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墨書 Inktalez
On December 11, 2001, the relocation office staff arrived.
"Master Hou, this house needs to be handed over to the new residents tomorrow. You need to move out."
"Where to? Where are we supposed to go?"
"Well... you’ll have to figure that out yourself."
Standing in that dilapidated house, looking at the moldy bedding in the corner, I suddenly felt like a homeless wanderer.
A heaviness settled in my heart. "Xiao Li, can I stay a few more days? I really have nowhere to go."
"Sir, I can't help it; they’re pushing us hard from above. Don’t you have a son? Why not stay with him for a few days?"
A son?
I forced a bitter smile.
"Alright, I understand."
After Xiao Li left, I sat on the bed in a daze. My old partner was in the kitchen packing things up, occasionally letting out a sigh.
I had no choice but to seek out Hou Zuo Qing.
I packed a few bundles and, together with my partner, headed towards Dashizi Street.
Along the way, my partner kept wiping away tears.
"Old man, do you think Hou Zuo Qing will take us in?"
I didn’t respond.
To be honest, I wasn’t sure either.
But I had to try.
After all, he was my son.
·····················
That evening of December 11, my partner and I stood once again at our son’s doorstep, dragging along our tattered bundles.
This time, I was resolute.
No matter how he scolded or hit me, I was determined to demand an explanation.
I knocked on the door, but there was no response from inside.
I continued to knock, once, twice, three times...
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
"Open the door! Hou Zuo Qing! I'm your father!"
A neighbor from next door opened their door to take a look, then quickly shut it again.
I knew they felt sorry for me, but no one dared to intervene.
After knocking for a full half hour, the door finally opened.
Hou Zuo Qing stood there in his pajamas, his face pale with anger. "You old fool, disturbing my sleep at this hour?"
"Son, we have nowhere to stay. Can you let us in for a few days?" I pleaded.
"A few days? Dream on!"
"I'm your father! You can't treat me like this!"
"You’re my father?" He sneered.
"Go die somewhere else! If you’re not happy about it, take me to court!"
My wife tugged at my sleeve. "Old man, let’s kneel and beg him."
At 75 years old, I had never knelt before anyone.
But for the sake of having a home, I truly wanted to kneel.
Just as I was about to bend down, Hou Zuo Qing pushed me away. "Kneeling won't help! This house has nothing to do with you!"
"Hou Zuo Qing, please! It's twenty degrees below zero outside; we will freeze to death!" My wife was in tears.
"Good! If you freeze to death, I won’t have to deal with you every day!"
Those words ignited my fury completely.
"Are you even human? After all the hard work I put into raising you, this is how you repay me?"
"Raise me? That was your duty! Who told you to give birth to me?"
"You beast! You're nothing but a beast!" I reached out to hit him.
Hou Zuo Qing grabbed my wrist and gave it a hard shake, nearly causing me to fall.
"Old man, do you still want to hit me? Do you believe I’ll call the police on you?"
Just then, my daughter-in-law Wang Li walked out from inside. I thought she would say something to persuade her husband.
"Wang Li, say something! We really have nowhere else to go."
Wang Li glanced at me and then at her husband before slowly speaking, "Dad, it's not that we don't want you to stay, it's just that... the conditions don't allow it."
"How about this," Hou Zuo Qing suddenly said, "you can stay if you meet my conditions."
I felt a glimmer of hope. "What conditions?"
"First, you have to pay me rent—one thousand yuan every month."
"One thousand? Where are we supposed to get that kind of money?"
"If you can't afford it, then don't stay. Second, you are not allowed to invite anyone over, including your younger brother's family."
"They're your siblings!"
"I don’t care! Third, once you move in, you’re not allowed to interfere—this is my house!"
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