My Nightclub Landlady

Zhu Fei said apologetically, "I"m sorry that my performance of cooking fish did not go as planned . But this chicken mushroom stew will be absolutely divine . I"m good at this dish . "

"I hope so . Honestly, I don"t expect much . I just hope not to be poisoned . "

Qin Feng, finished with his duties in the kitchen for the moment, went to relax on the sofa . Underneath the coffee table, he saw a collection of empty bottles .

“Uncle is back to drinking even though he hasn"t yet recovered?” Qin Feng asked concernedly .

"Well, I can"t control him . He has to have a drink every night, and sometimes in the middle of the night . He has a lot of pressure on him right now . " Zhu Fei reluctantly said, “I know he would like to live a good life with me, but I"ve grown up, and a lot of things aren"t the way he planned…”

Just then, the lock on the door turned and Zhu Fangguo came in .

"Dad!" Zhu Fei welcomed the old man home as Qin Feng stood up to greet him . Zhu Fangguo"s arms were filled with empty bottles and cans that he quickly hurled into a bedroom by the front door .

"Oh, I told you not to pick up that trash . Do you pull them out of the garbage? You"ll bring home so many germs and never get well!" Zhu Fei cried as she ran over, picking up the trash from her father"s floor . “Trading all this junk in won"t even get you a pair of shoes in a year . What"s the point?”

Qin Feng watched the scene, an uncomfortable feeling in his heart . He could see that Zhu Fangguo was dissatisfied by the way things were and that this was all he could think to do .

Although it was of little help, Zhu Fangguo was used to living frugally and anything he could contribute made him feel like less of a burden . An empty bottle left on the side of the road was like leaving money in the gutter .

"Zhu Fei . Put it back," Qin Feng said .

"Look at this junk! There"s mud on it!” Zhu Fei threw the garbage back onto the floor, and then cried, “Dad, if you"re short of money, I"ll find a solution . Don"t keep doing this, okay? I"m worried about your health and safety . You cross busy, dangerous roads just to grab cans worth five cents . Is it worth it? I can"t stand worrying about you doing these things . ”

Qin Feng felt bad for Zhu Fangguo, but he also understood Zhu Fei"s frustration . After all, she was still a child with hopes that her father could lead a decent life . If they really had to rely on garbage for a living, then what was the meaning of living?

"Fei Fei, why don"t you bring in the cartons? Last time, I put them in front of the door, but they were taken away and sold by the neighbors . The neighbors are not rich either," Zhu Fangguo finally said painfully .

Zhu Fei obstinately shouted, "No . Eat first . Take a shower and change your clothes . Shave your beard while you"re at it . Look how old you look! You"re only in your fifties yet you look at least 70!"

There was some disgust in Zhu Fei"s words, and Zhu Fangguo felt humiliated . He didn"t care what other people thought, but his daughter"s words cut deep .

Zhu Fangguo went into the bathroom and began to wash his face, brush his teeth, and shave his beard . Qin Feng approached him and said with some embarra.s.sment, "Uncle, don"t worry . She just cares about you and is worried about you . You see, after just a short time in the bathroom, look how handsome you are! Zhu Fei is still so young and so are you . You have to learn to slowly raise your head and look forward . Look toward the future . You"ll find the beauty in life and rediscover your yearning for good things . "

Zhu Fangguo put down his razor and was stunned . "Me? Forget it, my heart died long ago when her mother divorced me . I can still live because I still care about her in my heart . But I"m like a walking corpse . I don"t have interest in anything . A day is just a day to get through until I go to sleep again . "

"But now it"s different . Your daughter is determined, and she still sees you as a superhero . You"re her only father . This is real life . Don"t you want to live it with her? You should continue to be her role model," Qin Feng said imploringly .

"Oh, it"s not the same . I am old and have already been discounted by this society . I am a sanitation worker who can"t do anything else . "

In the past, Zhu Fangguo had been laid off from work, and then his wife had left him . For a time, he felt that he had been forgotten by the whole world . He let go of his relationships and lost contact with anyone but his daughter . And now this guy was talking about rebirth? How? How could he give his daughter a warm and secure home? He could do nothing, not even commit a crime that would give them money . All he could do was pick up trash until he was well enough to return to work .

"Uncle, would you do a new job for a salary of 5,000 per month?" Qin Feng suddenly asked .

"What?" Zhu Fangguo had been drawing a hot bath and thought that he had heard incorrectly over the rushing water .

