Chapter 909

March 2024, West Mountain of Jingcheng.

The Lin family's old residence sits halfway up the mountain, with gray walls and blue tiles, hidden among ancient locust trees. The house is over seventy years old, its walls mottled, but the old master cannot bear to leave it.

"Moving what? I buried the ashes of my three comrades here!"

Back then, the old master issued an angry order, and no one dared to think of moving it anymore. The old master lives wherever he wishes, and the whole family follows him.

Today is the old master's 107th birthday.

This is the nominal age he claims publicly; born in 1918, the old master's actual age is 106.

According to the old master's own wishes, everything is kept simple: no gifts, no guests, just a few younger family members coming back to gather.

They said it would be simple.

But from morning on, the old residence has been bustling nonstop.

In the kitchen, several aunts are busy to the point of not having their feet touch the ground.

Aunt Xie Yuxin stood nearby supervising, occasionally giving pointers, allowing no slip. Uncle Lin Zhenhua was abroad on a visit and couldn't return for the reunion; he sent a birthday greeting video in the morning.

"Simmer the soup a bit longer; the old master likes it thick and soft."

Xie Yuxin personally oversaw every detail of the meals. The kitchen aunts nodded repeatedly and worked with great focus; if anything happened to the old master from eating, no one could bear that responsibility.

In the living room.

The old master sat in his wheelchair, eyes fixed on the doorway.

He wore a washed‑white Zhongshan suit, with the buttons on his chest fastened neatly.

Although he is 107 years old, his hair is all white, his face lined like knife cuts, but his eyes remain bright, carrying a hint of the killing aura from the battlefield.

Beside him sat his eldest daughter, Lin Yuzhi, who is over seventy but still does not look old.

Mainly because she takes good care of herself.

Moreover, before retirement she was an officer, inheriting the old master's mettle, and all her life she has opposed her father! She has always lived like a young person, full of spirit.

"Dad, stop staring at the door; they'll come in when they arrive." Lin Yuzhi peeled an orange without looking up.

The old master glared at her: "You dare to boss me around?!"

"Who's bossing you?" Lin Yuzhi shoved an orange segment into her mouth, retorting while she ate: "Do I even have the right to? I'm just advising you not to rush; those who are meant to come will come eventually."

Liang Jingzhong sat to the side, smiling narrowly as he watched the father and daughter.

Retired Old Liang also has white hair, his spirit cannot compare to the vigorous Lin Yuzhi. But his partiality toward Lin Yuzhi has never changed, and his respect for the old master has only grown.

"Yuzhi, Dad longs for a great‑grandson; that's only natural. Don't keep opposing the old man." Liang Jingzhong advised softly.

Lin Yuzhi smiled, ate her orange without arguing, which was giving Liang a face.

Soon after.

The sound of a car engine came from the courtyard.

Immediately followed by children's laughter: "Great‑grandfather! Great‑grandfather…" Lin Zhao Xia rushed in first, trailed by the ever more handsome Lin Fuxing.

The two children stepped to the old master's left and right, bowed and wished him longevity: "May you have blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea and longevity as lofty as the Southern Mountain."

The two siblings spoke in unison.

The old master laughed so hard he couldn't close his mouth: "You've learned something new; this year you didn't wish me a hundred years of life."

"Great‑grandfather, you always bring up the sore spot—any red envelopes?" Fourteen‑year‑old Lin Fuxing, who has always been the old master's favorite, asked.

The old master then produced a red envelope: "Nobody's red envelope is complete without yours; take it." His favoritism was undisguised, which constantly made Lin Weishang, who had been waiting on him for years, feel disappointed. Lin Weishang was raised by Aunt Lin Yuzhi; his mother Yin Qiuhong had fled overseas, and he knew he was not the Lin family's legitimate heir.

Even more conspicuous than Lin Weishang is the son of Sun Zhiqing—Sun Mumlin.

The old master's grand birthday.

Sun Zhiqing and her son didn't even receive an invitation; it wasn't that the old master didn't want to see his great‑grandson Mumlin, but mainly out of consideration for Chu Lingxi's feelings.

