Winter Begonia, Chapter 15: The Preferential treatment

Winter Begonia 《鬓边不是海棠红》Bin Bian Bu Shi Hai Tang Hong
Winter Begonia, Chapter 15: The Preferential treatment

Cheng Fengtai likes to listen to gossip as well as talk about it. It's the one part of his personality that he can't stand up to. The next day at noon, he dragged Fan Lian out of his bed and into a cafe to tell him about his night at the Xiang Hill with Shang Xirui.


"What a surprise.” Cheng Fengtai shook his head and sighed: "I really didn't expect Shang Xirui to have such a good temperament. So soft, so gentle, you have no idea how harsh my words were, and he doesn't even get angry.”

Fan Lin, still not awake from his wet dream, drooped his eyes and drank his coffee: "He's a good boy? Haha! You didn't see that incident in Pingyang... Fan Lian put down his cup and refilled it, took a bite of bread, and said, "Besides, he's not angry with Master Cheng." You're rich and powerful, so when you're in the mood, you mind your own business. No matter how strong he is, he's just an opera actor, he has nothing to offend you.

This is the truth, but Cheng Fengtai doesn't like to hear it, so he lit another cigarette and said, "You didn't know about Jiang Mengping's negotiation with Shang Xirui. You know what? Chiang Mengping is very cruel to this junior brother, and he's a tough talker.”

Fan Lian gulped down his bread in silence for a long time and sighed, "When it comes to Chang Zhixin, Jiang Mengping, it's not what you see on the Jiang Mengping side.”

Cheng Fengtai originally blamed Jiang Mengping's cold and hurtful words, but when he heard this sentence, he sighed inwardly that love is a awful thing, so he was relieved.” It's true that Shang Xirui is crazy. But the two adults, Jiang Mengping and Chang Zhixin, didn't do anything good with him.”

Fan Lian shook his head and sneered, "He's so bickering, there's nothing more to be done. I saw everything that happened back then. Chang Zhixin’s new wife, Jiang Mengping, is not at fault, not at all. It's not even his fault. Is it? Chang Zhixin took out the calm way out of this mess to reason with him! If it were you, Master Cheng, you'd tear Shang Xirui apart for making such a fuss!!"

Cheng Fengtai nodded sincerely: "Chang Zhixin is not bad, he's a scholarly gentleman.”

After a lively conversation, they decide to pay a visit to the Chang family together, and continue the conversation with the main character. Since they hadn't seen Jiang Mengping last time in Cheng Fengtai, they decided to meet him this time to apologize. It was almost evening when they arrived at the house, having eaten and drank their fill. As they enter the building, they see Jiang Mengping, wearing an old knitted shawl, cooking with the maid in the communal kitchen downstairs. The maid's eyes smiled and pointed at her cousin's wife. When Jiang Mengping turned around and saw the two of them, she hurriedly left her work and washed her hands, greeting them with a soft voice.

When Cheng Fengtai heard her clear voice, he had a feeling that his soul was etched into his bones, and his eyes looked at Jiang Mengping again and again with amorous expressions.” Hello, cousin! Last time I was here, I didn't see you."

Jiang Mengping said, "Later on, Zhixin told me that it was hard for my brother-in-law to come and see me.” and led them upstairs. On the stairs, Cheng Fengtai had his arms and pockets open to protect Jiang Mengping's back, so if she suddenly slipped and leaned back, Cheng Fengtai could protect her waist, very considerate and gentlemanly. But Fan Lian shook his head at the sight of him. He was so rude. He treated her like any other woman in the world, not with much respect.

Chang Zhixin had just come home from work, and was upstairs drinking tea and reading the newspaper. The three of them met, shook hands and laughed, as if they had been friends for years. They sat down and said nothing else, but it was Shang Xirui who was left.

Cheng Fengtai said: "I've lectured him, so he won't make any sense. This crazy kid doesn't care about anything in the world, so when my cousin's wife told him that she was related to him, he took it at face value and hated him so much that he never looked back..”

