Winter Begonia

Chapter 26

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Cheng Fengtai put his arm around Chacha'er's shoulder, talking while walking in the corridor. Because there is a poker game at home today, the servants are awake to wait, and the yard is brighter than usual. A row of bird cages under the eaves was covered with black cloth, Cheng Fengtai uncovered one, and inside was an orange hibiscus. It woke up as soon as the cage was shaken, jumped twice on the crossbar, and turned its head vigilantly.

Cheng Fengtai teased the bird, and said: "Sister, you must be fourteen this year, right?"

Chacha'er sat leaning against the porch pillar, and said lightly, "Yes."

"Then, brother, I should tell you something. The marriage between me and your sister-in-law... You were young back then, and now you should understand that your sister-in-law and I are not married like Chang Zhixin and Jiang Mengping. We are father and aunt. That kind."

Chacha'er nodded, with no expression on her face: "You want to say that you and my sister-in-law are from two different ages, and your union was forced? But why did you tell me this?" She was really cold-hearted. On the face, the straightforward little girl is nothing like Cheng Fengtai. Meiyin is still young, so she can't see her temperament. It's just that the three siblings in the Cheng family have nothing in common with each other.

Cheng Fengtai let go of the bird cage and sat down: "I just want to tell you that we can only accommodate your sister-in-law, many emerging truths are impossible to explain to her. Since it doesn't make sense, then don't say it, lest she get angry. I don’t agree with her old-fashioned way of thinking. The times are different! Girls are not educated and have no vision. After marriage, aren’t they at the mercy of their husbands? They can’t educate their children well, right? Does she argue? I never argue."

When he first got married, Cheng Fengtai fought a lot, and often made the second mistress so angry that he ignored him, and he forgot about it.

Chachaer frowned and said, "So, I was sacrificed like this?"

"That's not true either." Cheng Fengtai's mouth curled up, and he had that cynical smile again: "I told you not to argue with your sister-in-law face to face. Whatever we do, we can come behind her back, right? Oh! Just allow him, Fan Lian, to secretly send his girls to school, and don't allow me to cover up Chen Cang one? My brother has already found out about a church school for you, all of which are girls, and your sister-in-law has nothing to say. I'll find an opportunity to send you in."

Chacha'er got the promise, and his face looked much better. Cheng Fengtai patted her head and sent her back to the room, and asked with a smile: "Didn't you like to get along with children of the same age in the past? Why do you suddenly want to go to school?"

Chacha'er said: "I don't want to go to school either. I just don't want to stay at home all the time. When I get old, my brother and sister-in-law will marry a husband, and then stay at home—just stay in another house—brother, I just want to go out and see Look. But besides going to school, what good reason do I have for going out?"

Cheng Fengtai was a little shocked. Before he knew it, his beloved sister had really grown into a big girl with thoughts and opinions. At least in one point, their brothers and sisters are very similar, and they don't like to stay at home.

Sending Chacha'er back, Cheng Fengtai took off his coat when he got to the bedroom, and Fan Lian came. Fan Lian's cream hair combed in a suit and tie is so meticulous, it doesn't look like he crawled out of a woman's bed, nor does it look like he came here specially to pick up his sister. When he entered the door, he shouted, "Brother-in-law, give me 150,000 yuan."

Cheng Fengtai took off a woolen vest, and laughed angrily: "Where did you get it? "Hundred Surnames" removes Zhao, and it's money? I have to give you 150,000 anywhere?"

Fan Lian sat down on the bed, and the servant brought him a teacup and teapot, and a small cup of wine for Cheng Fengtai. Fan Lian took his wine cup and sniffed it, and said in surprise, "You still drink strong alcohol before going to bed? Is this the habit of you Shanghainese?"

Cheng Fengtai was also curious: "I thought this was the habit of you outsiders! Your sister ordered me to have a drink every night before going to bed after winter."

"How can there be such a habit. People outside the customs are not such drunkards, right?" Fan Lian sniffed again: "Why is there a smell of medicine? What is it made of?"

Cheng Fengtai said: "Who knows that. It's always ginseng, deer antler, tiger bone or something..." Speaking of this, Cheng Fengtai suddenly knew the effect of a glass of wine before going to bed, and used to drink it with his head up, never thinking about it. Fan Lian also understood. The two looked at each other and smiled wretchedly.

Cheng Fengtai picked up the wine cup and said with emotion: "I think, why come twice outside and twice at home, my son keeps giving birth one after another. I think I am born with supernatural power! So this is what caused the trouble! "

Fan Lian grabbed the cup and said, "This is a good thing, brother-in-law! It strengthens the kidneys and nourishes the essence. If you don't drink it, I'll drink it!"

