Chapter 98:

The twins took that pair of blue-and-white porcelain bowls for appraisal, and the result was that they were fake.

The bowls weren’t worth that much money. Their father had spent a few hundred yuan to buy them back then because Fatty’s mother needed the money.

Lin Yining: “I’m going to tell the teacher that my dad’s friend really likes this pair of bowls.”

Lin Yihong: “Hmm, think about how to say it naturally.” He was also someone the teacher paid special attention to in class. Sometimes that was a good thing, and sometimes it wasn’t.

After returning to school, Lin Yining seized a moment while asking the teacher a question to say, “I went with my dad to visit someone’s house over the weekend, teacher. I saw the bowls my dad bought from Auntie back then. They seem to be part of the same set as the ones in Uncle’s house, and he really likes them.”

The homeroom teacher was taken aback. “You saw them at your dad’s friend’s place?” Weren’t those bowls supposed to be fake, mass-produced goods?

Could there have been a real one mixed in with the fakes? If the other person liked this kind of thing, they should know the difference between real and fake, right?

If they were real… The teacher felt a wave of relief wash over him.

If they were real, he wouldn’t owe them any favors, and the money he’d been saving up wouldn’t need to be repaid.

Thinking this, he smiled. “I’m glad your uncle likes them.”

Lin Yining nodded obediently. “Then, teacher, I’ll head back to class.”

As she walked back to the classroom, she gave Lin Yihong an “OK” hand signal.

Lin Yihong nodded.

Fatty Chen Yi noticed. “What secret signal are you two exchanging?”

Lin Yihong: “Oh, she admitted defeat and agreed to wash my socks when we get back.”

Lin Yining: “Get lost!”

Who would want to wash his stinky socks?!

After that, their homeroom teacher’s attitude toward them cooled significantly, which came as a relief to the twins.

—

Yu Xiang’an attended the opening ceremony of a chain hotel. The owner had started with hotels in Hong Kong and was now expanding into the Special Economic Zone.

The decor was quite luxurious—golden and dazzling. Seeing such opulence, those without deep pockets wouldn’t dare step inside.

Many people attended. Invitations had been sent to practically all the influential figures in the Special Economic Zone. Yu Xiang’an saw Klaite, Lu Anran, Yu Mansheng, and others, as well as many business partners. Quite a few were there just to see what the fuss was about.

Yu Xiang’an first wandered around the dining area before checking out the guest rooms. The service was impeccable, and the facilities were top-notch for the time.

Yu Mansheng, who was collaborating with Yu Xiang’an on a hotel project (still under construction), felt a pang of anxiety after seeing it. “How much money did this cost?” Their budget wasn’t nearly as generous.

Yu Xiang’an: “We’re going for a different style. Don’t compare yourself to them.”

Different aesthetics would attract different clientele.

Hotels relied partly on dining and partly on lodging and service. In terms of dining, this hotel leaned heavily toward Western cuisine, with very few Chinese dishes—the opposite of their approach.

Yu Mansheng nodded. That was true.

But when it came to food, he felt they had the upper hand.

He had a typical Chinese palate. Eating Western food was fine occasionally, but three meals a day of it? No way.

Nowadays, he only ate Western food for appearances.

Chinese cuisine was far richer in variety and flavor. Just within China, there were eight major culinary traditions.

Speaking of dishes, Yu Xiang’an thought of the chefs she’d hired. Though she was now the boss and busy with daily operations, she still occasionally sparred with them in the kitchen to keep her skills sharp.

Stagnation was unacceptable.

She now had several excellent chefs under her wing.

Klaite sidled up to her. “Yu, hotel investments aren’t bad either.”

Hotels had the advantage of being relatively stable once built. The major costs were upfront, and ongoing expenses weren’t too high. As long as the location was good, the service decent, and the pricing reasonable, it was practically passive income—a solid investment.

Yu Xiang’an: “Klaite, what do you prefer to eat?”

Klaite: “I’m an omnivore. I like anything delicious. Here, their desserts are quite good—I especially like the Black Forest cake. Have you tried it? I recommend it.”

That was indeed better than what Yu Xiang’an could make.

She could bake cakes, but her skills were better compared to small local bakeries than to professional pastry chefs.

But by the same token, those chefs wouldn’t stand a chance against her in Chinese cuisine.

Yu Xiang’an tried a bite and was won over by the cake’s fluffy texture. “Looks like you’ll be coming here often just for the cake.”

Klaite laughed. “Exactly! Don’t worry, when your hotel opens, I’ll be a regular there too. Save me a discount card.”

“Of course…”

After leaving the hotel, Yu Xiang’an returned to the factory’s R&D department.

Most of their current products relied on her own accumulated recipes, though some flavors had been developed by the chefs she’d hired.

When she arrived, the place was bustling.

