Chapter 81:

Lin Houpo asked this question, and Wu Zheng also chimed in with the same words, “And why are you here?”

Yu Xiang’an was doing her best to lower her presence. Why?

Because the way these two had their eyebrows raised, she was afraid they might start a scene. If that happened, it wouldn’t look good.

Moreover, there were children at home. She wondered if the other party was thinking the same.

Wu Zheng snorted, “Why can’t I come to my son’s place?”

Lin Houpo wanted to say something, but after glancing at his granddaughter beside her and then at the grandson sitting across from Wu Zheng, he also snorted through his nose, “What kind of talk is that? This is my son too. What’s wrong with me visiting my son’s home?”

Yu Xiang’an: “…”

If this were between two children, the scene wouldn’t feel out of place.

So her father-in-law had this side to him.

Hmm… first time seeing it.

After that, the two turned their faces away, ignoring each other. Lin Houpo asked Yu Xiang’an, “Where’s the second one?”

Yu Xiang’an wiped the water stains off her apron, “A junior from his school came to call him back for something. Dad, come in and sit. Are you here on a business trip?”

Lin Houpo slowly walked in, “Yes, I’m here on business.” He then greeted Lin Yining and Lin Yihong, “Grandpa passed by and bought you some grilled rice cakes and chicken wings. Eat them while they’re hot; they won’t taste as good once they cool down.”

At their age, Lin Yihong and Lin Yining were somewhat sensible but also still quite naive.

Yu Xiang’an gave them a look, signaling them to engage, afraid they might ask awkward questions that would freeze the atmosphere. Fortunately, they were quick-witted and didn’t pry. They happily stepped forward to take the treats and thanked him, “Thank you, Grandpa! I love these. Are they from that red-signboard shop at the intersection? Their food is delicious.”

Hearing the children say they liked it made him happy. “Glad you like it. Yes, it’s from that shop. I’ll buy more for you next time.”

Yan Jin, seeing Lin Houpo, didn’t know what to say either. The two had no blood relation, so he also shrank to the side, minimizing his presence.

Yu Xiang’an sighed in relief. To keep the atmosphere from turning icy, the burden now fell on the two children.

The twins had already asked about the family relationships when Wu Zheng and Yan Jin arrived. It was quite complicated—their grandparents had divorced and remarried, so their current grandmother wasn’t biologically related, and they now had a step-grandfather and an uncle.

Why did their grandparents divorce?

Even their parents didn’t know.

Divorce was rare in those days, but it wasn’t unheard of. They understood what it meant for people to separate and live apart.

It wasn’t hard to imagine how two people who had once divorced would feel seeing each other again after so many years.

The twins worked hard to keep the conversation going. Lin Yihong talked to Lin Houpo, while Lin Yining pestered Wu Zheng to braid her hair.

Yu Xiang’an slipped into the kitchen, praying that Lin Chuanbai would return soon.

Lin Chuanbai came back quickly. Seeing the situation at home, he was momentarily stunned. But since he had the original owner’s memories, he quickly recalled that the two were unlikely to cause a scene, which steadied his nerves. He greeted them calmly, “Dad, you’re here.”

He didn’t know the reason for their divorce either. Officially, it was due to “incompatibility.” The original owner had asked before, but neither had answered, so he eventually stopped asking.

Lin Houpo sat on a stool and grunted, “I’m here on business and dropped by to see you. Are you on break yet? If so, we can go back together for the New Year soon.”

Lin Chuanbai: “How long is your business trip? Is everything settled? I still have a few days of work to wrap up. I need to check on the progress.”

Lin Houpo: “My official business is done. I wouldn’t have come here otherwise. My train ticket is for tomorrow morning. How’s Xiao An doing? Still busy?”

Yu Xiang’an: “Someone’s managing the business for me, so it’s manageable. Things are okay for now.”

Gu Nanfeng had returned to the capital with her and was now her assistant. Initially, he was the manager of her hotpot restaurant in the capital. Later, when she went to the special economic zone and needed someone experienced, she transferred him there as manager. He was capable and eventually became her assistant, often running around with Liu Sanbao and others.

Wu Zheng just sat there watching TV, not moving a muscle, as if the conversation was just background noise.

Lin Houpo talked to Lin Chuanbai without so much as a glance in Wu Zheng’s direction.

Yan Jin was reading a newspaper, his posture so stiff that Lin Chuanbai felt tired just looking at him.

Could Lin Houpo stay the night?

Yes.

There was space in the study for another bed, and bedding was available. No problem there.

