Author Archives: Thingyan

Many people are curious about what life is like for the wealthy. In truth, it is not that different from everyone else’s. The houses are bigger, the decor is better, and household chores are handled by dedicated staff. The food, clothing, and daily necessities are more refined.

If there are no particular hobbies, then life is essentially the same as that of ordinary people.

Three meals a day. Eating, drinking, sleeping.

Lin Chuanbai and Yu Xiang’an live in a small villa. Yu Qingshan stays on the first floor, the second floor is for the children when they come over, and the two of them live on the third floor.

Except for cleaning, the third floor is off-limits to the housekeeper. It is not that there are many confidential documents inside, Yu Xiang’an rarely brings such things home. The main reason is to reduce the chance of the staff noticing anything unusual.

From time to time, they disappear there. If someone happened to run into them, it would be hard to explain.

The housekeeper handles the household chores, but how observant they might be is hard to say. Since that is the case, it is better to minimize their access. Saying there are documents upstairs is enough, and they all understand.

At the moment, Lin Chuanbai and Yu Xiang’an are inside their private space. Yu Xiang’an stands beneath a pear tree, picking a plump snow pear. She brings it to her nose and inhales, its sweet fragrance refreshing.

She picks another one and walks over to Lin Chuanbai. He is sitting by the stove, where a pot of water is heating on a gas burner.

The place is fully equipped, with appliances that can be used because they brought in a diesel generator. Original translation at HololoNovels dot com. With diesel, they have electricity, and with electricity they can use ovens, refrigerators, induction cooktops, and so on.

What is the hot water for?

It is for scalding a duck.

Looking at the plump duck, Yu Xiang’an suddenly decides to make roast duck.

The moment she says it, Lin Chuanbai goes to slaughter the duck without hesitation, his execution swift and decisive.

Yu Xiang’an laughs at the sight.

Now the duck has already been slaughtered, and they are just waiting for the water to boil so they can remove the feathers.

Since ducks are not easy to handle, he only raises a few of them in this space.

It has been a while since Yu Xiang’an personally slaughtered chickens or ducks.

After so long, her movements are a bit rusty. The two of them work together to clean the large duck, spending quite some time on it.

Once it is thoroughly cleaned, they brush on layer after layer of sauce.

After that, they hang it up to air-dry. The next day, they will apply another layer of sauce before putting it into the oven.

After finishing, the two of them head to the small hill where the spiritual peach trees grow.

Around the base of the trees is a ring of jade and gemstones. Yu Xiang’an casually picks one up and nods in satisfaction.

It is working.

Although it has taken a long time, compared to the control group, there is already a clear difference.

What was once mid-grade has now become high-grade.

If it continues, it might even become top-tier.

So when they have nothing to do, they come here.

Gradually, it becomes natural. Wherever you stay, you are still staying somewhere.

Nearby, there are tables, beds, and other furnishings.

Yu Xiang’an takes the bed, picks up a book from the headboard, and begins reading leisurely.

Lin Chuanbai sits on a stool and picks up the latest issue of Nature from the table.

It is quiet, though not completely silent.

There are faint sounds of cattle and sheep in the distance.

Peaceful and at ease.

When they grow tired of reading, they look out below and see orchards, pastures, processing rooms, and warehouses, a picture of rural tranquility.

Lin Chuanbai says, “Is this what they mean by ‘serenely gazing upon the southern hills’?”

Yu Xiang’an takes a breath, inhaling the fragrance of peaches. “I suppose so. How is your analysis going? Any progress?”

Lin Chuanbai shakes his head. “Not that fast.”

As he says this, his eyes seem to shine. “It’s fascinating. The more I learn, the more I feel I know less.”

Yu Xiang’an recalls the saying that the more one knows, the more one realizes one’s ignorance.

She smiles. “Isn’t that what you like? Learning without end, always climbing one step higher.”

Just like her.

People are rarely satisfied.

Once one condition is met, they begin to want the next.

At first, she wanted to dominate the domestic dining industry and dreamed of expanding overseas.

Now that she has achieved it, is she satisfied?

No.

There is always something along the way that stirs her thoughts, rekindling her desire.

Yu Xiang’an glances at her watch. “It’s getting late. Let’s sleep.”

Staying up late harms the body.

Unless necessary, they keep a very healthy routine.

Lin Chuanbai checks the time as well. “Then let’s rest. We’ll put the roast duck in the fridge at noon.”

They do not want anything greasy in the morning.

Yu Xiang’an agrees.

…Many things have changed, and yet some things have not.

They will walk together to the end of their lives.

The next day at noon, after enjoying a meal of roast duck, Wang Yuyan drives over.

She brings a box of large cherries.

She is still in the process of leveling up, so to speak.

After spending half a year at the seaside resort hotel, she is now working in the HR department of a pharmaceutical factory.

“Grandma, a friend asked me for help. I refused, but I don’t understand what’s going on. Do you know?” Wang Yuyan frowns.

Yu Xiang’an immediately thinks of who it is. “Don’t lend anything, and don’t get involved. You did the right thing by refusing. This is their family’s internal matter.”

Wang Yuyan blinks in confusion.

“Grandma, I’m talking about my university classmate Chen Lichen. Their family business is being targeted by Zhisheng Investment, which is backed by foreign capital…”

Yu Xiang’an nods. “Yes, I know who you mean. You may not know this, but there’s a story behind it.”

Wang Yuyan immediately asks, “What story?”

“The Liu Tao behind Zhisheng Investment is your classmate’s half-brother from the same father. Back then, her father abandoned his first wife and got together with your classmate’s mother. It caused quite a stir. What’s happening now is probably revenge. If he succeeds, the Chen family will go bankrupt.”

Wang Yuyan freezes. She does not think her grandmother would lie to her, so it must be true.

It is impossible to tell on the surface.

Although she is not particularly close to this classmate, she has heard plenty about how loving her parents were, how she was their only daughter and the cherished jewel of the family, envied by many.

Now, hearing that her mother had been the other woman, Wang Yuyan feels disgusted.

“You really couldn’t tell at all.” She had even met Chen Lichen’s parents before and envied them.

Now…

“Grandma, how did you know?”

Yu Xiang’an replies, “A lot of people know. You’re part of the younger generation. It’s been so long that people simply don’t bring it up anymore.”

Wang Yuyan falls silent.

It really is complicated.

There are already few truly loving couples in their circle, and now this makes it even worse.

She cannot help but sigh.

If not for the example set by her own grandparents, she might have lost faith in love altogether.

“Grandma, men out there are too risky. I need to take my time. When my mom starts urging me, you have to speak up for me. I need to choose carefully. Character is the most important.”

Lin Chuanbai comes downstairs, and Wang Yuyan immediately adds, “I don’t ask for much. Someone like Grandpa would be best.”

Lin Chuanbai laughs. “Not someone like your father?”

Wang Yuyan shakes her head seriously. “I prefer someone who can be by my side when I need him.”

Yu Xiang’an nods. “How is it working at the pharmaceutical factory?”

Wang Yuyan cannot help but laugh. “They’re loaded.”

The bonuses there are truly high.

Because the business is doing extremely well.

Yu Xiang’an smiles. “Besides that?”

Wang Yuyan says, “I’m looking forward to the next place.”

Yu Xiang’an says, “How about going to an entertainment company as an agent?”

Wang Yuyan’s eyes widened. “An entertainment company? A talent manager?” It sounded novel, but then she hesitated. “Doesn’t a manager have to help artists make connections and find resources?”

Yu Xiang’an said, “Watch how other artists do things. When you first get there, they are not going to hand you an artist to manage right away. Just focus on learning first.”

Yu Xiang’an felt that Wang Yuyan probably had no real interest in traditional industries. Since that was the case, she might as well go take a look at an emerging one.

Lin Chuanbai gave his granddaughter’s face, one beautiful enough to debut as a star herself, a careful look. “Once you get there, the actresses might think you’re there to steal their livelihood.”

Wang Yuyan could not help touching her face.

She laughed. “Well, I can’t exactly make myself ugly on purpose.”

This time, Wang Yuyan’s parachuting into Xinxing Entertainment was known to upper management. She was one of the major shareholder’s people.

The company had many shareholders. The largest shareholder was the chairman’s side, holding thirty-five percent, and with allied supporters controlled over fifty percent. The second-largest shareholder was Yu Xiang’an.

This second-largest shareholder rarely interfered in the details of management and operations.

So now, all of a sudden, she had parachuted her granddaughter in. Was she planning to have her debut as a celebrity? Was this just a whim? Or was she preparing to step into management?

This was Wang Yuyan’s most complicated start yet.

But the help she received was also the greatest.

Some of the higher-ups, once they learned who she was, took the initiative to help her.

Anything she did not understand could basically be answered.

The senior executives at the top were not of one mind either.

Most belonged to the largest shareholder’s camp, but there were also people aligned with the other shareholders, and some from her grandmother’s side as well.

So many factions, all split apart.

Wang Yuyan: “…”

Complicated.

But exciting.

And with so many celebrities, so many beautiful people all gathered in one place, it really was a feast for the eyes.

The first time Wang Yuyan saw that many handsome men and beautiful women gathered together, she thought that if her mother were here, she would definitely be delighted.

Her mother loved looking at beautiful people.

But in actual interaction, these beautiful people… had far too many schemes in their heads.

The people below did not know her background, but seeing her placed at the side of a top gold-medal manager, compared to the other managers, that was a meteoric rise.

Artists who wanted to be managed by her began volunteering themselves to her.

…

Lin Yining watched the bustle around her daughter with great interest.

Her daughter really was blessed, surrounded by handsome men and beautiful women.

The only question was whether she would be able to handle it.

Wang Yuyan: …Yes, definitely her biological mother.

As Wang Yuyan gradually appeared in public, the media reacted with confusion.

Was Xinxing Entertainment seriously wasting a treasure like this?

With those looks and that temperament, she was going to be a manager?

Because of that, actresses of a similar type wanted nothing to do with being under her.

It was one thing to be outshone by another actress, but being crushed by your own manager’s looks was just too brutal.

It was like wearing the same outfit as someone else, whoever looked worse was the one embarrassed.

So when Wang Yuyan began managing artists herself, the ones she took on at first were all male artists.

The challenge here was even greater, but that only drew Wang Yuyan in more.

Later, when Yu Xiang’an asked whether she wanted to go somewhere else, Wang Yuyan refused.

…

Two years later, the top artist under Wang Yuyan, Yue Wu, starred as the female lead in a certain film and became a smash hit overnight.

On a certain forum, someone started a thread.

Let’s dig into a certain manager whose surname is W

Original poster: The first time I saw her at the film press conference, I thought she was some junior artist my Yue-jie was bringing along, and I was instantly worried for Yue-jie.

Good grief, I thought she was a rival.

Then the press conference started, and she stepped aside.

Me: ???

That was actually Yue-jie’s manager. The manager behind the scenes!

The original poster could not help being stunned by Xinxing’s strength.

A pretty lady like that? I’m totally into it.

The most recent time I saw her was at Yue-jie’s celebration party.

Standing beside Yue-jie, only one phrase came to mind: twin moons shining in the sky!

A pair of peerless beauties!

A perfect match! Pure nonsense, I know.

Anyway, this beautiful manager completely piqued my curiosity, and I could not resist searching for more information about her.

And then I was stunned.

This manager has only been in the industry for a little over two years.

Under her, she has Yue Wu and Wu Lin.

There’s no need to say much about Yue-jie. This breakout film launched her straight into the top tier. Wu Lin has also been a very popular idol actor these past two years.

But two years ago, one was a complete nobody, and the other was an eighteenth-tier nobody who had already been floating around the entertainment industry for three or four years without ever making a splash.

But if you count up the resources they’ve gotten over the past two years, they are not resources people of their original standing should have been able to get.

So where did they come from?

The company.

The manager.

I’m inclined to think it was the manager.

Because Wu Lin had already been in the company before, and he had never received resources like this.

It was only after he came under this manager that he got them.

Come on, let’s look at the pictures.

This is the beautiful manager from an earlier news appearance.

The car behind her is registered under her own name. Seven figures.

The watch on her wrist, I don’t even need to explain the brand. Also seven figures.

The clothes on her body are not from one of those big foreign luxury brands, but from a high-end domestic fashion label, a custom-made piece. The original poster has no idea what it costs.

Do you think a manager’s salary can really pay for this?

Now let’s look at the next picture. This is another car. I checked, and it is not under the company’s name either, so it is also hers personally.

I probably don’t need to introduce this one. Limited edition, over thirty million.

Now look at some of her other photos, the clothes and handbags she wears.

Even if they are not all outrageously expensive, she really has a lot of new outfits.

And her Weibo once posted a photo of her with Yue-jie. Look at the background. That is Shengjing Tower.

From this angle and position, that means it is Mingyue Huafu. Property prices in that development have already gone over one hundred thousand per square meter.

Do you think the manager owns a place there, or is she renting there?

Anyway, the apartments the company arranges for employees are not there.

Then I dug further back into earlier years.

1st floor: Sitting here waiting for the gossip.

2nd floor: Front row selling melon seeds, stools, and cola.

3rd floor: One pack of five-spice melon seeds, thanks.

4th floor: Saving a spot first. I’m curious about this manager too.

5th floor: Has someone finally started digging into this manager? Sitting properly and waiting, I’m super curious too.

6th floor: She is definitely not an ordinary manager. I actually suspected before that Wu Lin was getting these resources through some shady deal. I used to suspect other people, but now it seems the answer was right under our noses. The manager herself is the rich woman.

7th floor: Yue Wu just got lucky to land a breakout film.

8th floor: Don’t derail. This thread is about the manager.

9th floor, original poster: Here are the pictures, picture, picture.

Three photos were posted in a row, showing the manager entering and leaving high-end venues, as well as photos of her laughing and chatting closely with a well-known second-generation rich heir.

10th floor: Could it be that the manager herself is a rich second-generation heir? Or is she the one being kept, and then she in turn is keeping someone else?

11th floor: A nesting doll situation?

12th floor: Random passerby offering a few photos. I took these casually when I ran into them at a dinner. The quality is a bit trash. The man sitting opposite her is the boss of our rival company. He only has a son, no daughter, and the son is single, no daughter-in-law either.

The moment these photos were posted, the replies below immediately went off in a crooked direction.

13th floor: Is it what I think it is? If so, that’s disgusting.

14th floor: If that’s the case, then her goal definitely isn’t to stay just a manager, right? A celebrity’s income is on a completely different level from a manager’s. With her looks, she has the capital for it.

15th floor: Her face might not even be natural. She could have had plastic surgery.

16th floor: …

More and more people joined the discussion, and more and more photos were posted. Someone even made a tree diagram, laying out along a timeline who she had interacted with and what those people represented.

If you looked carefully, there were quite a lot of photos of Wang Yuyan. Because of her looks, and with phones so advanced now, people casually taking pictures would unintentionally capture her in frame whenever they saw someone that good-looking, even though she was not an artist.

After a night of buildup, the thread blew up. Everyone was talking about who exactly Yue Wu’s now-famous manager was.

Some were criticizing, others were simply curious.

As the popularity rose, someone influential came out and posted.

Let’s talk about a certain manager

I searched based on her name and found she had appeared in reports before. She was the runner-up in the science track in a certain year, went to a top-two university, double bachelor’s degrees, postgraduate at the same school. Her mother is Lin Yining, a university professor and calligrapher. Most importantly, she has a grandmother we are all familiar with.

Who is this manager’s grandmother?

Step outside and you will see a Five-Flavors restaurant. That belongs to her grandmother.

You all know who I’m talking about now, right? She’s a third-generation rich heir. Having those cars is completely normal.

And this picture, the car worth over thirty million, has appeared before. It was a birthday gift her grandmother gave her grandfather. She probably just took it out for a drive.

This time, the replies lined up neatly.

1st floor: OP is awesome, the manager is awesome!

2nd floor: OP is awesome, the manager is awesome!

3rd floor…

Someone noticed and asked Wang Yuyan whether she wanted the post deleted.

Wang Yuyan said, “No need. There’s nothing here that can’t be seen.”

She had known about it from the beginning and said nothing as things developed. Some of the photos had even been released by her herself. As the buzz grew, she watched her follower count on Weibo climb rapidly.

The most-liked new comment read:

“Went to buy oranges”: Came to admire a rich, fair, beautiful lady. Miss, do you need a leg accessory? The kind that can eat, drink, and act cute. [dog head]

Wang Yuyan gave it a like.

The reason she let it happen was because she planned to eventually branch out and establish her own studio.

Without Xinxing backing her, many things would no longer be as convenient. She needed to increase her visibility.

Originally, she had not had this idea. Original translation at HololoNovels dot com. But after her artist became popular, some people began making sarcastic remarks and trying to take credit. Of course Wang Yuyan would not allow that. But in a place with so many shareholders and factions, even with her grandmother behind her, her voice did not carry much weight. After taking a few losses, she came up with this plan.

Some people wanted to interview Wang Yuyan. Others wanted to interview Yu Xiang’an.

One of them was an old acquaintance, so Yu Xiang’an agreed to a phone interview.

Reporter: “What are your thoughts on your granddaughter working as a manager in the entertainment industry?”

Yu Xiang’an asked in return, “What would you like me to say? What I want to say is, whatever she wants to do, I won’t interfere. She’s already an adult. I respect her choices, and I hope you will respect them too.”

The media did not hear what they wanted and left disappointed. But not long after, another piece of news broke.

Wang Yuyan had taken her artists and gone independent. Her grandmother had lent her one hundred million as working capital.

One hundred million?

Even if it was a loan, whether it would be repaid or not was practically just a matter of their word.

As soon as this news came out, it drew massive attention.

People in the entertainment industry reached out, hoping to attach themselves to her. Those outside the industry reacted with envy at the sheer number.

Top comment, “Little Assistant Eating Melons”: I’m so jealous, so jealous! Under the lemon tree, it’s you and me!

“Entertainment Gossip”: I can’t take it anymore. My god, I’m so jealous. When I started a business and borrowed from my dad, he gave me twenty thousand.

“Gossip Account”: At least you could borrow. My family’s total assets don’t even reach twenty thousand. Starting a business like that is just a dream.

“Gentle Breeze”: One hundred million, so many zeros! Is this the world of the rich? Lending one hundred million to a granddaughter to start a business.

Everyone was full of envy. In reality, they had formally signed a loan agreement and even calculated interest.

They deliberately made the news public to showcase their strength and attract more newcomers.

The news buzzed for several days before another story overshadowed it, this time focusing on Yu Xiang’an.

They announced they had developed a nutritional supplement with life-extending effects and were recruiting volunteers, inviting those who met the criteria to sign up.

Netizens: ???!!!

Extend lifespan?!

That impressive?

User 1: Look at the description. It supposedly extends life by about two years. But eating well, living well, and paying attention to nutrition can already extend lifespan. Compared to before, if you improve your habits, of course you’ll live longer. Human lifespan isn’t fixed. How can you prove this extends life? This is a false proposition.

User 2 cautiously offered evidence: Do you know that her husband’s grandfather lived to one hundred and ten? And look at the couple’s faces. I feel like this “life extension” isn’t just talk. Looking forward to follow-up.

User 3: Same, looking forward to it. Aren’t they recruiting volunteers now? Let’s see the results first, then discuss whether it’s a scam.

User 4: Their products have always been reliable. Management hasn’t changed, so why would their direction suddenly shift? I don’t believe it. I support it. I asked my grandfather, and he wants to sign up.

…

Yu Qingshan also received many calls, asking whether his daughter and son-in-law gave him any special supplements in daily life.

Yu Qingshan thought carefully. “No, we just eat together. Nothing special. If there’s anything slightly different, it’s that we drink some tonic wine for health, but those are all products we already make. Nothing else.”

Since people could not get much information from Yu Qingshan, their attention shifted entirely to Lin Chuanbai and Yu Xiang’an.

Their progress had come from a spiritual peach finally ripening.

Neither of them ate it. They planned to wait for the next batch.

Part of the peach was turned into juice for Yu Qingshan to drink. The rest became experimental material for Lin Chuanbai.

This time, he was not disappointed. From the ripe spiritual peach, he discovered a unique substance. Based on his judgment, it could have life-extending effects.

Extending lifespan essentially meant revitalizing cellular activity and increasing the number of times cells could divide, thereby achieving longevity.

Lin Chuanbai had already conducted experiments on animals. Now all that remained was human trials.

Other companies were watching closely, paying particular attention to those signing up.

After all, who would not want a longer life?

Especially those in power, who were mostly older and even more fixated on longevity.

🌱🌿 🫧🍃

Among the twin daughters born to Lin Yining, the elder sister, Wang Yushan, had more ideas of her own and a firmer sense of purpose. Even before entering university, she had already mapped out a plan for her future.

The younger sister, Wang Yuyan, tended to go with the flow. She attended a good university, but had no clear direction for her future. When she saw her sister take the civil service exam, she followed suit, but found that she could not adapt to that path.

During their four years of undergraduate study and two years of graduate school, both sisters lived rather freely. Studying was never difficult for either of them.

Beyond academics, their university lives were colorful and full of variety. They made many new friends and discovered many new sides of themselves.

The two sisters also dabbled in investments, with both gains and losses.

Each of them sold off a property and converted it into cash. The elder sister invested her money into a project run by her senior schoolmates, while the younger sister invested in a television drama.

Second-generation circles have their own social worlds. Within that circle, the sisters were considered well-behaved girls. Some people inherited their family businesses at a young age and had bright futures ahead. Others were idle, uneducated heirs, and some had no bottom line at all, capable of any wrongdoing.

Naturally, the sisters aimed to become the first kind.

When an acquaintance approached Wang Yuyan, she read through the script, asked about the lead actors, and decided to take a share.

Online dramas did not require much capital. Compared to projects that easily ran into the tens of millions, this was small-scale. Wang Yuyan was not worried about being laughed at. Everyone knew each other well enough. Her family was strict, and she did not have much cash on hand. “Those big projects are beyond me right now. I’ve never even been exposed to them. Let me ease into this first.”

This low-budget web drama only required a few million in total investment, and Wang Yuyan contributed one million.

When she saw the finished product, she knew she would not even click on the next episode. She was a bit disappointed, though it was not entirely without merit. In the end, after dividends, she lost a little over one hundred thousand yuan. Her first investment had failed.

For her second investment, Wang Yuyan turned to stocks. She bought three: one rose, one fell, and one stayed roughly the same. In the end, she made a small four-figure profit, but factoring in the time she spent, it was effectively a loss.

