Chapter 749: First Family Meeting

To force Lin Dongfan back onto the "right track," the old master went to great lengths, making a single phone call that summoned every old and young member of the Lin family.

At six in the evening, the old residence on West Mountain was brightly lit.

Twelve dishes were set on the eight‑immortal table, all home‑style cooking but prepared exquisitely. Four generations of the Lin family gathered together, though the atmosphere was somewhat delicate.

The head seat was taken by the old master, Lin Muyuan.

To Lin Dongfan's left sat his uncle Lin Zhenhua, wearing a crisp administrative jacket. Next to Lin Zhenhua sat his retired aunt, Xie Yuxin.

On the right sat the paternal aunt, Lin Yuzhi, who after retirement rarely wore military uniform but still dressed herself smartly; beside her sat her husband, Liang Jingzhong.

These two are also beyond the norm.

They married without a license when young, and now, with half their bodies already buried in the loess, they have reached retirement age, yet they somehow produced a marriage certificate.

Lin Dongfan and Chu Lingxi sat at the lower seats.

The children—Lin Fuxing, Zhao Xia, and Lin Weishang (formerly Yin Weishang), who was being raised by the paternal aunt—were playing fireworks in the courtyard.

The theme of this family gathering was clear: to criticize Lin Dongfan's rebelliousness.

"Everyone is here?"

The old master glanced around at everyone present, and the atmosphere at the table instantly solidified.

Lin Zhenhua tried to smooth things over: "Dad, Lin Dongfan has been doing not bad either; the development of Zhengtong Group over the past few years is plain to see. Whether it's tax payment, employment, or technological innovation, it can be considered a model private enterprise..."

"Private enterprise?"

The old master flared up as soon as he heard those two words.

He emphasized firmly: "No matter how well a private business does, it's still just a merchant with no power in hand! Our Lin family has generations of military and government service, yet he ends up running a private enterprise—what a disgrace!"

"Dad, your words are too extreme; I don't want to hear them."

Lin Yuzhi lifted a small wine cup holding seven qian, and took a pleased sip of Maotai.

She casually remarked: "What era is this now, still talking about the scholar‑farmer‑artisan‑merchant hierarchy? Dongfan earns money by his own ability, pays taxes lawfully, drives employment—how is that disgraceful?"

The old master instantly widened his eyes: "Lin Yuzhi, what right do you have to speak? Look at yourself—you insisted on staying single back then, and now you're old and faded, yet you drag Liang Jingzhong to get a license! You've thrown the Lin family's face past the 38th parallel; what qualifications do you have to comment on affairs of state?"

"Slap!"

"What is top‑level rebelliousness? The paternal aunt is exactly that."

"At a disagreement."

She slapped her chopsticks onto the table.

She immediately fired back at the old master: "How am I old and faded? Which of your eyes sees me as old and faded?! And what do you mean by dragging Liang Jingzhong to get a license? We have one willing to marry and one willing to wed—when did I ever force him?!"

"Liang Jingzhong!!!"

The old master bellowed angrily, startling Old Liang into a shudder.

Old Liang replied tremblingly: "Dad, I'm here; you speak, I'm listening..."

"Speak! Was it that day you got the license when she clung to you shamelessly and dragged you to the civil affairs bureau? Tell the truth!" The old master stared straight at Liang Jingzhong like a judge examining him.

Liang Jingzhong only felt a chill down his spine, and dared not utter a sound.

Now not only was the old master glaring at him, but Lin Yuzhi sitting beside him also gave him a sideways glance and secretly pinched his thigh.

That action was clearly a warning to him to watch his words.

Lin Zhenhua and Xie Yuxin sitting opposite sat solemnly observing, neither interjecting nor taking a stance.

Probably only Lin Dongfan was secretly amused among everyone at the table; this was originally a meeting to criticize him, but the topic was instantly derailed.

The paternal aunt truly lives up to being a born "scapegoat body"—wherever she goes she becomes the focus of attack.

