TSMLI CHAPTER 20

Shen Zhongxun returned to the table. Under the crystal chandelier, the table, cups, and bowls were a mess. Everyone was drinking heartily. They pulled him back and poured him two more drinks. A boss who had come back from the restroom opened the door to the private room and laughed. “Look who’s across from us. We bumped into each other while having dinner. I should have shared a table with him. Let’s promote environmental protection!”

Everyone looked toward the entrance and saw a man walking in from behind the boss, smiling and greeting them. “Environmental protection is great! Isn’t the ‘Clean Plate Campaign’ popular now?” He pointed to the waiter waiting at the door and teased, “Go and bring all the plates from my table!”

Everyone burst into laughter and stood up to welcome him in. “It’s rare for President Feng to come to Chuqian, and you didn’t even tell us you were coming!”

Mr. Feng walked over to the group, smiled and said a few words, then nodded to Shen Zhongxun. Amid the commotion, he drank three cups of wine, waved his hand, and said, “I can’t drink anymore. My wife is waiting for me across the street!”

Everyone suddenly realized what he meant and laughed at him for taking his wife everywhere he went, so they let him off the hook.

President Feng then walked over to Shen Zhongxun. The two clinked glasses and then walked away from the crowd to a sofa.

The two most competitive parties in this project investment promotion were Nanhu Hotel Group and Nangui Catering Group. The boss, Feng Zhi, was the chairman of Nanhu Hotel Group. Before Shen Hongshan stepped down, Feng Zhi and Shen Hongshan had often visited each other. Although their contact had faded in recent years, they were not estranged, because Feng Zhi and Shen Zhongxun’s distant cousin were childhood friends. They would also use the Shen family to maintain good relations during holidays.

Feng Zhi was four or five years older than Shen Zhongxun, so he addressed him as “elder brother,” patted him on the shoulder, and laughed. “It’s been more than half a year since we last met. I didn’t expect to run into you in Chuqian instead of Nanjiang!”

Shen Zhongxun smiled faintly. “Indeed. The hotel in front of your scenic area was built last year, but I didn’t pay much attention to it until recently, when I remembered it was yours.”

Feng Zhi smiled and said, “That location can hardly be considered the front of the scenic area. It’s just a five-story hotel. You can’t even see a single tree leaf. The area you’ve fenced off is much better. It’s right on the outskirts of the scenic area and directly faces it. Standing on high ground, you can see a large lake and forest inside!”

His words were pointed and loaded with meaning, but Shen Zhongxun remained indifferent, a slight smile playing on his lips, and said nothing, abruptly ending the conversation. Feng Zhi knew he was always taciturn, so he didn’t mind, only inwardly cursing and continuing to play along with the conversation. Finally, having run out of things to say, Feng Zhi could only say, “By the way, my son is already over six months old. We’ll be in Beijing for his one-month celebration, and his first birthday celebration will be in Nanjiang in a few months. You and your brother should do us the honor of attending, and your cousin will be there too!”

No matter how much Shen Zhongxun disliked Feng Zhi’s character, he still had to put on a show, so he naturally wouldn’t refuse. Feng Zhi chatted with him for a few more minutes before slowly leaving. As he reached the door, he couldn’t help but mutter, “Ignorant!” which startled the waiter standing nearby.

After a few rounds of drinks, everyone finally put down their glasses. Some agreed to go for massages, while others planned to go straight home. Shen Zhongxun naturally belonged to the latter group. The group staggered out of the private room, and just then the waiter across the hall brought in a dish. Through the half-open door, they could see Feng Zhi grabbing a steaming hot crab, skillfully cracking open the shell, picking all the crab meat back into it, drizzling vinegar on it, and handing it to a girl next to him.

One of the bosses who was on good terms with Feng Zhi immediately barged in and made a few jokes. Shen Zhongxun walked toward the elevator with everyone and didn’t hear what was being said inside the private room. However, a few people next to him were talking about Feng Zhi. “He’s got a knack for charming women. I don’t know how he managed to win over a young girl. He treats her like a daughter all the time!”

The others chimed in, boasting to each other about their techniques for pursuing women. Shen Zhongxun stood expressionless to the side, watching the elevator move step by step, but his ears were fully focused.

