The snow continued to fall, neither getting heavier nor showing any sign of stopping.
It was like a gentle concerto looping continuously, neither stirring nor lancholic.
In the hot spring at the Bai Family's backyard, Du Zhixiang was enjoying himself imnsely, with a woman on each arm.
A delicate little boat floated on the hot spring, holding a bottle of red wine and three glasses.
The long-haired beauty on his right poured a glass of wine and handed it to Du Zhixiang: "Mr. Du, have a drink."
"Sure," Du Zhixiang chuckled: "But I can't drink it from the glass."
"No glass? Are you going to drink straight from the bottle?" laughed the voluptuous woman on his left.
Du Zhixiang shook his head: "I want you to feed ."
As he spoke, he pouted.
The two won giggled and playfully hit his chest: "You're so naughty!"
But they still took the wine in their mouths and leaned in towards Du Zhixiang.
Not far away, an old man with white hair, dressed in a black long robe, held a feather fan in his hand.
His back was straight as a ramrod, with a smile at the corner of his mouth as he rhythmically waved the fan, exuding an air of "having everything under control."
This man was none other than the true decision-maker of the Bai Family, Bai Huanyu.
Before long, a servant who appeared to be in his sixties approached him, glanced at the carefree Du Zhixiang in the hot spring, and couldn't help but laugh: "Du Qingyun sure has a good son."
Bai Huanyu didn't turn around and gently asked: "What's good about him?"
The servant scoffed: "He tricks his father above and his daughter below, yet he lives a carefree life and knows how to indulge.
Such a person, to say his heart is broad is a complint; he's utterly heartless."
"Hahahahaha!" Bai Huanyu burst out laughing: "Zheng Wei, everyone has their own thoughts. Du Zhixiang isn't a fool; he knows we're using him.
But he's willing to be used by us in exchange for this material and spiritual enjoynt.
In our eyes, he's a fool, but in his view, people like us have probably wasted their lives."
Zheng Wei pondered for a mont and nodded: "That's true, no matter what one does in life, it's ultimately for oneself. Du Zhixiang just takes this to the extre.
He's all for himself, disregarding everyone's interests."
Having followed Bai Huanyu for many years, he knew this man was unlike most others.
In other prestigious families, most of those around the patriarch were sycophants.
It's not that the servants weren't smart, but they were afraid of stealing the spotlight.
But Bai Huanyu was different; he needed smart people around him, the smarter, the better.
This is why Zheng Wei didn't just agree with everything but expressed his viewpoints while daring to voice his own insights.
Just then, Zheng Wei's phone rang.
He stepped aside, answered the call, listened for a while, then turned around and reported: "Master, Xiao Feng is here."
"Xiao Feng?" A hint of surprise flashed in Bai Huanyu's eyes, then he nodded: "Go greet him first, tell him I'll be there shortly."
"Yes!"
Zheng Wei agreed and turned to leave.
Bai Huanyu sauntered over to the hot spring, a kindly smile on his face: "Are you enjoying yourself?"
"Uncle Bai is here." Du Zhixiang wiped the sweat from his face, beaming: "Comfortable, very comfortable!"
"That's good, but soaking too long is not advisable. After you're done, maybe play so Mahjong, just for fun."
"I'd like to play Mahjong, but the problem is I..."
Bai Huanyu showed an understanding look, smiling: "Just play, if you win, it's yours, if you lose, put it on my tab."
"This... how can I accept that?"
"No need to feel bad, we get along well. Besides, you're helping with a big favor, what's a little money?"
"If you put it that way, Uncle Bai, I won't be shy!"
With that, Du Zhixiang climbed out of the hot spring, looking eager to play a round or two.
Bai Huanyu stopped him: "No rush, there's plenty of ti to play. I ca to tell you that your son-in-law is here."
"My son-in-law?" Du Zhixiang was stunned: "You an Xiao Feng? What's he doing here?"
"That's exactly what I want to know..." Bai Huanyu sighed: "In your opinion, why would he co here?"
Du Zhixiang didn't hesitate: "Whatever it is, it can't be good intentions. That kid is no pushover; Uncle Bai, you'd better not underestimate him."
"Don't underestimate him... alright, I understand. Go enjoy yourself." Bai Huanyu said cheerfully.
After Du Zhixiang left, the two won in the hot spring hurried after him.
To be fair, accompanying Du Zhixiang wasn't sothing they were entirely unwilling to do, as they were earning money willingly, without a knife to their necks.
It was all consensual, nothing more.
...
At this mont, Xiao Feng was pacing in the Bai Family's living room, touching this and examining that, just like a country boy who had just entered the city, finding everything novel.
"This painting is nice, must cost a few hundred bucks, right?" Xiao Feng casually pointed: "It depicts sunset glows and lone wild ducks.
I rember a poem goes sothing like this, oh right, 'The setting sun and lone ducks fly together, the autumn waters share the sa color with the sky', nice, very nice indeed."
Beside him, Zheng Wei chuckled: "Mr. Xiao must be joking, though not drawn by a famous artist, this painting is an antique, several hundred years old."
Having said that, he secretly rolled his eyes, thinking to himself, can your family's antiques be bought for just a few hundred bucks?
Just as Xiao Feng was about to continue observing, Bai Huanyu walked in, smiling when he saw Xiao Feng: "Mr. Xiao seems to really like this painting of mine."
"It's alright," Xiao Feng nodded: "Are you the old master Bai?"
Bai Huanyu didn't seem to mind being referred to in this manner, smiling as he stated his na: "Bai Huanyu."
"Huanyu, such a grand na, was it changed later or original?"
"Does it make a difference?"
"Of course it does," Xiao Feng explained seriously: "If it was the original na, it shows your parents had high expectations of you. If changed later, it suggests your ambitions are lofty."
Bai Huanyu's expression changed slightly, smiling: "No matter how grand a na, it's useless. The Bai Family is declining by the day.
On the contrary, the Du Family, ever since connecting with you, Mr. Xiao, have risen rapidly. Business is booming, making everyone envious!"
Xiao Feng chuckled lightly: "I'm no big tree; in my view, I'm like Tang Seng at, with every demon eager to take a bite.
But those demons don't know, I'm a man with ironclad skin, and instead of biting off a piece, they end up breaking their teeth.
Wouldn't you say this is self-inflicted misfortune?"
Bai Huanyu frowned slightly, aware that Xiao Feng was subtly criticizing him yet unable to refute.
Because refuting at this mont would seem like he was picking up the scolding himself.
In that mont, he understood why Du Zhixiang warned that Xiao Feng was no pushover.
Just based on his words alone, he was already quite sharp.
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