She withdrew from that as well and decided to go back to investing in television dramas. If she happened to hit a breakout hit, the returns could multiply. This time, she learned from experience. She read the script herself and only proceeded after confirming it was interesting. She also positioned herself as the largest investor, keeping out unnecessary outside interference so the production could proceed properly.

In her first investment, although the male and female leads had not been changed, the role of the daughter had been altered. If she had seen the revised script beforehand, she would never have invested.

This time, Wang Yuyan did quite well. Her returns doubled.

That was the difference between having experience and not. The first time, she had been too lax, trusting too much simply because they were acquaintances.

That second female lead had been her friend’s “friend.”

She had learned her lesson.

No matter who you do business with, you cannot be careless.

After that, Wang Yuyan made a few more investments here and there, some short-term, some long-term, but all relatively small-scale. She did not devote much effort to managing them.

After all, she was still a student.

She was also pursuing a double degree.

Later, she took the graduate school entrance exam. It only made her more certain that she did not like her major. So she followed her sister and took the civil service exam. After passing, she resigned in less than a year.

That path was not for her.

Though it was a path many people could only dream of, she had the freedom to choose otherwise.

After relaxing at home for a while, she went to her grandmother. “Grandma, I want to try doing business and see how I do on this path.”

She was not like her mother, who could practice calligraphy day after day for decades, nor did she have any particularly strong personal passions. Original translation at HololoNovels dot com. But she knew she needed a career. Otherwise, she would just be living off others without purpose. She did not have grand ambitions, but she also did not want to become a freeloader.

So she decided to spend some time working with her grandmother. If it did not work out, she would try something else. And if that still did not work, she would try again.

Before turning thirty, she had time to explore at her own pace.

Her grandmother readily agreed and placed her in the Meiyan business department.

Meiyan was a well-known brand in the country.

Its best advertisement was her grandmother herself. At her age, her skin condition surpassed that of many young people.

Its two most famous product lines were anti-aging and spot-removal and whitening. These two lines were the pillars of the brand.

Naturally, they were also expensive.

At the business department, she essentially started as a salesperson. When she learned of this arrangement, Wang Yuyan felt a bit awkward.

After all, it was uncommon to start from such a low position within one’s own family business. It seemed her grandmother did not approve of parachuting people into high positions.

When she had asked her sister what kind of position her grandmother might give her, her sister had guessed it would likely be a small department manager, or perhaps a nominal deputy manager title without any real subordinates.

Her mother thought the same.

None of them expected her to be placed directly into a high-ranking role. That would not match her grandmother’s personality. Her grandmother preferred steady, step-by-step progress.

After the initial surprise, Wang Yuyan accepted it. Starting from the bottom just meant working hard.

At first, she found it difficult to put herself out there and actively promote products to customers. She would only stand there with a polite smile. Even so, her performance was not poor, because she had the advantage of her own appearance. Customers would see her skin and ask what products she used.

With such a living example in front of them, a considerable number of those who asked ended up placing orders.

That gave her confidence.

If she was going to do something, she would do it to the best of her ability. Taking the initiative to promote products was just the beginning, and it turned out not to be as difficult as she had imagined.

She already had knowledge of clothing and accessories. After some additional learning, she could roughly estimate the value of what people were wearing. Combined with her looks, she had a natural advantage in sales.

After four months, she ranked first in performance for the first time. After that, something clicked. Those fair-weather friends of hers had to shop somewhere anyway, so why not buy from her?

Come place your orders.

Now it was time to test those friendships.

At first, people did not even know she was working as a sales associate. Once they found out, what could they say? Buy, buy, buy.

The products would not expire anytime soon, so of course they would support their friend.

With that, Wang Yuyan’s performance became outstanding. Soon after, she received a promotion and was appointed business department manager for Meiyan in a certain district of the city, overseeing more than a dozen counters.

Because her résumé was still shallow, some people were dissatisfied.

Especially the deputy managers. They had worked hard for this position for a long time. Why should she get it? Their performance had not been bad either.

For Wang Yuyan, this was a challenge. If she handled it poorly, she would be sidelined.

Some suspected that she had been parachuted in through connections. And she had.

But Wang Yuyan had no intention of revealing that. Even if it brought people to her side in the short term, would they truly respect her?

Yu Xiang’an had been quietly observing her progress.

If she did not like being a civil servant, she could choose another path. But Yu Xiang’an hoped she would understand that no matter what line of work she chose, none of them were easy.

Every path came with its own set of problems.

Sometimes you could take shortcuts, but there would always be moments when shortcuts were impossible.

Wang Yuyan’s choice also stirred some whispers.

The family business of Yu Xiang’an’s household, who would it eventually be passed on to? By taking this path, was Wang Yuyan positioning herself to compete for it?

Among Wang Yuyan’s classmates and friends, many came from business families. In terms of economic scale, her grandmother’s enterprise ranked at the top. Yet compared to them, they all kept an exceptionally low profile.

Other people’s children had mansions and luxury cars, yachts and helicopters, but what about them?

As one of Wang Yuyan’s friends joked, they lived so quietly and modestly it was almost as if the family were on the verge of bankruptcy.

Word of it also reached Xu Zhenzhen. The person relaying the news did not embellish anything, but the look in their eyes gave them away, and Xu Zhenzhen could tell there was a hint of watching for drama.

Xu Zhenzhen kept her composure. “The child has graduated. If she’s interested in the industry, then let her go. It’s the family business. Learning more is a good thing.”

After the person left, Xu Zhenzhen sat in her department for quite a while, thinking.

She was a military doctor assigned to a unit. She had met Lin Yihong when he was injured and she was assigned to care for him. That was how they came to know each other, and later, through a matchmaker, they got together. Now their son was already in his first year of college.

And he was attending a military academy.

Barring any surprises, he would follow in his father’s footsteps in the future. Naturally, that meant he could not get involved in business and could only receive dividends.

So how exactly was the enormous family fortune on his grandparents’ side supposed to be handled?

When she married Lin Yihong, she had not known his parents were this wealthy.

If one had to put it plainly, marrying Lin Yihong had been marrying up for her.

Though not by too much. For three generations, the Xu family had also been part of the military system.

Still, if anyone said Xu Zhenzhen felt no envy toward the family fortune of her child’s grandparents, that would definitely be a lie.

Who did not like money?

Money could buy many things. It was not as if she was stealing or robbing for it. If she obtained it, she could spend it freely.

Although his parents still looked very healthy and likely had a long time ahead of them, had they decided anything about an heir yet?

Did they intend to hand it over to their granddaughter?

Then what about their side?

The more Xu Zhenzhen thought about it, the more she felt she needed to ask Lin Yihong.

She wanted to know whether he had any idea what his parents planned to do.

Were those businesses meant to be managed by a professional manager in the future, or what?

When Lin Yihong came home, he first took off his military uniform and changed into comfortable pajamas. Xu Zhenzhen brought over a plate of fruit, set it down, and said, “I need to talk to you about something.”

Lin Yihong stretched a little, his joints cracking audibly.

“What is it?”

Xu Zhenzhen said, “Someone told me today that Yuyan has gone to help her grandmother manage the business. Did you know about it? Are your parents planning to hand their business over to her in the future?” She got straight to the point.

She did not beat around the bush.

It was not as if she were doing anything wrong.

Of course Lin Yihong had already asked about it. At his age, there was no way he could choose to inherit the family business. When their son was taking the college entrance exam, he had hesitated for a long time, but the boy’s choice had been the same as his mother’s, so there had been nothing more to say. Original translation at HololoNovels dot com. Naturally, they had to follow their child’s wishes and let him choose the path he wanted.

Once the choice was confirmed, Lin Yihong had called his mother to tell her the news. Then he had asked whether, in the future, the family business would be managed by professional managers.

The answer had hit him squarely. His mother had said this:

“Your father and I are both in excellent health. If you’re worried about the distribution of the family property, then let me say something blunt. With your line of work, if you don’t take proper care of yourself, there’s no telling, we might outlive you. This family business was built by us, so we have the right to dispose of it as we see fit. Of course, once we’re gone, it will go to you children. Your father and I do not favor sons over daughters. You and your sister are both our children. As I’ve always said, if neither of you wants to manage the business, then after your father and I are gone, we’ll hire a professional manager. I’ll also establish a family trust. If one of the children is willing, then we’ll see whether she can shoulder that burden.”

Lin Yihong had felt thoroughly stabbed in the heart. With his great-grandfather’s longevity as precedent, he truly did not dare say he would outlive his parents.

He was healthy now, but once he got older, who could say?

And when it came to business, both he and his sister had had little exposure to it, so they did not really have much standing to voice opinions. For example, when it came to the family’s charitable donations, he had only learned about them after the money had already been given.

Then he asked how much of their annual net profits his parents gave to charity every year, things like building Hope Schools, repairing bridges and roads, and so on. The numbers together formed an astronomical sum.

A lot of people did charity for show, but his parents were sincere about it. Many of their donations were never even reported publicly. Only people who specifically paid attention to such matters knew about them. Watching that money flow out in great white streams, did it hurt?

Yes, it did, because altogether it was more than what his parents had given him.

When he and his sister were admitted to university, their parents had already prepared houses and storefronts for them and separated their household registrations. Later, when the siblings each started their own families, his sister received a dowry, and he was given a sum of money on his side as well.

At the time, their parents had said, “This is for you to start your own households. From now on you each have your own little family. To put it in old-fashioned terms, once the children are married, the family divides and each branch lives its own life. From here on, you’ll make your own plans for your lives. Your parents may subsidize you, or they may not. You’ll have to manage for yourselves. Don’t go spending everything, because if you do, there won’t be any replacement.”

After that, he had been extraordinarily well-off. What his parents had given him had already made him a wealthy man. A large part of the reason his life was so comfortable now was because of that.

The salary they actually earned was not much at all. Forget everything else, if he relied only on his own salary and wanted to buy a house in the capital now, that alone would consume his entire life.

Even so, in his everyday life, Lin Yihong remained very frugal. He worried that a luxurious lifestyle would erode his willpower. Once a person got used to good things, going back to worse ones would require effort.

When he did not need the money, he put it into financial management. When he did need it, he took it out and used it. If the families of some of his comrades were in hardship or had suffered an accident and came to borrow money from him, he lent it.

If there were minors whose parents were gone, he would donate to them too.

Money gave a person courage. With this sum behind him, he had a way out, so when others tried to tempt him with sugar-coated bullets, Lin Yihong remained especially steadfast.

Offer him money? Did he lack money?

When it came to matters of principle, no amount of money could change them.

As for not favoring sons over daughters, he was long used to that. Ever since childhood, whatever their parents prepared had always come in doubles, basically identical.

Now, hearing his wife speak this way, it was obvious she had some thoughts about the matter.

Lin Yihong knew that although people said men and women were equal, in the vast majority of families, if there was no son then that was one thing, but if there was a son, the family business would generally go to him.

But his family was not like that. And if one had to say it, the one who had spent the most time by his parents’ side was his sister. The one who had shown more filial devotion was also his sister and his niece. If the larger share of the family business went to his sister, he had no objections.

He did not feel much about receiving his own portion, because to get it meant his parents would have died, and then it would become an inheritance. He did not want his parents to die at all. Was the money in his own hands not already enough for him to use?

Lin Yihong repeated what his mother had meant back then: “Don’t think too much. Have you been working overtime again these past few days? If you don’t pay attention to taking care of yourself, you’ll age quickly. Think about how long my great-grandfather lived. My parents are in even better shape than he was. They hardly ever get sick, they’re incredibly healthy, and our family isn’t short on money. Once you have enough, money is just a number. If we don’t take care of ourselves, we might as well think about what to do with our money for our son after we’re gone. Should we transfer it to him in advance and save on inheritance tax?”

Xu Zhenzhen drew in a breath. Her reaction was exactly the same as Lin Yihong’s had been when he heard Yu Xiang’an say those words. It stung.

If she did not take good care of herself, then maybe she really would not outlive her parents-in-law. And if it came to that, then none of this would matter anyway. She would not even be alive.

Thinking that way, Xu Zhenzhen felt that she must really have been too exhausted from all the overtime lately. Otherwise, how could she have forgotten something so obvious?

Isn’t this just worrying over nothing?

…

To bring those two deputy managers to heel, Wang Yuyan put in no small amount of effort. She had no intention of being looked down on.

Even if she had been parachuted in, she was a capable one.

Everything would be judged by results.

Once she had subdued her subordinates, Yu Xiang’an took a more democratic approach this time and asked her, “Where do you want to go next?”

Wang Yuyan hesitated for a moment. “Grandma, where do you think I should go? Why don’t you decide for me? I don’t know where I’ll end up, but that makes it feel fresh and exciting. I’ll listen to you.”

Yu Xiang’an said, “Alright.”

Yu Xiang’an then sent her to a food city, where Wang Yuyan became an inspector.

She was responsible for checking the hygiene of the businesses there, their licenses, whether larger shops were bullying customers, and all sorts of miscellaneous issues.

For this, she underwent additional training. Without it, she would not even have known what to inspect.

It was necessary. If a shop’s hygiene was seriously substandard or even dangerous, they themselves would also be implicated.

Occasional spot checks served as a safeguard for both sides.

After arriving there, Wang Yuyan’s pace of life slowed down noticeably. She would stroll through one shop, then wander into another. After working there for a month, she gained three pounds.

The number on the scale left her in disbelief. It had only been one month.

She knew she had eaten a bit more during inspections, but wasn’t this too much?

She had clearly been restraining herself.

Looking at the softness on her stomach, Wang Yuyan felt like she could cry.

This wouldn’t do. Starting tomorrow, she absolutely had to stop eating like this.

Taking a bite here and a bite there did not seem like much, but the sheer number of bites added up.

While reflecting on this, she even asked her colleagues for advice. Her colleagues simply patted their own bellies. “What is there to ask? Look at this. What don’t you understand?”

Wang Yuyan fell silent.

It was too real, and frankly terrifying.

Not a single one of her colleagues was slim. That was horrifying. She absolutely could not go on like this.

When Yu Xiang’an later asked how her work had been going, she was met with Wang Yuyan’s tearful complaint. “Grandma, this is the first time I’ve realized how weak my self-control is. I’ll work out properly.” For the sake of her waist, she would give it her all.

Yu Xiang’an burst out laughing.

“Besides gaining weight, did you gain anything else?”

There were other gains.

Compared to the Meiyan sales department, life here was far more relaxed, and her colleagues were very friendly. In the sales department there had been competitive pressure, but here it felt almost like coasting toward retirement.

There was not much she needed to do. As long as she stuck to principles and paid attention to detail, inspections were enough.

But she would not remain an inspector forever, so she also took the opportunity to observe other things.

For example, foot traffic and customer preferences.

In any given city, theirs was not the only one. There were others, and some food streets were even organized by the government.

After seeing enough, she realized that most food streets and food courts were quite similar. They all offered the same mix of stinky tofu, spicy hot pot, skewers, grilled meat, cold noodles, hot pot, sushi, chicken wings, chicken feet, pig trotters, everything thrown together.

Because everyone had everything, it was hard to stand out. At that point, the advantage came down to taste and price. Whichever food court had more delicious options and more affordable pricing would attract more foot traffic and customers.

Her grandmother’s food city had one advantage: it had been operating for a long time, with many returning customers.

Rent was also relatively low, which reduced costs for merchants. As a result, their prices could be slightly cheaper than others. That small difference should not be underestimated.

Many people would walk one or two kilometers just to save that one yuan.

Another key advantage was the mature surrounding infrastructure. Besides food, there were clothing stores, shoe shops, and other retail options. They complemented each other, so it would be strange if business were poor.

As for flaws, they did exist.

More than once, Wang Yuyan heard long-time customers looking at menus and saying there were no new items, that many shops lacked innovation.

Many people like trying new things. Even if it turns out not to be good and they will not return, they still want to try at least once. Who knows, they might discover something special.

This mindset is very common, including in Wang Yuyan herself.

Yu Xiang’an asked her, “If it were up to you, how would you improve this? You’ve seen it. The shops that don’t do well can’t hold on for long because the rent is not cheap, and new businesses will replace them. The ones that survive already have good business and stable customers, so they do not spend much energy on innovation.”

Thinking further, Wang Yuyan felt that from this perspective, the issue was not too serious. The market naturally weeds out the weak. Shops that are not good enough cannot survive, and those that remain already have customers who like them. In that case, they are less inclined to risk innovating with uncertain new products, while struggling businesses will desperately try new things to stay afloat.

That way, a sense of novelty still emerges.

Yu Xiang’an said, “Stay for another two months.”

During those two months, she observed more carefully and realized that menus were not completely fixed.

They changed with the seasons, introducing seasonal items.

What she had noticed earlier was true, but for the most part, it was sufficient.

As for introducing a new item every week, most businesses simply did not have the time, energy, or money for that.

After three months, Wang Yuyan’s probation period ended, and she resigned.

As usual, when asked where she wanted to go next, she again let her grandmother decide.

Each new workplace exposed her to things she had never encountered before, allowing her to truly experience the problems involved.

Every new place and new job brought different insights.

It all felt very fresh.

Wang Yuyan was then assigned to a seaside resort hotel to work in logistics.

Before she went, her grandmother gave her a question: if she were to host a wedding banquet for over a thousand people, would she be confident?

Her grandmother wanted her answer after one month.

In less than a month, Wang Yuyan submitted her answer: she could not do it.

The hotel did have a venue large enough for such an event, but organizing it was a massive undertaking, something not often encountered.

Tables, chairs, decorations, the host, food, drinks, service, all of it posed a challenge for the hotel.

Half a month after arriving, she had the chance to participate in organizing a wedding banquet for six to seven hundred people. It nearly wore her out completely.

The bride had many demands regarding the setup. The customer was always right, so they had no choice but to coordinate with the wedding planning company to satisfy her.

For most people, a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Wang Yuyan fully understood the desire for perfection, but this was truly exhausting.

Just the floral arrangements were revised more than ten times.

Though unmarried, Wang Yuyan already felt exhausted by weddings.

The hotel was not even the direct target of the bride’s nitpicking. That burden fell on the wedding company, yet it was still enough to give her a headache. The menu went through repeated revisions, and there were also the theme, the colors and patterns of tables and chairs, and so on.

It was overwhelming.

The service industry was truly not easy.

With easygoing clients, things were manageable. With difficult ones, it was utterly draining.

Lin Chuanbai looked at his granddaughter’s exhausted appearance and smiled at Yu Xiang’an. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

Yu Xiang’an did not deny it.

This client was indeed difficult. She had originally booked another hotel, but was dissatisfied with the communication and chose to switch, even giving up her deposit. She did not lack money.

Clients like this were hard to deal with, but they were also the most effective for training someone.

Meanwhile, Lin Chuanbai found himself wondering something else. After going through an experience like organizing such a wedding, would she end up developing a psychological aversion to weddings in the future?

🌱🌿 🫧🍃

Today is Lin Duzhong’s 110th birthday.

A centenarian may be rare in their country, yet not entirely so. There are always places blessed with longevity, like certain well-known “long-life villages.” Yu Xiang’an had even invested in one such place. The mountains and waters there were genuinely excellent. She built a resort hotel, and in that village it was common to see people in their eighties and nineties, even those over a hundred.

Naturally, many people liked the idea of retiring there, believing the feng shui was exceptional.

Within their own circle, Lin Duzhong also had quite a reputation.

He himself was not a particularly famous physician, but his descendants were accomplished.

His grandchildren had done well.

His great-grandchildren were growing up, and though the younger generation were still mostly in school, judging by their past behavior, none seemed like wastrels who would squander the family legacy.

More than once, people had wanted to interview him about the secrets of his longevity.

Some people live long but suffer for many of those years. Lin Duzhong was different. His aging was natural. He could still walk, eat, and sleep. His eyesight had declined, so he wore reading glasses. His hearing wasn’t as sharp, so he used a hearing aid. With these, he looked much like any ordinary elderly person.

To live long without suffering, that was true good fortune.

So even though his birthday celebration was not a grand public banquet, many people still wished to come and share in the blessing.

In the end, no outsiders were invited. A family gathering was enough, and it spared the old man from exhaustion.

Even so, the number of relatives alone was considerable.

Lin Duzhong had three children. Over the years, they had children and grandchildren, generation after generation.

Take Lin Houbai for example. He had four children and six grandchildren.

Everyone came.

Lin Yihong and Wang Lipan adjusted their leave to attend.

People might skip other banquets, but for someone who had reached such an age, everyone wanted to partake in the blessing.

After all, who wouldn’t wish for a long, healthy life and the chance to witness more of the world’s prosperity?

As the eldest son, Lin Houbai would normally have handled the arrangements. But he was nearly ninety now.

His health was not as good as Lin Duzhong’s. While the latter could still move about freely, Lin Houbai had difficulty walking and relied mostly on a wheelchair.

Looking down the generations, the one with the most time and ability was Lin Chuanbai, so he took charge of organizing everything.

The banquet was not held at home. It would have been inconvenient, and cleaning up afterward would be troublesome. Instead, it was arranged at a hotel.

Everyone only needed to arrive on time.

Lin Duzhong’s wish was simple: to have a meal together and take some photos as keepsakes.

He rarely mentioned his birthday. After turning one hundred, he had stopped celebrating it, feeling it was too much trouble. Every extra year lived was already a blessing.

Now ten years had passed since that centennial.

In those ten years, more children had been born, and new members had joined the family.

Since he proposed holding a celebration this time, everyone came.

The host was thoughtful and replaced the stage steps with a ramp.

Standing on stage, Lin Duzhong smiled broadly, revealing a full set of teeth.

They were dentures, but for today’s occasion, he wore them.

His voice was no longer strong, so he spoke into a microphone.

“Today is my birthday. Thank you all for taking the time to come. I have lived a full life. I retired in my sixties, and have lived another forty or fifty years since. By then, my children were grown and heads of their own households, so I no longer needed to manage your affairs. And you did not disappoint me. Each of you has built a prosperous life. I am very happy, very proud. You have surpassed me. That is a good thing. But those of you born after the 1990s—you did not experience the hardships your parents went through.”

As he spoke, his gaze drifted to the twin sisters, Wang Yushan and Wang Yuyan.

He had watched them grow up.

In terms of money, they had been raised with some restraint, but in every other aspect, they had been given the best.

From birth, they had advantages others did not.

While others stood at the starting line, they were practically at the finish.

