Chapter 21: Men and Women!

  The warm sunshine, the fresh air, is so quiet and peaceful. With a group of young people adding a touch of youthful vitality to this natural scenery. However, having a barbecue in such a beautiful natural environment might not be a good choice. Looking at Zhang Ziheng's extremely serious expression as he grilled fish, it was really hard for him, surprisingly able to catch some fish.

  A group of girls gathered together, always having endless topics to chat about, even something as mundane as what shampoo they use can be linked to a certain celebrity. Meanwhile, the boys can only stand by, sipping their beer and admiring them.

  "Hey Zi Heng, can't you just not look so serious for once? Why don't you go grab a beer or go chat with Zhou Ling or Xiao Nan?" said Xiao Tian.

  Li Wencheng chuckled and said, "If you let him drink, it's better to kill him. I've known him for so many years, and I'm already used to his ways. If he suddenly becomes like us, I'd really feel a bit uncomfortable."

  Zhang Ziheng put down the fork in his hand, walked over to their side and sat down, took out a cigarette and lit one each. "I really can't understand you guys, none of you have achieved anything in your careers yet, how come every day you're thinking about finding a girlfriend?"

  "What does this mean? Do I have to be successful in my career before I can find a girlfriend?" asked Xiao Tian.

  "I think men should only consider emotional issues when the time comes. You know, once you get married, this man will be the pillar of the family, if you don't have a good economic environment, how can you talk about love? Even eating enough food is a problem." Zhang Ziheng said.

  "Hey, I don't agree with that at all. What era are we in now? You're still stuck on those old ideas? Ah, as a man, you have to be successful and bear the weight of the entire family, while women just stay home, cook, take care of kids, and then when you've worked hard all day, she brings you a bowl of hot soup, gives you a massage, draws your bath water, and only then goes to bed. Day in, day out, what's the point?" Little Tian shook his head and said.

  "Is there anything wrong with this?" Zhang Ziheng asked in confusion.

  Xiao Tian chuckled and said: "I'm saying, bro, you wouldn't be thinking of taking care of everything yourself in the future, including houses, cars, and weddings?"

  "What's so funny about that? I've always thought that way. If a woman marries you, then you should take responsibility for her, and these are the most basic things that should be done, so she can feel secure." Zhang Ziheng said.

  His words amused Xiao Tian, and even Li Wen Cheng on the side couldn't help but laugh. "How's that? Convinced yet? I told you, he's this kind of person, can't be reasoned with, you have to let him see the facts."

  Xiao Tian nodded and said, "Zi Heng, listen to me. Times have changed, you should change your traditional thinking about men working outside and women staying at home. Now when it comes to dating, let alone marriage, even whether they can get married is a problem. Nowadays, girls all think about how to be happy and free, some don't even want to get married. Go take a look at those bars and nightclubs, the girls there, as long as you're interested, with your conditions, it's easy to find one for a one-night stand, they don't even need to know each other's names."

  "Don't talk about girls like they're all so open-minded, okay? If you put it that way, aren't all girls just like prostitutes who don't charge?" Zhang Ziheng said with a glance at him.

  "Alright, let's talk about the better girls. Nowadays, girls are very independent and self-sufficient, they don't need you to support them at all. Look at me and Wen Cheng, we both have girlfriends, but who knows when it'll be over, these things are unpredictable. Brother, I'm telling you, dating doesn't necessarily mean getting married in the future, and people who get married aren't necessarily because they dated." Xiao Tian patted Zi Heng's shoulder and said.

  Zhang Ziheng looked puzzled, "If dating isn't for marriage, then what's it for? People are going to get married eventually."

  "You're wrong, it's because you have such thoughts that you can't find a girlfriend. Love is just a stage where two people enjoy the process and the thrill of being in love. But once they get married, that thrill is gone. As they say, marriage is the graveyard of love, once you enter that grave, you'll never find that thrill again."

  Zhang Ziheng was stunned, thinking about what Xiao Tian had said. It seemed to make sense, but he couldn't shake the feeling that it didn't match up with his own understanding of reality. Did people lose love after getting married? He couldn't agree with that.

  Xiao Tian chuckled and continued, "Let me tell you a joke. It's about a couple who were both in their early twenties. One day, the boy picked up the girl from behind in a crowded place. The girl blushed and said, 'What are you doing? Put me down quickly, so many people are watching!' Guess what the boy said?"

  "What did you say?"

