Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Taking It Through His Hands Seeing him take the initiative to ask. Director Lin, eager to curry favor with him, spilled everything like beans pouring out of a sack. "Her? She's the owner of Linji in our Simenkou. She's come to reclaim the Linji her father left behind." "President Yu, you know, since the property was confiscated back then, it was distributed out and is now occupied by the masses. How could it possibly be reclaimed?" "That female comrade is stubborn too, always coming to make things difficult for us over this matter. Isn't she just deliberately picking a fight?" The more he spoke, the darker Yu Jianghai's expression grew, until it was almost gloomy enough to drip water. "Deliberately picking a fight?" He asked almost word by word. Director Liu, not knowing how he had offended him, carefully apologized, "President Yu?" "She came to make things difficult for us first—" If that wasn't deliberately picking a fight, what was? Before he could finish, Yu Jianghai cut him off. Standing at the door, tall and imposing in his well-tailored suit, his expression cold and stern, he said, "Is this how your Luosiban serves the people?" At these words, Director Liu froze instantly. He steeled himself and explained, "President Yu, it's not that we refuse to serve her or handle her case, but Linji's situation is indeed rather complicated." Yu Jianghai looked down at him. He had a pair of phoenix eyes, pitch-black pupils that seemed somewhat indifferent when looking at people, yet they gave one an indescribable sense of pressure. Faced with such a gaze, Director Liu could no longer continue his explanation. He then admitted frankly, "President Yu, you know that the rules of this society aren't simply black and white. When other people come to apply for their properties, they always stuff a hefty red envelope to everyone from top to bottom at Luosiban." He followed Yu Jianghai's gaze and looked over, seeing that female comrade standing thin and alone in the Luosiban office, clutching her white silk. Like one person resisting the entire world. His voice grew softer and softer, "Only this Boss Lin—she earns no small amount, yet she won't part with a single cent." "How are we at Luosiban supposed to handle her case like that?" "Not to mention, she's making such a scene..." That was the real point. "Making a scene?" Yu Jianghai interrupted him, his voice cold as if tempered in ice. He looked down at Director Liu from above, his phoenix eyes devoid of any emotion, yet the pressure was suffocating. "Implementing the private property restitution policy is the core duty of your Luosiban." "Her documents are complete, legal, and compliant." "How is that making a scene?" What did this mean? Director Liu could barely breathe under the pressure. He tried to decipher the meaning behind Yu Jianghai's words. Unfortunately, the other party's aura was too overwhelming at the moment, leaving his mind in complete chaos. Watching Yu Jianghai stride casually into the office, Director Liu deliberately fell a step behind and quietly asked Secretary Shen, "Secretary Shen, what's going on with President Yu?" Secretary Shen sometimes wondered how Director Liu had managed to reach his current position. How would he know that Luosiban was a department newly established in recent years? Director Liu had gotten the position through his brother-in-law's connections, placed in this new department. He didn't need to do anything else—just process the paperwork for those whose assets and properties had been confiscated back then. Seeing that Director Liu truly didn't understand, Secretary Shen looked up at the woman standing in the Luosiban office hall. "That woman is someone our President Yu longs for but cannot have." Well then. With that one sentence, Director Liu's face instantly turned pale. But more than anything, he was astonished, skeptical. "No way?" That Linji owner was pretty, sure, but she wasn't young anymore, and she had a child with her. Even if she were a celestial beauty, she wouldn't be someone the boss of Jianghai Dicai couldn't have, right? After all, given Yu Jianghai's current status, what kind of woman couldn't he get? Seeing his disbelief, Secretary Shen patted Director Liu on the shoulder. "Look here, brother. I tell you the truth and you won't believe it." "Then let me tell you a lie." "That woman is the madam of our Jianghai Dicai. Do you believe that?" Director Liu gave a dry laugh, cold sweat dripping. "Secretary Shen, you're still pulling my leg." The title of Director of Luosiban sounded nice, but anyone with eyes knew this department wouldn't last more than a few years. It was created for the times, and once this batch of assets was fully returned. Their Luosiban team would naturally be disbanded. Director Liu already felt the crisis. These past two years, he'd been like a drowning man grasping at straws, desperate to latch onto any powerful figure to secure his next position. Secretary Shen adjusted his glasses and