All the heavens begin with the love in the courtyard.

The old man was able to hand over the Guo Group to Guo Zhenyuan, so he would naturally leave him plenty of helpers. Perhaps this grandson of Guo Zhenyuan even had his own plans in mind, knowing that he was capable of turning danger into safety, which is why he invited him out for drinks.

Oh well, it doesn't matter if a friend schemes against me once in a while. I haven't done it in a long time, and my back is a bit sore. Men in their forties tend to lose their strength. I should ask Xiaoping to buy me some whips to help me recover.

After taking a shower, Liu Feng walked into the living room wrapped in a bath towel. Seeing that Guo Zhenyuan was still on the phone, he didn't disturb him. Instead, he took out the treasure he had acquired that night from a nearby chair, opened the small wooden box, and took out the "Thirteen Flavors" and looked at it with great satisfaction.

Upon reading this, Liu Feng was completely captivated. The Thirteen Flavors was not a traditional culinary manual, but a book that analyzed the origins of food.

This book was written more than 1,600 years ago by a Taoist priest who did not love Taoist scriptures, nor power or beautiful women, but only food and freedom.

When he was forty years old, he left the Taoist temple and traveled the world. He lived to be one hundred and twenty-eight years old. This ancient manuscript was not written by him, but by a disciple he adopted in his later years. The disciple recorded the text by oral transmission.

This ancient manuscript doesn't contain any descriptions of cooking techniques, but rather introduces the essence of food. However, the old Taoist priest's narration is quite interesting.

For example, one story describes how an old Taoist priest used to love eating fish, but he disliked the fishy smell. However, after removing the fishy smell, he felt that the fish lacked its original flavor.

For this reason, he ate fish for three consecutive years and began to study why he liked to eat fish. So he started to study how the fishy smell of fish is produced, why the fishy smell can make people feel nauseous, and whether the fishy smell can be turned into a likable taste if other ingredients are added.

Three years later, the old Taoist priest finally figured out a series of ways to eat fish, and how to keep the fishy smell in order so that he wouldn't feel disgusted by it. He also figured out how to combine fresh fish with various ingredients to create more layers of flavor, such as crisp, soft, and glutinous textures.

Seeing this, Liu Feng swallowed hard. If this old Taoist priest lived in today's society, he would definitely be a contrarian. In order to eat fish that he was satisfied with, he only ate fish for three years and used fish as a side dish. Whether it was fresh or rotten, he studied it to the end. He was simply the spiritual leader of contrarians!

Of course, this is also the ultimate foodie, who actually lived to be 128 years old?

As expected, I don't understand the world of foodies.

Liu Feng was engrossed in reading. Guo Zhenyuan, who was next to him, finally finished his phone call. He slumped into the sofa, rubbing his red eyes. When he saw Liu Feng holding the ancient manuscript, he shook his head helplessly. It's infuriating to compare yourself to others!

He stood up and walked to the window again. Looking down at the bright lights and bustling city below from the villa on the hillside, Guo Zhenyuan was lost in deep confusion. Starting tomorrow, he would truly be all alone. To wipe out the enemy without mercy, what a perfect way to wipe out the enemy!

In the distance, a red glow slowly appeared on the horizon. Soon after, the first rays of morning sunlight gently shone on the earth. The lights of airplanes dotted the sky. Guo Zhenyuan looked up at the red glow on the horizon. At this moment, he just wanted to shout to vent his frustration. The kinship between the wealthy and powerful was no longer related to him!

Liu Feng squinted, unaware of Lao Guo's inner turmoil by the window. At that moment, his joy made a smile unconsciously appear on his lips. This Thirteen Flavors was truly a rare treasure!

The old Taoist priest's lifelong research was indeed remarkable, opening a new world for Liu Feng and elevating his culinary skills to a new level, a level never before seen by anyone else.

If he was just a top-notch chef before, after he thoroughly studies this book, he will no longer be the same person. His culinary skills will reach a new level, even surpassing those of the old Taoist priest. This is because in the old Taoist priest's era, there were absolutely no ingredients as abundant as in the modern world. He could explore the sea and the earth, and as long as he had money, he could study them all.

Liu Feng was completely absorbed in the book. It was like a new world. He realized that food was so interesting. Every ingredient had its own natural flavor, and everything could be paired with it. With just a few simple ingredients, the characteristics of each ingredient could be brought out.

