Chapter 35 It's been too long since I punished you during this rainy season?

Lin Fei left with the words, "Then he can wait," and returned to his seat to continue drinking and chatting with Boss Zhao.

Manager Ye scratched his head, wondering if it was right or wrong for him to come and tip off the person.

Before the dinner started, Mrs. Leung had told him to let her know if there were any other issues. When he saw Mr. Leung arrive, his expression was not good, so he hurriedly went in to inform her. But she seemed indifferent, so his actions seemed unnecessary.

As he left, he repeatedly asked himself, "Will this really affect our relationship?"

At the dinner table, Song Mingxu blinked so hard his eyes almost cramped up, but Lin Fei still hadn't moved on to the next step.

I wondered if she was really drunk and therefore couldn't understand the hints.

"Mr. Zhao, let's have another one. I'm so glad you shared so much of your entrepreneurial experience with me tonight. I've benefited greatly." Lin Fei stood up and raised his glass.

Mr. Zhao looked distressed, but given the atmosphere, he picked up his glass and slowly stood up.

Lin Fei took the initiative to clink glasses, deliberately placing his glass lower than Boss Zhao's. Startled, Boss Zhao lowered his glass, almost spilling the wine.

"Mr. Lin, you're too kind." Mr. Zhao waved his hand repeatedly, smiled, and his flushed cheeks made him look simple and honest.

Lin Fei finished the drink in one gulp, then turned the cup upside down, leaving not a drop. He said, "It's only right, please drink."

Mr. Zhao really couldn't drink anymore and waved his hand, saying, "Mr. Lin, let's be frank, I really can't drink any more of this."

"Alright, let's have some plain water." Lin Fei quickly took a clean glass from the side and filled the three glasses.

Boss Zhao breathed a sigh of relief when the two couldn't see him. The moment Lin Fei relented, he felt his life was saved.

I thought the girl was too small to drink much, but it turns out she has a huge capacity for it.

Lin Fei said with a smile, "Mr. Zhao, you know why I invited you to dinner tonight. My senior must have told you, so I won't beat around the bush."

Song Mingxu's eyes stopped twitching, but his lips twitched again and again.

For almost two hours now, she hasn't let Mr. Zhao's glass go empty, and that's not even going around in circles.

Could it be that they want to get the other person drunk before talking to them, so that the chances of closing the deal are higher?

“I know that my guesthouse should indeed be themed around folk customs, but I haven’t decided which one yet, because Chunxi’s unique culture isn’t just about Zhuang brocade.” Mr. Zhao felt troubled. “Mr. Lin, it’s not that I’m being unreasonable, I hope you can understand.”

Song Mingxu's face turned dark instantly, and he couldn't help but want to flip the table.

We ate, drank, received gifts, and spent the whole night together, only to be told we wouldn't even consider it? Was it all just freeloading? In the first place, we shouldn't have agreed to come!

Lin Fei noticed Song Mingxu's displeasure and gave him a wink, urging him to calm down.

"What cultural theme is Mr. Zhao considering now?" Lin Fei actually wanted to curse too. She had been jumping around all night, saying a lot of nice things, but she didn't expect to be rejected so decisively. Besides, the price of a meal at the old house was reasonable, but the tea she gave away was not cheap! If it weren't for Song Jili giving her a friendly price, she wouldn't have been able to afford it.

She had already thought it through. If she really couldn't close the deal, she would take the tea with her before leaving. Although she didn't know much about tea, she wouldn't let someone else benefit from it.

It's not over yet; there's still a chance.

Lin Fei tried to regain his composure and smiled.

“Your Party Secretary also recommended Zhuang brocade to me, and that’s what I’m giving priority to. A few days ago, a weaving workshop contacted me. Their cost price is lower, and the construction period is shorter,” said Mr. Zhao. “I’ve already invested a lot upfront, so I need to control the costs of the renovation.”

Lin Fei understood; they did intend to create a Zhuang brocade theme, but they didn't plan to use hand-weaving and preferred machine-weaving.

It's still unknown which weaving workshop is supplying the goods; it's probably not Chunxi. Right now, only Grandma is weaving Zhuang brocade on the street.

Moreover, the neighborhood committee recognized their family as the only Zhuang brocade weaving workshop in Chunxi, and many tourists came to visit during the Spring Festival.