squinted. "Director Liu, if you think I'm lying, then I'm lying." The more he said that, the more unsettled Director Liu's heart became. He tried to find some trace of deception on Secretary Shen's face, but there was none. The more the other party spoke that way, the more he believed it in his heart. Could it be that the Linji owner really was President Yu's beloved? Just as Director Liu was lost in wild speculation, Officer Chen came running over like an ant on a hot pan. "Director, Director, something terrible has happened!" Director Liu was agitated. "Your director is standing right here, perfectly fine—what could have happened?" "No, that's not it." Officer Chen was about to speak when he noticed Secretary Shen standing there in his suit and tie. Even without knowing who he was, one look at his attire told him this was no ordinary person. Officer Chen wrung his hands anxiously. "Come over here." Director Liu pulled Officer Chen to the corner by the main entrance, just hidden behind a stone lion statue at the gate. Only then did Officer Chen lower his voice, speaking urgently, "Director Liu, the owner of Linji is back again." "She wants to reclaim Linji, and she's declared that if we don't process the paperwork today, she'll hang herself at the entrance of our Luosiban." That threat might scare Officer Chen, but it wouldn't scare Director Liu. On any ordinary day, he would have sneered at it—but not today. He looked up and saw Secretary Shen standing at the entrance, offering him a faint smile. To outsiders, Secretary Shen was what you'd call a smiling tiger. That smile made Director Liu's skin crawl. Why wasn't Secretary Shen leaving? What was he waiting for? And what he'd said earlier—was it true? Could he afford to treat it as a bluff? What if the owner of Linji, Lin Meiyan, really was the unattainable beloved of the boss of Jianghai Dicai? If he made things difficult for her here, would President Yu still continue doing business with him? Of course, saying "doing business with him" was overstating it. It was the other party doing business with Luosiban—what was he, Liu Jianshe, in the grand scheme of things? In the span of a moment, countless thoughts raced through Director Liu's mind. His expression shifted unpredictably. He looked at Officer Chen for a moment, then said, "Go ahead. Keep Ms. Lin steady for me. Once I'm done with business here, I'll go talk to her myself." Officer Chen nearly burst into tears at those words. "Director Liu, I can't keep her steady anymore—you have no idea." His face crumpled with despair. "That Ms. Lin looks all gentle and soft, but she's carrying a full zhang of white silk. I'm afraid she won't just hang herself." "I'm afraid that when she goes, she'll take me with her." Director Liu said, "Have some spine." "Just tell her—" He paused mid-sentence, then said, "Forget it. Just take her directly to get the stamp." "Huh?" Now it was Officer Chen's turn to be stunned. "Go. Find Sister Zhou and tell her I've approved it." Officer Chen felt like a man pardoned from execution. He nodded vigorously, his head bobbing like a pestle, and turned to dash back into the Luosiban lobby. It was June in Jiangcheng, still carrying a hint of muggy heat. Officer Chen ran in drenched in sweat and immediately announced to Lin Meiyan, eager to claim credit, "Ms. Lin, our Director Liu said you can get the stamp now." Lin Meiyan was holding a length of white silk, standing there admiring the decor of Luosiban. To be honest, if you were judging purely by how nice the place looked, it really wasn't bad. Although Luosiban had been established later, the building's renovation was quite good—all in the latest fashionable style. Hearing this suddenly, Lin Meiyan felt a moment of daze. "Your Director Liu agreed?" Officer Chen nodded. "That's right." He wiped his sweat and quietly moved to help Lin Meiyan fold up the white silk. "It's not just me who's afraid of you hanging yourself at Luosiban—our Director Liu is too." He gathered the silk, and since Lin Meiyan didn't object, Officer Chen rolled it all up in one go and handed it back to her. Lin Meiyan tucked it into her bag. A trace of confusion lingered on her lovely face. "Your Director Liu just agreed like that? No more making things difficult for me?" Back then, at Simenkou, more than one or two properties had been confiscated. Aside from those who hadn't lived long enough to see the day of return, most of the remaining people had gotten their houses back. Only the Lin family, and a handful of others, hadn't. In almost all those cases, the families had lost their elders, leaving only children behind. If there was a son, things were easier—they'd raise a fuss at Luosiban and generally get their property back. But for families with only daughters, they were essentially ignored by Luosiban. Don't ask why. Ask, and the answer was that daughters had no inheritance rights. Ask, and the answer was that a daughter who married out became part of someone else's family, so the house might as well stay with Luosiban, for