Chapter 438: You Are from the Lin Family

As the two spoke, Lin Zhao opened a chest and nearly blinded herself by the glare of gold.

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Can you imagine? A chest full of valuables—with gold bars below and pearls and jade above; take any single item out and you’d never worry about food or drink again.

“So rich,” Lin Zhao squeezed her cheeks with both hands, utterly enchanted.

Song Xi also paused, pulling her gaze away. “Little greedy thing. You’re not short on money—why act like you’ve never seen the world before?”

Lin Zhao shut the chest, pouting. “Who ever complains about having too much money?”

Lin Yu smiled. “Loving wealth isn’t wrong—I love it too. Money makes life easier, gives you courage, doesn’t it, Zhaozhao?”

“Yes,” Lin Zhao replied.

Lin Yu pinched her cheek, her radiant face, untouched by time, softening with affection. “You’re your grandfather’s only granddaughter. Everything in here belongs to you.”

“Then I’m thrilled,” Lin Zhao said openly, eagerly anticipating.

Lin Yu blinked, then burst into laughter.

She truly loved Zhaozhao’s personality.

Direct. Pure. Easy to understand.

“The air in here is stale. Let’s go out.”

Lin Yu led the way; Lin Zhao and the others followed behind.

The stone door closed. As they left, the underground tomb plunged into darkness.

Lin De heard footsteps and turned around. He said nothing, only gazed at Lin Heling.

Lin Heling had lived with him for so many years—she still understood De Shu well. One look at his eyes told her exactly what he meant.

“Everything’s here.”

The deep creases on Lin De’s brow relaxed; his aged face lit up with relief.

Those who schemed against the old master had ended up with nothing.

“Good.”

With everything settled, he would return to the graveyard.

Lin Yu objected. “De Ge, the graveyard is cold and lonely. I can’t bear to let you live there. Why not move in with me? We’ll move back here once the ancestral home is repaired.”

“No,” Lin De refused. “The graveyard is fine.”

He had failed to protect Old Master Lin. Guilt weighed on him. Even knowing his enemy was imprisoned had only shifted the mountain of self-reproach slightly—he could finally breathe, but still felt he had no right to stay.

“What’s good about the graveyard? Few people there, cold and desolate. Leaving you alone there—I’m afraid even Father will come to me in dreams to complain!”

Lin Yu declared firmly: “When the ancestral home is repaired, you move back!”

Lin De had never dared argue with the young lady as a child—and even now, as an old man, he still dared not. He looked at her helplessly.

“What would I even come back for? I’m just a burden...”

“Who says you’re a burden!” Lin Yu’s brow furrowed so tightly she could trap flies. “To us, you’re the most important family member!”

“Father thinks so. Your brother and sister-in-law think so. I think so too.”

Lin Heling nodded beside her.

Lin Zhao mirrored her father’s expression exactly. “An elder in the house is a treasure. With De Ye here, I feel incredibly safe. Whenever I have a problem, I always want to ask you.”

De Ye knew so much. No matter what she asked, he could always give a clear answer—more than that, he’d even provide solutions.

For example, when she wanted to repair the Sihe Academy, she didn’t know where to find workers. She called her father, who immediately handed the phone to De Ye. He instantly told her exactly where to go, who the master craftsmen were, how skilled and honest they were, and how they wouldn’t cheat outsiders. Afraid she couldn’t handle it himself, he ended up promising to find the people for her...

The final result? Lin Zhao was one hundred percent satisfied.

This was just one small example.

To Lin Zhao, anything she asked De Ye about always got solved. She loved this broad-minded, gentle old man.

Lin De looked at Lin Zhao and smiled. “To be called ‘Little Miss’ by you is the greatest praise I could ever receive.”

“Then please stay in the ancestral home,” Lin Zhao said softly, her tone pleading. “We all want you to stay.”

Lin Yu spoke up: “If Zhaozhao’s words don’t work, I’ll send your brother to find you. If your brother fails, I’ll make Yaobao pester you!”

She knew well—De Ge couldn’t resist Yaobao’s coaxing.

Lin De sighed.

Lin Yu raised her right hand, palm facing Lin Zhao. Lin Zhao slapped her palm.

Success!

Two months passed.

Lin Fu’s cruise ship docked. Lin Yu’s people waited at the port.

Several cars lined up neatly by the roadside—in an era where average wages barely reached a hundred, it was impressive.

In black suits, burly bodyguards bowed slightly and opened the doors. Lin Fu and his wife stepped in first.

