Tian Erzhuang knew that they were trying to help him. The old regiment leader was aware of his situation and had sent his son to lend a hand. He owed money to several comrades-in-arms. If he relied solely on farming, he could repay the debts, but it would take a long time. Moreover, he still had three unmarried sons, which added to the pressure.
Farming might ensure they wouldn’t go hungry in the future, but it depended on the weather. A few heavy rains during the harvest season could reduce yields, and droughts or floods might even lead to total crop failure.
Tian Erzhuang made up his mind: this time, he must guard the goods properly and absolutely not neglect his duty. He wasn’t confident about much else, but his strong physique wasn’t for nothing.
He gathered his spirits, packed some clothes, and left the household chores to Sun Guihua and his sons. His sons, knowing that his departure meant work and income, were enthusiastic and assured him they’d manage everything at home.
Tian Erzhuang got into the car and left, but in Shangliu Village, his departure sparked many conversations.
“People who’ve served in the army are different.”
“They get allowances while serving, settlement funds after discharge, and comrades-in-arms to rely on.”
“If the comrades are reliable, like Tian Erzhuang, they can borrow money in critical times and even find jobs with salaries now.”
After seeing him off, Sun Guihua opened the gifts they had brought—nothing extravagant, just a box of fruit, two packs of candy, and a pound of pastries. Since the pastries wouldn’t last long, she took some out and locked the rest away. No one else would get a bite.
Tian Mao tugged at her. “Mom, will Dad earn money and come back?”
Sun Guihua snorted through her nose. “How should I know?”
Tian Mao squatted down and fell silent.
*
In the car, Lin Yihong and Lin Yining, who were usually quiet at home, chattered excitedly with Tian Erzhuang.
“Grandpa, you won second place in martial arts back then—that’s amazing!”
Since he was of the same generation as Lin Houpu, the twins could only call him “Grandpa.”
Tian Erzhuang smiled sheepishly. “It’s nothing. There were many better than me…”
Lin Chuanbai drove straight to the special economic zone and arrived at the warehouse. Once there, Tian Erzhuang sensed a familiar atmosphere—the uniformed men guarding the goods carried the aura of the military.
They noticed it too. One of them stepped forward and patted Tian Erzhuang’s arm. “Come on, let’s spar?”
They wanted to test each other’s skills.
Watching the fight, Lin Yihong and Lin Yining exclaimed, “Wow! So cool!”
They clapped until their hands turned red.
Lin Yining even considered learning martial arts herself—it looked impressive, but the training was painful and would roughen her skin. She quickly dismissed the idea.
Lin Chuanbai’s words had been slightly exaggerated but not untrue. Beauty skincare and cosmetics were selling well in Hong Kong, encroaching on the market share of existing sellers. Hong Kong’s active gangs meant trouble could be bought—someone had tried to destroy their goods to disrupt supply and damage their reputation. Last time, they nearly lost a shipment to the sea if not for timely intervention.
Learning from that experience, Yu Xiang’an specifically asked Lin Houpu to recommend some people.
This was also why Lin Houpu was upset with Tian Erzhuang’s secrecy. They had agreed long ago that if he faced difficulties after discharge, he shouldn’t hide them. Downsizing was unavoidable, and many who’d spent years in the military struggled to adapt outside. Lin Houpu would help however he could.
When he was a factory director, he hired many veterans. Later, when his daughter-in-law started a business and needed help, he introduced more. If nothing fit, he’d send money or supplies to help them through tough times. Tian Erzhuang’s parents had fallen seriously ill, yet he hadn’t said a word to his old leader. Had they grown distant?
People from later generations might struggle to understand this bond. Take Qin Shenghua, for example—he and Lan Wangshan’s son were comrades. When Lan’s son died in service, Qin treated Lan as half a father, supporting him and caring for his children. He had never wavered since the sacrifice.
They had made a pact: war was unpredictable. If one fell, the others would take care of his parents and children. This wasn’t uncommon.
Tian Erzhuang had received a settlement fund—enough for a normal life. But hardship usually stemmed from predictable causes, like severe illness in the family. His poverty began with his parents’ illnesses, then his eldest son’s accident left him disabled, forcing Tian to borrow money to marry off his daughter-in-law.
After learning the details, Lin Chuanbai decided to help. Before leaving, he discussed it with Yu Xiang’an, who said, “Bring him over first. Pay him normally. I have a rough idea—let’s see.”