In conclusion, pursuing women boiled down to three key words: “coaxing, deceiving, and pampering.” Shen Zhongxun frowned, not entirely agreeing. After getting into the car, he closed his eyes and pondered, feeling that “deceiving” should be removed.

The next day, just as dawn broke, the blazing sun began to blaze, stretching from the last cloud to the horizon. Then, in a turn, the sky was blue with white clouds, birds were soaring, and the shimmering river reflected orange-red shadows. The bridges had already awakened, carrying early-rising vehicles to begin a new day.

Lin Chu, eyes half-closed, leaned against the windowsill, drew the curtains tightly shut, and then flopped back onto the bed to catch up on her sleep. Unfortunately, the curtains were made of such poor quality that they barely blocked out a few rays of light. She angrily got up, sniffed her stuffy nose, turned off the air conditioner, and opened the window again to breathe in some fresh air.

Her voice was a little hoarse when she made the call, as if someone was pinching her nose. Lin’s father, with his sharp ears, asked, “Have you caught a cold?”

Lin Chu grunted, took a sip of water, and said, “I don’t know.”

Lin’s father laughed at her for being born “rich and noble,” saying that while others suffered from heatstroke, she caught a cold, always different from others. “By the way, there was a power outage today, so your mother plans to go shopping with her girlfriends during the day and ask you how things are going with Xiao Wang. Even if you don’t tell her, Xiao Wang will eventually.”

Lin Chu suddenly felt cold water flowing into her nose, making her choke and feel a stinging pain. “No, no!”

Lin’s father asked curiously, “What do you mean, ‘don’t’?” He thought for a moment and whispered, “Don’t tell me you two slept together?”

Lin Chu stammered in agreement, and her father scolded, “You know your mother’s temper. Don’t even mention going home today. You’ll definitely get what’s coming to you if you do!”

Lin Chu nodded repeatedly, refusing to mention going home no matter what.

But just because she didn’t mention it didn’t mean Lin’s mother didn’t.

Just as Lin Chu was about to wash the rice and cook lunch, she received a call from her mother. Her voice was gentle and soft. “The power outage will last for two or three days. I think it’s better to stay in a hotel. Why don’t you come back? It won’t make a difference if you’re here too.”

Lin Chu immediately said, “No, no, no. I’d rather stay in the city. Don’t waste your money. Just sleep on the floor at Grandpa and Grandma’s house!”

Lin’s mother patiently repeated, “Come back for a bit. It’s been two weeks since I’ve seen you. If you don’t come back this week, it will be three weeks. It’s not like you’re working out of town and it’s inconvenient for you!”

Lin Chu couldn’t find an excuse to refuse, so she had no choice but to pack a bag of luggage and slowly make her way to Chuqian under the scorching sun.

She had a feeling she wouldn’t get anywhere today. Wang Ming was her second blind date.

Lin Chu’s first blind date had been arranged by her aunt. The man was the same age as her, worked for a state-owned enterprise in a neighboring city, and his parents lived in Nanjiang city. Her aunt had half good intentions and half ulterior motives; the man’s uncle had business dealings with her, and acting as a go-between could help promote cooperation. Lin Chu reluctantly accepted the man’s phone number and that very night forwarded it to Ye Jing, who was eyeing her. However, Ye Jing ultimately failed to seduce him; for some reason, the man didn’t take a liking to her.

Lin Chu admitted that she had acted very unfairly, embarrassing her aunt and ultimately causing her mother to lose face and receive a severe scolding, almost getting beaten up, but her father had intervened to save her.

Although Wang Ming’s conditions were not as good as the first one’s, Lin’s mother liked him even more. She had heard that he was steady and reliable, and was four years older than Lin Chu, so he should know how to take care of people. Such a satisfactory son-in-law had once again been driven away by Lin Chu without saying a word. How could Lin’s mother not be furious?

The two bursts of anger combined, coupled with the dry weather, meant that even half an hour in 40-degree heat could cause smoke, let alone adding fuel to the fire.

Lin Chu jumped off the tricycle with trepidation, carrying the high-temperature allowance issued by her work unit, which consisted of a pile of food and daily necessities. She walked hesitantly and timidly into the residential building.

