"Not bad," Xiao Han smiled.
"Oh, that's good," Xiao Zhicheng nodded.
The family was lively and courteous.
At that mont, Mother Xiao said, "Actually, Xiao Han and I already had our New Year's Eve dinner at ho, but when Dahai ca to call us, I thought we're all family, so it was proper to co over and sit together since that's what makes it lively."
"Exactly, exactly!" Xiao Mingguo hurriedly nodded and said, "That's exactly what I ant, which is why I invited everyone to sit together this year."
"It's nothing much!" Xiao Minghua started to speak, "From now on, let's eat the New Year's Eve dinner out every year. It's rare for us to gather once a year, and it's not easy for everyone. As for the cost, we can take turns hosting, how about that?"
"Okay," Aunt Xiao quickly nodded.
"Sure, relatives should visit each other more!" Xiao Zhicheng nodded.
"Well... let's start eating now!" Xiao Mingguo said with a smile.
"Eat, let's eat!" Xiao Minghua nodded eagerly.
As the n were the head of Xiao's family, Xiao Mingguo and Xiao Minghua took the seats of honor. Next to them sat Xiao Zhicheng, and next to him sat Xiao Han. A circle of n gathered together, mostly to drink and show off.
As the current head of the Xiao family, Xiao Mingguo laughed, "Co on, let's drink, everyone have a little. n drink liquor, won drink red wine."
"What about the kids?" Aunt Xiao quickly said.
"Right, right," Uncle Xiao quickly agreed, then added, "There are kids here too, they shouldn't drink alcohol."
"Aiyo, brother-in-law, it's a rare gathering today, everyone's quite happy, isn't your daughter in junior high now?" Xiao Mingguo laughed heartily, "Why can't she have a little? Today everyone must drink."
"Okay, okay, okay!" Upon hearing this, Uncle Xiao imdiately nodded, then said, "Then let's drink."
Two bottles of liquor and two bottles of red wine were placed on the table. Although not very expensive, they were nonetheless a token of Xiao Mingguo's goodwill. Everyone seated had their glasses filled with wine. Even Xiao Han's glass was filled with liquor.
The kitchen quickly began serving dishes, which were affordable for ordinary people in this small restaurant. The food wasn't expensive; profit ca from the drinks.
With everyone's glass filled with wine, Xiao Mingguo stood up and said, "It's the New Year, so there's not much to say. Our first toast is to the second brother, who's watching over us from above."
The expressions of everyone beca especially solemn as they all raised their glasses.
Honestly, Eldest Uncle's gesture did move Xiao Han a bit. Over the years, although they had looked down on him and never held him in high regard, the tone and emotion from Eldest Uncle just now revealed a sense of sorrow, signifying that he did hold feelings for his second brother, Xiao Han's father. On account of this alone, Xiao Han forgave them for half of their faults.
"Thank you, big brother!" Mother Xiao was nearly moved to tears.
"Sister-in-law, Xiao Jianguo was my little brother, so it's only right for to commorate and rember him," Xiao Mingguo said.
"Mm!" Tears stread down Mother Xiao's face.
Although Mother Xiao was a person who appeared very strong on the outside, having supported her family with her backbone for many years, she was also easily moved. A slight touch on her soft spots, and she would weep.
"Alright, for the second toast, let's wish everyone huge prosperity in the new year," Xiao Mingguo raised his glass high.
Xiao Mingguo was not highly educated, so his words were naturally sowhat cliché. But his rough words carried a solid truth. Wealth was everyone's innermost dream. Who wouldn't want to achieve wealth?
"Alright, to a prosperous new year!" everyone agreed, nodding their heads.
After two rounds of toasts, everyone's chatterboxes opened up quickly. Of course, the public figure of this gathering was certainly Xiao Han. Xiao Dahai was universally acknowledged as honest and sincere, so whatever ca out of his mouth, nine tis out of ten, was reliable.
"Xiao Han, I heard from Dahai that you bought a BMW SUV?" Xiao Zhicheng, who had a particular fondness for cars, saw his car as his second wife, if his wife was his first. So, when he heard that Xiao Han had bought a car, his entire being was incredibly surprised and astounded, prompting him to seek clarification from Xiao Han.
"Yes!" Xiao Han nodded.
"Almost two million spent?" Xiao Zhicheng exclaid in surprise.
"Yes!" Xiao Han nodded and said, "It's the top-configured version of the BMW X5 off-road vehicle, so the price is quite high."
"Damn, with that price you could buy a Porsche Cayenne, and there are many other options to choose from. Why buy a BMW?" Xiao Zhicheng hurriedly said, "If you buy a Cayenne, that would seriously raise your status, and the price is pretty good too. You..."
