1950s: After transmigrating into a capitalist, I relied on military industry to achieve a comeback.

For the next two days, the Lin family remained outwardly calm. The accountant went out to collect accounts as usual, and Wu Ma continued to buy groceries and cook, as if nothing had happened.

In reality, undercurrents are surging.

Occasionally, the footsteps of patrol teams could be heard outside the mansion gate, and people would shout slogans such as "Clear out hidden wealth and support the front line." The voices were not loud, but they struck people's hearts like whips.

On the morning of the third day, Zhuoyuan was violently awakened by an overpowering aroma of meat.

To celebrate the return of the eldest daughter of the Lin family to her rightful place, Lin Hongsheng put on the same lavish wedding feast he had when he got married, a three-day continuous banquet! Chef Wang, a famous chef from Suzhou, personally presided over the event, and Boss Lin even declared: whoever passes by the entrance of Zhuoyuan Garden can come in and ask for a bowl of meat.

In the summer of 1950, this was no less than dropping a depth charge on a calm lake.

Early in the morning, a long queue had formed at the entrance of Zhuoyuan Garden. There were neighbors in coarse cloth jackets, women carrying baskets, and even a beggar leaning on a cane. Someone, biting into a piece of juicy braised pork, couldn't help but mutter, "Is the Lin family really not afraid of squandering their money? They're actually willing to give us such good meat!"

Lin Jiaoyue stood under the corridor, looking at the dozen or so large pots of oil sizzling in the courtyard. The aroma of meat and noodles filled her nostrils, and her mental sorting system had already started automatically.

"Nannan, why are you up so early?" Su Wanqing walked over, holding a dark blue cotton cheongsam in her hand. Her brows were slightly furrowed, and her voice was very low. "It's very chaotic outside. All sorts of people are out there. I'm afraid someone might use the banquet as an excuse to smuggle something out of the place."

"Mom, let me see how the dishes are going." Lin Jiaoyue took her mother's hand and glanced at the mountain of ingredients in the kitchen.

Half-pigs, baskets of still-jumping fresh fish, and stacks of white flour and rice like city walls. At this critical juncture when prices fluctuate three times a day, these things are more coveted than gold.

"Where's Dad?"

"He's putting on an act with some 'old friends' in the flower hall." Su Wanqing lowered her voice, her tone tinged with helplessness and amusement. "According to you, he's playing the victim, saying that he's emptied his pockets to pay for your medical treatment, and this meal is the Lin family's last bit of dignity."

Lin Jiaoyue secretly gave him a thumbs up. Her father's acting skills were so good that he would definitely be an Oscar-winning actor in modern times.

"Let's go to the kitchen." Lin Jiaoyue pulled Su Wanqing along, her steps light as the wind.

At this moment, the kitchen was a high-load production line. Chef Wang of Deyuelou swung his ladle, leaving afterimages as a pot of braised pork was just taken out of the pot, its color a bright red, glistening with oil, and its aroma wafting straight to the top of one's head.

"Mrs. Lin, Miss!" Chef Wang wiped away his sweat, grinning憨厚ly. "This meat today is absolutely amazing! Three layers of fat and lean meat, rich but not greasy at all. Even the gods would jump over the wall if they smelled it!"

"Thank you for your hard work, Master Wang." Lin Jiaoyue maintained her refined smile, but her eyes were fixed on the twenty-odd huge food baskets that had already been filled. "Is this batch for the front of the restaurant?"

"Yes, the first group of guests have already taken their seats."

Lin Jiaoyue gave Su Wanqing a look.

Su Wanqing understood immediately. She took a deep breath and instantly adopted the demeanor of a mistress, speaking in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for everyone in the kitchen to hear: "Master Wang, Nannan and I have prepared insulated containers in the separate room. Every time a load of food is cooked, we set aside a portion for it. That's for the orphans at the Chengxi Welfare Home, to accumulate good fortune for Nannan."

"Alright, Mrs. Lin, you're so kind!" Master Wang didn't dare ask any more questions; these days, wealthy families had many rules and regulations.

Steaming hot dishes of braised pork, lion's head meatballs, and squirrel-shaped mandarin fish were quickly carried into the back kitchen.

Ah Xiang stood guard at the door, as nervous as a sentry. Seeing Lin Jiaoyue enter, she quickly nodded, "Miss, the buckets are all ready!"

Lin Jiaoyue slipped inside and locked the door behind her.

Inside the cubicle, dozens of specially made large barrels were neatly stacked—these were "strategic materials" that Lin Hongsheng had transferred from his own shop overnight.