Even if they chose not to strive and simply lived comfortably, what their family had given them would ensure a lifetime without worry.

He had never imagined such a day.

His descendants were thriving across the military, politics, culture, and economy.

Back then, he had only hoped that one of his three children would inherit his medical skills and surpass him.

In the end, only his daughter studied medicine.

Later, when his second grandson Lin Chuanbai expressed interest in medicine, he had been overjoyed.

Though Chuanbai eventually chose pharmaceutical research over practicing as a doctor, Lin Duzhong was still satisfied.

Their family had passed down medical knowledge for four generations.

With such a skill, no matter what upheaval came, they would never lack a way to make a living.

Looking further back, their ancestor had been a mere apprentice to a doctor, secretly learning medicine. With a few books and experience, he became a barefoot doctor. At that time, being a physician already commanded respect.

The second generation inherited the craft and worked even harder, eventually settling in Baishi County after years of wandering like rootless duckweed.

His grandfather had told him these stories to inspire him to study hard, and he had not disappointed.

He had even left the county and gone to the city.

If not for that turbulent period, he would have settled there permanently instead of returning with his grandson.

As for Lin Houbai, he had been an exception.

Lin Duzhong had wanted him to study medicine, but he could not manage it and later joined the army.

Fortunately, he returned safely and built a family.

Lin Duzhong had hoped that someone among his grandchildren would carry on the tradition, but none did, until Lin Chuanbai came along.

Strictly speaking, the most accomplished was his eldest grandson Lin Guangbai, who governed a region.

But in his heart, Lin Duzhong favored Lin Chuanbai the most.

Though he did not prescribe medicine, the drugs he developed had helped countless people.

Most of them were derived from traditional Chinese medicine.

He had seen people disparage Chinese medicine as inferior or even as superstition.

Yet his grandson’s work had proven them wrong.

If they truly believed Chinese medicine was inferior, then they should not use it at all.

The highly effective diabetes treatment developed in his grandson’s lab was also rooted in traditional medicine.

So many medicines in daily life came from it.

What right did people have to look down on what their ancestors had passed down?

Lin Duzhong knew that some did not truly believe these criticisms. They were driven by foreign capital trying to seize a share of the market, deliberately spreading discrediting narratives.

That, to him, was even more detestable.

They knew the truth, yet distorted it for profit.

His gaze shifted to his youngest son, Lin Jiqing.

Among his descendants, some were outstanding, and some were not.

Of his three children, the least accomplished was this youngest son.

He was honest but dull, content with mediocrity, staying in the same position for decades without change.

Fortunately, his son did not take after him.

Before the wave of layoffs hit, the family had already built up a children’s clothing business. It was not enough to make them truly wealthy, but it was enough to send their child abroad for study.

Studying overseas was expensive, but judging by how easily they managed it, the cost was within their means. That was enough.

Compared with those who were truly well-off, their life might seem worlds apart.

But Lin Duzhong had never believed in forcing equality among his descendants. If he had, the capable ones would only feel disheartened.

He also never insisted that the successful must support the less successful, and that was why the family could still live together in harmony.

Those who felt dissatisfied were kept in check by others.

Looking back on his life, Lin Duzhong felt, just as he had said, that it had all been worthwhile.

After saying a few words the younger generation might not have liked to hear, he prepared gifts for everyone.

Regardless of generation or gender, each person received a set.

There were gold and silver ornaments, along with stamps and old books he had collected over the years.

Yu Xiang’an received a pair of gold locks engraved with auspicious cloud patterns, heavy in the hand, along with two books about ingredients.

Other items varied, but everyone received gold ornaments. With so many people, it must have cost a great deal.

Lin Duzhong laughed. “I haven’t had many expenses all these years. Gold wasn’t as expensive before, so I saved some for you all. Gold holds its value. As for the other things, they may or may not be useful. You can decide what to do with them.”

He had a pension, and with the support of his children and grandchildren, he had indeed saved a considerable sum over the years. But after giving out all these gifts, his savings were nearly gone.

Receiving gifts was a joyful thing.

They, in turn, also prepared gifts for him. But he had made it clear beforehand that it was the thought that counted, and nothing expensive should be given.

So what they brought were practical things, food, clothing, and daily necessities.

Nothing costly.

Xu Haili received a pair of heavy gold bracelets. She loved such things.

Lin Duzhong had taken everyone’s preferences into account. Though all were gold, each piece was different in style. Not a single one was repeated.

Li Yuqiao received a pair of antique-style gold hairpins, exactly to her taste.

Lin Chuanbai received a gold plaque, similar to a gold bar. It was something to keep at home, not to wear, as it would be too heavy.

While Lin Duzhong was speaking with others, Lin Guangbai pulled Lin Chuanbai aside.

Frowning, he said, “Doesn’t Grandpa seem a bit off to you?”

The things he said, the gifts he gave, it all felt like he was leaving something behind.

“Is there something wrong with his health?”

Lin Chuanbai fell silent for a moment. “He’s been sleeping more and more. His energy is declining. The doctors checked and said it’s just the natural course of things.”

Lin Guangbai understood. For a moment, he did not know what to say. His feelings were tangled.

In the face of life and death, no matter how capable one was, there was nothing to be done.

Lin Houbai had sensed it too.

Even at such a celebratory banquet, there was little joy in him. But he had long grown used to keeping a stern face, so few noticed anything amiss.

After the banquet, those who had come from afar stayed at the hotel. Lin Chuanbai took the rest home.

Once home, Lin Duzhong held Lin Chuanbai’s hand and said, “You have the character of a good physician. That makes me very happy. I hope you will carry it forward and never forget your original intentions.”

There were medicines Lin Chuanbai could have priced high for great profit, but he chose instead to keep them affordable.

Not common cold remedies, but treatments for serious illnesses, drugs that were typically very expensive. Yet what he developed remained at the lowest end of that price range.

“What you do will bring you merit. In your next life, things will go smoothly.”

Next life?

Would that mean returning to their original world?

Or simply living out another life here and then disappearing completely?

Lin Chuanbai’s thoughts drifted.

There were already things about them that defied logic, but as for something even less tangible, like spirits, neither he nor Yu Xiang’an had ever encountered such things. This seemed to be an ordinary, material world.

So perhaps after death, there was simply nothing.

Did merit and blessings truly exist?

If their own chance to live again in this world came from saving others and doing good deeds, then what of those who had done even more good? What kind of reward would they receive?

The unknown inspired awe.

They did not realize that after they became wealthy and capable, their charitable work had become widely recognized. The public might not see it often, but those in higher circles were well aware.

The day after his 110th birthday, during his afternoon nap, Lin Duzhong slept longer than usual.

When someone went in to check on him, he had already stopped breathing.

His expression was peaceful.

He had long made arrangements for after his death. He wished to be cremated, and his ashes returned to his hometown to be buried with his wife. She had waited so long.

At his funeral, wreaths were sent from many sectors of society, including from figures who often appeared on national news.

Gu Shi also came to pay his respects.

He had known Lin Duzhong through the hospital where he worked.

They had grown familiar over time, speaking only of health, never mentioning Lin Yining.

Lin Duzhong knew Gu Shi had sought Yining out again after returning to the country.

Gu Shi had asked the questions that had long lingered in his mind. After that, he never came again, maintaining only a polite acquaintance with her.

He was not without regret, but there was no turning back.

If he persisted, the Lin and Wang families had countless ways to make things difficult for him.

—

Less than half a year after Lin Duzhong passed, Lin Houbai followed.

His health had never been as strong. Old injuries from the battlefield had taken their toll. Still, nearing ninety was a long life.

Li Yuqiao wept bitterly, her eyes swollen. It was hard to tell whether she mourned him or herself.

She had hoped her son would inherit most of Lin Houbai’s political influence, but in the end it went to Lin Guangbai.

Her son Tian Dong was doing well, holding a leadership position, but he could not compare. The two brothers could not both rise to the top.

His future was set. His authority would remain limited, and financially he would only have his pension.

Worse, she had no grandson.

Without a grandson, the family line would end.

Though she loved her granddaughter, it was not the same.

She was also on poor terms with her daughter-in-law. Now that Lin Houbai was gone, she would have to live with them.

Given how things had been between them before, would her daughter-in-law treat her well?

The more she thought about it, the harder she cried.

After a lifetime of effort, this was not the ending she had wanted.

After handling two funerals in succession, Lin Chuanbai and Yu Xiang’an became even more attentive to Yu Qingshan’s health.

He seemed in good condition for now.

But they would not take that for granted.

Yu Qingshan’s daily routine now included many more medical checkups. He knew it was because the younger generation worried about him, but he said nothing. In his own view, he could still eat well and sleep well, so he probably wouldn’t be meeting the King of Hell anytime soon.

Physically, he was fine. But it was also true that he lacked energy and motivation.

That was what made Yu Xiang’an start thinking.

If one had to point to a reason why the three elders had lived such long lives, there was one key contributor, the spiritual peaches from the space.

These peaches took a long time to ripen, and given Lin Duzhong’s age, he likely would not have lived to see them fully mature. So they had picked one early for study. In the end, Lin Chuanbai used the unripe fruit to produce a kind of juice. Experiments showed that rabbits who consumed it lived longer.

It did not extend their lifespan beyond natural limits, but the effect was real.

Because the substance could not be fully analyzed, Lin Chuanbai could not determine how much of Lin Duzhong’s longevity, reaching 110, was due to the “peach juice.” He could only conclude that its effects varied by individual constitution.

After all, Lin Duzhong, Lin Houbai, and Yu Qingshan had all consumed the same amount, yet their lifespans differed.

The reason lay in their physical condition. Lin Duzhong had always been robust. Lin Houbai had old injuries and a weaker foundation, which eventually confined him to a wheelchair and led to an earlier passing. Yu Qingshan, on the other hand, had maintained his health well and could likely live into his nineties without issue.

Even though she herself was no longer young, the thought of Yu Qingshan passing away still unsettled Yu Xiang’an.

When other people lost their parents, one could say “my condolences.” But when it happened to oneself, hearing those words often came with a sense of numbness. Only later, in everyday moments, would it sink in that the person waiting at home for dinner was gone, that the one sitting in front of the television watching the evening news and scolding her for spending too freely would never appear again.

Just imagining that sense of grievance and grief, Yu Xiang’an shook her head and refused to think further.

Because if she did, she would inevitably think of her parents in her original world. Original translation at HololoNovels dot com. 
So much time had passed, they might already be gone. Had they forgotten their daughter who had left so early?

No matter how old one was, having parents meant still being someone’s child. It gave a sense of security, a place of refuge.

Now, Lin Chuanbai was still working to analyze the composition of the spiritual peach. If it could be applied broadly, even if it did not extend lifespan, simply helping people reach eighty or ninety would already be an extraordinary achievement.

At present, the country’s average lifespan was only in the seventies. An extra decade could change many things.

Lin Chuanbai’s medicinal garden was now filled not only with ginseng but also with various instruments. He also had a private laboratory in the real world, one that moved with him. Wherever he went, the lab followed. He could enter it whenever he wished.

After returning, he went back into seclusion to continue his research.

Meanwhile, Yu Xiang’an looked at Yu Qingshan, who seemed listless, and began to think of ways to give him something to focus on. Simply put, she wanted to give him something to do, something light, not too tiring, not mentally exhausting.

Yu Qingshan spent most of his time in the Special Zone. He was not used to living elsewhere. He preferred the southern climate.

Summers were hot, but there was air conditioning, and one could travel to cooler places. Winters, however, barely felt like winters anymore. There were only a handful of days cold enough for heavy coats.

Traveling far was no longer appealing to him. He lacked the energy and had no interest in long trips.

These days, when he went out, it was mostly to buy breakfast and take a walk, or occasionally, with Li Dazhu, to check on their shops. But even that took effort. And if Li Dazhu drove him, the car’s license plate could be recognized, making it impossible to conduct quiet, unannounced inspections.

After some thought, Yu Xiang’an said, “Dad, there are people managing things already. Even if you don’t go check, it’s handled. How about this, what do you think about opening an exhibition hall?”

Yu Qingshan: ???

Over the years, Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai had turned over certain items that could not legally be privately owned to the state, while keeping the rest.

If they opened an exhibition hall, these items could be displayed publicly. They could say they had been exchanged for food long ago and buried underground when private ownership was not allowed.

Some of these items were of little value. Others could fetch millions at auction.

Because the collection was vast and varied, they had hired multiple experts to appraise, classify, and catalog everything.

There were antiques, as well as more recent items.

For example, currency issued before the second set of RMB in 1955, like the old ten-thousand-yuan notes, which were equivalent to one yuan in the later system.

The denomination had decreased, but purchasing power remained real.

There were also old marriage certificates, once styled like award certificates, unlike the small booklets used today.

Then there were ration coupons, grain coupons, sugar coupons, cloth coupons, things that had once been essential to daily life. The younger generation, like the twin sisters, had never used them. They had only seen them occasionally in books and had no real understanding of how they worked.

Ancient items were displayed in one section, modern ones in another.

Seeing these things stirred Yu Qingshan’s memories.

He would point to them and explain, “One catty of grain coupons, half a liang of sugar coupons, one chi of cloth coupons…”

Young people did not understand, but he would patiently explain.

When visitors of his own age came, they had even more to talk about. They would reminisce about borrowing cloth coupons, calculating purchases after payday, and all the little struggles of that time. There was no end to their stories.

Gradually, Yu Qingshan regained his spirit.

Every morning, he would set out with a thermos in hand, and he would not return until mealtime.

🌱🌿 🫧🍃

Wang Yushan didn’t look much like her twin sister.

When they were little, she resembled her father while her sister looked like their uncle. But as they grew older, the resemblance shifted. Yushan ended up looking half like her father and half like her mother, while her sister seemed to gather all the best features from their uncle’s side, becoming more and more beautiful.

Sometimes Yushan would complain to her mother about it, and her mother would just smile and comfort her, saying she was pretty too.

Yushan knew she looked fine.

It was just that her sister looked even better.

And looks were something you were born with.

There was nothing to be done.

The two sisters were both bright, learning things with ease.

So their mother enrolled them in many extracurricular classes, keeping them from running around outside.

This was a result of a past incident.

When they were in elementary school, someone somehow found out their family was wealthy and attempted to kidnap them. They were usually picked up and dropped off, with security and surveillance at school, but that day during PE, they sneaked out to buy snacks.

Yushan was captured.

Her sister escaped.

Yushan was blindfolded and taken to an abandoned building.

For the kidnappers, it was both a success and a failure. Even though they got the money, they were eventually caught, and the ransom was returned untouched.

The incident didn’t leave much of an impact on Yushan herself. She felt she was fine.

But her family had been terrified.

Her father and uncle took leave to come see her. Grandparents from both sides came as well.

Yet she hadn’t been harmed at all.

She understood the kidnappers wouldn’t hurt her. If they added murder to the crime, they’d never escape. She had never seen their faces, and as long as she didn’t provoke them, there was no reason for them to take that risk.

The “aftereffects” were simply that everyone became extra protective.

Two bodyguards appeared in their lives.

They had tracking devices.

And their father and uncle began training them physically.

Life suddenly became intense.

Before, their mother let them be, if they didn’t want to learn martial arts, they didn’t have to.

Now that was no longer an option.

For their safety, they had to learn.

Fortunately, aside from that one incident, life returned to calm.

Their parents gradually loosened their control again.

In the blink of an eye, the twins finished the college entrance exams.

The pressure of senior year was finally over.

The moment they got home, they went wild, phones, computers, partying, everything.

The two of them could only be described as chaos unleashed.

Lin Yining didn’t restrict them.

As long as they didn’t cross any lines, they could do whatever they wanted.

After indulging at home and resting enough, they quickly gathered friends and set off traveling.

Summer vacation was long.

Applications weren’t a concern, their grades were stable.

They flew everywhere, domestically and abroad.

One day they’d call from one country, the next day from another.

Lin Yining sighed. “Enjoy it while you can. Once school starts, it won’t be this relaxed.”

She felt a little envious.

At their age, she had never been able to travel so freely.

Now she had time, but no companions.

Her parents were off traveling too, leaving her behind.

It felt a bit lonely.

And she couldn’t just leave.

She had to handle their exam results and applications.

The two girls had completely handed everything over to her.

When the scores came out, Lin Yining beamed with pride.

Their confidence hadn’t been misplaced.

Their results were excellent, one became the city’s top scorer in liberal arts, the other second place.

Naturally, reporters wanted interviews.

Lin Yining declined.

The girls didn’t even want to come back from abroad.

Appearing in media still made them uneasy, better not attract unwanted attention.

Yining knew this mindset wasn’t ideal.

Children needed freedom.

But since they themselves refused, she didn’t push.

Even though they weren’t present, it didn’t stop the school and teachers from celebrating.

For the thank-you banquet, parents and classmates gathered together.

Her presence was enough.

The girls could come back after they’d had their fill of fun.

They had carried immense pressure during senior year, afraid of failing at the final hurdle.

Now that it was over, they deserved to relax.

Yining understood this well.

Because their family was full of high achievers, the girls refused to be ordinary.

That was both motivation and pressure.

Their exam results were their first proof of excellence.

Meanwhile, Yining had her own tasks.

She began transferring assets their grandmother had prepared into their names, just as had been done for her and her brother.

She had been strict with them growing up, but now that they had entered adulthood, it was time to give them something.

The properties and shops her parents had given her and her brother had appreciated greatly over the years.

With redevelopment, some had become extremely valuable.

Her parents hadn’t given them much cash beyond that one time after the exams, even though they were very wealthy.

Instead, they gave assets.

And since she and her brother didn’t have many expenses, those assets were more than enough.

She understood.

Her parents had earned their money.

They didn’t want to spoil them with easy cash, partly because they weren’t going into business, and partly to avoid raising idle dependents.

Yining thought this was a good approach.

While she stayed busy, the twins were having the time of their lives abroad.

Their friends all came from well-off families.

Money wasn’t much of a concern.

They went skiing in the mountains, diving in the ocean, hiking in the wilderness…

When they got tired, someone suggested hot springs.

Everyone agreed immediately.

They booked tickets to a famous hot spring destination.

Coincidentally, Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai were there too.

They hadn’t known beforehand and had booked neighboring hotels.

When Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai stepped out for a walk, they ran into the girls just as they were arriving with luggage.

They stopped face to face.

The twins lit up with surprise. “Grandma, Grandpa! You’re here too!”

Yu Xiang’an noticed their sun-tanned skin and smiled. “Looks like you’ve been having too much fun. Yesterday your mom said you were in Europe, and now you’re here. Having a good time?”

Yushan grinned. “Of course! Let me introduce you, these are our grandparents.”

Their classmates hesitated.

That face…

It looked familiar.

They were top students, aware of current events. They recognized faces from financial news.

And now they were being told this was their friend’s grandmother.

A prominent figure they’d seen on TV was right in front of them.

The group grew excited.

But in front of Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai, they behaved politely, smiling shyly.

Only after the two elders left did they swarm around the twins.

“You two are way too low-key.”

“Our school bully acts so arrogant on campus, but your family is way better off than his, and you’re still this low-key.”

“If you hadn’t said they were your grandparents, I would’ve thought they were your parents. Your grandparents take such good care of themselves, they look like mother and daughter, not grandparents and grandchild.”

“No wonder their beauty products sell so well, they’re basically walking advertisements.”

“I know that brand! My mom uses it too!”

“I also heard about their health supplements, super famous. I even read somewhere that your family has five generations living together, is that true?”

It was true, counting from Lin Duzhong’s side.

“Can I cling to you for support?”

“Can we get a photo together?”

Wang Yushan laughed. “Keeping a low profile is the way. I like being low-key. What’s wrong with that? I’m still me. As for photos, no, my grandparents don’t like taking pictures with strangers. But since we ran into each other, my grandma will definitely come find us later. While you’re here, don’t hold back, go enjoy whatever you want.”

“Rich girl confirmed, then we won’t be polite!”

“Yushan! Long live your grandma!”

At their age, they didn’t really understand restraint. Whatever they thought, they said it, straightforward and full of enthusiasm.

—

Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai had just finished negotiating business ahead of schedule. Since things wrapped up early, they decided to relax at the hot springs.

Even on a simple walk, they had people accompanying them.

They had no intention of testing anyone’s morals. It was better not to give others the chance.

After a stroll, they relaxed.

When they checked their phones, there was a message from Yushan with their room number.

The eldest granddaughter was thoughtful.

Yu Xiang’an went to find them.

By then, the group had finished soaking and were playing cards in the room.

Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai brought snacks and joined in, surprising the classmates.

Such prominent figures, yet completely without airs.

In TV dramas and movies, people like this were usually distant and hard to approach.

One student quietly asked Yushan, “Has your grandma always been like this?”

Yushan nodded. “Yep, always. Work is work, personal is personal. She keeps them separate.”

She had seen her grandmother in the office.

Completely different.

Serious. No room for carelessness.

That night, Yu Xiang’an had great luck with cards, while Lin Chuanbai kept losing.

Watching for a while, Yushan rolled up her sleeves. “Grandpa, let me help you.”

She was excellent at card games.

Lin Chuanbai happily gave up his seat.

In just a few rounds, she won back half the chips.

Their “chips” were just snacks Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai had brought. Lin Chuanbai’s side had been empty before, now it was piled high again.

—

After playing enough, Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai went to the twins’ room.

It was a twin room, comfortable and well laid out.

“Looks nice here. Are you two having fun? When are you planning to head back?”

Yushan grabbed Yu Xiang’an’s arm, while her sister held onto Lin Chuanbai. “We rarely get to have this much fun, we’re going to enjoy it fully. We’ll definitely go back before school starts.”

The two elders exchanged a glance. “Just don’t lose track of time.”

“No way, we won’t. We call home every day to check in.”

The sisters quickly reassured them, afraid they might be forced to return early.

After all, once university started, freedom wouldn’t be the same.

The period between high school graduation and university was a rare break.

Ending it early would be such a waste.

Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai stayed for two days before flying back to China. The twins left the next day, heading to their next destination.

—

Lin Yining could only shake her head at how carefree they were.

Back when she had traveled after her exams, she still worried about admission letters.

These two?

They glanced at a photo of their acceptance letters and went right back to traveling.

By the time they returned, her two fair, beautiful daughters had tanned several shades darker.

Their darker skin made their teeth stand out even more, dazzling when they smiled.

Yining sighed. “Did you go mining somewhere? How did you get this dark?”

