Chapter 708: The Search (Part 2/2)

“Let’s not dwell on the past.”

“I called everyone here today because I have something important to discuss.”

The moment Lin Dong spoke, everyone stopped eating and turned their eyes toward him.

Jiang Lu nervously clasped Lin Dong’s hand under the table. She knew what her husband was about to say.

Lin Dong squeezed her hand back, signaling for her to stay calm, then continued: “Before I get to the main matter, I want to ask if anyone has complaints about their current life? Any requests? Bring them up today, and I’ll resolve what I can.”

This left everyone exchanging glances.

Lin Liang was the first to react. “Third Brother, are you… planning to split the family?”

“Not a split.”

Lin Dong shook his head. “Before Father passed, he instructed that the Lin Family must not be divided. I simply want everyone to live better, with less resentment and more harmony.”

Wang Jiangyao immediately spoke up: “Then about the shares…”

She still couldn’t let go of the shareholding matter.

“Company shares cannot be touched for now.”

Lin Dong left no room for negotiation—share transfers involved too much complexity and trouble.

But he did come prepared.

“While the shares remain unchanged, we can allocate more dividends from annual profits. Specific ratios will be determined after financial review. Additionally, for the younger generation, I can arrange positions for those who want to join the company after university. For those who prefer to start businesses, I can provide startup capital.”

These were exceptionally generous terms, essentially providing them a safety net.

Zhang Yu and Wang Jiangyao were still dissatisfied, but could reluctantly accept—it was better than before, at least.

Second Brother Lin Liang, playing with his walnuts, said slowly: “Third Brother, you’re being unusually generous today. What do you want to say?”

Finally, someone had hit the crucial question.

Lin Dong didn’t beat around the bush and stated his purpose directly: “I want to bring LuLu’s daughter home.”

The dining room fell silent instantly.

A few seconds later.

Wang Jiangyao was the first to break the silence, standing in opposition: “What? Third Brother, you want to bring Jiang Lu’s daughter? That illegitimate child from outside into our Lin Family?”

Lin Dong’s temper flared at her words: “Watch your mouth!”

Wang Jiangyao was startled but remained defiant: “Am I wrong? The child Jiang Lu had before marrying into the Lin Family—what does she have to do with us? Why should we bring her back?”

Second Sister-in-law Zhang Yu also frowned: “Third Brother, this is inappropriate. What status does our Lin Family hold? Suddenly bringing in someone with a different surname—what will others think?”

Fourth Brother Lin Zheng adjusted his glasses and added: “Third Brother, it’s not that we’re unkind, but you must consider the Lin Family. Besides the awkwardness of her status, how old is she now? An adult, right? Suddenly having an older or younger sister appear—how will Xiao Feng feel?”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Lin Feng. Though they were reluctant to admit it, Lin Feng was the most likely heir to Lin Dong’s estate.

Lin Feng remained expressionless, continuing to fiddle with his phone and send texts, feigning complete detachment.

He appeared as Zen-like as his second uncle, but he was actually quite clever—by not taking a stance, he couldn’t be used as a pawn.

Jiang Lu wanted to speak up, but she knew the Lin Family members didn’t welcome her. Speaking might only add fuel to the fire.

Lin Dong tired of wasting words on them and adopted a forceful attitude: “You seem to have misunderstood something. I’m not here today to ask for your approval. I’m here to inform you!”

“Third Brother!”

Lin Liang slammed the table: “Are you crazy? You’d turn against the entire family over an outsider’s daughter?”

Though he was the most Zen-like among them, that didn’t mean he turned a blind eye to everything. Someone with no blood ties to the Lin Family joining them—that was something he couldn’t easily accept.

Lin Dong didn’t back down: “Second Brother, she’s not an outsider. She’s LuLu’s daughter, which makes her my daughter!”

“Your daughter?”

Second Sister-in-law Zhang Yu challenged: “Have you raised her for a single day? Changed her diapers? Taught her to speak? Now you suddenly appear claiming to be her father—have you even asked if she acknowledges you?”

These words struck at Jiang Lu’s deepest fears. Indeed, it was too early for such talk.

Whether Tongtong would acknowledge her or recognize Lin Dong as a stepfather remained uncertain.

Most likely, this was just wishful thinking on their part.

Lin Dong: “Precisely because I haven’t raised her for a single day, I must make it right. Do you know how LuLu has lived all these years? For my sake, for the so-called ‘dignity’ of our Lin Family, she endured for ten years! I can no longer watch her continue to suffer the pain of mother-child separation because of your ridiculous notions of family status!”

“Besides, don’t you always gossip behind her back, wondering why LuLu can’t bear children? Fine, let me tell you today—it’s because she feels she owes Tongtong, and she’s afraid of how Xiao Feng might feel! Even before we married, she took the initiative to sign an agreement with me, in black and white, relinquishing all rights to inherit my property. She married me—she never wanted the Lin Family’s money!”

