Chapter 396
Although Duan Dawei's salary was not very high, less than 30 yuan a month, Duan's mother would take on some odd jobs at home to supplement the family income. Although life was tight, it was still okay.
When they were at the Duan family, although Old Man Duan had a high pension, the money never fell into their hands. He held it tightly in his hands. Even if they wanted to eat something nice, Old Man Duan wouldn't give them money to buy it. Therefore, although they had separated from the Duan family and were living on their own, they didn't feel that their life was hard. On the contrary, now that they didn't have to worry about Old Man Duan's mood, they felt that their life was much more comfortable.
This was the first time the three of them had spent Chinese New Year alone. Although there were only six dishes, they included fish, meat, and dumplings stuffed with mutton and carrots, making it a very sumptuous meal.
Duan Dawei killed the fish and washed the meat. Even Caixia helped Duan's mother add coal and wash vegetables. The whole family worked together to prepare this New Year's Eve dinner.
When the six dishes were served, Caixia smiled happily.
“So much meat!”
Duan's mother patted her head compassionately: "Today is New Year's Day, of course we can't be without meat."
"Caixia, if you want to eat meat, eat more." Duan Dawei also said.
Normally they only eat meat once every half a month, but this time they have both fish and meat at once. No wonder Caixia is so happy.
"Dad and grandma, eat too." Caixia said, and put a piece of meat in Duan Dawei and Duan's mother's bowl.
Duan Dawei and his mother both smiled with relief.
As the three of them were chatting and laughing while eating, Caixia, who was sitting facing the window, suddenly noticed someone standing not far from the window.
"Great-grandfather." Caixia stared out the window and said.
Duan Dawei and his mother were stunned and looked out the window.
They all noticed that the person standing not far from the window was indeed Old Man Duan.
Duan Dawei and his mother glanced at each other. Duan's mother picked up some meat for Caixia and said, "Eat the meat and stop looking out the window."
"Eat more fish. Your grandma cooks the best fish." Duan Dawei picked up some fish for Caixia.
Caixia looked at the extra fish and meat in the bowl and shook her head happily.
She peeked out from the gap in the curtains from time to time and saw that Old Man Duan was still standing there, not moving. She said, "Great-grandfather is still there. Isn't today New Year's Eve? Why did Great-grandfather come here instead of spending New Year's Eve at home?"
Duan Dawei and his mother said nothing.
They had occasionally heard about the Duan family's current situation. They heard that Old Lady Tao had sent her two sons to live with the Duan family.
Every time they heard news about the Duan family, they didn't feel too emotional, they just listened. As for why Old Man Duan didn't spend the New Year at home but came here, they didn't want to know the reason.
If they still had some respect for Old Man Duan as an elder when they moved out of the Duan family, then the fact that Old Lady Tao made a scene at the gate of Factory No. 1 and almost made Duan Dawei unable to stay in the factory made them completely disappointed with Old Man Duan.
They didn't believe that without Old Man Duan's consent, Old Lady Tao would not have gone to the factory to make trouble.
Old Man Duan was so determined to force them into a desperate situation that they no longer wanted to fulfill their so-called filial piety and just treated Old Man Duan and Old Lady Duan as if they were both dead.
"Caixia, if your great-grandfather comes to you and asks you to go back, don't agree. No matter what your great-grandfather says to you, even if he cries in front of you, don't believe him." Duan's mother warned.
Although she felt that given Old Man Duan's pride, he would most likely not do such a thing, she still gave Caixia a few words of advice just in case.
Caixia nodded seriously.
Old Man Duan stood outside the window for a long time, and only left when he was too cold to bear it.
He felt that Duan Dawei must have noticed him. Several times, his eyes met Caixia's. However, he didn't understand why Duan Dawei didn't open the door and let him in to sit down.
Did they really not want to acknowledge him anymore? Did they think that once they moved out and lived on their own, they would become independent and could ignore him?
Humph, he wants to see how long they can continue to be tough!
Duan Dawei pretended not to notice him, so he wouldn't be so shameless as to go and beg them.
Old man Duan thought he left with great dignity.
He wandered around in the snow for a while, but there was nowhere to go and it was cold outside, so he had no choice but to go back to the slum.
On the way back to the compound, Old Man Duan was still a little nervous, fearing that Sanqing and Siqing would come after him. However, when he reached his doorstep, Old Man Duan held his head high and puffed out his chest.
This is his home, his house, why should he be afraid of two young boys! If they dare to go against him again, he will kick them all out!
Old Man Duan went to push the door, but found that it was locked from the inside and could not be opened at all.
Old Man Duan was angry. They dared to lock the door before he even returned home?
Old Man Duan pounded on the door: "Open the door! Open the door!"
He knocked for a long time, but no one came to open the door for him.
He clearly saw that the light in the room was still on, and clearly heard the laughter of Sanqing, Siqing and Old Mrs. Tao, but no one came to open the door for him.
"Open the door—open the door—" Old man Duan kicked the door, but still no one opened it for him.
Old Man Duan was so angry that his temples hurt. He picked up a stone and smashed it against the door: "Open the door—open the door—"
The door then slowly opened from the inside.
Sanqing and Siqing stood at the door. Siqing yawned and said leisurely, "Why are you hammering? This is your own house. If the door hammer is broken, you can replace it yourself."
"Do you still know that this is my home? Why are you locking the door when I haven't come back yet?" Old Man Duan said angrily.
"We didn't know you would come back. You overturned the table and made a mess of the house, and you still expect us to leave the door open for you? It's a good thing we didn't ask you to clean the house." Si Qing said.
When the matter of overturning the table was mentioned, Old Man Duan didn't dare to say anything. He was afraid that if he said something wrong, Sanqing and Siqing would beat him.
Old Man Duan walked into the house with a gloomy face.
The room was warm. Old Mrs. Tao was sitting at the table eating melon seeds. When she saw Old Man Duan coming back, she smiled and said, "You're back."
Old Man Duan hummed, "I'm hungry. Go get me something to eat."
"There's nothing to eat at home! You overturned and wasted all the delicious food on the table. We weren't full, so we just had some noodles to make do." said Old Mrs. Tao.
Old Man Duan didn't believe her at all.
She, Sanqing and Siqing all had rosy faces and round bellies. It was obvious that they were full and relaxed.
Old Man Duan suppressed his anger and said, "Then go make me a bowl of noodles."
"There's no more noodles." Old Mrs. Tao spat out the melon seed shells in her mouth. "You overturned the table and left. I thought you were going out to eat something good, so the three of us ate all the remaining noodles."
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