Chapter 52: Exciting New Year Goods

**Behind Love Poem, there was a large group of children, including Aiwen, Tang Xiaohua, Tang Xiaohu, all of them chattering excitedly:

"She's back!"

"Sister Ailian is back!"

"A car, a car! Ailian came back in a car!"

"Really?" Liu Xiujing was the first to stand up and rushed outside.

Everyone's faces were filled with joy as they followed suit and went out to welcome Tang Ailian back.

Tang Shuisheng breathed a sigh of relief, and Tang Lao Ye walked past him, patting his shoulder, "Good for you, my friend."

"Yeah," Tang Shuisheng replied with newfound determination, determined to turn over a new leaf for the sake of Tang Ailian's return, the future of his children, and the happiness of his family.

Tang Ailian froze as soon as she got out of the car. She stared in disbelief at her family members who had all come out to welcome her. She couldn't believe her luck. Her entire family had come out to greet her?

Liu Xiujing rushed forward, bent down, and picked up Ailian, tightly hugging her, her voice choked with emotion, "Ailian, Ailian, Ailian..."

She seemed to have lost the ability to say anything else and could only call out Tang Ailian's name, tears streaming down her face.

Tang Ailian reached out her little hand and wiped her mother's tears, saying softly, "Mom, Ailian is sorry. Please don't cry, Mom."

Liu Xiujing seemed to snap out of her daze and felt a bit embarrassed. "Mom is fine." But in the next moment, her expression changed, and she raised her hand to give Tang Ailian a light slap. "You naughty child, how could you run away with strangers like that? Do you want to worry your mom to death?"

Tang Ailian hugged her mother's neck and said, "Mom, Ailian was wrong. Can you forgive Ailian, please?"

Hearing her daughter's plea, Liu Xiujing softened her heart. "You can't do this again next time."

Tang Ailian hugged her mother and felt warm inside. "Mom, it's okay. I was helping someone to treat an illness."

Liu Xiujing suddenly remembered something and asked, "What's this?"

Tang Ailian leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "This is 500 yuan, Mom. Please keep it safe and don't let anyone see it."

She had finally earned money to give to her mother. Her heart felt like it was flying.

Liu Xiujing was surprised. 500 yuan? Her daughter had earned 500 yuan in one trip? That was more than her husband could make in a year! She was about to say something when she saw Tang Lao Ye and Tang Shuisheng looking at her with anticipation.

She didn't say anything and quickly hid the money in a cabinet, making sure it was locked securely. Then, she glanced around cautiously before finally relaxing.

Tang Lao Ye noticed that White Old Man and Xiao Zhong had been ignored. They were holding four large bags at their sides.

Or rather, Tang Lao Ye noticed the four large bags of goods by their side.

The bags were so full that there was no way to tie them shut, and the contents were poking out, clearly showing valuable items that were considered scarce in this era.

Tang Lao Ye's eyes widened.

"Who are you?" he began, but White Old Man quickly cut him off.

"We're the ones who brought Tang Ailian back, and these goods are New Year's gifts for Tang Xiaoyou."

Hearing that these were for Tang Ailian, not to mention Tang Lao Ye, even Tang Lao Tai Tai and Tang Shuisheng were dumbfounded. There were so many items, and from the items poking out of the bags, it was clear that these were valuable goods that couldn't be easily obtained in this era.

Tang Lao Ye took a moment to remember that he should invite the guests inside. However, when he looked up, he saw that the deliverymen had already turned and driven away, leaving only their backs.

Tang Lao Tai Tai realized that they were for Tang Ailian and her family. She decided not to say anything and followed Tang Ailian's lead as they all went back inside the house.

"Mom, Dad, Ailian is back, and you don't have to worry anymore," Tang Ailian called out as they entered the house.

Tang Ailian's entire family gathered around, and she continued, "Grandpa, Grandma, sister, brother, little uncle, little aunt, brother Xiaohu, I'm back!"

Tang Lao Tai Tai, despite her usual treatment of Tang Ailian, couldn't help but feel concerned. This was her granddaughter, and she had been through a lot. She said gently, "It's good that you're back. But from now on, you can't go out like that. We were all so worried."

Tang Lao Ye simply looked at his granddaughter with a complicated expression. He knew that it wasn't her fault for running away, but rather his younger brother's mistake that had put her in danger.

Tang Shuisheng walked up to Tang Ailian and apologized, "Ailian, it's my fault. I won't gamble anymore."

"That's great, Uncle Xiaodaddy. But you have to promise me one more thing," Tang Ailian said.

"What is it?" Tang Shuisheng felt a bit nervous. Was she going to ask for the 200 yuan again? He really couldn't afford it.

"Promise me that you won't engage in any business dealings within the next ten years," Tang Ailian said.

Tang Shuisheng hesitated for a moment.

Tang Ailian continued, "My master said that if you engage in any business dealings within the next ten years, you'll face imprisonment."

As soon as he heard that it was her master who said it, Tang Shuisheng gritted his teeth and agreed, "I promise, Ailian!"

Tang Ailian extended her little finger, "Pinkie promise."

Tang Shuisheng looked a bit dumbfounded. "Pinkie promise?" He looked at his right hand as if he didn't know what to do.

Tang Ailian took the initiative to grab his little finger with hers and shook it, saying, "Pinkie promise, one hundred years unchanging. Okay, Uncle Xiaodaddy, now that we've made a pinkie promise, you can't go back on it."

Tang Shuisheng replied with a wry smile, "Alright, I'll listen to Ailian."

Tang Lao Ye looked at his granddaughter and then at his younger brother, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Tang Lao Tai Tai, on the other hand, noticed the four large bags next to them. The bags were so full that they couldn't be tied shut, and the valuable items inside were poking out. These were items that couldn't be easily obtained in this era. 

She began to suspect that these goods were meant for her family.

(End of this chapter)