Chapter 489: Chapter 489: Father-Son Dispute

The eighth day of the Lunar New Year was Li Wan and Gu Xinsheng’s wedding day.

The Li family held the wedding banquet at the private kitchen belonging to Li Huan’s maternal uncle, Shang Yuxuan. The usually quiet alley where the restaurant was located was bustling with excitement that day. Large "double happiness" characters were pasted on the main doors, and the crackle of firecrackers drew curious neighbors out to see the commotion. Upon learning it was a wedding, many of them smiled, offering congratulations in exchange for wedding candy and a share of the bride and groom’s good fortune.

The Li family was generous, tossing out handfuls of wedding candy at the entrance. Everyone was all smiles, showering the couple with blessings. Before long, Gu Xinsheng arrived at the private kitchen with Li Wan.

"Wow, the bride is so beautiful! And the groom looks so dashing," the onlookers remarked with broad smiles.

Thanks to Su Qing, who had been secretly helping her family with subtle health treatments, both Li Wan and Gu Xinsheng looked exceptionally young despite being nearly forty. With her makeup on, Li Wan could have passed for someone in her twenties at first glance.

Amidst the chorus of blessings, a bashful Li Wan followed Gu Xinsheng into the private kitchen. Li Huan whispered to Su Qing, "Auntie is so beautiful today."

Su Qing smiled. "Of course she is. My mom is the most beautiful."

Standing apart from the crowd, Zhao Weiming watched with a heavy heart as Li Wan disappeared into the private kitchen. He let out a silent sigh. He’d gone on countless blind dates over the past few years but had never met anyone he clicked with, so he’d remained single. To think that just when he’d finally found someone he liked, the fledgling relationship was over before he even had a chance to confess his feelings.

He’d learned from a colleague that Li Wan came from a prominent family. That knowledge had made him hesitate, too intimidated to confess his feelings. But he never would have dreamed he’d see her getting married today, right in the alley near his own home!

Looking at the bustling restaurant, the guests streaming in and out, and the sheer extravagance of the wedding banquet, Zhao Weiming felt the chasm between himself and Li Wan with bitter clarity. His heart ached. After watching from the edge of the crowd for a moment longer, he turned and walked home.

Just as he walked in the door, Zhao Weiming saw his son frantically hiding something in his room. He quickly stepped forward. "Lianfeng, what are you hiding?"

"Dad, you’re... you’re back. I’m not hiding anything," Zhao Lianfeng said, quickly shutting his bedroom door and forcing a smile.

Zhao Weiming frowned. His mood, already foul from seeing Li Wan’s wedding, soured further at his son’s dismissive reply. He pushed Zhao Lianfeng aside and threw open the bedroom door. Piled on the floor were several bundles. He opened one to find it packed with hair clips, barrettes, cassette tapes, and the like—quite a large quantity.

"Hey, Dad, what are you doing? You can’t just barge into my room like that!" Zhao Lianfeng said, annoyed that he hadn’t been able to stop him.

Zhao Weiming frowned at his son. "Where did all this come from?"

Zhao Lianfeng just pouted and said nothing.

Zhao Weiming pressed, "Before the New Year, you told me a friend had a family emergency and you needed to borrow 150 yuan. That was a lie, wasn’t it? You used the money to buy all this?"

Caught red-handed, Zhao Lianfeng decided to just admit it. "Yeah. I pooled my money with a friend, and we bought these trinkets from the south to resell. We’re planning to make a little money. Once I turn a profit, I’ll pay you back. What’s the big deal?"

"You’re so young and you’re already getting into trouble. And lying, too!" Zhao Weiming said angrily.

Zhao Lianfeng got angry too. "Well, I wouldn’t have had to lie if you’d just agreed in the first place! Besides, it’s not like I’m doing anything illegal. So many people are starting their own businesses these days, why are you so against it? I don’t have a job, and there’s nothing wrong with me wanting to earn some money. I’m twenty years old! I can’t freeload off you forever. How embarrassing would that be?"

"But you still can’t be speculating like this! What if you get into trouble? What would we do then? Have you forgotten what it was like just a few years ago?" Zhao Weiming scolded in a low voice.

"Dad, you can run a business now. Just look outside! The streets are full of vendors, and I don’t see them getting into any trouble. You’re the one who’s scared of your own shadow. If you’re always afraid of this and that, you’ll never make any money," Zhao Lianfeng retorted defiantly.

"Why can’t you understand?" Zhao Weiming said, exasperated. "It might seem like you can do business now, but what if the policies change again? What if you get in trouble? You’re the only son in the Zhao family! If something happened to you, what would I do?"

"Dad, it’s only the eighth day of the Lunar New Year! Can you stop talking about ’trouble’ this and ’trouble’ that? Why can’t you wish me well for a change?" Zhao Lianfeng hated hearing this, and his voice rose.

"Keep your voice down," Zhao Weiming hissed, afraid the merchandise itself would attract trouble. "I don’t care what you say. You’re returning all of this and getting the money back. There’s just the two of us, and my salary is more than enough for us to live on. You don’t need to go taking risks. If you have this much energy, go walk around the factories and look for temporary work. But I absolutely forbid you from getting involved in this shady business."

Zhao Weiming was a conservative man. He was terrified that if Zhao Lianfeng went into business, the political winds might suddenly shift, returning things to the way they were a few years prior. If that happened, any trouble his son got into would be disastrous.

His experiences in the preceding years had convinced him that holding a steady, respectable job was the only safe path. To him, going into business was nothing short of courting disaster.

"You think it’s so easy to find a job?" Zhao Lianfeng said. "It’s not like I haven’t looked. If I could’ve found one, do you think I’d be trying to sell these little things?"

"I don’t care. You’re returning all of it. Don’t even think about touching it again," Zhao Weiming said with a scowl.

"I can’t return it," Zhao Lianfeng said, his neck stiff with defiance. "I’ve already bought it all, and it came all the way from the south. How am I supposed to return it? Anyway, I don’t care. The goods are here, and I’m going to sell them whether you let me or not. I’m twenty years old. It’s pathetic for me to still be dependent on you."

"You... why are you so stubborn?" Zhao Weiming fumed. "If your mother were still alive, she’d never approve of this. If you get into trouble, you’ll be disturbing her rest in the afterlife, you know that?"

At this, Zhao Lianfeng pressed his lips together, his cheeks puffed in silent anger. But it was clear he had no intention of backing down.

For a moment, the father and son were locked in a stalemate, neither able to persuade the other.

After a few moments of tense silence, Zhao Lianfeng snapped, "If I get into trouble, I’ll bear the consequences myself. I won’t drag you down with me."

With that, Zhao Lianfeng retreated to his room and slammed the door shut with a BANG.

"You!"

Zhao Weiming was furious, but there was nothing he could do. ’I can’t just throw it all out,’ he thought. ’It was all bought with real money. A hundred and fifty yuan! That’s several months of my salary!’

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