298: Guilty conscience

Hearing Jiang Shiyu's words, Zhang Jiayi uttered an "oh" and said with some surprise, "If that's the case, why didn't you take the initiative to matchmake them back then?"

"Back then, I thought that our daughter was so outstanding and had been working with Lin Zifeng for so long that sparks of love would inevitably fly sooner or later."

"Besides, they were relatively young then, so wasn't there no rush to worry about marriage?"

"Who could have expected that they wouldn't end up together? Instead, Lin Zifeng became the ideal son-in-law of Secretary Chen of the Provincial Party Committee."

Jiang Shiyu said with a touch of regret.

"Lao Jiang, our Yuxi is already twenty-nine and will be thirty next year."

"When I have people introduce blind date candidates to her, she dismisses them all. Could she have a secret crush on the Lin Zifeng you two keep mentioning?"

"Every time our daughter mentions Lin Zifeng in front of me, her eyes light up."

Zhang Jiayi voiced her suspicion with a doubtful expression.

"That can't be, right? Lin Zifeng is already married with a daughter. Yufei wouldn't fail to understand the weight of the situation."

Jiang Shiyu's tone was no longer so firm.

"I'm a woman, and I was young once too. I understand our daughter better; I think this is very likely the case."

"I just don't know if that Lin Zifeng knows about this."

"Regardless of whether it's true or not, when he arrives later, we mustn't mention a single word of it."

"Otherwise, our daughter won't know how to face him, and Lin Zifeng will be mortified as well."

Jiang Shiyu quickly urged.

"Isn't it just you and me here? If a third person were present, I wouldn't even bring this up. Do you really think I'm that reckless?"

"However, getting Yufei transferred back to work in the City Level so she's by our side and helping her settle her marriage should be put on the agenda."

"No matter how successful a woman's career is, without a perfect family, her life won't be happy in the future."

"A happy family is a woman's lifelong destination."

Zhang Jiayi gave Jiang Shiyu a look and said.

Hearing Zhang Jiayi's words, Jiang Shiyu nodded and said, "Zifeng and Yufei are coming back together today; we can take the opportunity to bring it up."

"However, Yushu County is at a critical moment for the County-to-city conversion application. Even if Yufei's attitude has softened before, this will have to wait until after the conversion."

"Otherwise, our daughter will have regrets in her heart."

Zhang Jiayi nodded. "Lao Jiang, start serving the dishes! They should be arriving soon."

Zhang Jiayi had prepared a sumptuous dinner when Jiang Yufei pushed open the door and walked in.

"Secretary Lin, please come in. Mom, Dad, the guest is here," Yufei called out while ushering Lin Zifeng inside.

Lin Zifeng walked in with a smile, carrying gifts.

"Secretary Zifeng, come and have a seat. Let's have a cup of tea first. Once the last soup is out, we can start eating."

Jiang Shiyu greeted Lin Zifeng warmly. Zhang Jiayi sized him up carefully, thinking to herself that this Lin Zifeng was indeed quite a handsome and talented man!

Although he was already twenty-eight, he looked to be only twenty-four or twenty-five.

He was so handsome that standing with her daughter, they were simply a perfect match. It was just a pity that such an outstanding man was already taken.

"Hello, Mayor. Hello, Auntie." Lin Zifeng set the gifts aside and greeted the two very politely.

"Zifeng, is it? You don't need to be so formal. Just treat this as your own home; don't be restrained."

Zhang Jiayi said very kindly.

Lin Zifeng acknowledged and sat down next to Jiang Shiyu.

Jiang Yufei sat next to Zhang Jiayi. The four of them chatted over tea until the Nanny brought the last soup to the table, and they all sat around the dining table.

Jiang Shiyu brought out a bottle of fine wine he had kept for many years. As he poured, he said, "Zifeng, let's set a rule: how about the two of us share this bottle of White Liquor?"

"I'll follow your lead, Mayor,"

Lin Zifeng said with a smile.

"Yufei, go get two more glasses and another bottle of Your Father's wine."

"It's Secretary Zifeng's first time visiting our home. We mother and daughter will have a little too. Whatever is left over can be for Your Father and Secretary Zifeng. One bottle is a bit too little for two grown men."

Zhang Jiayi said generously.

Jiang Yufei agreed and stood up to get the wine and glasses.

Jiang Shiyu said with a chuckle, "Your aunt almost never drinks at home. Today is an exception."

"Zifeng is a rising star in the politics of Huanan Province and a good friend of Yufei's. Since he's visiting today, our family of three must show proper hospitality."

Zhang Jiayi said with a smile.

"Auntie, you flatter me. Such empty fame is just a burden!" Lin Zifeng said quickly.

Jiang Yufei poured the wine. Zhang Jiayi raised her glass and said, "Come, let's all welcome Secretary Zifeng to our home."

The father and daughter raised their glasses, and Lin Zifeng quickly did the same, saying, "Auntie, you can just call me Zifeng."

"Thank you for your warm hospitality."

The four of them chatted while drinking. "Yufei, since Zifeng is here today, regarding your transfer back to the City Level... once Yushu County's County-to-city conversion is successful, this matter should be put on the agenda."

Jiang Shiyu set down his glass and said.

"Mom, Dad, I'll agree to it, but after I return to work in the City Level, you can't force me to go on blind dates."

"Additionally, I hope that when I transfer to the City Level, I won't hold an important leadership position. It would be best to work in a non-leadership role at the Municipal Womens Federation."

"At that time, I want to take a leave of absence without pay for one or two years to travel and see the world. I've been working at the grassroots level all these years and want to enjoy a different kind of life."

Jiang Yufei agreed very readily but also put forward her own requirements and ideas.

Hearing Jiang Yufei's requirements and ideas, the couple looked at each other, both thinking that as long as she agreed to return to the City Level, it was fine.

Once she was by their side, would they still worry about not having time to persuade their daughter?

A two-year leave of absence was nothing. Perhaps during her travels, their daughter would even meet the love of her life!

The couple shared the same thought, so they both nodded slightly. Zhang Jiayi said, "Your Father and I will listen to you. You're almost thirty now; we will respect your choices."

"But you also have to understand Your Father's and my urgent desire for you to be happy in the future."

Hearing the conversation of the family of three, Lin Zifeng couldn't help but think that Yufei was implementing the plan she had long since mapped out!

He wondered if the couple would hate him once they found out the truth in the future. It was best for him not to get involved for now.

The reason Lin Zifeng had such a thought was that Jiang Yufei had already told him her plan.

Jiang Yufei was deeply in love with him, and after being together for so long, Lin Zifeng's feelings for her naturally didn't need to be stated.

He felt he had let Jiang Yufei down, but she was more than happy with the arrangement. Therefore, Lin Zifeng's mood was very complex at this moment.

In front of Jiang Yufei's parents, Lin Zifeng felt a sense of a guilty conscience.