After hearing Frank Quinn's words, Samuel Brooks couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time. This guy was great in every way, except his self-esteem was a bit too strong—almost to the point of being overly sensitive.

“You're right. Fine, I'll accept the money, but I only want half. You help me return the other half to Grandpa Brooks.”

Frank Quinn thought for a moment, split the money in half, and handed it to Samuel Brooks, saying, “There's no problem with eating at your house, but my sister and I won't stay there. Also, I want Grandpa Brooks to teach me how to distinguish antiques. Consider this money as tuition.”

Frank Quinn didn't have a great relationship with the other kids around, and he didn't want to subject his sister to their judgmental looks, so he was unwilling to stay at The Brooks Family.

There was another, even more important reason: every time he saw other parents scolding or doting on their children, Frank Quinn always felt an indescribable pain inside.

As for learning how to identify antiques, Frank Quinn had his own little plan. The fact that the broken glass bottle was worth so much had truly shocked him. He didn't want to miss out on any treasures in the future just because he didn't know any better.

“You really are a weirdo. Why do you want to learn that stuff?”

Samuel Brooks stared at Frank Quinn for a long time, shook his head, and said, “I can't make that decision. You keep the money and talk to Grandpa yourself tomorrow.”

Although his name sounded refined, Samuel Brooks actually preferred martial arts over literature, and his skills were even better than Frank Quinn's. That's why Old Brooks always kept him close—he wanted to pass down his legacy to him.

“Alright, I'll talk to Grandpa Brooks myself tomorrow.”

Frank Quinn nodded, glanced at the sky, and said, “I should head back. Next time, I'll take you to catch crickets. There's a big general in Old Thompson's pepper field, but it got away.”

“Great, don't forget!” Hearing this, Samuel Brooks immediately beamed with joy. If Frank Quinn weren't in a hurry to go home and take care of his sister, he probably would have dragged him off to catch crickets right then and there.

After saying goodbye to Samuel Brooks, Frank Quinn crossed a patch of wild graves and finally returned to his “home” by the railway. The big yellow dog that usually lay outside the door silently wagged its tail at Frank Quinn.

As the saying goes, a dog that bites doesn't bark. Raised by Frank Quinn and his sister since it was a pup, Big Yellow was just a mutt, but it was exceptionally fierce. Even the big wolfdog guarding the martial arts school in town would tuck its tail and avoid it.

A few days ago, a man who'd gone mad during the chaos wandered in here for no reason. If Frank Quinn hadn't come back early and stopped Big Yellow, the dog's jaws might have torn out the man's throat.

Affectionately rubbing the fur on Big Yellow's neck, Frank Quinn gently pushed open the door. The candle on the table was almost burned out, its thin flame looking like it could go out at any moment.

After tucking the thin blanket his sister had kicked off back around her, Frank Quinn lay down to sleep without undressing. Ever since the incident at home five years ago, he hadn't slept without his clothes on.

……

“Grace Quinn, if you don't behave, your brother won't want you anymore!”

Standing at the gate of the railway elementary school, Frank Quinn frowned. Today, he and his sister were still wearing old clothes, but they were very clean. Even people who saw them often might not recognize the Frank Quinn siblings at first glance.

But the little girl's stubbornness still exceeded Frank Quinn's expectations.

Just now, when he took his sister to enroll at school, Grace Quinn, who had already finished the fourth and fifth grade curriculum, actually pretended to be clueless in front of the teacher and failed even the simplest entrance exam.

“Bad brother, you don't want Grace anymore, no one loves Grace!”

Hearing Frank Quinn's words, the little girl immediately started crying, “Grace doesn't want to go to school, Grace wants to be with brother, always with brother!”

To Grace Quinn, the world hadn't given her many good memories. Other than her brother, she had received a lot of ridicule and cold looks. Although she didn't resent those people, Grace Quinn still couldn't bring herself to study and live with them.

“Alright, Grace, don't cry. It's my fault. Sigh, fine, if you don't want to go to school, then you don't have to.”

Looking at his sister sobbing and hiccuping, Frank Quinn felt as if a giant hand was squeezing his heart. The saying “an elder brother is like a father” couldn't be more fitting for him. Every time the little girl cried like this, Frank Quinn always gave in.

Still, Frank Quinn was a bit annoyed. After taking the money from Samuel Brooks yesterday, he had planned to register household accounts for himself and his sister in town, which would only cost eighty yuan.

With household registration, his sister could go to school, and Frank Quinn also planned to learn a trade to earn money. That way, people in town wouldn't look at them differently anymore. But his sister just couldn't understand his good intentions.

“Do you promise?” Grace Quinn peeked out from between her fingers covering her face.

“I promise. Don't cry. I'll take you to Samuel’s house to play, but you have to behave.” Frank Quinn smiled helplessly. Even though he knew his sister was faking it, he just couldn't bring himself to discipline the only family he had left in the world.

“Grace is the most well-behaved.” Hearing her brother's words, Grace Quinn lowered her hands from her face, her eyes curving into crescent moons as she smiled. That hint of mischief in her eyes made it impossible for Frank Quinn to even think about punishing her.