Her heart ached a little.

The twins didn’t mind at all. “It’s fine, Mom. We tan fast and lighten fast. It’ll go away.”

“You’ve forgotten you still have military training when school starts? You’ll get even darker.”

“Then we’ll just be darker. We’ll still look good.”

“You two…” Yining couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright, school’s about to start. Hurry and finish all the procedures.”

Some things required their signatures, and they also had to visit their teachers to express thanks.

After their wild vacation, they became very obedient, doing whatever was asked.

Just like Yining and her brother back then, the twins became wealthy overnight.

With today’s housing prices, their assets instantly reached over a hundred million.

“These are from your grandparents,” Yining told them. “I won’t be giving you living expenses.”

Same as before, rental income from several shops and properties was more than enough for a comfortable university life.

Unlike Yining and her brother, however, these two were bold.

After the properties were transferred, they were free to manage them.

By sophomore year, each of them had already sold one property for cash.

When Yining heard this: “…”

She didn’t know what to say.

Unable to scold her daughters directly, she went to Yu Xiang’an instead.

Yu Xiang’an waved it off. “It’s fine. If they make money from it, that’s their ability. If they lose it, I won’t cover for them.”

The worst case was simply that they spent it all.

Yining quietly checked and learned they had invested the money.

She finally relaxed.

At least it was for something legitimate.

As Yushan put it, “Shops give steady rent, but houses just sit there unused. Selling one gives us liquid capital to invest. Our assets were too concentrated.”

Yu Xiang’an smiled. “If you don’t understand something, feel free to call me.”

Yushan hesitated. “If we don’t understand, we’ll ask… but it feels like using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken.”

Yu Xiang’an: “……”

It was praise, but the comparison made her laugh.

—

The sisters kept a low profile in university.

But after volunteering as hosts for an event, Wang Yuyan suddenly went viral.

People called her “the most beautiful top student host.”

Videos of her spread online.

Talent scouts approached her, hoping to sign her and launch her into the entertainment industry.

“Most beautiful natural beauty from a top university.”

“God gave her looks and intelligence.”

Headlines became more and more exaggerated.

Yuyan understood the industry somewhat.

It was glamorous, and being on stage felt exhilarating.

But she wasn’t happy.

She hadn’t wanted this kind of attention.

To her, it was an accident.

She knew some people wanted that path, like her mother’s acquaintance’s daughter who studied acting and dreamed of becoming a star.

If it had happened to someone like that, they would have been thrilled.

But when faced with so many people coming just to gawk at her, Wang Yuyan only felt annoyed. Yu Xiang’an noticed and called her.

“Do you want to enter the entertainment industry?”

“No. There’s no privacy at all. I’ve already turned them down.” Wang Yuyan refused decisively.

Yu Xiang’an nodded. “If you ever change your mind, tell me.”

Yuyan nodded. She knew her grandmother held a 20% stake in a long-established film and television company.

If she chose that path, things would go very smoothly.

—

Chen Xiaoyang saw the video while accompanying her daughter. She smiled, not surprised at Wang Yuyan’s decision.

As a veteran employee who had been with the factory from the beginning, she knew the boss’s family well, having met them before.

To this day, Yu Xiang’an was still her idol.

And she would never forget her idol’s family after seeing them once.

Now, Chen Xiaoyang’s life was quite good. She had a home and a family in the special economic zone.

She had persisted for many years, only marrying in her thirties. Her husband was a colleague, and they worked in different departments.

Because of their consistent excellent performance, they were allocated a two-bedroom apartment, with proper ownership documents.

Now that apartment was worth several million, and still rising. The surrounding commercial area was well developed, life was convenient, and transportation was excellent. Naturally, such housing was in high demand.

When she had free time, Chen Xiaoyang liked browsing housing websites to check transaction prices nearby. They would never sell their home, but knowing its value still made them happy.

Several people had asked if she would sell. She refused every time.

With no housing pressure, their income went partly toward their child’s education and partly into savings. They even bought another property in a more remote area for their child’s future marriage.

That “remote” area had since developed, and prices had risen again.

Which made them even happier.

She loved talking about real estate with colleagues. They had benefited greatly.

The more valuable the house became, the more diligent they felt, otherwise it seemed like holding onto something too good to deserve.

—

Today was the company anniversary.

As a long-serving employee, she received three thousand yuan in vouchers and a room voucher for a five-star hotel.

She knew both the vouchers and the hotel belonged to the company, essentially her boss’s business. But even so, she had never been willing to spend money at such places before.

One visit could empty your wallet.

For someone who had lived through hardship, it was hard to spend money on non-essentials.

At the anniversary celebration, they had a grand banquet in the auditorium. Celebrities were even invited. Big stars she had only seen on TV appeared in person.

Many people rushed forward for autographs and photos.

Chen Xiaoyang also got an autograph, for her daughter, who adored that star and had posters covering half her wall.

After enjoying the food and festivities, she took the vouchers home.

The hotel voucher she saved for family use.

The consumption vouchers she didn’t need. She had already won another two-thousand-yuan voucher earlier that she hadn’t finished using.

So she decided to take them back to her parents.

—

Back in her village, everything had changed.

Every household now lived in two- or three-story houses, neatly arranged, many decorated like small villas.

The village had become famous for bamboo crafts and rural tourism.

Visitors came to dig bamboo shoots, pick fruit, catch fish…

They could also buy all kinds of bamboo souvenirs.

Boxes, baskets, decorative vases, mats, pillows… all intricately made.

Some people even bought in bulk to resell elsewhere.

Thanks to the bamboo mountain, the village had become locally known as a “rich village.”

It all started with selling bamboo shoots. Later, agritourism was introduced by Chen Xiaoyang, who had been inspired by her boss.

That early push helped build the reputation that led to today’s prosperity.

The village leaders had even presented Yu Xiang’an with a commemorative banner.

To the boss, it might have been a casual suggestion.

But to the village, it was like discovering a gold mine.

Now people could earn money right at their doorstep. Young villagers no longer needed to leave for work.

Life had improved for everyone.

And they were not ungrateful.

—

Chen Xiaoyang handed the vouchers to her mother.

Her mother accepted them happily. “Perfect timing. The TV broke. Repairing it is expensive, might as well buy a new one.”

Chen Xiaoyang nodded. “Buy whatever you like.”

Then she slipped out and wandered toward the bamboo market at the foot of the hill.

Tourists loved that place.

Some crafts were breathtaking.

For example, an elderly man with one blind eye carved bamboo sculptures so lifelike they sold for high prices every time.

Even her father had changed.

He used to weave practical baskets and trays.

Now he made delicate decorative baskets, like works of art.

Before, it was all about durability.

Now, it was about beauty.

Like the difference between a rough mountain stone and a polished river pebble.

It took more time, but the value doubled.

—

Chen Xiaoyang hadn’t just come home to visit.

She had work to do.

She walked through the market, selecting the best-crafted bamboo cups.

They planned to purchase a batch as promotional gifts.

Because this was her hometown, such tasks were entrusted to her.

She knew which craftsmen had the best skills and the most integrity.

If someone proved unreliable, they would never get another order.

These orders were large. Landing one could bring significant profit.

After two days of evaluation, she returned with samples.

She displayed eight styles outside the cafeteria.

“Everyone, come take a look when you have time. Each style has a number. Vote for your favorites!”

She wanted everyone to choose the top three designs.

—

As Yu Xiang’an passed by, she heard the call and stopped.

She looked at the neatly arranged samples, chose three she liked, wrote down the numbers, and dropped them into the box.

It was anonymous voting.

When Chen Xiaoyang saw her, the usually eloquent woman suddenly became speechless.

All she could do was stare, excited.

Yu Xiang’an smiled at her, called her by name, and thanked her for her hard work.

Chen Xiaoyang’s face turned red with excitement.

Under the glow of admiration, it felt like Yu Xiang’an was shining.

As her daughter would say,

her boss was the best and kindest person in the world.

No objections allowed.

🌱🌿 🫧🍃

In a university classroom, students were whispering among themselves while waiting for class to begin and for the teacher to arrive.

The center of their conversation was that teacher.

She was a well-known beauty on campus, with softly curled, intellectual-looking hair. Her clothes were nothing particularly special, yet on her, they made it hard to look away. Especially the female students, who were always curious about what brand she wore so they could buy the same.

This beautiful teacher looked young. She was an alumna from several generations before them, already had two daughters, and was also part of the calligraphy association, apprenticed under a famous master. One of her works could sell for hundreds of thousands. A few strokes of her brush could be worth tens of thousands, though she rarely sold them.

A teacher like this was naturally a hot topic among students.

They even knew that someone had once confessed to her, which became something of a joke. The student had never seen her husband appear, only later learning she was married to a soldier. Not only was he handsome, he could also fight. The boy who confessed retreated in embarrassment.

Interfering with a military marriage was illegal. And might get you beaten.

When she walked in, the students were momentarily stunned, then broke into cheers.

“Welcome, Teacher Lin!”

Some bold voices called out, “Teacher Lin, I like you!”

“Teacher Lin, I love you!”

Lin Yining could not help but smile. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Being around such students made it hard not to feel happy.

“Thank you for your support. Let me give a brief introduction. My surname is Lin, as in the character with two ‘woods’… Now let’s begin. Please take out your textbooks, turn to the table of contents. Today we’ll cover Section Two.”

Below, the students rustled as they flipped open their books.

…

After class, she was immediately surrounded.

“Teacher Lin, can I have your contact info? I have some questions I want to ask.”

“If you have questions, please contact the class monitor first. She’ll pass them on to me.”

She did not manage to leave until a minute before the next class began. Too many students had gathered around her.

Thinking about it, she shook her head. Every new class did the same thing. She had no idea how these rumors spread. Some things, if you knew they were about her, made sense. If you did not, you might think they were talking about someone else entirely.

Her teaching load was light. Once class ended, she could leave.

She walked to the parking lot, preparing to go home.

Outside the school gate, she paused at a small market nearby. Residents often sold goods there. The produce was fresh and cheap, attracting many customers.

She bought some vegetables before heading back.

When she returned to the siheyuan, she saw a chessboard set up under a tree in the courtyard. The rest of this chapter is on HololoNovels dot com. Lin Duzhong was playing chess with Shi Changtian.

Beside them was a small table with tea, fruit, and snacks. At their feet lay a black dog, sprawled lazily.

A life like this… even immortals would envy it.

“Great-grandfather, Teacher.”

The black dog lazily lifted its head to glance at her, then lay back down, tail swaying gently.

Completely at ease.

She placed the groceries in the kitchen, where the housekeeper took over.

“Teacher, take a look at this piece. Has my calligraphy improved compared to before?”

She brought out a piece she had written the night before.

Shi Changtian waved a hand. “Wait, wait, this is a critical moment. Give me a second.”

He frowned, eyes fixed on the chessboard. In contrast, Lin Duzhong looked relaxed and unhurried.

Clearly, her great-grandfather had the advantage.

Yining sat down nearby and popped a grape into her mouth.

Her teacher was excellent in everything except chess. A terrible player. Lin Duzhong was not particularly strong either, but against him, he always won.

Yet Shi Changtian insisted on playing every time.

True love, indeed.

Once the game ended, Shi Changtian finally took her calligraphy and examined it carefully.

Meanwhile, Lin Duzhong began gathering the pieces, speaking to her as he did.

“A classmate came looking for you today.”

“Who?”

Not many people knew her address. Those who did were close to her. If they came, they would usually inform her first. Was it something urgent?

Lin Duzhong blinked at her. “Someone named Gu Shi.”

Though old, he still remembered this man. Back then, he had even looked into him.

He had been her first love.

They had dated for a time. Then he went abroad and settled there, and naturally, they broke up.

So many years had passed. Her children were already this big, yet he came looking for her. Even Lin Duzhong found it strange.

Yining was taken aback. “Did he say what he wanted?”

“No. I told him you weren’t here. He said he’ll come again tomorrow. From how he looked, probably wants to catch up.”

Yining frowned. “Catch up? We haven’t been in contact for years. What is there to catch up about? Who gave him my address? How annoying.”

Lin Duzhong nodded in agreement. “Exactly. Annoying.”

His tone was indulgent, like he was still pampering a child.

Yining could not help but laugh. “Great-grandfather, I’m not a child anymore. Fine, I’ll wait for him tomorrow and see what he wants.”

Their past had not ended badly. They were no longer lovers, but not enemies either.

Still, showing up at her home unannounced left a bad impression.

Shi Changtian, who had been studying her calligraphy, cleared his throat. “No wonder you showed this to me. This piece… has some merit.”

He rarely praised anyone. “Some merit” was already high praise.

Yining beamed. “I think so too. Yesterday, while practicing, I suddenly got into the flow. It all came together in one go.”

Suddenly, the black dog by Lin Duzhong’s feet sprang up, ears alert. Then it ran to the gate and stood guard.

That posture meant its two little masters were coming home.

Wang Yushan and Wang Yuyan, her twin daughters.

Now in primary school.

Sure enough, not long after, an aunt returned with them.

Yining stood up with a smile. “You’re back. What did you learn today…”

The next day, Gu Shi arrived on time.

Yining received him in the courtyard. “What do you need?”

He looked at her, his expression complicated, with a hint of realization. “Nothing in particular. After being away so long, everything feels unfamiliar. I just wanted to see you. Have you been well all these years?”

“I’ve been very well.”

“I can see that. Are you married?”

“I am. I have children too. And you? Did you get the life you wanted overseas?”

She had no interest in idle conversation.

He was silent for a moment. “More or less.” He looked at his hands. “My surgeries are quite good. I’ve built a bit of a reputation. Received quite a few offers.” There was a trace of pride in his voice.

Yining understood.

He had come to show off.

“In my career, things are going well. But not in marriage. I married a foreign woman. We later divorced. She couldn’t understand some of my views. She took our son. Since then, I’ve remained single.”

Lin Yining: “…………”

Oh.

The conversation fell cold in an instant.

Gu Shi spoke up to salvage the atmosphere. “After all this time, seeing you again… isn’t there anything you want to say to me?” The corner of his lips lifted slightly, carrying a trace of how he used to be in college.

Yining shook her head. “Didn’t we already say everything back then? There’s nothing left to say.”

Gu Shi: “…Are you still blaming me?”

Yining: “Why would I blame you? We broke up because our values didn’t align. Plenty of couples break up. We even parted peacefully. Why would I blame you? At least you were honest and told me what you wanted. Some people go abroad and keep dragging someone along back home, doing long-distance while dating someone else overseas.”

That didn’t sit well with him. Was he really only comparable to people like that?

His character wasn’t that bad.

Yining said calmly, “Maybe not. But you showed up at my home without a word. How am I supposed to know what kind of person you’ve become now?”

Gu Shi frowned. “No matter how much time passes, I’m still the same person. My marriage didn’t work out, yes, but abroad I’ve learned far more than I could have here. Development there is better too. If I had to choose again, I’d make the same decision.”

Yining raised a hand to stop him. “You don’t need to tell me that.”

His voice lowered. “I just don’t want you to misunderstand me.”

She nodded casually. “Oh. So where did you get my address?”

That was what bothered her.

If a friend had given it to him without telling her, then that person was no longer her friend.

Gu Shi didn’t answer directly. “I overheard it by chance. When I heard your name, I thought it was someone else. Didn’t expect it to actually be you.”

Yining gave a dry laugh. “Well then, since you have nothing else, I have things to do.”

He looked at her, clearly unable to understand. “I’ve just returned after so many years. I only wanted to see an old acquaintance. You don’t have to be this cold.”

“I’m not being cold. This is how I treat people I’m not close to. If that gave you the wrong impression, I’m sorry.” Her words said sorry, but her expression did not.

He understood. Showing up unannounced had annoyed her.

This wasn’t the right moment to keep talking. He stood and handed her a card. “Since you’re busy, we’ll talk another time. This is my card.”

She accepted it politely.

“And yours?”

“I don’t have one with me.”

Gu Shi: “……”

Only after seeing him out did she glance at the card.

Oh. Vice director.

No wonder he carried himself that way.

She curled her lip slightly. She would never have a reason to rely on him anyway.

Her mother-in-law was a leading figure in the military medical system.

If something ever happened, she would go to her own people. Much more convenient.

Besides, she was in excellent health.

After leaving the Lin residence, Gu Shi’s brows remained tightly knit. A few young women who passed by saw such a refined, mature man looking troubled and approached to ask if he needed help.

He declined gently.

With his looks and bearing, he had never lacked women who approached him first.

Back then, when he brought up breaking up, he hadn’t expected Yining to agree immediately. After that, she cut off contact completely.

Even more decisively than he had.

He couldn’t understand how she could let go so quickly. Hadn’t she liked him?

He hadn’t even had the chance to persuade her to go abroad with him. The rest of this chapter is on HololoNovels dot com. With her grades, it would have been easy.

But she refused. And she cared deeply about that decision.

She was willing to give him up for it.

That had angered him for a long time.

It meant she hadn’t liked him that much after all.

And yet he had thought of persuading her. How foolish.

This time, when he received the invitation, he hesitated for a long while. But abroad, his chances of promotion were limited in the short term. And as he grew older, he found himself missing home more and more.

So he returned.

After coming back, he asked old classmates about Lin Yining.

There was no shortage of news.

She was doing very well.

She had stayed at her alma mater, earned her title, was well-liked and respected by students, and had a happy family.

It seemed that without him, her life was still thriving.

So he came to see for himself whether it was true.

The moment he saw her, he knew it was.

You could tell from a person’s expression whether they were living well.

And from what she wore.

Her clothes looked simple but suited her perfectly. The necklace at her neck was from a well-known luxury brand. The jade on her wrist was lustrous, clearly valuable.

Her family had been described as small business owners, not particularly wealthy.

So her husband’s family must be well-off.

Her job was respectable, but not high-paying.

Even though he had spent years abroad, he knew how valuable a courtyard house in the capital was.

After he left, Yining immediately took off the bracelet and set it aside. She didn’t like wearing jewelry when writing.

She had plenty of accessories, but rarely wore them like today.

For today’s appearance, she had been deliberate.

She couldn’t dress head-to-toe in luxury, that would look gaudy.

So her clothes were modest and appropriate, but one or two details had to signal refinement and value.

To show that she was living well now.

Back then, he chose to break up because he believed going abroad would give him a better life.

If he had come back to show off, she wouldn’t let herself fall behind.

Not for anything else.

Just to hold her ground.

The next day, she arrived at school refreshed and in a good mood. On the way, she overheard two people discussing a research topic about a well-known chain restaurant.

“Wuwei Restaurant hasn’t gone public, but it’s everywhere. Do you know how many locations they have?”

“I checked. They’ve spread across provinces, municipalities, and regions nationwide. Over ten thousand locations now. No exact number since they’re not listed.”

“Did you count overseas locations? There’s one in every Chinatown abroad. They’re even ranked among the world’s top brands.”

“No, just domestic. Without internal data, you can’t know overseas.”

Yining smiled as she listened.

But her good mood vanished the moment she entered the office building.

She ran into Gu Shi again.

He looked surprised too, then smiled. “What a coincidence.” He gestured to the person beside him. “My nephew just got admitted here this year. I came to ask about his situation at school.”

He wasn’t deliberately following her. Though he had thought about passing by during her class to see what she was like teaching.

Yining nodded with a polite smile. “I need to prepare for class. You carry on.”

Whether what he said was true or not, she didn’t want to see him.

Her good mood was gone.

Her relationship with Yu Xiang’an had never been made public.

Lin Chuanbai wasn’t very well known to the public, but Yu Xiang’an was different. During a major flood one year, she had made a very prominent appearance nationwide.

Hardly anyone at the university knew about this, but Gu Shi happened to.

One of the attending physicians at his hospital was also from their university. By chance, he saw a photo of Lin Yining and said he recognized her.

“She’s basically a princess. Not someone ordinary people can reach.”

Gu Shi frowned. “What do you mean, princess?”

“I don’t know all the details. I just overheard some professors talking about her once. Her family is very well-off. Supposedly, they’ve got serious backing.”

Gu Shi hesitated. “I remember her saying her family just ran a small business.”

The attending shook his head firmly. “Definitely not. I once overheard that she owns a villa in one of the capital’s richest districts. And abroad, there’s a vineyard, even a private helicopter. What kind of ‘small business’ family has that?”

The wealthy district he mentioned, Gu Shi knew well.

It wasn’t just that housing prices were sky-high, it was that you couldn’t even buy there. The newest development hadn’t even gone on the market before everything was taken internally.

There was no reason for the man to lie.

Which meant Lin Yining had hidden the truth back then.

Knowing only fragments made Gu Shi even more curious about her situation.

After their last encounter, he understood clearly that she did not welcome him anymore, so he reached out to former classmates who had known both of them.

Some were just acquaintances, others had stayed in touch.

Everyone was an adult now. Helping make a connection was easy enough. Besides, no one wanted to offend a doctor. No one could guarantee they’d never need one.

Soon, Lin Yining began to notice Gu Shi appearing around her from time to time.

Her irritation grew.

Lin Duzhong noticed. “You’ve had people chase after you before, shamelessly sticking around. You didn’t seem this annoyed back then.”

Yining took a sip of water. “That was different. Back then, I just mentioned I was married to someone in the military, and they all backed off. The ones who didn’t… Li Pan had a ‘friendly talk’ with them and they disappeared too. But this one… I don’t even know what he wants.”

In her mind, the best outcome was for them to remain strangers forever.

Instead, he kept showing up.

Then Gu Shi saw Yu Xiang’an entering the courtyard.

He hadn’t made the connection before. But now, comparing photos, the resemblance between mother and daughter was obvious.

A quick search online, or digging up past reports, easily revealed Yu Xiang’an’s identity.

A self-made legend.

Even featured in textbooks.

After years in capitalist countries, Gu Shi understood very well what wealth meant.

If she was Yu Xiang’an’s daughter, then everything made sense, the house, the jewelry.

If anything, she had been understated.

Which meant that back when they were dating, she had been hiding things. By that time, her mother was already successful.

“A small business,” he had thought.

If that counted as small, then what counted as big? State-owned conglomerates backed by the nation?

Realizing this, Gu Shi’s feelings became complicated.

She really could be called a “princess.”

Had he missed out on something significant?

Now that he had returned to the country, he was in high demand. Plenty of people wanted to introduce him to potential partners, many young and accomplished women.

But when he compared them one by one, none came close.

