Chapter 5: Good Brothers Share Both Joy and Hardship

"Bro? What are you doing here?" Lin Binbin was startled. To prevent the precious item he'd worked so hard on from being accidentally kicked, he quickly spoke up.

"It's already so late and you're still not home. Dad was worried, so he asked me to check on you. I brought you some food too," Lin Xiao said as he walked over, picking up half a metal ring and giving his younger brother a look that said: What on earth are you up to now?

"What are you guys tinkering with? Is this something the supervisors asked for?"

It was hard to explain everything in a few words, so Lin Binbin simply pulled his brother into the smelting room. Before they could sit down, a chubby face suddenly popped up beside them.

"Brother Lin Xiao, did you bring anything good to eat?"

"Whoa, there's meat! I've been starving all day, and Lin Binbin wouldn't let me leave. Brother Lin Xiao, you've got to speak up for me."

"I've been refining molten iron all day—my arms are dead."

After saying that, Cheng Mo very naturally picked up the chopsticks, grabbing a cornbread bun with one hand and meat with the other. He began stuffing his mouth like he hadn't eaten in ten days.

"Slow down. No one's fighting you for it," Lin Xiao shook his head, frowning at his brother. He couldn't help but feel that Lin Binbin had gone too far. The Cheng family had treated them well lately—how could he make Cheng Mo do all the work?

"Sanzi."

Lin Xiao wasn't much older, but when he got serious, his expression was stricter than even their father Lin Qin's. Lin Binbin had always been a little afraid of his big brother, and hearing his voice made him swallow nervously.

But when he glanced at Lin Xiao's stats, his eyes lit up instantly.

[Name: Lin Xiao][Stamina: 8][Strength: 10][Agility: 2][Spirit: 2][Charm: 2]

His strength was ten times greater than Lin Binbin's.

With both stamina and strength being high, Lin Xiao was a natural powerhouse. Lin Binbin's mind began working overtime again.

Cheng Mo and he were still young, and their work was slow. At their current pace, it'd take at least ten days or more to finish.

He really needed another pair of hands.

He had transmigrated, hadn't he? Wasn't the point to stop doing manual labor himself?

They were all family—what was wrong with a little "exploitation"?

Lin Binbin's smile grew even brighter. The firelight danced in his eyes, reflecting a sharp glint. After thinking for a moment, he decided to come clean.

"Bro, I'm actually making a spirit beast. A metal-element one. I call it a mech."

Lin Xiao didn't even blink, clearly thinking his little brother was just making excuses. "I'm talking to you seriously. Keep talking nonsense and Dad'll tan your hide."

"Bro, when have I ever lied to you? I'm telling the truth." Lin Binbin nudged the person beside him, and Cheng Mo quickly nodded in agreement.

"That's right, Brother Lin Xiao. Once we finish this thing, we'll all be able to eat—I mean, become Beast Tamers!"

Lin Xiao looked at them like they'd gone heat-crazy. After a moment, he humored them with a question: "A mech? What's that?"

So Lin Binbin gave him the same spiel he'd given Cheng Mo—only now more polished. He talked about immortal old men, ultra-S-class battle armor, and made it sound incredibly mystical. But what Lin Xiao heard most clearly was one thing:

—If they could finish building it, their family wouldn't have to slave away endlessly. And if they got lucky and completed the imperial assignment, they might earn a pardon and leave this hellhole.

"Bro, you asked what the iron ring was? That's the mech's arm. I'll make the head next, then two legs, piece it together—and it'll be done."

Lin Xiao processed the information, then frowned, "You just said—even people with no talent can become Beast Tamers with this. Is that true?"

"Of course," Lin Binbin shrugged. "Why don't you wait until we finish the first mech? Then you'll see for yourself."

Lin Xiao's fists clenched at his sides. His young face bore a maturity beyond his years. In his normally cold eyes, a fire sparked—lit by the flames of the smelting room, burning brighter by the second.

"Who else have you told?"

"Only Cheng Mo and you."

He wasn't stupid. Laying low during the early stages was the key to success.

Lin Xiao nodded. "Alright. Until it's done, don't say a word to anyone else. Someone might get greedy and sabotage us."

"So, big bro…"

"I'll go talk to the supervisors tonight and see if I can get transferred over."

Done!

Hearing that, Lin Binbin nodded enthusiastically. "I'll be waiting for your good news, bro!"

Nightfall.

After dinner, Lin Binbin copied the blueprint and gave a copy to Lin Xiao. His brother was genuinely interested in it, gave a quick nod, and took it home to study.

"Mission complete," Lin Binbin muttered as he returned to his room.

He expected to find the baby chick dead—but to his surprise, the little creature was still hanging in there. When it heard him enter, it weakly opened its eyes and fluttered its wings, trying to move toward him.

"Little guy, here—have some food."

"Cheep, cheep—"

As he reached out to pet it, Lin Binbin noticed its ankle had been wrapped up with bandages. The wrapping was neat and even avoided the joints.

"That's weird. Could Dad have done this?"

Too tired to think more, Lin Binbin flopped onto his bed. After a full day of directing people, he was exhausted. He stretched, then slowly closed his eyes.

Meanwhile, the struggling chick let out a soft cry—and from its tiny wings, a streak of crimson fuzz emerged.

As the chick trembled, the red fluff disappeared into its feathers—hidden from view.

Dawn.

Still deep in sleep, Lin Binbin dreamed of himself galloping through another world in a mighty mech. But suddenly, he was yanked straight out of bed and lifted into the air.

Standing up groggily, he slowly opened his eyes—only to see his brother's half-annoyed, half-angry glare.

"No wonder Dad always says you're lazy. The sun's up and you're still sleeping? Get up and get to work."

With that, Lin Xiao shoved a set of clothes and a toolbox into his arms and dragged him out the door.

To this day, Lin Binbin had no idea how he ended up at the forge.

A blast of hot air hit him in the face, and as he stared at the roaring flames, he felt completely defeated.

Wasn't I supposed to have a glorious new life? Why does it feel like I've just been reassigned to more labor?

"Sanzi, like this—is it right?"

"Yeah."

The voice brought Lin Binbin back to full awareness. He responded and then turned to head to the Cheng household, dragging Cheng Mo out of bed as well.

After all—brothers should suffer together.

No way was he going to let him sleep in while he did all the work.