A new morning: The Yang family keeps tradition alive after dad’s deportation

Everest Yang watched his tablet on a recent morning while his brother, Titan, laid on the couch wrapped in a fuzzy blanket watching a Japanese anime on TV about a young pirate on a voyage to find lost treasure. Their brother, King, sat on the ottoman, eyes glued to the TV. 

The boys’ mother, Linda Yang, worked on her laptop nearby in the dining room, glancing at them occasionally. A voice suddenly broke through the Monday morning calm at 8 a.m. 

“Put your shoes on, boys,” the boys’ father called out. 

King, 3, swiftly straightened his posture and turned towards his father’s voice. Titan, 7, peeled the blanket off and grabbed his socks. Everest, 9, scooched off the couch and followed Titan. 

“Love you guys,” said their father, Zong Yang. 

It was a cloudy mid-September morning in South St. Paul, but outside Zong’s apartment, a heavy rain fell in the pitch bl...