Chapter 70 Can't Adapt
Let me introduce Gao Fei's parents.
Gao Fei's father is Gao Changhai, and his mother is Zhao Qin. Both are authentic farmers. During the slack farming season, Gao Changhai would go to the county to do odd jobs to earn money to support the family. When it's busy farming season, he would return home to harvest the crops, and it was always like this throughout the seasons.
As for Zhao Qin, she is a common housewife who does sewing and mending every day and takes care of the chickens and ducks. Occasionally, she would also help out the neighbors.
These are Gao Fei's parents, very ordinary farmers.
Now it's August, the slack farming season. Gao Changhai had already gone to the county to work, but after only a few days, Zhao Qin called him back, saying that the village needed to build a road and their house was in the way and had to be demolished. When Gao Changhai returned and asked, he found out that the compensation was only fifty thousand yuan.
He was unhappy on the spot and went to the village committee to argue with the village chief, almost coming to blows. Later, other villagers found Gao Changhai and asked him to represent them in negotiations with the county officials. Gao Changhai readily agreed.
Gao Changhai is a man with a warm heart. He couldn't just sit idly by when his fellow villagers were in trouble.
...
After seeing the Mercedes Benz, Gao Changhai and Zhao Qin finally believed that their son had money.
"Xiaofei, you... how did you do this... It's only been a little over half a year, how did you make so much money... You haven't..." Gao Changhai thought of a possibility, and his face changed immediately, "Didn't you do something bad?"
"What are you thinking about?" Gao Fei curled his lip, "I live and earn money honestly, I've never done anything bad." Saying this, Gao Fei added, "You watched me grow up, you should know what kind of person I am."
"Really didn't do anything bad?"
"Really not!"
"Then how did you earn the money?"
"I guess I was just lucky to come across a benefactor. With his help, I've made my fortune step by step." Gao Fei made up an excuse. It wasn't that he didn't trust his parents, but the matter of the Demon God Heritage was too fantastical, and he feared it would scare them.
"A benefactor? What kind of benefactor?" Gao Changhai asked persistently.
"A very prestigious person. I met him by chance, and he thought well of me, so he lent me a hand," Gao Fei continued his lie, but of course, it was a white lie.
"Then you must repay this benefactor properly," Gao Changhai said, "Being grateful and reciprocating is a fine quality of us Huaxia people."
"I will," Gao Fei nodded, "I will definitely repay this benefactor in the future."
"When you're free, invite this benefactor to our house so your mother and I can thank him in person."
"He's very busy, often on business trips, spending most of his time abroad... It might be difficult for you to meet him."
"That's okay, we can wait."
"...Alright then, when this benefactor has time, I'll invite him to our house," Gao Fei agreed to put his father at ease, as for the future... he would deal with that when the time came, but first, he had to bluster through the current situation, "Dad, Mom, I've come back this time to take you to the city to enjoy life, you should pack up quickly and come with me."
"To the city?" Gao Changhai and Zhao Qin both showed hesitant expressions.
"What? Is there a problem?" Gao Fei asked suspiciously.
Gao Changhai and Zhao Qin looked at each other, then Gao Changhai spoke, "Son, we are touched by your filial piety, but..." he paused, "your mother and I are used to living in the countryside, and we probably won't be able to adapt to city life."
"Dad..." Before Gao Fei could speak, he was interrupted by Gao Changhai.
"I admit that living conditions in the city are much better than in the countryside, by many multiples, but we really don't want to live in the city. Firstly, we have no friends or relatives in the city. Secondly, we're used to living in a bungalow, changing to an apartment wouldn't suit us.
Also, we don't know anything about the city, even going out to buy something, we wouldn't recognize the roads..."
Gao Fei laughed, "You're thinking too much. Friends can be made over time, and regarding the issue of adapting to an apartment, I can buy you a courtyard house. Additionally, I'll hire several bodyguards and maids for you, with them around, you won't have to worry about getting lost."
"Enough, stop talking, your mother and I will not leave the countryside," Gao Changhai said firmly, "We won't leave the countryside in this lifetime."
"Yes, we won't leave the countryside," Zhao Qin was also very determined.
"You... why are your thoughts so stubborn?" Gao Fei frowned.
"Say whatever you want, but we won't leave the countryside. Our roots are here in the countryside; we cannot bear to leave," Gao Changhai stated.
"Actually, the city is not as bad as you think..."
"Enough, no more," Gao Changhai waved his hand, "I'm already bothered enough with the house demolition issue, don't add to my worries."
"The house demolition matter is easy to handle," Gao Fei said.
"Easy to handle? Where is it easy?"
"You lead the villagers to the county to petition, and if the county doesn't give a clear reply, then you go to the city to petition. If the city doesn't care, you go to the province! And if that still doesn't work, you go directly to the capital! In such a vast Huaxia, there must be a place that will reason with you."
