Chapter 709: Jiang Lu’s Story (Combined) [Thanks to Paper Kite for the Great God Certification!]

Lin Dong still harbored quite a few doubts.

For instance, the assistant had wanted to ask the villagers for a photo of Tongtong, but how would villagers in that remote place have photos? Mobile phone functions weren’t advanced enough yet, and many villagers’ phones didn’t even have camera features.

Even if they did, why would they randomly take photos of the Liu family’s granddaughter?

Later, the assistant did locate the Liu residence and was shocked to discover they actually had quite an impressive villa in the village. He thought he must have the wrong place, so he didn’t go in to inquire—absolutely not because there were two large wolfhounds at the gate.

But when he turned back to ask the villagers for more detailed information about the young miss, no one was willing to say more. In fact, it made them wary.

Quite a few people had come to inquire about the Liu family’s granddaughter—businessmen and officials alike. But for someone who knew almost nothing to actually ask them for photos? That was far too suspicious.

Especially since their excuse sounded so lame—claiming they were searching for relatives.

Naturally, the villagers classified them as distant relatives—possibly not even related at all—trying to latch onto the Liu family’s granddaughter. So of course they weren’t given a warm welcome.

In the end, the assistant only discovered that the young miss attended school in Pearl City. He learned nothing else.

When this news reached Lin Dong, he found it strange, but later figured it was just country folk being too insular. He didn’t think much of it.

Just as his son had said, that girl was at most twenty years old—maybe not even that by her birthday. What kind of trouble could someone that age cause?

Most likely, the villagers were simple, honest people protecting their promising talent, which is why they wouldn’t reveal more.

That evening, the family of three dined at Fisher’s Joy.

This restaurant had been recommended by their hotel attendant, apparently quite famous locally. The signature dish—small fish pot stickers—was supposedly a must-try for out-of-towners like them.

Without a second thought, Lin Dong had the driver take them to the branch near University City.

Actually, there was a branch near their hotel, but they chose this one specifically to be closer to Finance University. After dinner, they could stroll around and get a feel for Tongtong’s environment.

Only when they arrived did they realize how popular the restaurant was.

It wasn’t even 5:30 PM yet, and the place was nearly full.

They didn’t opt for a relatively quiet private room. Instead, they chose the main dining hall, where many university students were eating. This way, they could learn about University City through the students’ conversations.

A server in red, somewhat vintage-styled uniform led the three of them to a four-person table.

When ordering, Lin Dong didn’t even glance at the menu, simply asking the server to arrange several signature dishes. Then he began observing the restaurant’s surroundings with great interest.

“This restaurant is rather interesting,” he remarked. “Unlike ordinary establishments, the staff have remarkable energy. And this Chinese-style décor shows good taste.”

As a businessman who frequented high-end venues, he was highly sensitive to service industry standards.

The servers at Fisher’s Joy displayed enthusiasm that didn’t feel like the mechanical smile of professional training. Instead, they radiated vitality and pride.

This was truly rare, indicating exceptional management by the owner.

Before long, several dishes arrived.

Most eye-catching was the iron pot on a wooden tray. When the lid lifted, a rich, savory aroma filled the air—the signature small fish pot stickers.

Golden, glossy small fish bubbled and gurgled in the broth at the bottom, surrounded by a ring of handmade dough stickers. Just looking at it was mouthwatering.

“Please enjoy.”

The server thoughtfully used serving chopsticks to place a piece of dough in each person’s plate, explaining the best way to eat it: dipping the dough in the delicious fish broth.

Actually, this preparation method was most popular with clay pot chicken. Few restaurants sold small fish pot stickers primarily because sourcing the ingredients was a major challenge.

Chickens were far easier to procure than palm-sized fish. These small fish could only be sourced in large quantities from regions with abundant waterways, and the cost was high.

When Jiang Lu saw the dish, she grew misty-eyed, recalling scenes from the countryside where she’d made small fish pot stickers with catch from the river.

Lin Dong was the first to pick up a piece of dough, dip it in the broth, and take a bite. His eyes lit up slightly.

“The dough is crispy outside and soft inside, especially after absorbing the fish broth—savory, fragrant, with rich texture. Lulu, you must try it.”

Jiang Lu also tried a piece of fish: “Very fresh, quite delicious.”

Lin Feng likewise praised the dish, saying it was the best fish pot he’d ever had.