the people to use. Officer Chen gave a bitter smile. He led Lin Meiyan forward, smiling wryly as they walked. "Sis, you were about to hang yourself—that's a human life at stake, no matter how you look at it." "Our Director Liu might be a bastard, but even he wouldn't disregard a life." As soon as he said it, Officer Chen moved to cover his mouth, but it was too late—Lin Meiyan had heard every word. She said softly, "I didn't hear a thing." Gone was the resoluteness she'd shown earlier when she'd pulled out the white silk, ready to hang herself at the entrance of Luosiban. She had returned to her usual demeanor instead. Officer Chen breathed a sigh of relief. He led Lin Meiyan to the small office in the back, introducing as they walked, "Director Liu said I can just take you straight to get the stamp." He held a document in his hand—a notice for the return of the property. All that was needed was a stamp on this acknowledgment form. Lin Meiyan nodded and, under Officer Chen's guidance, quickly reached the back office. Sister Zhou was there knitting. A place like Luosiban was inherently a leisurely post—on an ordinary day, not a single person would come by for half a day. Watching Officer Chen bring Lin Meiyan in, Sister Zhou unhurriedly put away her knitting. "Xiao Chen, who's this?" Officer Chen rattled off in one breath, "Director Liu gave the order—he said to bring Sister Lin here to get the seal stamped and return Linji to her." Sister Zhou frowned slightly. "I haven't received that notice." "Besides, who ever comes here to get a seal and claim a house without giving a red envelope?" Lin Meiyan said nothing, but Officer Chen was already sweating with anxiety. "Sister Zhou, Sister Lin's situation is different now." He went over and whispered something in her ear. Sister Zhou looked up at Lin Meiyan. Lin Meiyan didn't dodge or avoid her gaze—she met it directly. Sister Zhou lowered her head and noticed the white silk still not yet tucked away in Lin Meiyan's bag. She paused, then said to Officer Chen, "Let me see the house return notice." Officer Chen gave a quick "Aye" and immediately handed it over. Sister Zhou read it from beginning to end. When she saw the area and property owner listed for Linji, she said to Lin Meiyan, "Your mother is still alive? Your sister is still alive? By rights, this house shouldn't belong to you alone." Lin Meiyan thought for a moment. "That's an internal distribution matter for us." "At least for now, my purpose is to come to Luosiban to reclaim my father's property. There shouldn't be any problem with that, should there?" Her voice was gentle and soft, unhurried, yet it hit Sister Zhou like a soft but firm rebuff. She could only pinch her nose and press the seal down. Lin Meiyan watched with complete focus. When she saw that bright red seal imprint land on the house return notice— Her eyes grew hot. Officer Chen immediately took it and handed it to Lin Meiyan. "Sister Lin, Linji is returned to you. Don't come looking for me again from now on." And definitely don't come back holding white silk to hang yourself. Lin Meiyan took that thin piece of paper, feeling it weigh ten thousand jin. Her throat was tight, her voice light. "I won't." "Luosiban has returned my Linji house to me." "Luosiban and I are now settled, square and clear." Hearing this, Officer Chen let out a sudden sigh of relief. He nodded. "Good, good, good. Sister Lin, I'll personally see you out." Good heavens. Over the past five years, Lin Meiyan had come to Luosiban countless times, and every single time she was treated like a plague and sent away. Only this time—for the first time—was she treated with such courtesy. "Thank you." Officer Chen was briefly stunned too. After seeing her out, he lowered his voice and said privately, "Sister Lin, it's not that Luosiban wanted to make things difficult for you or refused to return Linji to you." "It's that Luosiban has its own rules. Everyone who came before to apply for a house would give this—" He raised his hand and lightly rubbed his thumb and index finger together. Lin Meiyan tilted her head, frowning slightly. "Pay money?" She had a pair of peach-blossom eyes—pupils black and bright, upturned at the corners with perfect curves, moist as autumn water. When she looked at someone with such focused attention, it gave the impression that even looking at a dog, she'd seem full of affection. That was exactly how Officer Chen felt. His heart skipped a beat. "Yes." He avoided Lin Meiyan's gaze and said quietly, "You never greased the wheels before, so Director Liu made things hard for you." Lin Meiyan hesitated. "Then I—?" Officer Chen waved his hand. "No need, no need. Sister Lin, you've already got your house now—no need to give a red envelope. I'm just telling you why your previous applications never went through." Many of these operations had hidden rules. Most people just didn't understand. And every time, most of the people who came to claim houses were men. When they saw Director Liu, they'd either offer a cigarette or