Chapter 161: It’s Hard to Be a Sea King

“Hey, this kid is still like this. Ah Rui, as his older brother, you should teach him.”

Zhao Guozhong shook his head, putting on the airs of an elder.

Chen Rui smiled and said, “What’s so good about smoking? If I could quit, I wouldn’t smoke either.”

“He’s missing out. Come, let me light it for you.”

Zhao Guozhong eagerly lit a cigarette for his nephew, Chen Rui, making Chen Rui feel a little embarrassed.

In fact, he certainly didn’t like this little uncle who always came to his house for handouts, but he was his only uncle. Most importantly, his mother had only this one younger brother, so as the eldest son, he couldn’t just give his uncle the cold shoulder like his younger brother did.

He lit the cigarette and took a puff. It actually had a ginseng taste.

“How is it? Not bad, right?” Zhao Guozhong asked with a smile.

“It’s okay, it has a ginseng taste.”

“Of course. Smoking a ginseng cigarette like this when you’re tired not only lifts your spirits but also strengthens your body.”

“Hehe, I really believe you.”

…

Chen Feng walked to the kitchen and directly asked his mother, “Mom, why is little uncle here?”

“He just came back from out of town. His house over there hasn’t been cleaned up yet, so he can’t live there for now. It’s New Year’s Eve, so he’ll stay at our house for a few days. You can tidy up your room upstairs later and let him sleep there.”

“Why sleep in my room? Can’t you let him sleep in the empty room on the third floor?” Chen Feng was a little unwilling.

“That room on the third floor is full of clutter, and the bed hasn’t even been made. Are you going to clean it up?”

Fine! Chen Feng was defeated with one sentence. He had to change the subject and ask, “Where has he been these past few years?”

“He said he was in the northeast, doing cross-border business.”

That’s some big business. Chen Feng asked, “Has he paid back our family’s money?”

“It’s the New Year. Why are you asking this? We’ll talk about everything after the New Year.”

“Fine, so he hasn’t paid back the money.”

“Alright. Why are you being so calculative? It’s not easy for your uncle to be alone.”

Chen Feng couldn’t help but roll his eyes. He knew it was useless to say more. He went back to his room, closed the door, and started scrolling through his phone.

Zhao Xiaolan had four siblings. Her parents had passed away more than ten years ago. Zhao Xiaolan was the third child, with an older brother and sister. Unfortunately, her older brother had also passed away a few years ago. Of the remaining three siblings, the two older sisters of course took extra care of their younger brother.

So, even though Chen Feng didn’t like this uncle, there was nothing he could do.

His mother, Zhao Xiaolan, had always been the one in charge of their family.

It wasn’t until his mother came to call him for dinner that Chen Feng came out of his room.

His little uncle, Zhao Guozhong, was already sitting and drinking with Chen Dayong and Chen Rui, talking eloquently and pointing out things, his mouth never stopping.

Being able to talk was Zhao Guozhong’s only virtue.

For the New Year’s Eve dinner, Chen Feng didn’t want to cause any unpleasantness. He also said a few words to his little uncle during the meal and toasted him with a glass of wine.

The whole family, plus a little uncle, was talking and laughing, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

When the Spring Festival Gala was about to start, everyone left the table one after another and went to the small shop in front to watch the gala.

Chen Feng had a color TV in his own room, but it was definitely boring to watch the Spring Festival Gala alone, so he also watched it in the small shop.

The TV in the small shop was only thirty-two inches, a bit small, but with many people watching, it was festive and lively. Everyone ate snacks while watching the Spring Festival Gala, and everyone had a relaxed and comfortable expression on their faces.

Chen Feng watched until past ten o’clock and then went back to his room. At this time, the WeChat notification sound on his phone kept ringing.

It was from several women he knew, including his old classmates Wang Fang and Fang Xiaoyue. They all sent him WeChat messages. Besides New Year’s wishes, they all wanted to ask him out for a gathering.

But for these two somewhat proactive female classmates, Chen Feng was really not interested. He just typed a few perfunctory words.

The more difficult one here was Guo Mengyao. She had sent him a WeChat message at eight o’clock this morning, asking him if he was up like an old friend.
Speaking of which, the two of them hadn’t contacted each other for almost ten days. Chen Feng originally thought that they had tacitly cooled down and become familiar strangers, or that they had returned to a simple classmate relationship after meeting again.

Her sudden contact with him, as if nothing had happened, surprised Chen Feng a little.

Chen Feng deliberately waited for more than ten minutes before replying that he had just gotten up.

Guo Mengyao’s side almost replied in seconds: [Alright, come out and accompany me to the city to go shopping and buy some clothes. I haven’t had time to buy clothes this New Year.]

