The Rise of a Special Forces Soldier Abandoned by a Wealthy Family

The villa after dinner was filled with a lazy and blissful warmth.

He Jing quickly and efficiently cleared away the dishes, a satisfied smile always on her face, resolutely refusing to let any of the younger generation interfere.

Tonight, it felt as if most of the burden on her heart had been lifted, watching her daughter and two nieces surrounding her son like stars around the moon!

Hearing the cheerful laughter coming from the living room, she felt full of inexhaustible energy; this warmth was the sweet rain she had longed for for eighteen years.

Zeng Long leaned back on the sofa, the aftereffects of the two bottles of strong liquor making his body feel a little weak, but his mind was in a rare state of complete relaxation.

The warm family atmosphere in the house, the innocent laughter of his three younger sisters, and the good news that Tiezhu's background might be revealed washed over his perpetually tense nerves like a warm tide.

Tonight, he truly let down his guard and shackles, listening with great interest as Xiaoyu, Zeng Yuan, and Zeng Ke chattered about the interesting and heartwarming little things that happened in the Zeng family.

Tie Zhu and Ye Feng were also deeply infected by this relaxed and pleasant atmosphere and joined in the conversation.

Especially Tie Zhu, whose honest face was flushed with excitement, suggested:

"Boss, Brother Feng, I feel like I haven't had enough to drink yet! How about... we have some more?"

To everyone's surprise, his words immediately received a positive response from the three sisters, Xiaoyu, Zengyuan, and Zengke!

"Okay, okay! We want to drink too!" Xiaoyu's eyes sparkled.

"Exactly! It's no fun just watching you guys get drunk!" Zeng Yuan chimed in.

"Come with us!" Zeng Ke clung to Zeng Long's arm, shaking it and pleading.

The Zeng family had strict rules, and girls under the age of 18 were strictly forbidden from drinking alcohol.

But tonight, the atmosphere was right, and with Zeng Long, their older brother, around, the two little girls became bolder!

She thought to herself that even if she really drank too much, her grandfather and parents would probably just be happy for this rare scene of harmony between siblings and would never blame her.

Looking at his three younger sisters' expectant eyes, Zeng Long thought for a moment, then smiled indulgently:

"Alright, but let's skip the high-proof liquor. You're all still young, and girls at that. How about this... we'll have beer tonight, and some barbecue too? Let's treat it as a family party."

"Great! That's wonderful!"

"Long live Brother Dragon!"

Zeng Yuan and Zeng Ke immediately cheered and jumped for joy, their little faces turning red with excitement.

Upon hearing the suggestion, Tie Zhu and Ye Feng thought it was fantastic. Without saying a word, they immediately got up and, as if they had received a military order, excitedly ran out to buy beer and barbecue ingredients.

However, not long after the two left, the villa door was pushed open again, and Lin Xiaoya and Anna returned, carrying the chill of the night and a little tired, but more excited.

With Lin Xiaoya around, there's never a dull moment.

Especially when Zeng Long tacitly allowed her to "show off her talents," the scene was absolutely twice as intense, chaotic... no, it was filled with laughter and merriment!

As soon as Xiaoya walked in, upon hearing that tonight's plan was "beer and barbecue," her mischievous eyes immediately darted around, as she felt that this alone wasn't enough to satisfy her.

She clapped her hands and said loudly:

"What's the point of just eating and drinking? It's too monotonous! Tonight is a double celebration—it's the great day that my brother Tiezhu's background is promising, and it's also the first family party for our sister Xiaoyu, Yuanyuan, and Keke! We have to do something exciting!"

She cleared her throat, and as if announcing a major decision, waved her small hand with a bright smile that said, "I'm going to do something big!"

I propose we have a "beer, barbecue, mahjong, and skewers quartet" tonight!

Imagine that scene—I, Lin Xiaoya, am playing cards with my right hand, eating skewers with my left, then casually playing cards with my right hand, followed by chugging down my drink…

While others revel in "drinking and singing, how short is life?", I, Lin Xiaoya, prefer to—drink, play cards, and eat skewers! Hahaha, just thinking about it is exhilarating!