"Just because I like it!" Xiao Han said with a slight smile, "Of course, this is just the first car in my life, and I can change it later, right? I chose an off-road type for my first car for convenient travel. Later on, I can switch to a sports car; I'm quite fond of Lamborghini and Ferrari, and Ferrari has several models that are quite good."
"Exactly, the entry-level 458, I think it's really nice," Xiao Zhicheng said as if he had found a kindred spirit and hurriedly added, "This model is affordable, and its performance is also very impressive. If you're interested, you should give it a try soti."
"Forget it," Xiao Han shook his head and said, "These entry-level sports cars are not very interesting. Next, I plan to buy a Ferrari 488. The price of this model is good, around four million. Besides, its performance is absolutely impressive..."
Xiao Han had so research into cars, or less; n generally have a good feel for cars. He also paid attention to so car information, especially the latest models on the market, which were certainly within Xiao Han's focus. A sly smile crept onto Xiao Han's lips. These words were not only for Xiao Zhicheng to hear but for the entire Xiao family.
Although Xiao Han's voice was not loud, it was like a bomb had exploded deep inside everyone's hearts.
"Xiao Han, where did you get so much money?" Aunt Xiao couldn't wait to ask.
A car worth over four million, just like that, you decide to buy, isn't that a bit too exaggerated? For many people, earning over four million in a lifeti might be impossible, yet Xiao Han was planning to buy a car worth over four million. Such extravagance and astonishing spending truly shocked everyone.
"Oh, I earned it myself!" Xiao Han said with a slight smile.
"You... what are you doing?" Aunt Xiao urgently pressed on.
"That... I'll keep as a secret for now!" Xiao Han said with a gentle shake of his head, "But rest assured, every penny I have is clean."
"I believe that!" Xiao Minghua hurriedly said, "This afternoon I watched Xiao Han's interview on Linjiang TV Station. Xiao Han is now a celebrity in Linjiang, the pride of Linjiang City, so I believe that every penny he has is clean. Those with dubious money wouldn't dare to appear on TV or show their faces in public."
"Right, right!" The crowd nodded in agreent.
They said this rely to flatter Xiao Han, to utter pleasant words for him. Sadly, Xiao Han had long since grown averse to their behavior. In earlier years, since his father's death, these relatives had shown him what cold human relations were truly like, and exposed him to the world's harshness. There was no doubt about it.
A sly smile appeared on Xiao Han's lips, but inside, he was filled with disdain.
"Xiao Han, you've really beco soone successful now," Xiao Mingguo said with a chuckle. "Just look, among the younger generation of our family, you're the only one with so accomplishnts."
"Yes, indeed!" Xiao Minghua eagerly nodded.
Xiao Zhicheng repeatedly said, "Xiao Han, can I borrow your BMW for a couple of days?"
"Sure!" Xiao Han nodded slightly, placed the car keys on the table, and then said, "Take it if you want to drive it. Just return it to once you've had enough."
"Really?" Xiao Zhicheng's face lit up upon hearing this, and he quickly grabbed the keys from the table, excitedly saying, "That's great, thanks Xiao Han. I'll return the car to you after driving it for a few days. Heh, I'll make sure to wash it clean for you and fill up the gas tank!"
Xiao Han smiled indifferently, with nothing much to say.
Xiao Zhicheng was his cousin, and Xiao Han knew him well. The man was a bit idle, aiming too high, and after graduating from a third-rate college, he just stayed at ho managing a supermarket. Although the supermarket brought in so inco, it clearly wasn't enough to support a family. Otherwise, Eldest Uncle wouldn't be working in a coastal city at his age, trying to pay off his son's mortgage and car loan as soon as possible. After one year's work, not only the car loan was paid off, but so of the mortgage as well.
Mainly, it was because Xiao Zhicheng and his wife failed to grasp the importance of household managent. Their supermarket could earn a few tens of thousands a year, but that money just frittered away in their hands. Neither of them went out to work, just tending to the small supermarket. How could that be enough? With their inco alone, it wasn't sufficient to make ends et. Probably after driving the BMW for a few days, he would get scared off. Filling up the tank with hundreds of yuan worth of gas, and if you drive every day, a tank of gas might only last a week.
"No problem!" Xiao Han said with a smile.
Holding the BMW keys, which were sowhat extraordinary and quite beautiful, the key fob even had an LED electronic screen display, looking very attractive no matter how you viewed it, and it felt good in the hand.
"Zhicheng, we have a class reunion the day after tomorrow, and it will co in handy," Xiao Zhicheng's wife said eagerly.
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