Grandma Wang's braised pork soup was made with just a few simple ingredients, without any added seasonings. Amazing, truly amazing!

This priceless treasure is probably the most precious thing I've gained since I came into this world. It's all worth it!

It was definitely worth it!

Having experienced so many worlds, money is no longer the lifelong pursuit for him. Any knowledge in his mind can make him a superior person, but when money becomes only a tool to serve his life, Liu Feng has lost his previous interest in it.

Everyone should have something to pursue in their life, but when what you pursue is readily available, your interest will naturally disappear.

Money, women, luxury cars, mansions—each of these is the goal that many ordinary people strive for their entire lives. But once you have all of these things, the rich will pursue deeper interests.

For example, the fields of longevity and the unknown genetic information of life.

Liu Feng was so engrossed in watching TV that he forgot to eat and sleep. He sat on the sofa for a whole day and night. Guo Zhenyuan called him several times, but Liu Feng waved him off, telling him to leave him alone. Guo Zhenyuan ignored him, took a shower, changed his clothes, and left the mansion. What awaited him next was a real battle.

In the following days, the power struggle within the Guo Group became a source of amusement for countless onlookers in Hong Kong.

Guo Zhenyuan has officially sued his two elder brothers, not only launching a business attack on them but also secretly suppressing and blocking their influence.

Faced with Guo Zhenyuan's heavy blows, Guo's eldest and second eldest brothers were almost powerless to resist. The two sides were not even in the same league. In less than a month, they were driven to a dead end. Finally, in the face of overwhelming evidence, the two were imprisoned. Guo Zhenyuan showed no mercy from beginning to end.

No one expected that the previously weak Guo Laosan would suddenly show such a strong side. Afterwards, Guo Zhenyuan said sorry to Liu Feng with a wry smile. This apology was his way of apologizing to Liu Feng.

Liu Feng naturally knew why Guo Zhenyuan apologized to him. Guo Zhenyuan's actions over the past month were vastly different from his usual style, and the extent of Guo's influence in Hong Kong also surprised Liu Feng. Guo's two older brothers seemed like frogs in a well compared to him, and Guo's company and personnel appeared to surrender to Guo Zhenyuan almost unconditionally. The contrast was simply too great.

At this moment, Liu Feng realized that this guy was actually the real wolf in sheep's clothing, a real schemer!

Before his death, Mr. Guo had actually recalled Guo Zhenyuan several times and handed over all personnel arrangements to him. In fact, Guo Zhenyuan had guessed a year ago that Mr. Guo was going to hand over the position of successor to him, but he had been pretending to be confused. He was so good at pretending that he almost fooled everyone.

Including Liu Feng, and even more so his two older brothers!

The evidence against Guo Laoda and Guo Laoer for embezzling company funds over the years was so comprehensive that it left the opposing lawyer speechless. In the end, the hitmen they sent were identified by the boss himself. There were videos and audio recordings of the meetings between the two, and even footage of Guo Laoda personally handing over cash. This evidence was enough to convict the two brothers of hiring someone to commit murder.

Both brothers were sentenced to twenty years in prison, and all their assets will be used to compensate the Guo Group. Furthermore, the old man's will did not include any of the brothers.

Because Guo Zhenyuan produced a new will, which clearly stated that if the two brothers harmed the younger brother, all inheritance would be cancelled. In other words, Guo Zhenyuan would take all the fruits of the Guo Group's victory for himself!

Upon hearing this news, Liu Feng was speechless. No wonder that guy apologized to him.

That guy, when he invited me out for drinks that day, he definitely had no good intentions. He must have already guessed that my two older brothers would make a move against me.

As for his own skills, this guy has investigated them thoroughly over the past few years. He single-handedly took down more than thirty Southern Monkey agents. Such a record is definitely more than enough to protect his old schemer.

Fortunately, Liu Feng didn't hold it against him. Although he knew he had been used, he had also obtained the "Thirteen Flavors," so they were even.

Moreover, he was certain that Guo Zhenyuan spoke from the heart during that drinking session. He had indeed considered splitting up the Guo Group and reconciling with his two brothers. He was willing to give up assets worth tens of billions of yuan just to prevent his brothers from turning against each other. However, the final outcome was exactly what he had predicted.

