Chapter 32: Lin Family Meeting

At 8 p. m., Lin Jianguo called a small family meeting. Besides Chen Yang, Lin Wei, and Du Yue'e, the attendees also included Lin Feng, who had just returned from a mission.

Chen Yang and Lin Feng had met more than once; besides that meal at the Lin household, they had also seen each other during the second half of their junior year in Xingcheng.

At that time, Lin Wei brought Lin Feng to the restaurant where Chen Yang worked part-time for a meal. When settling the bill, Lin Feng suddenly patted Chen Yang's shoulder and said something puzzling: "Brother, if you're ever unhappy, you can come find me for a drink."

However, he just said that and left, without leaving a phone number. In his previous life, after losing contact with Lin Wei, Chen Yang never sought out Lin Feng either. He never bothered to figure out what that remark meant.

When they met again today, Lin Feng patted Chen Yang's shoulder again and sighed, "Brother, you ultimately couldn't escape my sister's clutches!" He had barely finished speaking when Lin Wei kicked him hard.

Chen Yang watched the siblings roughhouse, but his mind was in a fog.

Throughout college, Lin Wei's attitude toward him had been hot and cold. Only after they became sexually involved did she grow close.

And from Lin Feng's words, it seemed she had been interested in him since junior year? Then why had she never shown it?

Chen Yang hadn't even had a chance to ask Lin Wei the reason when Lin Jianguo finished watching the news broadcast and formally announced the start of the family meeting.

There are three matters today.

"First, regarding Weiwei and Chen Yang's marriage, your grandfather doesn't support it, but in principle I don't oppose it. Weiwei's mother means to reserve judgment for now and discuss it after she returns from her business trip."

"Second, concerning the wedding, don't rush to arrange it; wait until Weiwei's mother returns and does the ideological work on your grandfather before we talk about it."

After stating the first two points, Lin Jianguo turned to Lin Wei and Chen Yang and asked, "Do you have any opinions?"

Chen Yang shook his head to indicate he had no opinion. From Lin Jianguo's remarks, it seemed he at least no longer opposed this marriage as he had during their daytime meeting. That satisfied him.

As for Lin Wei's grandfather, Chen Yang had never met him, didn't know the situation, and felt it inappropriate to comment.

Lin Wei, however, had her own different view.

"Dad, nowadays we value marital freedom. Even if Grandfather doesn't support it, he can't change the fact that I and Chen Yang have already gotten our marriage license. Don't forget, you and Mom also married for love. If my maternal grandfather thought like Grandfather, you might not even be my father now."

Lin Jianguo's face twitched violently as he suppressed the urge to strike someone, and he snorted coldly, "What good does telling me do? I haven't opposed it either! If you're capable, go reason with your grandfather."

Lin Wei said, "I'm not going. He's retired but can't stay idle; he just likes to lecture people. My second uncle even fled to Yun Cheng to avoid him."

Lin Jianguo glared at Lin Wei and said, "You're talking nonsense; that's a normal job transfer."

Lin Wei pursed her lips and snorted, "Being transferred from the province's second‑worst‑economy city to the top‑ranked one—does that count as a normal transfer?"

Lin Jianguo seemed unwilling to discuss the matter further, lit a cigarette, and silently puffed away.

Seeing he wasn't speaking, Lin Wei added, "As for the wedding, I'd like to wait until Chen Yang's new home is renovated before we talk about it. The house is in Xingcheng; construction hasn't started yet, and the earliest we could move in is the end of the year."

"Besides, the newly appointed Deputy Mayor has already spoken with me about working in the government office. Please handle the Administration for Industry and Commerce side for me!"

Upon hearing Lin Wei wanted to work in the government office, Lin Jianguo's cigarette‑holding fingers twitched slightly, ash scattering everywhere. He looked at his daughter in surprise and asked, "How did you meet Xu Li?"

Lin Wei replied, "She's a senior alumna from Xingcheng University and used to be the student council chair."

Lin Jianguo then asked, "What's she like?"

Lin Wei this time shook her head and said, "We only formally met yesterday, and we just had a brief chat. I feel working under her would be more meaningful than going to the Administration for Industry and Commerce, so I agreed."

Lin Jianguo had no objection to his daughter's job transfer. Working under the Deputy Mayor certainly promises better prospects than at the Administration for Industry and Commerce. If it weren't to avoid suspicion, he would prefer his daughter to work in the Public Security Bureau.

After hard‑won effort to secure the slot, his daughter now refuses it. Lin Jianguo glanced at Chen Yang and suddenly felt torn.

Having Chen Yang take over the Administration for Industry and Commerce slot would leave his son and daughter‑in‑law lacking a point person, possibly jeopardizing things. Not letting Chen Yang go would make him look overly partial toward his son and daughter‑in‑law. After hesitating for a long time, he finally decided to first ask Chen Yang's opinion.

"Chen Yang, do you want to work at the Administration for Industry and Commerce?"

Chen Yang had already expressed his stance to Lin Wei, and this time he stuck to his original idea: "Dad, I'm not going to the Administration for Industry and Commerce. My new house needs renovation, and I have two supermarkets to prepare for—I really can't spare the time!"

Seeing Chen Yang himself didn't want to go, Lin Jianguo didn't press further and moved on to the third agenda item.

"Opening a supermarket at Shuanglin Market—I've discussed it with Weiwei's mother, and we both think it's feasible." Lin Jianguo then turned to Chen Yang and asked, "Do you have a concrete plan?"

Chen Yang had already formulated his business plan on the way home and replied, "I've already purchased the storefront this afternoon. Next comes the renovation and handling all the related procedures for industry, commerce, taxation, and so on."

"As for supplies, I plan to first set up an agricultural and sideline products trading company, which will directly supply the supermarket."

Lin Jianguo didn't quite grasp Chen Yang's meaning and asked, "You're running both a company and a supermarket—can you manage it?"

Chen Yang said, "The company and the supermarket are separate, mainly to avoid unnecessary risks; I'll explain the details later. As for manpower, we can recruit a batch of high‑quality sales staff from the Labor Bureau, train them, and then have them negotiate purchases with vegetable vendors and farmers on behalf of the company. As long as the commissions are high, nothing is impossible!"

Lin Jianguo felt Chen Yang was getting a bit overconfident and warned him, "Starting a company isn't as simple as saying a few words; with such a big undertaking, you could lose all your family's assets!"

Lin Feng knew Chen Yang's intention was to help him and didn't want his brother‑in‑law to get in too deep. He also advised, "Chen Yang, maybe just start a small supermarket. Once you get the hang of it, we'll support whatever size you want to expand to."

Chen Yang knew they meant well and had no intention of changing his mind. He reassured everyone, "Rest assured, I didn't decide on a whim, and I'm not afraid of taking risks."

"Moreover, the agricultural products company is merely a start; I later plan to expand into other industries. My goal is to achieve financial freedom by the age of thirty."

Lin Wei gave Chen Yang an encouraging thumbs‑up, adding that as long as he's pursuing business in Qing Shui, she supports whatever he does. "Husband, keep working hard. If you lose money, it's fine—worst case, I'll support you."

Seeing Lin Wei's support for Chen Yang, Lin Jianguo found it hard to say anything more. He even began to look forward to Chen Yang accomplishing something great.