hand over a red envelope. At the very least, they'd take Director Liu out for a nice meal. They had a hundred ways to bribe him. Only Lin Meiyan was a woman—and a widow with a child at that. She had too many concerns. Too many taboos. So naturally, she never operated that way. Walking out of the Luosiban gate, Lin Meiyan had clearly figured out the obstacles in the process. She paused. "Thank you for the advice." Officer Chen shook his head. "Sister Lin, there aren't many people with your perseverance and resolve." Lin Meiyan smiled, gently shaking her head. "I don't have resolve." If she had that kind of resolve, she would have taken back Linji five years ago. Speaking of which, she was really just an ordinary person curled up inside a turtle shell—someone who wouldn't rouse herself to action until backed into a corner. But Officer Chen thought she was just being modest. After seeing her off, he noticed a black sedan parked by the roadside ahead. He didn't recognize the brand, but he could tell it was an exceptionally handsome car. He asked casually, "Whose car is that?" The person beside him answered, "The Jianghai Dicai boss's. He's here at Luosiban to discuss business." Back in the Luosiban office, Director Liu poured a cup of tea for Yu Jianghai and also one for Secretary Shen, but Secretary Shen refused. "No need—that cup is fine for me." He had brought his own tea leaves. He personally poured a cup for Yu Jianghai and, very naturally, swapped it out for the one Director Liu had poured. Director Liu rubbed his hands awkwardly, feeling a kind of invisible inferiority. He had already brought out the best tea in the office, but the other party still didn't think much of it. Secretary Shen noticed this and casually explained, "Director Liu, the tea you brewed is naturally fine, but President Yu isn't used to teas from the inland." Director Liu asked curiously, "Then what tea does President Yu prefer?" Secretary Shen glanced at Yu Jianghai, who didn't object, so Secretary Shen said, "Our boss only drinks Zhegu Cha from the island region." Director Liu had never heard of it. He leaned in to look at the cup Secretary Shen had brewed—thick stems and coarse leaves floating on top, the liquor not even clear or vibrant. To be honest, it really couldn't compare to the cup he had brewed earlier. Yet Yu Jianghai took a sip without changing his expression. Zhegu Cha was coarse, carrying a wild, rustic flavor, with a slight bitterness on the palate—truly not a good tea by any standard. But he was used to it. He'd been drinking it for years. Director Liu thought to himself, these big bosses sure have strange quirks. Turning down good tea for this rubbish? What's that about? "Alright, let's get down to business." With the tea set on the table and everything in order, Yu Jianghai took the lead and began the detailed discussion. "For the second phase of Jianghai Dicai, due to renovation issues—" He pulled out a detailed map of Simenkou and handed it to Director Liu, his voice low and heavy, "—we need to pass through seven properties registered under Luosiban." Director Liu leaned in to look. At first glance, his only reaction was this: The scope of Jianghai Dicai's second phase was enormous—it covered half of Simenkou. After hearing the other man's words, Director Liu nodded repeatedly. "Yes, these seven properties are currently all registered under Luosiban." He pointed at a few of them. "These three properties were already transferred out of Luosiban long ago—they're now personal assets of their owners. As for these four—" He paused. "The original owners of these properties never came back, and their descendants haven't come to us at Luosiban either." In other words, these four properties were ownerless. No, more accurately, they were temporarily registered under Luosiban. Yu Jianghai set down his teacup, the leaves bobbing up and down. He pointed at the four properties. "Can Luosiban make the call on these?" Director Liu hesitated, then gritted his teeth. "Yes." Yu Jianghai leaned back, his entire back settling into the chair. His expression was calm, unhurried as he said, "Jianghai Dicai's second phase wants these four properties." Director Liu steeled himself and asked, "And the price?" Price was the most important thing. If it was too low, he might rather give up the big ship that was Jianghai Dicai than sell. Of course, if the price was right, selling these four properties from Luosiban's hands meant the money could be dressed up a little and funneled straight into their own pockets. Yu Jianghai lifted his gaze to look at Director Liu, whose heart skipped a beat. Yu Jianghai curled his fingers and tapped the table, his thin lips uttering two words: "Double." "Twice the market price—Jianghai Dicai will acquire them." He paused, his gaze deep. "If Director Liu agrees, you can discuss the specifics with Secretary Shen on the spot." The double price already had Director Liu overjoyed. Without even haggling, he agreed outright. "Yes, of course, yes." "I can sign the contract with