"Alright, Second Brother, do you need to meddle in big sister's affairs? Do you even have a say here? I’ve only been gone a few days, and you’re already getting out of line? Get out of here!"

Seeing big sister’s face flush red, her eyes shimmering with tears, David Carter quickly shouted angrily at Daniel Carter. This guy’s mouth had always been foul—back in school, he and his brothers had gotten into countless pointless fights because of it.

With a heavy snort, Daniel Carter said no more and just buried his head in his food.

Ever since graduation, except for Big Brother, Daniel Carter couldn’t stand anyone at home. It had been over two years since he graduated, and he still hadn’t managed to get a job at the factory. Daniel Carter was restless, wandering around like a wild horse all day. Every few days, someone would come to the door to complain about him, but Old Carter couldn’t control him anymore. Feeling guilty for not being able to get Daniel Carter a job at the factory, he could only apologize everywhere in private.

Sensing the atmosphere turning cold because of this topic, David Carter quickly changed the subject: "Third Brother, you’re about to graduate too. How confident are you about the college entrance exam?"

"Big Brother, the teaching quality at Jiangmiao Middle School is just average. My grades are only mid-level in the class, so I’m really not that confident." Charles Carter saw Big Brother looking at him and his eyes became evasive. He knew his own situation and didn’t dare to talk big in front of David Carter.

"Hmph, whether you get in or not, you still have to study hard. If you can’t get into college, then take the self-study exams. These days, without skills or a diploma, how are you going to get by? Is the whole family supposed to wait for the factory to assign jobs?"

David Carter also knew that Charles Carter's grades were decent at the school for employees’ children, but at Jiangmiao Middle School, they were just average. Each year, only about a dozen students from Jiangmiao made it into college, junior college, or technical school, and Charles Carter clearly wasn’t among them.

There were five people in his family. Big sister was lucky to have already been assigned to the factory—there was a high demand for female workers, so it was easier. But for male workers, even the children of factory employees had a hard time getting in. If he hadn’t managed to get out through exams, the family would really be in trouble.

Even now, things were tough. Second Brother was running wild everywhere, and his mom had told him several times to come home and discipline Daniel. But he’d been too busy in the past six months to care. Now that he finally had some free time, he could tighten the reins on this wild horse, Daniel Carter, or else something big might happen one day.

Only Fourth BrotherWilliam Carter was doing well—he was in his first year at Jiangkou County Middle School. The whole family was counting on him to get into college like David Carter did, to bring honor to the The Carter Family. If two college students came out of one family at the cotton mill, they’d be the first.

The whole meal was dampened by Daniel Carter's few words. David Carter realized that some discord had crept into his family. After being away for so long, he hadn’t expected that his once harmonious family would have problems. It gave him a headache.

Father didn’t say a word at the table, clearly unable to control Daniel Carter anymore. Mother looked worried, wanting to speak but holding back. Daniel had no job, and Charles was about to graduate from high school. With two able-bodied young men at home unemployed, it was no wonder his parents were anxious.

After dinner, only David Carter and his mother were left in the living room. Washing dishes was always big sister’s job. Father had gone off to play chess with some friends, and the other brothers had quietly slipped out, as if they knew mother and Big Brother had things to discuss.

Chapter Seven: Bitterness

"Mom, where is Steven Lee from? Is he a factory kid?" David Carter undid the top two buttons of his shirt. Even the breeze from the fan felt hot and humid. It wasn’t even June yet, but the weather had already turned stifling.

"No, he’s from Meixian, recruited from outside." Clearly, Susan Hill wasn’t too happy about the man her daughter had chosen. Her daughter was good-looking and well-behaved, a high school graduate, and considered promising at the factory. Yet she’d chosen an outsider, and not just that, but an ordinary worker. It really bothered her. But she’d always been gentle and didn’t interfere much in her children’s affairs, so she only reminded her daughter to think carefully and didn’t forcefully object.

"Oh?" David Carter frowned. In the past two years, most of the male workers recruited from outside had the hardest, most exhausting jobs. Why would big sister be interested in someone like that?

"If you have time, talk to your sister. That Steven Lee may be honest and sincere, but these days, men like him aren’t popular. If she marries him, she’ll have a hard life." Susan Hill sighed. "David, your sister still listens to you. She won’t listen to me or your father anymore, and she’s even quarreled with Daniel a few times. Please talk to her."

David Carter could only scratch his head and agree. His big sister was only a year older than him—at twenty-two, it was the right age to find a partner. But choosing an outsider as a young worker was unexpected. No wonder the family was unhappy. It looked like he’d have to handle this matter again. Coming home and running into all these issues made David Carter feel troubled.

"Bro, Brother Charles and Brother John are here to see you." Daniel Carter's rough voice called from outside the window.