Lin Jiaoyue walked to the bucket, her fingertips touching the scalding hot wall. Her mind raced: she would collect braised pork with a good balance of lean and fat, steamed buns that were freshly cooked, and raw rice that hadn't been damp—the shelving needed to be clearly categorized, otherwise it would be a hassle to find things later.

A thought arose.

Swish!

Ten whole buckets of braised pork, buckets and broth, vanished into thin air in an instant.

My brain slumped slightly, but it was still within a manageable range.

Lin Jiaoyue continued moving, turning to face the steamer on the other side.

Those were freshly baked white steamed buns, each one plump and fluffy, emitting an irresistible aroma of carbohydrates.

"receive."

"receive."

"receive."

As she moved, the previously empty area on the first shelf of the space warehouse was instantly filled, and the neat and tidy appearance cured her obsessive-compulsive disorder.

At this juncture when we are about to enter the era of ration coupons, these hot and cooked foods at least allow family members to avoid having to eat cold and hard cornbread on their way to Northeast China.

"Nannan, is that enough?" Su Wanqing pushed open the door, her face pale and her palms sweaty. The thrill of "stealing" right under her own nose made her heart race.

"Mother, this is nothing." Lin Jiaoyue's eyes were calm as she pointed towards the kitchen. "The grain that Father got from selling off fictitious assets hasn't even been stored yet. During this three-day feast, we need to harvest not only the ripe grains but also all the unripe ones. I don't plan to leave any of the flowers, birds, fish, or insects in this garden for anyone else to plant."

After saying that, she turned and went into the cellar behind the garden.

There are several thousand kilograms of rice, flour, cooking oil, and hundreds of jars of aged Shaoxing wine stored there.

Just as Lin Jiaoyue was frantically "harvesting" the rows of grain bins in the cellar, a black jeep screeched to a halt in front of the stone steps at the main gate of Zhuoyuan Garden.

The car door opened, and a middle-aged man in a dark blue long gown stepped out. Half of the red armband of the Military Control Commission was visible on his sleeve. He was twirling two shiny walnuts in his hand, and his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, revealing a shrewd and ruthless edge.

He glanced at the noisy banquet at the entrance, then looked up at the golden signboard of "Lin Mansion," and sneered, his voice sinister: "That old fox Lin Hongsheng, throwing such a big banquet at this time, is he trying to show off to us, or to prove that his family is so wealthy he can't afford to lose anything?"

A burly man with fierce eyes, who was standing next to him, leaned forward and whispered, "Director Zhang, shall we go in now? I heard the Lin family is having a three-day banquet; are they trying to take this opportunity to move things?"

"I heard that the Lin family's daughter, who was mentally challenged for ten years, has suddenly recovered?" The middle-aged man, referred to as Director Zhang, paused in his walnut-twirling hand, a hint of inquiry flashing in his eyes. "This is interesting. Let's go in and offer our congratulations to Boss Lin."

At that moment, Lin Jiaoyue, who was collecting the last jar of Shaoxing rice wine in the cellar, suddenly felt her heart skip a beat.

She quickly left the space and whispered to Ah Xiang, who had followed her in to help move the jars, "Ah Xiang, go quickly and keep an eye on things in the flower hall! Remember, don't give anything away!"

Ah Xiang's face turned pale, she nodded vigorously, and ran away as fast as she could.

Lin Jiaoyue leaned against the wall, panting heavily.

Having collected so many things in a row, my mental energy was severely depleted. My brain felt like it was being pricked by needles, and even my vision started to blur.

Her hands trembled slightly as she pulled a small porcelain bottle from her bosom—it contained the well water she had stored up the previous night.

The cork was pulled out, and a refreshing aroma wafted out.

Lin Jiaoyue tilted her head back and drank it all in one gulp.

A cool sensation slid down his throat. There was no explosive energy, but the severe headache caused by overuse of space miraculously subsided slowly. His limbs, which had felt heavy, instantly felt lighter, and even his mental energy recovered by 30%.

"Although it can't relieve fatigue, this water can 'recharge' my brain, and that's enough." Lin Jiaoyue gripped the empty porcelain bottle tightly, a ruthless glint flashing in her eyes.

Just then, a piercing commotion erupted from the front hall, accompanied by the clatter of shattering porcelain, and someone yelled, "Search! Search thoroughly! I refuse to believe the Lin family has truly fallen!"

The sound was like a sledgehammer, shattering the tranquility of the Humble Garden.