Secretary Shen right now." Yu Jianghai looked at Secretary Shen, and that was when Secretary Shen's role came into play. Secretary Shen smoothly pulled a contract from his briefcase—three copies in total, one for each party, and one for the housing authority's records. The contract was long, a full three or four pages of dense text. Unfortunately, Director Liu hadn't even finished middle school. Where would he find the interest to read through all that? He took it and gave it only a cursory glance. Then he asked, "It's confirmed to be double?" Secretary Shen nodded and pointed to the most critical part of the contract. Director Liu read that small line clearly. It plainly stated twice the market price. Even the specific amount for each property was itemized. Director Liu wasn't a fool who knew nothing—he naturally knew the going rates for properties out there. The price Jianghai Dicai offered was genuinely a high one. With that in mind, Director Liu took the pen and signed his name without a second thought. Secretary Shen then handed the contract to Yu Jianghai. Yu Jianghai leaned forward, took the pen, and wrote his name in bold, flowing strokes. The handwriting matched the man—sharp and edged with bite. Though compared to his penmanship back in the day, he had already reined it in considerably. After both parties signed, Yu Jianghai rose and extended his hand. "Pleasure doing business." Director Liu, flattered, hurriedly wiped his hand on the seam of his trousers before reaching out. "President Yu, pleasure doing business." "May I ask—how will the payment be handled?" Before he could finish, Yu Jianghai gestured toward Secretary Shen. "All matters regarding the payment will be handled by Secretary Shen from here on." "Of course, the other three properties will be handed over to Luosiban as the intermediary coordinator, and Secretary Shen will contact them to negotiate the demolition matters." Director Liu nodded repeatedly. "Wherever our Luosiban office needs to cooperate, we will naturally do our utmost." Having said that, he finally brought up what was truly on his mind. "President Yu, there's a question I'm not sure whether I should ask or not." Yu Jianghai stood still. He wore black trousers with razor-sharp creases, and as a gentle breeze blew past his standing figure, he appeared tall, lean, and commanding. He turned his head. "Ask." Director Liu couldn't hold back any longer and spilled it all out in one breath. "President Yu, if you acquire all seven properties at Simenkou in one go, and then add Simenkou Youeryuan on top of that, aren't you going to tear down the entire Simenkou?" "And if that's the case, won't Simenkou Hengjie have to be renamed Jianghai Dicai in the future?" If that were so, he'd better start cozying up to the big shot early. Yu Jianghai glanced at Secretary Shen, who then smiled and said, "How could that be?" "It's precisely because we've given up on demolishing Simenkou Youeryuan that we've reached out to the Luosiban office." "Since we're demolishing the Luosiban properties, Simenkou Youeryuan will no longer be touched." Actually, in Secretary Shen's view, demolishing just Simenkou Youeryuan would have solved all the problems. But he couldn't stop his boss from taking the long way around—preferring to demolish seven properties at double the difficulty rather than tear down Simenkou Youeryuan. Director Liu let out a sigh of relief. "That's good then. Not demolishing Simenkou Youeryuan leaves a path of survival for the children in the neighborhood to attend school." A path of survival. He suddenly raised his head and looked at Yu Jianghai. If he remembered correctly, the Linji boss who had originally come to claim the properties—Lin Meiyan. She had a daughter. No way, no way, no way? But how could a businessman possibly do charity? Even an outsider like Director Liu could see that demolishing Simenkou Youeryuan was far easier than demolishing the seven properties under the Luosiban office's name. His gaze was filled with shock and confusion, yet also a hint of understanding. This made Yu Jianghai look over at him. Director Liu immediately averted his eyes, swallowed hard, and pretended he hadn't noticed anything. "President Yu, let me see you out." Yu Jianghai gave a slight nod and walked out with measured steps. Secretary Shen lagged behind. Director Liu wanted to ask several times but didn't know how to broach the subject. He could only mouth silently, "Really?" Secretary Shen also intended to let some information slip. He nodded with a grave expression. Really. His boss had lost his head over a woman. Director Liu was startled. After seeing Yu Jianghai and Secretary Shen off, he scurried away as if his pants were on fire, heading straight for Officer Chen's desk. "Xiao Chen, Xiao Chen, that Linji boss's property paperwork—did you get it done for her?" Officer Chen nodded. "Done. I even personally walked her over to Sister Zhou's to get the stamps." Director Liu asked, "You didn't offend her, did you?" While Officer Chen scratched