Urban All-Round Master

Chapter 423: Chapter 419: Brother Lin, You’ve Lost Weight

”Uh, ah!?”

Just as Zifeng handed him a glass of water unexpectedly, Ye Tian, who was lying on the sofa and enjoying himself, nearly choked on his own saliva.

”Uncle Li, it seems like your throat isn’t feeling well? Would you like some tea to soothe it?” Zifeng said with a smile, holding out a cup of tea to Li Tian.

Although Li Tian could be annoying, he had been a neighbor for decades, and since he was also Li Lin’s father, Zifeng felt there was no need to pick a fight with him.

He decided to play dumb and avoid confrontation.

”Thank you.” After accepting the tea from Zifeng, Li Tian’s face turned red, filled with irritation, but he had no choice as Zifeng was all smiles. He couldn’t possibly refuse, could he?

Moreover, although the kid was poor, his character was still decent.

But in today’s society, could one really rely on worthless character to get by?

”Uncle Li, what news are you watching so intently? Are you so engrossed because there’s news of another country starting a war with someone else?” Zifeng asked with a smile, deciding to find a topic to ease the tension between them since Li Tian seemed a bit resistant.

”Oh?! You’re interested in the national news, too?”

Li Tian, who was in his fifties, suddenly brightened his eyes, staring at Zifeng as if he had discovered a new continent.

”Hehe, I just watch it occasionally,” Zifeng replied modestly with a smile.

He didn’t want to boast in front of Li Tian, fearing the older generation’s propensity for taking things seriously.

It was always good and never bad for young people to be humble.

”By the way, Zifeng, may I ask you something?”

”Sure, Uncle Li,” Zifeng nodded.

”Do you have a girlfriend?” Li Tian’s eyes lit up. This was his only current concern.

”Uncle Li, why would you ask me that?” Zifeng inwardly chuckled.

”You see, you’re not getting any younger, and your parents are no longer with us. It’s about time you thought about settling down. As an old neighbor for decades, I really don’t want to see you continue on like this. So, you know, I’ve taken the liberty of finding you a nice girl without your consent. How about I take you to meet her one of these days when you’re free?”

As he spoke, Li Tian didn’t forget to carefully watch Zifeng’s facial expressions for any changes.

Seeing that Zifeng’s expression didn’t waver at all.

Li Tian continued, ”Zifeng, this girl is quite something. It’s not just me trying to set you up on a date, but many others are also waiting in line to compete for her. You should really think it over carefully. Opportunities like this don’t come often. As you know, in our rural areas, there already are more boys than girls. There is an unwritten rule in the countryside: raise sons to support you in old age, and it’s pretty common for boys and girls to have suitors by the age of seventeen or eighteen. Getting married early and starting a family only has benefits, no disadvantages. Once your son grows up, he can share the load with you, and your stress will be halved. Right now, there aren’t many girls of your age left.”

”Girls older than you definitely won’t do. Those younger than you won’t agree, and it’s very difficult to find ones your age. So it’s not just me who’s busy trying to find someone for you; your Aunt Li is busy too. What do you think? How about I take you to meet the girl tomorrow?”

”Uncle Li has gone to such lengths for me, if the girl is willing to consider me, then let’s go have a look,” Zifeng agreed.

Now that Li Tian had put it that way, Zifeng found he had no room to refuse.

In his view, Li Linlin was, at most, like a sister to him. But seeing the worried look on Li Tian’s face, Zifeng agreed for the time being to put Li Tian’s mind at ease.

Who knew whether Li Tian was serious or if it was just a joke?

”Great! I knew my efforts, and Auntie Li’s, wouldn’t be in vain. It’s settled then, you’ll come to my place at this time tomorrow, and I’ll take you to meet the girl. I guarantee that once you see her, you will be satisfied for sure,” Li Tian said, slapping his thigh and grinning excitedly.

Satisfied my ass!

My old lady at home is so beautiful, and I haven’t even had any inappropriate thoughts—could the woman you’re introducing to me possibly be prettier than my wife?

”Uh, yeah, okay, okay,” Lin Zifeng agreed awkwardly, nodding his head for the time being.

Once today is over, I’ll probably bail tomorrow even if you came to fetch me in a Ferrari.

No way am I going on a blind date with you.

”Huh? What are you all talking about? You seem to be really hitting it off,” chimed in Li Linlin, who had been busy in the kitchen and now walked out with a plate of fruit. Her delicate, flawless face revealed a homemaker’s satisfied smile as she said to Lin Zifeng, ”Here, Brother Lin, have some fruit. Dinner will be ready soon; sit with my dad for a while.”

”Thank you. Do you need any help?”

”Sure!” Li Lin quickly nodded her little head, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

”Er... well, your Brother Lin was just discussing the news with me. As a girl, you should learn to cook by yourself. Brother Lin is a guest; how can you ask him to help? That’s not proper at all.”

”Oh, okay then. Brother Lin, you can just sit. I’ll let you know the moment dinner is ready. My cooking skills have improved a lot lately, I’ll definitely surprise you,” said Li Lin, first wrinkling her nose at her father in mock disapproval, then smiling at Lin Zifeng.

”Alright, no problem. I’ve come with an empty stomach today, so I’m expecting to eat a big meal,” Lin Zifeng continued in a teasing tone.

”Hey, Brother Lin, look at you, all grown up yet acting like a child. And look at your clothes; they’re not even put on right. Here, don’t move, let me fix it for you.”

As soon as Lin Zifeng finished speaking, the young girl who had been inspecting him carefully suddenly began to criticize him.

She hurried over to help Lin Zifeng straighten out the collar of his shirt.

”Er... heh heh,” Lin Zifeng blushed, realizing his shirt was indeed on backwards.

Watching the girl seriously fiddling with his clothes gave Lin Zifeng an instant of reflection.

He felt somewhat moved.

His heart, as tough as steel, couldn’t help but feel a wave of warmth.

He was truly grateful for Li Lin’s virtue and her kindness.

She cared for people meticulously, like a mother would.

Back when they were younger, even though Lin Zifeng was older, it was Li Lin who always took care of him, and to this day, she still retained that nurturing habit.

”Brother Lin, you’ve lost weight again.” Looking at Lin Zifeng’s firm and resolute face, Li Lin felt a pang of bitterness in her heart.

Touching his angular but somewhat thin face, Li Lin felt her heart twist with pain.

These past five years, Brother Lin must have suffered a lot.

Every time she thought about it, Li Lin felt as if her heart was being pricked by something.