Chapter 18 The Selfish Old Dong Family
Just as I was thinking about it, I saw my father Lao Dong, my eldest brother Dong Hongfu, my eldest sister-in-law Dai Ying, and my eldest nephew Dong Kangtai, a family of three, walking over.
Dong Xinghua couldn't help but roll her eyes when she saw these four people coming to her house empty-handed at dinner time like a big boss.
Seeing this, Pang Li was afraid that his wife would lose control of her temper and say something she shouldn't, so he quickly reached out and touched her arm, lowering his voice and saying, "It's my eldest sister's treat today."
"Keep your mouth shut and don't talk nonsense. If you make a scene, it's not a big deal if you make people laugh at you, but it's a big deal if you ruin your sister's life."
Dong Xinghua rolled her eyes again and said unhappily, "How could I not know?"
The eldest sister invited Lao Dong and others to the rental house for dinner, just to let the neighbors see that He Ye's maternal grandparents are a big family. Even if He Ye lives here alone in the future, she will have her uncle and aunt to care for her, and everyone should not treat her as an orphan and bully her.
Even if she couldn't stand this group of people, she wouldn't make a scene at this time and expose the truth about the discord in the Dong family.
Dong Taohua took two steps forward to greet them: "Dad, big brother and sister-in-law, Kangtai, you are here."
"Yeah." Old Dong put his hands behind his waist, looked at the rental house, and nodded, "The house looks pretty good."
Dai Ying touched the wall, which was covered in white putty powder, and asked, "Has this house been renovated?"
"Yes, it looked shabby before. I figured He Ye would be living here for several years, so I just asked a cement master to repaint the walls."
This is really too much money to spend. Dai Ying pursed her lips, but did not say the disappointing words in her heart.
She didn't say anything, but Dong Hongfu came to give her some advice, "Sister, this house isn't yours, why bother decorating it? He Ye will only live here for a year or two, not forever. You're really wasting money."
Dong Taohua smiled and didn't respond. Instead, she asked Dong Fuyun, "Why didn't my younger brother come? Didn't you ask him to come for dinner?"
Speaking of his youngest son, the old boss immediately said in dissatisfaction: "He didn't come. He said he had something to do."
When Xu Heye heard that her uncle was not coming, she hurriedly took out basins and bowls, preparing to set aside some meat and vegetables for him.
My uncle loves ribs, so I'll grab a few more. There's also braised pork, lamb, beef, and, um, a big chicken drumstick...
Xu Heye filled two large bowls with meat and vegetables before she was satisfied. She would leave some vegetables for him later. Well, that would be it.
As for the pig liver soup, I didn't keep it. Firstly, the pig liver would become tough if it was cold and then heated up, and it would not taste good if it was tough. Secondly, Dong Fuyun didn't like pig liver either.
The boss was still mumbling, "...I don't know what he's been up to. He's been leaving early and coming back late every day, always acting all weird. He doesn't have a proper job, so I don't know what he's been busy with all day."
Dong Taohua didn't like hearing her father belittle her brother, so she changed the subject, "Dad, it's already twelve o'clock, let's sit down and eat."
As he led everyone to the dining table at the door, he said, "The room is small, so we can only eat outside. The main course is almost ready, everyone can eat first. I'll make some soup and stir-fry two vegetables."
Dong Taohua took off the lid on the dish while speaking, and then called her sister and brother-in-law's family: "Xinghua, Pang Li, Qiaoqiao, Xiaowei, you guys come over to eat too."
Dong Xinghua refused and wanted to help Dong Taohua. Dong Taohua refused and pushed her to the table, "Xinghua, please help me entertain my sister-in-law."
Then he said to Pang Li, "Lizi, since your brother-in-law is not here, you can drink a few sips on his behalf with the old man and your elder brother."
As she said this, she brought the loose sorghum wine she had bought to the table, and then hurried to cook.
First open the vent of the coal stove to let oxygen in. The coal inside will quickly burn and flames will pop up.
When the wok started to smoke, Dong Taohua poured some rapeseed oil into it and heated it briefly. After the oil vapor had evaporated, she added dried chilies and minced garlic and stir-fried them until fragrant. Then she added the shredded lettuce and stir-fried until cooked through. She sprinkled salt on it and mixed it well. Soon, the dish of stir-fried shredded lettuce was ready.
