Bugle Call

Peter was momentarily at a loss for words after hearing the resentment in his sister's voice.

He opened his mouth, about to organize his thoughts and comfort her, but Amina turned her head away. Her voice choked with emotion as she continued, more like she was talking to herself: "Forget it. I won't say anything more. Besides, when this house was built, most of the money used for it probably came from his wages."

"When all is said and done, this house should have belonged to him anyway... Once he starts a family of his own, he might find us a nuisance and drive us out. He's a respectable person now, seeing the wider world in Amber Bay. How could he still care about us, his family who scrape a living from the soil? Even Mom only has him in her heart. Everything she does is planned for his sake..."

Seeing his little sister's red-rimmed, aggrieved yet stubborn profile, Peter's heart clenched.

His sister had been sensible since childhood and had suffered a great deal. He truly cherished her.

He set down his hoe, walked over to Amina, and advised her in as gentle a tone as he could manage, "Amina, don't say that. Daniel... You know about his work. He builds ships in the workshop, where there are many rules and heavy workloads. He must be too busy to get away."

"That's just how he's been since childhood—quiet, not fond of talking, and uninterested in lively places. He isn't deliberately keeping his distance from us." He tried to defend his younger brother. "But he has a good heart. Look, he can't bear to spend the wages he earns each month. Doesn't he send them all back home?"

"If it weren't for his money, how could our family have gathered