In order to let the paternal aunt completely draw the old master's fire,

Lin Dongfan promptly added fuel to the fire: "Uncle, the old master is asking you a question—don't be vague. Let's be frank; my aunt isn't the first to do something embarrassing."

All eyes in the room gathered on Liang Jingzhong.

Before Liang Jingzhong could speak,

The paternal aunt again slapped the table with a "pa" and rose to her feet, pointing at Lin Dongfan's nose and shouting: "Lin Dongfan! You heartless dog, I spoke up for you and you ruin my stage?!"

"Grandma, she called me a heartless dog." Lin Dongfan put on an innocent look.

The old master seemed too tired to scold anyone, and on the spot instructed Liang Jingzhong: "Xiao Liang, please trouble yourself to eject your family's loose‑mouthed thing."

"Old master..." Liang Jingzhong said awkwardly: "You should calm down; isn't that what you said? The family encyclopedia requires everyone to be present—no one can be missing."

"People beget people, dogs beget dogs! Calling Dongfan a heartless dog is tantamount to calling me an old dog!" The old master's eyebrows trembled with rage: "Immediately eject her!"

"I'm not going out—let whoever tries to poke me give it a shot!"

If this had happened before, faced with such a gunpowder‑filled scene, the paternal aunt would surely have patted her butt and fled—she wouldn't need anyone to chase her out; she'd run faster than a rabbit.

Now it's different.

Now the old master has no whip in hand; even if a cane were placed nearby, he lacks the strength to beat anyone.

The paternal aunt has also completely let herself go.

She smugly provoked: "If you have the ability, you personally throw me out. You have Old Liang eject me—does he have the guts?"

As soon as her words fell, everyone again turned their gazes toward Liang Jingzhong.

Liang Jingzhong embarrassedly wore a black line on his head.

He remained silent.

The old master, frustrated that his hopes were unfulfilled, sighed helplessly: "Liang Jingzhong, Liang Jingzhong, you too once held the post of a regional governor. Now you can't even rein in a woman—are you still a man?"

"!!!"

Liang Jingzhong laughed embarrassedly again, still having nothing to say.

He thought: "Your family's haughty young lady—whose bad habit did she inherit? Don't you know?"

Back on the battlefield, hundreds of thousands of enemy troops couldn't subdue you; now I, Liang Jingzhong, single‑handedly opposing, can't subdue your daughter—isn't that quite normal?

Just as everyone's atmosphere grew awkward.

Lin Zhenhua, who had been watching silently, finally spoke up: "Dad, let's discuss this calmly, don't anger yourself. It's rare for the whole family to gather; talking about important matters comes first."

Hearing that, Lin Dongfan immediately sensed something was off.

Lin Dongfan hastily rose: "You go on talking, I'll go use the restroom……"

Sit down!

The old master stared straight at Lin Dongfan, who had just risen.

He muttered curses: "Damn it! Every time we talk about important matters, you're either taking a dump or peeing—you always have the most excuses!"

"People have three urgencies; why won't you let me use the toilet?"

Lin Dongfan complained verbally but obeyed honestly, meekly returning to his seat—mainly because two guards were on duty outside; if the old master gave an order, the guards would surely step in to stop him.

Seeing Lin Dongfan frustrated and suffering a setback.

Aunt Lin Yuzhi instantly gleeful, she gloated: "Hold it in, you—this serves you right!"

"Cough cough… uh…"

Lin Dongfan straightened his posture decisively, launched into a lofty discussion to shift the focus: "On Aunt's matter, I support Aunt in principle! Life is only a few decades—why be bound by countless rules? I admire the freedom to marry if you want to marry, stay single if you want to stay single. I believe Uncle truly loves Aunt, which is why he went with her to get the certificate; there's no question of anyone forcing anyone."

"Flattering me now is too late!" Lin Yuzhi rolled her eyes, bluntly cutting him off: "The main issue to discuss is yours—stop dragging in unrelated stuff."