Chapter 232

Lin Fuxing, born at 9:45 p. m. on August 9, 2010, officially got the nickname Choubao on August 15.

Translation: Lin Fuxing, born at 9:45 p. m. on August 9, 2010, officially acquired his nickname Choubao on August 15.

Lin Fuxing, born at 9:45 p. m. on August 9, 2010, officially acquired his nickname — Choubao — on August 15.

The nickname was easy for Chu Lingxi to say, everyone picked it up, and only the old man rolled his eyes.

Translation: This nickname was easily said by Chu Lingxi, and everyone followed suit; only the old man rolled his eyes.

Chu Lingxi found the nickname easy to say, and everyone started using it—only the old man rolled his eyes.

But the old man was very pleased with Choubao's fate.

Translation: But the old man was very pleased with Choubao's fate.

The old man specially asked a fortune-teller to tell the child's fortune; this destiny falls under the 'proper official' pattern in the four-pillar system, with a strong self and harmonious official, making it highly auspicious.

Translation: The old man specially asked a fortune-teller to calculate the child's fate; this fate belongs to the proper official pattern in the four-pillar configuration, and with a strong self and official harmony, it is highly auspicious.

The old man specially asked a fortune‑teller to calculate the child's fate; this fate belongs to the proper official pattern in the four‑pillar configuration, and with a strong self and official harmony it is highly auspicious.

The fortune-teller said the child would grow up to be someone with a strong sense of responsibility.

Translation: The fortune-teller said this child would grow up to be someone with a strong sense of responsibility.

Whether the fortune-teller was bluffing or not, the old man was delighted - just hearing the five words 'a strong sense of responsibility' could add several years to his life.

Translation: Whether the fortune-teller was bluffing or not, the old man was pleased; just those five words "a strong sense of responsibility" could add several years to his life.

Whether the fortune‑teller was bluffing or not, the old man was pleased—just hearing the words 'a strong sense of responsibility' could add several years to his life.

When the old man was happy, the aunt's days got much easier; she no longer faced constant criticism.

Translation: When the old man was happy, the aunt's days became much easier; she no longer faced constant criticism.

When the old man was happy, the aunt's days became much easier; she no longer faced constant criticism.

That morning.

Translation: That morning.

Taking advantage of the family's high spirits, Lin Dongfan intercepted the aunt as she was heading out to work in the front yard and said, 'Aunt, there's a poor little girl whose college-entrance exam score exceeds the admission line of the Air Force Engineering University, but she falls short in height by 0.5 cm; do you think she still has a chance of being admitted?'

Translation: Taking advantage of the family's high spirits, Lin Dongfan intercepted the aunt as she was getting ready to go to work in the front yard: "Aunt, there's a poor little girl whose college entrance exam score exceeds the admission line of Air Force Engineering University, but she falls short in height by 0.5 centimeters; do you think she still has a chance of being admitted?"

Taking advantage of the family's high spirits, Lin Dongfan intercepted the aunt as she was getting ready to go to work in the front yard and said, 'Aunt, there's a poor little girl whose college‑entrance exam score exceeds the admission line of the Air Force Engineering University, but she falls short in height by 0.5 centimeters; do you think she still has a chance of being admitted?'

Upon hearing that, Lin Yuzhi immediately became on guard.

Translation: Hearing this, Lin Yuzhi immediately raised her guard.

Lin Yuzhi scoffed, 'Why emphasize the poor background? Do you think adding a prefix will win sympathy? No hope - get out of my way.'

Translation: Lin Yuzhi scornfully replied: "Why emphasize the poor background? Do you think adding a prefix will win sympathy? No hope—get out of my way."

Lin Yuzhi scornfully replied, 'Why emphasize the poor background? Do you think adding a prefix will win sympathy? No hope—get out of my way.'

"Fairy Maiden Lin, could you give me some face?"

Translation: "\"Fairy Maiden Lin, give me some face, okay? \""

'Fairy Maiden Lin, give me some face, okay?'

"Who is this person to you?"