Cheng Fengtai immediately snatched it back and finished it all: "Your sister gave it to me specially. You have to ask her for it yourself."

Fan Lian sat down slumped, and said with a wry smile: "How dare I? Later, she will have to say: 'You don't have a wife, and you don't pass on the family line, so why drink this wine? Use all your energy on the bitch.' Why… "

Cheng Fengtai laughed again: "Your sister is right!"

"You have the face to tell me?"

"I used half of my energy, but you used all of it. Besides, I didn't delay the business! Do you have a son? You don't even have a wife."

Fan Lian has something to ask for today, so don't argue with him. Cheng Fengtai took off his clothes and lay down on the kang, warm and ready to fall asleep.

Fan Lian was in a hurry: "Brother-in-law, don't sleep! My business is not over yet!"

"What's the matter with you, just open your mouth and ask for money. Say it. Say it quickly."

But Cheng Fengtai was lying on his back, as if he didn't take it seriously, Fan Lian found it difficult to speak, and after a moment of silence, he said: "That's right, I'm going to set up two factories in Shanghai. I just talked with someone, and the prices are all the same." It's suitable...”

The two of them who do business will bring the other to make a fortune. But this time, Cheng Fengtai was not happy, he sat up and stared at Fan Lian, he was scared back, but Cheng Fengtai lay down again, and said angrily: "You really listen to the cripple! If you are told to start a business, you will start a business. Then you should ask the golden cripple for money—I don’t agree with it, so ask for money?”

"I won't tell you to pay for nothing. I'll give you a share."

"I don't want to give it away for free! I don't have the energy to serve you. What kind of muscle are you not sure about? Tell me earlier, and I will give you a twist."

Fan Lian really wanted to push back, but he couldn't, he was kneeling to borrow money! Kicking off his leather shoes and climbing onto the kang, he whispered into Cheng Fengtai's ear patriotic thoughts and long-term benefits, and said, "Actually, what the cripple said makes sense, after all, he is a minister. The industry is indeed profitable and stable, benefiting the country and the people. I bought a batch of machines from the United States, and the motors came as soon as the money was transferred. Besides, I don’t need you to take care of things. You are the largest shareholder and wait for dividends. You can write an IOU. Shanghai is pressing hard, and I won’t be able to get the money together for a while.”

"What kind of factory is yours?"

"The spinning mill."

Cheng Fengtai sneered and said: "Speaking of being so impassioned, I'll think of you as making airplanes and cannons for Generalissimo Jiang. The country can't do without you."

Fan Lian was so blocked that he couldn't speak. Cheng Fengtai thought for a long time, then sighed: "Give me three days, and I'll collect the money and send it to you. You know that the situation between us and Japan is very bad, so you have to be on guard. In case of a fight, you will make trouble If you don't walk away, you can't spend it... Sigh! I believe in your vision, just don't lose money to me."

Fan Lian analyzed the situation again, explaining how omnipotent he is. Cheng Fengtai didn't bother to listen. It's not that he is not tempted. Who can be so calm when he sees something that makes money. After all, the factory is much less risky than selling goods. But Cheng Fengtai is a little stubborn, and only Fan Lian can incite him.

When Fan Lian raised money, he picked up his sister and sent his sister-in-law home. Second Mistress went back to the room, and after taking off her make-up, she lay quietly beside Cheng Fengtai, Cheng Fengtai was still asleep. It's so rare to go home one day early, but I don't have any leisure.

The second grandmother said: "The matter of the third sister..."

Cheng Fengtai said: "She is a child who is not sensible. She contradicted you in public, don't worry about it."

"What about school, what do you think?"

Second Mistress seemed to be humbly asking Tutor Fengtai for advice. Cheng Fengtai had nothing to say, because Second Mistress wouldn't really accept whatever he said, but would only be secretly unhappy, frustrated by the various differences between them. Although it was true, Cheng Fengtai didn't want her to feel it, so he said ambiguously: "Chacha'er is just looking for something new, maybe it will be fine after this trouble. After a while, let's see her attitude."

Second Mistress nodded, blew out the lamp, and talked to him about family matters: which girl has been accepted, which servant should be dismissed, the eldest son no longer needs a nanny, and the fourth aunt's relatives want to find a job in their shop. Except for these trivial matters at home, the husband and wife basically have nothing to say, even sitting with each other for a long time. Cheng Fengtai fell asleep after listening to it, and Second Grandma played cards for a long time, and fell asleep from exhaustion.