When Zhan Qi was about to turn around and leave as if nothing had happened, Jiang Sihan saw him and called out, “Xiao Zhan, come over and have a drink and some food with us.”
Otherwise, this table couldn’t be finished. It was now the height of summer, and although he had already bought a small fridge, he didn’t know why, but he didn’t want to pack up in front of Zhou Jianguo.
Zhou Jianguo had also met Zhan Qi a few times before, and they were not strangers, so he invited him along with Jiang Sihan.
Zhan Qi had no choice but to sit down with a forced smile since he couldn’t refuse their hospitality. It was interesting to watch a battle, but it wasn’t so wonderful to participate in it.
Although the three men were not strangers, they were not really familiar with each other either, and they didn’t know what to talk about. In the end, Zhan Qi was the first to give in. He felt that he had an obligation to resolve the conflict between these two men. After all, he had grown up with Beibei and had such a relationship. He should help her deal with the problem and warn these two men at the same time.
“Um, Xiao Jiang,” Zhan Qi opened a can of beer and said seriously, “Did you forget everything we talked about here before? Do you not take your buddy seriously?”
He had already warned him so seriously, yet this guy still ignored him. Zhan Qi thought his temper was quite good for not holding Jiang Sihan accountable. How could he still have the face to invite him to sit down and have a drink and some food?
Jiang Sihan was confused for a moment, but soon remembered what Zhan Qi had said that day and the crushed beer can. He quickly explained, “I haven’t forgotten. I just want to take this opportunity to explain to you that Beibei and I are not what you think…”
When Zhan Qi felt that he had spoken his mind, pretending to be amiable would appear hypocritical. He waved his hand impatiently and interrupted Jiang Sihan, “I only ask you, when you were still here, did you help clean the hallway, take out the trash, and do other chores for her family every day?”
Jiang Sihan : “….Yes, but…”
“You did it voluntarily, right? Don’t talk about whether it’s a part-time job or not. Did you take her money?”
“….No.”
“Then that’s it. You’re a young man with good looks and energy, yet you help her family sweep the trash and do other chores every day without fear of getting dirty or tired. You even often help Grandma Luo carry bags of rice from the supermarket. And you still say that your relationship with her isn’t what I think it is? Xiao Jiang, I’ve told you before that there are many guys like me around here. If you disappoint Beibei, I’ll be the first to not let you off lightly. Beibei is a good girl!”
Jiang Sihan had no idea what Zhan Qi was imagining, but he felt speechless for the first time in his life…
He really didn’t know how to explain.
Zhou Jianguo, who had been silent all this time, also pieced together the ins and outs of the matter from Luo Bei.
Seeing that Zhan Qi was getting more and more excited, and Jiang Sihan had a hesitant and troubled look, Zhou Jianguo sighed and quickly stopped Zhan Qi from crushing the can again, saying, “Xiao Zhan, you don’t understand us poor people.”
Originally, he didn’t want to get involved in this matter, but he vaguely guessed that the reason why Zhan Qi was picking on Jiang Sihan in front of him was probably because he assumed that he was the current boyfriend of Luo Bei and was using the situation with Jiang Sihan to warn and scold him. So he couldn’t just stand by and watch as a bystander.
After Zhou Jianguo finished speaking, he looked at Jiang Sihan and said, “Sihan, do you mind if I say you’re poor?”
Jiang Sihan was taken aback and shook his head. “I don’t mind, I’m already very poor.”
“Good.” When men are together, they usually don’t have thin skin. Zhou Jianguo started to sell miserable to Zhan Qi, “Look at us, we’re so young, why do we have to live in a basement that costs five hundred yuan a month? Is it because we don’t have any standards? No, it’s because we’re poor and don’t have money. But we met kind-hearted Grandma Luo and Luo Bei, they know we’re poor, but they consider our self-esteem and face, so they don’t expose us. They often invite us to their house for meals and send us some food to improve our food. We’re not ungrateful. Sihan is more sensible than me. He knows that Luo Bei works hard every day to clean up the garbage and sweep the corridor, so he helps her voluntarily. It’s also a kind of alternative repayment.
“Xiao Zhan, you really misunderstood the relationship between Luo Bei and Sihan. The three of us are very good friends. The reason why Luo Bei told you that she was working part-time was actually to take care of our face. Can you understand what I’m saying?”
Jiang Sihan nodded vigorously, “Yes, it’s exactly what happened. Xiao Zhan, last time when you contacted me, I didn’t have a chance to explain it to you, so I didn’t clarify things.”
Zhan Qi couldn’t calm down for a long time after hearing this. After a while, he tentatively asked, “Really?”
It’s not that he was regretting giving up on pursuing Luo Bei. After all, even without this misunderstanding, he couldn’t persist for too long. It’s not that he didn’t like Luo Bei, but their families had a close relationship and they grew up together. Being too pushy would ruin their friendship. With or without Jiang Sihan, it was impossible for him and Luo Bei to be together.
