Chapter 51

Chapter 51

This was the first time Su Ximu had heard crying from anyone other than himself since arriving in this world.

Sniffling, he tried to act like a big kid, reaching out his small hand to wipe away the tears from the little boy in front of him.

As he wiped, he hiccupped, trying to soothe him: "Don't, *hic*, don't cry. The medicine will, will make it stop hurting."

With that, he aimed the nozzle of the small medicine bottle at the wound on the little boy's arm and pressed it several times.

Though the lingering pain was still somewhat bothersome, for 243, who had almost grown accustomed to such discomfort, he likely thought his injury had healed. He, too, sniffled, gradually quieting his sobs.

After applying medicine to his brothers, the little one shook the bottle himself. There was only a tiny bit of medicine left, not enough for a second application.

He thought for a moment, glanced next door, and remembered the old man living alone there. So, he got up with the small medicine bottle and went next door.

A short while later, the little one returned home from next door. As soon as he came back, his eyes met those of the little boy.

Ever since he had disappeared through the wall, 243 had been staring blankly at the spot where he had vanished.

The one with the least reaction was 241, who already looked like a teenager. He merely occasionally touched his other arm, showing only a hint of confusion through his body language.

Having been busy all morning, Su Ximu didn't lie awake staring at the ceiling during his subsequent nap. Curled up in his brother's arms, he fell asleep soundly in no time.

Before drifting off, he mumbled to himself: "Tomorrow, tomorrow I'll go out again. To, to get medicine."

243 turned his head.

This time, he slept very close, almost able to hear the breath on his ear.

***

After that day, something seemed to be quietly changing within 243.

Even though he had reached an age where he could run and jump, it was as if he had just begun to develop a flicker of curiosity about the world around him.

He would still space out like his brothers, but he no longer only stared at the walls or the ceiling. His gaze would often follow the little brother running around the house.

Su Ximu couldn't stay indoors all day. Besides going to the wall to get medicine, he would still explore the surroundings when he felt bored.

Each time he went out, he would make a new discovery.

For instance, this time, he found a small white stone outside that could be used to write or draw on the ground, and it could be erased afterward.

He treasured it, happily putting the small stone in his pocket and bringing it home.

As soon as he returned home, he eagerly searched for an empty space in the house where he could draw.

In doing so, Su Ximu himself realized that the house had plenty of empty space.

Just as the little one was doodling on the ground with the stone, he heard the clanking of chains. Turning his head, he indeed saw the little boy squatting right beside him.

His little brother wanted to play with him~

That was the little one's first reaction.

Then, after he demonstrated by drawing a circle on the ground and handing the stone to the little boy, watching as the little boy also extended his right hand to draw a circle on the ground, he immediately laughed with delight.

The little brother really wanted to play with him~

Su Ximu generously offered the stone to the little boy. Then, he darted out the door and returned with another stone.

For the entire afternoon, the two little brothers squatted side by side in the same posture, each holding a small stone, drawing a row of circles on the ground.

When the little brother had drawn circles far away, Su Ximu erased them to make space and began teaching the little brother how to draw triangles.

"Triangle," the little one said, pointing at the triangle on the ground, teaching his little brother, who was squatting beside him, to say the word.

He initially thought that people here weren't talkative, but after seeing how the little brother only cried when the pain was unbearable that day, he had a new idea.

Maybe everyone didn't refuse to talk—maybe they just didn't know how.

So, since the little brother was now willing to play with him, he felt he could also teach the little brother to speak.

At this moment, little Su Ximu was brimming with confidence, believing he could definitely teach the little brother.

243 didn't understand what this meant at first, until the little teacher repeated it several times and then started touching his mouth, gently pulling his lips.

After that, he pointed at the shape on the ground and enunciated clearly: "Triangle~"

243 finally seemed to understand vaguely and tried to open his mouth.

"Ah..."

"Ooh... pfft..."

At first, his tongue was indeed very uncooperative, and when he tried to make sounds, it kept bumping against his teeth.

Fortunately, Su Ximu, the teacher, was indeed a very patient little instructor.

After saying a word, he would open his mouth wide to show the struggling, clumsy student the position of his tongue.

Although 243 had barely developed language skills, his physical development was fine. Through persistent attempts, he finally uttered his first clear syllable: "Sai."

It sounded similar to "san." The little teacher, who believed in encouraging education, immediately clapped his hands excitedly and praised him warmly: "So amazing!"

After saying that, he searched his pocket again and took out a little yellow flower he'd found that day, then handed it over: "Little brother, this is for you."

243 held the flower in his hand, stunned, seeming unsure what to do with such a fragile-looking little flower. He could only keep holding it up in his hand.

