114: Jiang Yufei, with deep affection

Hearing that Zhang Linhua had made his intentions so clear, Lin Zifeng stopped refusing and agreed to the invitation.

However, he stated that he needed to accompany the investors' representative on an inspection tour for the next few days and would only be available five days later.

Zhang Linhua happily agreed that this was fine and scheduled the dinner party for five days later.

Lin Zifeng and Chen Yuxi returned home. They cooked dinner together, and the couple acted like a young husband and wife, chatting and laughing, coordinating with great tacit understanding.

After dinner, the look in Lin Zifeng’s eyes when he gazed at Chen Yuxi grew increasingly passionate.

Chen Yuxi sensed his change. Having been apart for so long, Chen Yuxi was equally filled with anticipation.

Their two passionate hearts gradually drew close. Lin Zifeng embraced her soft, boneless body and eagerly headed toward the bedroom.

Chen Yuxi did not forget to grab her handbag, as it contained the ‘little umbrella’ she had prepared in advance.

The next day was Sunday. The inseparable couple stayed home all day and did not go anywhere.

It wasn't until Monday morning that the two woke up early, ate breakfast, and left the house together.

Lin Zifeng pulled his suitcase and dropped Chen Yuxi off near the Junyue Hotel. He then said, “Yuxi, wait here for a moment. My driver will be here soon.

I’ll come pick you up shortly.”

Chen Yuxi obediently agreed, and he turned and quickly left.

When Li Qiang arrived driving the car, Lin Zifeng was already waiting outside the community gate. After getting into the car, he immediately said, “Qiang Zi, go to the Junyue Hotel.

The sister of Manager Chen, the investor for our Yingjianzui Scenic Area, arrived in Yushu County by car yesterday and is staying at the Junyue Hotel.

She is here to represent the investor and inspect the construction progress of the scenic area.”

Li Qiang acknowledged the order and drove toward the Junyue Hotel.

Wang Zhongyu, sitting in the passenger seat, asked, “Secretary, should we inform the town’s guesthouse in advance to reserve rooms for her and have them change to brand new bedding?”

He nodded and said, “Go ahead and notify them! But the town treasury doesn’t need to cover the cost. She has clearly stated that this inspection of the project progress is semi-private, and all expenses will be self-funded.”

Lin Zifeng knew what was going on. Chen Yuxi inspecting the project progress was just an excuse, used merely to conceal the truth.

Therefore, he didn't want to take advantage of public funds; he decided to pay for his girlfriend's expenses himself this time.

“Secretary, is that appropriate?” Wang Zhongyu asked tentatively.

“There’s nothing inappropriate about it. Just do as I say.”

Wang Zhongyu agreed, picked up his phone, and called the guesthouse.

After picking up Chen Yuxi, Li Qiang drove in the direction of Heping Town.

Time flowed like water, and a week passed in the blink of an eye.

Chen Yuxi stayed in Heping Town for three days. On the first day, Lin Zifeng accompanied her to tour the scenic area. For the remaining two days, Chen Yuqing stayed in the guesthouse.

Whenever Lin Zifeng had time, he would secretly go to keep her company. At night, the two would stay in the rest area of his office.

After seeing off the reluctant Chen Yuxi, he attended the dinner party hosted by Zhang Linhua, thus resolving that matter.

With only one week left until the Lunar New Year, Lin Zifeng became even busier.

He visited and comforted the five-guarantees households and Military Martyrs' Dependents, and supervised and inspected all tasks across the town to ensure a smooth transition through the Spring Festival period.

On the twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth days of the twelfth lunar month, he and Wei Ting brought local products from Heping Town, representing Heping Town, to The County Seat to pay early New Year greetings to the County Leaders.

The price of each local product gift was strictly controlled to be under two hundred yuan.

Even Jiang Yufei, who was close to him, complained that he was a bit too stingy when they were alone.

She teased him, saying, “Zifeng, aren’t you afraid the leaders will throw your gifts out the door? If that happens, Heping Town will lose a lot of face.

The comfort items you gave when visiting the five-guarantees households and Military Martyrs' Dependents were worth over three hundred yuan each.

But the local products you gave the leaders were worth no more than two hundred yuan. You are showing too much differential treatment.”

“Can the two be compared? The people we comfort desperately need those items to have a good New Year.

Do the leaders lack these things? Paying New Year greetings is just a way to express sincerity.

If anyone throws my gift out, it means that leader has a small mindset. Do you think our leaders lack that kind of magnanimity?”

Lin Zifeng spoke with confidence.

Time quickly arrived at New Year’s Eve. To accommodate Lin Zifeng, Qin Xiao, who was in charge of arranging the duty roster, scheduled his shift for the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, which was the first day of formal work.

Wei Ting was assigned to New Year’s Eve, and Qin Xiao assigned herself to the first day of the Lunar New Year.

The arrangement of the Spring Festival duty roster showed that the leading body members of Heping Town were very united and harmonious, and it also highlighted Lin Zifeng’s prestige within the leadership.

Lin Zifeng did not refuse this kindness. After getting off work on the twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month, he drove back to Miaoshan Town, ready to celebrate the New Year with his family.

On New Year’s Eve, after Lin Zifeng’s family of five finished their reunion dinner, he also received four red envelopes, tokens of love from his parents and grandparents.

Having turned twenty-five after the New Year and already serving as the Town Committee Secretary, he initially wanted to refuse.

However, a single sentence from his grandmother made him abandon the thought of refusing.

“Eldest Grandson, you’ll only be truly grown up once you get married. At that time, we won’t be giving you red envelopes for the New Year; you’ll be giving them to us.”

Afterward, Lin Zifeng and My father set off firecrackers, and the family members then returned to their respective rooms to rest.

Lin Zifeng returned to his room and quietly called Chen Yuxi.

The two exchanged sweet nothings and wished each other a Happy New Year before hanging up.

Just as he was about to call Jiang Yufei, her call came through first.

“Hello, Zifeng, Happy New Year!”

“Happy New Year Yuxi, I was just about to call you, and you called first. Did you just finish your reunion dinner?”

“Yes, I just finished eating with my parents and called you right away.

Zifeng, every Spring Festival from now on, as soon as midnight passes, besides my parents, I hope the first voice I hear is yours. Will you promise me?”

“Yes, I promise you. Every Spring Festival from now on, no matter where we are, I will send you New Year blessings immediately.”

He said without hesitation.

Hearing his promise, Jiang Yufei felt a rush of happiness. After hesitating for a moment, she bravely voiced the thoughts in her heart.

“Zifeng, I know the person you love most is Chen Yuxi, and I won’t destroy your relationship.

But I also know that you love me in your heart, and I love you deeply and irrevocably.

So I want to be your woman, always accompanying you in the shadows, for the rest of my life, forever unchanged.”

Hearing Jiang Yufei’s affectionate words, Lin Zifeng was filled with emotion and guilt.

“Yufei, that’s too much of a sacrifice for you.”

“Don’t say things like that in the future. I am willing to do this. I don’t want to cause you pressure or make you feel guilty.”

Jiang Yufei said affectionately.