Alright, it's all settled now, what else is there to say?

After this incident, Liu Feng returned to the mainland, and He Xiaoping gave birth to her second daughter, named Liu Siyu. It's a rather common name, but it's also quite nice; the girl resembles her mother.

Time flew by and it was 1991. That year, Liu Feng officially turned forty. His career entered a stable period, and his family was harmonious and happy. The two decided to take their children on an overseas trip. On the way, they ran into an acquaintance, an acquaintance they hadn't seen for ten years.

A middle-aged, overweight man was the first to recognize He Xiaoping, and then he recognized Liu Feng. Liu Feng adjusted his sunglasses and thought for a long time before he finally recognized the fat man as Chen Can, a former comrade-in-arms from the cultural troupe!

Back then, Chen Can married Hao Shuwen. The two were well-matched in terms of social standing. Xiao Suizi, who had a crush on Chen Can, was heartbroken and wrote her first love letter. But before she could even send it, the relationship was over.

Now, ten years have passed since they last met. Chen Can has gained a lot of weight and has long lost his youthful naiveté. Looking at his balding head and round belly, Liu Feng thought of Lao Guo. However, this guy is definitely not as rich as Lao Guo. In just a few years, Lao Guo has become the fifth richest man in Hong Kong, and his net worth is about to break 100 billion.

Of course, Liu Feng deserves much credit for this. At the end of the previous year, Liu Feng invested 300 million US dollars in the Guo Group, acquiring an 8% stake. At the time, the Guo Group's board of directors opposed the deal because the money was lent to Liu Feng by Guo Zhenyuan, and the share value was significantly lower than expected. However, Guo Zhenyuan secretly completed the transaction. He had a good plan: to tie Liu Feng to the Guo Group's chariot. In the end, Liu Feng had no choice but to agree.

It was a joyful thing to meet so many comrades-in-arms overseas. Perhaps it was also because Chen Can could tell from Liu Feng's current attire and demeanor that he was clearly not an ordinary person.

Ordinary people couldn't have traveled abroad in 1991. Watching He Xiaoping playing on the beach with her two little ones, Chen Can said with some emotion.

"More than ten years have passed in the blink of an eye, and things have changed so much!"

Liu Feng shared the same sentiment, nodded, sat on a beach chair, and handed a cigar to Chen Can. The two smiled at each other, lit their cigars, and Liu Feng exhaled a puff, saying with emotion.

"We haven't seen those comrades-in-arms for over ten years. How about we organize a reunion?"

Chen Can took a puff of his cigar, and upon hearing Liu Feng's words, his face stiffened for a moment before he nodded and said...

"Sure! It's been so long, I really miss the old days. I have a lot of contact information here, I'll get in touch with you later!"

Liu Feng nodded, glancing at He Xiaoping who was watching the child not far away. He recalled how He Xiaoping had been bullied in the art troupe. Well, let everyone see her again and see that the girl they used to bully is now doing better than them!

After chatting for a while, Chen Can didn't find out Liu Feng's current identity, but it was definitely not bad.

The two agreed to hold a reunion of comrades-in-arms on December 26th before the Spring Festival this year, and to try to contact as many of their former comrades from the cultural troupe as possible for a proper get-together.

Liu Feng nodded in agreement.

Chapter Nineteen: Long Time No See

According to Chen Can, after leaving the cultural troupe, the other party went to work in government agencies. Later, with the help of a friend, he started to engage in import and export trade and earned his first pot of gold.

Chen Can entered the Hainan real estate industry last year and, taking advantage of Hainan's historical opportunities, has become a multi-millionaire in just two years, making him one of the first batch of wealthy people in China.

When talking about Hainan's real estate, Chen Can was very enthusiastic. This was his proudest achievement. He said that when he first arrived in Hainan two years ago, the price of one mu of land was only over 80,000 yuan, but now it has exceeded 500,000 yuan and is still rising wildly.

By speculating on land, Chen Can made more than 10 million yuan in one year two years ago. However, he did not put the money to good use. Instead, he continued to acquire land. Now, through bank leverage, the land in his hands can be worth five times more this year.

When it came to his wealth, Chen Can made no attempt to hide it. Perhaps it was because Liu Feng always maintained a mysterious and unfathomable demeanor that he felt a strange kind of jealousy.

