"Aiyo, that's wonderful." Aunt Zhou said with a laugh upon hearing it: "This child, I've watched him grow up since he was little. I never imagined that after so many years away, he'd come back a changed person - such a handsome young man, and so polite too. There aren't many young people like him these days."

"Look at you, sister, praising him like that." Mrs. Lin said with a radiant smile: "Right, you were saying just now..."

"Oh, that's right." Aunt Zhou said seriously: "Last time, didn't I introduce a girl to Lin Chuan? I thought it over later and realized it wasn't reliable, mainly because I didn't do my homework right. I didn't expect the other party would be a girl who returned from Dongguan. This time, I'm still here to help Lin Chuan find a lifelong partner."

"Ah?!" Mrs. Lin was startled, she had already accepted Nuo Xiaoxi as her daughter-in-law, and now, here was Aunt Zhou again, trying to set her up with someone else.

Seeing Mrs. Lin's surprise, Aunt Zhou thought she was extremely pleased, and said with a kind smile: "This time, I will definitely introduce someone reliable. Because this girl is my niece, just returned from Shanghai, and her family insists that she must marry in Jiangbei City. So..."

"This…" Mrs. Lin looked embarrassed, as she was someone who couldn't bring herself to refuse others.

Just then, Lin Chuan chuckled and said: "Aunt Zhou, didn't you say last time that you wouldn't find me a match anymore? How come?"

"Aiyo, wasn't I just speaking out of anger last time?" Aunt Zhou waved her handkerchief and said: "This time, I've made up my mind, I'm going to introduce you to my niece. Not only is my niece beautiful, but she also has a bachelor's degree, and most importantly, you grew up together. She's a very nice girl, Lin Chuan, what do you think?"

"Aunt Zhou, I have a girlfriend now," Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"Ah?" Aunt Zhou was taken aback, and said: "What... When did this happen? How come I didn't know?"

"Just a recent thing," Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"This…" Aunt Zhou thought for a moment, then with a smile said: "Lin Chuan, you're still young, and these days girls are very materialistic. You've got to be careful. I hear you've made quite a bit of money recently. Be wary that a girl might only be interested in your wealth."

"Don't worry, Auntie." Lin Chuan hurriedly assured with a smile: "That definitely won't happen to me."

Aunt Zhou felt a bit embarrassed, chatted with Mrs. Lin for a few more minutes, then hurried off. She hadn't expected to hit a wall today at the Lin family's, but Aunt Zhou was still not ready to give up. Just thinking about her niece made her want to fix the two up. After all, she knew the Lin family through and through. Now that Lin Chuan is making so much money, as an outstanding young man, such a good resource should not be let to benefit outsiders.

After Aunt Zhou left, Mrs. Lin began to 'interrogate' Lin Chuan. She asked about the transport company, and Lin Chuan gave vague answers. He told his mother that the company was set up together with Zhou Kai and a group of other guys, and the capital came from the money he had made before.

"Mom, I can't take much credit," Lin Chuan said with a smile: "Now the company is managed by Zhou Kai and the others, and I'm still working at the City Committee."

"Then why are there rumors in the factory that you've started a company?" Mrs. Lin asked curiously.

"Probably because I'm listed as the legal representative," Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"Chuanzi, it's fine that you start a business. But, there is something I want to tell you," Mrs. Lin said earnestly as she looked at Lin Chuan: "Our Lin family might not be wealthy, but we don't do illegal things, and we can't do them. Understand?"

"Mom, don't worry," Lin Chuan assured seriously: "I will absolutely not engage in any illegal or criminal activities."

"That's good," Mrs. Lin nodded and said: "I'll go cook now."

Lin Chuan lay on the sofa, looking around the dimly lit room. The ceiling was hung with old-fashioned plum blossom wires, holding a forty-watt incandescent lamp which was both bright and glaring. The furniture was very old and even the paint was peeling. The house was not big, barely two rooms and a living room, but the rooms were filled with clutter. In the living room, there was a twenty-one-inch old Konka color TV. Clunky and heavy.

Looking at the old house, Lin Chuan thought for the first time about getting his mother a new place to live. It was a pity he had no money on hand. Even if he did, his mother probably wouldn't be willing to buy a new house since she'd lived here her whole life and wouldn't want to leave.

Lin Chuan smoked in the living room while Mrs. Lin fried dishes in the kitchen. The aroma of the food wafted through the air. Lin Chuan smelled it – the most familiar scent from his childhood. Now it felt so comforting, so refreshing. When he was on the battlefield, this was the flavor he missed the most. Back then, he never thought he would be able to return, let alone taste this familiar flavor again. Now, Lin Chuan cherished such a life all the more.

"Chuanzi, hurry and wash your hands. It's time to eat." Even the voice was so familiar.

"Aye, coming." Lin Chuan quickly nodded and then scrambled off to wash his hands.

