"Yes, I used to favor the third and fifth, supported their education, bought a job for the third, married a wife, and all the money spent was sent back by the eldest, because as the big brother, he had the responsibility to take care of his younger siblings."

"Now, the eldest has lost a leg, so I need to be more partial towards the eldest. You, as his siblings, also have the responsibility to take care of the eldest, so this family cannot be divided."

"After all, this family has been supported by the eldest couple all these years. Now that the eldest has lost a leg, this family will have to rely on you and the third to support it."

"Second, I know you’ve always blamed Mom for being partial, but even a hand has long and short fingers. It’s normal for Mom to be a little biased, but before, Mom was partial to the third, and from now on, Mom will be partial to the eldest. No matter what you think, the eldest has contributed the most to this family. Now the eldest is back home with a lost leg, and it’s the time when he needs family care the most, so I absolutely will not allow you to abandon your big brother."

"Second, your big brother is a hero. We, as relatives, cannot let the hero feel cold-hearted."

"Well said."

The village chief walked into the courtyard and looked at Mrs. Xiang Dong, "Xiang Dong’s mom, I didn’t expect you to have such awareness. Very good, we common folks enjoy the protection of heroes, and when heroes return injured, we should welcome them with open arms, we absolutely must not let them down."

The village chief walked to Ma Xiangdong’s side and patted his shoulder, "Xiang Dong, don’t worry, we’ll take care of you together in the future."

"Thank you, village chief. I will also do some tasks within my ability in the future. I will definitely not be a burden." Ma Xiangdong said, his eyes reddened.

When mom hit the second brother earlier, Ma Xiangdong didn’t say a word, as he was hurt by the second brother too.

He did so much for this family, including his wife, but he didn’t expect that after losing a leg and just returning home, he would be despised as a burden, a freeloader by the second brother and his wife.

He was truly hurt.

The village chief expressed concern for a few words, knowing that Ma Xiangdong just returned home and was physically weak, needing more rest, so he didn’t stay long and left.

He also took away those meddlesome elderly people with him.

"Xiang Dong... Daya’s dad..."

After work, Qian Hongmei, who only learned about her husband’s return, hurriedly ran in.

She immediately saw Ma Xiangdong sitting in a wheelchair, and instantly tears flowed down her face as she rushed to him, "Daya’s dad, sob, it’s good you’re back, it’s good you’re back, sob..."

Qian Hongmei is a very clear-minded woman.

She wasn’t upset about her husband losing a leg; she was just grateful that he was alive and back by her side.

For those soldiers who remained on the battlefield forever, she was grateful that her husband could keep his life and come home to reunite with her.

Despite thinking like this, seeing her husband’s empty pant leg, Qian Hongmei still cried sorrowfully.

Daya and Erya came back, saw that their dad lost a leg, and cried too.

Yuan Chun, with a headache from the three women crying, said, "Eldest sister-in-law, don’t cry for now, Xiang Dong just got home, push him back to the room to rest first..."

Yuan Chun paused for a moment, then said, "Push Xiang Dong to rest in the third brother’s room first, Xiang Dong’s leg injury isn’t healed yet, he can’t stay in the damp thatched house."

The Ma family’s house is a new brick house built three years ago, with a total of six rooms, in a double-hinged layout. The front and back rooms on the east side are occupied by the original owner in the front and Ma Xiangling in the back.

The middle has a big and a small room front and back, with the small one at the back as the kitchen and the big one in front as the hall.

The west side also has front and back rooms, with Ma Laosan living in the front room and Ma Laoer in the back room.

The money spent on building the house was from the allowances sent back by Ma Xiangdong, and because they built the brick house and also spent a lot on buying a job and marrying a wife for the third, the original owner actually doesn’t have much money left.