The guards were currently under Wuwei Factory’s security department. Yu Xiang’an debated whether to spin it off into a dedicated security company.
It was a shame for veterans to return to farming, especially those with exceptional skills. Their training would go to waste. Security work carried risks, but the pay far exceeded farming. The market was untapped and full of potential.
Yu Xiang’an felt tempted. She had the funds, and Lin Houpu had the connections. Getting started wouldn’t be hard.
It was still just a rough plan, but an incident accelerated her decision.
A radio factory owner in the special zone was targeted by kidnappers. His youngest son was taken hostage and couldn’t be saved in time. They lost nearly 200,000 yuan in cash and a life.
It was a premeditated crime. Most families didn’t keep that much cash at home, but coincidentally, he had just withdrawn it days before the kidnapping.
The incident shocked the special zone. With so many wealthy investors—some unassuming but equally rich—what if this happened again? The government couldn’t ignore it; it would shake investor confidence. But it was too late—the lost life couldn’t be restored.
Yu Xiang’an felt a chill. She had substantial savings. If kidnappers targeted her, could she escape?
After hearing the news, Yu Qingshan stuck close to her and urged Lin Chuanbai to be extra cautious with the children.
Yu Xiang’an looked into the details. Four kidnappers were involved—three with criminal records and blood on their hands. Two were killed, one captured, and one escaped.
Yu Xiang’an: “…” She genuinely felt at risk. Would the fugitive strike again in the special zone?
Her plan needed to move forward.
She called Lin Houpu. “Dad, do you know any trustworthy veterans? I want to start a security company. For the first batch, I need thirty people.”
Lin Houpu was surprised, but even three hundred wouldn’t be a problem. Too many veterans had returned to farming. Some units kept only the elite and disbanded the rest.
After hearing her idea, Lin Houpu recommended someone named Chen Jun.
Yu Xiang’an first arranged security for her family. Her permanent driver was Song Dong from the security department, and she assigned Zhao Shanhe to Lin Chuanbai and the kids as a precaution.
While delivering goods to Hong Kong, Tian Erzhuang and his team got caught in gang crossfire. The “innocent bystanders” knew they were the real targets.
But their opponents’ fists were tough—theirs were tougher.
Trained veterans versus street thugs—the outcome was obvious.
After returning, Tian Erzhuang traveled elsewhere, spending six or seven days on the road every ten. At the end of the second month, he received his salary: 120 yuan.
Everyone earned the same. His colleagues told him not to be surprised.
At first, Tian Erzhuang thought it was special treatment—120 yuan a month was too high. Learning it was standard eased his mind.
He used to save 100–200 yuan a year. Now he earned that in a month. No wonder so many sought outside jobs.
After two months, they were transferred to a larger site with training facilities. Many new faces joined, including an old acquaintance—Chen Jun!
Chen Jun, in his thirties, was unremarkable in appearance—the kind you’d forget after passing by. A former scout, he’d been idle at a factory after discharge. Lin Houpu asked, and he agreed to come.
He didn’t want a stagnant life.
Yu Xiang’an wasn’t intimidated by the crowd. She assigned them to dorms and left them to Wang Yi, the former security head.
As for Chen Jun, she’d observe him first. If he had talent, he’d rise.
While negotiating deals, Yu Xiang’an promoted the service.
Amid the kidnapping aftermath, clients came.
The job was risky, but for Wang Yi and the others, it was manageable. Stable jobs meant safety, but could they earn this much?
No. Now, their skills were useful and improved their lives. They were thrilled.
Once settled, Tian Erzhuang brought Tian Mao over.
Didn’t he want to marry the sixth daughter of the Li family? Tian Erzhuang couldn’t afford the betrothal gifts—and even if he could, he wouldn’t pay.
If his son insisted, let him earn it himself.
If he saved enough, he could marry. If not, tough luck.
After learning Tian Erzhuang’s salary, Sun Guihua urged, “Why not agree to the marriage? With your salary, you can save up. He’s so stubborn.”
Tian Erzhuang refused outright. “I’m earning now, but I must repay my comrades first. After that, don’t the other children need help? You can’t bite off more than you can chew. If he wants to marry, let him earn it. If he can’t, he stays single!”
He laid it out plainly. “Indulgent mothers ruin sons. I got him a job—let him work. Don’t interfere, or I won’t be polite.”
The family had many expenses—debts to repay, a new house to build.
The current home was cramped. Once grandchildren arrived, it wouldn’t fit.