“Mr. Zhao, as far as I know, hand-woven fabrics are indeed more expensive, but they are not much different from machine-woven fabrics. The texture of hand-woven fabrics cannot be compared with that of machine-woven fabrics,” Lin Fei said patiently. “Besides, your guesthouse is located in Chunxi, so why not use the fabrics from our local weaving workshops? That would definitely add a lot of appeal to your business.”

"Little sister, you're exaggerating." Boss Zhao waved his hand, feeling that Lin Fei was still too young and didn't think things through enough.

"Oh? What do you mean?"

Lin Fei maintained a smile on his face while cursing inwardly.

First, there was Boss Zhao, who suddenly put himself in a superior position, and then there was Jiang Hua. This guy's judgment is still as bad as ever. What kind of merchants does he hire? He's always putting on airs.

Having come this far, she told herself that she still had to try her best and not let all her previous efforts go to waste.

Mr. Zhao leaned back on the stool, his beer belly appearing even larger in this posture. He touched it, looking like he was repeating the same old story: "Most of our investment is in building guesthouses and purchasing bedding. What you're talking about are secondary. The Zhuang brocade is just hanging there; not many people will even look at it."

“Mr. Zhao, you’re right. I have some additional thoughts. Would you like to hear them?” Lin Fei carefully chose his words, selecting those that were pleasing to the ear.

Although Lin Fei was still smiling, Song Mingxu, who knew her well, knew that her patience was almost exhausted.

His junior is great in every way, except for her temper.

However, she is intelligent and composed in important matters, never impulsive, and never makes a mistake.

Boss Zhao laughed heartily, and to show his determination, he said indirectly, "I've already thought it through, but I can understand the ideas of you young people, so why not listen to them?"

“If we follow Mr. Zhao’s logic, all you need to do is build the house and buy good bedding, then you might as well choose a location near the city center. There’s a lot of foot traffic there, so you won’t have to worry about anything. Even if the environment is just average, if the price is reasonable, you can still attract guests. There’s no need to choose a location in Chunxi,” Lin Fei said. “Moreover, your current ideas are completely the same as Mr. Song’s. That’s why Secretary Jiang Hua decided to designate the new guesthouse with a folk theme. That way, your business philosophies won’t clash with Mr. Song’s. Chunxi is a small place, and having two identical guesthouses at once is not good for either of you.”

"I really do have a folk-themed guesthouse," Mr. Zhao corrected.

Lin Fei: "What are Mr. Zhao's views on folk culture? And what are his views on Chunxi culture?"

This question reached Mr. Zhao, who pursed his lips.

"Let me tell Mr. Zhao a story," Lin Fei said, seizing the opportunity and his smile became more genuine.

Boss Zhao raised an eyebrow and switched his address to Lin Fei with a more respectful one: "Please speak."

"There was a girl, the eldest in her family, with a younger brother and sister. She was sensible from a young age, helping her parents with farm work from the age of three, as well as taking care of her younger siblings, doing laundry, and cooking. She was less than 1.5 meters tall, yet she had to carry water heavier than herself, three times a day, rain or shine. When she was thirteen, her mother learned that a master weaver in town was recruiting apprentices with a monthly stipend, so she sent her there. She discovered that there was no need to burn firewood and have her eyes sting from the smoke, nor to walk in the mud every day with her clothes always covered in grime. She could do what she had always dreamed of, eat her fill three times a day, sit in front of the loom in clean clothes, and weave beautiful cloth. Moreover, the master treated her well. In order to stay, she worked harder than anyone else and learned even more skills from the master."

"She thought she could do this job for the rest of her life. Even if she couldn't inherit the weaving workshop, she could still continue weaving and help her fellow apprentices. But her good fortune didn't last long. When she turned eighteen, a matchmaker came to her house to propose marriage. Her master couldn't keep her, so he had to send her back home. This was the first time she had returned home in many years. Because of the subsidies she sent to her family every month, her younger siblings were well-fed and clothed, and they were taller and fatter than her. Her parents even bought a cow. The family was living a very comfortable life. Standing there, she seemed particularly superfluous."