Just as the old master was handing out red envelopes to the children, Chu Lingxi entered, leaning on Lin Dongfan's arm.

Chu Lingxi approached with a beaming smile and congratulated: "Grandfather, after not seeing you for a few months you look even more spirited! Lingxi wishes you year after year have today, age after age have this morning."

"Haha, look at that—still my grandson's wife knows how to speak."

As he spoke, the old master glanced, intentionally or not, at Lin Yuzhi who was eating an orange, then suddenly shifted tone: "Unlike some people, who just know how to eat with the mouth they were born with."

"Today you're the birthday elder; I won't quarrel with you. As long as you're happy, you can retort however you like." Lin Yuzhi remained calm as ever.

But her calmness came quickly and left just as fast.

In the very next second.

Lin Dongfan presented with both hands Along, slender, exquisite gift box: "Grandfather, this is a birthday gift entrusted to me by Lingxi's parents, specially made for you."

"What is this? It looks high‑end; open it so I can see." The old master was eager.

Lin Dongfan opened the gift box on the spot: "It's a horsewhip."

In an instant, Lin Yuzhi was as if shocked; her gaze swept over like a flash, her eyes widening: "Lin Dongfan! Are you deliberately looking for trouble?!"

"I'm just a delivery person; what does it have to do with me." Lin Dongfan put on an innocent look.

Lin Yuzhi then glared at Chu Lingxi: "Lingxi, you speak! Who came up with this bad idea? Look me in the eyes and say it!"

"Ah…… this……"

Chu Lingxi was asked and looked completely bewildered, as if she still hadn't figured out what had happened.

The old master laughed: "Looks like some people are itching for a whipping. Go a day without a lash and they forget their place in this family. Dongfan, bring the whip over."

"Sure thing."

Lin Dongfan hurriedly handed the whip to the old master.

As soon as the old master gripped the whip, his spirits sprang up instantly.

He braced himself on the wheelchair and rose to a stand.

He raised the whip and lashed at Lin Yuzhi: "You ill‑mannered wretch, all you know is to bully honest folk… Don't run! Watch me today not whip you to death, health‑promoting digestive liquid…"

"Pa!!"

One lash of the whip knocked over the fruit plate on the tea table.

Though Lin Yuzhi is over seventy, her dodging is truly nimble, not at all inferior to a youngster's; if her dodge is even half a second slow, she'll surely be whipped into miserable screams.

She dodged two zhang away.

He angrily snapped at Lin Dongfan: "You heartless traitor, after all I've done for you, you scheme against me every time you come home—don't ever come back again…"

"Still going on about manners!"

"Grandpa, be careful!"

The old man swung the whip again, intending to strike, but his footing gave way and he nearly fell; luckily Lin Dongfan steadied him just in time, so he came away unscathed.

It was clear the old man was willing but unable; he wanted to whip but couldn't.

Lin Yuzhi laughed smugly: "You'd better give up; whipping me from now on will be unlikely, unless you can turn back the clock…"

"Weishang, come here!"

The old man shouted an angry order.

Lin Weishang, standing aside, hurried forward and replied: "Great-grandfather, what's the matter?"

The old man shoved the whip into Lin Weishang's hands: "Carry out the family law for me—give her a beating! I just don't believe that, before I die, this family will let her act so arrogantly here."

"……!!!"

Lin Weishang looked at the heavy whip in his hand, then at the aunt who had raised him, Lin Yuzhi, and he was so worried his head felt like it would split.

Just as Lin Weishang was torn.

Chu Lingxi stepped forward and took the whip, then coaxed the old man with a smile: "Grandpa, what's this for? Today is your 107th birthday—don't let anger harm your health. Come on, I'll help you out to catch some sun."

"Lingxi, I'm not saying this to criticize you—you're good in every way, just a bit absent‑minded." The old man's words were harsh, but his heart was already blooming with joy as he walked down the steps: "All right, I'll listen to you; Grandpa won't stoop to the level of someone lacking manners. Let's go out and bask in the sun…"