his head trying to recall, Director Liu's heart was on a roller coaster. "Yes or no?" He was about to shake his head off! Officer Chen thought carefully. "No, I even praised Sister Lin for being impressive." Director Liu let out a sigh of relief. "Good, good." Officer Chen didn't understand his superior. He was usually the type to look down on everyone, relying on his brother-in-law's influence and fearing no one. Why was he so jumpy when it came to Sister Lin? "Director, what's wrong with Sister Lin?" Director Liu had the feeling of being the only sober person in a world of drunkards. He played coy. "All you need to know is that your Sister Lin has an incredibly powerful background. Just don't offend her." As for the fact that Linji boss Lin Meiyan was the apple of the Jianghai Dicai boss's eye—that was something only he needed to know. After Yu Jianghai walked out, he stood at the entrance, quietly gazing at Simenkou Hengjie. This was an old street. Originally, he had wanted to place the second phase of the Jianghai Dicai project here. Lu Qingyuan hadn't agreed. But Yu Jianghai had insisted. He could see the value of the Simenkou location—it was among the best in the entire city. If you're in real estate and can't even pick the right location, you might as well be wasting your time. Secretary Shen stood beside him and asked respectfully, "Boss, what should we do now?" Yu Jianghai glanced back at him. "You go handle your business. I'll take a walk around the area." The major matters were settled; Secretary Shen could handle the rest on his own. Secretary Shen gave a soft "yes" and hesitated as if wanting to say more, but could only watch his boss walk away. The June weather was somewhat hot. Yu Jianghai took off his suit jacket and draped it casually over his elbow. Wearing only a crisp white shirt, he strolled through every street of Simenkou. Many people on the road were looking his way. Whispering among themselves. "Did you see that? That comrade who just passed by is really handsome." "He doesn't look like an ordinary person—good bearing too. I wonder if he's married. If he isn't, my daughter would suit him well." "Give it up. Someone this outstanding must already have a partner." Yu Jianghai paid no attention to the surrounding chatter. He walked straight ahead until he reached the very center, then stopped at the intersection, gazing silently at the bustling street in the distance. He walked the path she had walked. As if through the crowd, he could see her gentle figure holding her child's hand. Yu Jianghai smiled softly. After leaving Luosiban, Lin Meiyan didn't rush back to the Gu family home. Instead, she first returned to Linji. When she arrived, Gu Kaihua and Ye Qiuju were both there, anxiously waiting for her. Originally, Gu Kaihua and Ye Qiuju had wanted to go to Luosiban with her today, but Lin Meiyan refused. She didn't want to scare them, nor did she want them to see her walking that path. So Lin Meiyan turned them down and went alone. After she left, Gu Kaihua and Ye Qiuju couldn't bear to stay at home either. They were so worried and restless that they decided to come to Linji instead, helping her open the shop door and mind the store for her. And so they kept watch all morning. Seeing her return, Ye Qiuju, forgetting her argument with Granny Zhao, immediately turned to Lin Meiyan and asked, "What did Luosiban say?" Before Lin Meiyan could answer, Granny Zhao couldn't wait to speak up. "What else could they say? After all these years, hasn't it always been the same result with Luosiban?" With that, she smiled at Lin Meiyan. "Meiyan, the two days are up. What's your answer for me?" In truth, Granny Zhao was confident. After all, there were only so many storefronts in Simenkou, and nearly all of them were already open for business. No one had given up their lease before, and now that Jianghai Dicai's second phase was being built here, these people naturally wouldn't abandon a golden goose that laid eggs. If Lin Meiyan wanted to open Linji in Simenkou, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and accept the rent increase. Lin Meiyan stood at the entrance of Linji. Her arrival seemed to brighten the small shop. She walked slowly up to Granny Zhao. Without saying a word, Granny Zhao had already extended her hand. "Hand it over. Pay the extra twenty yuan a month in rent, and I'll continue leasing this storefront to you." She seemed certain that Lin Meiyan would agree. Lin Meiyan smiled. Calmly, she pulled a piece of paper from her bag and held it out before Granny Zhao. "Granny, Luosiban has returned Linji to me." "What?" Granny Zhao was stunned, clearly not expecting that answer. Beside her, Gu Kaihua had already jumped up. His first instinct was to snatch the paper and examine it. When he saw that it was a notice of property return, he looked it over again and again. For some reason, his voice choked up. "Luosiban finally did something humane and gave Linji back to you." Granny Zhao had only finished fourth grade in elementary school and