The atmosphere in the dining room made Chen Dongze feel unusually depressed.
"Xiao Ze, is the food not to your liking?"
Seeing her son eat only a steamed bun before picking up the bowl in front of him to drink porridge, Zhang Hua couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache. She said, "Tell Mom what you want to eat, and Mom will make you more of what you like tomorrow."
"Need not."
Chen Dongze shook his head, then looked at the dishes on the table and said, "These dishes are quite good."
"and you……"
Zhang Hua frowned slightly, not quite believing what her son was saying. She thought to herself: If the food suits your taste, why don't you eat more?
"I ate two boxed meals before getting off the train, so I'm not very hungry right now."
Chen Dongze explained.
"Just ask your mom to make whatever you want to eat."
Upon hearing Chen Changqing's words, Chen Dongze was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Thank you, Dad. But the food tonight was really good. I didn't feel that hungry, so I ate less."
His stepfather hardly ever spoke to his mother. Logically speaking, he should have gotten used to it by now, but at this moment, there were only the three of them at home, sitting around the dining table, each more silent than the last, and the atmosphere was unbearably oppressive.
In fact, Chen Dongze had thought more than once: if his stepfather didn't like his mother, why did the two of them form a family?
Don't they feel awkward?
Living under the same roof, seeing each other all the time, yet maintaining a secluded lifestyle, he didn't know what his stepfather and stepmother were thinking, but he couldn't agree with this way of getting along.
Moreover, ever since he could remember, his stepfather and stepmother had slept in separate rooms, and they didn't seem like a married couple at all.
Chen Changqing hummed in agreement.
"Dad, does Dongxu live in the courtyard house with Grandpa and Grandma? I didn't see him when I got home this afternoon, and I don't know if his leg injury is getting better."
Chen Dongxu felt sympathy for Chen Dongxu's plight.
As a brother in the family, even if he was only a stepson, he still had some feelings for Chen Dongxu.
The few words of concern shown to the other person were not meant to impress the stepfather; they came from the heart.
"Um."
Chen Changqing nodded slightly and said, "Dongxu lives in the courtyard house. As for his leg injury... well, it's nothing."
Every now and then, he would call the Hongxing Machinery Factory to check on his youngest son's injured leg through the factory director, Mr. Zhang. Now, his youngest son's legs are recovering quite well, and if nothing unexpected happens, he will be able to stand up after the New Year.
At this rate, he should be able to walk normally in another two or three months.
He was very happy about this, but he didn't want to talk about it at home right now, lest his youngest son suffer another accident.
-
Hongxing Machinery Factory, old residential area.
"Sister-in-law, I want to go back to Beijing for the Chinese New Year."
Today is the 27th of the twelfth lunar month, and in two days it will be New Year's Eve. Song Lan noticed that her sister-in-law, Qin Yaqing, and the sweet little girl in the family had been hesitant to speak whenever they saw her these past two days.
Without much thought, she understood what the others meant. So, after dinner tonight, she asked everyone, big and small, for their opinions on where they wanted to spend the New Year. Qin Yaxin was the first to express her opinion.
"I don't care."
Qin Boyan said, "However, if we're spending the New Year here, shouldn't we call Dad as soon as possible?"
"Sister-in-law, I miss Dad!"
The adorable little boy, Xiao Wu, looked at Song Lan with hopeful eyes: "I haven't seen my dad for a long time, sister-in-law. I want to go back to Beijing to spend the New Year with my dad."
"Sister-in-law, I also want to go back to Beijing to spend the New Year with Dad."
The sweet-smelling, soft-spoken little girl blinked her bright black eyes and immediately expressed her wishes after her brother finished speaking.
"What about you, little sister?"
Song Lan turned her gaze to Qin Yaqing, and heard her say, "I heard from my colleagues in the department that in previous years, we would basically have a holiday until the afternoon of New Year's Eve, and during the Spring Festival, we would have to work in pairs. So far, I don't know the work schedule in our department."
"It takes less than four hours to get back to Beijing from this county town by train. If we include the time from our current home, it will be a little over four hours. Let's set off no later than after lunch on New Year's Eve."
Upon hearing Song Lan's decision, Qin Boyan asked, "Is Sister-in-law waiting for Brother?"
"……Um."
After a moment's hesitation, Song Lan nodded and said, "But regardless of whether your older brother can take a holiday on New Year's Eve, we will set off back to Beijing on time this afternoon."
The two little ones clapped their hands with joy and kept saying, "Great! Great!"
"Little sister, you can talk to your director and ask him to schedule your shifts for the day before the holiday ends. That way, we can leave Beijing a day earlier."
She also needs to be on duty, but she has already arranged with Director Wang to be on duty at the hospital on the third day of the Lunar New Year.
Here I have to mention that in the 1970s, which is now, strictly speaking, there was no holiday during the Spring Festival. However, many companies would make arrangements in private according to the original Spring Festival holiday, such as taking turns to rest.
Because Song Lan was going back to Beijing for the Chinese New Year, she took an extra half-day off on top of the original work schedule arranged by her department, so she was able to return to her home in Beijing before New Year's Eve.
Qin Yaqing, Qin Boyan, and Qin Yaxin had no objections.
"That's settled then. You guys go wash up, I'm going to Uncle Zhang's house."
As she spoke, Song Lan stood up.
"Sister-in-law, what are you doing at Uncle Zhang's house?"
The adorable little Wu asked a question out of curiosity.
"Something came up, but my sister-in-law will be back soon."
Song Lan responded casually.
"You're just too curious!"
Qin Boyan flicked the little guy on the forehead and said, "You're just a kid, mind your own business." The implication was that he shouldn't meddle in adult matters.
"Hehehe..."
Qin Boyan, the second brother, made a funny face, and the adorable little Wu left the living room with his short legs.
"Wait for me, buddy!"
The little girl chased after the young man.
"Second brother, I'm going to wash up. What about you?"
Qin Yaxin stood up and asked Qin Boyan before leaving the living room.
"I'll wait a moment."
Qin Boyan remained seated.
After Qin Yaxin left, Qin Boyan looked at Qin Yaqing and said, "When you get back home in Beijing, don't mention your troubles to Dad. If he asks, just say that you broke up with that man not long after you went to the countryside."
"I won't let Dad worry about me."
She had ignored all advice and insisted on following Wen Qiming to the countryside. She even gave him all the money she had on her, which led to her mother becoming seriously ill and her father having an accident. They didn't even have the money to buy a train ticket, or even to send a letter or a telegram.
Based on this, even if her second brother didn't remind her, how could an unfilial daughter have the face to say anything to her father?
You'd better keep your word.
Qin Boyan stared directly at Qin Yaqing: "If Dad gets sick from that trivial matter, I'll never forgive you!"
“I have already been very unfilial, and I cannot let my father worry about me any more.”
Her beloved mother has passed away, leaving behind illness and her worries for her. Unless she's a beast, she wouldn't use her little tricks to cause her father any harm.
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