“Rather, it’s our Lin Family that owes her!”

Hearing his father’s words, Lin Feng’s hands, busy with his phone, suddenly paused. This was the first time he knew the real reason behind it all. He had once thought his stepmother Jiang Lu was infertile; otherwise, she would have had many sons long ago to compete with him for favor and inheritance.

He never expected the truth to be like this.

Seeing everyone silent, Lin Dong continued: “You constantly mention the Lin Family’s status, the Lin Family’s reputation—do you still think the Lin Family is what it was when Father was alive? Don’t you know what we’ve become? And what did Father teach us when he was alive? ‘If the household is not at peace, how can one bring peace to the world?’ But now? For the sake of vanity, you disregard even the most basic family bonds?”

“That’s different!”

Wang Jiangyao retorted: “That was before Jiang Lu married into the family—it has nothing to do with our Lin Family!”

Lin Dong stared at her: “How is it unrelated?”

“LuLu is my wife. Her affairs are my affairs, which means they’re the Lin Family’s affairs! Let me make this clear today: I recognize this daughter. Not only will I bring her back, but I will also give her the Lin surname and enter her into the Lin Family genealogy!”

“Never!”

Fourth Brother Lin Zheng also slammed the table and stood: “Lin Dong, don’t think that just because you’re head of the family now, you can do whatever you want. Without our agreement, let’s see if she can even step through this door!”

“Fourth Brother, Sister-in-law, and Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law.”

Lin Dong listed their names one by one, then sneered: “Do you have amnesia? Do I need to repeat who calls the shots in this family?”

Everyone’s expression froze.

“Though the company shares haven’t been divided, I hold the controlling stake. I hold management rights over the family trust. The deed to this old mansion is also in my name.”

“From the beginning, I wasn’t negotiating with you. I was informing you of my decision. If you agree, all the better. If not, you’re free to move out.”

“Third Brother, what kind of talk is that? Are you threatening your own family?” Lin Liang’s face darkened.

“You’re the ones forcing my hand. These years, I believe I’ve been fair to every member of the Lin Family. Where does the company’s money go? Mostly to family expenses. The houses you live in, the fancy cars you drive, the prestigious schools your children attend—which of these aren’t paid for with my money? Yet now, LuLu and I simply want to bring back a long-lost daughter, and you obstruct us at every turn—on what grounds?”

“Let me tell you, none of you have the right to stop me!”

Fourth Brother Lin Zheng’s tone gradually softened, perhaps truly afraid that Lin Dong might impulsively kick them out: “Third Brother, calm down. Everyone is just having trouble accepting this suddenly. After all, the child has no blood tie to the Lin Family. Bringing her back so abruptly is indeed inappropriate.”

“Fourth Brother, don’t talk to me about blood ties. Xiao Feng has blood ties with you—have any of you cared about him? After his mother’s accidental death, who among you genuinely cared about him? And now you speak to me of blood ties?”

At that moment, Lin Feng suddenly stood up without warning.

Everyone looked at him again. Only his words carried weight now—Lin Dong could be ruthless to other family members, but he would never be harsh to his only son, whom he had neglected for years.

Even Jiang Lu felt nervous, afraid her stepson might suddenly blurt out: “I disagree!”

However, Lin Feng’s answer caught everyone off guard.

“I agree!”

“Xiao Feng, you…” Lin Feng’s second uncle and aunt wore expressions of disbelief.

Lin Feng couldn’t be bothered with them, focusing only on his father Lin Dong: “I agree to bring her back.”

“Why?”

Eldest cousin Lin Shen couldn’t help but say: “If she truly joins our Lin Family, she’ll be entitled to a share of your inheritance. Are you stupid?”

Lin Feng turned to look at him, his gaze instead making the other seem foolish: “Do you think everyone is like you, seeing only money?”

Then he walked over to Jiang Lu—the woman he once hated, rejected, and had never even called “Mother”—and handed her a tissue.

This gesture made Jiang Lu tremble all over as she raised her tear-filled eyes to look at him.

“Auntie.”

Lin Feng called out, but still couldn’t bring himself to say the word that felt awkward: “Stop crying. Bring her back. This house is too cold. Another person might warm it up.”

Jiang Lu could no longer contain herself and hugged him, bursting into sobs.

Watching this scene, Lin Dong felt deeply relieved. Honestly, he had feared his son’s opposition, which would have made things truly difficult to handle.

Since his son didn’t object, everything became much simpler.

“It’s settled then. Tomorrow I will go to Pearl City to bring my daughter back. Before she returns, I hope each of you thinks carefully—do you want to remain family, or go your separate ways? Those who want to leave, I won’t stop you. You’ll receive your rightful share of assets. Those who stay, don’t speak any more nonsense!”