Tian Mao came to the special zone but couldn’t join the security company. He found odd jobs nearby, earning 30+ yuan a month. Saving 1,000 yuan would take two or three years.
Tian Mao: “…”
Calculating his age, two or three years wasn’t too long. Both were young. He wrote to Li Liujin, asking her to wait, then buried himself in work.
Tian Erzhuang said nothing to his naive son.
Some lessons had to be learned the hard way.
Yu Qingshan idolized soldiers and often visited the security company, learning a few moves. At his age, it was too late for serious training.
Lin Yining, who’d initially dismissed martial arts, now enrolled in a kickboxing class voluntarily.
They knew the kidnapping victim—a boy two years younger, with dimples and a sweet smile. They’d shared meals.
When tragedy struck someone you knew, the loss felt real.
Even Lin Chuanbai and Yu Xiang’an took emergency defense classes.
Yu Qingshan mused, “If someone offered such courses, business would be good.”
Chen Jun overheard and considered it. But as a newcomer from the north, he needed to test the waters first.
*
After the funeral, Lin Yihong and Lin Yining returned to school subdued.
Wang Lipan and Fatty couldn’t understand. “Didn’t you find an unopened red packet for pocket money? And it’s been a while—it can’t be about that, right?”
Lin Yining sighed. “No, it’s not that. Haven’t you heard?”
The chubby boy and Wang Lipan exchanged glances and spoke in unison, “What’s the matter?”
Lin Yining lowered her voice, “Someone I know had his family targeted by kidnappers. He was taken as a hostage—those kidnappers have killed before. He didn’t make it out alive… He was two years younger than me. We’ve eaten together before. Later, I saw his father—his hair has turned white now. He used to have such thick, dark hair, full of energy.” The story made their eyes sting.
Wang Lipan frowned. “Didn’t they catch the kidnappers?”
Lin Yining gave a bitter smile. “Not all of them. My mom told me one is still at large. No one knows where he went—maybe to Hong Kong.”
Wang Lipan suddenly grew concerned. “Shouldn’t you guys be more careful? Those people were after money, and your family is pretty well-off.”
Though she had never explicitly mentioned her family’s wealth, it was obvious from her clothes and casual conversations that they were well-to-do.
Lin Yining sighed. “My mom hired a bodyguard for us.”
The chubby boy’s eyes widened in shock. “A bodyguard? Like in the movies? That’s insane!”
Lin Yining frowned. “My mom’s worried about us. It’s fine at school, but we can’t leave without supervision. He picks us up—unless it’s him or my parents, we’re not allowed to go out.”
“I also signed up for a sanda class. Do you guys want to join?”
The chubby boy pinched the soft fat on his arm and looked at Wang Lipan, who shook his head at first but then nodded. “I’ve been learning it for a while.”
The chubby boy grew anxious. “If both of you are going, I’ll be the only one left behind. No way—I’ll join too. Is the class expensive?”
He hesitated—if it was too pricey, he wouldn’t be able to afford it.
Lin Yining: “I don’t know the exact cost. I’ll ask my dad when I get home.”
Zhuo Mingwei also asked Lin Yihong about it. Lin Yihong’s expression turned serious as he explained, “I looked into the details of what happened. If something like that occurred in our family, I wouldn’t be sure I could escape either. Those four were trained fighters. What I’ve learned works against ordinary people, but not them. If I were in that situation, how would I save myself? I can’t think of a way.”
As for trying to get the money back—he didn’t even consider it. Life was the most important thing. Money could be earned again, but once life was gone, it was gone for good.
Their parents had repeatedly warned them—if they ever faced such a situation, they should obey unless they were absolutely certain they could fight back. Some people had no conscience.
Adults had a natural advantage over children—kids weren’t fully developed, and their strength was no match.
Zhuo Mingwei gave a bitter smile. “So that’s what it’s about. I know—my parents were terrified. Now, when I come to school, one of them has to pick me up personally, or I’m not allowed to go home. Most of our money is in the bank now, and they signed me up for three classes—taekwondo, sanda, and martial arts. If I hadn’t stopped them in time, they would’ve split me into three.”
He rolled up his sleeve to show Lin Yihong the bruises from training.
“I’ve never done this before. It really hurts.”
Lin Yihong, experienced in this area, patted his shoulder reassuringly. “Don’t worry. You’ll get used to the bumps and bruises.”
Was that supposed to be comforting?
Zhuo Mingwei felt suffocated.
