Chapter 249: Lin Clan

“Fang’er, I have something to tell you.”

“Uncle Cheng, please speak your mind.”

“Aren’t you surprised that I call you Fang’er?”

“Why should I be? You called me Fang’er for eight years before.”

“You knew it was me?”

“Not for sure, but I suspected.”

“Hehe, you little rascal. Aren’t you curious how I came to this world?”

“Of course I am. Aren’t you about to tell me?”

Lin Guicheng had brought Teacher Wang back in the afternoon. After settling her in, he came to pick up Lin Fang to inspect the land they had purchased. Winter had passed, and the frozen, hardened soil was beginning to soften. Lin Guicheng had already arranged for a construction team to start building the resort, and Lin Fang’s snack shop would be constructed alongside it. He wanted to hear her thoughts on how the snack shop should be designed.

After finalizing the plans and getting back into the car, Lin Guicheng didn’t start the engine immediately, leading to the conversation above.

Lin Guicheng said, “Master Zixing sent me here to help you.”

“That old monk? How did he know I returned to this world?” Thinking of that plump, grinning face, Lin Fang couldn’t help but smile.

Lin Guicheng chuckled. “Master Zixing has ascended. He knows past and present lives.”

“Ascended? So he really had some skills after all. I always thought he was just a smooth-talking fraud, haha.” Lin Fang was so familiar with the old monk that she never held back, even now that she knew his true abilities. Beyond surprise, she felt no reverence for the divine.

“Master Zixing knew your family was struggling in this life, so he sent me to help. Everything I’ve given your family—all the assistance—was actually your own money. With your parents’ permission, Master Zixing used your private savings.” Lin Guicheng chose his words carefully.

“What? Uncle Cheng, are you saying my parents know I’ve returned to this world?” Lin Fang was stunned.

“Yes, Fang’er. So, you must live well here to ease their hearts.” Lin Guicheng reassured her.

“I will live well. I *will* live well. But what about my illness—has it fully recovered? Will my parents know?” Her voice trembled with emotion. She wanted to burst into tears but held back, desperate for her parents to hear the good news.

Lin Guicheng nodded. “They’ll know. Master Zixing will inform them of all your good news.”

“What about my parents and brother? And Second Grandmother? And the rest of the family? How are they?” There was so much she wanted to know that she didn’t even know where to start.

“Fang’er, don’t get too excited. Some things are beyond mortal understanding. I can’t say more, but rest assured, everything is fine at home.” Revealing his identity early had already gone against the old monk’s instructions, so Lin Guicheng dared not say too much.

Just as she was overjoyed to learn about her family in another world, the conversation was abruptly cut short. Lin Fang grumbled, “‘Beyond mortal understanding’? That’s that fat old monk’s favorite line. Hmph, if I ever see him again, I’ll make sure he gets a taste of this world’s neurostimulants—far more potent than anything he’s ever tried.”

A low-hanging cloud trembled slightly before drifting away quickly.

Lin Guicheng laughed. “I told you this because I want you to know that you can freely use the ‘Lin Family’ brand. Everything was bought with your money—including my seafood company. Once Wood takes over the resort, I’ll return to Liangping City and transfer the seafood company to your name. The resort is also yours.”

“Uncle Cheng, no! If you do that, my parents will be frantic.” Lin Fang shook her head. “You gave me the bookstore, helped my second brother set up his shop, and got my eldest brother into school. Just those things alone made them feel indebted to you. If you suddenly hand over a massive company and a resort, how do you think they’ll react? If they ask, will you tell them it was bought with my private savings from another life?”

Lin Guicheng had only thought of letting Lin Fang use the Lin Family brand. He hadn’t considered the implications as deeply as she had. Now, hearing her reasoning, he realized revealing the truth to Lin Yuanmin was impossible. He fell silent, both of them lost in thought.

After a moment, Lin Fang spoke. “Here’s what we’ll do, Uncle Cheng. Let’s keep things as they are. The seafood company stays yours, and so does the resort. You loved fish farming back in Linzhuang, so the seafood company must be dear to you. I have an idea so we can both use the Lin Family brand. Let me know what you think.”

Lin Guicheng looked at her, waiting.

Pausing, Lin Fang continued, “From now on, all our businesses will operate under the Lin Family brand, but each industry will have its own sub-brand. For example, the chili sauce we’re developing at home—since Mom is the main force behind it—can be called ‘Lin Family: Mama Lin’s Chili Sauce.’ The restaurant we’re building here, mainly run by Dad, can be ‘Lin Family: Papa Lin’s Eatery.’ The same goes for Eldest Brother’s mushroom farm, Second Brother’s shop, and my snack shop—each with its own name, prefixed by ‘Lin Family,’ but with different legal representatives. Understand?”

“Mm, got it. It’s like forming the Lin Family Group. My seafood company can be renamed ‘Lin Family: Guicheng Seafood,’ and the resort can be ‘Lin Family: Guicheng Resort.’ How’s that?” Lin Guicheng cherished his name and didn’t want to omit a single character.

“Perfect! As expected of Uncle Cheng—quick on the uptake.” Lin Fang grinned.

“But who should be the legal representative for the Lin Family brand?” Lin Guicheng raised the crucial question.

Lin Fang answered matter-of-factly, “The head of the family, of course—my dad.”

