Chapter 429: 425. Sponging off us? (Please subscribe, monthly tickets!)

Zhang Sicheng and his wife were no longer the novices they once were; they both knew that their family was very wealthy now, and that their father was somewhat unfathomable.

But they never imagined that the house in Beijing that Zhang Ran had mentioned earlier would be a property like this.

What was this?

A Siheyuan!

The most crucial part was that it wasn't just a simple Siheyuan; one could tell exactly how valuable this Siheyuan was just by looking at the lintel.

They were indeed not locals of Beijing and had no understanding of these things, but that didn't stop them from knowing that any kind of Siheyuan nowadays was being hyped up to an astronomical price, let alone a Siheyuan that looked this imposing.

It would be no exaggeration to call this a mansion.

Zhang Ran had brought them shock after shock, and this time the impact was even greater than when they found out how much money Zhang Ran had.

It could be said that as long as they had this Siheyuan, then no matter what, the Zhang Family would have the capital to rise again.

Even if Zhang Sicheng didn't fully understand the value of this Siheyuan, he knew it must be astonishing!

"Uncle, Auntie." The little girl Susu ran over from the doorway and saw her uncle and aunt standing outside.

"Susu." Zhang Sicheng came back to his senses and picked Susu up.

"Where is your grandfather?" Zhang Sicheng asked.

"Grandfather is sleeping. Grandfather drank alcohol again, it's stinky." Susu wrinkled her little nose as she spoke, clearly not liking that her grandfather drank.

Zhang Sicheng was a bit puzzled; his father wasn't someone who liked to drink, and he only had a little when he met friends or had something happy to celebrate.

What happened?

"Huo Yi, what happened to my dad?" Zhang Sicheng walked inside and found Huo Zhiyuan to ask.

Huo Zhiyuan lay on a lounge chair and said lazily, "Nothing much, he met an old friend of your dad's today, so he had a bit to drink."

Zhang Sicheng nodded, then brushed the topic aside and said, "Huo Yi, have you eaten yet?"

"Not yet, how about you?"

"We've eaten. Siyan isn't eating at home tonight either; she's going to hang out with her friends," Zhang Sicheng said.

"Huo Yi, let me go make you some food," Liu Lu said, feeling a bit embarrassed. She and her husband had finished eating out, and there was no one at home to cook.

Huo Zhiyuan waved her hand and said, "No need to trouble yourself. I'll just find someone to order some food over. You two go ahead and look around here, get familiar with the house, so you don't end up not even recognizing your own home later."

Zhang Sicheng had actually been unable to hold back for a long time. Hearing this, he stopped talking and pulled his wife along to tour the Siheyuan.

After Gong Nan left the Zhang Family, he didn't go back to cook. Recently, Qi Lin had basically been staying at the company, and when she returned, it was usually the early hours of the morning, so she didn't need him to cook.

So in the evening, he took the two children to find a restaurant to eat.

While eating, his daughter Qi Xiaoting kept asking about Zhang Ran. She thought more and knew more than her father, who was still a bit muddled.

Gong Nan also told his daughter about things from his childhood, mainly focusing on some small matters involving Zhang Ran back then.

In the past, his daughter was very impatient to hear him talk about these things, or rather, she and he basically rarely had times to chat about daily life.

But at this moment, Qi Xiaoting was listening very attentively; this was also the first time she, as a daughter, began to take the initiative to understand her father's past.

Qi Xiaoting also gradually became immersed in her father's past, starting from her initial desire to hear about Uncle Zhang's deeds.

At this time, she also realized that her father's childhood hadn't been easy either, and he was often bullied.

For the first time, Qi Xiaoting felt a sense of heartache!

In the past, when she saw her father being scolded by her mother, Qi Xiaoting actually didn't care at all in her heart; perhaps this had to do with the environment in which she grew up.

Their family didn't think much of her father, and usually didn't show him any respect.

Although she was the daughter, as time went on, she was inevitably influenced, and Qi Xiaoting actually thought her father was a bit of a failure.

The family's expenses, spending, and even the money for her schooling were earned by her mother. Her father's monthly salary could barely cover the family's meals, and they couldn't even eat anything too good.

Just like that, the father and daughter had their first heart-to-heart; they talked as they walked, and this time Qi Xiaoting never showed a hint of impatience.

When the three of them returned home, it was already seven o'clock in the evening. Qi Mingming had already fallen asleep and was being held in Gong Nan's arms; he and Susu had played very happily today.

When they opened the door, they discovered that Qi Lin had already returned.

At the same time, there was a guest in the house, who was Qi Lin's eldest uncle, Qi Guanghuan.

Seeing that Gong Nan had returned so late and was also a bit tipsy, Qi Lin's brows furrowed involuntarily.

"Why are you back so late? Didn't I tell you to look after the children? Also, why are you drunk? How are you taking care of the children?" Qi Lin was very irritable at this moment, and seeing Gong Nan like this, she immediately scolded him.

Gong Nan hurriedly said, "I'm sorry, I thought you were going to work overtime tonight, so..."

"So what? Gong Nan, can you properly look after the children at home and not add to my troubles? Hmm? Do you know that I am currently..." Qi Lin became even more irritable.

Just at this moment, Qi Xiaoting suddenly exploded, "What's wrong with you? What did my dad do wrong that you keep going on and on?

My dad just had a little to drink, is it really that big of a deal?

Besides, my dad's friend came over, so what if he had a drink? Look after the children? How many times have you looked after us two siblings since we were little?"

"Those who know will know you're our biological mother; those who don't would think you're our stepmother."

Qi Lin stared blankly at her daughter; she found that she seemed to not recognize her daughter anymore.

She had argued with her daughter many times, and her daughter's personality was quite similar to hers, but never once had they argued because of Gong Nan.

Gong Nan also didn't expect Qi Xiaoting to say that. He was slightly stunned for a moment, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, but he quickly said, "Xiaoting, don't say that. This time it was Dad's fault. Apologize to your mom; your mom has been too tired lately."

Qi Lin didn't appreciate it when she heard this. She felt very uncomfortable in her heart that her daughter was actually speaking up for Gong Nan and arguing with her.

"Friend? More like a bunch of low-life cronies, right? And dragging their whole family along, what? Are they here to sponge off us?" Qi Lin's tone was full of sarcasm.

She was actually very good at saying these things. Gong Nan rarely brought friends home, but perhaps because of Qi Xiaoting's attitude, or perhaps because of the frustrating matters at the company, she lost control for a moment.

Gong Nan's face turned gloomy all of a sudden; this was the first time since entering this family that he was angry at Qi Lin.

"Qi Lin, don't say such nasty things. That is my brother. You can look down on me, Gong Nan, or even scold me, it doesn't matter; I don't care. But you cannot talk about my brother like that. If you say that again, then there is no need for us to continue together." Gong Nan stared fixedly at Qi Lin, his eyes, already bloodshot from drinking, looking terrifying at this moment!