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

Lin Family Villa Living Room

Huang Lanzhi took out the souvenirs she brought one by one from the bag and placed them on the coffee table in the living room: two jars of local Lao Xiang Huang tea, a box of Chaozhou fermented bean curd cakes, several packets of Phoenix Dancong tea, and a jar of salted lemons that Huang Lanzhi had pickled herself. The jar contained a refreshing sour aroma as soon as the lid was opened.

Zhong Qiman leaned closer to smell the jar of salted lemons, her eyes lighting up. "Wow, this tastes exactly like the ones my mom used to pickle! Mother-in-law, did you pickle these yourself?"

"Yes, I pickled them myself," Huang Lanzhi said with a smile. "I pickle several jars every summer. I soak them in water to cool off, and they also add flavor to dishes. Qingsheng said you can't buy good salted lemons here, so I brought a jar with me."

Zhong Qiman thanked him repeatedly, carefully closed the jar, and then pulled Huang Lanzhi to sit down on the sofa. Lin Chaoyang invited Chen Xiangui to sit on the single sofa, while he sat opposite him, casually pulling out a box of cigars from under the coffee table. "Father-in-law, would you like one?"

When Chen Xiangui saw the cigar, he felt a little scared. Last time, Lin Qingsheng gave him a box, and he smoked one. He thought it would be like the cigarettes he usually smoked, but when it went into his lungs, he almost choked to death. His throat hurt for several days, and he had to go to the town pharmacy to buy some dried sea buckthorn and boil it into water to drink before he recovered. This time, he dared not smoke it again.

"I can't handle it, it's too strong. I'll stick with this instead," Chen Xiangui said, taking out a cigarette. Lin Chaoyang chuckled and didn't insist. They each lit one, and the room was immediately filled with smoke.

Lin Qingsheng brought out tea from the kitchen, poured a cup for everyone, and cut a plate of fruit and placed it on the coffee table. Chen Lianxiang sat on the sofa with Lin Aizhen. The little girl snuggled up to Chen Lianxiang, holding onto her clothes with one hand, and occasionally looked up at her with a look of affection in her eyes. Huang Lanzhi noticed this and smiled as she waved to Lin Aizhen, "Zhenzhen, come here to your mother."

Lin Aizhen glanced at Chen Lianxiang, and seeing Chen Lianxiang nod, she slid off the sofa and ran to Huang Lanzhi. Huang Lanzhi took her little hand and examined her carefully. "This child's features resemble Qingsheng's. She must be eight years old this year, right?"

"Yes, Zhenzhen is eight years old this year," Lin Chaoyang added from the side, his tone carrying a hint of melancholy. His eldest daughter-in-law had also passed away eight years ago. Seeing this, Zhong Qiman gently nudged him, and he came back to his senses, smiling at Huang Lanzhi. "Zhenzhen is a sensible child who gets along well early. She also gets along well with her Aunt Lianxiang. With Lianxiang taking care of her in the future, her grandmother and I can rest assured."

Chen Xiangui, smoking a cigarette, listened to this and nodded. "Lianxiang, I can't say anything else, but she really loves her children. She raised her three children single-handedly from childhood to adulthood. Zhenzhen will not suffer any grievances if she stays with her."

"Yes, yes, we can see that," Zhong Qiman quickly chimed in. "Qingsheng told us that Lianxiang really cares about the children. We don't have any other thoughts, we just hope that the two children can live well and that Zhenzhen can have a complete family."

Once this was discussed, neither set of parents had any other objections, and they all felt a tacit sense of reassurance. Chen Xiangui then spoke to Lin Chaoyang about the specific date of Lin Qingsheng and Chen Lianxiang's wedding, saying, "Father-in-law, what do you think about the specific arrangements for the two children's wedding? You will be Lianxiang's father-in-law from now on, so you can decide the date."

"Then I'll take the liberty of putting it on this time," Lin Chaoyang placed the cigar he was holding on the ashtray, took a piece of paper from under the coffee table, and handed it to Chen Xiangui, saying, "This is an auspicious date that I personally went to Chinatown to have Master Cai choose for me. It's set for July 26th. What do you think, father-in-law?"

Chen Xiangui pinched his fingers together, silently calculating in his mind, "July 26th is auspicious for marriage and setting up a bed. Moreover, the ruling deity is 'Azure Dragon,' and it is also aided by the auspicious deities 'Sanhe' and 'Tiandehe.' This day is the most auspicious for holding a wedding; it is an extremely lucky day. Good, this day is good!"

"It seems my father-in-law also knows how to read the sun," Lin Chaoyang asked with a smile. Chen Xiangui waved his hand, "He only knows a little bit."

"Since you, my dear father-in-law, have agreed, let's set the date for this day. We have plenty of time," Lin Chaoyang said, picking up the landline next to him and making a call. Once the call connected, he said into the phone, "Mary, the wedding is set for August 22nd. Yes, we can begin. Okay."

"Father-in-law, the wedding will be held at my own restaurant in Chinatown. It will be convenient for relatives and friends to attend." Lin Chaoyang picked up his cigar again, tapped off the ash, took two deep puffs, and the cigar, which was already half-extinguished, was relit.

"Lianxiang and Qingsheng, you two should hurry up and take your wedding photos these next few days," Zhong Qiman said with a smile. "Lianxiang, I put the wedding dress you sent last time in your room. Go get it yourself later."

Chen Lianxiang nodded. In fact, she and Lin Qingsheng had long been at the point of discussing marriage. She had even had the wedding dress ordered in advance by the Angel Company and mailed to America. Taking Lin Qingsheng home was just a formality.

Chen Xiangui and Huang Lanzhi listened to their mother-in-law Zhong Qiman's words and didn't think anything of it. Since they had already agreed, there was no need to scrutinize these small matters. As long as the two of them could live happily together after marriage, that was better than anything else.

Chen Xiangui picked up the teacup; it was a little too hot for his mouth. He took a small sip and put it back on the coffee table. Seeing this, Lin Aizhen obediently picked up a piece of apple and ran to Chen Xiangui, raising her head and saying, "Uncle, have some fruit; it's very sweet."

"Oh, good child," Chen Xiangui took the apple, patted Lin Aizhen's head, and said to Lin Chaoyang, "This child is really sensible, much more sensible than my little grandson Rongguo and those two mischievous monkeys Jimi."

Lin Qingsheng laughed from the side, "Dad, Ronghui and Rongguo are just lively. Boys are boys, it's normal for them to be a little mischievous."

Lin Chaoyang smiled and pulled his granddaughter Lin Aizhen into his arms, whispering, "How about your Aunt Lianxiang and your father give you another little brother?"

Lin Aizhen tilted her head and asked her grandfather, "Will my little brother play with me from now on?"

"Hahaha!"

"Hehehe! When your little brother grows up, he can play with you," Zhong Qiman laughed, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons. Lin Aizhen immediately ran to Chen Lianxiang, grabbed her hand, and said, "Aunt Lianxiang, you and Daddy should have a little brother to play with!"

"Hahaha!"

Lin Qingsheng chuckled and sighed as he stroked his daughter's head. "Zhenzhen, your Aunt Lianxiang isn't going to give you a little brother so soon. She'll have to carry him for ten months!"

"October," Lin Aizhen began counting on her fingers, looking incredibly cute.

Laughter filled the Lin family's living room. Around noon, Lin Qingsheng's younger brother and sister-in-law also returned home, and the family had lunch together. Zhong Qiman was a good cook, and she prepared several home-style dishes with great flavor.

After the meal, Chen Xiangui and Huang Lanzhi sat for a while longer before getting up to say goodbye.