After saying that, she didn't give anyone a chance to object. She immediately took out her phone and called Tiezhu, who had just gone out, and quickly added an order:

"Brother Tiezhu! Bonus mission! Get more types of barbecue! The key is skewers! Bring me a huge bunch of all kinds of skewers! Also! Get an automatic mahjong machine! Yes! Now! Immediately! Right now!"

Pfft... Anna, who was initially a little nervous and reserved because of the presence of so many of Zeng Long's close relatives, couldn't help but laugh out loud when she heard Xiao Ya's bold statement, "Let's drink, play cards, and eat some skewers." Her nervousness instantly dissipated by more than half.

Xiaoyu laughed so hard she almost fell over, praising Xiaoya for her talent.

Anna was indeed a little reserved at first, especially after Xiaoya quietly told her that Xiaoyu was Zeng Long's younger sister and Zeng Yuan was her cousin; she felt her palms sweating.

These are all Zeng Long's blood relatives! Will her behavior leave a bad impression on them?

However, Xiaoyu's enthusiasm and cheerfulness, and Zeng Yuan and Zeng Ke's sweet and natural way of calling her "Sister Anna," quickly put her at ease.

Five beautiful young girls gathered together, chatting about topics typical of girls, and time flew by amidst laughter and joy.

When Tie Zhu and Ye Feng returned, covered in sweat and carrying large and small bags, followed by an installer carrying a mahjong machine box, they were greeted by this harmonious and lively scene.

The workers quickly installed the mahjong machine, plugged it in, and the clattering sound of shuffling tiles immediately added a new background noise to the living room.

Tie Zhu laid out a mountain of barbecue and a dazzling array of skewers on the table, instantly filling the entire space with an enticing aroma.

"Alright! Everyone to your positions!" Lin Xiaoya, like the party's director, casually grabbed a fragrant lamb skewer, placed one foot boldly on the beer crate next to her, and while eating heartily, surveyed everyone and announced the game rules:

"Tonight we're playing 'Spinning Mahjong'! The rules are simple: whoever wins first in each round 'clocks out,' and then everyone takes turns sitting at the table!"

She pointed to the food and wine on the table:

"The stakes are as follows! The winner leaves with a barbecue, a beer, and a skewer of meat! And the loser..."

She drawled, a wicked smile spreading across her face, "Nothing at all! And you'll have to drink a whole glass of plain water as punishment!"

"Huh?! No way! Absolutely not!" Upon hearing this rule, Tie Zhu's large, bulbous eyes widened immediately, and he shook his head vigorously.

"This...this is so unfair! If I'm unlucky and don't win a single hand, then I can only watch you all eat and drink well while I'm left alone drinking plain water and crying my eyes out?!"

Tie Zhu is truly traumatized! He has been afflicted by gambling his whole life, especially after that card game at the base where he lost so badly that his friends were devastated, leaving him with a "trauma" that has yet to heal.

Making him drink plain water while others enjoy themselves? That's worse than killing him!

He strongly opposed the "cruel" rule set by Xiao Ya.

However, Xiaoya shut him down with just one light remark:

"The smaller number obeys the majority! Let's vote! Raise your hand if you agree with my rule!"

Whoosh! Except for Tie Zhu, all the hands were raised, even Ye Feng silently raised his hand slightly higher.

Tie Zhu: "...I...I protest!"

Xiaoya: "Protest denied! Game begins!"

Suddenly, the living room of the villa was filled with the clatter of mahjong tiles, laughter, and occasional wails.

In the first game, Zeng Long, Tie Zhu, Ye Feng, and Xiao Ya were the starting lineup.

Tie Zhu was incredibly focused!

His large, round eyes were fixed on the cards in front of him, his brows furrowed into knots, as if he wanted to see the cards inside and out. His posture was more like he was studying some profound martial arts manual than playing mahjong.

However, Lady Luck was clearly not on his side tonight. After only a few rounds, Zeng Long leisurely pushed his tiles aside and said casually, "I won."

Then, under Tie Zhu's mournful gaze, he slowly rose, walked to the dining table, elegantly picked up a sizzling, oily beef skewer, gentlemanly opened a bottle of ice-cold beer, gestured to everyone, and smiled:

"Thank you for your kind offer, I'll enjoy it first." After saying that, he took a delicious bite of meat and a sip of wine. His satisfied expression made the others who hadn't gotten any food itch with envy, wishing they could grab a broom and give him a good whack.

