Just that one glance had already conveyed so much meaning. Mark Bolton was no fool, and he began to value this cousin—who had changed so much in just a year—three times more. A thought flashed through his mind: he hadn’t expected his cousin to be such a naturally gifted and clever person. Why hadn’t he noticed it before? Still, he didn’t dwell on it at this moment. Normally, he wouldn’t have lost his composure like this; after all, the other party was just an eleven-year-old child. Even if the child hit the nail on the head, he wouldn’t necessarily turn to a child for advice on what to do. Truth be told, Mark Bolton didn’t have any grand ambitions. Unlike his elder brother, who aimed high, he only hoped to secure a decent job in his hometown, to maintain his dignity among the villagers, and to provide for his family. This time, with his elder brother returning, he wanted him to go to the capital to find a job. He was deeply attached to his hometown and didn’t want to leave, but the situation left him with no choice, so he was already somewhat tempted, though still reluctant. Today, he had drunk a few more cups than usual, and with his mind troubled by these matters for days, hearing these words struck right at the heart of the issue. It was as if a drowning man had grabbed a lifeline. Even knowing that a child might not have anything useful to say, he still had to ask for the details.

“Aunt’s husband, don’t blame our cousin. He’s been smart since he was little, and now it seems he might accomplish something great in the future. Tsk tsk, to have such insight at just eleven years old is truly remarkable. Cousin, please tell your third brother more—do you have any good ideas?”

What parent doesn’t like to hear others praise their child? Samuel Carter was no exception. Hearing Mark Bolton’s words, he was immediately filled with joy and responded with a few modest remarks, smiling. He didn’t really understand these things, nor did he believe a child could truly offer anything useful. The child’s temperament had become increasingly odd lately, and the fact that he spoke so much today might be a good sign. So, he simply poured himself another drink and said nothing more.

“I heard big brother is back?” David Carter didn’t say what Mark Bolton wanted to hear, instead asking a seemingly unrelated question.

Mark Bolton wasn’t in a hurry and nodded, “Yes, your big brother has been back for some days now. It’s just that there’s so much going on at home that he hasn’t come to pay his respects to your parents yet. It’s really quite rude, and I hope you won’t take offense.” Normally, he would have just nodded, but facing this calm and composed cousin who seemed nothing like a child, he was extremely cautious. Although the latter part of his sentence was addressed to Samuel Carter, his eyes never left David Carter.

“Having big brother visit the various elders would probably carry a different weight, wouldn’t it?” As he said this, David Carter himself wasn’t sure. This big brother he’d never met was said by this third brother to be quite impressive, but who knew if he was the same outside? He’d seen plenty of people who were only tough at home—who knew if this one was like that?

When Mark Bolton heard this, his eyes lit up again, but his face flushed a little. He knew that in both talent and learning, he was far inferior to his big brother. Still, having a child see through this so easily made him uncomfortable, but he still asked, “And then?”

In his heart, David Carter had given up on this third brother. If something really happened, it was hard to say how much help he could be. But since the conversation had come this far, he could only reply coolly, “After that, it depends on whether third brother understands what the elders want. Give more power to those with more authority, less to those with less, and keep the rest for yourself. As long as everyone is satisfied, that’s all that matters. It’s up to third brother to see if he can handle things thoroughly. I’m just a child—I don’t understand anything.” With that, he didn’t wait for Mark Bolton to say anything else, put down his bowl and chopsticks, and walked straight out of the room.

“Yes, yes, what can a child understand? Mark, don’t listen to his nonsense. Come, let’s drink,” Samuel Carter chimed in from the side.

……

Mark Bolton hurried back to the county town. As he was leaving, his manners became even more meticulous. Ignoring the surprised looks from Samuel Carter and his wife, he grabbed David Carter’s hand and said, “Cousin, third brother is heading back now, but don’t worry—your business is my business from now on. Once I’ve taken care of my own affairs, I’ll definitely find you a beautiful wife, and the matter of the county school will be no problem at all…”

But to David Carter, these words were all well-intentioned, yet they sounded awkward no matter how he heard them. After considering for a moment, he still replied coldly, “Third… brother, just take care of your own business. You don’t need to worry about mine…”

Before he could finish, Samuel Carter pulled him aside. The burly man was truly anxious and immediately began scolding him harshly.