Linfengchun

Kapitel 110

The middle-aged woman rested her head on her hand, nodding slowly, seemingly dozing off. The young girl glanced at her, then looked back at her companions for help, gritting her teeth: "I'll get it for you, but please don't tell anyone."

The Shanxi man's eyes lit up: "Bring some snacks to go with the drinks."

The little girl wasn't very friendly to him: "What do you want?"

Chang Sheng suppressed a laugh: "Use whatever you have."

The young girl was exceptionally polite to him, almost shyly. Her face flushed, she dared not meet his gaze, and walked away with her head down. Shanglin suddenly smiled, pursing his lips.

Xia Lin asked her curiously why she was laughing.

She said, "I suddenly remembered a story."

Xia Lin urged her on, giving Chang Sheng a meaningful look before slowly recounting, "Once upon a time, a group of monks from a temple went on a trip. Growing hungry, they stopped at a roadside inn in a remote village for a meal. The innkeeper, looking rather sly, asked, 'What would you like to eat?' The eldest disciple, however, was so hungry he blurted out, 'Anything we have.' So the innkeeper yelled to the backyard, 'Wife, stop tilling the land! Slaughter that pig, kill all the chickens, and borrow a hundred or so eggs from Old Liu next door. We have a big customer today…'"

Shanglin vividly portrayed the cunning and sly nature of the rural villagers, almost perfectly capturing their essence. Xialin burst into laughter, only remembering to ask after a while, "And then?"

The man from Shanxi and his son blinked and asked, "And then?"

Shanglin glanced leisurely at the embarrassed Li Changsheng and said calmly, "The monks were terrified at the mere mention of his name and fled in panic..."

Just then, the young girl brought over a plate of sliced green olives to accompany the wine, and Changsheng muttered, "I'm not a big customer."

The little girl looked confused, not understanding what he meant: "Huh?"

The others exchanged knowing laughs. Changsheng waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "I don't have much money with me, so don't overcharge me."

This time the other person understood and smiled, "Don't worry, the green olives are on me."

They whiled away the time, sipping tea and drinking wine. The tea wasn't expensive, the wine wasn't plentiful; they chatted about this and that. When they realized it was time to leave, they discovered they had unknowingly spent over three hours there. Shanglin was filled with regret, blaming Changsheng for his excessive drinking and delaying their visit to other attractions.

The Shanxi man was very straightforward; they exchanged contact information and agreed to meet again sometime. He took his son and left first.

As he was leaving, Xia Lin glanced at the green olives on the table, a sudden thought striking him: "My brother isn't that hungry, delirious senior brother..."

Shanglin suppressed a laugh, remaining silent, while Changsheng patted Xialin's head with his large hand, saying humorously, "Come on, Bajie, your senior brother will take you begging for alms!"

They arrived in Hangzhou a little past noon, having missed lunch. After putting down their luggage, even though the hotel offered free meals, Zhang Hongwei didn't want to eat there.

After asking for directions, we headed straight for Lou Wai Lou restaurant. When we arrived, it was already closed, and it wouldn't reopen until 4:30. The five of us, starving and disappointed, walked out and stood by West Lake for a while, admiring the scenery. We then rented a small boat to explore some of the islands on the lake, but the boatman was eager to catch another fare and wouldn't linger. On the shore, there were carts selling freshly harvested bayberries, the vendor claiming to be from Yuyao and selling authentic Yuyao bayberries.

When treasures meet blind men, the few "northerners" don't know anything about the authenticity of Yuyao bayberries, they only know that these things are fresh. Qiu Jianguo waved his hand and bought ten catties, wanting to eat to his heart's content.

Shanglin then mocked, "You all keep eating. If you get toothaches, I'll eat all my dinner later."

Xia Lin didn't believe it, but being greedy for novelty, he actually ate until his stomach was full of juice, his teeth ached and his belly was stuffed. When he went back to Lou Wai Lou, he looked at the sumptuous dinner and his mouth watered, but he couldn't taste anything.

They arrived at Lou Wai Lou ten minutes early again. Seeing their dedication to their restaurant, the two waitresses started studying the recipes with Shang Lin.

Having prepared in advance, she knew the dishes like the back of her hand: "When we get to Lou Wai Lou, we absolutely have to have Dongpo braised pork, Song Sao fish soup, West Lake vinegar fish, and of course, water shield soup..."

One of the ladies then suggested, "Longjing shrimp is delicious."

Another person said, "Crispy fried tofu skin and blanched whelks are a must, and adding a vegetable dish will make it almost complete."

Shanglin objected: "Everyone said that we must eat beggar's chicken here."

The young lady was very honest and advised her, "You can't finish this, it's two pounds, and there's still so much food left..."