She made her rounds and paused by someone working on sesame paste—a man in his thirties.

Standing next to the big boss, he grew visibly nervous and stammered, “H-Hello!”

Yu Xiang’an: “Hello, everyone. Any difficulties?”

He shook his head. “No, everything’s going smoothly. We’ll overcome any issues soon!”

Seeing how tense he was, Yu Xiang’an nodded and moved on to the training department.

The training department was another large kitchen, but unlike the R&D department (which required secrecy), this one had far more people—master chefs training many apprentices.

These apprentices were the backbone of Wuwei Restaurant’s expansion.

To ensure consistency in flavor, training chefs was essential. Once they mastered the techniques, they’d be assigned to different branches, guaranteeing that the taste wouldn’t deviate too much.

No matter which Wuwei Restaurant you visited, you’d find the same familiar flavors.

Wang Xiaodong, 18, had been there for a year. He’d had little formal education—he could only write his name and count from one to twenty. But he had some cooking experience because his mother had passed away early, and as the eldest son, he’d taken charge of feeding his younger siblings while his father worked the fields.

Poor children didn’t have the luxury of rigid gender roles—everyone pitched in where needed. So when he became an apprentice here, he picked things up quickly, starting as a kitchen hand.

His time as a hand wasn’t long. He received free room and board, plus a few yuan as a stipend.

That small sum meant a lot to his family.

If his younger brother hadn’t been too young, he’d have brought him along too.

At home, they worked just as hard but still went hungry, cold, and penniless.

After three months as a hand, he gradually learned how to prep ingredients and season dishes. Progress wasn’t strictly timed—it depended on individual aptitude. Those who mastered things faster could move on to cooking sooner.

His talent was average, but diligence compensated. He was nearly ready to work independently.

Once assigned to a branch, his salary would no longer be the pittance it was now.

After qualifying, chefs were assigned different ranks based on the restaurant’s tier. Starting salaries were the lowest, but even then, the base was 45 yuan per month, plus performance bonuses tied to the branch’s profits. High profits meant substantial bonuses.

A fellow villager of his, more talented, had been assigned to a branch in Guangzhou after just half a year of training—base salary of 45 yuan, plus bonuses totaling over 70. Over 100 yuan a month!

Unthinkable in the past.

Now, Wang Xiaodong dared to dream. Even if he didn’t hit 100, 60 or 70 was within reach. With that income, his father wouldn’t have to toil so hard in the fields, and his younger siblings could attend school instead of laboring from dawn to dusk.

Once their situation improved, he’d save up for a small house, marry, and have kids. That would be perfect.

Lost in these thoughts, Wang Xiaodong looked up and saw his mentor talking to a woman. Upon closer inspection—wasn’t that their top boss?!

He watched as the boss rolled up her sleeves and cooked alongside his mentor, her techniques flawless.

It was almost surreal.

His mentor had mentioned that she wasn’t even a trained chef—she was a university graduate from the first post-Cultural Revolution class, formerly a factory worker. Yet her culinary skills were inexplicably superb, putting lifelong cooks to shame.

He also knew that those like him, trained intensively for a year or so, were different from those who’d learned from childhood.

They could master the restaurant’s fixed menu, but advancing beyond that would be tough.

Their mentors, though, had their own signature dishes.

Yu Xiang’an and the mentor each prepared a plate of Kung Pao chicken.

After cooking, Yu Xiang’s mood lifted noticeably. She clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention.

“Are there any chefs here specializing in pastries—Chinese or Western? If so, please fill out a form with the assistant. If you know anyone skilled in this area, recommendations are welcome. We’re hiring sincerely, and our benefits are competitive—no one will be disappointed.”

Pastries were a weak point for them.

Yu Xiang’an wanted to address that shortcoming.

—

Yu Xiang’an’s business was booming, expanding visibly. Lin Chuanbai wasn’t far behind, though his progress was subtler—outsiders wouldn’t easily notice.

He received another commendation.

Though young in research terms, his output belied his age.

The projects he handled weren’t the most challenging, but his speed and luck in sequencing stood out—he rarely took wrong turns, quickly identifying promising leads.

That was talent!

They didn’t know Lin Chuanbai was leveraging Yu Xiang’an’s golden-finger workshop to pre-test experiments. Many of his “discoveries” were actually reverse-engineered from pre-existing results in the workshop.

Naturally, his accuracy was high—he’d already ruled out many dead ends.

His university mentor even gifted him a notebook—filled with personal research notes, ideas, and experimental doubts. It was enlightening, and Lin Chuanbai benefited greatly.

For now, Lin Chuanbai wasn’t planning to strike out on his own. Breaking into the pharmaceutical industry came with heavy restrictions. He aimed to find a struggling pharmaceutical factory in need of outside investment—that would simplify things.