Chen Feng immediately refused: [Today is New Year’s Eve. The mall should not be open.]

[It’s open during the day and closes at night.]

[I can’t go. I still have a lot of things to do at home.]

Of course, Chen Feng didn’t want to accompany her to the mall on New Year’s Eve, even if it was in the city.

After a few minutes, Guo Mengyao’s side directly sent him a video call invitation.

At that time, Chen Feng was watching TV with his father and brother in the small shop. He directly rejected it, then quickly typed: [My parents are right next to me. What are you doing?]

Guo Mengyao sent a smug laughing emoji, then typed again: [If you don’t accompany me, I might just come to your house.]

[I really don’t have time today. Let’s talk about it after the New Year.]

To be honest, Chen Feng was also a little reluctant to completely break off relations with her. He had deliberately given her the cold shoulder before because he was afraid that she would develop real feelings for him.

What’s more, Chen Feng really wanted to invest in her company, so as to find an economic support for his family in the future, so that after he passed away, his parents could receive a considerable dividend from her company every year.

This was like a double insurance for his parents. The previous pension insurance was the first layer, and investing in her company was the second layer.

As a son, Chen Feng was quite filial.

And when Guo Mengyao’s side saw Chen Feng say this, she also knew that it was not good to ask him out today, so she didn’t insist anymore.
She followed his meaning and typed: [Alright then, we’ll make an appointment after the New Year. Remember, don’t stand me up, or I’ll really come to your house.]

[Absolutely not. I’ll try to find you on the third or fourth day of the New Year.]

Seeing Chen Feng’s reply, a smile finally appeared on Guo Mengyao’s face. She was finally sure that Chen Feng was still reluctant to part with her.
She thought to herself, “I thought you were made of stone. You’re still reluctant to part with me. If I take a little initiative, you’ll immediately take the bait. Hmph! Men!”
This was the situation in the morning. In the evening, Guo Mengyao frequently sent him WeChat messages and pictures, asking him what he ate for New Year’s Eve dinner and how many people were celebrating the New Year together at home. Chen Feng could still be perfunctory at first, but later he was too lazy to reply.

After Chen Feng didn’t reply for a long time, she kept sending pictures, including her selfies, a picture of a table full of New Year’s Eve dinner, and some other pictures. Chen Feng was too lazy to look at them.

Besides her sending pictures like this, Sun Xiaorui was not very worry-free either. When he was eating New Year’s Eve dinner here, she even directly sent him a video call invitation. Chen Feng hesitated for three seconds and finally rejected it.

She then sent a few confused emojis. Chen Feng replied to her with text: [It’s not convenient.]

Just a few minutes later, Sun Xiaorui sent a video call to his mother, Zhao Xiaolan. As a result, Zhao Xiaolan hung up without even thinking.

Previously, at Sun Xiaorui’s request, Chen Feng had taken the initiative to add Zhao Xiaolan’s WeChat, and Zhao Xiaolan had also accepted her friend request.

At first, she was of course quite satisfied with Sun Xiaorui. After all, her son had a girlfriend and was no longer single. But later, when Wu Mengting came, she immediately put Sun Xiaorui in the cold palace.

It couldn’t be said that she was too cold-blooded. First of all, she had never met Sun Xiaorui in real life, let alone had any communication, so naturally, there was no friendship or affection.

Secondly, Wu Mengting had spent every day with her for those few days. Whether it was appearance, temperament, or family background and geographical relationship, she was far superior to Sun Xiaorui. If she had to choose, she would of course choose Wu Mengting as her daughter-in-law.

And after getting along for those few days, Zhao Xiaolan also developed feelings for Wu Mengting.

As a result, it was naturally like this. She was definitely on Wu Mengting’s side. She had already asked Chen Feng to find a chance to break up with Sun Xiaorui.

Zhao Xiaolan had already shown her attitude. Sun Xiaorui was already out in her heart.

But Sun Xiaorui didn’t know the reason for this and asked him aggrievedly on WeChat why his mother rejected her video call.

Chen Feng directly told her the truth, that his mother had taken a fancy to Wu Mengting and planned to make her her daughter-in-law. Other women had no chance with her.

Of course, Chen Feng did this deliberately. The purpose was also to remind her not to have unrealistic fantasies such as getting promoted and marrying him. This hurdle with his mother could not be passed.

Sure enough, after Sun Xiaorui knew the reason, she didn’t send him WeChat messages for a long time.

Chen Feng was very satisfied with this. After all, she was just a mistress he kept, not a real girlfriend.

