Old Deng is reborn in the 1980s, and he starts by severing his father-son relationship!

The third and second children ate shredded potatoes for lunch, which was bland and tasteless, and the shredded potatoes were soft and mushy with little chewiness.

"That's right, Dad. My third son and I are giving you sixty yuan a month for living expenses. We don't expect you to eat meat every day, but surely we can have some minced meat?"

Chen Jianye also frowned, not as loud as the third brother, but his tone was full of complaints.

Sixty yuan is basically a month's wages for an ordinary worker. It doesn't mean they'll have meat every meal, but it also means they won't have to eat coarse food.

"I'm already being kind by cooking for you guys. Eat it if you want, or get lost."

Chen Deshun slammed his chopsticks down on the table, raised his eyelids, and glanced at his two sons.

"Want more meat? Wait, let's wait until the family's famine is over."

In one sentence, all of Chen Jianye and Chen Jianshe's subsequent complaints were shut down.

The two shrank back, not daring to utter another word.

Chen Deshun sneered inwardly.

What a bunch of unfilial children! They really think they're the bosses. It's already a favor that I cook for them, yet they still dare to be picky.

That's all you want? You want to eat meat? Go eat shit.

The atmosphere at the dinner table suddenly turned cold.

Chen Lihua came out of the house, saw the scene on the table, obediently ladled out a bowl of porridge and sat down without saying a word.

At the dinner table, the only sound was the slurping of porridge.

Chen Deshun glanced out the window; he didn't know where his fourth brother, Chen Sanqi, had gone, and he hadn't returned yet.

However, he wasn't worried, since nothing bad was going to happen anyway.

Although Chen Jianshe said he wouldn't eat shredded potatoes, he couldn't resist his hunger, so he picked up a piece of shredded potatoes with his chopsticks and stuffed it into his mouth, intending to just eat a couple of bites and be done with it.

But as soon as the shredded potatoes entered his mouth, his eyes widened.

This shredded potato... it tastes even better than the ones from state-run restaurants?

He picked up another piece of food with his chopsticks, seemingly refusing to believe it.

It's tangy, crisp, and tender, with just the right flavor and a hint of charred aroma from the stir-fry.

It's definitely more flavorful than what the chefs at state-run restaurants make!

Chen Jianye, standing next to him, had the same expression. He didn't say anything, but he ate his chopsticks very quickly.

The two brothers devoured most of the plate of shredded potatoes in the blink of an eye.

Chen Deshun glanced at it briefly and didn't say anything more.

He prepared enough food for five people, not worried that the two starving ghosts would eat it all.

After finishing the meal.

Chen Deshun pushed his bowl away, leaned back in his chair, and subconsciously reached into his pocket. A cigarette after a meal is better than being a god! But he forgot he didn't have any cigarettes in his pocket.

At this time, he still didn't smoke, because every penny had to be spent wisely, and he didn't have any spare money to buy cigarettes.

"Alright! A hundred steps after a meal keeps you healthy and long-lived. You guys eat, I'm going out for a stroll."

He stood up, walked to the door, then suddenly stopped and looked back at his three children eating at the table.

"Second and third sons, from now on, you two will have to take turns washing the dishes and doing housework after meals when you're home."

"Lihua will do it today, Lao Si tomorrow. You all better behave yourselves. If I find anyone slacking off or not doing their assigned work, you're getting the hell out of here, you hear me?"

Chen Jianye and Chen Jianshe were completely dumbfounded, finally understanding what it meant for disaster to strike out of nowhere.

They didn't do anything to anyone, did they? They just complained once they came in.

And they didn't say it tasted bad, they just simply didn't want to eat shredded potatoes anymore. As for punishing them by making them do housework? Washing dishes?

When have they ever done this before, from childhood to adulthood?

The second brother glanced at the third brother without making a sound.

Sure enough, he stood up abruptly, opened his mouth, and then sat back down dejectedly.

He wanted to retort that "cooking is a woman's job," but then he suddenly remembered that his father had been washing the dishes since his mother passed away. If he dared to say that, he would surely get slapped again!

Besides, he's not the only one washing dishes, so he should just shut up.

The second brother looked surprised. Since the third brother had already accepted his fate, he was even less likely to be the one to stick his neck out.

Chen Lihua stiffened for a moment. She had originally wanted to be lazy and wait for Chen Sanqi to come back so that he could clean up the dishes.

Now things have gotten worse; Chen Deshun has given a direct order that no one can escape.

She still needs her family to pay for her studies. If she doesn't pass the exam next year and wants to retake it, she absolutely cannot upset her father.

Not only that, but they also had to make a good impression on Chen Deshun.

Chen Deshun nodded in satisfaction when he saw that none of his three children had taken the lead.

He didn't care what the others thought; they just needed to listen to what he said.

Satisfied, I opened the door, stepped out of the house, and felt a sense of accomplishment.

In his past life, if he said one thing, these little bastards could say ten, and not one of them would listen to him.

Look at them now, they're all like quails.

Indeed, one must first establish oneself.

If they think you're weak and easy to bully, then everyone will want to take advantage of you.

The sky was not yet polluted, and the stars twinkled everywhere.

The moonlight shone down, coating the gray bricks and tiles of the alley with a layer of silver frost, making the night look less dark.

Chen Deshun walked in the alleys of the factory area. He said he was taking a walk, but he didn't actually go far.

He wandered around the alley entrance, his gaze sweeping over the familiar streets and houses.

He hasn't seen this place for decades since the demolition. It holds too many memories for him, good and bad, intertwined, becoming a shackle he couldn't break free from in the first half of his life.

Not far from his own doorstep, Chen Deshun found a corner where the light didn't reach and squatted down.

He is waiting.

Waiting for Chen Sanqi to return.

Before long, a figure appeared swaying at the entrance of the alley.

He was short and chubby, and swayed from side to side when he walked, like a roly-poly toy.

Chen Deshun recognized his youngest son at a glance.

Chen Sanqi clearly did not notice Chen Deshun in the corner.

At this time of day, Chen Deshun would usually be working inside or outside the factory, or he would be going to bed early. He would never be squatting at the door like this.

He lowered his head and moved cautiously step by step to the courtyard gate.

Just as Chen Sanqi's hand touched the door latch, a soft cough came from the corner.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

Chen Sanqi was startled and turned his head sharply.

He breathed a sigh of relief after seeing the figure crouching in the corner, but then his heart tightened again.

"dad?"

His voice was weak, as if he had been caught doing something wrong and couldn't hide his guilt.

Chen Deshun did not get up, but patted the side, gesturing for him to come and sit down.

Chen Sanqi was completely confused, not knowing what his father was up to, but he still obediently walked over and sat down on the steps.

The father and son sat there in silence, one squatting and the other sitting, neither of them speaking first.

A night breeze blew by, bringing a touch of coolness.

After a long silence, Chen Deshun was the first to break it.

"Your homeroom teacher, Ms. Jian, came for a home visit this afternoon."

Chen Sanqi's heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively lowered his head even further, twisting his hands together in silence.

Chen Deshun felt angry when he saw his youngest son acting like an ostrich, but he knew that such a personality was not formed overnight.

Freezing three feet is not a day's cold.

His responsibility as a father also includes this.

Thinking of this, he sighed softly and softened his tone: "This afternoon, your homeroom teacher, Ms. Jian, came for a home visit."