The pharmaceutical factory wasn’t cheap. Most of his funds came from Yu Xiang’an’s earnings. His skincare products were decent but just that—decent. In times when basic necessities weren’t fully secured, the pursuit of beauty always took a backseat.

He’d have to wait longer.

—

Winter break arrived in the blink of an eye.

Yu Qingshan had been eagerly awaiting the children’s vacation.

Wen Ruzhen, a university professor, also had winter break. She brought their three children over.

Yu Xiangqing, a high school teacher, couldn’t stay long—she had to return for makeup classes. After dropping off the kids for one night, she left.

The twins from Yu Xianghai’s family came soon after.

Among their generation, Yu Mingjie was the eldest—not only a college graduate but already with a partner and a soon-to-arrive next generation. Next were his younger siblings, Yu Mingfeng and Yu Mingyao, dragon-phoenix twins about to enter high school.

After them came Yu Xiangyan’s eldest daughter, Yu Xiyi.

Of the four married siblings with children, Yu Xiangqing’s son Yan Ming was the youngest, but even he was twelve this year.

None of them were little kids anymore.

Leaving them with Yu Qingshan, no one had any worries.

Previously, they’d just stayed casually. Now, with everyone gathered, Yu Qingshan announced, “Don’t you think the rooms are too plain? How would you like to decorate your own rooms?”

The house had tiled floors and white walls—minimalist. The beds and wardrobes were uniformly customized, similar in style though not identical.

Yu Xiang’an had suggested starting with a blank slate, then letting the children personalize their spaces once everyone arrived. That way, they’d have common ground for bonding.

Yu Qingshan agreed. Seeing their excited faces, he smiled. “See these three big boxes? They’re filled with things you might need. Open them up, and if there’s anything else you want, write it down in the notebook.”

The teenagers—including Lin Yihong and Lin Yining—went wild with delight.

Even the twins hadn’t expected to be given free rein over their room’s decor. Their parents had left it entirely up to them—whatever they liked, they could have.

Now everything was settled, and everyone was in high spirits, opening their boxes to see what was inside.

“How do you want to arrange your bed?”

“I love the pattern on this quilt cover.”

“I like this small box—it’s so versatile.”

“This pair of pillows is adorable. I want them.”

The initial unfamiliarity gradually faded away through such exchanges.

The adults could also discern some of their personalities from their decorating styles.

To be honest, the twins were least familiar with Yan Ming. They were only a year apart, but when they were little, they couldn’t remember much. By the time they could, they had each followed their parents to university and left home. After that, they only occasionally returned for visits. With so many people around, they’d play for a while before leaving again.

Yan Ming wasn’t very familiar with his cousins either, but he wasn’t introverted. Decorating his room with boys around his age, he quickly warmed up to them.

After they finished setting up, Yu Xiang’an went to take a look.

Yu Mingfeng’s room was mainly blue, with a celebrity poster on the wall and a basketball on his desk—he loved basketball.

Yu Mingyao’s room was a fresh shade of green, immersing anyone who entered in its vibrant hue.

She had arranged a circle of various plush toys by her bedside and placed a cloth doll next to her pillow.

Yu Xiyi’s room was filled with potted plants—pothos, winter jasmine, cacti, and miniature oranges. She had also hung a piece of calligraphy in her room. She loved calligraphy and had been practicing for years.

Next was her younger brother, Yu Xiling. His room had a black theme, with black-and-white checkered wallpaper on the walls. On his desk sat a figurine of a soaring eagle.

Then came Yu Xiyi’s younger sister, Yu Xiwan. Her room was soft pink, adorned with many pink rabbits—it was clear at a glance how much the room’s owner loved them.

Lin Yihong’s room was blue, with a poster of the ocean and a whale.

Lin Yining’s room was plastered with photos of celebrities, both male and female, all strikingly good-looking.

Finally, there was Yan Ming. His room hadn’t changed much, except for an added shelf holding his favorite wind chimes.

After observing, Yu Xiang’an had a good idea of their preferences and handed them a class schedule to choose from.

The classes were relaxed since they were interest-based, with no strict requirements. In the mornings, they’d spend an hour or two listening to the teacher share fascinating world trivia or explore hobbies like music and painting. In the afternoons, they had sports classes, where a teacher would guide them in basketball or soccer.

The rest of the time was free play. The space was large enough—the basketball court was just a cleared patch of flat ground. Few boys could resist the allure of basketball.

Apart from basketball class, much of their free time was spent playing it. The girls’ interests differed. Yu Xiang’an had bought them a full set of dolls, and they were now engrossed in making clothes for them.

Yu Xiyi was particularly talented—her doll clothes were the prettiest.

Lin Yining, on the other hand, wasn’t as skilled—her clothes turned out crooked. But she was having fun regardless.

