He Yan'an's son He Zhixin was ten years old this year.
Chubby and fair, with a lively personality and a sharp mind.
"Alright!"
Having received his own father's instructions, He Zhixin immediately straightened up and, with a clear and loud voice, crisply responded before standing up and briskly walking toward Grandfather He's room under everyone's gaze.
Knock knock—
Arriving at the door, He Zhixin knocked while loudly announcing, "Grandpa, it's time to eat."
"..."
No response.
"Grandpa—"
"Grandpa—"
"Grandpa, time to eat!"
Undeterred, He Zhixin kept calling out, each time louder and more resonant than the last. Had the He Family's house not been so large, and had there not been a considerable distance from the neighbors, his booming and prolonged voice might have drifted into others' homes.
"...I'm coming, I heard you, stop yelling."
A few seconds later, with a click, the door opened, and Grandfather He emerged.
"Grandpa, Uncle seems to be in a bad mood today, wearing a frown and looking extra stern. Did you provoke him again?" He Zhixin shuffled up to Grandfather He, took his hand, and, with a worried expression, quietly asked while batting his eyes.
"You cheeky brat, no respect for your elders. I am your uncle's father."
Grandfather He was tall and thin, at sixty-nine, with no baldness, thick black hair, and a vibrant spirit. He spoke with a robust voice, and at that moment, with a stern face, he presented an air of authority, even without anger.
However, He Zhixin was not afraid of him.
"My dad says there are sensible dads and also nonsensical ones."
And you and grandma are the kind of parents who are unreliable, always stirring up trouble without reason and causing Uncle problems.
"Don't listen to your dad's nonsense! He says I'm unreliable? What else did he say?" Grandfather He tried to fish for more information.
"He said..." He Zhixin paused, then said, "My dad mentioned that Uncle works very hard, so we shouldn't trouble him unnecessarily."
Grandfather He: "..."
So, did this "we" also include him?
The great-grandson's words carried an implicit meaning—he was implying something about him.
Looking at He Zhixin's serious face, Grandfather He grew irritated, thinking about how He Yan'an had raised his son!
Grandfather He's face turned cold, and, with hands clasped behind his back, he moved forward without a word.
Entering the dining room, everyone was already seated, waiting for him. The large round table was quite big, able to accommodate over a dozen people.
He Yan'an's family of four, He Xiuxiu's family of three, along with Grandfather He, Du Limei, and He Yannian all together made just ten people, leaving several seats empty.
"Director He is quite imposing today! You come back and give me, this old man, the cold shoulder."
Taking his seat at the head of the table, Grandfather He glanced across the tabletop to He Yannian, who sat opposite him, and the pent-up anger inside him found an outlet.
Clearly, it was his son who was disrespectful and dismissive of him. He had returned that afternoon and, without greeting anyone, had gone straight to the second floor, staying holed up in the bedroom for hours until his younger siblings had returned before graciously descending. He had said nothing about that, yet his grandson was admonishing him not to trouble his uncle unnecessarily.
He felt truly wronged!
At his age, still having to live by his son's moods.
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"Can you scold my daughter to back someone else up, and I can't get angry and give you a piece of my mind?" He Yannian looked up and locked eyes with Grandfather He, his gaze firm and sharp, matching him in intensity without giving an inch.
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"Who is someone else?" Grandfather He narrowed his eyes in displeasure.
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"The one sitting next to you." He Yannian referred to Du Limei with his words, but didn't even spare her a glance, "She's your wife, so I call her aunt because I recognize you as my father. And now, before I'm even dead, she's eager to push my daughter into the fire pit. With such an ugly display, have you resolved to cut ties with me as father and son? If so, let's make it clear now. The statement is already drafted, and it can be announced at any time."
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As spouses are one, and with Du Limei liking to stir trouble, Grandfather He always indulging her, breathing in tandem, He Yannian didn't hold back this time either.
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When ruthless, he could even dismiss his own father.
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At this moment, He Yannian had already taken the upper hand in terms of momentum.
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Grandfather He: "What do you mean, push into a fire pit? What have I done? Can't I, as a grandfather, chastise my own granddaughter a little? Is such a trivial matter really worth venting your anger on this old man?!"
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"Of course. In my eyes, a daughter is dearer than a father. No matter how small, every matter is worth paying attention to."
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He Yannian didn't give Grandfather He face; in front of the whole family, he bluntly said, "After all, my daughter is sensible. She knows I'm busy with work, has always been particularly independent since she was young, and even cares for my feelings, never pushing me to remarry or wanting a brother, and certainly never degrading herself to flatter the Du Family and stepping on me from time to time."
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He Yannian harbored resentment in his heart.
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"What, you still hold a grudge because I urged you to remarry? I was doing it for your benefit, wanting you to have an heir."
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"Doing it for my benefit, that's why you let Du Juan into my room? When soft tactics didn't work, you resorted to force."
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Nearly suffering a great loss in his own home, this was a thorn in He Yannian's side.
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Grandfather He: "..."
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"What?!"
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Left speechless by He Yannian's retort, He Yan'an, sitting beside He Yannian, initially wanted to stay quiet and unobtrusive as if he were invisible; suddenly hearing such explosive news, he was astounded!
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"Big brother, when did this happen?"
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Du Juan really is one of the Du Family, utterly shameless!
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No need to ask; if Du Juan could get into big brother's room, it surely involved their mother Du Limei's scheming, and certainly, the old man must have known beforehand; otherwise, he would have loudly objected.
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Silence implies guilt.
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Unbelievable!
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Their parents' heads are surely messed up!
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"A long time ago, eleven years ago."
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He Yannian had not mentioned this before to save Grandfather He some face, but now bringing it up was due to disappointment piling up time and time again.
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He felt that it was because of his past indulgence that the old man had become so unperceptive.
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So, there was no need to save face for him anymore.
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"No wonder big brother hasn't stayed overnight all these years."
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So it was because their parents were inhuman!
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He Yan'an's wife, Yang Xiuzhen, chimed in. As her words fell, she immediately received a murderous glare from her mother-in-law.
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Du Limei warned her with a glare to keep her mouth shut.
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But she was someone with a bit of rebellious spirit, and if told not to speak, she was all the more determined to, "Big brother, you've had it tough these years."
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These biological parents and stepmother are like pigs on the same team.
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"Yeah, big brother, you should have told us about this at the time. The Du Family really knows how to disgust people!"
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