Indeed, in the early 1990s, a net worth of tens of millions was something to be envied, but Liu Feng maintained a very low-key manner of communication, as if he himself had this wealth, which made Chen Can somewhat frustrated, and naturally he wanted to show off.

Liu Feng naturally remembered the story of Hainan's real estate market in the early 1990s. It was the first real estate bubble in China, a game of musical chairs. If he wanted to make money from it, he would have started planning years ago and could have become the biggest winner in the game.

But what's the point?

Yes, it's pointless. He has enough money now. If he really doesn't have enough, he can buy some foreign tech stocks and easily multiply his money a thousandfold.

Life can be lonely, but this kind of life is actually quite nice. Spending time with my wife and kids, enjoying every day.

It was a rare opportunity to meet a comrade-in-arms whom he hadn't seen for ten years, so Liu Feng still had a meal with Chen Can. At the dinner table, He Xiaoping wasn't interested in Chen Can's wealth, but she was quite interested in her former comrades from the cultural troupe and asked them about their situations.

When the two left the performing arts troupe, they left their contact information, but it was basically useless. They didn't leave their phone numbers at that time, so they haven't contacted their comrades in recent years.

On the contrary, Chen Can and Hao Shuwen, a couple, maintained contact with many of their comrades-in-arms because of their family background. After entering society, their once equal relationship quickly became unequal due to various reasons such as family background.

Chen Can was also filled with emotion about these things, and briefly explained the situation of the few people he knew.

Xiao Suizi was a war correspondent in the army, and later became a writer, and I heard that she published several books.

Zhu Ke is now a dance leader in a theater troupe. Zhuoma and Xiao Ballet both got married after retiring from the military, and they both married well. They still keep in touch occasionally.

Other comrades also have different fates. Some are not doing well, some are successful, and some have even lost contact with each other. Ten years is a long time. Too many things can change.

Liu Feng picked up his coffee, took a sip, turned around and glanced at He Xiaoping. The couple understood each other and smiled at one another. Liu Feng then took the initiative to ask her something.

"What about Lin Dingding?"

Chen Can was somewhat speechless. He glanced at Liu Feng and his wife, then smiled helplessly and said...

"She married and moved to Australia, but she's still kept in touch with my Shuwen. She even sent me some photos last month. You wouldn't believe how much weight she's gained, haha!"

When asked about Lin Dingding's past and Liu Feng's story, the three exchanged a smile, letting bygones be bygones and their past emotions and entanglements.

After saying goodbye to Chen Can, Liu Feng spent two months traveling with He Xiaoping. It wasn't until the end of the year, when Guo Zhenyuan urged him, that they returned to the port city.

Guo Zhenyuan is getting married and he wants Guo Zhenyuan to be his best man.

Liu Feng was quite surprised that the thousand-year-old iron tree had blossomed. He hadn't received any news about it, so how did he suddenly get married?

Originally, everyone thought this guy would marry a beautiful model secretary, but after arriving in Hong Kong, when Guo Zhenyuan introduced his wife to Liu Feng, Liu Feng was so shocked that his mouth dropped open. He never expected this.

Guo Zhenyuan's intended marriage partner is actually an auntie who is over fifty years old. This auntie must have been a great beauty when she was young, but beauty fades with age, and her wrinkles are so deep that she looks older than Guo Zhenyuan. Something is clearly not right.

The aunt greeted Liu Feng elegantly, and then introduced the five young people—three men and two women—to him.

"These are my five children. Children, say hello to your uncle!"

Liu Feng was bewildered and confused when five young men in their twenties called him "uncle" several times.

Liu Feng finally couldn't hold back any longer. He pulled Guo Zhenyuan aside, looked at him with the eyes of someone looking at a complete idiot, and waited for the other's answer.

Guo Zhenyuan smiled knowingly, happily picked up his champagne glass, clinked glasses with Liu Feng, and then said...

"That's why I haven't gotten married all these years. She was my middle school teacher, and we've always kept in touch. Over the years, she got married and divorced, while I've been waiting for her. Lao Liu, I know what you're going to say, but don't say anything more. Just wish me well today!"

Since Guo Zhenyuan has already said that, what else can Liu Feng say?

They could only clink glasses once more and drink it all in one gulp.

He only had two words to say at that moment.