couldn't read all the characters, but hearing Gu Kaihua's words, she remained doubtful. "You're not fooling me, are you? How could Luosiban possibly return Linji to you?" Along the street front of Simenkou, every shop except Linji had been rented out. As for why Linji hadn't been rented out— That was because Linji had been carved up by several neighboring families, who had turned the original Linji storefront into their living quarters. It was a bit noisy, but not having to pay rent was enough for them. Gu Kaihua held up that thin piece of paper, nearly shoving it into Granny Zhao's face. "Look for yourself! It's written in black and white. Who could be fooling you?" At this point, Granny Zhao found it hard to deny. She looked up at Lin Meiyan. "You got your house back. Are you still renting here?" Lin Meiyan shook her head. "No." Her expression was calm and indifferent. "This place is yours now." Anyone with eyes could see she wasn't in high spirits. She had no warm feelings toward Granny Zhao, but Lin Meiyan was gentle by nature—not good at arguing, not good at debating. If truly provoked, she would only internalize the frustration, replaying in her mind how she should have snapped back. But if she actually prepared herself to strike back, she could never bring herself to do it. In the end, she was the kind of person who tended to get the short end of the stick. At this moment, Granny Zhao felt a twinge of regret. If she hadn't pushed Lin Meiyan so hard, would things have turned out differently? "But even if you get your house back, it won't be open for business that quickly." Granny Zhao still wanted to keep her, but she couldn't swallow her pride, so she could only hint at it indirectly. Lin Meiyan didn't speak, but Gu Kaihua was already bristling with anger. "That's none of your business." "Granny Zhao, from the moment you turned your back and raised the rent, there was nothing left to say between us." Gu Kaihua had always been that way. Gu Kaihua left Granny Zhao fuming, but Lin Meiyan was a businesswoman. As long as she wasn't being stubborn, she was mostly amiable. "Granny Zhao, let's keep things separate." "Even though I'm getting the Lin family property back, I'll still pay this month's rent for your place as usual. As for the future—" She paused and looked up. "Even if the deal falls through, goodwill remains." "In the hardest years for me and my child, thank you for renting me this house." Her gentle, forgiving attitude made Granny Zhao feel a pang of guilt. Especially standing so close to Lin Meiyan, that guilt reached its peak. She stammered for a long while before finally saying, "I never meant to raise the rent. It's just that everyone else was raising theirs, so I naturally followed along." "But." She let go and patted Lin Meiyan on the back, this time with genuine sincerity, "Congratulations on getting your house back." Lin Meiyan smiled and nodded, handing her this month's rent. After Granny Zhao left, Gu Kaihua, nearly fifty years old, huffed indignantly, "Why are you still giving her this month's rent?" "She was the one who raised the price without any decency first. She started it, so we'll finish it." Lin Meiyan stepped forward and linked her arm through Gu Kaihua's, "Uncle, people in business value harmony and prosperity. Unless absolutely necessary, I don't want to offend her." Because she still needed to do business at Simenkou, and she still needed to reopen Linji. Open spears are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to defend against. If she thoroughly offended Granny Zhao, the woman could easily find ways to make trouble for her in the future. "You and your good-natured personality, always getting bullied." Lin Meiyan smiled, her tone soft, "We all live on the same street, I can't make things too ugly." Gu Kaihua wanted to say more, but Ye Qiuju interrupted him, "Don't you know Meiyan by now? She's always had this temperament." Only then did Gu Kaihua shut his mouth. Ye Qiuju got down to business, "What do you plan to do next?" Lin Meiyan looked up at the small storefront—small as a sparrow, yet complete in all its parts. She smiled, gentle yet strong, "First, I'll keep Linji running here until the end of the month." "I'll also put up a notice at the door telling everyone that we're moving Xiao Linji to Da Linji at the end of the month." "As for the rest of the time." Her smile faded slightly, and a rare cold glint flickered in her eyes, "I'll find a way to truly get Linji back." She had obtained the house return notice from the Luosiban office, but that wasn't enough. She still needed to make a trip to the housing management office to process the property deed, and then take the deed and the return notice to Linji. Only then would the real battle begin. That evening, Lin Meiyan picked up Qiaoqiao from school. Qiaoqiao looked a bit dejected, "Mommy, I really don't want to go to school with a bunch of immature kids." Twenty-five-year-old Qiaoqiao had tried her best to blend in, but she couldn't—not even a little. Lin Meiyan