"I only found out that they were so eager to call her back because the groom's family offered a generous dowry, enough to ensure the family had enough to eat and even send her younger brother to school. Perhaps due to her parents' favoritism and her siblings' lack of concern, and being forced to leave the weaving workshop she loved, she agreed to the matchmaker's proposal and married a man from out of town who was eight years her senior. After the wedding, they lived in the town for half a year, and later she went back to her hometown with him."

"For a while, business was tough, and her husband wasn't earning much money either. The family was on the verge of starvation. She took the money she had saved for a year and hired the best craftsman in the neighborhood to make her a cotton loom. She started weaving while heavily pregnant, first to supplement the family income, and later to pay for her son's tuition. After her son went to university, she took on fewer and fewer jobs. The only time she sat for a long time at the loom was when her son got married and she wanted to make wedding clothes for them. She thought that after a lifetime of hardship, she could finally live a good life, but a tragedy took her husband away."

"And then what?" Mr. Zhao asked, engrossed in the conversation.

"She didn't dwell on her grief for long, because not long after, her granddaughter was born. And because her son and daughter-in-law were busy with work, she had to take care of her granddaughter at home. But God played a cruel joke on her. On a holiday when families were supposed to be together, he took away her son and daughter-in-law. After that, only she and her young granddaughter were left at home. To support her granddaughter's schooling, she brought out the cotton loom that had been gathering dust in the corner. She did odd jobs during the day and wove cloth at night. Day after day, she finally waited until her granddaughter was admitted to university. To thank the neighbors who had helped her over the years, she opened a Zhuang brocade weaving workshop, worked hard to take orders, did the heaviest work, and shared all the wages with everyone."

"She suffered a lot in her life and received very little sweetness, but she never complained about life. With that tenacity, she wove one exquisite piece of Zhuang brocade after another, making her life beautiful."

Lin Fei stopped. "What does Mr. Zhao think of this story?"

Mr. Zhao's eyes reddened, and he sniffed: "She's your grandmother, isn't she?"

“Yes, when I was little, I didn’t understand things and always thought that Grandma had a fiery temper and was harsh on people. Later, in order to help her apply for the status of an intangible cultural heritage inheritor, I needed some supporting documents, so I went to her hometown and met her senior sister in the weaving workshop where she studied. Only then did I learn about her past.” Lin Fei smiled. “Mr. Zhao, does my story give you a deeper understanding of folk culture?”

Mr. Zhao smiled and raised the glass of wine he had just been unable to finish: "Folk customs are about sentiment, I understand."

He finished his drink in one gulp: "Xiao Lin, I like your story, and I think it can make my guesthouse even more attractive."

Lin Fei smiled sweetly: "I'm glad you like it, then we..."

“I’ll contact you the day after tomorrow and have my assistant finalize the details with you. I’ll also take this opportunity to see the fabric that Grandma weaves,” said Boss Zhao. “I admire you, and I’ll take this deal.”

"Alright! It's settled then." Lin Fei went to get the wine.

Mr. Zhao waved his hand: "I can't drink anymore, otherwise my wife will nag me when I get home."

Song Mingxu stepped forward at the opportune moment: "It's getting late, I'll have the driver take Boss Zhao home."

Lin Fei followed Song Mingxu to the main gate to see people off.

Manager Ye also had the kitchen send over a specialty dish, which Lin Fei had instructed beforehand for Boss Zhao to take back for his wife to try.

Mr. Zhao was extremely pleased with the generous gesture. After the car drove away, Song Mingxu put his hands on his hips and sighed wearily, "Well done, Mumu, you've got this all sorted out. I thought the deal was off, but you turned things around with just a little story."

Lin Fei rubbed his lower back, exhausted: "You really think I'm telling a story?"

"Isn't that right?" Song Mingxu was moved to tears. He thought of the old woman who had so warmly welcomed him, and realized that she had such a tragic past. His heart ached.

Lin Fei pouted: "Senior, next time I'll tell you a story, and you can give me your business."

What does Song Mingxu mean by being confused by the situation?

"You should have inquired about Boss Zhao's background before you came." Lin Fei turned and left without looking back.

Song Mingxu was so curious that he didn't care that it was already past midnight and called his older brother at home.

Both were in the hotel business, and Mr. Zhao was quite well-known in the industry, so he quickly found out about it.