Translation: "\"Who is the other party to you? \""

"She's my coworker's sister, Jian Qing, with a total college-entrance exam score of 589. The girl aspires to serve the country and contribute to national defense; she meets every requirement except she's 0.5 cm short in height."

Translation: "\"She's my coworker's sister, Jian Qing, with a total college entrance exam score of 589. The girl aspires to serve the country and contribute to national defense. She meets all requirements except she's 0.5 centimeter short in height. \""

She's my coworker's sister, Jian Qing, with a total college‑entrance exam score of 589. The girl aspires to serve the country and contribute to national defense. She meets all requirements except she's 0.5 centimeter short in height.

"Your coworker's sister? You're meddling awfully."

Translation: "\"Your coworker's sister? You sure like to meddle. \""

"It's not that I want to interfere, but... it's hard to put into words; anyway, crushing a girl's patriotic dream over just 0.5 cm feels cruel to me."

Translation: "\"It's not that I want to meddle, but… it's hard to put into words; anyway, crushing a girl's patriotic dream over 0.5 centimeters feels cruel to me. \""

It's not that I want to meddle, but… it's hard to put into words; anyway, crushing a girl's patriotic dream over 0.5 centimeters feels cruel to me.

"There are plenty of cruel things in the world - can you really handle them?"

Translation: "\"There are plenty of cruel things in the world; can you handle them all? \""

"Her parents are rural folk, facing the loess soil with their backs to the sky, yet they managed to raise two daughters into college students - really not easy."

Translation: "\"Her parents are both rural folk, facing the loess soil with their backs to the sky; raising two daughters to college is truly not easy. \""

Facing the loess soil with their backs to the sky.

"There are many parents who aren't easy to deal with - you can't handle them all."

Translation: "\"There are many parents who aren't easy; you can't handle them all. \""

"Hear me out? The two sisters originally had a brother who, a few years ago, was bullied at school and fell to his death. Because the perpetrator was a leader's son, the Public Security Bureau ruled it a suicide. The elder sister, Jian Sining, has taken the civil-service exam three years in a row because of her brother's death, vowing to fight corruption and greed."

Translation: "\" Hear me out? The two sisters originally had a brother who, a few years ago, was bullied at school and fell to his death. Because the perpetrator was a leader's son, the Public Security Bureau ruled it a suicide. The elder sister, Jian Sining, has taken the civil service exam three years in a row because of her brother's death, vowing to fight corruption and greed. \""

Hear me out? The two sisters originally had a brother who, a few years ago, was bullied at school and fell to his death. Because the perpetrator was a leader's son, the Public Security Bureau ruled it a suicide. The elder sister, Jian Sining, has taken the civil‑service exam three years in a row because of her brother's death, vowing to fight corruption and greed.

"So, is it Jian Sining who's asking you for help?"

Translation: "\"So, is it Jian Sining asking you for help? \""

"No, Jian Sining doesn't know my background or that I have an aunt with the rank of Senior Colonel; she was just chatting on the phone, mentioning her sister's college-exam results, and didn't ask me for anything."

Translation: "\"No, Jian Sining doesn't know my background or that I have an aunt with the rank of Senior Colonel; she was just chatting on the phone, mentioning her sister's college exam, and didn't ask me for anything. \""

No, Jian Sining doesn't know my background or that I have an aunt with the rank of Senior Colonel; she was just chatting on the phone, mentioning her sister's college exam, and didn't ask me for anything.

"Then you're meddling awfully."

Translation: "\"Then you sure like to meddle. \""

"How is that meddling? A seventeen-year-old girl with patriotic aspirations studied by candlelight for three years of high school just to get into her dream military academy, only to have her dreams shattered by a 0.5 cm height shortfall. Honestly, hearing this moved me. Thinking back, if Professor Luo hadn't pulled me up when I was studying, I wouldn't have graduated. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, without a benefactor's help we still end up with shattered dreams."