The line of expensive sedans started up. Only then did onlookers begin whispering.

“Why so many cars all of a sudden? I’ve seen more cars in my life than this!”

“I heard they’re rich folks from Hong Kong—here to invest. Hong Kong people are all rich. Even a little they let slip through their fingers is enough for us to live on. I hope they build lots of factories and create more jobs!”

“Dream on. Their money doesn’t blow in from the wind. If there’s no profit, why would they invest?”

“Shut up. Get back to work. Why care so much? One less sack carried means one less wage.”

Hearing this, everyone snapped back to reality and hurried to work.

Even if you carried ten extra sacks a day for ten years, you still couldn’t afford the cars those Hong Kong bosses rode in.

Life...

The people in the cars didn’t know the dockworkers’ private thoughts.

Lin Fu rolled down his window, gazing outside. “I can’t find a single place that matches my memories. So much has changed.”

Zhang Yun also looked out the window, noticing how different the mainland was from Hong Kong. “Changes are huge—no surprise. It’s been over ten years!”

Lin Fu turned his gaze to his wife. “Are you comfortable?”

Zhang Yun sighed. “What’s there not to be comfortable with? We lived here longer than in Hong Kong. Nothing feels unfamiliar—it feels like home, solid and warm.”

Lin Fu smiled, saying nothing more.

Slowly, he lifted his wrist and checked the time.

The show’s about to begin.

A certain prison.

The cell, once occupied by one man, was opened.

“In.”

At those words, a burly man was shoved inside.

“Behave!”

Click. The lock snapped shut.

Footsteps approached, then faded into distance until silence.

After his arrest, Du Sheng had expected this day. He remained calm, ate well, slept well.

As he slept, the cell door opened—not during labor hours or mealtime. He sat up, staring at the entrance.

Seeing someone enter, his mood darkened; his eyes grew heavy and shadowed.

Seeing the newcomer’s muscular build, Du Sheng said nothing harsh.

He merely glanced once, lay back down, turned over, and closed his eyes to the wall.

This life was unbearable. When would he ever get out?

Thinking of the freedom outside, a flicker of light sparked in his calm, gloomy eyes.

He’d paid off the right people—he wouldn’t suffer here. He only needed to wait a few years, then be released.

All these years, he hadn’t worked for nothing. He’d saved enough wealth to live comfortably for life. Once free, he’d live in luxury again.

Not being able to enter politics? To Du Sheng, politics wasn’t the goal—money was.

As for the Lin family who ruined him, Du Sheng clenched his teeth, plotting when he’d get his revenge.

Revenge?

That Lin bastard deserved it. If he hadn’t been so stubborn, hadn’t refused to tell him where the Lin family’s remaining treasure was hidden, would he have suffered so much?

Blame the Lin family for being too rich, too conspicuous. Blame the old man for being greedy, not knowing how to spend money to avoid disaster...

Du Sheng felt no regret—only regret that he hadn’t risen high enough to kill every single Lin.

As he drifted in these thoughts, a brutal kick landed on his back.

“This bed’s mine. Move.” The new inmate’s voice was domineering.

The kick nearly shattered Du Sheng’s spine.

He struggled to rise. “There’s another bed over there. This one’s mine.”

The instant he spoke, the big man seized Du Sheng’s throat, lifted him, and slammed him against the wall.

His eyes were vicious.

“When I speak, do you have the right to talk back?”

As the words ended, he slammed Du Sheng’s head into the wall with full force.

“Thud! Thud!! Thud!!!”

Several thuds rang out.

Bright red blood trickled down the rough wall.

Du Sheng’s head buzzed, and before he could react, he fainted.

When he woke again, the dinner bell echoed down the corridor.

Consciousness returned; Du Sheng’s gaze toward the giant was now filled with terror. He stepped back several paces, only feeling a sliver of safety when his back hit the wall.

“Are you sent by the Lin family?” No politician was a fool.

Du Sheng rose to power by crushing countless families. He was deceitful, cruel—and clever enough to survive.

He could feel something was wrong.

This man… was here for him.

The giant smiled at Du Sheng, revealing white teeth—like a predator baring its fangs at prey, sending shivers down the spine.

“How much did the Lins pay you? I’ll give you more. Let me go.” Du Sheng knew this man had countless ways to make him suffer without recourse. He begged, playing the wise man.

The giant sneered. “Money? I’ve got more than I know what to do with. But there’s one thing I lack—and you have it.”

