Even so, Tang Zhongcheng still brought out the New Year's gifts he had prepared for them.
"Tang Ye, Tang Yan, this is my New Year's gift for you."
"I didn't give you any last year, but you must accept it this year."
They were two high-end watches, each worth hundreds of thousands.
As the saying goes, too many gifts are never a bad thing.
They had long been accustomed to receiving New Year's gifts from their father.
Looking at Tang Zhongcheng's haggard and aged face at this moment, they simply couldn't refuse his good intentions, especially since they hadn't spent the New Year together last year.
Life is a subtraction; each day passed is one less day. Similarly, every time people meet, it's one less chance to meet.
"Thank you, Dad."
"Thank you, Dad."
Tang Yan and Tang Ye each accepted Tang Zhongcheng's New Year's gifts.
Tang Zhongcheng then took out the Porsche car keys and placed them in front of Tang Xiaomin.
"Xiaomin, Dad is giving you a car. I'll have someone deliver it to your doorstep tomorrow, okay?"
A Porsche, very expensive. And much more valuable than the watches he gave to Tang Ye and the others.
One doesn't refuse a smiling face, and it was the New Year. Tang Xiaomin reluctantly accepted it.
No matter what, he was still her biological father. This car was hers for the taking, a compensation for the many years past.
"Okay, then have someone send it over."
"Alright, it will be delivered tomorrow morning, for sure."
Then, the conversation ended, and everyone remained silent.
Tang Zhongcheng had to find another topic.
"Tang Ye, I heard you opened your own media company and are your own boss."
Tang Ye knew Tang Zhongcheng was deliberately trying to make small talk, so he engaged in a desultory chat with him.
"Yes. Working for others is not a sustainable option, so I thought about opening my own company and doing my own thing."
"Very good, young people should be like this; how else will you know your potential?"
"Back then, people from your maternal grandmother's family looked down on me, saying I was poor and not worthy of your mother."
"I started Tang Corporation from scratch, built it up, and finally earned everyone's recognition through my own efforts."
Tang Zhongcheng recalled his past struggles. He had fought tooth and nail to marry Zhang Meiyu; she was the most vibrant red rose in Modu back then.
His competitors were countless, including outstanding young masters from wealthy families and hot young talents.
When he managed to marry Zhang Meiyu, he truly felt like he had won the lottery.
"Dad, time to eat," Tang Yu placed the re-heated dishes on the dining table.
Tang Xiaomin's meticulously prepared New Year's Eve dinner had been mostly eaten, with only leftovers remaining. It was enough for one person.
"Okay."
Tang Zhongcheng came to the dining room. On the table were half-eaten cold dishes, half-eaten braised pork, and a lone slice of watermelon in a bowl...
All leftovers.
But for him, a monk, this was incredibly abundant.
In the temple, he only had steamed buns and plain porridge, vegetarian dishes, with no oil or fat. He had lost more than twenty jin in a year, and the food was one reason.
Tang Yu served Tang Zhongcheng a bowl of rice, brought a bottle of red wine, and several glasses.
"Dad is back after a long time, let's all come and have a drink with Dad."
He had accepted their gifts, so it wouldn't be right not to share a drink with him.
Tang Ye and Tang Yan went to the dining room. Seeing Tang Xiaomin still on her phone, Tang Ye called out to her.
"Xiaomin, still chatting? It's New Year's, come over for a drink."
"Oh, okay."
Tang Xiaomin hadn't heard Tang Yu's voice at all.
When she arrived at the dining room, she saw that the table was full of leftovers, and Tang Zhongcheng was voraciously eating as if he were a starving ghost.
In a blink, he finished all the leftovers.
But judging by his expression, he was still unsatisfied.
He said a little sheepishly, "The food at home is still the best."
Tang Xiaomin couldn't stand it anymore and said, "You guys drink first, I'll go make some dumplings."
Tang Ye took out a deck of playing cards and said with a smile, "As usual, cards and drinks."
What's a New Year without some family entertainment?
Every year during the New Year, the five of them, father and sons, would have a card game.
Now that Tang Xu was gone, it became four people.
As Tang Ye dealt the cards, he recalled Tang Xu.
"We played cards every year, and Tang Xu got drunk every year. I wonder who will get drunk this year."
Unknowingly, Tang Xu had been gone for half a year.
Speaking of Tang Xu, a faint sadness permeated the atmosphere.
Tang Ye, who disliked smoking, silently lit a cigarette and exhaled smoke, playing two cards first.
"A pair of threes."
"A pair of Aces."
Tang Yan played, directly crushing Tang Ye.
Tang Zhongcheng shook his head.
Tang Yu across from him smiled.
"Four sixes."
"Are you serious? You're playing that at the beginning?"
"Anyone want?"
Based on the cards on the table, no one could beat it, and they all shook their heads. Su Dan Novel Network
Tang Yu, with an apologetic smile, played a beautiful sequence of cards, ending the round.
Tang Zhongcheng had no chance to play and lost.
"Tang Yu's luck is still so good, I lost, this glass is mine."
Tang Zhongcheng downed the glass in one gulp, and the game continued.
Not long after, Tang Xiaomin brought over the freshly cooked dumplings.
"The dumplings are ready, eat them while they're hot."
Tang Zhongcheng said, "Xiaomin, play a couple of rounds for me first, the losses will be mine."
"Okay."
Tang Xiaomin replaced Tang Zhongcheng. Perhaps she was cursed, as she lost three consecutive rounds, accumulating three glasses of wine for Tang Zhongcheng.
Tang Zhongcheng didn't complain and drank the wine.
On the fourth round, as Tang Xiaomin was playing a card, Tang Zhongcheng suddenly stopped her.
"Wait, those three are all cunning, you can't play that card."
Having lost three times, Tang Xiaomin had gained some confidence. Under Tang Zhongcheng's direction, she played a round that deviated from the usual strategy.
In the end, they miraculously won.
Looking at the cards in the hands of the other three, wow, the highest was only a seven.
Tang Xiaomin suddenly realized.
"Alright, so you guys had a secret agreement long ago."
*Pfft...*
Tang Ye couldn't hold back his laughter.
"You found out so quickly, you're as expected."
Tang Xiaomin glared at them.
"Playing cards and forming alliances, that's no fun."
"You can find a teammate too, as long as you can find one, we three have no objections."
They were all in cahoots; where could she find a teammate?
"Deal five hands for this round, I'll be Xiaomin's teammate," Tang Zhongcheng said.
So, Tang Xiaomin and Tang Zhongcheng teamed up and lost the entire night.
The final result was that Tang Zhongcheng got drunk and passed out on the table.
They looked at each other.
"Dad is drunk, and we've also been drinking, so we can't drive. Tonight, let Dad stay at home," Tang Yu said.
He was actually asking for Tang Xiaomin's opinion. Most importantly, tomorrow when Zhang Meiyu woke up and saw Tang Zhongcheng at home, no one knew how she would react.