Tang Xiaoyu walked onto the stage, first thanked everyone present, then said:
"Everyone just sat down not long ago, and haven't had much to drink yet, so I'll sing a few songs first to liven things up."
"When everyone is high-spirited later, we can party harder, how about that?"
The people below were also very accommodating of Tang Xiaoyu: "Good!"
"Brother Tang, we'll leave it to you."
"We'll listen to Brother Tang."
Everyone chimed in, and the atmosphere instantly became lively.
Tang Xiaoyu saw this, pressed his hands down to gesture for everyone to quiet down for a moment.
Soon, everyone quieted down, and Tang Xiaoyu continued: "I'll sing 'This Ridiculous Life' for myself first!"
The music slowly rose, and the projection simultaneously displayed beautiful scenery.
Tang Xiaoyu picked up the microphone, a lonely and solitary look appearing on his face and in his eyes.
Seeing this, Tang Xiaoqin felt heartache for this cousin, wondering what he had experienced to make such a stubborn and proud person become like this.
"Life is too painful"
"The wind cuts painfully into my bones"
"But I'm not willing to admit defeat"
"Never afraid of loneliness"
"Don't care about the heartache"
"Who knows who wins, who loses, who knows each other's pain"
"Light a cigarette when you're lonely"
"Crowds can't drive away the loneliness"
"This life! How many true feelings have been let down"
"How much satisfaction is needed for the heart"
"How much bitterness must be tasted on this journey"
"Before being able to slowly stop"
"Who can give me a true blessing"
"So I won't be lonely walking in the dark night"
"The years are cruel, half my life has flashed by in an instant"
"Who will remember me in this life"
This song sang out Tang Xiaoyu's heart and helplessness, and let the people present understand how much hardship and sorrow was hidden under Tang Xiaoyu's brilliant smile.
Listening to the song and seeing Tang Xiaoyu's expression, tears slowly rolled down Tang Xiaoqin's face, and she secretly swore to take good care of this cousin from now on.
After one song ended, Tang Xiaoyu bowed slightly: "Thank you, everyone."
Applause rang out, but no shouting. After a while, the young masters who had arrived earliest today said: "Bro Tang, speak up if you have any issues in the future. If anyone dares bully you, ask us if we will stand for it."
The others also chimed in: "Yeah."
Tang Xiaoyu thanked them: "Then I'll have to rely on everyone's protection from now on."
"No problem."
After that, Tang Xiaoyu arranged for the girls to go up and dance. In the past, these young masters would just watch for a bit, but today, their eyes were glued straight at the stage.
Not for anything else, just because these girls were dressed too sexily, and danced too seductively.
This was Tang Xiaoyu's idea, he felt it would be better for the girls to wear less, rather than sell their bodies.
Seeing her three junior disciples staring at the stage, unable to peel their eyes away, looking like pigs, Tang Xiaoqin was furious.
She called Tang Xiaoyu over and asked: "Do those girls on stage look good?"
Tang Xiaoyu honestly replied: "They look good! If they didn't look good I wouldn't have let them go up!"
Tang Xiaoqin asked sternly: "You mean you arranged this."
Tang Xiaoyu nodded: "Yes!"
"Do you know this will harm those girls?"
Tang Xiaoyu explained: "I don't have the ability to change their fates. The only thing I can do is make their lives a little better than before."
"Perhaps you think it's shameless for them to dress this way, but it's better than selling their bodies."
Tang Xiaoqin wanted to refute, but didn't know how.
She hmm-ed for a while.
Tang Xiaoyu continued: "Fate forces you to constantly choose, no matter how you choose, the ending won't change."
"I used to think choice decides fate, now I realize choice only decides how soon the ending comes."
"Perhaps you think these girls are shameless, but I feel they are kinder and more beautiful than many people."
Tang Xiaoqin and her two junior sisters were deeply shaken by Tang Xiaoyu's words.
They had thought they were defying the heavens and changing fates, but when they thought about it, how many people in the past had escaped their destiny?
Seeing them in a daze, Tang Xiaoyu slowly retreated.
As time passed, many people were already quite drunk. Tang Xiaoyu felt it was about time, and prepared to liven things up.
Tang Xiaoqin and the others hadn't drank much alcohol, saw it was quite late, and prepared to return.
She beckoned Tang Xiaoyu over, and gave him a storage ring.
"There's some worldly money inside, take it and live well, don't make things hard on yourself."
Tang Xiaoyu scratched his head and said weakly: "I'm just an ordinary person, I can't use this stuff!"
Tang Xiaoqin was speechless, and forgot about it. She could only say: "Next time I'll change it all into silver notes for you!"
"As long as you remember, don't forget."
Tang Xiaoqin unhappily said: "Can't you be more polite or tactfully decline?"
Tang Xiaoyu matter-of-factly said: "Only a fool wouldn't take advantage of a bargain. And I don't need to stand on ceremony with my own sister."
"Fine! You win. I'm leaving first, I'll come find you after I finish my matters."
Tang Xiaoyu saw them off to the door, and only returned after watching them leave from sight.
He finally endured until closing time, and dragged his exhausted body towards his room.
Just as he was about to lie down, Old Lu said: "You shouldn't have kneeled today. A man earns respect through perseverance, where is your dignity?"
Tang Xiaoyu smiled coldly: "Dignity? I trampled my face beneath my feet, just to earn a mouthful of food. Tell me, what is dignity? How much is dignity worth? Can it make me full?"
"If I wanted the dignity you speak of, I should have dashed my head to death months ago. That would probably be very dignified."
"I don't steal, rob, or cheat. I eat what I earn with my own skills. I think I live very dignified."
"I didn't sell out my clan or betray my country. I still think I have dignity."
"You speaking to me of dignity, when I'm struggling just to stay alive, isn't that laughable?"
After speaking, Tang Xiaoyu directly lay down to sleep.
Lu Changchun was left speechless, continuously contemplating Tang Xiaoyu's words.
He murmured: "I was inconsiderate."
Tang Xiaoyu did not reply, and rested peacefully.
The next morning when Tang Xiaoyu got up to wash up, he smiled and greeted Lu Changchun.
"Uncle, you got up early! What should we eat when we go out later?"
Lu Changchun replied with a smile: "Baozi, rice porridge."
The brothel didn't provide breakfast, because it was closed in the day for rest, so not just breakfast, even lunch wasn't provided.
After washing up, the two went out to a roadside stall and resolved breakfast.
After eating, they returned to the room to rest for a while, before heading out again to the teahouse.
As Tang Xiaoyu lay on the bed preparing to rest his eyes, he heard Lu Changchun say: "Xiaoyu, I shouldn't have judged you by my standards last night."
Tang Xiaoyu waved his hand: "It's nothing. Yesterday already passed, there's no meaning to dwelling on it."
"We should focus on today's matters, because we can't be certain what will happen tomorrow."
Lu Changchun sighed: "Lived over half my life, yet I'm not as insightful as you, a twenty-something youngster. I really lived in vain."
Tang Xiaoyu consoled: "Everyone has different experiences, so views on issues are bound to differ! Don't overthink."
Lu Changchun neither agreed nor disagreed, just nodded: "Perhaps so!"