—

After Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai returned from traveling abroad, Lin Yining’s mood immediately brightened. She wrapped her arm around her mother and acted like a little girl again.

“Mom, you and Dad went traveling again without me.”

Yu Xiang’an smiled. “Aren’t you busy? No need to interrupt your work. When you retire, you can go anywhere you want.”

At this stage, Yu Xiang’an was essentially semi-retired. She had earned enough, accomplished what she wanted, and now it was time to enjoy life. Waiting until old age to start enjoying it would be meaningless.

Capable people managed her businesses. She only needed to decide the overall direction. Occasional small losses didn’t matter.

Major projects still required her approval.

She had even gained a reputation as an international gourmet, traveling the world to taste different cuisines.

Lin Chuanbai did the same, collaborating with overseas labs, exchanging knowledge.

This time, they had spent half a month on an island, then went to soak in hot springs in another country, then flew off to ski and watch squirrels.

After hearing about their trip, Lin Yining pouted. “Mom, I want to go too.”

Yu Xiang’an patted her. “Next time I’ll take you. We brought you gifts. Want them?”

“Of course!”

Among the gifts, expensive and simple alike, what Lin Yining loved most were a few Yuhua stones Lin Chuanbai had bought.

“Where did you pick these up?” she asked.

“They were from a trip. I just thought you’d like them. They look like landscape paintings.”

She held them fondly. “They really do. So pretty.”

Lin Chuanbai glanced around. “Where are my granddaughters? Haven’t they come back yet?”

“They’re at tutoring. They’ll be back later.”

Tutoring had become the norm.

Back when she and her brother studied, many classmates didn’t attend extra classes. Now, families who could afford it enrolled their children in everything, always afraid their kids might fall behind.

Lin Yining had even been asked by acquaintances to teach their children calligraphy, but she refused. She didn’t think she was ready to take students.

Yu Xiang’an smiled. “Times have changed.”

Lin Duzhong came out, smiling. “You’re back. Yining finally looks happy again.”

Yu Xiang’an looked at her. “What’s wrong? Were you unhappy before?”

Yining puffed her cheeks. “It’s nothing serious. I was just thinking about one of my students.” She sighed. “He went abroad to study. Everything was fine at first, but now he’s gone quiet. And when he does speak, he keeps belittling our country and praising the outside world. Another one dazzled by it all. It bothers me. I even wanted to recommend him to the calligraphy association.”

Yu Xiang’an gently stroked her hair, and Yining leaned against her.

“People choose their own paths. Even parents can’t control their children forever.”

Lin Duzhong nodded. “Going abroad isn’t wrong. Looking down on your own home is. That’s a character issue. You should be glad you saw it early. If you had recommended him and something happened later, it would reflect on you.”

That was true.

Yining felt her mood lift a little.

“Alright. You must be tired from traveling. Go rest.”

—

Across the street outside the gate, Gu Shi was still standing there, lost in thought.

🌱🌿 🫧🍃

Lin Yining fell in love.

It started when she heard people talking about the “campus heartthrob” of the medical department. No one knew who had given him that title, but the reputation had spread.

The more she heard, the more curious she became. She wanted to see what he looked like. But time and again, she missed him. What had begun as simple curiosity turned into stubborn determination after repeated near misses.

If she did not see him, she would not give up.

People praised him endlessly. She only wanted to take a look. Was even that too much to ask?

She knew Gu Shi was busy, a top student in the medical department, the kind favored by professors. Every department had such people. This place gathered geniuses, but among them, some stood out even more. Gu Shi was one of them.

In the end, she managed to get his class schedule. She went to sit in on lectures in his classroom, and finally saw him.

At that first glance, her heart stirred.

A face lover falling in love at first sight.

But looks alone were not enough. She observed him quietly for a while, watching his character. The more she watched, the more she liked him.

She decided to make the first move.

But she could not simply walk up and say she liked him. She had to find a way to get to know him. With his routine limited to classroom, dorm, and cafeteria, the only place they could intersect was the classroom.

So she kept attending his lectures.

She was already busy, and now she made her schedule even tighter for his sake.

Her roommates said she had lost her mind over a pretty face.

Yining did not mind. Yes, she was busy, she was tired, but she found it sweet.

She had no interest in medicine, yet for his sake, she forced herself to study those heavy textbooks. She knew it would not be useful. She had no intention of pursuing that path.

But now she told herself, “Learning more never hurts.”

Drop by drop, like water wearing through stone, she gradually got to know Gu Shi, became friends with him, and eventually, they became a couple.

When they confirmed their relationship, Yining was overjoyed. She called Yu Xiang’an to share the news.

Her roommates were shocked. “Your mom won’t object?”

“My mom said as long as my grades don’t drop, dating is fine.”

She left out the part about not crossing boundaries. Just thinking about it made her blush. In any case, she had no intention of doing anything like that. She was still a student.

Such an open-minded mother made her roommates extremely envious.

They would never dare tell their own mothers. That would only lead to a scolding.

Even though they were dating, they were not constantly glued to each other. Yining had classes, was pursuing a double degree, and also practiced calligraphy under Teacher Shi. She was very busy.

Gu Shi was busy too. Few medical students were not. Sometimes they would go several days without seeing each other.

Later, they agreed to meet in the library.

Each could focus on their own work, while still being together.

Before long, people began to notice them coming and going together. Rumors spread that they were a perfect match, talented and beautiful, made for each other.

Every time Yining heard that, she would cover her face and giggle to herself for a while.

She also told Lin Yihong.

When he heard, his feelings were complicated.

His little sister… had someone she liked?

“Do Mom and Dad agree?”

“Mom doesn’t object. Dad told me to be cautious. Don’t reveal our family situation. Observe him carefully for a few years.”

Lin Yihong nodded in agreement, then realized she could not see it and cleared his throat. “Then stick to that. Don’t forget, some people lose their heads when they fall in love. Don’t be foolish.”

“I’m not foolish.”

At school, she presented herself as coming from a middle-class family. She never revealed what her parents or grandparents actually did.

Wang Lipan knew this and could not help but darken his expression.

Lin Yihong noticed and patted his shoulder, saying nothing.

His sister had no such thoughts, but he knew Wang Lipan liked her. Now that she had a boyfriend…

If it were him, he would have confessed once he understood his feelings. But he could also understand Wang Lipan’s hesitation.

Yining clearly treated him as a friend. A sudden confession might scare her away, and if she did not feel the same, even friendship might be lost. That was why Wang Lipan did not dare cross the line.

As things stood… Lin Yihong naturally hoped his future brother-in-law would be someone reliable. He thought Wang Lipan was a good candidate. But ultimately, a life partner had to be someone she loved.

After hearing about it, Lin Duzhong had someone discreetly investigate.

The young man came from a clean background. Both parents were doctors. No issues. That was enough.

He did not require his great-grandson-in-law to come from a prestigious family. As long as he was a good person and treated Yining well, that was enough.

A doctor was a fine profession. He himself had been one.

So Yining and Gu Shi spent two sweet years together.

Then they broke up.

Gu Shi went abroad to study, which was not a problem. Yining herself had planned to go overseas for further study.

But she had not expected that once he went abroad, he would no longer want to return. He planned to immigrate.

When she learned this, she felt uncomfortable. Her attitude toward him cooled. In turn, when Gu Shi learned that she did not plan to settle abroad, his attitude cooled as well.

Separated by countries, their relationship relied on calls and letters. Now, even those grew infrequent.

When they next spoke, Gu Shi suggested breaking up.

She agreed immediately.

She had not expected him to say it so easily, so lightly, as if it meant nothing.

As if their relationship meant nothing.

After the breakup, she bought alcohol and a lot of food, went back to her own apartment, and drank alone.

She did not want to get drunk in the dorm.

That would make her look too pitiful.

As she drank, she wiped away her tears.

Two years of feelings, gone after one year abroad. It could not withstand the allure of life overseas.

She had misjudged him.

She shut herself away for two days. After that, her personality became steadier, and she worked even harder than before.

Even Shi Changtian said her calligraphy had improved greatly.

Lin Duzhong was both pleased and worried. Improvement was good, but he feared she had not truly moved on.

When Lin Yihong found out, he hesitated, then told Wang Lipan.

Wang Lipan immediately flew over.

He had not given up.

Lin Yihong sighed and let it be. Whether Wang Lipan could become his brother-in-law would depend on himself.

As for Yining dating, Lin Chuanbai and Yu Xiang’an had no objections. She was an adult. What was wrong with dating?

Later in life, she might not so easily meet someone who made her heart move.

Yu Xiang’an also did not think her daughter was the type to lose all sense in a relationship. If things went badly, it would be a lesson learned.

Yining only told Yu Xiang’an about the breakup six months later.

After graduating from university, she went abroad for an exchange. Less than a year after returning, she announced that she wanted to get married.

Yu Xiang’an: “???”

Daughter… didn’t you skip an important step?

The person she was with was Wang Lipan.

This was someone both Lin Chuanbai and Yu Xiang’an knew well. They understood his background clearly, and the two families could be considered well matched.

Since the matter had reached the stage of discussing marriage, it naturally had to be brought to Lin Duzhong and the elders. Wu Zheng also came in person. Compared to her son Lin Chuanbai, she actually kept in closer contact with this granddaughter.

Now that Lin Yining was getting married, she naturally had to come and take charge.

Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai had little room to step in.

The elders above them were all eager to take the lead.

The Wang family also had a solid foundation.

Yining planned to stay in the capital after graduation, while Wang Lipan’s work required transfers. He might be moved again in a few years. So the marital home was set in the capital.

The old patriarch on their side held a rank similar to Lin Houpiao’s. They were not excessively wealthy, because too much wealth would attract trouble, but they did own inherited property in the capital.

It was a siheyuan in a decent location, passed down from Wang Lipan’s maternal family.

The couple themselves would not earn very high salaries, but they both had family assets to rely on. Back when the twins were admitted to university, Yu Xiang’an had given them commercial properties. One of Yining’s shops had already been demolished and compensated with two larger units.

Even without working, just from rental income, Yining could live very comfortably.

With her daughter getting married, Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai prepared many things.

They had started preparing for both children long ago.

The houses and shops had already been given, so there was no need to add more.

Instead, they provided a car, jewelry, antiques, and some shares.

All of this was laid out openly. When her “dowry list” was revealed, the Wang family remained composed, showing no greed or covetousness. Yu Xiang’an nodded in satisfaction. Wealth could tempt anyone. Being able to remain steady in front of it was rare.

Li Yujiao, however, could not quite hold herself together. The houses, shops, cars, cash, and jewelry added up to a staggering sum. She felt her breathing grow tight. Lin Yining would never have to worry about money in her life. Even her future children would be set. How could anyone even spend that much?

Thinking of it, she felt a bit resentful.

Lin Houpiao’s pension was generous compared to ordinary people. More chapters are available on HololoNovels dot com. Medical expenses were covered. The household barely had expenses, especially with a son and daughter-in-law who lacked nothing and would replenish anything missing. Lin Yining also visited often and filled any gaps.

So their own money could be freely spent, but the key was that it was only their own money. After retirement, they dared not accept extra income, and now even that was gone. She could not spend freely like Lin Yining, and neither could her granddaughter Xuanxuan.

Her expression slipped.

Lin Houpiao noticed immediately and shot her a look, telling her to restrain herself.

What was she doing?

The Wang family noticed too, but did not mind. They already understood the Lin family situation. This was a step-grandmother, known for mistreating her daughter-in-law, with a bad reputation. She had no authority over the main branch.

After Yining married, Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai felt little change. Marriage was just marriage.

But when she had children, and they became grandparents, Yu Xiang’an reacted instinctively by touching her face, checking for wrinkles.

In her mind, she was forever eighteen.

But her daughter would not stay eighteen.

The moment she became a grandmother, the title itself brought a sense of age and time.

Yu Xiang’an: “…”

She felt both happy and a little unsettled.

She was already of the grandmother generation.

It was hard to accept.

After returning home, she felt down for quite a while.

When Yining was due, both Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai stayed by her side. As the pregnancy advanced, Yu Xiang’an came early to support her. Wang Lipan could not always be there because of work, and childbirth was inevitably nerve-wracking, especially since she was carrying twins.

When the time came, Yining gave birth to twin daughters. Mother and children were safe.

Seeing the two tiny babies, Yining, pale from childbirth, burst into tears. Holding Yu Xiang’an’s hand, she said, “Mom, giving birth is so hard. You and Dad raised my brother and me all these years. It must have been so difficult. I’ve only just had them, and I’m already scared. They’re so small, so fragile, like blank sheets of paper. I’m afraid I might hurt them by accident, or teach them the wrong things. There’s still such a long way until they grow up. What should I do?”

Yu Xiang’an gently held her and stroked her hair. “It’s okay. You won’t, because Mom will teach you. If you don’t know how, you can learn. You’ve studied early childhood education before. Don’t worry too much. If I could do it, you can too. Don’t be afraid. Everyone has a first time. When I had you and your brother, I was just as anxious. But didn’t we raise you well?”

Thinking back to those early, chaotic days with Lin Chuanbai, Yu Xiang’an smiled more deeply.

“So don’t be afraid. Mom is here.”

Wang Lipan’s mother was a military doctor, very busy. She came briefly to help for two days, then had to leave, repeatedly asking Yu Xiang’an to take good care of Yining.

Yining understood. Yu Xiang’an understood too.

Privately, Yining preferred her own mother’s care during postpartum recovery rather than that of a mother-in-law she barely knew.

Since she could not stay, Wang Lipan’s mother contributed financially, covering two months of maternity nurse fees. She also brought many gifts: piles of baby clothes, silver bracelets, Guanyin charms, toys, and more, filling two large suitcases.

Both Wang Lipan and Lin Yihong missed the birth and the baby’s one-month celebration. Yining felt some regret, but this had been expected from the beginning.

She was not alone. Her mother stayed with her. Her uncle and great-grandfather were also there. Many family members surrounded her.

Step by step, Yining learned how to hold the babies, bathe them, and change diapers. Though the maternity nurse said she did not need to learn, she insisted.

She might not be skilled yet, but she could not afford not to know.

Yu Xiang’an agreed. She might not have to do everything herself, but in case of necessity, she could not be helpless.

The maternity nurse would stay for two months, after which they would hire additional help.

Yining was young and recovered well. After her confinement period, she moved in with Lin Duzhong.

Lin Houpiao did not stay in one place. Sometimes he lived at the retirement compound, sometimes at home. The home was a siheyuan under Lin Chuanbai’s name, spacious, well-equipped, and comfortable.

Lin Houpiao preferred the retirement compound. Lin Duzhong preferred the siheyuan.

As he said, it felt more alive.

The house had been chosen with his preferences in mind. Within a few hundred meters he could find people to play chess with, and there were fishing spots nearby. The area also had schools and shopping.

With family around, Yining could work without worrying about a nanny mistreating her children out of sight.

The children grew quickly, almost overnight. Before anyone realized it, they were already three years old.

Because they were fraternal twins, the two sisters did not look very alike. One resembled her father more, the other looked more like her uncle, with softer features. Sometimes when Lin Yining looked at them, she would complain, “They look like my brother and his kids. I’m not even in the picture. That’s too much.”

Every time she said that, Yu Xiang’an would laugh, while Yu Qingshan could only smile helplessly. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Yining sighed. “It’s not nonsense. It’s true.”

Yu Qingshan shook his head. “You…”

To him, this granddaughter was very much like his daughter in the past, both a bit “hard-hearted,” handing their children over to others while they were still young.

His daughter had made something of herself. It seemed this granddaughter would too.

Lin Yining, accused of being hard-hearted: “…”

Hard-hearted?

Not really.

She could not spend every day revolving around her children like a traditional devoted mother.

In the mornings, she fed them before heading out, then sent them to an early education center. The fees were extremely high, more than her salary could cover, so she used rental income. But it was worth it. The center was close to her university and run by her classmate’s older sister, so she trusted it.

At noon, she picked them up, brought them home for lunch, and in the afternoon left them with the nanny and Lin Duzhong while she went back to work. In the evenings, they had dinner together, but even then she did not spend all her time focused solely on them.

More than once, she had sighed to Yu Xiang’an, “Women really have it hard.”

Even in her situation, where someone else handled most household matters, the children still quietly consumed her time.

Thinking about this, checking on that, talking to them, then playing with them for a bit… before she knew it, one or two hours would be gone.

Someone once suggested she quit her job. She refused without hesitation.

After all these years of effort, she felt it would be a waste.

All those years of studying, of practicing calligraphy, only to stay home and raise children?

It was not that children were unimportant. But her life could not revolve entirely around them.

She had classmates who married soon after starting work, then quit to become full-time wives and mothers. More chapters are available on HololoNovels dot com. Clinging to Yu Xiang’an’s arm, she said, half pouting, “I don’t want to become like that. Back when we studied together, life was tiring but fulfilling. Now when I meet her, all she talks about is her child and her husband. If I bring up anything else, she doesn’t know, doesn’t care, doesn’t understand. It feels like she’s completely cut off from the world. It’s scary. I don’t want to become like that.”

Yu Xiang’an laughed softly and patted her hand. Even after becoming a mother, Yining had not lost her ability to act spoiled.

“Do what you like. If I had stayed home back then to be a wife and mother, I wouldn’t have built what we have now.”

Her businesses had already spread far and wide.

She did not know others’ wealth, only that she herself was now one of the major taxpayers in the Special Economic Zone, receiving government recognition. To her, the size of her assets was just a number.

Money generated more money. The total kept growing.

Yining thought about all the businesses her family had stakes in and stuck out her tongue.

During the floods two years ago, her mother’s donation ranked first.

Not just cash, but supplies as well. Together, it made national headlines and was even reported by CCTV.

Seeing it, she felt a surge of pride.

That was her mother.

So impressive.

This time, Yu Xiang’an and the others had gathered together not only for the twins’ birthday, but also for a rare family reunion. Wang Lipan and Lin Yihong both had leave, so they planned to spend time together as a family.

As Wang Lipan and Lin Yihong were about to arrive, Yu Xiang’an was already in the kitchen preparing ingredients.

Some things had to be readied in advance.

Lin Yining and Lin Chuanbai were helping her.

Dinner tonight would be hot pot, one seafood broth and one tomato beef brisket broth.

Yu Xiang’an alone prepared five or six different dipping sauces.

Yining washed the tripe, set it aside, and glanced over to see her mother slicing fish with swift, precise movements. Each piece was evenly sized and perfectly cut, pleasing to the eye.

She turned back to her work. The floor was filled with ingredients: sliced beef, knotted kelp, tofu skin, shrimp, spinach, lettuce, and more.

The seafood broth emphasized freshness.

Lin Duzhong, who usually ate lightly at night for health, looked at the feast and had a feeling… tonight might not be so restrained.

Everyone gathered around a large round table.

Wang Lipan and Lin Yihong sat upright, their military bearing unmistakable.

Lin Houpiao was delighted, pulling them to sit on either side of him, asking questions he was allowed to ask.

The three-year-old twin sisters were completely absorbed in watching the bubbling hot pot, ignoring the unfamiliar men who kept glancing at them.

Lin Duzhong smiled as he ate tofu that Lin Chuanbai had picked for him, happily watching the lively scene.

Lin Yihong enjoyed his mother’s enthusiasm, eating the various dishes she kept placing into his bowl.

Then suddenly, he heard a familiar name.

He turned toward the television, where the financial news was playing.

The anchor spoke clearly:

“…the stock price of xx company has surged by 387% compared to three days ago. This news has delighted shareholders, while many who missed out are full of regret. Next is an interview with the company’s CEO, Ms. Wang Xiaoya…”

🌱🌿 🫧🍃

Previous

Yu Xianghai acted immediately. As soon as he hung up the phone, he packed a few things and came to the Special Zone. These days, they often traveled between several places. Baishi County was their base, all three children were in Yangcheng, and they also went to the Special Zone, where their father lived. Everywhere was familiar territory.

Yu Xiang’an also took the time to comfort Li Dazhu properly. Fortunately, things were still manageable. If something like this had happened in an era of smartphones, people would have been filming videos and posting them everywhere. If that somehow reached his blind date, he might have been misunderstood. For now, though, it likely would not spread back to Baishi County.

Besides, he was innocent to begin with.

On Ding Minxiu’s side, her injuries were not too serious. Once Zhou Boyang calmed down, he stopped hitting her, and she immediately found people to protect her. Zhao Qiaoniang, however, suffered more. She had to stay in the hospital for about a month. At her age, recovery was slow.

Ding Minxiu did not hesitate to spend money on Zhao Qiaoniang’s treatment. She had quite a bit of money now, so covering the medical expenses was not a problem.

She did not expect Zhou Boyang to pay for any of it. After everything that had happened, there was no way he would.

When she got back, she heard from neighbors that Zhou Boyang had come looking for her. It frightened her badly. She began planning to move. This place was no longer safe.

She hurriedly packed up important belongings and hid them away. The situation made her uneasy. How had they found her? Would he beat her again?

She could not have someone protecting her forever.

Ding Minxiu proposed a divorce.

Divorce, so she could be with that other man?

Zhou Boyang refused. “You think you can dump me and climb to a higher branch? Keep dreaming. I won’t let you have your way.”

She wanted to seek help from Chen Wen, but she could not reach him. When she tried to inquire, she learned that his original wife from his hometown had come with their son. They were fighting over control of his factory. He had no time to care about her or the child.

Left with no choice, Ding Minxiu, under protection, asked Zhou Boyang, “What will it take for you to agree to a divorce?” She feared being beaten to death.

Zhou Boyang stared at her darkly. “Give up that thought. No matter what, I will never help you and that bastard be together.”

…

Yu Qingshan had left quickly that day, but once Yu Xianghai and Ye Qijia arrived, they immediately started asking around in a roundabout way.

Through various channels, Yu Xiang’an eventually learned more. They had gone to inquire around Ding Minxiu’s neighborhood, near properties connected to Yu Xiang’an.

Chen Wen’s original wife had also appeared. The apartment had already been registered under Ding Minxiu’s name. Chen Wen had handled things carefully. The money used to buy it was not directly his, so his wife could not reclaim the property. But she did not let Ding Minxiu off. She smashed up the apartment, causing a huge scene.

For now, there was no resolution. Yu Xiang’an shook her head and said to Yu Xianghai and Ye Qijia, “Let me know when there’s a final outcome.”

She had no interest in hearing bits and pieces. She just wanted to know how it all ended. If the original host were still alive, she would probably want to know too.