"5,000 . Work for me," Qin Feng said seriously .

"And—and do what?” Zhu Fangguo said tentatively but excitedly . “What could I do for you for 5,000 a month?”

Working in the wind and rain until he was dead-tired as a sanitation worker, Zhu Fangguo only made 2,000 a month . Surely a salary of 5,000 was just a dream .

"Bathe first . We can discuss details over dinner," Qin Feng said .

"That"s fine," Zhu Fangguo said calmly, but inside he was buzzing . He rushed into the bathroom to freshen up . He realized that he did seem to have a little odor and a nice scrubbing was in order .

Listening to the old man whistling on the other side of the door, Qin Feng smiled . This job could solve big problems for him not just monetarily but also by helping to rebuild his self-respect . Truthfully, Qin Feng didn"t care about the amount of money he would spend . He knew that Zhu Fangguo deserved such an income and would be an invaluable a.s.set in the future .

As the old man bathed, Qin Feng came to the living room and told Zhu Fei, "Uncle seems very happy with the prospect of this new job . You need to help encourage him to reintegrate into society or else he may falter . Can you do that?"

Zhu Fei still couldn"t believe Qin Feng"s offer . “Are you sure about all of this?”

Qin Feng laughed and said, "Rest a.s.sured, I need you both . Sister Flower and I are both so busy, and we need the help . Don"t worry about anything else . "

Zhu Fei pushed her lips out in a pout and said, "I am afraid I won"t be able to do what you need me to do and then…”

Qin Feng laughed again . "I give you free reign . Use your imagination and enthusiasm in this role . If you have any requests, just tell me . This is your stage . "

He then spoke more seriously, saying, "Believe in yourself . Believe in your abilities . Tell yourself 500 times every day, "I can do it . " Then you will be able to do it . ”

Zhu Fei examined Qin Feng up and down, then said, “You"re abnormal . You must be possessed by the devil . ”

"Haha, whatever you need to think to do the job . Do the job, I"ll pay you the salary . ” Qin Feng smiled, satisfied .

In the evening, Qin Feng and Zhu Fangguo chatted and drank for hours with Zhu Fei even joining in for a few bottles . Zhu Fei was happier than she"d been in a while . Her father was usually very reserved, but tonight, he seemed to be revealing everything that was in his heart .