It wasn’t until past ten o’clock that she started sending him messages again. Most of them were some casual photos of his family and selfies, including photos and close-ups of a table full of dishes, as well as photos with her younger brother and the whole family…

At this time, Wu Mengting, Guo Mengyao, Lin Yujiao, Fang Xiaoyue, and Qin Xiaorou also sent him many photos, as if they had arranged it.

His phone was therefore ringing non-stop, so he had to go back to his room first.

After interacting with these women for a while, it was soon midnight. The clock struck, and a new year arrived. The whole world seemed to be filled with the sound of firecrackers.

Their family also bought firecrackers and were setting them off in front of the main door. The whole town was filled with the sound of firecrackers.

After a few minutes, the sound of firecrackers gradually subsided.

But this was just the beginning. According to the custom and tradition of the New Year here, firecrackers were set off all night on New Year’s Eve.

So, Chen Feng had the foresight to take a nap in the afternoon. He wouldn’t be too sleepy at night and wouldn’t sleep soundly.

At this time, Chen Feng’s phone was still ringing non-stop. They were all from several women.

Then he received a New Year’s greeting call from Qin Zhen. After the two congratulated each other, they didn’t talk much and hung up. Qin Zhen must be very busy at this time. He had many more relatives and friends than Chen Feng. In addition, due to his work, he had a large number of comrades-in-arms, colleagues, and leaders.

After Qin Zhen, Chen Feng also received a call from his university classmate Zhang Kewei, as well as Luo Kun, whom he had met by chance at the airport and had a fight with. This guy also called him for the New Year, said a lot of auspicious words, and once again said that if he went to Beijing, he would definitely treat him well. If he went to Xiuzhou next time, he would definitely find him to play.

If Luo Kun hadn’t made this call, Chen Feng would have almost forgotten about him.

When it was Chen Feng’s turn to take the initiative to call and send New Year’s greetings, he thought about it and only thought of Teacher Zheng. He was too lazy to call any other teachers or classmates. It could even be said that he was not qualified to call them.

First, Chen Feng’s relationship with them was very average. Second, they hadn’t contacted each other for many years. Third, Chen Feng had no intention of currying favor with them, nor did he plan to use them, let alone owe them anything.

So, there was really no need to expand his social circle. It was too tiring.

As for human relationships and social etiquette, at his current situation, there was really no need to abide by any of the unspoken rules or social etiquette of society. One was that he had a terminal illness, and the other was that he was rich. Those explicit and implicit rules of the world no longer had much binding force on him.

He now just wanted to be his true self, unrestrained and free, and enjoy life without breaking the law.

He picked up his phone and dialed Teacher Zheng’s number, but it was busy, so he didn’t call for the time being.

He looked at the unread WeChat messages again. One of them was from Huang Li, whom he had almost forgotten. She was the receptionist at the Dianchuang Culture and Planning Company where he used to work. She sent him New Year’s greetings with animated special effects.

Chen Feng immediately replied with a New Year’s greeting and also sent her a red envelope of 888 yuan.

He had almost forgotten her before. Now Chen Feng suddenly remembered that this girl had often sent him food and drinks because he had helped her once. She said it was to thank him.

For two or three years, she had spent at least several hundred yuan on him.

Chen Feng was the kind of person who didn’t want to take advantage of others. At that time, he was thinking of finding a chance to treat her to a good meal. Now, he just took advantage of the New Year to send her a red envelope to make up for it.

Huang Li originally thought it was just a small red envelope for the occasion, at most a few dozen yuan, or even a few yuan.

But when she opened it, it was eight hundred and eighty-eight. She was stunned. She immediately sent it back untouched and attached a text: [Brother Feng, you entered the wrong amount.]

After Chen Feng opened the red envelope, he couldn’t help but smile. This little girl was still so simple. He immediately sent the red envelope again and sent a text: [That’s right, it’s eight hundred and eighty-eight. Thank you for often buying me things to eat before. This New Year’s red envelope is not allowed to be returned. It’s unlucky.]

Seeing this, Huang Li hesitated for a long time before typing: [Then thank you, Brother Feng. I’ll treat you to a meal next time.]

Chen Feng replied casually: [Alright, we’ll have a meal together next time we have a chance.]

Huang Li sent a winking smiley face.

Only then did Chen Feng look at the other WeChat messages. At this time, the other women had sent messages one after another. Chen Feng suddenly felt a little overwhelmed.

There were too many women, and it was not easy to deal with them.

After experiencing it firsthand, Chen Feng had to admire those sea kings. They had to deal with one or several girlfriends (boyfriends), and also had to take care of a dozen or even dozens of spare tires.

This job was really not that easy to do. You had to have energy, a good brain, quick reactions, and extraordinary hand speed, otherwise, you definitely wouldn’t be able to handle it.

It really wasn’t that easy to be a true sea king.