Feelings are feelings, business is business.
This had been one of finance people favorite sayings.
No matter how good the temptation of "enlightenment" looked, it was never worth losing your freedom over.
But Ethan had always felt that the saying was universally applicable in business.
Business is business. Anything else mixed into it only spoils it—especially in America.
That was why he had no intention of interfering in Atari's choices. He believed that as long as he maintained goodwill, Nolan Bushnell would eventually let him benefit as well.
After all, Ethan still remembered what Steve Jobs once told him: in order to secure a settlement, Nolan Bushnell had gone so far as to plead directly with Ralph Baer in court.
Ethan had no sympathy for people like that—those who admitted their mistakes but refused to accept punishment.
Yet, after leaving Bushnell's office, The thought of becoming a millionaire in just two weeks filled him with excitement.
When saying goodbye to Steve Jobs, he even pulled the check from his jacket and waved it in front of him.
The taunting gesture instantly made Jobs—who was still waiting for his own paycheck—raised his fist, "Do you believe I can knock you out with one punch?"
"Bleh~ bleh~ "Ethan stuck out his tongue playfully. Before Jobs could swing, he bolted.
After driving his Chevrolet out of Atari, Ethan didn't go home immediately. Instead, he headed to San Jose, deposited the check, and withdrew a thousand dollars in cash. He then wandered the city, shopping happily in the Bay Area's big stores.
Later, humming a tune, he steered his old car back home at a leisurely pace.
The last time he'd tried to celebrate making money, he'd turned a surprise into a scare and gotten scolded by Linda. So this time, after earning a real fortune, he decided not to play any tricks. He would go home directly—with gifts.
On the way, he even imagined Thomas, Linda, and Evelyne's excitement when they saw the gifts piled in the car.
But as he pulled up to his house, something felt… off.
Ethan, who had been holding the steering wheel casually with one hand and resting the other on the window, suddenly sat upright. He pulled off his sunglasses.
Several cars were parked outside his house. Some he recognized instantly: Thomas's Ford, the family's old Buick a Honda (a brand that had only recently entered the U.S. market), and a Dodge Ram, newly launched by Chrysler this very year.
But there was another one A massive red Porsche tractor with an unusual license plate.
If it weren't for the unmistakable Porsche logo stamped on the machine, Ethan would have thought his eyes were playing tricks on him.
Even with the logo, it still felt unusual. If not for the fact that the house in front of him looked exactly like the same, Ethan would've thought he'd driven to the wrong place.
He got out of the car carefully, holding the gifts in his arms, and walked quietly to the door.
Before he could open it, a loud, chatter reached his ears—
"I'm telling you, I raised Ethan with my own hands! If he's successful now, it's because I taught him well!"
"What? William, what did you say? You don't believe me?"
"Oh, let me tell you this! Ethan's twenty years old now, and he's spent the most time with me! His mother's a teacher, so right after he was born she was busy at school. His father's a soldier, always away, only home for a short leave every year. So when they were busy, Ethan lived in my house. After all, my Evelyne is only a year older than him—so his parents were happy to let him stay with us.
And what happened after that… well, no need to say it, right? So why was Ethan able to create Snake? Why did the Los Angeles Times report about him? Besides inheriting his mother's brains, the most important factor was me! I, Thomas Johnson, gave him good guidance!
I was the one willing to teach him! I was the one willing to spend money on his studies! It's like growing oranges—raising seedlings takes a long, painful process, but if you cultivate them with heart, you'll eventually harvest fruit!
Hey! Michael! Why are you laughing? I'm serious! Fxxk! If you don't believe me, wait until Ethan gets back—ask him yourself!"
Hearing the curse words, Ethan understood.
And at the same time, an unexpected smile spread across his face. He hadn't expected that before he could even announce his good news, Thomas was already bragging to his friends—boasting about him as if he were his own son.
Well, Ethan admitted, he wasn't prepared for this sudden gathering. But then again—if there are no surprises in life, can you really call it life?