Chapter 152 A Dead End. Qin Feng took over preparing the fish and put Sister Flower out of his mind . After all, they would see each other tomorrow and he would be able to talk to her then . Zhu Fei said apologetically, I"m sorry that my performance of cooking fish did not go as planned . But this chicken mushroom stew will be absolutely divine . Im good at this dish . I hope so . Honestly, I dont expect much . I just hope not to be poisoned . Qin Feng, finished with his duties in the kitchen for the moment, went to relax on the sofa . Underneath the coffee table, he saw a collection of empty bottles . “Uncle is back to drinking even though he hasn"t yet recovered?” Qin Feng asked concernedly . Well, I can"t control him . He has to have a drink every night, and sometimes in the middle of the night . He has a lot of pressure on him right now . Zhu Fei reluctantly said, “I know he would like to live a good life with me, but I"ve grown up, and a lot of things aren"t the way he planned…” Just then, the lock on the door turned and Zhu Fangguo came in . Dad! Zhu Fei welcomed the old man home as Qin Feng stood up to greet him . Zhu Fangguo"s arms were filled with empty bottles and cans that he quickly hurled into a bedroom by the front door . Oh, I told you not to pick up that trash . Do you pull them out of the garbage? You"ll bring home so many germs and never get well! Zhu Fei cried as she ran over, picking up the trash from her father"s floor . “Trading all this junk in won"t even get you a pair of shoes in a year . What"s the point?” Qin Feng watched the scene, an uncomfortable feeling in his heart . He could see that Zhu Fangguo was dissatisfied by the way things were and that this was all he could think to do . Although it was of little help, Zhu Fangguo was used to living frugally and anything he could contribute made him feel like less of a burden . An empty bottle left on the side of the road was like leaving money in the gutter . Zhu Fei . Put it back, Qin Feng said . Look at this junk! There"s mud on it!” Zhu Fei threw the garbage back onto the floor, and then cried, “Dad, if you"re short of money, I"ll find a solution . Don"t keep doing this, okay? I"m worried about your health and safety . You cross busy, dangerous roads just to grab cans worth five cents . Is it worth it? I can"t stand worrying about you doing these things . ” Qin Feng felt bad for Zhu Fangguo, but he also understood Zhu Fei"s frustration . After all, she was still a child with hopes that her father could lead a decent life . If they really had to rely on garbage for a living, then what was the meaning of living? Fei Fei, why dont you bring in the cartons? Last time, I put them in front of the door, but they were taken away and sold by the neighbors . The neighbors are not rich either, Zhu Fangguo finally said painfully . Zhu Fei obstinately shouted, No . Eat first . Take a shower and change your clothes . Shave your beard while you"re at it . Look how old you look! You"re only in your fifties yet you look at least 70! There was some disgust in Zhu Fei"s words, and Zhu Fangguo felt humiliated . He didn"t care what other people thought, but his daughter"s words cut deep . Zhu Fangguo went into the bathroom and began to wash his face, brush his teeth, and shave his beard . Qin Feng approached him and said with some embarra.s.sment, Uncle, dont worry . She just cares about you and is worried about you . You see, after just a short time in the bathroom, look how handsome you are! Zhu Fei is still so young and so are you . You have to learn to slowly raise your head and look forward . Look toward the future . You"ll find the beauty in life and rediscover your yearning for good things . Zhu Fangguo put down his razor and was stunned . Me? Forget it, my heart died long ago when her mother divorced me . I can still live because I still care about her in my heart . But I"m like a walking corpse . I don"t have interest in anything . A day is just a day to get through until I go to sleep again . But now its different . Your daughter is determined, and she still sees you as a superhero . You"re her only father . This is real life . Don"t you want to live it with her? You should continue to be her role model, Qin Feng said imploringly . Oh, its not the same . I am old and have already been discounted by this society . I am a sanitation worker who can"t do anything else . In the past, Zhu Fangguo had been laid off from work, and then his wife had left him . For a time, he felt that he had been forgotten by the whole world . He let go of his relationships and lost contact with anyone but his daughter . And now this guy was talking about rebirth? How? How could he give his daughter a warm and secure home? He could do nothing, not even commit a crime that would give them money . All he could do was pick up trash until he was well enough to return to work . Uncle, would you do a new job for a salary of 5,000 per month? Qin Feng suddenly asked . What? Zhu Fangguo had been drawing a hot bath and thought that he had heard incorrectly over the rushing water . 5,000 . Work for me, Qin Feng said seriously . And—and do what?” Zhu Fangguo said tentatively but excitedly . “What could I do for you for 5,000 a month?” Working in the wind and rain until he was dead-tired as a sanitation worker, Zhu Fangguo only made 2,000 a month . Surely a salary of 5,000 was just a dream . Bathe first . We can discuss details over dinner, Qin Feng said . Thats fine, Zhu Fangguo said calmly, but inside he was buzzing . He rushed into the bathroom to freshen up . He realized that he did seem to have a little odor and a nice scrubbing was in order . Listening to the old man whistling on the other side of the door, Qin Feng smiled . This job could solve big problems for him not just monetarily but also by helping to rebuild his self-respect . Truthfully, Qin Feng didn"t care about the amount of money he would spend . He knew that Zhu Fangguo deserved such an income and would be an invaluable a.s.set in the future . As the old man bathed, Qin Feng came to the living room and told Zhu Fei, Uncle seems very happy with the prospect of this new job . You need to help encourage him to reintegrate into society or else he may falter . Can you do that? Zhu Fei still couldn"t believe Qin Feng"s offer . “Are you sure about all of this?” Qin Feng laughed and said, Rest a.s.sured, I need you both . Sister Flower and I are both so busy, and we need the help . Don"t worry about anything else . Zhu Fei pushed her lips out in a pout and said, I am afraid I won"t be able to do what you need me to do and then…” Qin Feng laughed again . I give you free reign . Use your imagination and enthusiasm in this role . If you have any requests, just tell me . This is your stage . He then spoke more seriously, saying, Believe in yourself . Believe in your abilities . Tell yourself 500 times every day, "I can do it . " Then you will be able to do it . ” Zhu Fei examined Qin Feng up and down, then said, “You"re abnormal . You must be possessed by the devil . ” Haha, whatever you need to think to do the job . Do the job, I"ll pay you the salary . ” Qin Feng smiled, satisfied . In the evening, Qin Feng and Zhu Fangguo chatted and drank for hours with Zhu Fei even joining in for a few bottles . Zhu Fei was happier than she"d been in a while . Her father was usually very reserved, but tonight, he seemed to be revealing everything that was in his heart .