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

The 26th day of the seventh lunar month is an auspicious day.

Huaxia Restaurant in New York's Chinatown

This restaurant is an old establishment that Lin Chaoyang has run for over twenty years. It is three stories high, with the exterior walls painted vermilion. Above the door hangs a plaque with gold lettering on a black background, bearing the three large characters "Huaxia Lou" and signed by a calligrapher who lived in the United States during a certain year of the Republic of China.

The restaurant was closed today, and a large red sign stood at the entrance that read "Lin Family Wedding Banquet, All Venue Reserved, No Guests Welcome." Two rows of flower baskets stretched from the entrance all the way to the sidewalk, forcing passersby to walk around them.

Early in the morning, American police officers from the Chinatown area arrived in police cars and blocked the road in front of the restaurant. Cars without invitations were not allowed to enter the parking lot of the Huaxia Restaurant.

Outside the restaurant, members of the Hongmen, dressed in short-sleeved white shirts and adorned with dragon and tiger tattoos, guarded the entrances and exits to prevent people from other neighborhoods or gangs from taking the opportunity to cause trouble. Although there were American police officers here to keep things under control, you could never be sure that some ruthless gang members might take advantage of the crowd and shoot you.

It's important to know that those attending this wedding banquet today are all bigwigs from the Hongmen headquarters, and even some wealthy people from the New York Chinese community. The Chen family is marrying off their daughter, and the Lin family is getting married. Both the Chen and Lin families are influential figures in the New York Chinese community, and those who need to curry favor with them will naturally come.

At the entrance on the second floor, Lin Chaoyang, along with his son Lin Qingsheng, who was wearing a big red flower, bowed to the arriving guests to express their gratitude. Some members of the Hongmen acted as ushers, leading the guests to their seats.

Surrounded by a group of people, Fang Zhenfan went upstairs with a big smile. Upon seeing Lin Chaoyang and his son, he burst into laughter, "Chaoyang, congratulations!"

"Brother Zhenfan, congratulations to you too," Lin Chaoyang politely bowed to Fang Zhenfan in thanks. "There are many people here today. If there is any inadequacy in our hospitality, please forgive us."

"Hey, it's alright, we're family," Fang Zhenfan said with a smile, waving his hand. He then turned to Lin Qingsheng and said, "Qingsheng, you'd better treat my niece Lianxiang well from now on. If I find out you're not treating her well, I'll lose my temper."

"Uncle Fang, don't worry, I'll make sure you have nowhere to vent your anger," Lin Qingsheng said, teasing Fang Zhenfan, as they were also familiar with each other.

The Hongmen accountant standing nearby smiled and handed over a pen when he saw his leader arrive. Fang Zhenfan first signed his name and then wrote down the amount of $100000 in cash as a gift.

The long string of zeros nearly made the bookkeeper's eyes blur. He had to adjust his glasses and carefully count the zeros before loudly announcing, "The Fang family's gift money is one hundred thousand US dollars!"

The accountant's shout immediately attracted the attention of the guests around and inside. When they saw that it was Fang Zhenfan, the leader of the Hongmen, they all came over to greet him and become familiar with him.

"Please come in, distinguished guest!"

Fang Zhenfan waved to everyone who greeted him. Those who came with him also wrote their names at the gift registration desk at the entrance. No one dared to give more than Fang Zhenfan. This was the way of human relationships.

Don't be fooled by the large amount of money we're receiving now; it's all money we'll have to pay back in the future. Everyone's helping out, so if you come to support us, I'll have to support you in the future.

Chen Dong was introducing his uncle's family to his aunt Chen Zirong and uncle Wei Dawei when Fang Zhenfan walked over with a smile. Seeing that Chen Zirong and Wei Dawei had also arrived, he nodded and said, "Zirong is here too. It's been so many years since I've seen you. You've lost weight, but you're still the same Chinatown beauty you always were, hahaha!"

"Brother Zhenfan, please stop teasing your sister. Sit down, sit down," Chen Zirong said with a smile to Fang Zhenfan. "I'm old and past my prime now. I dare not say the title of 'the most beautiful woman in Chinatown' anymore, lest people laugh at me."

"Hahaha!"

Everyone present was smiling. This was the first time Chen Xiangui had seen his second uncle's daughter. From her face, one could see some resemblance to his second uncle when he was young. Fang Zhenfan's statement that she was the most beautiful girl in Chinatown when she was young was not an exaggeration.

Back in the day, with her youthful looks and her father Chen Shengyu's background, Chen Zirong was considered a "rich, beautiful, and successful" woman in Chinatown and even the entire Chinese community in New York.

Back then, countless young men pursued Chen Zirong, but she ended up marrying Wei Dawei, an unknown manager, leaving many admirers heartbroken and saying that a beautiful flower had been wasted on a worthless dog.

"Brother Xiangui," Chen Zirong said with a sigh, holding Chen Xiangui's rough, large hand, "I used to always look at my father's photo, and in my memory you were that little child being held in my grandmother's arms. I never imagined that you would have aged so much since we met for the first time today!"

"Time waits for no one, sister," Chen Xiangui gently patted Chen Zirong's hand. "This is your sister-in-law, Huang Lanzhi."

"Aunt Zirong," Huang Lanzhi called out to Chen Zirong from the side. Chen Zirong responded with a "Yes!" and said, "Sister-in-law, you've all worked so hard these years."

"Forget about whether it's hard or not, life just goes on like this," Huang Lanzhi shook her head. Chen Zirong pressed on, "Is my great-grandmother Mu Yi still in good health?"

"Kangjian, if Grandma weren't so old and couldn't withstand the journey, she would have liked to come and see you too," Huang Lanzhi said. Chen Zirong quickly replied, "How could we let Grandma Grandma travel so far to see a junior like me? It should be me, the junior, who goes to visit Grandma Grandma."

"I don't have anything to do at home. When you're about to go back, have Tony transfer to San Francisco, and I'll go back to Turkmenistan with you to visit my great-grandmother Mui," Chen Zirong said, glancing at her husband Wei Dawei, who simply nodded with a smile.

Grandma Wei Shufen is already eighty-three years old. Chen Zirong knows that if she doesn't go to Tuocheng to visit her now, the chances of seeing her again will only become fewer and fewer. Time waits for no one!

"Okay, my mother will be very happy if she knows that you're going to see her. I'll have to call her in advance." Chen Xiangui was delighted to hear Chen Zirong's plan. His mother had missed her second uncle all her life. If Chen Zirong, the eldest daughter of her second uncle, went back, the old woman would be able to see her second uncle's daughter one last time, and she would have no regrets.

Chen Zirong, Chen Xiangui and his sister, along with their aunt and sister-in-law, chatted enthusiastically about their past. Chen Lianxiang, dressed up by Zhang Yi and Zeng Xia, came down from the third-floor private room to the second floor. When the guests saw the bride come out, they all applauded and cheered.

Lin Qingsheng walked over and took Chen Lianxiang's hand, laughing and scolding the people who were cheering and clapping. Chen Zirong looked at her niece Chen Lianxiang, who was wearing a wedding dress, from afar and waved to her.

As Chen Lianxiang approached, Chen Zirong took her hand and gazed at her kindly. Chen Lianxiang felt a little embarrassed by her gaze, and only after being reminded by her father, Chen Xiangui, did she call out "Aunt Zirong." Chen Zirong responded with a "Yes," adding, "Just like your aunt when I was young, you were both charming and elegant!"