Even when sleeping at night, he maintained a lying on his back position with both hands on his chest, holding the small yellow flower.

But his eyes never left the "little teacher."

242, who had been quiet all day, watched this scene. After everyone in the house fell asleep, he walked over to his brother 243, reached out, and turned 243's head away.

Then he returned to his own spot, lay down, held the little one again, this time facing him.

During this, the sound of chains nearly woke 243 up.

***

On the sixth day after the gathering activity ended, another incident occurred in the residential area.

Through a crack in the door, Su Ximu saw that the grandfather living next door was taken away in a large, odd-looking truck.

He saw many people inside the truck. The person at the back of the truck bed seemed familiar—it was an auntie from a house a few doors down.

The grandfather next door and this auntie were taken away together in the big truck.

Where were they taking the grandfather next door?

Compared to his oldest brother and Big Brother, Grandpa next door was a little weird.

Grandpa next door seemed to be able to hear him talking with his brothers at home. Yesterday, when he went next door, Grandpa even showed him the triangle he had drawn.

At home, except for Big Brother, neither his oldest brother nor Second Brother had learned to draw from him.

He had also talked with Grandpa next door over the past two days. Every time he laughed, Grandpa would laugh too. When he didn't laugh, Grandpa also seemed to stop laughing.

Because he didn't have many words, Su Ximu could only say that Grandpa was a bit strange.

But now it seemed like Grandpa was going to leave, and he felt somewhat reluctant to see him go.

Inside the vehicle that hadn't yet been closed, an elderly man with completely white hair and beard, who looked somewhat fierce, seemed to sense a gaze that held no malice, only a hint of reluctance.

He looked up, grinning a stiff, almost eerie smile in that direction.

This was the first emotion-related expression he had imitated from the child who had put medicine on him.

Su Ximu, inside the doorway, realized Grandpa was smiling at him and temporarily set aside his reluctance, smiling back at Grandpa.

The little boy smiled with his eyes curved, revealing a sweet little dimple.

It was a very beautiful smile.

He thought maybe Grandpa was moving away.

Perhaps he was going to live with his family.

Grandpa's house was still here, so they might have a chance to meet again in the future.

In the eyes of the small child, the hulking steel vehicle, like a monster, stayed in the residential area for a total of two hours.

After taking away the last resident, the operator climbed into the vehicle. The engine roared to life with a loud, grating sound, stirring up a cloud of dust and belching thick black smoke as it drove away.

Su Ximu pressed against the door crack, and 243, who was slightly taller, also learned to press against the door crack.

Both were watching the cloud of dust stirred up by the departing vehicle. Su Ximu blinked, afraid the sand would get into his eyes and cause pain. In contrast, 243’s eyes flashed with a dark gold glint at one moment.

After the operator left, the residential area settled into quiet again.

Su Ximu and 243, the two younger brothers, grew closer and played together more often. Even two months later, on one particular day, when Su Ximu was preparing to go outside to play, 243 expressed for the first time a desire to go out with him.

He was linked by chains with his brothers, so if he wanted to go out, he had to take both brothers with him.

243 was very determined, strong as a bull calf, charging forward without hesitation.

In the end, he overcame his more passive oldest brother and his also more passive Second Brother. The chains rattled as he dragged them both out the door.

The residential area had no surveillance, and hardly anyone was out at that time.

This was the first time Su Ximu had been accompanied by his brothers outside. Like a lively and happy little bird, his eyes sparkled the whole way as he shared all the new and fun spots he had discovered during this time.

"Brother, look, that's the slide," the little one said, pointing to a naturally formed small sand dune and calling it a slide.

Then he walked to the top of the sand dune and showed his brothers how it worked.

243 went first. As soon as his younger brother finished sliding, he had already dragged his brothers up to the top of the sand dune.

Sitting down, 243 pushed off with his legs and slid down the "slide" at high speed.

He also brought his two brothers, who hadn't reacted yet, tumbling down with him, covering them all in dust.

After sliding down the sand dune, 243 noticed small yellow flowers growing on a cactus not far away.

Su Ximu saw that his oldest brother and Big Brother weren't hurt, so he also looked in the direction his Big Brother was pointing.

The cactus wasn't far. He walked with small steps to the base of the plant, skillfully picked up the fallen flowers, and turned back to hand them to his still-excited Big Brother.

He made sure to pick three flowers, intending to give one to each of his three brothers.

But before he could distribute the remaining two, 242 glanced at the flowers, then at his younger brother, and then at the little one he’d cuddled to sleep for over two months.

Suddenly, he shifted his feet, scuffing the gravel lightly.