Lin Feng cooked porridge, chopped up some of the pickles he had made, and stir-fried a few other dishes.

He glanced at the time, took off his apron, and prepared to pick up the children.

He went upstairs to call Zhang Yuxi down for some porridge. "Honey, I'm off to pick up the kids."

"Okay, drive safely."

Lin Feng reminded her, "Little Bao might wake up soon, so keep an eye on him."

"I know!"

She wasn't a child; she knew how to handle these things herself.

He drove the decade-old SUV to the airport, where some parents picked up their children themselves, while others sent their housekeepers. Parents with free time accompanied their children; if they were too busy, there was nothing to be done.

"Mr. Lin, you're here!"

"Yes, you're here too."

The children attended Yangcheng No. 5 Middle School from junior high all the way through high school, yet Lin Feng had only ever attended the most recent parent-teacher conference. He didn't recognize the other parents, but they certainly recognized him.

"Mr. Lin, you're truly fortunate. All your children have excelled; they're the cream of the crop. We can only look on in envy."

Lin Feng replied modestly, "Not at all, your child is doing very well too!"

"How can mine possibly compare to yours? They aren't even in the same league."

When the gap between people is small, envy naturally arises. But once that gap becomes an insurmountable chasm, all one can do is admire from a distance.

During their conversation, a large group of children returned. Lin Feng had a distinguished stature, and his children also stood out from the crowd.

Second Bao smiled with cool confidence; she was now the wealthiest of all her siblings.

Third Bao carried herself like a noble Princess, her demeanor cool and detached.

Fourth Bao had a sunny smile, tanned skin, and lean, well-defined muscles.

Each of the four children was brilliant in their own way; it was clear at a glance that they were destined for great things.

Lin Feng waved to greet his children and then said his goodbyes to the teachers one by one. The trunk was stuffed full of gifts for their elders and peers.

"Dad, did you buy us any gifts?" Second Bao asked with a smile.

Lin Feng turned the steering wheel. "Do you even have to ask?" He then added, "You've all gotten so tanned. I bet you didn't use any sunscreen. Your mother is going to be angry when she finds out."

Zhang Yuxi was very insistent on using sunscreen, even for the boys.

On the way, Lin Feng told the children what had happened to their Second Grand-uncle. The kids all fell silent.

When they got home, a delicious meal was waiting for them. Zhang Yuxi was there too, and Little Bao came running over, giving the older children their first true feeling of the happiness of coming home.

Fourth Bao scooped up Little Bao and peppered his little cheeks with kisses. "Did you miss your Fourth Brother? Tell me, did you miss me?"

Little Bao giggled. "I did, I did!" He seized the opportunity to ask, "Did you bring anything fun? Did you? Did you?"

Third Bao pulled out a conch shell. "Here, this is for you!"

Lin Feng and Zhang Yuxi, who were busy in the kitchen, came out and said, "Alright, stop playing. It's time to eat. Little Bao needs to eat too; he hasn't had much today!"

At the dinner table, the children chattered about the interesting things that had happened over the past few days, and the family was filled with joyful harmony.

「Three days later.」

The Lin family, having arranged everything, returned to Meicheng. A few years ago, Mingyue Villa was worth fifty million; now, Lin Feng's villa was valued at over three hundred million. His house occupied the best location and was the largest on the property.

Zhou Cuilan offered to pick them up from the airport, but Lin Feng declined. "Mom, we can get back on our own."

Zhou Cuilan replied, "Alright then, I'll make some Mi Fan for you. What would you like to eat?"

Lin Feng said, "We're good with anything."

The first place they went was their old villa. It was mostly unchanged; even the old furniture had been brought out. The older one gets, the more nostalgic.

"Where's Dad?"

"Your dad's on the way. He went to see your Third Uncle this morning. Hurry up and eat."

"We'll wait for Dad to come back so we can eat together," Lin Feng said.

"No need to wait for him. You all go ahead and eat."