Du Sheng’s heart leapt. “What is it? Whatever it is, I’ll give it to you, Master. Just spare my life.”

He kept many men on retainer to handle his dirty work—gangsters all—but none were as dangerous as this man.

Just getting near him made one feel the aura of murderous malice.

This man was dangerous.

And—

His hands were soaked in blood.

“Bad luck. I want your life.”

Before the word “life” was fully spoken, the giant swallowed his last bite, crushed the bowl, seized Du Sheng’s hand, and slashed the sharp shards across three of his fingers.

“Ahh…”

Du Sheng screamed in agony, staring at his severed fingers, dizzy and nauseated.

Pain exploded through him. Cold sweat poured down his body. He collapsed like a pile of rotting mud, filthy and broken.

In his daze, Du Sheng saw the memory of his own men severing the fingers of the Lin family’s loyal servant.

The Lins.

The Lins had come for revenge.

My hands… my fingers…

The giant stood, stepping closer, casting Du Sheng in shadow.

His voice was flat, cold as ice.

“Debts must be paid. This is only the beginning. Don’t die too soon.”

The wails drew the guards. They rushed in with batons.

Seeing Du Sheng’s state, they raised their batons without hesitation.

“Hands above your head. Squat down.”

The giant stared back calmly, his eyes colder than ice.

Then another man arrived.

A deep scar marred his cheek; his expression was ruthless.

He cleared his throat, voice hoarse. “Enough. Take the prisoner to treat his wounds. Don’t let him die.”

The guards understood. They lowered their batons and dragged Du Sheng away.

The room was left with only two men.

The scarred man stared at the giant who had maimed Du Sheng.

“You’re too careless. It makes things hard for me.”

The giant glanced at him. “Don’t tell me you didn’t want to see that bastard weep. Your wife…”

“Shut up!” The man’s face darkened. His black eyes turned heavy with gloom.

Yes, Du Sheng was his enemy too. His wife, beautiful, had been targeted by Du the Dog, raped, then left a suicide note before slashing her wrists.

For years, he had lived only on hatred.

When he heard that Du, the bastard, had been imprisoned, he arranged for a transfer here—to slowly break him.

Since his beloved died, his only reason to live was revenge.

A month ago, someone contacted him, offering an alliance. He accepted gladly.

He hadn’t known who it was—until he saw Du Sheng’s suffering. The answer was clear.

A warden who hated Du Sheng with every fiber of his being. A ruthless man bought by the Lins. One could only imagine how “entertaining” Du Sheng’s imprisonment would be.

Lin Fu didn’t want him dead—he wanted him to suffer, to live forever in torment, never getting what he craved!

Lin Fu and his wife returned to the old family home, now restored to match their memories perfectly.

“We’re home.” The Lin patriarch stood before the ancestral gate, his face distant, lost in thought.

Memories flooded his mind, making him realize—they had truly been gone for sixteen years.

“Master!” Lin De cried out, voice trembling with emotion.

“I’m sorry. I failed to protect Grandpa.” At the mention of Grandpa Lin, his face twisted with pain. He couldn’t meet Lin Fu’s eyes.

Lin Fu stepped forward, grasping his old brother’s hand. He instantly felt the missing fingers. His chest tightened.

“Not your fault. Don’t blame yourself. When the enemy strikes from the shadows, who can predict it? De, you’ve suffered enough.”

He knew his brother had likely lived in guilt all these years.

Lin Fu changed the subject. “I heard you’ve been looking after Xiao Jiu—and my grandsons. You’ve worked hard.”

As he spoke, he saw several figures approaching ahead.

Zhang Yun’s eyes locked onto one of them. Her once-clear gaze filled with tears. Her voice trembled. “Xiao Jiu?”

“It’s Xiao Jiu.”

“My Xiao Jiu.”

She rushed forward and embraced Lin Heling tightly.

“I knew my Xiao Jiu was destined to survive. Heaven favored me—I get to see my Xiao Jiu again.”

Lin Heling hugged his mother. Decades had passed. His parents were old now, their hair white.

“Mom.”

Hearing that word, Zhang Yun wept and laughed—no longer the composed matriarch.

Lin Fu patted his youngest son’s shoulder. “Xiao Jiu’s grown old too.”

So much time lost. Fate was cruel.

Zhang Yun pushed her husband’s arm. “You’re the one who’s old. Our Xiao Jiu is still young! My son’s handsome—where’s he old?”

A mother defending her child was always unreasonable.

Lin Fu: ‘…’