  "I just want to hold you, I just want to hold you in front of all these people, I just want them to see. You are mine, you will always be mine, I want everyone to know." Xiao Tian said with a deep and sincere expression. "Listen, how touching, how romantic, which woman wouldn't be moved by this? Even if she thinks the boy is lying, the girl's heart would still be overjoyed."

  "What does this have to do with getting married?" Zhang Ziheng asked.

  "Wait, I haven't finished yet. After twenty or thirty years, the couple got married and appeared again in that crowded place. The difference was that the man didn't even hold the woman's hand, looking like two strangers. Suddenly, the woman grabbed the man and said in a low voice, 'Hug me.' Guess what the man said?"

  "What did you say?"

  "Are you sick or something?" Little Tian said impatiently, imitating the middle-aged man's tone.

  "Hahaha." Then Li Wencheng and he burst out laughing together.

  But Zhang Ziheng didn't smile, he was thinking. What Xiao Tian said was right, a married couple, as husband and wife, of course wouldn't do that kind of thing in front of so many people, even at home they wouldn't do it.

  "How's that? Do you want to end up like that in the future? Brother, face reality, we're introducing you to a girlfriend, not a wife, and this isn't a blind date. You know, human life is just sixty or seventy years long, even if you live a few more years, eventually you'll still have to say goodbye to this world. And if you don't make the most of your time in this life, wouldn't that be a waste?" Little Tian chuckled.

  After listening to Xiaotian's words, I felt that there was a bit of truth in it, but Zhang Ziheng is the kind of person who sticks to one idea. If everyone thought this way and didn't get married, wouldn't humanity be doomed?

  "What's wrong? Haven't figured it out yet? Xiao Tian means that once you have the chance, don't let it go, while you're still doing well, having a few more romantic relationships won't hurt you, hahaha." Li Wen Cheng laughed.

  "But... but wouldn't that be a bit unfair for girls? After all, they are girls." Zhang Ziheng asked.

  Li Wencheng and Xiao Tian looked at him with a "hate iron for not becoming steel" gaze, "Ziheng, what's wrong with the girl again? Who was it that advocated for gender equality in the first place? Besides, do you think all girls are weak? Nowadays, every woman claims to be a strong independent woman, saying they don't need us men to survive. Listen, they don't even take us seriously, so why bother thinking about them?" Xiao Tian said as he opened a can of beer and handed it to him.

  Zhang Ziheng shook his head, indicating that he didn't want to. Xiao Tian slightly furrowed her brow and said: "Ziheng, among the things a man must do in this lifetime, drinking is the most important. If you don't drink, then you're not considered a complete man."

  "Hey, don't let him drink it. Even if you beat him to death, he won't drink this stuff. There's a story behind this." Li Wencheng hastily took over the can of beer and said.

  "Huh? Story? What story? Don't tell me it's about a woman, okay?" Little Tian laughed.

  "It's all because of a woman, he promised his ex-girlfriend that he would never drink again. So since they broke up, he really hasn't had a single drop." Li Wencheng shook his head and said.

  Xiao Tian sighed and said, "Zi Heng, this is where you're wrong. A man not drinking can have many reasons, but if it's for a woman, then it's really not worth it. Besides, you two are already broken up, whether you drink or not, she won't know anyway. And even if you don't drink, she'll still think you did, because women never believe men. Since they don't trust us, why bother making ourselves miserable?"

  Zhang Ziheng smiled and shook his head, saying: "But all the men and women in this world are different, not everyone is like what you said."

  "Yes, that's right, I admit there are such good girls. But brother, what era is it now? Are good girls something you can find if you want to? That's rarer than dinosaurs! Besides, you're still young and shouldn't be thinking about those things for later. If you really wait until your career has succeeded, you'll probably be around 40 years old by then, let's see what you do then." Little Tian said.

  "Alright, don't think about it anymore, just listen to what Xiaotian said. Look, there are two dishes waiting for you to choose from, what more can you be dissatisfied with? As a brother, I can only do this much, the rest is up to you." Li Wencheng said.

  Looking at Xiao Nan and Zhou Ling chatting happily in the distance, Zhang Ziheng took a deep breath and thought to himself: Are women really like what they said? In fact, his own requirements are not high, just wanting to find someone who can understand him, can understand him, and can live an ordinary life with him. How did it become so complicated after being said by them? If what they said is true, then won't he be single for the rest of his life?