Jiang Mengping's eyes turn red when she talks about this nosy younger brother, saying, "How can brother-in-law possibly explain him? He's such a kid, he's so single-minded... But at that time, I didn't mean to deceive him...” She paused and whispered: "I said he was the most important thing to me, and I really persuaded myself so, for his displeasure, I also broke up with Zhixin... But how can one control their own feelings? In the end, it's not up to me.”

This is an indirect gesture of love to Chang Zhixin. Chang Zhixin's face was softened, and the solemnity of his professional habits was gone, and his eyebrows and eyes were filled with tenderness.




Jiang Mengping wiped the corner of her eyes and said, "From now on, if this kid goes crazy like this, no one will be willing to swallow their anger and let him get away with it." How did it work? How?"

Cheng Fengtai looked at her and smiled, and said nothing, this kind of relationship only happens once in a lifetime. After you, I'm afraid he won't go crazy again.

Suddenly, she felt that Shang Xirui's love for Jiang Mengping was in vain, and that she had entrusted her’s to someone else. “I used to have a strong opinion of Shang Xirui, but now I pity him, just because he said, 'I'd die for you, Sister'. That's not a lie. Does your sister-in-law know about Shang Xirui's heart?”

Jiang Mengping was silent for a long time, his heart especially sore, and sighed: "I know. This silly child...” As if touched, Chang Zhixin hung his eyes and remained silent."

When it comes to love, there is no right or wrong. Shang Xirui is a crazy and irrational person, and as his younger brother, he wants to monopolize Jiang Mengping. She wants love and marriage, and wants to make her own way in life, not to coax him into singing with her forever. The depth of their love and the direction of their infatuation are different.

After chatting for a while, Cheng Fengtai and Fan Lian dragged Chang Zhixin to the restaurant for a drink and taught Jiang Mengping how to prepare dinner for free. But she was really the best wife. After a short while, she smiled and escorted his husband and his two friends out the door, then ran away. The woman went back to his room to get a scarf for Chang Zhixin.

Chang Zhixin said: "You can sleep then, I've got the key.”

Jiang Mengping said softly, "No need. I'll wait for you no matter how late you are.”

Chang Zhixin’s, filled with compassion, shook his hand in front of the others. She blushed, and shook it back.

Cheng Fengtai envied him to death. The women by his side, not to mention his Second Mistress, are all cold like Xue Baochai. She's a cold, unassuming beauty who's been married for ten years, and she's never said a word of romance to Fengtai. The women outside are more than lascivious and charming, but not so tender and caring. When he has such a lovely woman by his side, his life is not wasted.

When Fan Lian saw Cheng Fengtai's eyes, he whispered in his ear, "Brother-in-law, there's a woman in your life. Get over it while you can, I can't help you.”

Cheng Fengtai spit. ”F.uck you.” Taking the time to look around the home of the Chang family. One is a rich young master, the other an actress, both were once the most glamorous and lively people in the world. Now they are living a quiet life without the pomp and circumstance, just like that. Although the house is not luxurious and fashionable, it is clean and tidy, with no traces of dust on the sofa or tablecloth. No, sire. A husband who's honest and trustworthy, a wife who's gentle and kind, it's perfect. If there was a flaw, it was the lack of a child. Cheng Fengtai's family had a son and a sister, a house full of children, and they used to be so distressed. Now seeing here with the loneliness, a childless house always has an unspeakable regret, not complete.

The three men left the house, found a nearby restaurant, drank and ate, and gossiped, then talked about Shang Xirui, Cheng Fengtai slapped Fan Lian on the back and laughed, "It's a good thing you're not like Shang Xirui, or I'd have a headache. I would have had a headache.”

Fan Lian said, "Shang Xirui and I are different. Our grasslands are next to the Manchurian Mongols, and our customs follow theirs. The youngest of us is a princess in her mother's house, and she can beat and scold his brothers and sisters. We are not afraid of our parents, only of her. When my sister gets married, we were glad to not be able to see her off in a parade, so how can we mess with my brother-in-law, who's helping us out by keeping our Fan Sister here and not there?”

