Chapter 18: She Still Cares About the Lin Family

“Could this be... the Zhang family’s retaliation?”

“With a move this grand in Fengzhou, do you even need to ask?”

“Is Zhang family really this desperate? Didn’t they receive our public statement?”

“Damn it! This time, it's all because of Hong Yu and Lin Shuyu!”

The Lin family was in utter panic, the old master nearly fainting from rage.

Everyone rushed to revive him, slapping his face and pinching his philtrum.

After supporting the old master back to his room, the family immediately surrounded Fang Rui.

“All our hopes are on you now.”

“Seeing the way Zhang family is moving, are they really trying to wipe out our family?”

“They even sent clocks, and the number matches our family members. I don’t think this will be easily resolved.”

“Fang Rui, go to the Zhangs right now. Whatever demands they make, agree to everything as long as it’s not outrageous.”

Fang Rui was terrified.

He wasn’t stupid—judging by tonight’s events, he felt Lin Shuqing’s idea likely wouldn’t work.

“All right! I’ll do my best to talk to Zhang Hao.”

“It’s late now. Tomorrow, first thing in the morning, I’ll go to the Zhangs.” Fang Rui had no choice but to promise through gritted teeth.

With Fang Rui’s assurance, the Lin family was a little more at ease.

Lin Jiahao had just opened his mouth to speak when his phone suddenly rang.

He answered, listened for a dozen seconds, and his whole body began to tremble.

“Brother Hao (Uncle), don’t scare us—what’s happened?”

Everyone pressed for answers. Lin Jiahao hung up and replied in a low, defeated tone, “That was the company. More than a dozen of our stores in Fengzhou have already been sealed off, and it looks like more will follow.”

“Even the food processing plant, and our head office—they’ve all been shut down... And forget about trying to save Jiayong.”

“How can this be! What right do they have to do this?” people cried out.

“Is the Zhang family really this powerful? All this in just one night?”

“Damn it, I knew offending the Zhangs would bring disaster. Now, once this news spreads, what reputation will our business have left?”

“It’s all because of Hong Yu and Lin Shuyu! If not for them, would the Lin family be pushed this far?”

Lin Shuqing and her aunt were beside themselves with worry.

“What do we do now, what are we going to do?”

---

“Brother, this is no small matter. You have to get Jiayong out!”

Lin Shuqing cursed, “I’ll never forgive that pair of mongrels! If my father ends up in jail, I won’t need Zhang Hao—I’ll find someone myself to take care of it!”

The Lin household was in utter misery, while Hong Yu and Lin Shuyu carried on as usual, each going to their own room to sleep without a word.

But just as Hong Yu finished washing up, he received a call from Chen Dayong.

“Young Master Hong—no, Mr. Hong, I heard about what happened at the Lin family today.”

“That little family dared to act so arrogantly? Don’t worry, I’ve already taught them a lesson for you.”

Hong Yu was surprised. “It’s spread so fast? What did you do?”

“The Lin family sent out statements everywhere tonight, desperate for everyone to know they’d kicked you and the young madam out. I’ve been keeping an eye on them and got the news right away.”

Chen Dayong chuckled, “Tonight, I first sent them a few clocks, then gave some friends a heads-up. Now, all Lin’s restaurants have been shut down, and I didn’t spare the food processing plant or their office either.”

“I wonder, Mr. Hong, are you satisfied?”

Hong Yu had been infuriated by the Lin family earlier, so hearing what Chen Dayong had done naturally pleased him.

He hated the Lins to the core and wished they’d meet disaster.

But as for Chen Dayong fishing for praise, Hong Yu hesitated for a moment, giving no hint of satisfaction.

He merely grunted and asked coldly, “Why did you take matters into your own hands without my permission?”

Chen Dayong’s smile froze instantly. How could an old fox like him not catch the meaning behind Hong Yu’s words?

He protested, “Mr. Hong, I was just looking out for you! Think about your status compared to theirs. How dare they throw you out? I even did some digging—the Lin family has been making things hard for you and humiliating you for years.”

“I could have let it go if I didn’t know. But now I do, there’s no way I’ll let them continue. They needed a lesson.”

Hong Yu was no child. He understood that the more a man like Chen Dayong seemed to care, the more he sought to gain.

He scolded coldly, “Chen Dayong, this is the first and last time I’ll warn you.”

“In future, don’t interfere in my affairs without my consent. If you do it again, you can forget about making it in Fengzhou—go retire in the countryside.”

Beeps sounded as Hong Yu hung up, leaving Chen Dayong stunned, phone still pressed to his ear.

With a furious slap, Chen Dayong hurled his phone to the ground, gasping with rage. “Damn it, who does he think he is? That little punk dares threaten me?”

His right-hand man asked anxiously, “Brother Yong, what happened? Weren’t you helping him vent his anger? Why did Hong Yu threaten you?”

Chen Dayong cursed, “A dog biting the hand that feeds him! That brat Hong Yu deserves to be bullied by the Lins forever!”

“Damn it! Can you believe it? He just barked at me, said I was meddling in his business.”

His confidant’s eyes widened. “Seriously? Is he crazy or a masochist? We help him get revenge and he’s not even grateful?”

“Who knows if he’s been bullied silly!” Chen Dayong ranted for a while, then finally calmed down.

He sighed, “I think Hong Yu definitely wants to see the Lin family ruined. And judging by how he acted at the Lins tonight, he’s no masochist.”

“Just as I thought—he’s not simple. From now on, we’ll need to be even more thoughtful and cautious.”

---

At the Lin household, after the old master fainted, he kept retching and was soon sent to the hospital.

It was close to dawn before he regained some strength, and he immediately summoned the family to his ward.

“Jiahao, what’s your take on this?” The old man fixed a piercing gaze on Lin Jiahao. Now, he was the true head of the family—the old master had long ceased to manage affairs.

Lin Jiahao had been pondering all night. After a moment’s thought, he spoke, “Whoever tied the knot must untie it. I think we need to seek out Hong Yu and Xiaoyu.”

Second aunt grumbled, “What’s the use of going to him? Better to count on Fang Rui.”

Lin Jiahao sighed, “I’m not sure Fang Rui can do it. He only knows Zhang Hao, and with such a big move now, it seems the Zhang family is serious. They probably won’t care about Fang Rui.”

Second aunt grew flustered, “Then what do we do? Jiayong is still being held, and all our contacts won’t answer the phone.”

“That’s why I said we need to reach out to Xiaoyu and Hong Yu,” Lin Jiahao said helplessly.

Lin Shuqing sneered, “Didn’t you see how Hong Yu acted just now? He doesn’t care about his own life, and now he can drag the Lin family down with him—he’ll never agree.”

Lin Jiahao replied, “But there’s still Xiaoyu. She’s family—she wouldn’t just stand by and watch.”

“If we’d known it would come to this, we shouldn’t have sent out that statement,” someone regretted.

“Xiaoyu probably knows she’s been disowned by now, right? If it were before, she’d have gone for sure.”

“And with that troublemaker Hong Yu, if he finds out, he’ll definitely stop her.”

“Maybe we should call Jiahua and Chen Lan, have them persuade Xiaoyu?”

“It won’t work. Xiaoyu barely listens to them. Otherwise she wouldn’t have married Hong Yu as a live-in son-in-law.”

Everyone was at their wit’s end, until finally the old master made up his mind to act himself.

Unwilling to give in, he declared, “I’ll go! I don’t believe Xiaoyu would dare ignore me!”

“I watched that child grow up—she still cares about the family.”