The two brothers, one older and one younger, are eight years apart in age. They have an older sister, Wang Qian, and a younger sister, Wang Jing, who has just learned to walk a few months ago. It is extremely rare for a family to have four children in this day and age when people have fewer children. The burden they have endured in the past, when having a second child was something that had to be done in secret, is unimaginable.
To support their family, their father worked away from home year-round, and they could only see each other at the end of the year.
Their mother, shortly after her younger sister Wang Jing learned to walk, also went to work for their father. In order to support their four children, they were only in their forties, but their faces were already withered and their hair was full of white, looking like they were in their fifties and the sun was setting.
Many people have asked them why they had so many children, and the father, revealing a set of smoky, yellowed teeth, always smiles and says,
"Give children more companions."
Wang Qian, the older sister, is fifteen years old. While other girls her age are enjoying princess treatment, she leads her younger brother Dewen, who is two years younger than her, her younger brother Dewu, who is ten years younger than her, and her younger sister Wang Jing, who is carried on Dewu's small back, to collect garbage and sell it for money. All they have left is their grandmother, who has almost lost all her teeth and has difficulty walking, but she still makes sure they have hot meals every day.
The midday sun was scorching; standing outside, you'd be drenched in sweat in no time.
The four brothers and sisters were all drenched in sweat after picking up trash all morning. It was so hot today that not many people were out and about, so they didn't even pick up many bottles, only some cardboard boxes and other items.
Wang Qian, the older sister, wiped her sweat, looked at the various items in her hand that could barely be considered a bag, and forced a smile, saying in a deliberately relaxed tone, "Dewen, when we have some money later, I'll buy you and Dewu an ice pop each~"
Young and inexperienced, Devon shook his head, licked his chapped lips, looked at his sister who was covered in sweat, and said, "Sister, I don't want to eat it. Just buy it for Dewu."
"I don't eat, I prefer to drink water."
Five-year-old Dewu barely knew any words, but after his older brother Dewu spoke, he hurriedly picked up on this incredibly childish excuse.
Looking at the small boy Dewu carrying his younger sister Wang Jing on his back, Wang Qian felt a pang of sadness. She reached out her thin, dark hand and touched Dewu's sweaty cheek. Seeing the little guy giving her a big smile, she couldn't help but feel a lump in her throat. She held back her emotions and smiled again, saying, "Dewu, it's okay. We'll get plenty of money from this bag of trash, several coins!"
"I'll buy it for you, you can eat it," Devon said to Dewu with his stern face.
"Oh well"
Dewu, carrying his little sister on his back, was coaxed by his older brothers and sisters, but he still insisted, "Sister, brother, when the popsicles are bought, you have to have a few too."
"Yes, we'll eat too."
Wang Qian and Dewen exchanged a glance and said in unison.
The four brothers and sisters, who found joy in a single popsicle, hummed a tune as they walked along the sun-drenched road. Every budding tree they encountered brought them much happiness.
The owner of the scrap metal recycling station knew about the children's situation, so even if only a small amount of trash in a whole bag of scrap metal collected by the children was worth recycling, he would always give them ten yuan and tell them that they didn't need to come all this way in the future, but could just call him and he could come pick it up on his motorcycle.
But each time, the two sensible children, Wang Qian and Dewen, would shyly lower their heads, yet firmly shake their heads.
On the way back,
Dewu skipped around with an ice pop in his hand. He let his older sister and brother each take a bite, then dipped his younger sister's lips in it. Next, he carefully stuck out his tongue and licked the cool ice pop. He grinned and smiled very happily.
Home is getting closer and closer.
The signal tower at the village entrance appeared before the children, passing over layers of trees and rooftops.
"Splash..."
The sound of water gently lapping against the bank could be heard. It was the hottest time of day, and there were few people around Anshang River. Only in the distance, on a small tributary of Anshang River, were adults sitting with their fishing nets spread out, waiting for the fish to be caught.
"Sister, brother, I want to play for a while~" Dewu said longingly, looking at the clear river path with its gurgling water.
Wang Qian and Dewen exchanged a glance. The two children, whose feet ached from walking and who were also covered in sweat and exhausted, looked at the small tributary that was no more than two meters wide and whose water flowed only up to their ankles. They nodded and agreed to rest there for a while.
"Oh~~~ That's great~~~"
With his sister and brother's consent, Dewu happily walked down the path, placed his younger sister in the basket on the bank, and carefully placed her shoes on the bank. Dewu stepped into the water, splashing up cool sprays.
Dewu lay down in the water, which was only up to his ankles and didn't even reach his ears. He lay there grinning, feeling like he was in heaven, enveloped by the cool water after eating an ice pop.
Wang Qian and Dewen sat on the shore, looking after their younger sister Wang Jing, while taking off their shoes and putting their sore feet in the water to give their tired feet a short rest after a morning of running around.
"Hey bro, you're here to play too!"
Dewu lay down for a while, then stood up and grinned at his brother.
As he spoke, Dewu took a few steps forward, just about to splash and play with his brother Dewen as usual, when he suddenly felt that the place where his right foot was stepping was not as solid as usual, but rather empty and unsettling...
This riverbed, which is normally solid and clearly part of the land, has somehow turned into a hidden pit!
He hadn't even stopped smiling at his older siblings when his small body sank into the water.
"elder brother!"
As Dewu sank into the water, the moment his head surfaced due to buoyancy, he instinctively shouted out the name that made him feel safest!
The next moment, cool water was poured into his mouth. His body's self-protection mechanism allowed him to only breathe in this situation, and he could no longer make a sound.
"Thump!"
With a stern face and a lack of eloquence due to pressure, Devon immediately stood up and ran a few steps into the water the moment his younger brother fell in. The water flowed from west to east and seemed weak on the shore, but at this moment, it suddenly felt so strong!
Less than 100 meters to the east is Anshang Reservoir.
Devon jumped into the water and successfully grabbed his younger brother's arm. He instinctively pulled his brother up, and Dewu, whose head was already submerged, resurfaced. Dewu, who had just sprayed Devon with a mouthful of water, hadn't even cried out before he was submerged again with his brother.
"ah!"
"Help!!!"
Even the strongest woman can be slow to react in this momentous situation, lamenting that she was a little slower than her younger brother, Dewen. Tears streamed down her face as she desperately called for help from the adults lying in the distance, their sleep uncertain. Then, she chased after her two brothers along the riverbank, grabbing onto a small tree and stretching out her dark little hand, crying, "Grab my hand! Grab my hand!!!"
The merciless current carried the two children, who were desperately struggling, towards the reservoir.
Wang Qian chased after her two younger brothers, crying, but accidentally stepped into the muddy riverbank. The river splashed up again, and all three talking children fell into the river.