Wen Ruzhen, who wasn’t staying with them, was also enjoying herself. She lived nearby and liked exploring the area’s changes, visiting universities in Yangcheng, and seeing her father. Her days were fulfilling.

Yu Xiangyan, who returned home alone after a busy day: “…”

So lonely!

With the kids around, time seemed to fly by unnoticed.

Yan Ming felt like he had experienced so much.

When his mother first sent him to his grandfather’s, he had been nervous—worried his grandfather might grow tired of him or that he wouldn’t adjust. But it turned out he had overthought it.

There was nothing uncomfortable about it. He had brought clothes, but when he opened the wardrobe, it was already filled with outfits in his size.

He had decorated his room however he wanted—completely freely, with no one criticizing him.

For meals, breakfast was a treat—his grandfather took them out to eat, with a wide variety: congee, noodles, dumplings, pancakes, soy milk, fried dough sticks, and milk. They could choose whatever they liked.

Lunch was delivered, so they didn’t have to order, but there was no worry about disliking the food—there were many dishes, each in small portions, allowing them to sample everything. He tasted many things he’d never had before.

At home, his parents worked, and while their income was decent, they weren’t particularly particular about food—meat and rice were enough. But here, the variety was astounding.

From the sky, the sea, to the land—everything could be cooked in countless ways, dazzling the senses. Being near the coast, he got to try many types of seafood. The most shocking was a giant crab—as big as his face!

Though the crab was huge, there wasn’t much meat inside. But the sheer size was astonishing.

The taste wasn’t the point, nor was the quantity—what mattered was that he had eaten such a massive crab!

Yan Ming had already planned how he’d share his experiences here with his friends back home.

He had played basketball before, but courts were scarce, and younger kids often lost out to older ones. Here, there was no competition—they had their own court and even a coach. Yan Ming felt his skills had improved a lot.

And with his cousins around, he was never lonely.

He also took up painting. The teacher said his eagle drawings had spirit, which thrilled him—he loved eagles the most.

As the New Year approached, he called his mother, who asked, “It’s almost New Year’s. Should I come pick you up?”

Yan Ming: “…Mom, didn’t we agree to celebrate at Grandpa’s this year?” He didn’t want to go back at all. He missed his parents, but he could call them. Life here was much richer. He’d see them when school started—he wanted to stay.

On the other end, Yu Xiangqing, who had only been joking about bringing him home and was now gently rejected by her son: “…”

This kid had switched sides way too fast! Before leaving, he had begged her to come get him early—now he didn’t even want to return.

“Fine, seems you’re having a great time. Dad and I will head over tomorrow. We’ll celebrate New Year’s at your grandpa’s.”

“That’s great!” Yan Ming cheered.

Then he remembered: “Do Grandma and Grandpa agree?”

Yu Xiangqing: “They do. Your dad and I rarely spend New Year’s with your grandpa. It’s a rare occasion—why wouldn’t they agree?”

That was a relief.

“Mom, come early! Auntie said once everyone’s here, we’ll take a family photo by the beach. It’ll look amazing! I saw Yihong’s old photos—he wore a knight’s outfit. I want one too…”

Yu Xiang’an walked in, catching the tail end. Waving her hand, she said, “A knight’s outfit? Of course! How about a prince’s outfit too? Want a few shots in that?”

Yu Xiangqing on the phone: “…”

Don’t spoil the kid too much, giving him everything he wants!

Yu Xiang’an took the phone: “Don’t worry, I’ve got it under control. Be careful on the road. I’ll arrange a pickup. It’s rare for everyone to be together this year.”

Yu Xiangqing: “When’s Second Brother coming back?”

Yu Xiang’an: “He’s already on his way.”

Yu Xiangqing: “What about Little Brother?”

Yu Xiang’an: “His train ticket is two days after yours…”

For the New Year, Zhao Qiaoniang and Ding Minxiu returned to Baishi County.

But after waiting for a long time, with the New Year approaching, not only had Yu Xiangju not returned—none of the Yu family had come back.

Ding Minxiu’s expression darkened.

Where had they all gone?

After some digging, she learned they were celebrating the New Year in the Special Economic Zone and wouldn’t be back this year.

Ding Minxiu frowned.

The Special Economic Zone was huge—how could she possibly find them?

Her grandson had been born, but due to her daughter-in-law’s difficult pregnancy, the baby wasn’t very healthy. The family’s savings had mostly gone to medical bills.

This year, Zhao Qiaoniang had fallen ill twice, and all her earnings went to treatment. Ding Minxiu had privately asked the doctor, who said her mother’s health had deteriorated from past hardships—this was normal at her age and required careful maintenance. Otherwise, such episodes would be frequent.

Ding Minxiu had then resolved to track down Yu Xiangju.

After all, she had raised him—shouldn’t he shoulder some of the medical expenses?

She was Zhao Qiaoniang’s daughter, but sons were responsible for elderly care.