She turned around and gestured to show the two brothers' heights, saying humorously, "Please trust our fighting power."

Once all the dishes were served, the table was overflowing with food, including honey-glazed ham, eight-treasure fragrant rice, osmanthus-flavored glutinous rice lotus root, and Wushan's ghee-filled sesame cakes. Zhang Hongwei lamented repeatedly at the end, saying he was sure he'd gained weight again, all because Qiu Shanglin ate so much.

As she snatched the last piece of osmanthus-flavored glutinous rice lotus root, she joked to herself, "I'm a foodie. Foodies say they'll come again tomorrow. Anyone agree?"

No one spoke, but all five hands were raised in unison.

At Phoenix Ridge in Hangzhou, a slightly chilly morning breeze carries the unique fragrance of tea trees. The verdant hues of the tea trees shift and change in shades through the mist, exuding a serene and spiritual atmosphere. An old monk and the patriarch of the Yin family sit on the ground, brewing a pot of this spring's new tea.

Grandpa Yin seemed untouched by time, remaining exactly as Yin Yeyao had first met him. However, Yin Yeyao was no longer surprised that the passage of time had had no effect on him. Grandpa Yin's medical team not only cared for his physical health but also attended to every aspect of his life, striving to ensure he appeared in public looking energetic and youthful.

The old monk was no outsider. Years ago, the white-haired old man with age spots on his hands at Feilai Peak of Lingyin Temple had finally grown weary of worldly affairs and shaved his head to enter the Buddhist order. For him, the formality of ordination was merely a formality. He had remained aloof from worldly matters for many years, yet some with ulterior motives were always watching, worried that he might one day abandon Buddha and return to the secular world.

The old man then gave in to their demands, simply to put his mind at ease.

He glanced at Yin Yeyao, who stood not far away, as steady as a mountain, and sighed at how time waits for no one. The boy who was still immature on Feilai Peak had grown into a man, clear-headed and outstanding, and did not seem to be of the Yin family line.

"The older Ye Yao gets, the less he resembles your Yin family. If it weren't for the fact that he looks exactly like you back then, I would almost suspect that Xu Mi just framed your son." The old monk spoke without any restraint.

The old master of the Yin family was not offended: "Don't you think he looks like an old acquaintance?" Looking at his grandson's figure, a rare tenderness appeared in his weathered eyes, which amazed his old friend.

The old monk thought for a moment: "Like your third brother?" He was a little unsure. After all, the third master of the Yin family had passed away many years ago, and he could hardly remember his voice or appearance.

Grandpa Yin nodded, remarking with gratitude, "His speech and actions are just like his third brother's..."

The old friend scoffed, "This kid's got a much more ruthless mind than the third brother! He's been at it with his mother quite a bit these past few years, hasn't he? I heard he sent your daughter-in-law's confidant to jail a few months ago?"

The power struggles among three generations of the Yin family are no longer news in their circle. Some lament that the patriarch, wise all his life, made a foolish mistake, letting a wolf into the house and allowing his daughter-in-law to rise to power in his family business. Others scoff at their sentiments, pointing out how cunning the old fox of the Yin family is, observing how he personally nurtures his grandson, who at such a young age has already formed a three-way rivalry with Xu Mi, even subtly overshadowing her.

Grandpa Yin also recalled his third brother's kindness: "Even so, I am glad that he was ruthless. If he had been as ruthless as his third brother, he would have been devoured long ago."

The old monk had heard a lot about it and was very worried about his old friend: "Aren't you afraid that he and his mother will join forces and turn against you?"

Old Master Yin said arrogantly, "Then I'll just lose my sight and hand over the Yin family. What's wrong with that?" Through painstaking management and dedicated cultivation, Xu Mi was a razor, removing the cancerous growths from the family and business. However, to appease public resentment, this overly ambitious woman had to be sacrificed. Her son's rise to power appeased the family while preventing Xu Mi from becoming desperate.

Even tigers don't eat their cubs. Xu Mi has worked hard all her life. If she discovers that she's nothing more than a sharp knife used and then discarded by her grandfather, she'll probably fight to the death. If the person who takes over is her own son, although she'll be resentful, she won't necessarily fight to the death.

He sighed, lamenting that there were too many greedy individuals in his family, lacking both intelligence and ability, yet filled with blood and guts. He couldn't personally eliminate them, so he had to rely on outsiders. However, he certainly didn't want outsiders to grow powerful, even controlling the Yin family. The appearance of Xu Mi and Yin Yeyao was perfectly timed. It's often said that a mother and son are of one heart, but unfortunately, this mother and son were both a bit cold-blooded, their hearts too far apart, making them easy targets.

