"That second uncle who has been up to no good since he was a child, lazy and greedy, took my grandma’s money and left ages ago to roam around?" An Ping was worried about mishearing, so he confirmed. "You are completely right." An Shuchao nodded in agreement. "He’s been gone for over ten years, what’s he coming back for now?" An Hao immediately knew nothing good was afoot; those people earlier probably had something to do with him. "After so long? I even thought he was dead! Yet he’s back." "Don’t talk nonsense. That’s your second uncle!" An Shuchao glared at An Ping and sighed helplessly, "Your second uncle has indeed messed up! But he doesn’t have much time left; he’s terminally ill! The family has been wandering outside for a long time, coming back only because they’ve hit rock bottom!" "Dad, are you overflowing with sympathy?" An Hao didn’t have a good impression of this second uncle. In her mind, he had another name: troublemaker. "Did he cause trouble or owe money outside? Those people at the door must be here to collect debts, right? He definitely brought them." An Shuchao neither admitted nor denied: "I know you don’t like him..." "It’s more than just dislike." An Ping spat on the floor, "Can you even call what he’s done human acts?" An Ping’s impression of his second uncle was vague, but what he had done was engraved in his mind. When he was little, grandma would boil an egg to help him with nutrients. He wouldn’t get to eat it because his second uncle would snatch it away. His second uncle was lazy, stealing hens and grain from the production team, and would compete for food at home after eating outside. "That’s all in the past. Now he’s destitute, can’t make a living, and is full of ailments. If I, as his elder brother, don’t care for him, wouldn’t he die on the street?" Despite his brother being utterly hopeless, the blood ties meant he couldn’t turn a blind eye. "Die on the street? Bro, who wants me to die on the street?" Along with the sound of the door opening came a lazy, listless voice. An Hao’s second uncle, named An Baoguo. Baoguo, Baoguo, protect the country. Such a great name with deep meaning. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩•𝗳𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝕟𝕖𝕥 But the second uncle not only failed to protect the country, he couldn’t even take care of himself. From someone roving outside becoming neither human nor ghost, now he’s become neither human nor ghost from loafing around. He’s had enough wandering, returned home, found himself a nice place to retire. "Baoguo, come in quickly! See who’s all here now." An Shuchao beckoned to his younger brother. An Baoguo stepped over the threshold, glanced at An Hao and An Ping sitting in the room, and snorted coldly: "You two little brats! Just waiting for your second uncle to die, aren’t you?" "How could you say that! Who’s wishing you’d die? We’re all hoping for your well-being!" An Shuchao chastised softly, "Baoguo, you aren’t getting any younger, you’re quite old now, can’t you act mature?" "Bro, is this my fault? You tell these two brats, second uncle hasn’t returned home for a long time, spent over ten years out there and finally making his way home, only to catch a terminal illness! You see, I’m already feeling rough inside! Yet they curse me!" An Baoguo spoke angrily.