Chang Zhixin spoke sadly: "I've had the bad luck of a lifetime to find a brother-in-law like this.."

Cheng Fengtai nudged him with his hand, and said: "You're not so reasonable. I've heard, you've divorced your cousin's wife and married her again, right? That's why the younger brother is so worried."

Fan Lian turned around, gave Cheng Fengtai a serious look, and said, "You're not going to talk about that thing again."




Chang Zhixin didn't mind, waving his hand and saying: "Brother-in-law, why don't you understand, what Shang Xirui hates is that someone is standing up and protecting Mengping. In an unique place in her heart, pushing him down. As for the character of that person, that's not the point, it's just an excuse he's looking for. Why didn't he make a scene when Mengping was engaged to his big brother? Because he knew that Mengping didn't love his big brother.."

Cheng Fengtai thought it over, found it reasonable, nodded: "That's right. You really know him.”

Chang Zhixin smiled strangely, but this is the first time he had ever seen him smile so flippantly: "Of course I know him. Do you know that when Shang Xirui chased me and wouldn't let go, those who tried to stop the fight said, 'Hey! Third Master! Mr. Shang is so obsessed with you, we all suspect that you're the one he loves! You must understand.' I said I'm not in love with him and I don't want him, little brat, not a bit of charm, only madness.”

Cheng Fengtai smiled on Fan Lian's shoulder. If this is the truth, it's like writing a novel. It's so exciting. Fan Lin, who had never heard Chang Zhixin’s new face mentioned before, laughed out loud and clapped Chang Zhixin’s new face with one hand. He poured himself a glass of wine and smiled, and drank it all with an indifferent smile. As for Shang Xirui, because of the deep shadows, he couldn't laugh even when he told jokes.

After Cheng Fengtai and Shang Xirui's night meeting at Xiang Hill, there are some changes in their feelings. But it's mostly a one-sided change. He really cares for Shang Xirui, and is deeply moved by Shang Xirui's overwhelming love for Jiang Mengping - overwhelming love, but it's not love!. If it's love, it's worthless. When you get carried away by love, you're always looking for a way out. Shang Xirui's love is not lustful. It's pure desire to occupy Jiang Mengping's heart. It's a spiritual, pure and bright feeling. Cheng Fengtai himself is a womanizer, tired of seeing carnal love, so he is a great admirer of spiritual feelings. When he looked at Shang Xirui, his eyes were completely different.

After that, when someone at a poker game said something wrong about Shang Xirui, Cheng Fengtai would smile in a tolerant and inclusive manner.” Shang Xirui, he's just a kid! He's straight-hearted, he's hot-headed, he doesn't know what he's doing, so it's okay if he makes a scene.” He even said: "I think Shang Xirui is very sensible, and if it wasn't for his sister's promise, he wouldn't have made such a fuss. Still, he didn't get it right.” As if they were blaming Mr. and Mrs. Chang Zhixin for not fulfilling their obligations to their younger brother.

These words were too many. When they saw him and Shang Xirui laughing, everyone knew that they were close friends, so they did not speak to him. They're gossiping in front of him. If there's anyone who talks dirty in front of Cheng Fengtai, Cheng Fengtai will sneer at them and make them lose their standing. In short, his love for Shang Xirui is quite obvious.

Speaking of stocks at the mahjong table, Cheng Fengtai was a good buyer of stocks, and he was always good at doing these empty-handed things, he made a few comments about the economy. Shang Xirui smiled and said: "I've got some savings on my hands, so if you're so knowledgeable, why don't you take me with you?”

Cheng Fengtai said, "Oh? How much is the balance?”

Shang Xiao Rui said: "Eight thousand dollars.”

Cheng Fengtai said: "Okay. No problem. I'll send someone to your house tomorrow to pick up the money.”

Shang Xirui, who wants to make money by making money, but is unsure about the money he has taken, repents: "Don't be in such a hurry tomorrow! I'll think about it.”

