At dawn, the sky began to lighten. Mr. Xie rose early and went to the kitchen to cook porridge for his parents.
Grandpa was old and woke before daybreak. He wanted to get up, but then he remembered this was his eldest son's house, so he didn't presume to. He lay in bed with his eyes open, and only when he heard sounds from outside did he finally get dressed and get up.
The kitchen light was on. Grandpa went to the kitchen and saw his eldest son cooking. "Son."
"Dad, what are you doing up?" Mr. Xie was washing rice, about to put it in the pot.
"You sleep less when you get old." Grandpa walked into the kitchen and sat down on a small stool.
"Dad, you don't need to tend the fire," Mr. Xie said quickly. Cooking on the honeycomb briquette stove didn't require it.
