The system only arrives when you're old? Then let's create a super-rich family!

In the capital, the night was as dark as ink, and the Milky Way was silent.

The sparsely lit villa area nestled against the mountains and beside the water on the outskirts of the city is a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city center.

This place is called Cloud Mist Villa, the most exclusive residence for the elite in the entire capital, bar none.

Those who can live in this mountain villa are definitely not ordinary wealthy people or scions of noble families.

This place is home to retired founding heroes, active-duty generals who hold real power in the war zones, core civil officials serving in the central government, and several veteran figures who have cultivated deep roots in politics for decades and whose influence is unfathomable.

Each household, if any one person were to step out, could stir up a storm in the area, influencing the entire business district and even the political landscape.

The security level of the entire resort is at its maximum, far exceeding that of any luxury residential area in Beijing.

The perimeter is heavily fortified with numerous sentry posts and armed guards around the clock. Drones, infrared surveillance, and covert patrol teams maintain a continuous 24-hour watch, ensuring that ordinary vehicles and luxury cars belonging to the wealthy and powerful, even those worth billions, are not allowed to approach.

At 10 p.m., a black military SUV slowly drove into the main road of the resort. The vehicle was low-key and unmarked, but it exuded a dignified aura and came to a steady stop at the most heavily guarded gate post of the resort.

Two tall, solemn, and fully armed guards immediately stepped forward to inspect the scene.

The driver's side window slowly rolled down. The night was pitch black, and the interior of the car was dimly lit, making it impossible to see faces clearly.

The guard bent down to check, his gaze sweeping across the car, and he immediately spotted a figure in the back seat.

The man, dressed in a neat military uniform, stood upright, leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed, exuding a calm and dignified aura, commanding respect without anger.

The shoulder insignia are clearly visible, with one leaf and two stars, clearly indicating the rank of lieutenant general.

It was Lin Guolong.

A single epaulette is worth more than any pass.

The two guards immediately straightened their backs, raised their hands in a standard military salute, and swiftly let them pass.

The SUV slowly started and drove into the resort.

The entire resort is laid out in a regular pattern, built against the mountain, and arranged in a staggered and orderly manner.

All of them are detached villas with courtyards, without the obstruction of tall buildings, and each villa comes with its own independent courtyard, garage and garden for relaxation.

The varying sizes of the apartments corresponded to the homeowners' qualifications, military ranks, and real power, with strict rules that were immediately apparent.

Those who can occupy land and build houses here are the true top elites of the Dragon Kingdom, the people who stand firmly at the very top of the pyramid.

The vehicle traveled along the smooth asphalt main road, passing through layers of green landscapes and branching side roads, and finally came to a steady stop in front of the gate of a very spacious, quiet and elegant detached villa.

In the driver's seat, a young major with two poles and one star immediately turned around, looked through the rearview mirror at Lin Guolong, who was still resting with his eyes closed in the back seat, and whispered a reminder.

"General, we're home."

Upon hearing this, Lin Guolong's eyelids trembled slightly, and he slowly opened his eyes.

He exhaled a breath of stale air, and the lingering fatigue around him quietly dissipated, replaced by a cool and composed aura.

Before his entourage could get out of the car and open the door, he had already reached out and pushed the door open, stepping onto the ground with swift and decisive movements, displaying the capable demeanor honed by his years of military service.

The villa's gatekeepers had already been notified, and two bodyguards in black immediately stepped forward, pushed open the heavy solid wood gate, bowed deeply, and were extremely respectful.

"General, welcome home."

Lin Guolong nodded slightly, said nothing, and stepped straight into the main hall of the villa.

The hall was brightly lit and decorated in a simple yet grand style, without any extravagance, exuding the solemnity and discipline of a military family.

A tall, middle-aged figure was already standing in the entrance hall, waiting for them. It was Lin Guolong's second son, Lin Song.

Upon seeing Lin Guolong enter, Lin Song immediately stepped forward and said respectfully, "Dad, you're back."

Lin Guolong glanced at him indifferently, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes.

He knew his sons' personalities well.

Unless there was something to report, the second son would never wait at the door late at night for his return.

As he bent down to change his shoes, he asked in a deep voice, "What is it?"

Lin Song knew his father always preferred to be straightforward, so he didn't dare beat around the bush and immediately spoke seriously:

"Dad, two things."

"First, the Qin family of Jiangnan declared that they would demand an apology from the Xie family, or else the Xie family would be destroyed."

"Secondly, Old Master Qin Zheng has arrived in the capital and sent a visiting card today, hoping to meet you."

Upon hearing this, Lin Guolong abruptly stopped changing his shoes and turned to look at Lin Song with a serious expression.

Is the news true?

"Yes." Lin Song nodded solemnly. "I've already sent someone to verify."

Lin Guolong straightened up, changed into his slippers, and gave the order in a deep voice:

"Call Lin Wu and Lin Han to my study."

