Qiangzi looked at Liu Yifeng giving such an expensive gift and refused to accept it, saying, "I said no gifts, how could you still give such an expensive one? Are you treating me like an outsider?"
He looked at Liu Yifeng unhappily.
Liu Yifeng said helplessly, "What are you thinking? Haoran is my godson, of course, it's natural for me, his godfather, to give him a birthday gift.
It's you who is overthinking it. Are you being distant with me?"
"Then I'll accept the clothes on behalf of Haoran, but as for this longevity lock, you can give it to your son," Qiangzi took a step back.
"Are you even a man? You're being so hesitant about accepting a gift.
If you're capable when my son turns ten, I'll accept anything you give me," Liu Yifeng shoved the longevity lock into Qiangzi's hand without further explanation.
Qiangzi looked at the gift in his hand and didn't argue further, "Alright, when Tongtong turns ten, you're not allowed to refuse whatever I give you."
"Don't worry, I definitely won't be polite with you," Liu Yifeng said this to alleviate Qiangzi's burden.
At this moment, Lu Fei also arrived, with a woman dressed very stylishly.
Her long, straight legs were showcased by a black bodycon skirt, and she was already tall, but she wore high-heeled sandals.
Standing in the crowd, she seemed out of place.
The woman's expression was impatient, and her disdain was evident in her eyes, but she still linked arms with Lu Fei and walked over.
Liu Yifeng recognized this woman; she was Lu Fei's girlfriend.
Qiangzi also saw her and nudged Liu Yifeng's arm, "Great, now that this woman is here, the three of us probably can't speak freely anymore."
Despite his words, he put on a happy face and went to greet them, "Lu Fei, you're finally here. The three of us haven't gotten together in a long time."
After speaking, he looked at Lu Fei's girlfriend, smiled, and nodded as a greeting.
But Lu Fei's girlfriend completely ignored him, looking elsewhere as if nothing had happened.
Her reaction was within Qiangzi's expectations. This woman had always looked down on him and Yifeng, seeing them as failures and losers in her eyes.
She was only with Lu Fei because he was devoted to her, giving her all his earnings without reservation, thus providing her with a sense of security.
However, in this relationship, Lu Fei was always the one in the humbler position.
It was almost impossible for an unequal relationship to last.
However, as the saying goes, the bystander sees more clearly than the participant.
Lu Fei didn't think so. He believed that kindness begets kindness, and if he was good to his girlfriend, she would eventually be moved and willingly marry him.
Therefore, Liu Yifeng and Qiangzi had never expressed their doubts about their relationship to his face.
Because they also hoped that the couple could have a happy ending.
Unaware of his brothers' inner thoughts, Lu Fei chuckled, "I was too busy a while ago, otherwise, I would have come when Yifeng held a banquet for his son.
These are for my two nephews. They're not valuable, but they're a small token of my affection as their uncle. I'll get upset if any of you refuse."
Saying this, he took out two gifts, one for Qiangzi's son and one for Yifeng's son.
They weren't expensive items, just toys that children liked, along with a red envelope. The two had no choice but to accept.
"Yifeng, your son looks a lot like you, but his skin is much fairer.
You're doing well, a son who can already run errands without anyone knowing!"
Looking at the little boy beside Liu Yifeng, Lu Fei's expression was somewhat envious.
Although he had a good-looking girlfriend, every time he mentioned marriage, his girlfriend would find various excuses to refuse.
And when they were intimate, she would insist on taking precautions.
He had initially hoped for a shotgun wedding; if she got pregnant, marriage would be a certainty, but that hope was dashed before it could even materialize.
Liu Yifeng smiled and said, "You need to catch up. Qiangzi and I are waiting to drink at your son's full moon banquet!"
"Go away, go away. We haven't even gotten married yet and you're talking about a full moon banquet," Lu Fei said, but the smile on his face was evident.
Because he dreamed of that day.
Wu Qian, standing beside him, was getting impatient, "It's so hot, can we talk inside?"
Qiangzi just then realized and quickly invited them inside.
The living room had a ceiling fan and a floor fan, which felt very cool against their skin.