Mrs. Lin took off her apron, then watched Lin Chuan with a smile, while saying: "Look at you, you still haven't gotten rid of that habit of hurrying about clumsily."

At the dinner table, although there were only two people, it was exceptionally warm and harmonious.

Mrs. Lin kept putting food into Lin Chuan's bowl and said: "Silly boy, eat more and put on some weight. Once Xiao Xi grows up, she can give me a big chubby grandson."

Pfft…

Lin Chuan spat out a mouthful of food and said awkwardly: "Mom, can we not talk about this while eating? Nuo Xiaoxi is still young, who knows, she may find a better man once she starts working? I can't hold back her future, can I?"

"Don't worry, Xiaoxi isn't that kind of girl," Mrs. Lin replied after taking a couple of bites of rice: "She's a good child. You can't mistreat her in the future."

"Aiyo," Lin Chuan made a pained face.

Though his mother was nagging and complaining beside him, Lin Chuan still felt extremely happy and content. He eagerly offered to clear the dishes.

"Let me do it, you child," Mrs. Lin said with a laugh.

"Mom, you've worked hard all day, let me do it." Lin Chuan hurriedly said.

Lin Chuan quickly cleared the dishes and rushed to the kitchen, then began washing them.

.........

Nighttime, East River villa.

Song Ming, wearing a robe, sat in the study on an expensive redwood chair, made of top-quality Vietnamese rosewood that cost upwards of eighty thousand, and that was just for the chair alone. The desk behind Song Ming was even more outrageously expensive. Even the material of the bookshelves were not ordinary, but top-quality Phoebe zhennan wood. The whole study was fashioned to be extremely opulent.

At this moment, Song Ming was not the only person in the study; his two nephews were there with him, Song Wen and Song Wu.

"You two didn't come to see me at night just to have tea with me, did you?" Song Ming, holding a book and wearing reading glasses, asked.

"Uncle..." Song Wen glanced at Song Ming awkwardly and said, "We just couldn't hold back any longer."

Upon hearing this, Song Ming leisurely removed his glasses and asked, "What's the matter? You can't wait to get rid of Lin Chuan now?"

"Yes." Song Wen nodded eagerly and said, "Lin Chuan is really too bad, bullying us brothers is one thing. But he even... he's even involved with Secretary Tang."

"Oh?" Song Ming was startled, put down the book, and asked curiously, "What do you mean by that?"

"Today, when I went to Secretary Tang's office, I accidentally saw Lin Chuan having lunch with Secretary Tang," Song Wen hurriedly explained.

"Oh? So something like this happened?" Song Ming's face revealed a sly smile upon hearing this.

"That's right." Song Wen immediately nodded and said: "I saw it clearly with my own eyes."

Song Wen had long harbored affection for Tang Yumeng, but he never dared to take that step, given the stark difference in status between him and Tang Yumeng. Now, seeing Lin Chuan having lunch with Tang Yumeng, he was naturally very annoyed and jealous.

"Hehe..." Song Ming revealed a strange smile.

"Uncle, do you have a way to get rid of Lin Chuan?" Song Wen asked anxiously.

"Like this..." Song Ming immediately instructed the two brothers, who after hearing his plan, nodded continuously, indicating that they would do as Song Ming had asked.

The next day.

A rumor spread within the City Committee, claiming that Tang Yumeng had seduced Lin Chuan, and furthermore, the two had entered into an illicit affair.

This news set off a storm in the City Committee. It spread through the City Committee like it had wings, becoming known to everyone and even spreading to various departments. Of course, such news was circulated in secret, as nobody dared to bring it into the open.

Thump thump thump...

A series of urgent knocks sounded at Tang Yumeng's office door.

"Come in," Tang Yumeng responded.

"Secretary Tang, it's bad," Xiao Xue said breathlessly and anxiously, "it's really bad."

"What is it that has you making such a fuss?" Tang Yumeng frowned.

"Secretary Tang, there's... there's a rumor spreading around the whole City Committee," Xiao Xue said anxiously.

"What rumor?" Tang Yumeng's face darkened. She had an ominous premonition; could it be... could it be that the incident Song Wen witnessed yesterday was actually being rumored about?

"Many departments are spreading rumors that you've seduced Lin Chuan, that you're intimate with him every day, as if you're dating," Xiao Xue, with a blush of embarrassment, looked at Tang Yumeng.

Boom...

Tang Yumeng felt as if a heavy bomb had exploded, numbing her scalp and leaving her mind blank. Tang Yumeng's complexion turned pale as she said, "How could this... How could this happen!"

"Secretary Tang, what should we do now?" Xiao Xue asked anxiously.

"Since they're calling it a rumor, let them spread it," Tang Yumeng quickly regained her composure. She believed her relationship with Lin Chuan was pure, so what if there were rumors? She believed that someday, the rumors would collapse of their own accord.

"What?" Xiao Xue was taken aback and said, "No, I must notify all departments right away to squash these rumors."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.