When the school bell rang, Lin Yihong and Lin Yining packed their things and stopped at the school gate. Before, they used to walk home by themselves, but after the kidnapping incident, that wasn’t allowed anymore. Now, Uncle Zhao would meet them at the gate and escort them back.
If they had extracurricular classes, he would take them there first and then bring them home afterward.
Today, they had no classes, so they headed straight home.
As they neared their house, the rich aroma of food greeted them before they even stepped inside.
That smell…
Without a word, they quickened their pace. Pushing the door open, they saw their mother’s familiar smiling face, wearing an apron and holding a plate of food. She set it on the table and beamed at them. “You’re back.”
Lin Yining immediately ran over and hugged her arm. “Mom, what are you doing here? Weren’t you busy with the hotel?”
Yu Xiang’an: “I finished up for now. I wanted to spend some time with you.”
Lin Chuanbai had told her the twins still seemed down after the kidnapping incident, so once she wrapped up her work, she came over to cheer them up.
After arriving, she went to the market, bought ingredients, and cooked a feast.
Zhao Shanhe glanced at his colleague Song Dong and smiled. “When did you get here?”
Song Dong was Yu Xiang’an’s driver.
“Noon.”
After arriving, they went to the market, and then he had been sitting there, tantalized by the delicious smells wafting from the kitchen.
Lin Yihong spotted his favorite dish, and Lin Yining found hers. “Mom, this is amazing!”
Yu Xiang’an: “Go watch TV for a bit. I still have two more dishes to finish.”
Lin Yining shook her head. “I’ll help you.”
Lin Yihong: “We’ll both help.”
Yu Xiang’an chuckled. “If you want to help, set the table—get the dishes and chopsticks out and rinse them with hot water.”
By the time Lin Chuanbai returned, the table was laden with food.
Sizzling beef tendon, salt-and-pepper ribs, stir-fried beef with green peppers, sweet-and-sour fish, and pork bone soup with tea tree mushrooms.
For dessert, there was mung bean soup, water chestnut cake, and lotus seed pudding.
The spread was so lavish they didn’t know where to start.
Lin Yining’s eyes sparkled. “Mom, you made so much! But we can’t finish all this.”
With just the six of them—their family plus the two bodyguards—it was impossible.
Yu Xiang’an: “The desserts can go in the fridge if we don’t finish them.”
Song Dong and Zhao Shanhe joined them at the table for the feast.
Lin Yining sighed happily. “This is the best. You’ve been so busy—it’s been a while since we had your cooking.”
Yu Xiang’an stroked her hair. “Then let me make it up to you now, okay?”
Lin Yining grinned. “Deal! Just don’t disappear to work again.”
Yu Xiang’an: “Promise. I bought ingredients—after dinner, do you want to make nougat with me?”
Nougat? The twins exchanged glances. “Yes!” They’d never made it before.
After the satisfying meal, Lin Chuanbai sat on the sofa, scribbling notes in a book, while Zhao Shanhe and Song Dong watched the news.
Yu Xiang’an took Lin Yihong and Lin Yining to the kitchen to make nougat.
The recipe called for marshmallows, peanuts, milk powder, dried cranberries, almonds, and butter.
With the oven ready, they divided tasks—one roasted the peanuts, another melted the butter and marshmallows before mixing in the milk powder.
Once combined, they stirred in the roasted peanuts, pressed the mixture flat into a tray, let it cool, and then cut it into pieces.
The steps were simple, but the final taste depended on skill.
Lin Yihong handled the cutting while Yu Xiang’an and Lin Yining moved on to egg tarts and bread. The extras weren’t a problem—they’d make great breakfasts or snacks to share at school.
For Yu Xiang’an, cooking was therapeutic. Watching ingredients transform into delicious food was deeply satisfying—and others enjoyed it just as much.
She stayed for a week, making different treats with the twins every night.
Day 1: Nougat, egg tarts, and bread.
Day 2: Double-layer milk pudding, sandwiches, and fruit cheesecake.
Day 3: Cookies and milk-flavored biscuits.
Day 4: Layered cake and chestnut cake.
…
The twins joked they’d grow potbellies at this rate. The chubby boy, hearing their “complaint,” patted his own stomach and chuckled.
The little weight he’d lost had already returned.
With delicious food morning and night, his resolve wavered. Every time, he’d think, *Just this once—I’ll start dieting tomorrow.*
But tomorrow never came.
At this rate, when would he ever shed those extra pounds?
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