Wu Qian found a less crowded spot to sit, and Lu Fei acted like an ancient slave, constantly attending to her.
Seeing Lu Fei like this, Liu Yifeng suddenly felt a chill. If he were to find a girlfriend like this in the future, it would be a death sentence. He wondered how Lu Fei could endure it.
"Yifeng, I heard you've been raising a lot of crayfish for sale. That's great, you're going down the entrepreneurial path." Wu Qian, bothered by the noise outside, had retreated to a room, and Lu Fei finally had some personal time.
Liu Yifeng said softly, "What else can I do? I can't find a good job with my mediocre university degree. I work my tail off for only two thousand yuan a month and still have to put up with people's moods.
Starting my own business not only gives me hope but also means I don't have to grovel."
Lu Fei nodded in agreement, "Who's to say? If it weren't for a few coins, who the hell would want to act like a grandson and be bossed around?"
"You better not be bragging. Didn't you say you became a team leader in your sales department a while ago, managing over a dozen people? Who would dare order you around?" Qiangzi interjected.
"It's just a damn team leader, still working for someone else.
Besides, there's a supervisor above the team leader, and a manager above the supervisor.
The difference of one rank is like a gap of a hundred thousand miles.
If the performance isn't up to par, or if there's any mistake in work, they use us low-level leaders as scapegoats.
We can't complain, or we'll be packing our bags and leaving at any time," Lu Fei said listlessly, his expression filled with helplessness.
Liu Yifeng chewed on melon seeds, "So, instead of enduring others' moods, it's better to work for yourself and be your own boss."
"But being a boss isn't easy either. So many people have gone bankrupt because of entrepreneurship, burdened with debt at a young age.
Although I have pressure here, the income is decent, at least stable, and I don't have to worry about not being able to support myself," Lu Fei was a cautious person. He didn't dare to take risks.
He had finally managed to become a team leader, and perhaps in another year or two, he could be promoted to supervisor, then to manager.
Then, his income wouldn't be just four or five thousand a month; earning over ten thousand a month wouldn't be a dream.
So, to give up everything he had now and start a business, he really didn't have the guts to gamble.
"You have to consider this yourself. By the way, you've been dating your girlfriend for almost two years, when are you getting married?" Liu Yifeng changed the subject.
He could sense that Lu Fei didn't want to give up what he had now, so anything he said would be in vain.
"Who knows? Every time I talk to Wu Qian about marriage, she dodges and procrastinates with all sorts of excuses. I don't know what she's thinking," Lu Fei said irritably.
"Then talk to her properly and ask if she has any concerns."
"I asked. She just said we've only been dating for two years and don't know each other very well yet.
Marriage is a lifelong commitment, and she needs to test me more.
Damn it, I'm practically offering her my heart, what else does she need to test?" Lu Fei couldn't help but curse.
Liu Yifeng and Qiangzi exchanged glances but said nothing.
Lu Fei loved his girlfriend so much that if they said anything negative about her, Lu Fei would likely perceive it as malicious slander.
Instead of waking him up, it might damage their brotherhood, which would be a loss.
After dinner, Lu Fei brought his girlfriend to Liu Yifeng's house.
This was Wu Qian's first time visiting Liu Yifeng's home. She hadn't expected his house to be made of red bricks and tiles, even more shabby than Qiangzi's unfurnished apartment.
She had an even worse impression of Liu Yifeng. Lu Fei was really something, with friends who were all poor.
"Uncle, I didn't disturb your sleep, did I?" Lu Fei asked, looking at the person who walked out of the room.
Liu Chunsheng was surprised to see Lu Fei, "Lu Fei, why are you here?"
"Isn't it Qiangzi's son's tenth birthday today? I happened to have some free time, so I came to gather," Lu Fei explained.
Liu Chunsheng then realized, "Look at my memory, how could I forget about this? Is this your girlfriend?" he asked, looking at Wu Qian.
Lu Fei nodded, "Yes, my girlfriend."
"Qian'er, this is Yifeng's father. He took good care of me when I was little, quickly call him Uncle," he said to Wu Qian beside him.