Cheng Fengtai lit a cigarette and waved his hand, exclaiming of impatience, "What else is there to think about when it comes to making money? If you lose, it's on me, if you win, it's on you. By the end of the year, I'll make you $10,000. And we'll all be witnesses.”

There was an uproar, and someone grumbled, "What's wrong with you? We begged you to take a hand and make us money and you didn't even bother, so how come you're just a profit-maker with Boss Shang?”

Cheng Fengtai smiled with a cigarette in his mouth: "Because I love him so much.”

When Shang Xirui heard this, he looked at Cheng Fengtai happily and laughed, shaking his head and smiling proudly, more and more like a child, so cute. Cheng Fengtai really wants to touch his head, bring him to his knee and rub him.

Shang Xirui already has a crush on Cheng Fengtai, but after the night at the Xiang Hill, his crush grew stronger, and he gained more trust. Whenever he sees him, he can't stop talking to him, he's like a spoiled brat. Whenever Cheng Fengtai was talking, he had to interrupt, even if Cheng Fengtai was poking fun at him, so the two of them would talk back. It was very hilarious, and added a lot of smiles, as outsiders realized that Boss Shang had such funny moments. Shang Xirui seems to have found in Cheng Fengtai a bit of the dependence he had on Jiang Mengping in the past, which he yearned for day and night, and came from an elder. He was infinitely loved. Whenever Cheng Fengtai asked for help with trivial favors, he always smiled and said, "This is something. If you say so, how can you say anything other than what others say! "While holding Shang Xirui's back, he invited him to dinner. As they were walking around, Cheng Fengtai took two of the funny little things he saw and left them for Shang Xirui and Cha Chaér to play with, for his three sons he never expected.

Once he left a jewellery box for Shang Xirui, an octagonal black lacquered box, with a white ivory carving roses on the lid full of, very well done. Opening it up and inside, there's a little ballet dancer spinning around in the mirror. Fan Lian saw it, played with it, and said, "Brother-in-law, this is interesting. Give it to me."

Cheng Fengtai said: "This is the only one left, it's for Boss Shang.”




Fan Lin said, "Why him and not me?"“

Cheng Fengtai said, "This is a woman's child's plaything, why do you want it?"

Fan Lian is unconvinced: "Shang Xirui is a woman?”

"He's not a woman, he's a child. Are you a woman or a child?”

"I give up.”

"I also give up...”

"I'm your own brother-in-law!”

"There's no way you can kiss me!" "Cheng Fengtai picked up a civilized stick that was standing by the wall, and laughed as he tried to hit his leg. “Put it down!"

Fan Lian puts the music box back in its place, then turns around and stares at Cheng Fengtai. Thinking he wants more, Fengtai shouted at him, "What are you looking at! If you like it, you can buy it yourself! You like to spend your own money on it!"

Fan Lian walked over to him, sat down and said, "Brother-in-law.”

Cheng Fengtai looked at him askance: "En?”

"Did you have a problem with Shang Xirui...”

Cheng Fengtai's lascivious expression made him realize what he was about to say. As expected, Fan Lian said, "Do you like him?”

Cheng Fengtai smiled: "You filthy b.astard, get out!" He hit him with a civilized stick. Fan Lin hurriedly left.

Later on, Fan Lian mentions his suspicions to Chang Zhixin. He despised Shang Xirui and sneered: "Why didn't you realize in the past that Shang Xirui was a good person? He's so seductive? First Marshal Zhang, then Cao Siling, and after that, maybe even Cheng Fengtai.”




Fan Lian remained silent. When a man gets close to a female opera actor, it's inevitable that he'll arouse suspicion. Besides, Cheng Fengtai is so amorous that after a few conversations with an equally amorous opera actor, something happens that's an affair, that's logical. It's just that Cheng Fengtai never hid his affair from him, and since he can't get anything on it, it's obvious that things are just budding, the two have yet to get started...

In fact, at that time, Cheng Fengtai did pity Shang Xirui purely for him, nothing more. As for this pity suddenly changing its emotions after half a year, it seems to be destiny again, the will of God.

~ Winter Begonia ~


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