But the atmosphere between the two was like a tug-of-war, neither willing to yield, as if relaxing would mean losing.

Lin Yihong and Lin Yining worked hard to keep the conversation from dying. Yu Xiang’an felt sorry for them, so she decided to ask about their homework and help them with it. This instantly relieved the twins, while Lin Chuanbai stared wide-eyed as Yan Jin also rushed over. As a soon-to-be college entrance exam taker, tutoring elementary school kids was no problem for him. With Yu Xiang’an and Yan Jin each taking one child, the remaining three were left in suffocating silence.

As for what exactly had happened between the two, Lin Chuanbai wasn’t that curious. He didn’t feel the need to dig deep. If they wanted to talk, he’d listen; if not, it didn’t matter.

But now, with this coincidental encounter, the scene was…

If they had always been this stubborn and unwilling to back down, no wonder their marriage hadn’t lasted.

But that didn’t quite make sense. If they had always been like this, how had their three children been born?

Lin Chuanbai glanced at Yu Xiang’an, then at Lin Houpo and Wu Zheng sitting there with stern faces, and decided this wouldn’t do. He went to his room, found a newspaper, and started discussing the news. Lin Houpo then asked about Yu Xiang’an’s family’s missing person notice in the papers—he had also placed one in Qincheng.

This was a good topic.

Lin Chuanbai called Yu Xiang’an over, and they talked about how her third grandfather’s widow and children had been found and reunited. Such a novel story quickly captured everyone’s attention.

In those times, such stories weren’t uncommon, but surviving was already a stroke of luck. No matter where they ended up, at least they were alive. Countless others had quietly passed away in some corner of the land.

The only regret was that he had passed away too soon, and with no contact back then, they never got to meet again.

This led to the topic of Yu Xiang’an not having bought property in Hong Kong yet. Prices had dropped by a third but were still high, and she wasn’t sure when the market would rebound. If she invested too early, the money would be tied up, so she’d rather use it to expand and buy land.

She had shared her thoughts on Hong Kong’s property market with Yu Yegui and Yu Wanxin. Whether they listened was up to them—she’d already given them a heads-up.

The conversation gradually opened up, and Yan Jin joined in. Lin Chuanbai gave Yu Xiang’an a grateful look.

Now the atmosphere wasn’t so uncomfortable anymore.

Even though the two still didn’t get along—whatever one said, the other would counter with a different view—at least they didn’t cause a scene.

They muddled through the day, and then Lin Houpo left early the next morning. If his ticket hadn’t been for that day, he probably would’ve bought one and left as soon as he saw Wu Zheng.

After he left, Wu Zheng also departed. Her leave was up, and they left on the same day.

Before leaving, she gave Lin Yihong and Lin Yining 200 yuan each to buy snacks—400 yuan in total, half a year’s salary for her.

Lin Chuanbai tried to refuse, but she snapped, “This isn’t for you. What right do you have to refuse?”

Lin Chuanbai: “…”

The two came and went in a hurry, and life returned to normal. But there were some changes—Lin Yining and her grandmother had grown much closer. Lin Yining had even slept in the same bed with Wu Zheng one night and promised to call and write often.

When Yu Xiang’an asked why she got along so well with her grandmother, Lin Yining tossed her ponytail and said, “Grandma’s actually easy to talk to, even if she doesn’t seem like it. I like her.”

If she liked her, then so be it. After all, she was her biological grandmother.

A couple of days later, they packed up and returned to Qincheng. The machinery factory’s residential area was quiet, with no signs that Lin Houpo had mentioned meeting Wu Zheng. They didn’t bring it up either.

Lin Tiandong had a busy winter break. Why?

Because he was a college entrance exam candidate.

Li Yujiao had hired him a tutor—an experienced retired teacher—to help him study during the break, spending quite a bit of money.

Lin Yihong and Lin Yining occasionally listened in, though they understood little. But the study atmosphere rubbed off on them, and they sat there doing their homework too.

Lin Tiandong had already decided: he wanted to study economics at Qingmu University. If he got in, he’d be Yu Xiang’an’s junior. His grades had always been good, and with some effort, it wasn’t impossible.

But since there were no guarantees, Li Yujiao was anxious. Hearing that fish made you smarter and that “like cures like,” she stocked up on walnuts and pig brains, making Lin Tiandong eat some every day.

Fresh fish had to be bought daily, but it wasn’t hard to get if you were willing to pay. Even in the dead of winter, vendors sold fish. Yu Xiang’an even took the kids to watch the ice-fishing spectacle—a major event where the lake was crowded with young men. The lake was public property, so the fishing was led by officials who hired experts for the job.