Thinking of that company far to the north, which had grown into a dominant force in the clothing industry, and the little girl behind the scenes, the old fox of the Yin family smiled cunningly.

Moreover, a landmine has been planted between him and his mother. At any time, if he wants it to explode, he only needs to gently pull the line connecting them to the north, and with a bang, the last remaining affection between them will vanish into thin air, leaving not a trace.

Yin Yeyao stood in the morning breeze, not idle at all. The old man disliked the sound of the telephone ringing, and he never carried a phone with him, yet his subordinates kept coming up to him, whispering their instructions, and then returning down the slope to handle and relay them one by one.

A strong, muscular man strode over with a look of delight and whispered, "It's been confirmed. The family arrived in Hangzhou yesterday afternoon, had dinner at Lou Wai Lou restaurant, and stayed at the XXX Hotel."

Yin Yeyao smiled slightly. The other party was clearly his confidant, so he didn't avoid him.

Yin Yeyao didn't mind him seeing her joy and said in a low voice, "Grandpa left Hangzhou after finishing his tea. You stay with me and tell the head office to postpone tomorrow's meeting. Leave the unimportant matters to Director Xu, and I'll make the important decisions when I get back."

The man hesitated: "If Director Xu asks, we..."

Yin Yeyao said sarcastically, "Tell her to deal with my father's illegitimate son first."

The man agreed and left with his head bowed. He couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow; even wealthy families lacked kinship, and the mother and son were killing each other—it was more cruel than dealing with strangers.

He raised his right hand in the morning breeze, making a grasping motion in the air, unable to hide the smile on his lips.

In the autumn forest, we met again.

Before he could put his hand down, a silvery voice came from not far away: "Hey, kid from the Yin family, what are you doing?" The voice was sweet and charming, but the attitude was slightly arrogant.

Old Master Yin was sipping his tea when he heard this, he paused slightly, lifted the teacup from his lips, and looked at his old friend. The other man smiled bitterly and shook his head helplessly: "This An Lan..."

The old fox of the Yin family smiled slightly: "Hmm, you've got a good plan. Your niece is marrying my grandson, and you've gained a seniority for no reason."

The old monk said helplessly, "Don't mention it, don't mention it. I told her not to come, but who knew someone would tip her off and, knowing your grandson was there, she insisted on coming over."

Fate is truly wondrous. He had initially intended to match his grandson with his old friend's granddaughter, finding the girl composed and generous. However, as they grew up, they didn't become a couple as the adults had hoped. Instead, his old friend's niece took a liking to Ye Yao and pursued her relentlessly.

The old fox was calculating his options. An Lan was also a direct descendant of the An family. When Old Man An was over thirty, his parents gave him a younger brother, whom they doted on. Unfortunately, the younger brother didn't care for power; he only loved elegance and had no say in the An family. Their only daughter, An Lan, was currently in university and was extremely spoiled and domineering, with a stubborn and uncompromising nature.

Xu Mi is optimistic about the inheritance she will receive in the future and spares no effort in bringing them together.

Hmph, what a narrow-minded person.

The old fox mused to himself. If it were his old friend's granddaughter, he would definitely approve. As for An Lan, his niece... it wasn't worth provoking Yin Yeyao's wrath.

But to be fair, this kid is quite loyal. All these years, I thought he'd long forgotten, but who would have thought he'd hold onto that youthful feeling until now… Hmm, in that respect he's like my third brother…

Upon hearing the voice, Yin Yeyao stiffened for a moment, then turned and left, disregarding manners, thinking she would have someone greet her grandfather later.

An Lan ran along the path, wearing a pair of bright red embroidered shoes. Worried about getting mud on her shoes and afraid that he would leave, she called out repeatedly, "Yin family boy, hey, Yin Yeyao!" Each call was more urgent and shrill than the last, breaking the tranquility of the morning.

He ignored them, pretending to be deaf, and walked even faster.

An Lan jogged all the way and finally caught up with him, panting and complaining, "Why are you running!"

Helpless, Yin Yeyao turned around and said, "Hello, Miss An."

An Lan pouted: "What Miss An? I told you to call me A Lan!" Her voice was soft and sweet, pleasant to the ear, but unfortunately it was like casting pearls before swine. The other party gave a perfunctory smile: "Ha. Grandpa An is on the slope."

He pointed hastily, then turned and walked away.

An Lan grabbed his sleeve and stomped her foot: "Hey, he came all this way just for you!"

The man from before stood to the side, head bowed respectfully and silent, but his heart ached at the sweet "that person"—it's hardest to bear the kindness of a beautiful woman, poor young master… The one in Zifang Town won't wait. Back then, you probably left me in Huaiqiao City to see Qiushanglin, didn't you? After all these years, you've finally come to Hangzhou, please don't miss it…