It turns out that Boss Zhao's mother and Grandma had similar experiences in the first half of their lives, but she passed away before Boss Zhao became wealthy. No wonder she was so anxious to ask Lin Fei about it earlier.

Song Mingxu chased back to the private room and persistently asked, "Is your story true or false?"

This guy probably made up something to win the business, right? Then what about the tears he shed?

Lin Fei grabbed her coat and bag, stopped as she passed him, and smiled: "Half true, half false."

"Well, you're pretty bold, and you sound so genuine." Song Mingxu's perception of Lin Fei was refreshed once again.

Lin Fei said in Zhao's tone, "Young people shouldn't be too rigid in their thinking when doing business."

Song Mingxu admired her.

Perhaps tonight is all part of her plan, just waiting for Boss Zhao to join in.

But could she talk to him about it later? Her mood was like a rollercoaster all night.

"Where are you going? I'll give you a ride!" Song Mingxu realized he had been drinking and changed his mind, saying, "I'll have the driver take us."

Lin Fei strode out: "I'm off to appease my husband. It's an emergency. You go home by yourself."

How to appease your husband?

Song Mingxu went outside the private room and looked around, wondering where her husband was.

-

Lin Fei didn't even have time to put on his coat before running towards Youran Courtyard.

He pushed open the courtyard gate and went straight to the reception room.

Liang Yanzhe sat elegantly on the sofa, tapping the table three times with his right index and middle fingers together as a gesture of respect, to thank Song Jili for the tea he offered.

He glanced at her briefly as she entered, his hands continuing their work without pause.

Hold the lid knob between your index and middle fingers, gently turn it along the rim of the bowl, and suspend the bowl.

Lin Fei is overthinking it.

It feels like it's implying that a knife is hanging over her neck.

"Sister-in-law, are you done? Brother Ze has been waiting for you for a long time." Song Jili said with a smile, "You two are chatting, it's getting late. You can stay the night if you want, but I have to go home tonight. I have a blind date tomorrow."

Lin Fei kept staring at Song Jili's figure until he disappeared at the courtyard gate, then she jogged towards Liang Yanzhe.

"Is Brother Jili going on a blind date?" Lin Fei pressed. "Which family's daughter is she?"

Liang Yanzhe asked with a smile, "Is this the key point?"

Lin Fei felt a chill run down her spine from the man's laughter and threw herself into his arms, saying, "I'm so tired, let's go home."

Liang Yanzhe smelled the strong smell of alcohol on her and wrinkled his nose slightly: "How much did you drink?"

"I don't remember, just a little tipsy." Lin Fei leaned on his shoulder playfully. "I landed this deal with Boss Zhao, and I'm about to make a five-figure sum! Isn't that amazing? Aren't you going to praise me?"

Liang Yanzhe stood up, took the clothes from her hand, and unfolded them: "Hold out your hands, put them on, we're going back."

Lin Fei couldn't tell whether the man was happy or angry, but since he hadn't praised her, he must be in a bad mood. She instantly became obedient and did as she was told.

The car was parked in an open-air parking lot outside the street because there was an event going on when we arrived, and the road was blocked off, allowing only pedestrians to enter and exit.

As soon as they stepped out the door, Lin Fei staggered a few steps and fell into Liang Yanzhe's arms: "I'm so dizzy, I can't walk anymore, you have to carry me."

She secretly squinted one eye to observe Liang Yanzhe's expression.

Liang Yanzhe helped her down a few steps, bent down, and said with a hint of helplessness, "Come on up."

Lin Fei happily jumped up, but luckily Liang Yanzhe had a stable foothold, otherwise the two of them would have fallen to the ground.

Liang Yanzhe stood up, bounced her up a little, and hugged her tighter, his hand still holding her bag under her.

Lin Fei hugged his neck tightly from behind and breathed on him, asking, "Do I smell bad?"

"Behave yourself."

Liang Yanzhe didn't dodge; she boldly kissed him.

The popping sound was particularly loud in the empty street.

"You're angry," Lin Fei said confidently. "You didn't praise me at all, not a single word!"

She acted like a child demanding a toy, twisting and turning in protest.

"Don't move, you'll fall." Liang Yanzhe took a deep breath. "There is a little bit, but I respect your choice. You have your purpose in coming to the dinner party, so I didn't want to disturb you."