Yu Xianghai chuckled. “Alright, I’ll tell you when it’s settled. You’re busy, no need to worry about it.”

They tacitly agreed not to tell Yu Xiangju. Ding Minxiu was not important. Zhao Qiaoniang was. Since she was already in the hospital and Ding Minxiu had paid the bills, there was no need for Yu Xiangju to get involved.

In Yu Xianghai’s view, Zhao Qiaoniang being in the hospital was unfortunate, but it also kept her out of the turmoil. Otherwise, she might have been dragged deeper into it.

The only one truly pitiful was the child.

He understood nothing, yet had already become an illegitimate child.

Back in Baishi County, people did not know the full story. Visit HololoNovels .com to read more. Since Zhou Boyang and Zhou Tianyou had gone to the Special Zone without sending any news back, everyone could only speculate, imagining dramatic confrontations and scenes of vengeance.

Such messy situations were not uncommon anymore. Money had a way of eroding principles. For the sake of a better life, people abandoned things they once would have held onto. Especially those who had suffered hardship, their desire for a better life burned stronger. If they could not achieve it themselves, they hoped someone else would.

Yu Xiang’an had seen many such cases. This was just one of them.

Yu Mansheng did not say much when he heard about it. These days he was working hands-on at construction sites again, but even before, he had seen plenty of similar situations.

Men who left home for work, living alone. How many of them truly took care of themselves?

Most construction sites were filled with men, but there were women too. Some had husbands far away. Some had husbands nearby but rarely together.

Some even had families back home while forming another family elsewhere, having children in both places.

Yu Mansheng could not interfere.

Those were personal choices. Mutual consent.

Yu Xiang’an did not dwell on Ding Minxiu’s situation either. She had her own projects to focus on.

The land she had purchased was large, with a hill and a lake. She planned to develop upscale apartments at the foot of the hill and luxury villas further up. She intended to keep several units for herself. The location was excellent, with greenery, transportation, and geography all in its favor. In the future, properties like this would be hard to come by.

The design was especially important. She hired a well-known designer, a classmate of Yu Yegui’s. The design fees alone were substantial.

There was no shortage of work.

Meanwhile, on Lin Chuanbai’s side, his cousin Lin Nanxing and her husband came to Yangcheng to visit.

Lin Chuanqiong and their uncle Lin Jiqing both worked at the leading pharmaceutical factory in Baishi County, but Lin Nanxing and her husband did not.

Their factory had been performing worse and worse, and Lin Nanxing had taken early layoff compensation.

As she put it, if she left now, she would at least get a payout. If she waited until the factory had no money left, she might get nothing.

So she took the money and left.

She remained optimistic because she believed she had other options. Bringing gifts, she came to Lin Chuanbai.

“Brother, could you help us arrange jobs?”

For Lin Chuanbai, that was not difficult. And Lin Nanxing had not brought Xu Haili along. That aunt’s personality made him unwilling to deal with her. There had been friction before. Perhaps that was why Lin Nanxing came with just her husband.

Lin Chuanbai asked, “What kind of work are you looking for? Do you want to stay in Baishi County or go elsewhere?”

If the request was reasonable, he would help. If not, he would not indulge her.

Their relationship was not that close.

Lin Nanxing hesitated. “Brother… do you think we could start a small business ourselves? If not, then maybe arrange a stable job.” She wanted to try.

Lin Chuanbai considered it. “What kind of business?”

Lin Nanxing brightened. “I want to sell children’s clothing. Clothes and shoes for kids. But we haven’t saved much…” she admitted, a bit embarrassed.

Most of their earnings had been spent on daily living and enjoyment. They had not saved much. Their housing was basically free, living in a small two-story building owned by Lin Guangbai. With steady income, after covering family expenses, they spent the rest freely.

As a result, both of them had grown rather well-fed and comfortable.

She explained that clearly. “Before coming, we checked our savings. We don’t have much startup capital, so we wanted to ask for your advice.”

Lin Chuanbai’s expression remained neutral. “That’s fine. Pay a small deposit, take some goods on credit, and try selling them. If they sell, you settle the payment. If not, return the clothes and we’ll refund your deposit. You can manage one or two hundred yuan, right?”

Back when Yu Xiang’an had given Ye Qijia clothing, there had been no deposit at all. She had simply taken the goods and paid later after selling. Here, Lin Chuanbai still wasn’t charging upfront for the merchandise, but he required a modest deposit as a safeguard.

It was a small amount they could definitely afford. Even without savings, they had just received layoff compensation.

Two hundred yuan could get them goods worth a thousand. One hundred could get five hundred worth.

Enough to last them for a while.

“Thank you so much, brother.” Lin Nanxing beamed.

“I’ll let your sister-in-law know. When do you want to pick up the goods?”

They were currently unemployed, so Lin Nanxing answered without hesitation, “The sooner the better.”

It was no big matter. Once Yu Xiang’an heard about it, she approved it immediately and had someone take them to choose clothes.

Neither she nor Lin Chuanbai asked about their business plan. They assumed the couple had things figured out.

In reality, it did not require much preparation.

They planned to start simple, just setting up a street stall.

But things went wrong. They took the cheapest clothes and sold them at mid-range prices.

The quality did not match the price. The clothes wore out quickly. Visit HololoNovels .com to read more. They would not harm anyone, but they were clearly low quality, priced cheaply for a reason.

Now they were selling something worth one yuan for ten.

Customers were unhappy and demanded compensation.

When Lin Chuanqiong called awkwardly to say there had been a dispute, and even a fight, Lin Chuanbai was speechless.

What could he even say?

“The customers who bought the clothes all came back to return them. I refunded everything,” Lin Chuanqiong added.

So not only had they made no money, they also had to cover medical expenses.

Lin Chuanbai fell silent again.

What were they even trying to do? Selling clothes required reputation. People compared prices and quality. Once trust was broken, how could they continue?

Lin Chuanqiong sighed, clearly exhausted. “She can’t keep doing business like this. I thought it was a waste to just leave those clothes, so I used my free time to set up stalls elsewhere and sold off the entire batch.”

Lin Chuanbai had no words.

This situation was ridiculous.

Lin Chuanqiong felt a headache coming on. His only sister had promised to follow his advice, but turned around and ignored it completely.

“Does she still want to keep selling clothes?”

“Yes. But now my wife and I are joining her. My wife will keep an eye on things so Nanxing doesn’t mess it up again.”

His wife was sensible. Even if conflicts arose, she would not let things escalate. They planned to work together. The brother-in-law would handle sourcing goods, while his wife managed sales.

His wife’s job had also been declining, so after seeing the small profits from selling the clothes, he decided she might as well quit and focus on this business full-time.

“Brother, we still want to do this. When would it be convenient to get more stock? I’ll also bring payment for this batch.”

“Just let me know when you’re coming. Anytime works.”

Lin Chuanbai did not mind. As long as they had discussed it properly.

But what Lin Nanxing had done was still frustrating. She wanted this as a long-term livelihood, yet nearly ruined her own prospects.

Luckily, she had a capable brother.

Lin Chuanqiong did not mention that when the trouble happened, their mother had scolded Lin Chuanbai harshly, accusing him of bad intentions. He was too ashamed to repeat those words.

Lin Chuanbai had meant well. Yet they had caused trouble and even blamed him. Lin Chuanqiong was determined not to let his mother’s words spread. Otherwise, what kind of situation would that become?

Turning goodwill into resentment.

After hanging up, Lin Chuanbai went to the cafeteria. On the way, he ran into Ye Chen, who was muttering to himself.

They greeted each other and went to eat together.

Lin Chuanbai asked about Ye Jingjing, who was close with Lin Yining. “She’s not eating here at noon anymore?”

“No, she eats at school now. Saves time,” Ye Chen replied. With the pressure of high school, it was more convenient.

Ye Jingjing had been disappointed at first. She had wanted to keep eating here, but Ye Chen refused.

Why?

Because the cafeteria food here was simply too good. The school cafeteria could not compare.

That was no surprise. The chefs here were trained in Yu Xiang’an’s program. She had established a training school in Yangcheng. Before graduating, trainees would rotate here for internships, each bringing at least one specialty dish.

Every new batch meant new dishes.

And since they rotated every few months, the menu kept changing. It was hard to get tired of it.

Qian San felt especially lucky about the cafeteria. Employees were provided three meals a day.

Most dishes were free. Only special stir-fries required extra payment, which he rarely ordered since the free options were already abundant.

He brought lunch boxes daily. Except for breakfast, he packed food for both lunch and dinner to take home, so his whole family could eat from it.

He was extremely satisfied with life at the factory.

At first, he had been anxious about working under a private employer. But now, compared to before, he had a stable salary and excellent benefits.

The future might be uncertain, but their current financial situation had improved significantly.

And in a private company, people dared not slack off anymore.

Before, many workers would waste time. Now, afraid of being fired, they worked diligently.

He had even been promoted, with higher pay.

While lining up for food, he spotted Lin Chuanbai and Ye Chen in the distance. He knew who they were. Lin Chuanbai was the head of research and also the boss. Ye Chen was a capable researcher.

Qian San hoped his children could become people like that one day. Educated, working in offices, handling instruments, earning high salaries with ease.

More and more factories were failing. He knew some former colleagues who had left now deeply regretted it, wanting to come back, but it was too late.

Even if they envied the待遇 here, there was nothing they could do.

One former coworker had even come to borrow money from him, ashamed and waiting until dark to ask.

Qian San understood that kind of pressure. The burden of supporting a family left no room for pride.

He filled his lunch boxes. Today’s dishes were tomato scrambled eggs, dry pot mushrooms with sliced meat, and stir-fried tofu with meat.

He had two containers. One was for soup.

Today’s soup was kelp and soybean.

Soup was self-serve, but someone stood nearby to make sure no one took too much.

When he got home, his wife was waiting.

The tomato eggs were sweet, so they left them untouched. The meat dishes were picked out and combined with what they already had at home, stretching the flavor further.

Although their finances had improved, they still could not afford to relax.

They needed to save money. A daughter would need a dowry, a son would need a bride price. Every bit counted.

Even so, the food he brought home every day was already far better than before. Today was a good day. In the dry pot meat dish, there were three slices of meat. One was a thick piece of fatty pork. His wife reworked it, slicing it into thin strips so everyone could get a taste.

She was smiling the whole time.

He knew why. They had just been paid two days ago. With his recent promotion, his salary had increased quite a bit. Life at home was more comfortable now.

Working for a private boss was not all bad. As long as he worked hard, the待遇 was good. Much better than before, when things had been stagnant and uncertain.

After eating, Lin Chuanbai did not return to the lab. Instead, he went to the office to find Yu Xiang’an, who was reviewing documents.

When he arrived, Wang Xiaoya was coming out holding a stack of files. She greeted him with a smile.

He returned the greeting and went inside.

Yu Xiang’an was seated at her dark wooden desk, focused on a document. Hearing him enter, she looked up and smiled. “You’re here.”

Without realizing it, Lin Chuanbai smiled back.

The pharmaceutical factory had a deputy director managing daily operations, but some decisions still required Yu Xiang’an, the true person in charge. She spent most of her time in the Special Zone, but coming here was convenient.

“What’s the situation this time?” Lin Chuanbai asked.

He stayed mostly at the factory but did not involve himself in business operations. He focused only on his research department.

Yu Xiang’an smiled again. “Sales are doing very well. We’re preparing to expand production.” The factory might not be large, but it was like a hen that laid golden eggs.

Lin Chuanbai narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of pride in his tone. “It’ll only make more and more money from here on.”

He had also heard about Ding Minxiu’s situation, though not in detail. Now he suddenly remembered. “Is there a result? It’s been a while.”

“There is.”

“What happened?”

“Ding Minxiu and Zhou Boyang divorced. They’ve become enemies. Zhou Boyang probably took a good amount of money. The Zhou family has moved, no one knows where. Ding Minxiu got her divorce, but that man is still with his original wife. I heard Ding Minxiu was dealt with quite harshly. She’s still just the other woman. She moved as well, location unknown. She probably won’t return to Baishi County.”

Lin Chuanbai shook his head. The Zhou family and her son were unreliable, but there had been many possible paths she could have taken.

She had a job. Even setting up a small street stall could have earned her a decent living. She might not have become wealthy, but she could have lived comfortably.

Instead, she chose this road.

Character shapes destiny.

“What about Zhao Qiaoniang?” he asked.

Yu Xiang’an set down her pen and exhaled. “After being discharged, she was taken away by Ding Minxiu.”

“She probably still needs her to help take care of the child.”

Yu Xiang’an sighed. “She’s spent her whole life being controlled by her daughter.”

One person’s sweetness is another’s poison.

“She chooses it,” Lin Chuanbai said.

Yu Xiang’an sighed again. “When I saw how things ended for them, I felt a moment of satisfaction. But afterward… something felt off. Tell me, if we hadn’t come here, if they had gotten through that time and survived, what do you think would have happened?”

She searched through the original host’s memories. Back then, discovering Zhou Boyang and her stepsister Ding Minxiu together had been a huge blow. Combined with the fear of being sent to the countryside, she had not endured it.

If she had endured it, unwilling to accept such humiliation, she would likely have exposed them, sending both of them to prison for “hooliganism,” and then been forced to go to the countryside herself.

Life there would have been difficult. After what happened in Baishi County, she probably would not have wanted to return. She might have found someone in the countryside to share the burden.

When the educated youth were allowed to return to the city, she might have come back with a family of her own.

As for the college entrance exam, her grades had been decent. If she had not abandoned her studies, she might have been admitted.

Lin Chuanbai thought about his own counterpart.

The original version of him had been determined to attend a worker-peasant-soldier university. Lin Houpu had once asked him before the exams were reinstated, but he had refused.

That path had been his original wish, to get far away from home. He could not face Lin Houpu and Wu Zheng after their divorce. He would have chosen a distant place, working, starting a family, living a quiet life.

Yu Xiang’an continued, “And if we hadn’t come here, if we hadn’t died under that billboard… what would have happened to us?”

Lin Chuanbai replied, “The child’s parents were there. We would have been commended… and then lived ordinary lives. Work, routine, nothing too different from anyone else.”

The only difference might have been that he would have remained more reserved.

Yu Xiang’an smiled faintly. “After leaving the hospital, I would have gone back to running my private kitchen. It had just opened, so I would have worked hard to build it up. You liked my cooking, so you would come often. With my personality, I would have talked to you, tried to learn your preferences, cooked dishes you liked, made you more satisfied. We would have crossed paths again…”

Compared to their current life, the beginning had been difficult. But they adapted, gained the advantage of the space, built a thriving life, and then discovered each other, two people from the same world, meeting here and walking together.

Lin Chuanbai’s expression softened at the thought that, even in another life, they might still have ended up together. “Do you regret rushing out to save that little girl?”

“I don’t.”

“Neither do I.”

They looked at each other and smiled.

Wang Xiaoya had just reached the door and saw the scene through the window. She quietly turned and left.

This was a moment no one else could step into. She would come back later.

🌱🌿 🫧🍃

Why did it end up affecting them?

That day, Yu Qingshan had gone to the supermarket. He was standing by the wall near the first-floor entrance, checking a notice board. It listed things like the fire safety officer, the manager of the food court, and so on. Next to it was a section for small inspection cards recording safety and hygiene checks. If it was blank, it meant the inspection had not been done.

Li Dazhu stood beside him, staring blankly. He could not read what was written.

As he stood there in a daze, the sudden commotion snapped him out of it.

Yu Xianghai had tried to call Yu Qingshan, but Yu Qingshan had not brought his phone, so the news reached him a step too late, just in time for the scene.

Yu Xianghai himself had been shocked.

Not long ago, his father had just asked about the Zhou family, and now something had happened.

When Ye Qijia told him about it, he was stunned.

He had been busy working and unaware, but near Ye Qijia’s clothing shop, large-character posters had been plastered everywhere.

As if they cost nothing, the entire street was covered.

The posters had both photos and written explanations. The photos were explosive, showing Ding Minxiu kissing a man.

Naturally, such images drew crowds.

People began talking crudely.

“Who is that?”

“Doesn’t she look familiar?”

Someone recognized her. “Isn’t that Zhou family’s daughter-in-law?”

“That’s her! No wonder she looked familiar!”

“She’s been working away from home for years. Who knows how many men she’s been with.”

“This must be done by the original wife.”

“No wonder their family’s life seemed decent. Turns out she’s been ‘making money’ outside.”

The implication of how she earned that money was obvious.

“She looks alright. Wonder how much she charges…”

The conversation grew more and more vulgar.

When Zhou Boyang saw it, his mind went blank. Then he lost consciousness.

The person who distributed the photos had come prepared. They knew where the Zhou family lived. The version that reached Zhou Boyang was even in high clarity.

The shock was overwhelming.

When Zhou Boyang came to, his son and daughter-in-law were already arguing over the poster.

The daughter-in-law’s voice was sharp. “Your mother is so shameless! And you still dare raise your voice at me?”

Zhou Tianyou snapped back, “What do you mean your mother? She’s our mother!”

Zhou Boyang exploded, “We don’t have such a disgraceful mother!”

He took a breath, then immediately grabbed money to buy train tickets. He was going to find that wretched woman and kill her.

Zhou Tianyou hesitated, then followed him.

Leaving his wife behind to watch the house.

The poster had detailed information, so once they reached the Special Economic Zone, Zhou Boyang knew exactly where to go.

No one in Baishi County had warned Ding Minxiu.

Who would be willing to speak up about such a scandal?

Besides, she and Zhao Qiaoniang had no close friends. With something like this happening, people were more likely to watch the spectacle than help.

By the time Zhou Boyang and Zhou Tianyou set out, Ding Minxiu was still at home eating lunch.

Their home.

It was a ninety-square-meter apartment with three bedrooms, just right for them. In the future, the child would even have their own room. Zhao Qiaoniang stayed at home to help take care of things.

Ding Minxiu doted on this younger child, though she spent less time with him than Zhao Qiaoniang, because she was focused on improving herself.

She bought many magazines, fashion magazines, clothing magazines. She wanted to have topics in common with Chen Wen, not just the child. Only then could she keep him longer and gain more.

With no need to work and no financial pressure, and with Zhao Qiaoniang helping care for the baby, she actually looked younger than before.

This made Chen Wen pay more attention to her. No one wanted to speak and have the other person not even understand.

Afraid of being seen by acquaintances, she lived like a hidden mistress, mostly staying indoors. When she did go out, she disguised herself. Only when Chen Wen took her out did she dress up beautifully.

Back home, she still sent money regularly and occasionally had Zhao Qiaoniang return to check on things.

After all, her son was still there.

Even if he seemed unreliable, she could not abandon him.

After lunch, Zhao Qiaoniang asked what she wanted to eat, since the fridge was empty. Ding Minxiu also wanted some fresh air. “Let’s go out together after a nap.”

By the time Zhou Boyang and Zhou Tianyou arrived at the apartment, they had already left.

They knocked, but there was no response. They began to suspect either the address was wrong or they had just stepped out.

A neighbor, annoyed by the noise, shouted from inside, “They went to the supermarket. Stop knocking! If you’re in a hurry, go look there. They just left.”

After asking which supermarket, they headed straight there.

As they left, Zhou Tianyou was stunned.

Such a bright, well-furnished home… his mother lived here?

The supermarket Ding Minxiu and Zhao Qiaoniang had gone to was the very one Yu Qingshan was in.

They did not know Yu Xiang’an had a stake in it. Otherwise, they likely would not have set foot there.

Zhou Boyang and Zhou Tianyou entered the supermarket and looked around. Soon, near the appliance section by the entrance, they saw Ding Minxiu.

And the baby in her arms.

As they approached, they heard Zhao Qiaoniang teasing the child. “Little Bao is awake? Missing Grandma? Wait a moment, Grandma needs to rest her hands first.”

“Ah—pu!” The baby giggled.

Zhou Boyang let out a twisted laugh. “Grandma? Haha, how fitting.”

Then he exploded.

“Whose child is that?! I’m asking you, whose bastard is this?!”

His blood surged.

He had planned to find a place to talk, to avoid making a scene. But he could not hold back anymore.

At his voice, Ding Minxiu and Zhao Qiaoniang were startled. They had been leisurely choosing rice cookers. When they turned, they saw Zhou Boyang’s wild, furious eyes.

Ding Minxiu tightened her grip on the child.

Zhao Qiaoniang trembled, her face flushed red.

She knew her daughter was wrong.

If things could not continue, she should have divorced first. What she had done was wrong.

She had tried to persuade her, but her daughter would not listen.

Now that her son-in-law had appeared, she was frozen.

Zhou Tianyou stared at the infant, his chest heaving with anger.

No wonder his mother had not returned home for so long. She had secretly had another child. Of course she would not dare go back.

Ding Minxiu was so shocked she could not speak.

Zhou Boyang grabbed her shoulders and shook her violently. “Speak! Who are you protecting?!”

During the New Year, she had not come back, saying she was busy and had bonuses. She had sent more money, and he had been happy for her.

And now?

She had put a green hat on him.

Even given birth to another man’s child.

Looking at the gold earrings on her ears, he gritted his teeth. “So your lover has money, huh? Speak! And this bastard!”

He looked at the child, frightened wide-eyed by his shouting, and reached to snatch him.

Ding Minxiu clutched the baby tightly. “What are you doing? Have you lost your mind?!”

Zhou Boyang roared, “I’m crazy? Yes, I am crazy!”

When he couldn’t snatch the child, he swung his hand and slapped Ding Minxiu hard across the face. The force sent her staggering toward the ground, blood at the corner of her mouth. But to avoid crushing the baby, she twisted her body mid-fall, taking the impact herself. The child was startled and burst into loud cries.

The commotion escalated. People nearby had already been watching, and now even those farther away were drawn in.

There were always people eager for a spectacle. Before long, a crowd formed around them.

Zhou Boyang paid no attention to the onlookers. He pointed at Ding Minxiu and cursed, “You shameless woman! I should’ve known long ago you couldn’t keep yourself in check! What, I’m old now so you couldn’t resist? You went to find someone richer, abandoned your home, your son, your grandson! Where is that man? Where is he?!”

Another slap landed, with no restraint.

The crowd hesitated. The implications were obvious, husband, child that wasn’t his. What could they even say to intervene?

Only Zhao Qiaoniang, trembling, rushed forward to shield her daughter, crying, “Stop hitting her, please stop!”