They arrived just as the net was being pulled in. Such a lively event drew every idle person nearby to watch.

The crowd was thick, and vendors had already set up scales and baskets to sell the fish fresh off the net—retail or wholesale, all while they were still lively.

Li Yujiao was there too. Freshly caught fish only needed scaling and gutting, then steaming with ginger and a splash of soy sauce to make a delicious dish.

Her cooking was average, but the fish still turned out fine.

When the big, lively fish leaped out, the crowd cheered.

Lin Yihong and Lin Yining clapped until their hands were red. If they hadn’t been held back, they would’ve rushed forward for a closer look.

This happened every year, and the workers had it down to a science—some pulled the net, some untangled the fish, and others weighed and sold them on the spot.

The lake surface was frozen, but the water beneath was alive, so the fish were still lively when hauled up.

As soon as the fish were brought over, the crowd surged:

“I’ll take this one!”

“This one’s too big. I want a smaller one.”

“I’ll buy three!”

“One at a time, line up! Don’t rush, there’s enough for everyone!” A young man in a cap cheerfully weighed the fish while another collected money.

“Surplus year after year”—having fish for the New Year was a must for good fortune. Without it, the New Year’s Eve dinner felt incomplete. With the holiday approaching, the fish would sell well, and the workers could enjoy a prosperous New Year too.

Li Yujiao pushed to the front of the line, carefully selecting fish.

Yu Xiang’an stood nearby with a bucket, quickly wiping the fish with snow to preserve them before packing them in.

Besides their own, they were also buying for others in the residential area, so it was quite a haul.

Lin Chuanbai had even brought a cart.

That evening, Yu Xiang’an steamed a fish. The head went to Lin Tiandong, whose face turned slightly green at the sight. Even delicious food became unappetizing if eaten too often. Now, the mere sight of a fish head made him queasy.

His mother insisted fish was good for the brain, and he had no choice but to eat it.

Yu Xiang’an noticed that when the fish was served, aside from their family of four and Lin Tiandong (who got the head), the others barely touched it. Clearly, they’d had their fill of fish lately.

Lin Duzhong also seemed to have had enough, seeing his grandson’s lack of enthusiasm. “How about fish soup next time, or skip a day? Change it up so the kids enjoy it more.”

Lin Tiandong nodded eagerly.

“Yeah, Mom. Don’t serve it every day. It gets boring.”

Li Yujiao scoffed, “You’re spoiled. Back in the day, you’d have been grateful for fish. Now you complain? Fine, we’ll skip days. But don’t forget to eat walnuts daily.”

Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai stayed silent. Speaking up might make Li Yujiao think they didn’t want him to succeed. Better to just eat quietly.

Lin Houpo also sighed in relief and turned to the twins. “Do you want to experience army life during summer break?”

He adored his grandchildren, but he believed children needed hardship to appreciate their blessings. He thought Lin Chuanbai and Yu Xiang’an had spoiled them too much.

Like Tian Dong, born in a good era, he never suffered much hardship growing up and should go to the military to toughen up.

Lin Chuanbai and Yu Xiang’an didn’t think they spoiled their children—they raised them ordinarily. Neither of them were overly meticulous. The kids attended daycare when they were little, went to school when they were old enough, and walked to and from school on their own in elementary because it was nearby. Yu Xiang’an cooked when she was home; otherwise, Lin Chuanbai did, or they simply ate out. Their belongings were ordinary, and they weren’t indulged. Money was tight, and they were always pushed to study and develop various interests and skills.

But his suggestion had merit, so Lin Chuanbai and Yu Xiang’an looked at the twins, whose faces lit up—they weren’t afraid at all. They wanted to experience military life.

However, Yi Ning pointed at herself, “Grandpa, I can go too, right?”

“Of course.”

“Then I’m going too!”

Lin Houpu was pleased. “Then it’s settled. When summer comes, I’ll send them over.” If they changed their minds, he’d find a way to convince them.

Lin Tiandong, listening nearby, chuckled, recalling his own transformation before and after joining the military. Before enlisting, he had few friends because he was hard to get along with. But in the military, no one coddled him—he suffered, but it helped him grow and make more friends. His niece and nephew didn’t struggle with making friends, but military life would undoubtedly change them.

He was almost looking forward to it. Would they cry and regret it?

Thinking back, he wished he could rewind time—he had shed tears back then. He’d even been teased by others, and the memory still filled him with shame.

Unfortunately, time couldn’t be rewound. But by summer, he’d have finished his college entrance exams and could tag along. If they had any embarrassing moments, he wouldn’t miss them. Shared joy was double joy, after all.