The dining room fell silent.

Second Brother Lin Liang looked at his brother’s resolute expression, then at his sister-in-law Jiang Lu and nephew Lin Feng, and finally let out a long sigh before sitting back down.

“Do as you wish. This family has been under your control for a long time anyway.”

Seeing the situation was settled, the others, despite their dissatisfaction, could only temporarily swallow their words.

Lin Dong knew, of course, that they were only temporarily compromising—that the real conflict lay ahead.

But he didn’t care.

He helped Jiang Lu sit back down and told the servants: “The food has cooled. Warm it up.”

Then he ladled her a bowl of soup: “Eat more. Rest well tonight and build up your strength. Tomorrow we’ll set out for Pearl City to bring our daughter home.”

Lin Feng spoke up at this moment: “I’m coming too, just to get some fresh air.”

Jiang Lu looked at the father and son, tears turning to laughter as she nodded vigorously.

……………..

The next afternoon.

A black Bentley entered Pearl City territory.

Jiang Lu sat in the car, watching the rapidly passing street scenes, her heartbeat accelerating.

The city she had left nearly twenty years ago had changed immensely. Though still far from matching the Imperial Capital, it was already filled with towering skyscrapers, thoroughly modernized.

And here, she saw many familiar red figures—these were Wanhui Preferred delivery riders. There were many in the Imperial Capital too.

Wanhui Preferred’s rider uniforms used red as the primary color, and other Wanlong Group subsidiaries like supermarkets, internet cafes, restaurants, and bubble tea shops also used predominantly red employee uniforms, differing only in style and accents.

Besides red, the other primary color was naturally black.

Lin Dong, seated next to Jiang Lu, also noticed these red figures and couldn’t help but remark: “These Wanhui Preferred delivery guys are really widespread in Pearl City. Though they’re common in the Imperial Capital too, not this dense.”

Jiang Lu also nodded: “Yes, it does feel like there are more here.”

Lin Dong seemed to sense his wife’s mind was elsewhere and didn’t continue: “LuLu, relax. We’ll take it slow.”

Jiang Lu forced a smile: “I’m not anxious.”

But the faint sweat in her palms betrayed her. How could she not be anxious?

The car finally stopped before a five-star hotel.

Lin Dong had already arranged accommodation through his secretary—a top-floor suite with excellent views overlooking most of Pearl City.

Shortly after checking in.

The investigators Lin Dong had sent to the countryside called with a preliminary report.

Jiang Lu couldn’t wait to ask as soon as he hung up: “Is there news about Tongtong?”

Lin Dong’s originally serious expression instantly turned into a smile.

“There is. This trip wasn’t in vain.”

“What do you mean?”

“Tongtong isn’t in the countryside. She’s in Pearl City.”

“That girl Tongtong is truly impressive, really impressive. She tested into Finance University in Pearl City—that’s a provincial key university. It proves she’s both smart and hardworking, taking good care of herself. You don’t need to worry too much.”

“Also, that gambling addict actually got locked up. Truly, karma works!”

He then told his wife everything his subordinates had discovered.

After listening, a weight lifted from Jiang Lu’s heart: “That’s good, that’s good… That she could grow up safely and get into such a good university, I… really…”

She didn’t know what to say for a moment.

Lin Dong: “Not worried now?”

Jiang Lu nodded. She had indeed feared the news would be about her daughter living in misery, abused by that gambler.

Fortunately, all the news was good.

The previously oppressive atmosphere noticeably lightened, and a smile appeared on Jiang Lu’s face.

Of course, this only strengthened her resolve to make it up to her daughter.

After all, for her daughter to get into university in such circumstances must have required unimaginable effort.

“However…”

“However what?”

“It’s just that the people I sent said they found the village strange when asking about Tongtong.”

“Strange?” Jiang Lu paused, her heart rising again, afraid of hearing bad news.

“Not strange in a bad way.”

Lin Dong explained: “My assistant said that whenever the villagers heard Tongtong’s name, they kept nodding and giving thumbs-up, repeatedly saying ‘good’ with such emphasis, as if afraid my assistant wouldn’t believe them. It was eerie.”

“Ask one person, you get this. Ask ten people, same thing.”

At this moment, Lin Feng, who had been silent, couldn’t help but speak: “Dad, you’re overthinking it. Maybe the village just produced this one university student? They always say university students are rare in the countryside. It’s normal for them to praise her. And according to what Auntie said, Tongtong is only twenty this year. She’s just a young girl—can she eat people or something?”

Hearing this, Lin Dong found it reasonable: “You’re right. Maybe I’m overthinking.”

Then he looked at Jiang Lu: “Don’t overthink. Tomorrow we’ll go to the university to find her. Everything will be clearer once we meet.”

……

PS: This was a difficult chapter to write, got stuck on it.