"To petition?" Gao Changhai was stunned.
"Yes, to petition." Gao Fei nodded vigorously, "Now we are in a legal society, everything must be done according to the law. Demolishing a house and offering only fifty thousand yuan in compensation is very unreasonable."
"I'll discuss it with the villagers, and if they agree, I'll lead them to petition tomorrow." Gao Changhai was a man of action, and once he had an idea in mind, he couldn't sit still and immediately stood up and walked outside.
"It's already noon, have some lunch before going to talk to the villagers," Gao Fei called out.
"I'll be back soon." Dropping a few words, Gao Changhai hurriedly left the yard.
"My dad... he's good in every aspect, but he's just too impetuous. He can't sit still when something comes up," Gao Fei said, curling his lips.
"Don't worry about him." Zhao Qin pulled Gao Fei to sit down, then smiled and asked, "Xiao Fei, last time you came home, you said you had a girlfriend from outside. When are you bringing her home for me to see?"
The moment the words 'girlfriend' were mentioned, the smile on Gao Fei's face disappeared, he became silent for a while, then spoke, "We've already broken up." Before obtaining the Demon God Heritage, Gao Fei had dated a girlfriend named Zhao Ting, who worked with him at the same company. At first, their relationship was very good, often dining and watching movies together.
Gao Fei intended to bring Zhao Ting home to meet his parents, but later... they broke up. The reason was simple: it was because Gao Fei had no money, no house, and no car. The breakup had a big impact on Gao Fei, and even now, he still had a knot in his heart.
Of course, he had completely let go of Zhao Ting now and had no feelings for her any longer.
"Broke up? How did you just break up?" Zhao Qin's face showed a look of disappointment.
"We broke up because we were incompatible," Gao Fei said.
"It's okay, I'll find you another one!" Zhao Qin said, tapping Gao Fei's arm, "Later, I'll go find the village matchmaker to help you look at some good girls."
"Don't," Gao Fei hurriedly shook his head, "Right now, I am completely focused on my career and have no time for dating."
"Xiao Fei, you're already 26 years old, not so young anymore." Zhao Qin said earnestly, "The son of Old Wang next door is even one year younger than you, and their child can already fetch soy sauce. And the Li Family's kid at the east end of the village, they already have two children..."
Parents everywhere are the same, all eager to see their children married off at the earliest, then hoping for grandchildren.
"Mom, please spare me," Gao Fei said with a wry smile, "I really don't want to think about dating right now!" Perhaps feeling his tone was a bit too agitated, Gao Fei took a deep breath and then calmly continued, "Mom, I am currently at a critical phase in my career struggle. I will be really busy later on and have no time for dating."
"Alright, I'll give you a two-year extension. Within these two years, you must bring me a daughter-in-law!" Zhao Qin said, unarguably.
"Okay," Gao Fei nodded, "I'll listen to you and do my best to bring you a daughter-in-law within two years."
"It's not about trying; it must be done!"
"Yes, yes, yes, it will definitely be done, okay, Mom? I'm hungry, can you make me something to eat?"
"You think only of eating! Wait, I'll make you something right now." Zhao Qin got up and headed for the kitchen.
"Whew…" Gao Fei let out a soft breath, "Parents these days, really... they're just too... pushy about getting their children to find a partner quickly. Finding a wife within two years? That's too difficult... If all else fails, I might just have to find someone to pretend..." Saying this, images of two people flashed in Gao Fei's mind: Liu Mengyao and Shen Caidie.
When the time comes, he could ask either of them to pretend to be his girlfriend. They shouldn't refuse, right?
...
Quite coincidentally, just as Zhao Qin finished preparing lunch, Gao Changhai came back with his hands clasped behind him.
"Dad, how did the discussion go?" Gao Fei asked.
"It's settled, we're going to the county to petition tomorrow," Gao Changhai said, "Xiao Fei, if you're free tomorrow, come with us to the county. You've been out there for so many years, you surely know more than we do."
"Sure, no problem," Gao Fei agreed readily, "I'll go with you tomorrow." In truth, even if Gao Changhai hadn't mentioned it, Gao Fei would have volunteered to go.
The family of three sat around the table, eating and laughing.
The meal was very ordinary, but Gao Fei enjoyed it immensely because it was cooked by his mother, making it extraordinarily meaningful.
After a satisfying meal, Gao Changhai went back to his room for a nap, while Gao Fei stayed behind to help his mother clear the table.
"Xiao Fei, when you go to the county tomorrow, you must look after your dad. He tends to swear when he gets upset and can easily offend people," Zhao Qin instructed.
Gao Fei nodded, "Don't worry, I'll take good care of him."
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