While this mischievous uncle plotted, Lin Yihong and Lin Yining kept eagerly asking about military life. Children naturally have a special fascination for people in uniforms.

This New Year, Yu Xiang’an brought back many good things—not just hard-to-find fresh fruits but also two jars of liquor. Brewed with spiritual spring water and aged for years on the farm, the moment the jars were opened, Lin Houpu and Lin Duzhong treasured them. Though they didn’t drink often, they were connoisseurs who loved a few celebratory glasses.

With such fine liquor, they were overjoyed. They wouldn’t even serve it to guests unless they were close friends.

Lin Duzhong asked, “Where did you buy this? Help me get a few more jars. The alcohol content is mild, and it’s smooth—perfect for drinking.”

Yu Xiang’an smiled. “I’m glad you like it. I brewed it myself years ago. If you enjoy it, I’ll bring more next time.”

Lin Duzhong’s eyes lit up. “So you know how to brew liquor? We have grain at home… but never mind. Let’s savor these first. Don’t brew too much.” After all, brewing required grain—better to fill stomachs first.

Yu Xiang’an impressed them yet again. Lin Tiandong even joked, “Sis, my standards for a future girlfriend are too high now. Finding someone like you won’t be easy.”

Lin Chuanbai smirked. “Not everyone has my eye for talent.”

Li Yujiao: “…”

She once thought Yu Xiang’an was just an ordinary worker from a small town. Over the years, her status had skyrocketed.

Lin Yining studied her uncle’s face. “Uncle, don’t worry. You’re handsome and educated—plenty of girls will like you. The best attract the best.” She clenched her little fists and declared to Yu Xiang’an, “Mom, I want to be like you—an outstanding person.”

Later, she’d find a good-looking partner. Life was better with someone by your side, and a handsome face would brighten even the gloomiest days.

Lin Yihong rolled his eyes at her words—hopelessly shallow.

Yu Xiang’an fell silent, worried: Would her daughter really fall for a pretty face with nothing else to offer?

She shared her achievements with the family, not in exact numbers but by describing what she owned.

Lin Duzhong and Lin Houpu were speechless when they heard about her land and factories. In the past, she’d have been labeled a capitalist. Now, the state allowed some to prosper first, but no one expected it to happen this fast. Ten thousand yuan was just a small goal—how far off were hundreds of thousands, or even millions?

Lin Houpu’s salary at the machinery factory was nothing compared to Yu Xiang’an’s earnings, but money wasn’t everything. Power, for instance, couldn’t be bought. With power, money followed, but wealth alone made one a target.

Yu Xiang’an’s ventures in the capital thrived partly due to Zhao Li, Lin Houpu’s comrade in the police force, who kept troublemakers at bay.

But what about in the special economic zone?

Naturally, some tried to extort “protection fees,” but Yu Xiang’an had her own deterrent—Yu Mansheng’s construction crew, full of strong young men. The thugs didn’t dare provoke them. If they grew too bold, the government would step in.

As for higher-level interference, business wasn’t yet impossible without connections. Class stratification wasn’t rigid—why else would so many later regret missing this era?

Moreover, corruption was relatively rare then. Most officials had endured hard times—while some were self-interested, the broader push for reform and economic growth remained untainted. Yu Xiang’an hadn’t encountered such issues, especially after the recent crackdown.

Lin Tiandong was fired up hearing about Yu Xiang’an’s assets, but his ambitions differed—he sought power, not wealth. Like Lin Houpu, he believed one couldn’t have both.

After New Year, Yu Xiang’an didn’t return to the special zone immediately. She bought an old courtyard a few hundred meters away. The owner, whose family was emigrating, sold it to fund their move.

The price had risen sharply—6,000 yuan for a 600-square-meter plot with three single-story rooms. Though expensive, Yu Xiang’an paid without much haggling, demolished the structure, and built a three-story complex: shops on the first two floors, and dormitories (for rent or personal use) on the third.

She also purchased the vacant lot behind for parking. While demand was low now (mostly bicycles, with few private cars), she planned ahead—future customers wouldn’t come if parking was inconvenient.

Once everything was arranged, Yu Xiang’an and Gu Nanfeng headed south, with plans to return every few months.

Just before leaving, a surprise arrived: Yu Qingshan offered to retire early and help her.

“Yes! Absolutely!” Yu Xiang’an nearly jumped for joy. With someone trustworthy overseeing things, she’d save so much trouble.

Instead of going straight to the special zone, they first returned to Baishi County to pick up Yu Qingshan.