Lin Wu is his eldest son. He was just promoted to lieutenant colonel two days ago and now commands a battalion in the army.

The youngest son, Lin Han, is in charge of a platoon and holds the rank of lieutenant.

The second son, Lin Song, was thrown into the military camp by Lin Guolong in his early years to train for several years. His body and bones were well-developed, but he was born with a dislike for the rigid rules of the military camp and had no interest in career advancement.

After leaving the military, he started his own business. With his keen insight, quick thinking, and ability to understand people and situations, he built a successful business in just a few years. He is the most worldly-wise of the three and is now doing quite well.

Lin Song immediately replied, "My eldest brother and third brother are already waiting in the study."

Lin Guolong nodded slightly, said no more, and stepped straight up the stairs to the study on the second floor.

The study door was open, and the lights were on.

Lin Wu stood tall and straight, dressed formally, on the left side of the desk, his face serious and his expression dignified.

Lin Han, dressed in a neat military uniform, stood on the right, his eyes clear and his demeanor dignified.

Upon seeing Lin Guolong enter, the two brothers immediately raised their hands in unison, offering a standard military salute with perfectly synchronized movements.

"dad!"

Lin Guolong raised his hand and waved it gently, indicating that the two should dispense with formalities, and went straight to the main seat at the desk to sit down.

The atmosphere in the entire study instantly became heavy.

As soon as he sat down, he asked in a deep voice:

"You all know about the Qin family's affairs, right? What are your thoughts?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the study fell silent.

Lin Wu frowned slightly, not speaking rashly, and lowered his eyes in thought.

Lin Song had already had his own ideas, but since his elder brother hadn't spoken yet, and given the rules, he could only suppress his thoughts and wait quietly.

Lin Guolong didn't urge them. He calmly poured himself a cup of hot tea, his fingertips tracing the warm cup, waiting for them to speak.

After a long while, Lin Wu finally raised his eyes, speaking cautiously and carefully, choosing each word carefully before slowly opening his mouth.

"Dad, in my opinion, we should perhaps give up on the Qin family."

He spoke with a serious expression and with clear logic:

"The Xie family has extensive and deep-rooted connections within the capital's system, with many powerful figures in high positions supporting them. If you insist on protecting the Qin family, you will inevitably face obstruction."

He made this decision after careful consideration. Although the Qin family accepted a large number of military projects from his father at a low price under the guise of free services, they tacitly agreed that it was just an endorsement of the Qin family and that they would not interfere in other matters.

The Qin family should know this, but now that the other party has come to their door, ostensibly to pay a visit, they probably want to use those projects to get my father to intervene.

The Qin family has broken the rules.

Lin Guolong listened quietly, his expression unchanged, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, neither nodding nor refuting.

He turned to Lin Song, who had been holding back for a long time, and said, "You tell us."

Lin Song's posture instantly straightened, his gaze sweeping over his confident older brother beside him. After taking a deep breath, he spoke directly:

"Dad, did my eldest brother get promoted to lieutenant colonel through his own hard work, or...?"

"Is it because the Qin family saved the logistics a lot of money that the other generals gave this opportunity to you, brother?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Wu frowned instantly, his eyes filled with confusion and surprise.

He has always been conscientious and hardworking, so he always believed that this promotion was earned through his own hard work and never thought there was any hidden reason.

Ignoring his elder brother's surprised look, Lin Song continued:

"Is it because the Qin family has taken on military projects, which has greatly revitalized our logistics resources? Several other veteran generals and department heads have asked you for resources, and they are all indebted to you for this favor."

"Big Brother's promotion this time is largely due to the fact that various bigwigs gave you face and went along with it."

The moment he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the study changed abruptly.

Lin Guolong's aura instantly intensified, his sharp gaze locking onto Lin Song. The overwhelming aura of a superior swept out, causing the three people in the room to catch their breath, feel a tightness in their chests, and almost be unable to breathe.

His tone was low and carried a clear warning:

"Second brother, remember, your eldest brother's promotion is the result of his own hard work and achievements."

"Also, never mention things that are not suitable to be said in public."

Lin Song's heart tightened, and he quickly bowed and said respectfully:

"Dad, I understand."

He already knew what was going on...

As the head of the core logistics department, his father's approval was required for the allocation of supplies, funding, and project approvals throughout the army, which meant he had extensive connections throughout the military.

The emergence of the Qin family made the father's resource allocation more flexible and brought more benefits, and also benefited various bigwigs, accumulating a huge amount of hidden favors.

These personal connections, though invisible and intangible, can become shortcuts for family members to advance and foundational stones for the family's development at crucial moments.

Once the Qin family is destroyed, this resource chain will be completely severed, all the benefits of personal connections will be wiped out instantly, and the future development of the Lin family and the future of its descendants will be greatly impacted.

After weighing the pros and cons, the situation became clear in an instant.