Translation: "\"How is that meddling? A seventeen‑year‑old girl with patriotic aspirations studied by candlelight for three years of high school just to get into her dream military academy, only to have her dreams shattered by a 0.5‑centimeter height shortfall. Honestly, hearing this moved me. Thinking back, if Professor Luo hadn't pulled me up when I was studying, I wouldn't have graduated. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, without a benefactor's help we still end up with shattered dreams. \""

How is that meddling? A seventeen‑year‑old girl with patriotic aspirations studied by candlelight for three years of high school just to get into her dream military academy, only to have her dreams shattered by a 0.5‑centimeter height shortfall. Honestly, hearing this moved me. Thinking back, if Professor Luo hadn't pulled me up when I was studying, I wouldn't have graduated. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, without a benefactor's help we still end up with shattered dreams.

Professor Luo

"Then give me a reason - I'm not related to her, so why should I help her?"

Translation: "\"Then give me a reason—I have no relation to her, so why should I help her? \""

"Aunt, you're not helping her; you're helping me."

Translation: "\"Aunt, you're not helping her; you're helping me. \""

"Don't give me that - last time you dumped the blame on me and I still haven't settled the score." Saying this, Lin Yuzhi gave a white-eye glare, as if her hemorrhoids were acting up again.

Translation: "\"Don't give me that—last time you dumped the blame on me, and I still haven't settled the score. \" Saying this, Lin Yuzhi gave a white‑eye glare, as if her hemorrhoids were acting up again."

Don't give me that—last time you dumped the blame on me, and I still haven't settled the score. Saying this, Lin Yuzhi gave a white‑eye glare, as if her hemorrhoids were acting up again.

Lin Dongfan grinned, "If you won't do it for my sake, then at least do it for Choubao's - he's your lucky star; since he was born, the old man has had no time to bother you, sparing you many scoldings."

Translation: Lin Dongfan grinned: "If you won't do it for my sake, then at least do it for Choubao's—he's your lucky star; since he was born, the old man has had no time to bother you, sparing you many scoldings."

Lin Dongfan grinned: 'If you won't do it for my sake, then at least do it for Choubao's—he's your lucky star; since he was born, the old man has had no time to bother you, sparing you many scoldings.'

"Do you still want to save face? You can't manage on your own, so you're dragging Choubao into this."

Translation: "\"Have you no shame? You can't manage on your own, yet you drag Choubao into this. \""

"When Choubao grows up, will your generation all retire and leave me holding the bag? The Lin family is thinly spread - can I really rely on just myself to hold things up? I ask you now: should we deepen our roots and cast a wide net? Should we build a solid platform for Choubao? If you can't see the point, I'll have the old man come and talk sense into you."

Translation: "\"When Choubao grows up, will your generation all retire and leave me to hold the bag? The Lin family is thinly populated; can I really rely on just myself to hold things up? I ask you now: should we deepen our roots and cast a wide net? Should we build a solid platform for Choubao? If you can't see the point, I'll have the old man come and talk sense into you. \""

When Choubao grows up, will your generation all retire and leave me to hold the bag? The Lin family is thinly populated; can I really rely on just myself to hold things up? I ask you now: should we deepen our roots and cast a wide net? Should we build a solid platform for Choubao? If you can't see the point, I'll have the old man come and talk sense into you.

"You little rascal, you've actually learned to scheme and plan now that you're a dad - your perceptiveness really is different."

Translation: "\"You little rascal, you've actually learned to scheme and layout now that you're a dad—your perceptiveness really is different. \""

"Don't laugh - how about being serious for a moment?"

Translation: "\"Don't laugh—how about getting serious for a change? \""

"What's the name of that Jian Sining's sister again?"

Translation: "\"What was the name of Jian Sining's sister again? \""

"Jian Qing."

Translation: "\"Jian Qing. \""

"She really scored 589?"

Translation: "\"She really scored 589? \""

"Really."

Translation: "\"Really. \""

"No political-review problems?"

Translation: "\"No political‑review problems? \""

"No problems at all - her ancestors for eighteen generations are clean."

Translation: "\"No problems at all—her ancestors going back eighteen generations are all clean. \""

"Are you sure she's only 0.5 cm short, not 5 cm? Many girls around Jianglan grow like little delicate potatoes; too much height difference just won't do."

