My brother's room was covered with another layer of oiled paper, and he said his legs hadn't walked for a long time.

Before, when the sun was big, I could faintly smell the scent of the sun.

Now it's gone.

I stood silently beside him in the darkness.

Mom lit an oil lamp by my brother's bedside and asked me to come and change it every day.

I nodded and brought a bunch of grass to my brother on the first day, just to show him.

He was very happy, but the next second I got scolded.

Because Mom didn't allow him to see anything else.

My brother was very disappointed. His legs had atrophied, and he couldn't exert any force.

I supported his shoulders and tried to lift him up, telling him,

"Brother, today I'm going to see Xiao Zhu's brick farm. Mom and Dad said we all have to go."

His eyes widened, and there was a glimmer in his eyes. His pale skin even had a hint of redness.

"Really? He's faster than me. He's about to escape from these days."

"I envy him."

I shook my head, put down the oil lamp, and walked out of the room.

Based on my parents' reaction,

I always felt it wouldn't be a good thing.

At least not for my brother.

When I arrived at Xiao Zhu's house, the entrance was bustling with young people, all of them women with muscular bodies and a bewildered look.

Xiao Zhu's mother came to greet us with a happy and proud expression on her face.

She held Mom's hand and said,

"The Shen family has finally come to this day. The bricks he has raised turned out to be high-quality ones, white as jade, with a pleasant fragrance."

Mom also hugged her happily and said,

"We've made it through, we've really made it..."

I quietly went to Xiao Zhu's room, which was still tightly sealed, not letting in any light.

Mom said it would be revealed on Brick-raising Day.

To let him see the light, it was the most glorious thing in his life, without a doubt.

But I felt desolation from the bottom of my heart.

Entering the room, the light of the oil lamp was dim.

Xiao Zhu's face was as pale as a ghost as he lay on the bed. When he saw me, he squeezed out a feeble smile.

"You came, Xiao Yi?"

But I widened my eyes and looked at him.

There was actually a not-so-small hole in his chest.

It looked like it had been dug out, and there were some white froth-like substances growing around it, like mushrooms. But they weren't well-formed, and there were several square white objects clustered inside.

Could this be the brick Mom mentioned?

Using humans to raise bricks? Without flesh, how could they survive until now?

It was terrifying!

Perhaps seeing the shock in my eyes, Xiao Zhu tried to prop himself up on the bed with his hands, but he couldn't.

He gave up and said to me, "Shocked, right? This is the brick. I heard that eating it can make you beautiful and preserve your youth, and it even has the effect of prolonging life."

"Now I don't feel anything anymore. It was quite painful at first, but as you know, I haven't walked for a long time. My legs don't listen to me. It's useless to struggle."

A look of sadness, the same pale face as my brother's, the weakness without light, and helplessness.

"Xiao Zhu, this is really harmful."

He shook his head in response, "Forget it, my parents have raised me here almost at the cost of the whole family's life and blood. They haven't had an easy life, and they never got to go out without someone's support."

After saying that, he smiled bitterly, "Consider it paying them back. After all, they are my parents and have raised me for so long. If I can help, I will."

I remembered the cheerful smiles on Xiao Zhu's parents' faces when I first came in.

I always felt that Xiao Zhuwas sacrificing himself for their happiness, to repay their sacrifices. It was a bittersweet and heartbreaking realization.

I couldn't bear to stay in the room any longer, with the sight of Xiao Zhu's deteriorating condition and the realization of the truth behind his sacrifice.

I quietly left the room, my mind filled with conflicting emotions.

Outside, the Brick-raising Day celebration was in full swing. People were cheering, laughing, and rejoicing over the success of Xiao Zhu's brick farm.

But I couldn't share in their enthusiasm. The weight of the truth I had discovered weighed heavily on me.

My parents approached me, their faces glowing with pride and joy. They hugged me tightly and said, "Isn't it amazing, Xiao Yi? Our family has achieved something great. Xiao Zhu's bricks are going to bring us wealth and prosperity."

I forced a smile, not wanting to dampen their spirits, but inside, I was torn.

Seeing my lack of enthusiasm, my mother asked, "What's wrong, Xiao Yi? Aren't you happy for Xiao Zhu's success?"

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to express my feelings without revealing the truth.

"I... I'm happy for Xiao Zhu's accomplishment," I replied, my voice trembling slightly. "But I can't help but feel sad for him too. He's sacrificing so much for this."

My parents exchanged puzzled looks, not fully understanding my words.

Before I could elaborate, my father patted my shoulder and said, "Xiao Yi, sometimes sacrifices are necessary for success. Xiao Zhu's parents have worked hard to support him, and now their efforts are paying off. It's a proud moment for all of us."

I nodded, not wanting to argue further. I knew they wouldn't understand the true cost of Xiao Zhu's success, and I didn't have the heart to shatter their happiness.

As the celebration continued, I couldn't shake off the image of Xiao Zhu's pale and weakened form, lying in that dark room, his life slowly ebbing away.

I wondered if there was anything I could do to help him, to save him from this fate. But I felt powerless and overwhelmed by the weight of the situation.

The days that followed were filled with conflicting emotions and a growing sense of guilt. I couldn't look at Xiao Zhu's parents without feeling a mix of gratitude and resentment.

I wished they had found another way to achieve prosperity without sacrificing their own son.

Deep down, I knew I had to confront them, to make them understand the true cost of their actions. But I also feared the consequences.

Would they be willing to listen? Would they be willing to let go of their dreams and ambitions?

I struggled with these questions, torn between loyalty to my friend and the fear of shattering my own family.

Ultimately, I knew I couldn't stay silent. I had to find a way to make them see the truth, to make them understand the repercussions of their choices.

It was a difficult path ahead, filled with uncertainty and potential conflict. But I couldn't sit back and watch as Xiao Zhu's life was slowly consumed by the pursuit of success.

I had to find the strength within myself to confront the truth and fight for what was right, no matter the consequences.