Jiang Sihan and Zhou Jianguo nodded together, “Really.”
“Are you really that poor?” After asking, Zhan Qi could understand. His family also had a rental property, and the rent here was not expensive to begin with. However, it was damp and dim, and long-term residence was not good for health, so only people who were tight on budget would rent it.
For a moment, Zhan Qi, a second-generation landlord, was full of sympathy for these two men in front of him.
He had never lacked money since childhood, being the only grandson in the family. Therefore, whether it was his parents or grandparents, they always fulfilled his wishes. Until Zhou Jianguo clarified the reason, Zhan Qi did not think about this aspect.
Jiang Sihan and Zhou Jianguo nodded again, “Yes.”
They were really that poor…
After this incident, Jiang Sihan and Zhou Jianguo quietly and tacitly established a shallow friendship.
After the three of them finished a table of braised dishes, Jiang Sihan offered to pay the bill. Zhan Qi thought he was too poor to treat them, and both of them almost fought over this issue. In the end, Zhan Qi won and paid the bill.
Zhuo Jianguo : “….”
Okay, that works. It’s the same if he treats them next time.
Jiang Sihan and Zhou Jianguo were neighbors, and they walked back to their rented apartments together. As they were unlocking their doors, Zhou Jianguo suddenly asked, “Xiao Jiang, last time you said you promised your broker not to date for two years, right?”
“Yeah.”
Zhou Jianguo paused and asked again, “But what if you meet someone you like? Will you break that promise for her?”
Jiang Sihan fell silent for a moment and considered the question seriously before shaking his head. “No.”
“Why not?” Zhou Jianguo asked.
“I’ve promised Brother Liu, and I’ll keep my word.”
In Jiang Sihan’s upbringing, he believed that one must keep their promises. He had promised Brother Liu first, and even if he met someone he liked later, he would still honor his commitment to Brother Liu. It was unquestionable. What kind of a man would he be if he couldn’t even keep his word?
Brother Liu had shown him kindness and helped him out, and he couldn’t let him down.
Zhou Jianguo shrugged and smiled. “You might miss out on a relationship because of that promise.”
After saying that, Zhou Jianguo didn’t wait for Jiang Sihan’s reply and went straight into his room.
Jiang Sihan stood at the door, thinking about Zhou Jianguo’s words. Opening the door and looking at the small rental room, he realized that even without his promise to Brother Liu, he didn’t want to start a relationship in the next year or two until he had achieved success in his career and had the ability to provide a happy life for someone else.
He had experienced tough times and couldn’t drag someone else down with him.
Although Manager Zhao was vulgar, he was diligent in his work. After the meal, he replied within a week or two, agreeing to place the vending machine in the hotel lobby. This was good news for Zhou Jianguo and Luo Bei, as it meant they had another sales channel in addition to their physical store.
After negotiating the price with the hotel, they immediately signed the contract.
Luo Bei noticed that Manager Zhao had a band-aid on his neck.
Probably because her gaze was too intense, Manager Zhao covered his neck and awkwardly explained, “I have a cat at home and it scratched me.”
Luo Bei immediately guessed what had happened and exchanged a knowing look with Zhou Jianguo when Manager Zhao wasn’t paying attention, both seeing the same word in each other’s eyes – “satisfying!”
Indeed, it’s so satisfying!
Manager Zhao’s wife must have not let him have a good time during this period. This is much more satisfying than beating him up.
This kind of person deserves it!
Zhou Jianguo immediately stepped forward and put his hand on Manager Zhao’s shoulder, with an exaggerated tone, “Brother Zhao, let me take a look. Your cat is too wild. By the way, did you vaccinate the cat? This is not a small matter!”
Manager Zhao awkwardly stepped back, “Yes, yes, I did it… it’s fine…”
He also felt resentful. He didn’t know if it was Xiao Fang, Ah Li, or Zhenzhen, or the newcomer who deliberately left the mark. He asked a few times, but no one admitted it. He usually likes to talk to young girls, but if there is any substantial relationship, he dare not do it. So he can only harass them verbally or take advantage of them. Who knows that he encountered trouble when he walked the night road? He came home that day, and his wife found lipstick marks on his shirt. They had a big fight. As long as she remembered this, she would slap him a few times. He really had no way to express his grievances.
Yesterday evening, they had another fight. She kept long nails, and not only his neck but also his back had several bloodstains. She said she wanted to teach him a lesson and let him remember not to mess with other women in the future. She was really a shrew!
Manager Zhao looked at the young and beautiful Luo Bei, but with his neck hurting, he immediately became timid and looked away.
Jiang Sihan was taken aback and shook his head. “I don’t mind, I’m already very poor.”
This made me laugh out loud lol
Lol, you deserve it! Thanks for the translation~