Chapter 359: New Year

"Chen Yang, your performance today is not bad." After leaving Old Master Lin's villa, Lin Jianguo immediately praised his son-in-law.

Chen Yang spoke up for Lin Jianguo, saying: "Dad, Grandpa is too biased. Clearly your rank is higher than Second Uncle's, yet he only praises Second Uncle, putting our family down completely. Just hearing it makes me a little angry."

Lin Jianguo sighed and said: "Forget it, your second uncle only comes back once a year, so let's not quibble over this small matter. As for the investment in Xian County, contribute what you can. If your second uncle can advance further, it will also benefit our Lin family."

Chen Yang gave a wry smile and said: "Dad, regarding this investment, if your daughter doesn't nod, I dare not casually agree."

Upon hearing this, Lin Jianguo's face instantly broke into a brilliant smile. This little padded jacket really wasn't pampered in vain; at a critical moment it can still speak up for him.

After returning to the Lin household, Hu Qingwan, Lin Wei, and Lin Feng were watching the Spring Festival Gala. Hearing the door open, Lin Wei was the first to go out, and with a serious expression she said to Chen Yang: "Husband, did you agree to any conditions from Grandfather and Second Uncle?"

"Rest assured, without your nod, I couldn't even be bothered to pay attention to where Xian County is."

Lin Wei smiled satisfactorily, then said to Lin Jianguo: "Dad, tomorrow we'll go to Xingcheng to pay New Year's respects to Grandfather, and we'll return after the holiday ends. Grandfather thinks Second Uncle is great, so let Second Uncle and his wife do more filial duty at home."

"Nonsense!" Lin Jianguo gave Lin Wei a look and said testily: "If we don't go pay New Year's respects to your grandfather on the first day, and he ends up upset, the one who'll suffer will be me and your mother."

Lin Wei deliberately stuck out her tongue and snorted displeased: "If the old man's health is poor, he could move to Xian County and let Second Uncle and his wife take care of him!"

Lin Jianguo gave Lin Wei a "you think that's possible?" look, then asked Hu Qingwan: "How about your parents' side—did you call to check in?"

"Already done." Hu Qingwan said: "I've already planned it—on the morning of the first day I'll go pay New Year's respects to your dad, then drive straight to Xingcheng. I'll have lunch at my father's place at noon."

Upon hearing this, Lin Jianguo frowned slightly and said: "Won't that be a bit too rushed?"

Hu Qingwan snapped: "What? Do you still think you haven't suffered enough over there?"

Lin Jianguo immediately fell silent.

Hu Qingwan also said to Chen Yang: "Your maternal grandfather will be staying for a short time this visit. You young couple should stay a few days at his place to show your faces. Afterwards, no matter what you do out in the world, it won't be so easy for others to bully you."

Chen Yang nodded. Although Lin Wei's maternal grandfather has retired, he worked in Dongjiangsheng for several decades, and his latent influence remains considerable.

If we can use this New Year's visit opportunity to meet some serving officials in Dongjiangsheng, it would be very advantageous for the sustained future development of Laobaixing Company.

Hu Qingwan suddenly thought of something and said to Chen Yang and Lin Wei: "Weiwei, Chen Yang, the villa over in Xingcheng is almost finished renovation. Why not take this opportunity to hold the new house's fire‑passing ceremony and your wedding together there, for double joy?"

"Honey, what do you think?" Chen Yang glanced at Lin Wei; he hadn't prepared for this in advance, and a last‑minute cram session probably wouldn't work well. So he could only first seek Lin Wei's opinion.

Lin Wei directly shook her head and refused. She told Hu Qingwan: "Mom, regarding the wedding, life only has one chance; I don't want to be too hasty. I'll consider it when I have time to prepare."

Hu Qingwan helplessly shook her head. She actually just wanted to use this wedding to make those women who still aren't over Chen Yang completely give up. She didn't expect her own daughter to be so unhurried.

"You don't have extra time at work to worry about the wedding—might as well just spend money and let a wedding company handle it."

Lin Wei still felt it was too rushed. "Mom, we've had our license for half a year already; we're already a de facto married couple—what difference does postponing the wedding make?"

"Fine, count me as meddling—do whatever you like!" Hu Qingwan, unable to say more in front of Chen Yang, could only give up trying to persuade them.

Chen Yang also assured Hu Qingwan: "Mom, rest assured, I will definitely hold a perfect make‑up wedding for her."

Hu Qingwan found Chen Yang's performance impeccable. Yet this son‑in‑law is just too sensible, already surpassing her expectations of young people. So the better Chen Yang performs, the more she worries.

"Since you don't plan to redo the wedding, just hold a simple fire‑passing ceremony for the new house. Your father and I have toiled for decades; it's time we enjoyed life a bit."

Lin Wei had no objection to that. Once the villa on Jiangmen Dao was renovated, she and Chen Yang could finally consider they had a truly own warm little home.

Of course, none of this has much to do with her; it's all Chen Yang's achievement.

So, after completing the New Year countdown, Lin Wei then properly rewarded Chen Yang.

……

In the year 03, on the first day of the lunar new year, Chen Yang never imagined he would be this busy.

Starting at 7 a. m., his phone never had a moment of peace. On the company side, beginning with Shen Anna and Song Yajun, all executives who knew his phone number either called him directly to offer New Year greetings or sent him text messages.

Moreover, Yexin, Su Mingyue, Huang Bai ming, Zhao Feiyang, Qi Yunxiang, Liu Shijie, Zhu Zhu, and Guo Jin—these stock‑market partners—also successively called to exchange greetings.

The government side was a bit quiet; only Zhang Chunhua and Zhou Zhengyang proactively called to offer greetings.

After finishing those calls, Chen Yang then began proactively paying New Year visits. First he called Chen Chunmei's family to offer greetings, then he called Liu Jianghua, Kong Jie, Hu Shiyou, Xu Li, and Huo Yunyan, and finally he called Zhong Hanshan and Professor You—these company R&D experts—to offer greetings.

After all that running around, the battery of the three power packs was completely drained. The phone outright quit working.

"Husband, why don't you call Qingqing?"

……

Chen Yang gave Lin Wei an annoyed look. Since being forced to move out of the teachers' university affiliated middle school staff dormitory by Liang Kuan, he has deliberately avoided any further contact with Liu Qingqing.

After so many days, he had finally managed to blur that shadow from his mind, but Lin Wei's reminder brought those already‑faded memories rushing back instantly.

"Honey, it's the first day of the lunar new year—don't go looking for trouble over nothing!"

"What are you afraid of? After all, she's our junior schoolmate; a simple new year greeting is just normal social etiquette."

On this matter, Chen Yang doesn't believe a word of what Lin Wei says. "Let the past stay in the past. Even without our greetings, she'll do just fine."

"Hopefully!" Lin Wei let out a light sigh. She suddenly thought of Liu Qingqing, mainly because she hasn't been using any contraception lately, yet her belly shows no reaction at all.

"If she never manages to get pregnant, she worries that Chen Yang, eager to continue the family line, might rekindle his old flame with Liu Qingqing."