"You want to watch me die, don't you? Do you even have any humanity?"
Tang Ye said coldly, "What is humanity? Life is paramount. Everything that needed to be said has been said, now get out quickly."
Ignoring Tang Yan's struggles, Tang Ye pushed him out the door and shut it.
"Mom, open the door."
"Mom, save me!"
...
Tang Ye and Tang Zhongcheng remained silent, ignoring Tang Yan's shouts.
After an unknown amount of time, the commotion outside quieted down.
Tang Ye peeked through the peephole and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Dad, Tang Yan is gone."
Tang Zhongcheng shot Tang Ye a glare.
"Is this how a brother behaves, pushing his sibling out the door?"
Tang Ye said indifferently, "Actually, I've always suspected if Meihuan was really his own design. We all know his theoretical knowledge and his yearly grades."
With Meihuan's design, Tang Yan had established his position in the automotive industry.
He was also the most accomplished among the Tang family's sons.
The more he thought about it, the more suspicious it became.
After experiencing so much, Tang Zhongcheng made a decision.
Tang Zhongcheng made a phone call and then left.
When Tang Zhongcheng arrived, Tang Xiaomin was having hot pot with her adoptive parents.
The group was momentarily stunned. Zhou Xiaolan said enthusiastically, "Mr. Tang is here! We're just having hot pot, please have a seat. I'll get you some bowls and chopsticks."
Li Changchun also said enthusiastically, "These are just some vegetables we grew ourselves, but they are absolutely fresh. Mr. Tang, please don't mind."
Tang Xiaomin rolled her eyes internally. She wouldn't say anything rude in front of her adoptive parents.
Tang Xiaomin was certainly not short on money now.
Yet, only very ordinary dishes were laid out on the table.
From what Tang Zhongcheng knew, including the thinly sliced pork belly, all the dishes combined were definitely less than a hundred yuan.
This was just a very ordinary dinner for an ordinary family.
Their lives remained simple and unpretentious.
They had not become extravagant just because of Tang Xiaomin's financial capabilities.
"Here, Mr. Tang, try my homemade plum wine. It's the best for warming the body."
Tang Zhongcheng took a sip.
It was ordinary white liquor, and after drinking it, there was an immediate burning sensation in his throat.
A moment later, it was replaced by the sweetness of the plums, making it not unpalatable but instead inviting another sip.
"This wine is very good. It's a shame I'm only tasting it now."
Li Changchun smiled.
"If you like it, I'll pour you a bottle to take back. You can drink it slowly when you have free time."
"That would be wonderful," Tang Zhongcheng accepted without refusal.
Zhou Xiaolan and Li Changchun were ordinary people, and the only topic Tang Zhongcheng could discuss with them was Tang Xiaomin's affairs.
Tang Xiaomin occasionally chimed in, and the hot pot meal was quite harmonious.
After the meal, Tang Zhongcheng, holding a bottle of wine in a plain glass bottle, indicated he had to leave.
Zhou Xiaolan said, "Xiaomin, it's difficult to get a taxi now. Why don't you see your dad off? Be careful on the road."
Tang Xiaomin was reluctant, but Zhou Xiaolan had already handed her the car keys.
"Your father probably has something to say to you. Go on, don't let him make this trip in vain. He's even gotten gray hair in a year; it hasn't been easy for him."
Zhou Xiaolan was unaware of the past grievances.
Tang Xiaomin silently went out to drive.
The Tang family's luxury cars had all been sold to save Tang Yu's life. Tang Zhongcheng had taken a taxi to get here.
Frankly speaking, Tang Zhongcheng rarely had the chance to be in the same car with Tang Xiaomin.
As recently as six months ago, Tang Zhongcheng had even hoped Tang Xiaomin would die in a car accident.
Now, he was the clown.
He didn't know how much Tang Xiaomin had endured to keep him alive until now.
"Tang Yan came home today and mentioned that you beat him."
"I'm not blaming you. Whatever wrong he did to you is his own retribution."
"Tang Ye, afraid of being implicated, has already kicked Tang Yan out of the house."
Tang Xiaomin didn't want to listen to their petty family matters.
"Say what you want to say," she said.
Tang Zhongcheng hesitated, then sighed after a long pause.
"In my life, I've wronged my family and my children. When the Tang Corporation was still around, I felt I was a successful person, and my life was not in vain."
"But now, all my actions are coming back to haunt me. My family is broken because of me, my loved ones are implicated, and there's you too."
"If you hadn't been abandoned, I believe your brothers would have treated you as well as they treated Tang Yiyi."
"Everything is my fault alone."
In the past, Tang Xiaomin hadn't envied Tang Yiyi.
She hadn't considered what her life would be like if she hadn't been abandoned.
Her current tragic death was perhaps heaven's punishment for her foolish desire for such a life.
Thinking about it now, it seemed ridiculous.
"Now, they would only bring shame to me. Each one is worse than the last."
Whether Tang Xiaomin's words were out of anger or disdain, it was understandable.
"Indeed, none of them have ever treated you well."
"Now, Tang Yu is on the brink of death, Tang Xu is in prison, Tang Ye's career is ruined, and even Tang Yan is likely to be in trouble."
After all, Tang Zhongcheng's visit was still because of Tang Yan.
Tang Xiaomin pulled the car over to the side of the road.
"Get out," she said coldly.
Tang Zhongcheng knew he wouldn't get much out of this trip.
But since he had come, he would do his best.
"What did Tang Yan do to you, and how will you take revenge on him, I cannot stop you."
"I only hope that you will spare his life."
"After today, I will become a monk and kneel at Buddha's feet to repent, using the rest of my life to pray for you."
What was left of Tang Zhongcheng's life?
Zhang Meiyu was utterly disappointed in him and treated him like a transparent person.
The current retribution for the Tang family was all his doing.
Besides becoming a monk, he didn't know what else he could do for this broken family, his critically ill son, and the resentful Tang Xiaomin.
Perhaps if he became a monk and stayed away from Zhang Meiyu, she might be happier.
Seeing Tang Zhongcheng's demeanor, he didn't seem to be lying.
"Hahaha..."
Tang Xiaomin suddenly burst into laughter. Her expression seemed both manic and mocking of Tang Zhongcheng.
"This is the first time I've heard someone describe escaping reality so elegantly. You're going to make me die laughing, haha..."
Tang Xiaomin laughed heartily for a while, then looked at Tang Zhongcheng with contempt.
"Becoming a monk, repenting, praying for blessings – how noble. Have you moved yourself yet?"
Tang Zhongcheng's face was grim. It seemed Tang Xiaomin misunderstood him, thinking this was just a temporary measure.