He now knew his father's truest thoughts.

Those projects cannot have any problems.

Lin Song exhaled a deep breath, raised his eyes firmly, and proposed his solution to break the deadlock.

"Dad, since the Qin family can't be easily brought down, and we can't openly confront the Xie family head-on and go against the wishes of the top echelons, then we can find a new home in advance!"

"Secretly contact major powerful and qualified families and enterprises to find someone to take over the military projects held by the Qin family. As long as the project is handed over smoothly, the resource chain remains unbroken, and the relationships between all parties are maintained, we can smoothly abandon the Qin family without offending the Xie family or damaging the Lin family's foundation—a win-win situation!"

This idea is comprehensive, sound, and demonstrates a good sense of proportion.

Upon hearing this, Lin Guolong's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He gave Lin Song a deep look but remained silent, offering no comment.

The next moment, he turned his gaze to his youngest son, Lin Han, who had been standing silently at attention, and his tone suddenly softened.

"Han'er, you've worked your way up from the bottom for so many years, you have enough experience and achievements. I'll submit your nomination for promotion at the end of the year. If it doesn't work out this year, you'll definitely get promoted next time."

Lin Han's eyes were clear and his heart was full of sincerity. Although he did not understand his father's intention in suddenly mentioning his promotion, he immediately stood up straight, gave a standard military salute, and responded with a strong voice.

"Yes, Father!"

Looking at his youngest son, who exuded pure military spirit and lacked political acumen, Lin Guolong chuckled helplessly.

Lin Han has been working at the grassroots level of the military for many years. He is simple-minded and upright, and has long been accustomed to the strict discipline of soldiers. It is normal that he cannot understand the intricate web of human relationships and power struggles.

Lin Wu, standing to the side, was now completely lost in thought, his brows furrowed and his mind churning.

He's just not smart enough, but he's not stupid.

Within the system, promotions, whether civil or military, are never as simple as just accumulating seniority and working hard.

Only after Lin Song reminded him did he realize what was happening.

Based solely on his abilities and past achievements, he should have been promoted two years ago; he wouldn't have been promoted this year.

He was nominated twice, but he lost both times.

He had always prided himself on his own merits to rise to the top, but now he has suddenly realized that his promotion was mostly due to his father's connections and favors.

Lin Guolong tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, the dull tapping sound instantly pulling the three of them back to their senses.

His expression was calm as he ordered in a deep voice, "Lin Wu, Lin Han, you two go out first. I have a few private words to say to the second brother alone."

"yes!"

The two brothers responded in unison, saluted, turned and quietly left the study, closing the door behind them.

In an instant, only the father and son remained in the closed study.

Lin Song instantly felt the pressure on his body increase, his back tightened slightly, and his forehead seemed to be sweating.

Lin Guolong slowly got up, walked to the French windows, and looked at the green plants growing quietly under the lights in the courtyard.

The night made his silhouette appear deep and imposing.

He spoke slowly, his tone tinged with emotion.

"Song'er, your elder brother is steady and reliable, but too rigid and inflexible. He can only see the superficial advantages and disadvantages of things and cannot grasp the underlying human relationships and long-term plans."

"Your third brother is honest and upright, and his mind is quite clear. As for how far he will go in the future, it is not easy to see at the moment."

"You alone are insightful, discerning, and highly perceptive, more talented and visionary than your two brothers. Your only flaw is that you are too impatient and cannot endure military life."

At this point, Lin Guolong sighed slightly.

Lin Song stood to one side, listening quietly without uttering a word.

He knew that his father had not finished speaking.

Sure enough, the next moment Lin Guolong continued:

"Your eldest brother's potential is already set. No matter how I manipulate things or pave the way, he can only rise one more level at most, and he will never be able to reach the rank of major general in his lifetime."

"He doesn't know how to read people's expressions or understand the dynamics of human relationships. If he forces himself on, he won't be able to control the situation, and he'll fall sooner or later."

"As for Han'er, he is pure of heart and upright in character. With a little polishing and careful guidance, he may well be able to support the Lin family in the future and produce another powerful general."

At this point, Lin Guolong slowly turned around, his gaze fixed intently on Lin Song, his tone extremely solemn.

"But before that, I must take another step forward. If the Lin family wants to prosper forever, I must add another star and reach the rank of general."

He shrugged slightly, and the two-leaf, two-star epaulette on his shoulder trembled slightly, gleaming golden in the lamplight.

"The Qin family is not one we cannot abandon."

"But before giving up, you must find a reliable new owner who can take over all of the Qin family's military projects."

"If you can achieve this, the Qin family can be abandoned."

"If we can't do it, then the Qin family must be protected."

Lin Song felt a sense of "I knew it" in his heart.

The Qin family has never been the important one.

As long as my father ensured that the projects went smoothly, it didn't matter who took them on.

"I understand. I'll contact the other prominent families right away and ask for their opinions."