Lin Fei calmed down, rested his chin on his shoulder, and looked at his handsome profile: "Then... will you blame me? I could have just told you, but I insisted on hosting Boss Zhao myself."

Lin Fei tightened her grip, pressing closer to him: "Liang Yanzhe, I don't need a partner to shield me from the wind and rain. I can charge forward on my own and get through the darkness. But I need him to wait for me at the finish line and cheer for me."

Liang Yanzhe understands her.

She is not a dodder that needs to cling to others; she is a vibrant trumpet creeper that uses withered leaves as nourishment to stretch out into the sunlight and bloom brilliantly.

"You must wait for me at the finish line, otherwise I won't feel at ease," Lin Fei said softly.

She didn't want a sheltered environment; she wanted him to share in the glory of overcoming all obstacles.

She didn't want him to always stand in front of her, shielding her from all the wind and snow, but rather to stand shoulder to shoulder with her and face it together.

“I have no complaints about your career. Next time, you can give me more detailed information. Whatever you're going to do, I need to make sure you're safe. Okay?” If Liang Yanzhe were really angry, he wouldn't be having tea at Youran Courtyard.

Lin Fei nodded vigorously.

"Congratulations on landing your first big deal," he said with a smile.

Lin Fei started squirming again: "Ah—say it again, I like to hear it."

"Don't move, it's really going to fall." Liang Yanzhe was extremely helpless.

Lin Fei used both hands and feet to hold him tightly, making it impossible for him to move an inch.

After a long and arduous journey, Lin Fei finally arrived home. In a good mood, after taking a shower, she pulled Shunshun aside and vividly recounted what happened at the dinner party to it.

“Come on, praise Mom.” She tapped Shunshun’s nose.

Shunshun didn't understand, stared blankly with wide eyes, and meowed.

Lin Fei was pleased: "Good girl, I'll give you freeze-dried food."

She took out some snacks and put them into the empty bowl.

"Go back to your room and rest." Liang Yanzhe appeared at the door.

Lin Fei wiped her hands clean and ran over, and Liang Yanzhe hugged her tightly.

"The wind was too strong just now, I didn't hear you clearly, praise me again." Lin Fei shamelessly asked for praise.

Liang Yanzhe closed the door before Shunshun finished eating her snacks.

Take your time.

"Let's talk about the praise later, let's settle the score for getting angry first."

Lin Fei was stunned.

Didn't we agree not to be angry? Why are we going back to the same old story?

Liang Yanzhe pinched the temple of his glasses, took off the gold-rimmed glasses, and placed them on the bedside table.

He looked down at her small face and smiled, saying:

"You've been doing one outrageous thing after another. It's been too long since I punished you, huh?"

-----------------------

Author's Note: I was thinking about the topic of guiding lovers that I discussed with my best friend before I started writing this story. I have written quite a few CPs of this type, and I have gradually come to dislike writing about similar CP relationship patterns. It is easy to lose creative passion, but I do not rule out writing about a theme, because some things are just my fantasy. I can keep writing about arranged marriages that lead to love, broken mirrors that are mended, and unrequited love.

Returning to Feiwen and Dr. Liang, this type of guidance is something I've never written about before. As the story goes, Feiwen can bravely traverse darkness and overcome difficulties alone because her upbringing dictates that she must possess problem-solving abilities and mature to withstand life's hardships. But everyone has their own desires. She's walking a path no one around her has ever walked, unable to understand if she's doing well or not, so she desperately needs affirmation. She needs someone to sincerely, earnestly, and heartfeltly tell her, "You're great, you're doing the right thing, keep going on your path." This is Dr. Liang's guidance. For Feiwen, education, family background, and age aren't problems. She may be slightly inferior in some aspects, and she might overthink things, but she won't get too caught up in them. After all, these aren't the focus. She concentrates on improving herself and strives to walk alongside him. Perhaps her childhood was too lonely, making this kind of companionship especially precious to her. It's precisely because of Feiwen's personality that, facing Dr. Liang, whose underlying character is tragic, she can be tolerant, understanding, and loving, fulfilling his yearning for passion.

[Sprinkling flowers] Alright, congratulations to our boss Feiwen for securing his first big deal with his great wisdom.

Still 66, love you all!