Chapter 1103

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

These past few days Wang Erhai has been distracted at work; he did refuse Zhou Xiaotong, that's true, but Huo Guoqiang baked such a huge "cake" and just set it right in front of him, free for him to eat, and he doesn't even have to take responsibility — one could even say the risk is far smaller than a typical affair!

This tests human nature severely!

And human nature, more often than not, cannot withstand the test!

So to say Wang Erhai isn't moved in the slightest — that's impossible!

After all, real life isn't like a single-heroine web novel where the male lead doesn't love any of the many female characters who throw themselves at him, loving only the heroine alone.

The reality is, as long as she isn't too ugly, if she takes the initiative, chances are a lot of men won't be able to resist taking a bite.

Let alone the women in those song-and-dance troupes now placed before Wang Erhai — they're all hand-picked, stunningly beautiful women.

One could say aside from Zhao Xingfang, toward whom he feels no desire, if any of the others really came at him aggressively, he probably wouldn't be able to hold out.

Yet reason also reminds him at every moment that he cannot do something that betrays his wife, that betrays his family!

Right now his relationship with Zhang Yueran can be described as a rare, ideal state — mutual tolerance, mutual respect; though lacking the scorching heat of passionate love, it can proceed steadily in the plainness!

This is a great help for managing the family, and even for his future career!

However, even though he clearly knows cheating is wrong, Wang Erhai still can't help feeling a stir of temptation.

And he has no choice but to maintain restraint.

This leads to inner conflict, which in turn makes him irritable, distracted, and ill at ease.

Work suffers; back home facing Zhang Yueran, he inevitably feels guilt, even evasiveness.

Zhang Yueran senses something's off with Wang Erhai and asks what's wrong.

Wang Erhai can't bring himself to bare his heart — if he spoke of this, it would surely spark a quarrel.

So he can only say work's hit a rough patch, but not to worry; after this period passes, things should improve.

Zhang Yueran doesn't overthink it; she knows Liguo Mountain Company is currently pushing into the city's renovation market, and market expansion certainly puts no small pressure on Wang Erhai.

Wang Erhai thinks and thinks, but can't find a solution.

He even wonders whether to ask Big Brother or Third Brother how to handle this.

But then he thinks: telling them would likely earn him nothing but a scolding, and probably no effective solution.

Besides, he has no face to tell his own brothers the thoughts in his heart.

These thoughts are too sordid!

His wife at home is this good — why would he still have thoughts of going out to cheat?

Even if it's only thoughts, not acted on, even thoughts are unacceptable!

He himself knows this thinking is wrong, immoral, yet he just can't help thinking it!

Just as he's depressed inside with nowhere to vent, a person pops into his mind!

Niu Chunsheng!

Right!

Niu Chunsheng might understand his predicament!

There's even a good chance he's been through a similar situation himself!

After all, Niu Chunsheng is in the real estate business; the temptations he faces may be even more numerous than what Wang Erhai faces!

And Niu Chunsheng has been married to Lin Xiaofang for nearly twenty years, yet they're still as loving as at the start, and even had a second child not long ago!

He really wants to know how Niu Chunsheng manages that!

So this afternoon Wang Erhai deliberately made time to call Niu Chunsheng:

"Hey, Uncle Chunsheng, how's business lately?"

"Not bad, same as always — what do you need?" Niu Chunsheng's hearty laughter comes through the phone.

Wang Erhai says:

"It's like this — recently our Liguo Mountain signed with Tianhe Real Estate, firing the first shot in entering the city's renovation market!"

Wang Erhai knows he can't open by telling Niu Chunsheng the messy emotional stuff; that would be too abrupt, and talking on the phone isn't convenient — Lin Xiaofang might be right next to Niu Chunsheng — so he finds another topic first, inviting Niu Chunsheng out for a meal!

Niu Chunsheng laughs:

"That's great, congratulations! Looks like your career will keep climbing; from now on you probably won't be confined to this little county town — you'll go to the city, maybe even the provincial capital, and make a grand showing!"

Wang Erhai says:

"All of this is thanks to you, Uncle Chunsheng. If you hadn't connected us back then, letting me partner with Huo Guoqiang to start the renovation company, I'd probably still be doing that bit of petty business in town, earning at most eight to ten thousand a month!"

Reaching this point, Wang Erhai says:

"So I want to invite you, Uncle Chunsheng, just you alone, out for a meal tonight — wonder if you're free?"

Wang Erhai deliberately stresses the three words "just you alone," precisely to avoid Niu Chunsheng bringing his wife and kids along.

Niu Chunsheng pauses a beat; his sharp instinct instantly sniffs out that this probably isn't as simple as a meal, yet he's also firmly convinced this kid Wang Erhai would never harm him!

So he readily agrees:

"Fine, tell me the time and place, I'll be there on time tonight!"

He doesn't rush to ask what it's about; whatever it is, he'll know when they meet tonight!

"Then eight o'clock tonight, we'll meet at the first-floor restaurant of Lixin Grand Hotel!"

Wang Erhai picks Lixin Grand Hotel instead of Huangsheng Grand Hotel because Lixin Grand Hotel is right near Spring City Garden, which Niu Chunsheng developed, and that hotel is one Niu Chunsheng invested in — meeting there shows him full sincerity.

"Good, then eight o'clock tonight, see you at Lixin Grand Hotel!"

Hearing that Wang Erhai had chosen to meet at the Lixin Grand Hotel, Niu Chunsheng felt even more at ease and let down his guard.

After all, that was his own turf.

Could it be that Wang Erhai really just came to simply thank him?

But if it was just simple thanks, why did he have to emphasize meeting alone, just the two of them?

Wouldn't bringing gifts to visit in person show even more sincerity?

Niu Chunsheng couldn't figure out the reason, but he didn't dwell on it too much.

Anyway, once he met Wang Erhai tonight, everything would become clear.

In the blink of an eye, evening arrived. After Wang Erhai got off duty, he went to the mall and bought good wine, good cigarettes, good tea, as well as pure gold jewelry for Lin Xiaofang, a laptop for Niu Linxin, some toys for the kids, and only then went to the Lixin Grand Hotel.

Arriving there, he waited a short while, and Niu Chunsheng came.

"Uncle Chunsheng, over here!"

Wang Erhai waved to Niu Chunsheng.

Niu Chunsheng looked older than before, with obvious white hair at his temples, and his figure had also filled out.

Who knew if it was the pressure of having a second child, or work pressure, or simply that age had caught up to him.

"Erhai, sorry, I'm a bit late!"

Niu Chunsheng walked over smiling.

Wang Erhai then said:

"It's still very early, it's not even eight o'clock yet!"

Then he hurriedly presented the gifts he had bought:

"Uncle Chunsheng, this is a gift for you, this is for Aunt Xiaofang, and this one is for Sister Lin Xin, and this is a toy for your precious son!"

Niu Chunsheng hurriedly said:

"Why buy so many gifts, you're being too polite!"

Wang Erhai hurriedly said:

"Just a small token of my heart, please accept it. It's not worth much at all — compared to your mentorship of me, it's a mere drop in the bucket!"

Niu Chunsheng laughed heartily:

"Alright then, in that case I won't stand on ceremony!"