Translation: "\"Are you sure she's only 0.5 centimeter short, not 5? The girls around Jianglan all grow like little delicate potatoes; too much height difference won't do. \""

The girls around Jianglan all grow like little delicate potatoes; too much height difference won't do.

"Just 0.5 cm."

Translation: "\"Just 0.5. \""

"All right, let her wait for the admission notice."

Translation: "\"All right, let her wait for the admission notice. \""

"Thank you, Aunt - I love you to death, and all the best on your journey."

Translation: "\"Thanks, Aunt—I love you to death, and all the best on your way. \""

In the midst of chatting and laughing, Lin Dongfan blew a flying kiss to see the paternal aunt off. The paternal aunt, without looking back, thrust out a righteous middle finger and hurried to her work post.

Having authority but not using it leads to expiration and invalidation.

In Lin Dongfan's view, whether it's Jiang Lan promoting the younger generation like Yang Qing and Su Yuhong, or in Jingcheng sending big gifts as favors to Jin Zhaofeng and sending Jian Sining's younger sister to military school.

These are all major life events.

Only by expanding this network of connections can one avoid falling into the predicament of going it alone; years later, when one's son grows up, there will be no need to worry about lacking uncles and aunts to look after him.

Lin Dongfan dialed Jian Sining's phone: "Sining, the matter of your younger sister applying to military school has been settled; have her wait at home for the admission notice."

"Senior brother, can you help her settle the height difference?"

Jian Sining said "uh" twice over the phone, her voice growing more excited: "I will definitely urge her to cherish this hard‑won opportunity."

Lin Dongfan showed off without concealment: "It's just a 0.5‑centimeter difference; a single sentence will do, and the admission notice will arrive within a week."

"Senior brother, you're really amazing, you can even handle this." Jian Sining replied excitedly: "You've helped me time and again; I truly don't know how to thank you."

"If you really want to thank me, let your sister seize the opportunity. Once in military school, she must harbor the lofty ambition of becoming a general. She must maintain excellent grades all the way and not disappoint anyone."

Lin Dongfan looked forward to Jian Siqing's future.

Jian Sining said "uh" twice over the phone, her voice growing more excited: "I will definitely urge her to cherish this hard‑won opportunity."

"That's it, I'll hang up now; my wife is calling me for breakfast."

"Senior brother, wait a moment."

"What else is there?"

"The day after tomorrow, the court will hold a trial for Xiao Yunce and others; the 9·28 forest fire case and the dry well corpse concealment case at No. 37 Courtyard of Jing Erhuan will be tried together—will you come to attend the hearing?"

"No, I won't go."

This is a big case you personally led the team on—don't you want to be there for the hearing?

Whether I go or not, the outcome is the same.

Oh.

If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up.

Lin Dongfan hung up the phone, then frowned and muttered, "What the hell?" His mood seemed a bit low; women's thoughts are really complicated……

He shook his head and turned back inside.

The old man was still outside practicing tai chi, hadn't returned; Chu Lingxi was having breakfast, the nanny was busy in the kitchen, and the postnatal caregiver was busy soothing the baby.

Everything inside and out was harmonious.

"Honey, come drink some soy milk." Chu Lingxi patted the empty chair beside her.

Lin Dongfan looked at the bowl of soy milk on the table, so moved he was speechless, asking the heavens; at a glance he knew it was imitation soy milk, squeezed by Chu Lingxi herself.

There isn't even enough for the baby; let the husband have it first.

"I want real soy milk." Lin Dongfan thought of pouring this bowl of breast milk into a bottle to save for his son.

Chu Lingxi suddenly asked in a daze: "Didn't you say last night the milk smelled fragrant? This morning I specially squeezed it for you."

……!!!

Lin Dongfan was speechless, embarrassed to the point of digging his toes into the ground—how could last night and this morning be the same? Last night the baby was asleep, you said your breasts were engorged, so I……

I'm definitely not an old sixth who fights his son for milk!