The Temptation of Neighbors - Chapter 14

They all drove there themselves, while my husband and I were the only ones who took a taxi.

Their shabby living conditions were a major reason I didn’t want to join them.

In the luxuriously decorated private room, the three sisters and Wu Jiancheng played mahjong, while Zhang Songping and I sat on a sofa to the side, chatting.

“Auntie, what have you been up to lately?” Zhang Songping asked, her belly bulging.

“Nothing to do, just staying home all day,” I said.

“Want to invest and do something?”

“No money,” I shook my head bitterly.

“The government is auctioning off some land recently, and Wu Jiancheng and I are interested in bidding. How about you taking a share?”

“I know nothing about business, so forget it,” I said perfunctorily.

“Business is not something anyone is born with. Wu Jiancheng agreed to take you on first. You’re so smart and capable, you’ll be able to run your own business in less than two years.”

“Brother Zhang, work with me, and I’ll never treat you unfairly,” Wu Jiancheng said, leaning over.

They must have been listening to Zhang Songping and I.

“Honey, don’t miss this great opportunity,” my wife said, leaning over.

“I’m afraid I can’t do it,” I said evasively.

“You have Wu Jiancheng from our family and Zhang Songping from Yaojin’s family to protect you, so what are you afraid of?” Qiao Jiayi encouraged me from the side.

“But, you need capital to run a business. I’m just an online writer, so forget it.”

“Can’t our two families lend you your shares first? You can pay us back when you make money?”

“Then what if you lose money?”

Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at me.

“Brother Zhang, there are always risks in doing business. There are no such things as guaranteed profits.” Wu Jiancheng said sincerely.

“How much investment?” I asked.

“10 million, and I’ll give you 2 million shares. How about that?” Wu Jiancheng asked straightforwardly.

“How much can you make after the success?” I asked again.

“At least 1 million,” Wu Jiancheng said.

I shook my head and said, “That’s tempting. If I had two million, I’d definitely join you. But I can’t even come up with twenty thousand. I’m destined to stay home and suffer in poverty.”

“We agreed to lend you one million as a family, so you don’t have to pay out of pocket,” Qiao Jiayi said.

“That’s even worse. If the business fails, I wouldn’t be able to pay it back even if I sold my wife and children.”

“The chances of losing money are very low,” Zhang Songping said.

“Even if it were a guaranteed win, I couldn’t do it. I don’t want to owe you such a big favor.”

“Wei Ge, you’re being polite. Zhang Ge and I sincerely want to help you,” Wu Jiancheng said.

“Thank you all for your kindness. I’m used to staying home and typing. I won’t venture into this business anymore.”

“Hubby, if you miss this opportunity, you’ll miss it,” Fan Qili pleaded.

“Forget it, forget it. Everyone has their own aspirations. Don’t force her.” Yuan Yaojin waved to everyone.

Alas, this Yaojin still understands my heart. I have to be more considerate to her from now on. Thinking of this, I couldn’t help but glance at Zhang Songping. This seven-foot-tall man, with his broad shoulders and broad waist, was so powerful at work, but how could he be so awful in bed? Now he’s been cuckolded and still in the dark. And that Wu Jiancheng, he wanted me to be your henchman. “Little brother, you’re my little brother.” Rich families are different. They’ll do anything, regardless of gender, even their best friends’ husbands.

Everyone shook their heads and ignored me, continuing their work. Zhang Songping also got up from the sofa and went to the kitchen to see if the food was ready.

“You wanted me to convince him alone, but now all of us can’t persuade him. Husband, I admire you. You’re such a stubborn ox,” Fan Qili said angrily.

So be it, I don’t argue with women. If I have to, I’ll have something else to fight about. I stretched my legs on the sofa, my hands resting on my pillow, and began to write my science fiction novel.

The dinner was sumptuous, but I had no appetite. I had a few drinks with Wu Jiancheng and Zhang Songping, and that was it. Fan Qili, Qiao Jiayi, and Yuan Yaojin also had a few drinks. I’d never seen Fan Qili drink so much, but later I realized she was frustrated. Friends wanted to help us, but I didn’t appreciate it, which made everyone feel embarrassed and the relationship seemed to have suddenly become distant.

After dinner, Qiao Jiayi suggested going to a karaoke bar, but Fan Qili said she wasn’t interested

, so we went our separate ways. Fan Qili was unhappy all the way home, and she carried a gloomy look with her.

I sat with her on the sofa, her face tense, as if she was filled with resentment. I was afraid of her displeasure; if Fan Qili was unhappy, my life would be difficult.

I didn’t dare say a word, for fear of accidentally triggering her outburst. I silently filled a basin with water for footbaths and placed it in front of her. Then I helped her remove her slippers and socks, placing her delicate white feet in the perfectly warm water. I meticulously rubbed her feet, like a professional foot massage therapist. The gloom on her face slowly dissipated, and she suddenly gave me a contemptuous smile.

“That’s all you can do. You’re so pathetic.”

“I’m happy to serve my own wife,” I said with a smirk.

“I really want to have a fight with you,” my wife said with a wry smile.

“We’re so loving, what’s there to argue about?” I said cheekily.

“I created such a great opportunity for you, and you didn’t cherish it. It pissed me off.” She turned away.

“It was a great opportunity. I shouldn’t have turned it down,” I feigned regret. “I

‘m afraid there won’t be another opportunity like this again.” Her face darkened again.

“Who knows,” I said. “Maybe there will be a better opportunity waiting for me in the future.”

“What opportunity?” She lowered her head and glanced at me.

“There’s always a way out. I don’t believe I’ll be this miserable for the rest of my life,” I said confidently.

“Just wait at home for something to happen,” Fan Qili sneered.

“Life is unpredictable. Pieces of heaven fall all the time.”

“But why hasn’t it happened to you yet?”

“Just wait. My day will come.”

“By the time I wait for you, I’ll probably be an old woman.”

“Can you please stop having so little faith in me?”

“Why don’t you invest in the business?” Fan Qili asked emphatically, her tone quite aggressive.

“I don’t want to get involved in this ‘government-business collusion’ business war,” I said loudly.

“They’re doing it through an open ‘bidding,'” Fan Qili remained forceful.

“You definitely don’t know the intricacies of this. Private enterprises are still a bit underdeveloped if they want to compete with the government.”

“Your aloofness, can you really make a living?”

“I’m just being prudent. It’s better than going to jail.”

“Is it that serious?” Fan Qili wavered.

“You don’t want to be a widow, do you?” I raised my head and asked her.

“Of course I don’t want to.” Fan Qili said with red eyes.

“That’s good, come on, don’t be sad, hug me.”

I hugged Fan Qili and gave her the warmest hug, which melted my own prejudice. She put her hands around my waist and hugged me tightly, as if she was afraid that I would be taken away…