Seeing Lin Guicheng hesitate, she added, “You weren’t thinking of using *my* name, were you? I’m still a minor. Uncle Cheng, I know what you’re thinking, but no. This world isn’t like ours, where fifteen- or sixteen-year-olds starting families and businesses is normal. Here, kids that age are still in school. If one stands out even slightly, it becomes big news. A sixteen-year-old as the head of a corporation? Do you think I’d ever have a normal life again?”

Lin Guicheng chuckled. “Most people would kill for fame, but you just want to slack off.”

Lin Fang laughed. “They’re them, and I’m me.”

If someone who already attracts trouble were to become famous, they’d be worked to death. Thinking of this, Lin Fang asked, “Uncle Cheng, there’s something I need your help with—something even the police can’t handle. You might be the only one who can.”

“Haha, you really think highly of me. What is it?” It seemed she had already seen through him.

Lin Fang explained the robbery involving Lin Yong, Fu Hongxia and her adoptive father, and her own conflict with Fu Hongxia—connecting the dots. She asked Lin Guicheng to investigate.

After listening, Lin Guicheng agreed immediately. “Alright, I’ll drop you off at the bookstore and then find Wood. I’ll leave this to him. But you should be careful too. If necessary, I can assign you a bodyguard.”

Lin Fang shook her head. “No need. Have you forgotten? I trained in needle-throwing for years. No one can get close to me easily.” *And my senses are sharper than most—I can detect danger from afar. But I won’t tell you that.*

“But is your aim any good?” When Lin Guicheng left Linzhuang, Lin Fang’s needle-throwing was still erratic—often losing track of where the needles landed.

Lin Fang giggled. “Uncle Cheng, I was eight when you left. By the time I returned to this world, I was almost sixteen. That’s nearly eight years of practice, and I’m a diligent person. Don’t judge me by old standards.”

“Alright, alright. Fang’er is capable. I wouldn’t dare underestimate you.” *Not just more capable—her temperament has changed completely. How could I look down on her?*

“Oh! We’ve been so caught up in the Lin Family business that I forgot to ask—how are Auntie and Yu’an?” Only now remembering to ask about his family, Lin Fang felt a little embarrassed.

Lin Guicheng stiffened slightly but quickly regained his composure. “Some things are beyond mortal understanding.”

Lin Fang fumed. “That old monk’s catchphrase again! If I ever see him, I’ll dump extra wasabi in his food.”

The lingering cloud drifted further away.

Unable to discuss the other world further, they returned to the topic of the Lin Family Group.

Now that she knew all of Lin Guicheng’s money was technically hers, Lin Fang was emboldened. After confirming how much capital was left, she urged Lin Guicheng to buy more land and expand the restaurant into a full-fledged farmstay. Though similar to the resort in offering leisure, the two would differ in nature and operation, complementing each other.

Lin Guicheng had been a shrewd businessman in the other world and adapted well here, earning a fortune over the years. Waiting for Lin Fang—the true owner of the funds—he hadn’t recklessly expanded, so there was plenty of spare capital. Building a farmstay was more than feasible, and he agreed without hesitation.

After settling business matters, Lin Fang said, “One more thing, Uncle Cheng. If there’s money left, I’d like you to build a school—a talent academy. You know I love teaching. In Linzhuang, I could pass on knowledge from this world. Here, I can teach what I learned there.”

Lin Guicheng frowned. “I thought you didn’t want fame. A sixteen-year-old high schooler, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, running a talent academy? That’s hardly low-profile.”

Lin Fang grinned. “Haha, that’s where you come in, Boss Lin. The holiday season is almost over. Once it ends, the retiree activity center will get busy. In your name, we’ll donate the traditional-character books from the bookstore to the center. Then, as your employee, I’ll deliver them in batches and mingle with the seniors.

“That place is full of talent, and they have plenty of free time. I’ll pretend to learn from them, gradually revealing my skills while absorbing theirs to refine my own. When the time’s right, I’ll enroll in an art college for further study. After graduating, I’ll return to teach. Sure, I’ll be a young instructor, but—”

“How long do you plan for this?”

Lin Guicheng was anxious. Three years of high school, four of college—her family in the other world was waiting for her to save them. The old monk had said one year here equaled one day there, but what if something went wrong? After helping Lin Fang, he still had to find Qi Biao. How long would that take? Could his wife and daughter wait that long?

“Four years at most. But the academy won’t sit idle before then—someone else might seize the opportunity. I’ll convince Teacher Wang to manage it, and you’ll pitch in too. Your calligraphy and martial arts surpass most. You’ll be an instructor.” Lin Fang spoke with certainty.

Where there’s success, there’s imitation. Lin Fang’s calligraphy and painting classes were unique in this small county, but once others saw the benefits, copycats would emerge. If she didn’t establish an elite academy before competitors caught on, she’d be the master who starved.

“Alright, no problem.” Lin Guicheng agreed readily. Four years was enough to accomplish much.

The old monk had said Qi Biao arrived in this world later than Lin Fang, in a different place. How much later and where exactly, he hadn’t specified. He told Lin Guicheng to find him himself—when he did, the next steps would be revealed.

“Uncle Cheng, after building the academy, will there be any funds left?”

“Probably not. We’ll rely on your cleverness to make money grow.”