying on the ground, his mother and son were both stunned and rushed to help her up.
"Second Sister, Second Sister, how are you feeling?"
"Hiss, it hurts. Mom, my stomach hurts so much."
They didn't have much money. Although Wu Guihua was heartbroken, she didn't want to send the girl to the hospital. She helped her back to the room and fussed over her.
Zhao Daming, seeing the enraged Zhao Siming, dared not provoke him and turned his anger towards Jun Jiuli.
"Third Son, Second and Fourth are both angry. Can't you try to calm them down? I'm so disappointed in you."
"I'm also very disappointed in you. Didn't this situation arise because of you and Second Sister?"
Zhao Siming shoved Zhao Daming away forcefully. "Third Brother is right. I don't want to see you." With that, he slammed the door shut.
"Open the door, open the door! Go and apologize to your Second Sister. You were too rough and didn't consider us a family!"
Zhao Siming yelled through the door, "How are we family? I'm clearly your scapegoat."
Hearing this, all of Zhao Daming's strength drained away. He listlessly went to another room to check on Zhao Erhua.
Wu Guihua wailed, "My life is so hard. Our once happy family has fallen into this state."
Zhao Erhua was in too much pain to pay attention to her, and Zhao Daming stood by silently with his head bowed.
Wuming and Sanhua didn't dare to speak and burrowed under their blankets, pretending to sleep.
Zhao Erming was at a classmate's house and wouldn't be back today, so only Jun Jiuli and Zhao Siming were in the room.
Zhao Siming asked tremblingly, "Third Brother, did I do something wrong? You don't know, I was really scared today. I'm still so young."
"No, you are not the one who committed the crime."
Hearing this, Zhao Siming breathed a sigh of relief. "But what should I do? If Eldest Brother goes to jail, our family won't be able to put food on the table."
"For all these years, Eldest Brother didn't earn money and only spent it, yet our family has still managed to get by."
"Third Brother, you're right. We are both educated people, and we cannot disregard the law. Taking the blame is also illegal."
He nodded after speaking and returned to his bed, as if he had made a decision.