Returning wealthy individuals develop their hometowns and become rich in the 1980s

Lin Qingsheng was warmly pulled into the main room by Huang Lanzhi. He was a handsome man who had been traveling around for many years, so he had a calm and composed demeanor that came with having seen the world, and he did not seem awkward at all.

He took the souvenirs he had brought out of his suitcase one by one and placed them on the coffee table in front of him. Ronghui, of course, recognized Lin Qingsheng and immediately ran over to him, asking, "Uncle Sheng, what gifts did you bring me?"

"Jimmy, Uncle Sheng brought you your favorite toy," Lin Qingsheng said, taking a whole set of Lego toys out of his suitcase. Ronghui exclaimed and hugged the toy box, jumping up and down with joy.

When Rong Guo saw that his older brother had received a toy, he wasn't going to be left behind, and he shouted loudly, "Uncle Sheng, what about me? What about me?!"

"You have one too, just like your brother Jimmy," Lin Qingsheng said, pulling out another set. Rong Guo grinned and looked at his brother Rong Hui, "Brother, I have one too, look!"

"Little brother, come quick! Let's build a tower together!"

Kids are so easily satisfied. Once they got a toy, they happily ran off to play, which also attracted Xiao Huiyi, who cried out for her two older brothers to play with her.

"Uncle, these are two boxes of Guba cigars for you. My father knew I was coming to visit, so he specially asked someone to bring them from Guba," Lin Qingsheng first pushed the two beautifully packaged boxes of cigars in front of Chen Xiangui, and then took out a rectangular brocade box. "Mother, this is Korean ginseng for you. You can slice it and hold it in your mouth or stew it in soup. It's very good for replenishing qi and blood."

Huang Lanzhi smiled so much that the wrinkles around her eyes smoothed out. She said, "It's too much trouble," but she had already taken the gifts. Then she distributed the foreign snacks and several sets of school supplies to the children one by one. She didn't even leave out the elders, including Chen Xianfu, Chen Xianhai, and her aunt Chen Qiuxiu. The main room was as lively as during the New Year.

Chen Xiangui's deliberately serious expression was somewhat overshadowed by the festive atmosphere in the room. He coughed and raised his chin. "Alright, that's kind of you. Put the things away for now and sit down for some tea. Lianxiang, go to the kitchen and see if your fourth sister-in-law has finished making the sweet soup. Bring a bowl over to Qingsheng."

"Auntie, you sit and chat with Qingsheng for a while, I'll go," Wu Fangru said with a smile, pressing Chen Lianxiang down before heading to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Ma Jiao was stirring the sweet soup in the clay pot with a ladle to prevent it from sticking to the bottom. Seeing Wu Fangru come in, she asked, "How is it?"

"He looks quite decent, and he's quite generous. He's a good match for my aunt," Wu Fangru said, taking out a bowl and spoon from the cupboard to serve soup.

"That's good. If it works out, it will fulfill my mother-in-law's wish. A woman without a husband's family is ultimately not a good thing," Ma Jiao said.

Wu Fangru casually replied, "Who says otherwise!"

In the main room, Chen Zaiguang placed the tea that his father had brewed in front of Lin Qingsheng. Lin Qingsheng politely got up and took the teacup with both hands, saying, "Brother, you don't need to be so polite. I can carry it myself."

"Qingsheng, judging from your accent, are your parents also from Chaozhou and Tuozhou?" Chen Xiangui began to inquire about Lin Qingsheng's family background. "Is your whole family in America?"

"Yes, Uncle. My great-grandfather was sold as a pig to San Francisco and later settled down there. We always communicated in Teochew. But after I started working, I only spoke Teochew when I called my parents and grandparents. Since I speak it less often, my accent has become a bit off. Please forgive me, Uncle."

Chen Xiangui nodded, but Lin Ruiqing asked from the side, "So what kind of business does your family run?"

"Grandpa ran a restaurant in his early years, and now my parents have taken over," Lin Qingsheng replied. Upon hearing this, Lin Ruiqing assumed that the restaurant Lin Qingsheng was referring to was just one place, and probably not a very big business, otherwise why would Lin Qingsheng still have to work at Chen Dong's Huadongsheng?

Chen Xiangui didn't think much of it. Whether a family was extremely wealthy, powerful, or comfortably well-off, he only cared about family traditions and character. He offered Lin Qingsheng a cigarette, which Lin respectfully accepted with both hands. Lin didn't light it but tucked it behind his ear. Seeing this, Chen Xiangui asked, "You don't smoke?"

Lin Qingsheng smiled and nodded, "I don't smoke much."

"Where's the wine?"

"I drink, but very rarely."

Chen Xiangui lit a cigarette, took a puff, and then asked, "Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

"I'm the eldest in my family. I have a younger brother and a younger sister," Lin Qingsheng answered calmly. "My brother is married and has a son who is six years old this year. My sister works in Europe and only comes back once a year."

"Have you ever been married?"

Lin Qingsheng did not hide anything and answered directly, "Yes, my wife died of postpartum hemorrhage during the birth of my daughter."

"Never remarried?"

"No," Lin Qingsheng shook his head with a smile. Chen Xiangui then asked, "How old is your daughter?"

"She's eight years old this year. Ah Xiang and my daughter have met before. My daughter is very attached to Ah Xiang," Lin Qingsheng said, looking at Chen Lianxiang sitting next to him. Chen Lianxiang said to her father, "Dad, Zhenzhen is a very lovable little girl. I've always wanted to have another daughter."

Chen Xiangui glared at Chen Lianxiang after hearing this, then asked Lin Qingsheng, "What do your parents think of Lianxiang? She's divorced and has three children, did you know that?"

"I know that. My grandfather and my parents both know. My grandfather said that Lianxiang is a woman who can manage a household. He supports the two of us forming a new family. My parents also have no objections," Lin Qingsheng said earnestly throughout, without the slightest hint of evasion.

In the main room, Chen Xiangui asked a question, and Lin Qingsheng answered. Everyone had a general understanding of Lin Qingsheng's family situation. Seeing that his uncle Chen Xiangui was no longer asking questions, Chen Dong asked Lin Qingsheng to avoid an awkward silence, "Qingsheng, how are your uncle and aunt doing? I've been in China for many years and haven't had much time to visit your three elders."

"Everything's fine. You know my grandpa, he can't sit still. He goes to the main hall every day to drink tea, chat, and play cards with his old friends," Lin Qingsheng replied. "My dad's blood pressure has been a bit high these past few years, and Grandpa said he should just let him retire and let my brother Qingrui take care of the company's affairs."

"But he's also someone who can't sit still. My brother doesn't like working in the catering industry at all and always says he wants to start his own business," Lin Qingsheng said with a wry smile and a shake of his head. "As for my mother, she had a minor surgery two years ago and is recovering well now."

"Auntie had surgery, why didn't you tell me?" Chen Lianxiang asked Lin Qingsheng anxiously about his current situation after hearing him say that.

"It's nothing, just a minor surgery. It was done at Shengji Hospital. My mom didn't want me to tell you, because she was afraid you'd worry."