They were almost finished eating when Lin Dashan returned. He took a few bites but quickly lost his appetite.

"Your Third Uncle's condition in the hospital isn't good... The doctor said the prognosis isn't optimistic..."

As the saying goes, illness strikes like a collapsing mountain but leaves like reeling silk. Third Uncle was getting on in years. His health had been poor even around the time Lin Feng got married, and it had only gotten worse.

"We'll go visit him soon."

The hospital was filled with the smell of disinfectant. Little Bao nestled in Lin Feng's arms, her little face pale, but she was exceptionally quiet. Seeing this, Zhou Cuilan instructed Zhang Yuxi, "After Little Bao sees her Second Grand-uncle, take her outside. The smell in here is unpleasant."

When Lin Feng arrived, Lin Rui was in the ward taking care of the patient, and Lin Daan was there as well. A nurse was administering an injection. "Please don't all crowd in at once." After finishing the injection, the nurse gave a surprised glance at the family, stunned by how attractive they all were. She felt as if she had seen them somewhere before.

Zhou Cuilan gestured. "You all step out for a moment. Let Lin Feng and the others have a look." Then she told the children, "Kids, go greet your Second Grand-uncle, then wait outside."

The children stood by the bed and greeted him. Lin Dahu smiled and responded cheerfully. He looked pale, but he was in very good spirits.

"You children must listen to your parents. When you grow up, you have to be good to them, understand?

"All of you study hard and become useful members of society.

"You must also stick together and support each other—not just within your immediate family, but with Xiao Cheng and the others, too…"

The children nodded and promised, telling him to take good care of himself.

Lin Dahu nodded with a smile. "Good, you should all leave now. The smell in this hospital is awful, it's bad luck!" He glanced at Little Bao. "Little Bao, you should go out quickly, too. Look how sad your little face has become."

Turning his head toward Lin Feng, he said, "You stay and talk with me. And you, too." The "you" was directed at Lin Rui.

After the others had left, the ward suddenly felt cold. It was a private room; because of the suddenness of the situation, it was the only luxury ward available. Lin Rui could afford the expense.

Lin Feng and Lin Rui sat by the bedside. The latter was silently peeling a piece of fruit, his head bowed in sorrow. In the past, the relationship between this father and son had been terrible.

"Lin Feng," Lin Dahu began, "the Lin Family, our own family... we owe so much of what we have today to you. I must thank you."

Lin Feng quickly replied, "Third Uncle, please don't say that. We're all family. It's only right that we help each other."

Lin Dahu shook his head. "How can I not thank you? Without you, who knows what would have become of our family."

If it weren't for Lin Feng, someone with Lin Rui's temperament would never have gotten far on the path to wealth. Then there was Lin Jiajun, whose entitled attitude and habit of living off his parents had caused Lin Daan endless worry.

In the past, he hadn't gotten along with his children or his brothers, and he often imagined his old age would be desolate. He never expected that after Lin Feng became successful, the relationships within the younger generation would improve so much, which in turn helped the brothers of his own generation gradually grow closer. To live a rich and leisurely life in his twilight years was something he had never dared to imagine.

As one ages, one accepts fate and spends late nights reflecting on one's life. He'd eaten everything he wanted to eat and done everything he wanted to do. Aside from some regrets about his daughter, his life had been quite good.

"My boy... when I'm gone, you and your cousins—all the young men of the Lin Family—must stay united..."

The exhortations of an elder were usually much the same.

When Lin Feng came out of the ward, he and Lin Rui spoke in the corridor about Lin Xiaolan.

"I'll call Xiaolan and tell her to come back this afternoon," Lin Rui said. "If she doesn't come back this time, she can stay away forever."

Third Aunt's voice came from behind them. "I'll go with you."

This was their family's private business; it wasn't his place to comment. "Alright," Lin Feng said instead. "We'll head back for now. I'll come by again tomorrow."

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