Shen Zhongxun had been sitting alone in the kitchen for most of the day. The dark brown instant noodles seemed to have gone bad. The cold air had spread into the kitchen, but its effect was greatly reduced. He was covered in sweat and didn’t know how much longer he would have to stand there. Just as he was lost in thought, he suddenly saw the dawn coming from the tricycle. He threw away the plastic spoon and leaned close to the window to secretly look down.

After a while, he ran to the door again and carefully observed through the peephole. Lin Chu was walking unusually slowly today, looking dejected. She was carrying large and small bags, as if she had come directly from the city. Her exposed skin was sunburned.

Only after Lin Chu disappeared on the third floor did Shen Zhongxun return to the living room, take out the fresh meat scraps and dumpling wrappers stored in the refrigerator, go into the kitchen to get a bowl of water, and slowly get to work.

As soon as Lin Chu entered the door, her father whispered, “Your mother is going through menopause. All you need to do is apologize!”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin’s mother rushed to the door and dragged Lin Chu inside.

Lin Chu shouted, “Grandpa and Grandma!” but the two elderly people, who usually doted on their granddaughter, only said a couple of words—“Don’t hit Dao Dao, just talk to her nicely”—and ignored everything else, running straight to the bedroom.

Seeing this, Lin Chu could only try to save herself. “Mom, I was wrong!”

Unfortunately, her apology came a month too late. Lin’s mother was furious. “You two are all like this! Do you think I’m doing this for myself? I’m doing this for you! You have good opportunities now, so why don’t you seize them while you’re young? What will you do when you’re thirty?” She shoved away the bag Lin Chu handed her and said angrily, “Look at you! The first guy you introduced to Ye Jing made me lose face in front of your aunt. The second guy lied to me and said you were getting along well, but it turns out he already had a teacher. I thought he just didn’t like you, but you’re really something else. Are you going to become a nun? You’re so dramatic about finding a boyfriend. Are you going to lose a piece of flesh or a bone?”

Lin Chu opened her mouth, but her mother didn’t give her a chance to speak. She was already familiar with Lin Chu’s words. “Don’t tell me you’re only twenty-three. Nobody here counts age by the year. You’ll be twenty-five after the New Year. I’m not forcing you to get married. Dating takes at least two or three years. Is it okay for you to get married at twenty-eight? Huh? Do you have to be an old maid?”

By the end, Lin’s mother was swearing and cursing.

After graduating from junior high school, she had gone to work in her father’s factory. She had little education and spent her free time playing cards with her friends. Among her several girlfriends, only the person who had introduced Lin Chu to a potential partner could be considered an intellectual. Therefore, she was used to the vulgar language her mother used when she cursed. People would often say such things while playing cards, but Lin Chu couldn’t stand such coarse language. Even her father got angry when he heard it.

After all, she was her own daughter, and Lin’s mother couldn’t bear to scold her too much. But she couldn’t just let it go like that, lest she encourage Lin Chu’s rebellious spirit. With that anger still stuck in her throat, she simply grabbed a slipper and slapped it at Lin Chu. This tactic of beating and scolding had been used in the family for more than ten years, and Lin Chu was already used to it.

Lin’s father kept giving her meaningful glances, and Lin Chu understood immediately. She jumped up and dodged left and right, repeatedly apologizing and begging for mercy. In the blink of an eye, she ran to the door, her arms and thighs having been slapped several times and immediately turning red.

She deftly turned the doorknob and ran downstairs shouting, but this time Lin’s mother was unusually agile and chased after her in a few steps, and Lin’s father couldn’t stop her.

Seeing the situation was bad, Lin Chu was almost scared into tumbling down the stairs. She had only slid down half of the third floor when she suddenly saw the second-floor door wide open. Shen Zhongxun was standing there dumbfounded, holding a food container. Without thinking, Lin Chu slid down the last twelve steps and rushed straight toward him. The two collided violently and fell into the room due to inertia. The food container also fell onto the tiles with a thud. Before Lin Chu could even groan in pain, she immediately bent her leg back and kicked the door shut. Her body was about to fall when Shen Zhongxun immediately caught her tightly and held her in his arms.