CHAPTER 142: CHAPTER 112: TRIPOD (PART 2)

Zhang Guoqing shook his head and angrily kicked Zhang Yuntao in the foot, "Are you stupid? Just tell her you have a girlfriend, or an interest in someone else, and ask her to be careful not to mess things up for you.

If she keeps sending buns every day, tell her your mom’s going to visit her house and ask how rich her family is to have so many buns they can’t eat them all. Would she still dare to keep coming around? Show her your displeasure!

Don’t think Lin Zi is being overly cautious. There are too many crazy people out there. What if she finds an excuse to ask you out, you’re unprepared, and she suddenly hugs and kisses you, letting others see? How would you explain being taken advantage of?

And what if she gossips around, saying that although you verbally rejected her, you still have feelings for her? People would see her bringing you buns and start to doubt. Her parents might start spreading rumors about you two dating. How would you clear that up? Don’t you care about your reputation?"

Zhang Yuntao listened to Zhang Dazui, looking at him foolishly, "This, this can happen? Girls can really take advantage like that? No way, right?"

"Why not? Haven’t you heard the rumors about people getting drunk and having no choice but to marry each other afterward? And the stories about people having to marry someone because they saved them while swimming, claiming it ruined the girl’s purity? Or those who got harassed by thugs and were so devastated they threatened suicide, only to end up marrying them?" Li Qinglin glared at him, not understanding.

Zhang Yuntao rubbed his forehead, helplessly looking at the two of them. "Then I might not get married at all in the future. Damn, who knows what those girls are thinking."

Zhang Guoqing laughed heartily, seeing the guy scared stiff, and quickly comforted him, "Don’t think like that. When you find someone, first look at their character, then their appearance, see if your pursuits align, and it’s almost done. Let your parents give some advice and, if it works, get married. It’s not that complicated. The main thing is to discern if they like you or your family’s background."

Li Qinglin, casually said from the side, "Didn’t your mom arrange some candidates for you? Look at them first. If none work, I think Zhao Yuanyuan is pretty good. Her family background is solid, she’s easy-going, doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor, and she’s sturdy, your mom loves a big backside for good childbearing. I think she’s the most suitable for you, unless you go to college and see better girls outside the county."

Zhang Yuntao really thought about it, sighed after a while, "No, she wouldn’t like me. We always argue, and if we became a couple, we’d argue every day. I think she’d suit you better, Lin Zi. Really, she listens to you. When it comes to the three of us, she’s always rolling her eyes at Xiao Wu, always giving me the cold shoulder first. You’re the only one she listens to."

Zhang Guoqing shook his head speechlessly, seeing the two discussing who fits best, and had to interrupt, "Stop thinking about it. You also have to see if there’s any chemistry. It’s hard to guess a girl’s thoughts, don’t just casually open your mouth, or you might end up losing even the friendship. She’s really not bad, if you’re truly interested, test the waters first. But make sure both of you keep it light, lest both of you fall for her and it turns into a messy game of three hurting the feelings. I think she has some unusual feelings towards Lin Zi, though with her personality, she might not realize it. But Lin Zi’s future is different from hers, Uncle Li wants you to go to college, Lin Zi also needs to think it through, as once emotions are invested, they’re hard to retrieve."

Li Qinglin nodded, jokingly looked at him and said, "Then how did you manage to get involved in it?"

Zhang Guoqing sighed and said, "For me, when I first saw Jiao Jiao, I just knew she was mine. It was a strange feeling, just naturally thinking she had to be mine. As I grew older, I felt that my life would only be complete with her. I loved that she would bear children for me, loved being with her, seeing her happy, loved protecting her from others. Gradually, I just got so deeply involved.

We are different from you, even different from other couples. To me, Jiao Jiao is closer than my own parents, more trustworthy, more understanding. Conversely, she trusts me the most, understands me best. Our preferences, habits are so similar that often, we don’t need to speak a word, a glance tells us everything."

Li Qinglin heard this in silence, and after a while, with eyes full of longing, he said, "I’ve always envied you. Xiao Wu, what I envy most about you is that you found Zhou Jiao.

Seeing Zhou Jiao always reminds me of bamboo. No matter how the wind blows, the bamboo stands tall. It doesn’t need support, doesn’t need careful nurturing, it stands quietly through the four seasons, swaying with the wind but with its roots still strong.

I once thought I liked her, but then I slowly realized I just admired her. She is too hard to understand, her thoughts too difficult to guess. Living with such a girl would be exhausting, mentally tiring. Such a girl has a hard heart, only caring about what she cares about. Transparent like crystal, yet filled with ice inside, layer upon layer of defenses. That’s why I truly envy you. Such a Zhou Jiao keeps you in her heart, how lucky you are!

I also want to find a girl like bamboo. Doesn’t need to be so beautiful, as long as she’s not icy inside, someone I can understand, someone I can love, I’d give up anything just for a chance to pursue her."

Zhang Yuntao shook his head, disdainfully raised a finger, and retorted, "I think Jiao Jiao is great, not that complicated. She won’t go on and on like other girls, nor act like a tomboy. Just a bit too delicate, too soft, makes me hesitant to speak too loudly, afraid of scaring her. Seeing her, I remember I am an older brother, I must give in to her. If I ever have a daughter, she should be like Jiao Jiao. It’s a pity, this time you guys had a healthy baby boy. If it was a little Jiao Jiao, haha, Xiao Wu would be doomed. Two softies, he’d probably be constantly worried."

Zhang Guoqing and Li Qinglin exchanged a look and smiled helplessly at this guy.

As Zhang Guoqing saw they were nearing the bustling downtown of the provincial city, he suggested, "Where are you planning to go? If no destination, let’s head to the flea market area where there’s lots of books, tapes, and various odds and ends. I didn’t get to explore it last time, and I’ve brought money with me now, things there aren’t expensive, are you interested?"

Zhang Yuntao excitedly nodded, "Great, I’ll check out the tapes, you guys look at books. Will it be too late getting back?"

Li Qinglin pulled the two by their hands and started walking, "I’ll take you through the alleyways. Xiao Wu, as soon as you mentioned it, I knew exactly where. There’s some food stalls too; you wouldn’t find them if unfamiliar. One of them has the best lamb offal soup in the provincial city. Many secondhand goods are sold there, my grandfather often goes hunting for stuff. We have to hurry, otherwise, there won’t be enough time before the night market starts."

"There’s a night market too? Do they sell the same things as during the day?" Zhang Guoqing curiously asked.

Li Qinglin recalled, "I’ve only been to the night market once, they sell more than just secondhand goods, even some factory rejects from the provincial city’s factories are secretly sold. It was in the dead of winter, so many women were shopping at the night market. I didn’t pay much attention since my grandfather bought two wool blankets, which made him really happy. I remember it clearly."

Li Qinglin led Zhang Guoqing and Zhang Yuntao to eat lamb offal soup, which they praised nonstop, and Zhang Guoqing ended up packing the rest of the lamb stomach that was cooked at the stall.

"Great, now that we’re full, let’s keep shopping the market. First, we’ll check the tapes, then the bookstall, the two places aren’t far from each other, so we won’t lose each other."

Zhang Guoqing nodded, following them to explore and scope out the place, planning to bring Jiao Jiao next time.