He took two deep breaths, and pushed the door open. The creaking of the wooden door was drowned out by the noise inside.
"Thomas! Linda! I'm back! Where are you?—I brought you gifts!"
At Ethan call—suddenly the sound of footsteps toward the entrance, Thomas appeared first, stumbling into view. And within seconds, Ethan noticed more and more heads popping out from the living room, curious eyes shining at him.
Thomas, clearly drunk, spotted him. "Ethan! You're back? Why didn't you tell me in advance?"
He eager to give Ethan a big hug—then stopped short when he saw the piles of boxes in his arms.
Ethan set the gifts on the shelf in the entrance hall, then picked up the top box and handed it to Thomas.
"I just got back today. On the way home, I went to San Jose and bought gifts for you. I think you've already heard about it, right? The game Evelyn and I made was in the newspaper! The Los Angeles Times!"
He grinned. "So… since you like smoking, I thought I'd give you a briar pipe—O'Paulo style. Put on a cowboy hat, bite down on this, and wow—Thomas! You'll look even more handsome than Brando!"
Thomas tore open the packaging. The shiny, polished pipe gleamed in his hands. He immediately began turning it over admiringly. But just as he was about to try it, something seemed to cross his mind. He glanced around the room.
Noticing the envy in the eyes of his friends, Thomas raised his arms, wrapped Ethan in a big hug, and laughed: "Ethan~ thank you for your gift~ I love it very much! But now isn't the time for us to chat.
You came back at the right time. Some of my friends here are game enthusiasts. They've all played Snake—the hottest arcade game on the market! And when they heard you were the one who made it, they couldn't wait to meet you. They want to see the great young man who created such a great game! If it's not too much trouble, you…"
Before Thomas could finish, Ethan cut in. "Oh, Thomas, why would that be any trouble? I've always told you—I've thought of you as my father all these years! If you need something, just say it."
Thomas's face lit up with joy. Beaming, he led Ethan over to greet the guests.
Among them were landowners with orchards, like Thomas. A businessman who owned several fishing boats and often went out to sea. A dairy farmer who raised cattle. A poultry magnate said to be the main supplier for McDonald's in the Bay Area.
Ethan had never met them before, but everyone welcomed him warmly.
Once introductions were over, conversation naturally flowed.
Through their careful, roundabout questions, Ethan gave his answers generously.
The orchard owner asked where the inspiration for Snake came from. Ethan replied that when he was young, he heard Thomas tell him Aesop's Fables—one of them being the story of the farmer and the snake.
The fishing businessman asked why he became interested in games. Ethan said that, since his parents died early, Thomas often took him out to cheer him up. "And what does a child do for fun? Of course—play games!"
The dairy farmer asked how it felt to be famous now. Ethan laughed and said he wanted to buy gifts for his family. "The Johnson family has always been good to me. They respected my ideas, cared about my feelings… so I want to share the joy with them."
Thomas—leaning proudly against the sofa—practically glowing with pride.
Seeing the atmosphere, Ethan decided it was the right moment to step back. He smiled politely and said he had something to take care of. Then, catching Linda's eye, he gently pulled his aunt along and slipped away with her.
Arriving at the room on the second floor, Ethan immediately asked his aunt what was going on downstairs. When she heard the question, Linda said,
"What else could it be? You succeeded—so much so that the Los Angeles Times reported on your game! Once Thomas got excited, he started calling his friends every day just to show off!
Today he tells people: 'Have you read the Los Angeles Times? My boy's in the newspaper!' Tomorrow he tells them: 'Do you know Snake Game? My boy made that!'
He keeps bragging like this, so of course the others won't let him off until he treats them to a drink. And then… well, you just saw the result."
"Alright, alright," Ethan said with a smile, shaking his head.
He really hadn't expected Thomas to be so endearing.
At the same time, he pulled out the gift he had bought for Linda and said warmly,
"Oh, Aunt Linda, don't be upset. Look—I brought you these clothes. I picked them out in San Jose and thought for a long time before deciding. They may look simple, but I think the soft blue fabric suits you perfectly."
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