Zhou Boyang shoved her aside without mercy. “What right do you have to speak? You two must be in this together! Come closer and I’ll hit you too!”

He still had a shred of restraint and did not strike her directly. An elderly person could easily be killed.

As the scene grew more chaotic, Yu Qingshan, not knowing the full situation, stepped forward. “Excuse me, excuse me.”

He arrived just in time to see Zhao Qiaoniang being shoved. The force sent her crashing to the ground, and she could not get back up, groaning in pain.

Zhou Boyang ignored her and continued beating Ding Minxiu.

Seeing this, Yu Qingshan’s eyes widened.

He understood what was happening, but if this escalated, how could business continue? He shouted, “Security! Security, come quickly!”

Among all the spectators, Yu Qingshan was the only one calling for help.

Ding Minxiu looked toward the voice. Someone calling security, good, even better if they called the police. Zhou Boyang looked like he might kill her in a rage.

But when she saw Yu Qingshan standing there calmly, calling for security, her heart turned cold.

She was already in this state, her mother lying on the ground, yet he would not step forward to help them?

After all, they had once been family.

He really was a cold-hearted man.

In truth, Yu Qingshan had no intention of rushing in. At his age, he was afraid he might fall and not get up. Calling security was the proper course. That was what they were paid for.

Li Dazhu stood protectively beside him, keeping the crowd from jostling him.

Another heavy slap landed on Ding Minxiu’s head.

Zhou Boyang shouted, “You shameless woman! This bastard! Are you going to speak or not? Where is that man?!”

This matter could not involve Chen Wen.

Ding Minxiu understood that clearly.

She did not know how Zhou Boyang and her son had found out and come straight here, giving her no time to prepare. But she could not drag Chen Wen into this. If he got beaten, it would leave a mark on him, and she would quickly fall out of favor. That was not what she wanted.

The Zhou family was already in shambles. She could not lose Chen Wen too.

So she pointed suddenly at Li Dazhu, tall and sturdy.

“Didn’t you ask who the child’s father is? It’s him! Father of my child, aren’t you coming over? Our child and I are being beaten to death!”

Li Dazhu turned his head left and right. The crowd instinctively parted, leaving him and Yu Qingshan exposed.

He looked at Yu Qingshan, then back at himself.

Was she pointing at him?

His face turned pale.

He had someone he liked. How could he be slandered like this? The more anxious he became, the less he could speak. Sweat formed on his forehead. He shook his head frantically, but not a word came out.

How could she be so malicious? They had never even interacted!

Zhou Boyang looked over, feeling as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him.

This was not the man from the photo.

She… she had given him more than one green hat.

Rage surged again. He lost all reason and lashed out with fists and kicks.

“I’ll kill you, you shameless thing! You bastard! I’ll beat you to death!”

Ding Minxiu cried out in pain, “Help! Someone help me!” Why was he still beating her even after she pointed someone out?

Seeing Zhou Boyang like this, the crowd became even more hesitant to intervene.

Some turned their gaze toward Li Dazhu.

Wasn’t he the alleged lover? Why was he standing there like a statue?

Shouldn’t he at least say something?

Yu Qingshan glared at Ding Minxiu, grinding his teeth. He felt no sympathy for her being beaten. She had dragged an innocent man into this.

At that moment, security finally pushed through the crowd.

Yu Qingshan immediately pointed ahead. “They’re causing trouble here. Have you called the police? You can’t let this continue. Where’s your manager?”

The security guards rushed forward and restrained Zhou Boyang, preventing him from hitting her further.

They did not know Yu Qingshan, but he was right. They could not allow such a disturbance to affect business. If something worse happened, it would be disastrous.

Zhou Boyang’s arms were held, but he continued kicking, striking Ding Minxiu. “You shameless woman! Shameless!”

Ding Minxiu curled over, clutching the baby tightly. Once he was restrained, she quickly backed away.

A guard said, “We’ve already called the police. Please come with us. You can’t make trouble here. Everyone, disperse.”

The crowd was cleared, and Zhou Boyang and the others were taken to a meeting room to wait for the police.

Zhao Qiaoniang lay on the ground in tears. A guard tried to help her up, but she cried out in pain as soon as she was moved, so they did not dare move her again and called an ambulance.

The police station was nearby, and officers arrived quickly.

After learning it was a domestic dispute, wife’s infidelity, a child with another man, they understood how difficult it would be for any man to remain calm. But they still reprimanded Zhou Boyang for using violence.

And he had pushed an elderly woman who was now in the hospital. If her injuries were serious, it would not be easily resolved.

Li Dazhu was an innocent bystander, dragged in only because Ding Minxiu named him. He was terrified. He had never imagined he would end up at a police station.

He kept looking at Yu Qingshan for help.

Yu Qingshan could not ignore it. He patted Li Dazhu’s arm, reassuring him that he would go with him.

They were taken to the station, while Zhao Qiaoniang was sent directly to the hospital.

Ding Minxiu’s condition was also poor. Someone helped clean her up a bit. The baby in her arms was still crying loudly, but fortunately, because she had protected him so tightly, he was not injured.

The child was simply frightened.

He cried nonstop.

Ding Minxiu had tried to drag Li Dazhu into it, but Yu Qingshan would not allow it. Li Dazhu could not speak for himself, so Yu Qingshan spoke on his behalf, while Li Dazhu nodded frantically, agreeing with everything he said.

Ding Minxiu did not persist. She had only done it in the moment to divert Zhou Boyang’s attention so she would not be beaten too badly, and also to stir up trouble for Yu Qingshan.

But when Yu Qingshan mentioned that DNA testing could determine blood relations, she immediately fell silent, and the two of them were cleared.

After that, Yu Qingshan had no mind to stay involved. He waved it off and left.

Now at the police station, Ding Minxiu was no longer worried about Zhou Boyang hitting her and could face things calmly.

By this point, Zhou Boyang also knew Li Dazhu was innocent. He looked at Ding Minxiu as if his gaze were poisoned, sneering again and again. A woman who lied so easily, who could twist black into white. How blind had he been back then to miss Yu Xiang’an, his betrothed, because of her?

Now he had fallen to this point, sitting in a police station.

As his reason gradually returned, he thought about his future, covered his head with both hands, and crouched down deeply. When he returned to his hometown, how could he still show his face?

Zhou Tianyou sat quietly to the side, his thoughts more calculating.

When Zhou Boyang had lost control and started hitting her, he had restrained himself. His mind was on other things. His mother had found another man, but she was still his mother.

If her life improved, she would not ignore her son. He wondered whether the apartment she lived in was in her name. If it was, it might become his in the future.

And even if it was not, Zhou Tianyou glanced at the missing gold earring from Ding Minxiu’s ear. She still had other valuables.

So he kept silent, crouching nearby with a gloomy face, putting on a show of sadness.

Yu Qingshan left angrily with Li Dazhu. When Yu Xiang’an got home from work and saw the two of them like that, she asked curiously, “Dad, what’s wrong? Who upset you?”

Yu Qingshan waved his hand, looking exhausted. “Let me catch my breath first. I’ll tell you after.”

Yu Xiang’an nodded. “Alright.”

That only made her more curious.

The landline rang.

It was Yu Xianghai calling back after failing to get through earlier. Yu Xiang’an picked up.

“Hello.”

“Xiao’an? It’s me. Is Dad there?”

“He is. What’s going on?”

Yu Xianghai said, “Earlier Dad asked me if anything had happened with the Zhou family. Now something has. No one knows who did it, but everyone’s guessing it’s the man’s original wife. There are posters all over town, pasted everywhere, even handed out on the streets. They have photos of Ding Minxiu being intimate with another man. Zhou Boyang has already taken his son on the train to the Special Zone. The whole county is talking about it.”

His voice was loud, and Yu Qingshan, sitting nearby, heard everything.

No wonder. So that was it.

Yu Qingshan sighed. “Don’t even mention it. I already know. I just got back from the police station. I happened to witness it. They went to shop at a mall we have a stake in and caused a scene there. And Ding Minxiu… I don’t even know how to describe her. Zhou Boyang asked who the man was, where he was. She probably didn’t know the photos had already been posted everywhere. I was there maintaining order with Dazhu, and she pointed at him and said he was the man. I was so angry I could barely breathe.”

Li Dazhu looked utterly wronged, sitting there hunched and listless, unable to understand how someone could lie so brazenly.

Yu Xiang’an listened in shock to Yu Qingshan’s account. On the other end of the line, Ye Qijia had also come over, listening eagerly.

This was firsthand, live information.

She only regretted not being there herself. Visit HololoNovels .com to read more. It had been years since anything this dramatic had happened in their county, and given their family’s old grievances with the Zhou family, she was even more eager to witness it.

“Are they still at the police station? I need to restock goods anyway, maybe I’ll make a trip over,” Ye Qijia said, already planning.

Yu Xianghai glanced at her. “I’ll go help you.”

Truth be told, he wanted to see it too.

He had almost forgotten what had happened back then, but now it all came back. The two of them had done such disgusting things in the past. Now that it had come to this, did they regret it?

Even if they did, it would not change anything.

Life was shaped by one’s own actions.

If there really was such a thing as karma, then this was it.

Back then, Zhou Boyang had cheated while already engaged, choosing Ding Minxiu and even giving up his job to settle the matter. Now, after all these years, Ding Minxiu had put such a massive green hat on him during their marriage. That was karma.

As for Ding Minxiu, Yu Xiang’an did not think her future would be any good. Just from the posters plastered all over Baishi County, it was clear that the man’s original wife was not someone to be trifled with.

There would be suffering waiting for her.

Yu Xianghai sighed. “Xiao’an, even though we’re living well now and don’t need to dwell on the past, seeing them like this… it still feels satisfying.”

So satisfying he almost wanted to bring out some alcohol and have a drink with their father.

🌱🌿 🫧🍃

Beyond Yu Xiang’an’s plan to build a high-end residential area, she had another idea, to organize a competition together with others in the industry.

It would be a competition among high-end hotels in the Special Economic Zone, with respected chefs and food critics invited as judges.

This would boost visibility and create buzz for everyone involved.

She would not compete herself. She was no longer just a professional chef. Instead, she planned to film it. Competitions in this format existed abroad, but were still rare domestically.

Television was becoming more widespread, and more people were watching programs.

As soon as Yu Xiang’an brought it up, Lu Anran felt it was feasible. “If we’re going to do it, we should do it professionally. Hire proper hosts and cameramen. If this can become a long-term event, the benefits will be obvious.”

Liu Sanbao followed Yu Xiang’an around constantly, feeling like the few extra pounds she had gained were being worked off. Her salary was high, but it was not easy. Whenever she felt tired, she would look at Yu Xiang’an. With all that wealth, she still worked so hard. It made Liu Sanbao feel she had no right to complain.

Yu Xiang’an could not participate as a chef or judge, since her own hotel was involved.

Even so, her enthusiasm did not diminish.

She loved tasting different cuisines. Before starting her business, she had experimented with many new dishes in her space and even compiled her own recipes. After founding her business, she gradually put all that accumulation to use.

Looking back, her innovation was no longer as prolific as before. Now, watching chefs from all over wield their pans on stage, she felt an itch in her hands.

Ideas kept popping into her mind, things she wanted to try.

Yu Mansheng sat beside her and leaned over. “Sis, when you get back, are you going to show off your skills too?”

Yu Xiang’an replied, “Of course.”

Yu Mansheng laughed. “You haven’t changed at all.”

Yu Xiang’an said, “I’m still me. Of course I haven’t changed.”

The competition took place in an open-air venue. On stage, chefs and their assistants worked in separate stations. Judges sat in front, while a crowd gathered below, industry professionals and passersby alike.

Everyone wanted to see something new.

The dishes were varied. One day featured main courses, another desserts. Categories ranged from seafood to poultry, all different.

At this stage, there were fewer hidden manipulations. Whoever cooked better scored higher.

The chefs from Yu Xiang’an’s side performed well, taking second place overall.

She had tasted the first-place winner’s dishes and accepted the result wholeheartedly. That chef came from generations of imperial chefs and even had a family recipe book passed down.

Her own chefs had been recruited at great expense and were no less capable.

After the results were announced, their hotel’s customer flow increased by thirty percent.

Yu Mansheng said, “This competition really works. Should we do it again next year?”

They had not decided yet.

Once a year might be too frequent. Perhaps every two or three years?

If it happened too often, it would lose novelty.

Too short an interval would not work.

She wanted to keep it going for a long time. That way, as the initiator, her name would also endure.

*

It was job-hunting season again.

Wang Xiaoya, as a top student from Capital University, had no trouble finding work, nor finding good work.

Several institutions and companies had already reached out to her, but she was not satisfied with their conditions.

She also had senior classmates in such workplaces who had complained about rigid hierarchies. Newcomers were stuck doing menial tasks for a long time before gaining a foothold.

She did not want that kind of life, nor to waste her time. In such systems, positions were limited, and the best ones were already taken.

So she shifted her focus to private enterprises.

Many of these companies were not state jobs, but their待遇 were extremely attractive.

A fellow townsman had gone into private enterprise and, within a few years, had bought a house and major appliances, living comfortably. Wang Xiaoya felt both envious and inspired. Her own school was even better, so why shouldn’t she succeed?

As a woman, she also felt she would fare better in an environment with fewer gender barriers.

While she was weighing her options, she heard news that a notable alumna would be coming to recruit at their university.

This time, the company was hiring a personal assistant.

This senior alumna was well known. Her photo hung on the achievements wall. Continue at HololoNovels .com for the rest. Her company recruited there every year, but this time was different, she was looking for someone to work directly under her.

How much could one learn by working beside a company head?

Many people were tempted.

The salary was not listed, but it was known to be generous. Former students working under her had already made that clear.

However, the requirements were strict. Proficiency in at least two foreign languages and organizational experience were basic qualifications.

Wang Xiaoya was interested. She submitted her resume.

She was the student council president of her department, fluent in English and Japanese, with some German as well. She ranked at the top of her class and received scholarships every year.

She was an outstanding candidate.

After rounds of interviews and assessments, she made it to the final stage, meeting this senior, Yu.

Liu Sanbao opened the door and led her in, smiling politely while sighing inwardly.

At first, Yu Xiang’an had only one assistant, Liu Sanbao. Later there were two more, and now another would be added. Their roles did not overlap. Liu Sanbao herself had already transitioned into a life assistant.

Being a life assistant did not mean she was unimportant. It showed trust. But deep down, Liu Sanbao still wanted to expand into more significant responsibilities. Unfortunately, her abilities had limits.

Education was her weakness. There were many things she did not understand, and she had to learn on the spot. As she grew older, adapting to new knowledge became harder.

Still, she had one advantage. Assistants came and went, but she remained by Yu Xiang’an’s side the entire time.

Some assistants were promoted to positions of authority elsewhere, managing entire operations. Others who failed were reassigned or demoted.

What Liu Sanbao envied were those who advanced. They now held significant power, some running companies independently, commanding authority.

Looking at this young woman with a high ponytail, black-framed glasses, and a confident, composed demeanor, Liu Sanbao felt a flicker of anticipation.

In three years, might she become a leader as well?

It seemed very possible.

As expected, this would be her new colleague starting tomorrow.

Liu Sanbao extended her hand. “Hello. Please take care of me in the future. I’m a bit older, so I’ll take the liberty of calling you younger sister. If there’s anything you don’t understand, feel free to ask me.”

Wang Xiaoya nodded. “Sister Liu, then I won’t hold back. Don’t mind if I ask too many questions.”

Her name sounded plain, even rustic, but she herself was anything but, confident and composed.

Liu Sanbao looked at her and had a feeling that this girl would rise very quickly.

*

Yu Xiang’an recruited quite a number of talents from her alma mater again. Her operations had expanded widely, so she was naturally short on manpower. Restaurants, hotels, clothing, real estate, food products, health supplements, pharmaceutical factories, security…

With so many sectors, assigning just a few people to each quickly absorbed the dozens of new hires.

The university teachers were already very familiar with her. They saw her every year, and she was generous, often donating books or equipment to the school.

It was hard for anyone to have a negative impression of her.

With recruitment handled, she temporarily assigned the new assistant to Liu Sanbao for training, then went to see her daughter. Since she was already here, of course she would visit.

She brought along bags of food.

When Lin Yining’s three roommates saw Yu Xiang’an, they were stunned, staring at her from all angles.

The dorm leader looked suspiciously at Lin Yining. “Isn’t this your sister? You’ve been lying to us, saying she’s your mom? I… I really can’t call her aunt.”

Yu Xiang’an was dressed in slim-fit jeans and a silk flared-sleeve blouse, with no makeup, her hair tied in a high ponytail, radiating youthful energy.

She looked like an older sister just a few years ahead of them.

Anyone would doubt Lin Yining at this point.

Lin Yining was also wearing jeans and a white shirt that day. Standing together, the resemblance as sisters was even stronger.

Lin Yining laughed so hard she bent over, and Yu Xiang’an’s mood soared.

It had been worth dressing younger today.

Normally at work, she would not dress like this. It looked too youthful and lacked authority. But jeans really did make one look younger. With a loose sweatshirt, she could probably pass as a college student.

Yu Xiang’an said, “I really am her mother, I’m not lying. Thank you for taking care of my daughter. Let’s all go out for a meal later, I’ve already made a reservation. Are you free?”

It was her first time meeting her daughter’s roommates, so treating them to a meal was natural.

The other girls’ parents had done the same when they visited.

Nothing unusual.

Still, the three of them were only half convinced.

“Really?”

“You’re not just joking with us?”

“Of course not,” Lin Yining said, suppressing laughter. Yu Xiang’an took out her wallet and showed them a family photo of the four of them.

Only then did they believe it.

Immediately, they crowded around her.

“Auntie, what skincare do you use? Teach me, my skin looks so rough.”

“Auntie, what do you usually eat? Bird’s nest? Red dates? Goji berries?”

Lin Yining pointed at the skincare products on her desk. “My mom and I use the same brand.” Though hers were actually custom-made.

She had asked her father for custom ones too, and he had waved her off.

But in truth, hers were also specially made by him.

Yu Xiang’an had made a reservation at a restaurant that was not her own. Their own establishments could be visited anytime, but others offered a different experience.

Lin Yining felt the same way. She had already eaten most of her family’s dishes. Unless there was something new, they no longer felt fresh. Dining elsewhere brought a sense of anticipation.

Having a family in the food business did not mean they could not eat outside. They could simply enjoy being ordinary customers.

While Yu Xiang’an and Lin Yining were bonding with the roommates, Yu Qingshan was strolling around the Special Economic Zone.

Not far behind him followed a man.

He was there in case anything happened, given Yu Qingshan’s age. Yu Qingshan did not want the trouble, insisting he was still healthy. But Yu Xiang’an said the assistant position existed specifically for him. If he refused, the young man would have to be dismissed.

If that happened, Li Dazhu would not find a better job. His family was poor, and he looked pitiful enough that Yu Qingshan could not bring himself to refuse.

So he reluctantly accepted.

Besides, they were from the same hometown, Baishi County.

Li Dazhu was not particularly capable and could barely read, only able to write his own name. But he was honest, strong, and hardworking, never complaining, and he could chat with Yu Qingshan to pass the time.

As they wandered, Yu Qingshan went to the newly opened hotel.

No one there recognized him. He was just an ordinary guest.

He called a server to place an order smoothly, then watched the time from ordering to serving.

Soon, someone came to ask what tea and side dishes he wanted.

There were several options: cold cucumber, cold kelp, spicy-sour radish, and fried peanuts. Two dishes were complimentary.

He chose fried peanuts and spicy-sour radish.

For tea, he picked luohan guo tea.

Before long, everything was served. The two of them ate and chatted.

Li Dazhu mentioned something. “My mom arranged a blind date for me.”

He was nearly thirty. Because he was not good at talking and his family was poor, his father was chronically ill, his mother barely managed household expenses, and they could not afford a bride price, his marriage had been delayed. Now that he had a job, things had improved, and marriage was finally being considered.

Yu Qingshan asked, “What does the woman do?”

“She’s a primary school teacher. She was married before, but her husband passed away early from illness. No children. She’s a year younger than me. My family’s not well off, and she’s remarried. We’re seeing how it goes.”

He spoke honestly.

Yu Qingshan said, “That’s great news. You should have told me as soon as you got back. Be diligent, and don’t be stingy. Buy gifts when it’s time to buy gifts.”

Li Dazhu’s dark face flushed. “What should I buy?”

Yu Qingshan paused. “…Maybe skincare, or clothes, dresses. Women like beauty. But don’t buy randomly. If it doesn’t suit her, it’d be a waste. No rush. I’ll ask around for you.”

Even he did not really know what women liked.

In the past, it was simple. Taking a woman out for meat or buying her candy was enough.

But those things were no longer rare.

Back then, meat was a rare treat a few times a year. Now, with a job, even being frugal, one could afford it several times a month.

Li Dazhu scratched his head shyly. “Thank you, Uncle Qingshan.”

Just then, their matsutake mushroom soup was served. Yu Qingshan glanced at his watch and nodded to himself. A server ladled the soup into bowls and placed them in front of them.

This kind of service impressed him every time.

In the past, when they splurged to eat at a state-run restaurant, would they ever get this kind of treatment?

Dream on.

The staff would slam the dishes down and shout for customers to come get them. If you ordered too little, you might even get a cold stare.

He took a sip of the soup. It was rich and fragrant.

Li Dazhu, not one for many words, simply said, “Delicious!” and quickly drank two bowls.

Yu Qingshan did not stop him. Li Dazhu was tall and big, with a good appetite. Two bowls of soup might sound like a lot, but the bowls were small, just enough to whet the appetite.

Soon, the next dish arrived, steamed sea bass.

Just then, someone walked in. The two of them were seated in the main hall, right by the entrance, where the view was wide. So when people entered, Yu Qingshan noticed them at once.

He glanced over reflexively, then fell silent.

The people who had come in were two he recognized.

Though they had aged, and their clothing had changed quite a bit, he still recognized them.

They were Zhao Qiaoniang and Ding Minxiu.

Zhao Qiaoniang looked uneasy, while Ding Minxiu was dressed elegantly, holding a baby in her arms. Beside her stood a middle-aged man, close and intimate, their arms linked. The posture made them look like a family of three.

But Zhou Boyang did not look like that.

Yu Qingshan clutched his chest. Fortunately, they were talking among themselves and did not notice him, so he was not discovered on the spot.