Xu Heye helped her mother serve the dishes, and Dong Taohua then started to stir-fry the cabbage. These two dishes are quick-cooking dishes, which require stir-frying over high heat, so they cook quickly.
Finally, a pork liver and spinach soup was cooked, and then the mother and daughter sat down to eat.
Pang Qiao patted the bench under her butt and shouted, "Auntie, Cousin He Ye, come and sit down."
The table and benches for the dinner were borrowed from neighbors. It was a square table with a bench on each side, which could seat three people, or four if they squeezed in. Old Dong sat alone at the main table, Dong Hongfu and his family sat together, Pang Li, Dong Xinghua, and their son sat on a bench, and the remaining bench was just enough for Pang Qiao and Dong Taohua, mother and daughter.
"Right up," Dong Taohua replied, bringing the pork liver soup to the table. Xu Heye fetched some water, and the mother and daughter washed their hands, wiping them dry on their aprons before sitting down at the table.
Pang Qiao sat next to Xu Heye and said, "Cousin, Auntie's cooking skills are really good. These dishes are delicious."
Xu Heye said, "Don't you think it's spicy?" Dong Taohua's cooking skills have already tended towards the habits of Gan Province. No matter what dish she makes, she subconsciously adds a few chili peppers.
Pang Qiao nodded. "It's spicy, but it's even more exciting. Especially the beef and radish stew. The radish is super flavorful, and the beef is delicious and tender too."
Xu Heye remembered that Pang Qiao in her previous life could also eat spicy food.
The two of them traveled to a mountain city together and ordered an extremely spicy hotpot. Even Xu Heye, who came from a place in Gan Province that is recognized as the one that can eat the spiciest food, could hardly bear it, but she still ate it with relish.
"If you like it, eat more."
"Okay. Cousin, I've picked some for you. Eat it quickly, or it'll get cold." Pang Qiao glanced at her eldest cousin Dong Kangtai and pursed her lips. "Some people only eat meat."
She really couldn't stand this cousin. He was already 20 years old, but he had no manners at all. It would have been fine if he only ate meat, but he also liked to pick and choose, using his chopsticks to move the food back and forth on the plate. He even drooled on the food, so how could anyone else eat?
Xu Heye glanced at him and then looked away. She had long known Dong Kangtai's selfishness.
The eldest son and grandson are the lifeblood of the old man. How can Dong Kangtai, who grew up under the pampering of Old Dong and his parents, not be selfish?
No, it should be said that in the entire Dong family, except for my uncle, there is no one who is not selfish.
In fact, Xu Heye didn't want to invite them to dinner at all, let alone treat them to delicious food and wine.
But Dong Taohua thought it was necessary. Xu Heye knew that her mother did all this for her, so even if it was to reassure Dong Taohua, she would not show her disgust for the Dong family openly.
Old Dong ate his food with a sip of wine, his eyes narrowed as he ate. He was so happy. Seeing the mother and daughter sitting at the table, he asked Dong Taohua: "Big sister, you have been in Hucheng for more than a week, right? Are you ready to go back?"
Dong Taohua nodded: "I have to go back. I still have work to do over there. I can't push everything onto my colleagues."
The boss nodded: "Work is important."
Dong Taohua poured herself a glass of wine and raised it, saying, "Dad, big brother, big sister-in-law, little brother-in-law, let's have a drink together. I don't know when I'll be back next time, so please take good care of He Ye when I go back."
Dong Hongfu picked up the wine glass and drank it all, smacking his lips and said, "Okay, okay."
The boss didn't say anything, neither agreeing nor refuting.
After a satisfying meal and a few drinks, Old Dong put down his chopsticks and headed back to his room for a nap. Dong Hongfu and Dai Ying also had to go to work, and Dong Kangtai, having filled his stomach, wanted to go out and play. The family of four wiped their mouths and left the mess on the table.
From beginning to end, Old Dong had not spoken a single word to Xu Heye. He had no feelings for this granddaughter who had nearly taken his room away from him. Even though she was renting a house outside and no longer posed a threat to his interests, he still couldn't muster any compassion.
He came just to have a meal. As for taking care of her, he is an old man who has retired and is enjoying his retirement. It is good enough that he can take care of himself. Who else can he take care of?
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