The smile on Lin Feng's face vanished, replaced by an almost tangible coldness.
His gaze was like two drawn blades, piercing straight into Zhao Defu's heart, causing Zhao Defu to involuntarily shiver.
"What did you say?"
Lin Feng's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable chill: "You want me to... give up the shelter to them?"
Zhao Defu was intimidated by Lin Feng's sudden aura and felt a little uneasy.
But when he thought of Ms. Yang's expectant eyes, he forced himself to say, "Yes...yes. Mr. Lin, you see, you're a strong and healthy man, you can take care of yourself even outside. But Ms. Yang and the others are different; they are vulnerable women who need a safe environment. Giving up this shelter is a good deed, isn't it?"
"Accumulating good deeds?" Lin Feng let out a cold laugh, his laughter filled with sarcasm and disdain: "Brother, are you joking with me? Do you know how much effort I put into building this shelter? Do you know how much I paid to protect it?"
His voice suddenly rose, filled with suppressed anger: "Every piece of wood and every stone here is imbued with our sweat and blood! And now you expect me to hand it over with just a few words? On what grounds?!"
Zhao Defu was taken aback by Lin Feng's anger; he hadn't expected Lin Feng's reaction to be so intense.
He stammered, "But...but...isn't it a man's duty to take care of a woman? Especially in this...this time of crisis, a man should show his manners and responsibility!"
"It's only natural?" Lin Feng laughed angrily. "Brother Zhao, let me tell you, in this world, the only woman who is worthy of my unconditional devotion and responsibility is my mother! Apart from her, any other woman has nothing to do with me, Lin Feng! Whether they live or die, whether they are happy or sad, is none of my business!"
These words struck Zhao Defu like a thunderclap.
He stared at Lin Feng, dumbfounded, hardly believing his ears. His upbringing and the prevailing societal values had taught him that men should be gentlemen and care for women. Lin Feng's blatant, almost heartless remarks completely shattered his understanding.
"How...how could you say that!" Zhao Defu was so angry that his face turned red and his neck bulged. He pointed at Lin Feng and retorted loudly, "This...this is extreme selfishness! Don't you have sisters, wives and daughters? If they were also in danger, would you stand idly by?"
Whether I have it or not is none of your business.
Lin Feng coldly interrupted him: "All I know is that the home I painstakingly built is not meant to be a charity shelter for strangers, or even people with ulterior motives! Especially certain people."
Zhao Defu, however, seemed oblivious to Lin Feng's underlying meaning, remaining immersed in his own "moral high ground": "Mr. Lin! I don't care what misunderstandings you had with Teacher Yang and the others before! But now, they are the weak! They need help! In this cold and cruel forest, a man should step forward and provide them with shelter! This is basic humanity! It is also a man's responsibility!"
"Responsibility?" Lin Feng let out a mocking snort. He looked Zhao Defu up and down, his eyes filled with contempt and disdain. "Brother, you're so young, but your head looks like it's been kicked by a donkey. What do you mean by a man's responsibility?"
"A man's responsibility is to protect his family and to ensure that he and those who are worthy of his life survive! Not like you, who are easily swayed by a few women's tears and sweet words, rushing to become a sucker and sacrificing your own interests to satisfy other people's selfish desires!"
He paused, then his tone became even more cutting: "To put it bluntly, in my opinion, what's the difference between your behavior and those 'cuckold men' who mindlessly fawn over all sorts of 'fairies' online, getting sold out and still counting the money for them?"
"If you have no ability yourself, you can't expect to win women's favor by using moral blackmail and other people's resources. How ridiculous!"
"Turtle Man"!
These two words were like two resounding slaps to Zhao Defu's face!
Zhao Defu's face instantly turned a deep purplish-red, and he trembled all over, so angry that he could barely speak.
Although he was somewhat introverted, he considered himself an upright and kind person. He respected women and was always willing to help others. However, he never expected that in Lin Feng's words, he would become... become that kind of despicable "cuckold"!
This was a great humiliation for him!
"You...you...you're talking nonsense!" Zhao Defu pointed at Lin Feng, his voice sharp with anger: "I...I, Zhao Defu, am upright and honest! I just can't stand your behavior of bullying women! I respect women! Unlike you, a cold-blooded and selfish bastard!"
"Respect for women?"
Lin Feng scoffed, "Your so-called respect is sacrificing other people's interests to satisfy their unrealistic demands? Your so-called respect is siding with women unconditionally without asking questions, as long as they're women? Brother Zhao, that's not respect, that's stupidity! You're being used as a pawn by some people with ulterior motives without even realizing it!"
"You...you're spouting nonsense!" Zhao Defu was furious. He felt that his beliefs and dignity had been trampled to pieces by Lin Feng.
Just then, Yang Li, who had been silent all along, finally found an opportunity to speak.
She tugged at Zhao Defu's sleeve at just the right moment, and said in a tearful voice, "Defu... don't... don't talk to him... he... he's just that kind of person... we... we've accepted our fate..."
Her "compromising" and "understanding" demeanor only added fuel to the fire.
When Zhao Defu saw that Teacher Yang Li had been "wronged," his anger burned even more fiercely.
He flung Yang Li's hand away and glared at Lin Feng: "Lin Feng! Stop with your sweet talk! I'm telling you right now! I, Zhao Defu, am here to protect Teacher Yang and the others! You must give them a place to stay today! Otherwise... otherwise I'll never forgive you!"
When he uttered these "bold words," he felt that he was full of heroic spirit.
Yang Li seized the opportunity to chime in, raising her tear-streaked face to "accuse" Lin Feng: "Lin Feng! You call yourself a man! How can you be so stingy! So cold-hearted! We just want a chance to live, why can't you show some kindness?"
Lin Feng felt nauseous looking at the two people in front of him, who were singing in unison.
He was too lazy to waste any more words on those two idiots.
"My patience is limited." Lin Feng's voice turned icy cold: "I'm giving you one last chance. Get out of my sanctuary right now! Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!"
He was ready to take action. He never showed mercy to those who couldn't understand human language but still wanted to seize his home.
The other women in the shelter, such as Qin Lan and Su Wanqing, had also heard the argument.
They all gathered around, and although they didn't say anything, their eyes were full of hostility as they looked at Yang Li and Zhao Defu.
The smell of gunpowder in the air grew stronger. A conflict was about to erupt.
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