He overheard a bit of their conversation. The man was saying, “This hotel just opened. I’ve eaten here once, and it’s quite good. Especially the roasted suckling pig, you must try it…”

Looking at the smile on Ding Minxiu’s face, Yu Qingshan felt his heart pounding harder. The shock was too much.

How could she do something like this?

And Zhao Qiaoniang was not stopping her either, just watching her daughter go down the wrong path?

Dish after dish was served, but Yu Qingshan had no appetite anymore.

He also did not want to run into them.

So he booked a private room.

Li Dazhu stayed outside to keep watch, while Yu Qingshan went upstairs to make a phone call.

He called Yu Xianghai directly. His son was still in Baishi County, making him the easiest person to ask.

As soon as the call connected, Yu Qingshan went straight to the point. “Have you heard anything about the Zhou family recently?”

Yu Xianghai sounded confused. “No… what’s wrong? Did something happen to them? I haven’t heard anything.”

“Nothing at all?”

Now Yu Xianghai felt uncertain. “Dad, I haven’t really paid attention… how about I ask around and call you back?”

“Alright. Go find out. Right away. You don’t need to go to work, do you? Ask quietly. Don’t attract attention.”

This kind of scandal, Yu Qingshan did not want to get himself involved.

So Yu Xianghai went off in confusion to ask Ye Qijia. She found it strange too. “I haven’t heard anything. But I’ve been busy. Let me ask around.”

There were always people who loved gossip. Even the smallest incident in the county would spread quickly.

She went out and came back shaking her head. “Nothing unusual. Same as always.”

She clicked her tongue slightly.

Zhou Boyang was still in Baishi County. He had set up a small shop at home selling stationery. Because it was near a school, he could make a modest living. Beyond that, nothing had changed. He was the only one working properly. As for his son and daughter-in-law, people could only shake their heads when talking about them.

After hearing this, Yu Qingshan fell silent.

So it seemed Ding Minxiu had separated from Zhou Boyang and found another man here. And this new man likely had good financial standing. This hotel was not cheap, and their clothing reflected that.

On the other end of the phone, Yu Xianghai asked, “Dad, why are you suddenly asking about the Zhou family? Did something happen?”

Yu Qingshan felt troubled. The Special Economic Zone could be big or small. Today he had run into them. What about tomorrow?

If others found out, that was none of his business. He did not want to get involved.

“Nothing. Just thought of it suddenly. If there’s nothing, I’ll hang up.”

Yu Xianghai stared at the phone after the call ended, baffled. What was going on with his father?

Since he could not figure it out, he let it go. After all, the Zhou family had nothing to do with them.

Yu Qingshan knew that too, but it still bothered him.

Back then, Ding Minxiu had even called him “Dad.” Then she had secretly been involved with Zhou Boyang, and now this…

It was enough to make one sigh.

Yu Qingshan kept the matter to himself. Li Dazhu followed his instructions and did not tell anyone either.

When Yu Xiang’an returned, Yu Qingshan asked her, “Dazhu wants to buy a gift for his partner. What should he give?”

This was Yu Xiang’an’s area of expertise. “Skincare, clothes, small jewelry. Do you have her photo? Let me see her figure and temperament. I can recommend what suits her, and you can just buy accordingly.”

Such thoughtfulness deserved encouragement.

In no time, she had come up with a plan. Li Dazhu left happily.

Yu Qingshan had managed not to tell Yu Xianghai, but once Yu Xiang’an returned, he could not hold it in anymore and told her what he had seen.

Yu Xiang’an: “…”

Everything had changed beyond recognition.

If true love existed, then what Ding Minxiu and Zhou Boyang had once shared could have been called that. They had taken such risks back then.

And now it had turned out like this.

And clearly, the Zhou family had no idea.

If this came to light, Zhou Boyang would not let it go.

Had Ding Minxiu even thought about how to deal with the aftermath?

After saying it, Yu Qingshan felt a bit regretful. “I didn’t tell anyone else. Don’t spread it either. We shouldn’t be the bad ones.”

Yu Xiang’an nodded. “Don’t worry, Dad. I won’t say anything. This was probably just a coincidence that you saw it. The chances of others finding out should be low.”

That was what she thought.

But the truth came out faster than expected.

And it ended up affecting them as well.

🌱🌿 🫧🍃

The new feature that appeared after this upgrade was rather mystical.

What emerged was a small hill. It was not large, nor very tall, covered in lush green grass. At the very top of the hill stood a peach tree about half a person’s height.

The tree gave off a faint glow, subtle enough to be easily overlooked.

It bore two small peaches, along with several flower buds.

The moment Yu Xiang’an saw the tree, a name popped into her mind, simple and direct: spirit peach.

After eating it, one could cleanse the body, extend lifespan, and become immune to illness.

Looking at these tiny spirit peaches, Yu Xiang’an felt both delighted and troubled.

There were two formed peaches and seven buds of varying sizes, nine in total. It seemed like quite a number, and if its effects were real, it would be a priceless treasure.

But how long would it take to ripen?

And after harvesting, would new peaches grow again?

She did not know.

She tried pouring some spirit spring water and accelerated droplets, but it did not seem to help. Or if it did, the change was too slight to see with the naked eye. If these spirit peaches required a very long time to grow, like in cultivation novels where certain fruits take a hundred years to bloom, a hundred years to bear fruit, and another hundred years to ripen, then by the time they were ready, she might already be ashes.

That was a problem.

Previously, many of the resources in her space, beef, mutton, fruits, soybeans, aside from what they consumed themselves, were mostly stored away because there was no immediate need. She had not been farming aggressively for experience. But now it seemed she needed to make full use of everything. If spirit peaches had appeared this time, what might come with the next upgrade?

This area also seemed like a kind of blessed land. The vegetation here was clearly not ordinary. Even breathing the air felt fresher, more invigorating compared to outside.

Yu Xiang’an said, “Even though the storage still has space, some things have been sitting there too long. We should clear them out. From now on, we need to fully utilize the farm and earn experience.”

They began taking fresh meat and fruit from storage into the processing workshop, turning them into beef jerky, beef sauce, and various preserved foods, preparing to bring them out when the opportunity arose.

Lin Chuanbai nodded. This was like a game farm, with one-click harvesting and planting. It did not require much effort. He also wanted to see the next upgrade as soon as possible, curious what new benefits it might bring.

He joined in processing the food. These items could not be revealed as their own work, so he deliberately adjusted the recipes. That way, even if familiar people tasted them, they would not trace them back.

Lin Chuanbai also wondered if, once the spirit peaches ripened, he could analyze their composition and replicate them. If possible, they would never lack money and could even benefit many people.

But he suspected it would be difficult.

He had once tried to understand the nature of the spirit spring water, only to give up after no progress. Tests showed it was merely water with slightly higher trace elements, nothing more. Yet its effects were undeniable. Wine and soy sauce made with it tasted better, and their own health had clearly improved.

Both of them became motivated to grind experience. They even experimented by placing valuable materials around the peach tree, jade, diamonds, gemstones, to see if any contained some form of spiritual energy that could accelerate its growth, or perhaps be nourished in return.

Lin Chuanbai also made nutrient solutions for the tree and carefully applied them around the roots.

Still, there were no visible changes, leaving them uncertain whether it was helping or not.

In the end, they could only leave it to time.

*

Chen Xiaoyang and the others received a batch of employee benefits, a holiday gift package.

The packaging was nice, and the contents were generous.

There was beef jerky, wine, dried tofu, and fresh fruit.

Meat, fruit, and even wine. Wine felt especially refined.

As for Chen Xiaoyang, since grain was precious, she had only drunk alcohol fewer than five times in her life, all homemade rice wine or mixed-grain brews. She had never tried grape wine. She had heard from the distributors that it was good for women, beneficial for beauty and skin.

Chen Xiaoyang: “!!!”

So amazing!

She carried the entire package home intact. As soon as her mother saw it, she placed it prominently on the table, then immediately went out. Chen Xiaoyang did not need to ask. She knew her mother had gone to show it off. Before long, people would come over to take a look.

Some would praise it, others would want a share. Her mother, caring about appearances, would reluctantly give some away, then regret it afterward. Chen Xiaoyang was very familiar with this pattern.

So after her mother left, she quickly followed and went out as well. If she stayed home, she would have no peace.

She walked along the paved road, which led all the way to the foot of Bamboo Mountain.

The villagers cherished this road dearly.

As she walked, she reached the mountain. At the entrance, an elderly man sat in the shade dozing. He was the caretaker.

He watched over the area to prevent careless children from causing trouble, and to guard against those with ill intentions. A bronze gong sat nearby. If anything happened, one strike would summon help from nearby.

There had been incidents before.

A neighboring village did not have bamboo forests and grew envious. They claimed they came to cut bamboo for fences, and permission was given. But during their cutting, a fire broke out. Fortunately, it was discovered early, and the damage was limited.

Still, it had pained everyone.

Afterward, the villagers decided to have elderly men and women who could not do heavy labor stay here. If anything happened, they could call out.

At their age, they could no longer do much farm work anyway. Here, they could pass time weaving bamboo baskets and strips while watching over the area.

The old man woke at the sound of footsteps. Read the full chapter on HololoNovels .com. Seeing Chen Xiaoyang, he grinned, revealing only a few yellowed teeth. “Xiaoyang, you’re back.”

He crouched down and pulled out a small cage from behind his worn stool. “Caught a bamboo rat. Take it home. Let your mother cook you something nice.”

The village now protected the bamboo forest, and whenever bamboo rats appeared, they would catch them.

Chen Xiaoyang waved her hands. “Grandpa, I can’t take that.”

“Take it, take it. Why be polite with me?”

It cost nothing anyway.

The village now earned quite a bit. This bamboo mountain was like treasure. First selling bamboo shoots, then bamboo, and all kinds of bamboo products, all purchased by Xiaoyang’s employer.

Last year’s dividends had been substantial. With a bit more saving, they were planning to build a house.

Chen Xiaoyang tried to refuse several times but could not.

She had no choice but to take the bamboo rat and head back. On the way, she saw several teenage boys coming along a side path, laughing, carrying buckets. They were soaked from head to toe, barefoot, with bits of mud still clinging to them.

They had clearly been catching fish somewhere.

When they saw her, the tallest boy bent down, took an empty basin, and dropped two fish into it. “Sister Xiaoyang, take these back and make soup.”

Chen Xiaoyang refused three times in a row. “No, I won’t take it, I’m not bringing it. You guys keep it and share it.”

But the boy just laughed it off. Seeing that she was already holding a bamboo rat and only had one hand free, which made carrying the basin awkward, he dashed forward, shouting as he ran, “Sister Xiaoyang, I’ll carry it to your house for you!”

Chen Xiaoyang called after him, “I said no, take it back! You worked hard to catch those fish, take them home and eat well!”

He ran farther and farther away. “It’s fine, it’s fine, I’ll go again next time! Sister Xiaoyang, don’t refuse. If I give it to you, my mom won’t scold me!”

Otherwise, if his mother saw him coming back soaked and muddy from sneaking off to catch fish, even if he brought fish home, he would still get a beating. But if he said he had given them to Sister Xiaoyang, then he would be spared.

Chen Xiaoyang: “…”

Both annoyed and amused.

He was clearly using her as a shield.

The more the villagers benefited, the more grateful they were to her as the one who had led the way.

She had accepted quite a few of these small favors, and honestly felt a bit embarrassed. Even though she would return gifts during festivals, she knew she had not actually done that much.

Still, because of this, her mother had stopped nagging her about finding a partner. She had probably come to terms with it. Thinking about it made Chen Xiaoyang laugh. That was truly something to be happy about.

If she were to find someone, it should be someone she liked and who liked her in return. Only then would life have something to look forward to.

By the time she slowly made her way home carrying the bamboo rat, there was no one else there. Her mother sat on a stool, looking pained at the opened gift box.

Chen Xiaoyang glanced over. Fortunately, the wine was still there. As for the rest, what had been given away was given away. She had money, she could buy more.

Besides distributing some as employee benefits, part of it had also been given to the primary school and the orphanage.

By spreading things out, a good portion of the long-stored inventory had been cleared. The freed space would soon be filled again by Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai.

*

Lin Yining successfully found a master and became Shi Changtian’s youngest disciple.

From her calligraphy, it was clear she had already put in considerable effort. After assessing her, Shi Changtian was quite satisfied and accepted her. Then came a thick reading list. Every book on it required her to write reflections, and she also had to submit a certain number of pages of calligraphy practice daily.

Lin Yining felt both pain and joy.

The pain was that the freedom she had just gained in university life was gone.

The joy was that she could clearly see her own improvement. Listening to a master’s guidance was worth more than years of study. No wonder so many people sought renowned teachers.

She was also introduced to her senior brothers and sisters. Most of them were already accomplished in their fields, and even the youngest had completed graduate school. Now, as the junior disciple, she received quite a few gifts. These would become part of her future network.

When Li Yujiao heard about this, she was speechless.

The old man was far too biased. Back then, why had he not helped Tiandong find such a teacher?

She complained after the lights were out, but Lin Houpu immediately refuted her. “How long has my father known Professor Shi? Before Tiandong went to university, they didn’t even know each other. As for Tiandong’s field, back then my father didn’t know anyone in it. How was he supposed to introduce him?”

Lin Houpu understood his father’s character. If he had known someone suitable back then, he would definitely have helped Tiandong. He was someone who wanted all his descendants to succeed.

And after all, this was his father. No matter which daughter-in-law bore the children, they were still his blood.

If it could benefit Tiandong, he would never stand by and do nothing.

Before Li Yujiao could say more, Lin Houpu changed the subject. “Is your relationship with your daughter-in-law still bad? I’ve heard people say you two are constantly at odds. What’s going on? Didn’t you promise me you’d treat her well? With things like this, where am I supposed to put my face?”

Back when they married her into the family, everything had been said so nicely. Read the full chapter on HololoNovels .com. Now she acted like a wicked stepmother, making it hard for him to face his old comrades.

Li Yujiao fell silent.

Lin Houpu’s tone grew heavier. “Didn’t you hear what I said?”

She turned over stubbornly, facing away from him. “I’m the mother-in-law. Can’t I have some opinions about my daughter-in-law? Which mother-in-law has it as hard as I do? It’s not like I starve her or leave her cold.”

Lin Houpu almost laughed in anger. “If you were starving or freezing your daughter-in-law, what era do you think this is?”

Did they lack food or clothing?

Besides, their daughter-in-law had her own job. She was not dependent on them.

Lin Houpu said firmly, “If you keep this up, I’ll find a way to transfer them far away so you’ll hardly see them at all. Then you won’t have the chance to pick at her anymore.”

Li Yujiao suddenly sat up. “What kind of person are you? Fine, fine, I get it, alright?”

Her chest felt tight with frustration.

What kind of mother-in-law had it as hard as she did?

She wanted to discipline her daughter-in-law, yet faced resistance everywhere.

…

Lin Yining was often out from early morning until late at night, and on weekends she was rarely seen. This week was the same. When she returned, her roommates teased her.

“Did you start dating? Going out on weekends to meet your boyfriend?”

Lin Yining looked innocent. “If I really had one, I’d definitely bring him to meet you all. Don’t worry.”

The four of them in the dorm got along well, and their family backgrounds were all decent. They shared similar mindsets. It was, in a way, a matter of fate.

None of them were extraordinary beauties, but each had her own charm. Even the least striking could be described as fresh and pretty. As for top scorers, that was nothing unusual.

What they lacked in nothing was academic excellence. Every year, the school admitted top-ranking students from different regions.

The four of them came from four different places, each bringing a top student.

Lin Yihong was the same. He and his sister had taken first place in their province for arts and sciences respectively.

The bonuses from the school and local government added up to a tidy sum.

Lin Yining set down her bag. “Come on, food time.”

“What did you bring?”

“Milk tea, cold marinated chicken feet, cold noodles, and jianbing.”

Looking at the spread, everyone felt both joy and worry.

“…It smells so good… but if you keep bringing food like this, we’re all going to gain weight.”

Lin Yining patted her stomach, equally conflicted. “I went to my second uncle’s place. Look how much I brought back. I ate a lot too. This won’t do. I’m running extra tomorrow. Who wants to join me?”

Looking at the food, the others could not resist. They all raised their hands.

“Tomorrow we run together and burn all this off!”

Who did not care about appearance?

Too thin or too heavy was not ideal. A balanced, slender figure was best.

As they ate, one of them let out a blissful sigh. “While you were gone these past couple of days, we also had plenty of good food. Our dorm leader’s family sent some jerky and things like that, and we even shared some with nearby dorms.”

Among the four of them, the dorm leader was from the northwest, where cattle and sheep were plentiful. The second was from the far south, sending seafood. The third was from a region known for spicy food, bringing chili sauces. Lin Yining was the youngest, only a month younger than the third.

This fact annoyed her.

Just over a month, and she ended up the youngest one.

As they were eating, the dorm leader said, “Oh right, while you were away, someone came looking for you. A male classmate.”

She smiled with a hint of meaning. “Pretty handsome too, kind of like a movie star. Is he someone you’re considering?”

Lin Yining tilted her head. “Who?”

“The name’s Zhang Da. He came looking for you twice. I told him you weren’t here.”

Lin Yining thought for a moment. “I think I’ve seen him when I went to sit in on classes, but I don’t really remember him. Does he really look like a star? Didn’t feel that way.”

The second roommate had a childhood sweetheart, though they were currently long-distance. Seeing Lin Yining’s reaction, she knew there was no chance. “I don’t think it’s possible either. I mean, maybe, but still, I feel like our Yining deserves someone better.”

Ordinary guys just felt like cabbages being taken by pigs.

Lin Yining shrugged. “Didn’t you say he looks like a star? My standards are high. To catch my attention, he’d have to look almost like one. After all, I’ve got a star face myself. If I’m going to be with someone, I want a handsome guy too.” She shamelessly praised herself.

The other three chimed in together, “Ugh, shameless!”

“HAHAHAHA—” The four of them burst into laughter.

The third roommate said, “That’s just the truth. If he’s not good-looking, I don’t want him either. I’m not bad-looking myself.”

The dorm leader added, “Exactly. And he has to be tall. At least taller than me. Like your brother. If he were at our school, I’d totally chase him. Then you’d have to call me sister-in-law!”

Lin Yining replied proudly, “There’s a long line of people who want that title. Get in line.”

The third roommate laughed. “Compared to your brother, I actually like your dad’s type more. Got any younger, single versions to introduce? I’m curious about your mom too. She must be beautiful.”

Lin Yining rolled her eyes. “Go look in your dreams. Everything exists there. Of course my mom is beautiful. Otherwise how do you think I turned out this good-looking?”

At the start of the semester, they had all been polite and reserved, each one a proper young lady. Now, none of that remained.

Lin Yining’s dorm life was lively and full of fun. Lin Yihong’s days, on the other hand, were much more routine.

Classes and training, over and over, all within the campus.

On the rare occasions they were allowed out, everyone acted like unleashed huskies, running around wildly. It didn’t matter where they were, as long as they didn’t have to go back early.

Those with girlfriends would stand by the public phone booths, unwilling to hang up, spending all their saved pocket money on phone calls.

Lin Yihong was single. He had no girlfriend and hardly any chance to find one in that environment.

Wang Lipan was in the same situation.

As for Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai, they were the real parents. After watching the spirit peach tree for a while and seeing only minimal changes, they gradually relaxed about it.

It was clearly not something that would ripen anytime soon. Life had to go on as usual. They would just check on it once or twice a day and continue managing the space.

They shifted some of their attention away and started sending things to the twins.

Food, daily necessities, and many books.

Before they had shifted focus, Yu Qingshan had noticed something strange about his daughter and son-in-law.

He wanted to say something but held back. At their age, yet they would come out of their room looking exhausted.

Weren’t they just going in for a nap?

Why did they look like they had been doing heavy labor?

Could it be… they were thinking about having another child? At their age it was still possible, but wouldn’t that count as advanced maternal age?

That wasn’t safe.

He hesitated, then said nothing, but quietly added more “kidney-tonifying” dishes to the family menu.

Lin Chuanbai: “…………”

Yu Xiang’an: “…………”

He had completely misunderstood.

They really had been doing manual labor.

Once they had access to one space, they found themselves thinking more often about the other. Unlike Yu Xiang’an’s game-like farm where everything could be harvested and planted with a click, Lin Chuanbai’s medicinal garden required actual hands-on work.

Real labor.

Even with machinery, most medicinal herbs could not be handled mechanically. Only a few exceptions existed. Most required careful tending.

That was also one reason their health remained so good. They worked constantly, ate well, exercised enough, naturally their bodies stayed strong.

And it was not something they could delegate. They had to do it themselves.

Yu Mansheng, on the other hand, felt his health declining. He frequently drank with business associates. In that kind of social environment, he rarely refused. Over time, combined with less attention to fitness, he had put on weight and developed a noticeable belly.

Lu Anran was firm about it. “I signed you up for a gym.”

Yu Mansheng: “……”

Among his peers, his physique was actually not that bad.

Lu Anran said, “I don’t care. If you let yourself go too much, I won’t even want to look at you.”

Yu Mansheng felt like he had been stabbed in the heart.

He looked pitifully at Lin Chuanbai, focusing especially on his stomach. “Brother-in-law, how come you don’t have one?”

Lin Chuanbai chuckled. “I’ve got abs. Why don’t you?”

Lu Anran looked at Yu Xiang’an with envy. They had been joking earlier, but now hearing that Lin Chuanbai still had abs, she truly envied them.

“Brother-in-law, how do you maintain your figure? My sister keeps hers well too, but I’ve never seen you go to the gym. Do you just work out at home?” She couldn’t help pinching the soft flesh at her waist. Her figure had changed a bit as well.

She had been controlling it carefully. Otherwise, it would have been worse.

Yu Xiang’an actually weighed a bit less than before. As for why… she knew the reason. It was because they had been working harder in the fields lately.

Others did not know that, so she simply nodded. “Maybe I’ve been using my brain too much lately. Exercising at home is a good idea too. Just set up a room, and it’s basically your own gym. No need to go elsewhere.”

Lu Anran knew what Yu Xiang’an had been busy with recently. She had almost invested as well.

Yu Xiang’an had spent a large sum to acquire a piece of land and planned to develop a high-end residential area, half villas, half upscale apartments.

In the 1990s, real estate was about to surge, and she intended to seize that opportunity. She had invested in property projects before, but this time she was going big. The land alone had cost her millions.

🌱🌿 🫧🍃