asked, "What's wrong?" "They're all too young, too childish, too boring." Qiaoqiao said with some difficulty, "If I stay with them every day, I'll get dumber too." Pretending to be a child was really too hard. Lin Meiyan knew her daughter was smart, but smart was smart, and reality was reality. She crouched down to look Qiaoqiao in the eye, "Qiaoqiao, do you know how old you are this year?" Qiaoqiao held up four fingers. "That's right, you're four years old." "Four-year-olds play with four-year-olds. Qiaoqiao, don't look down on them." Lin Meiyan said seriously, "Everyone is a kid, including you. Would you want your classmates to call you an immature kid and not want to play with you?" Qiaoqiao froze. She didn't say anything, just buried herself in Lin Meiyan's arms, "Mommy, Mommy." She called out over and over. That was always her way—once she realized she was wrong, she'd start acting cute and playing coy. "Just hold on and finish kindergarten. If the conditions are right." Lin Meiyan paused, then dangled a carrot in front of her, "When September comes, I'll find a way to get you into elementary school." Qiaoqiao's eyes lit up instantly, "Mommy, pinky promise." "A hundred years, no changing." Lin Meiyan held her hand as they walked through Simenkou Street, casually dropping a bombshell, "Today Mommy went to Luosiban and got Linji back." Qiaoqiao froze, standing still as if she'd forgotten how to walk. Then it finally hit her what Lin Meiyan had said. She still couldn't quite believe it, "The big Linji that Grandpa left behind?" Lin Meiyan nodded, "Yes." Qiaoqiao was stunned, then let out a shriek, "Mommy, you're amazing, really amazing." She'd spent the whole day in class and never figured out how to get Da Linji back. Her mom had just gone to Luosiban once and gotten Linji back. If that wasn't amazing, what was? Lin Meiyan's smile faltered slightly, "Mommy isn't that amazing." Qiaoqiao looked puzzled, "But Mommy did get Linji back, didn't she?" In her previous life, Linji hadn't been returned until around the year 2000, when Luosiban was about to be dismantled, and only then had her mom gotten it back. Now it was a full ten years earlier. Was this the butterfly effect from her rebirth? Qiaoqiao didn't know. Lin Meiyan ruffled her hair, "I'm not entirely sure either." Her gaze was soft, tinged with an indescribable feeling, "Maybe a friend of Mommy's helped." Qiaoqiao was taken aback, her little mind working fast, "Is it that uncle who saved me last time?" The more she thought about it these past few days, the more familiar that uncle seemed, but she just couldn't remember who he was. Lin Meiyan paused, then nodded, "Maybe." "It's just that Mommy didn't confirm it in person, so I can't be a hundred percent sure." Qiaoqiao thought for a moment, "Then Mommy can invite uncle to eat at our Linji!" She smiled, revealing a row of pearly white teeth—adorable beyond words. "Mommy cooks so well, that uncle must like it too." Like it? Lin Meiyan was briefly lost in thought. Her cooking skills were inherited from her father; she had an innate sense of how to handle food, even down to the heat and timing. Back then, when she was sent to the countryside as a Zhiqing, the Gongfen she earned wasn't enough to keep her fed, and her stomach would growl with hunger every day. At night, she would go find Yu Jianghai, and he would wade into the sea to catch fish and shrimp. After he cleaned them, she would roast them over the fire. She would set them over the fire to roast—the grouper's flesh was sweet and tender, wrapped in banana leaves and grilled until both sides turned golden, carrying the faint fragrance of the leaves as you ate. Back then, they would split one fish between the two of them. There was clearly more than enough, yet somehow they kept deferring to each other. In the end, she would eat until she was stuffed, while Yu Jianghai was still hungry. She would clutch her bloated stomach and laugh at him, "Yu Jianghai, you're so silly." "There are more fish in the sea—why do you insist on letting me eat everything?" What had Yu Jianghai answered back then? He said in a low voice, "I like watching you eat." —Watching her eat, he would forget that he was still hungry himself. Lin Meiyan was dazed for a moment. So it turned out that Yu Jianghai had said those words long ago. It was just that she only realized it much, much later. "Mommy?" Qiaoqiao waved her hand in front of Lin Meiyan's face. Lin Meiyan snapped back to reality. Yu Jianghai's face slowly faded away, replaced by her daughter's little visage. She smiled. "It's not appropriate." "Why?" Qiaoqiao was full of whys, with the persistence of someone determined to get to the bottom of things. Lin Meiyan pinched her cheek. "He's a big shot now. We're just ordinary people." Her voice was soft and gentle. "Ordinary people just need to live their ordinary lives." As long as Yu Jianghai didn't come seeking revenge on her. She would be thanking her lucky stars. Author's note: Yu Jianghai: How do I make her realize that I love her.