Zeng Long "went off work," and Xiao Yu immediately took his place with great joy.

When the game resumed, Tiezhu became even more focused, almost staring through the cards.

However, it was the taciturn Ye Feng who won first this time.

Ye Feng, usually aloof, was unusually emulating Zeng Long at this moment, holding up barbecue and beer and waving them in front of Tie Zhu. Although he didn't say anything, the meaning in his eyes was clear: "I'll eat first too."

Tie Zhu snorted angrily.

Then, Anna took Ye Feng's place.

She initially knew nothing about mahjong, and Zeng Long patiently taught her.

To everyone's surprise, Anna's newbie luck kicked in, and she actually won!

"Ah! I won! I really won!" Anna was as happy as a little swallow that had finally learned to fly!

Holding their "trophies"—barbecue and beer—they happily displayed them to everyone, their faces beaming with pure joy, having long since cast aside any previous restraint.

The card game went on round after round. Xiaoyu, Zeng Yuan, Zeng Ke, Xiaoya... even He Jing was pulled up to play a couple of rounds. Everyone won their hands one after another and enjoyed the rewards of food and wine.

Only Tiezhu!

He's like a stone Buddha nailed to the mahjong chair, sitting there from the start of the game until now, his butt hasn't left the chair at all!

He watched helplessly as one after another of his friends won the game and left, waving around fragrant barbecue, glistening skewers, and chilled beer in front of him, eating with gusto and drinking to their hearts' content.

The enticing aroma kept wafting into his nose, mingling with the plastic smell of the mahjong tiles, creating a stark contrast.

All he had in his hand was cup after cup of tasteless plain water!

He was furious! He felt so frustrated! All this food and drink was something he had painstakingly bought himself!

And what happened? He didn't even manage to touch a single metal skewer on the barbecue grill!

The worst part is that he has a big appetite to begin with, and the little dinner he ate last night has long been digested. Now he is so hungry that his stomach is sticking to his back, and his eyes are practically glowing green!

Lin Xiaoya is now putting her declaration of "drinking and playing cards, eating skewers" into practice to the extreme.

I saw her holding a skewer of grilled chicken hearts in her left hand, her mouth smeared with oil, her right foot unconsciously resting on a beer crate, her right hand drawing cards, looking at them, and then "snap" playing one:

"Three of Bamboo!" As soon as he played the card, his free right hand immediately grabbed the beer bottle next to him and took a big gulp. It was a smooth and effortless action, full of pleasure.

She looked at Tie Zhu, who was sitting across from her with a long face and a rumbling stomach, and deliberately clicked her tongue, saying in a tone full of "sympathy":

Hey Tiezhu, hurry up and make a bet! Look at my belly, it's almost bulging from all the barbecue and skewers, and I've almost finished my beer.

If you don't win soon, we're going to wipe all of these things out! Then you won't even be able to smell them anymore!

Looking at Xiaoya's smug expression, smelling the increasingly rich aroma of roasted meat in the air, and listening to his stomach rumbling uncontrollably, Tiezhu felt a mix of grief and indignation, yet was helpless.

His face flushed red, and after a long pause, he finally managed to utter a self-comforting sentence, his voice filled with heartache and despair:

"I...I...I'm on a diet! Yes! On a diet! Eating too much barbecue is bad...it's greasy and unhealthy...plain water...plain water is healthy and good for your health..."

Upon hearing this, the entire living room fell silent for a moment, then erupted into deafening laughter!

Even the usually aloof Ye Feng couldn't help but shrug his shoulders, Zeng Long laughed so hard he leaned back on the sofa, and He Jing, seeing Tie Zhu's pitiful and silly look, laughed until she wiped away tears.

That night, the aroma of beer, the smoke of barbecue, the clatter of mahjong tiles, and the unrestrained laughter of everyone mingled together, creating a warm and noisy symphony unique to home.

Tie Zhu, with his unique "tragic" character, became the most hilarious note in this symphony.