Besides the small fish pot stickers, the other dishes were also excellent. Not a single one had any obvious flaw.

This was truly remarkable for a small place like Pearl City.

What they didn’t know was that every dish at Fisher’s Joy had to undergo tasting and evaluation by all local staff and chefs, and could only be added to the menu if over ninety percent approved.

Aside from a few fixed signature dishes, each branch’s menu was adjusted based on the chefs’ specialties, giving each location its own character.

The only drawback was that this model made opening new branches extremely slow.

During the meal, they once again experienced Fisher’s Joy’s meticulous service.

Tea was refilled the moment it ran low, bone plates were promptly replaced, and servers constantly attended to each table’s needs without being intrusive.

A woman who appeared to be a floor manager noticed Jiang Lu seemed sensitive to spice. She proactively asked if they should adjust the small fish pot sticker broth to be milder, and quickly brought a small bowl of specially prepared non-spicy clear broth for dipping.

“This level of service is something many restaurants could learn from. Most importantly, it’s done naturally, making people feel comfortable. Anyone who can train employees to this degree is definitely someone remarkable,” Lin Dong remarked again.

“Dad, do you think this restaurant might be owned by some major corporation?” Lin Feng asked between bites of dough.

Before Lin Dong could answer, a group of students at the next table answered for them.

“Buddy, you guessed right. This restaurant belongs to the largest local group, Wanlong Society.”

“Wanlong Society? Why does that sound like some kind of gang?” Lin Feng instinctively blurted out.

The student immediately made a shushing gesture: “Hey! You can’t just say things like that! Wanlong Society… ah no, the Wanlong Group, is one of Pearl City’s top ethical enterprises. They’ve created countless jobs, done so much charity work, and most importantly, they strictly follow the law! So many of our university’s seniors dream of working for them after graduation!”

Lin Feng found the student’s tone somewhat strange, and asked again: “That impressive? Then this Group’s boss must be someone important, right?”

Another student traveling with them nodded: “She’s more than just important—she’s practically all-powerful… and she’s a black hand… bah! Self-made, I mean. Most importantly, she’s still a university student.”

Lin Dong: “……”

Lin Feng: “……”

All-powerful? Self-made?

Lin Feng leaned toward his father’s ear and whispered: “Dad, don’t you find the way they talk strange?”

Though the students corrected themselves quickly, the father and son were certain they hadn’t misheard. He’d meant to say “black,” not “white.”

“Mm, when things are abnormal, there must be something suspicious. This Wanlong Group is definitely not simple.”

Lin Dong had lived a long life and seen much. He knew that some local enterprises might have rather shady origins, only gradually going legitimate after growing large.

This Wanlong Society was likely such a company.

However, he didn’t dig deeper. They had no connection to this Wanlong Society; they were simply here to find someone.

Even if they did end up confronting them, he wasn’t afraid. Though the Lin Family wasn’t what it once was, some of the connections the old man had left behind remained. If something happened, they could still make their voices heard.

After finishing this topic, they began to eat with gusto.

When they were about halfway through their meal, Jiang Lu suddenly remembered something: “That’s right, I should have asked that girl I met on the plane for her contact information.”

Lin Dong: “The young girl you mentioned earlier that you got along with?”

Jiang Lu nodded: “Mm, she’s also in this city, also studying at Finance University.”

“If I’d gotten her contact information, maybe I could have asked her for help. She might have seen Tongtong on campus, perhaps they even know each other?”

At this point, she truly regretted it.

First, she and that girl had really hit it off. If the other party could help her, it might make approaching her daughter Tongtong smoother, or at least help her understand her daughter’s university life.

Lin Dong comforted her: “It’s fine. Anyway, we’re going directly to the school to find her tomorrow. As long as Tongtong is at Finance University, we’ll definitely find her.”

Jiang Lu nodded.

At this moment, Lin Feng couldn’t help but ask Jiang Lu a question: “Aunt Jiang, what exactly did you go through before?”

He’d never been interested in his stepmother Jiang Lu’s past before, but ever since his father had revealed what Jiang Lu had accomplished, his thoughts gradually changed. He began wanting to understand his stepmother’s history.

Lin Dong frowned: “Xiao Feng, that’s not something you should ask about.”

“It’s fine.”

Jiang Lu interrupted her husband: “Xiao Feng, if you want to know, I can tell you. Some things I can’t hide from you forever.”

Since his wife had said so, Lin Dong said nothing more.

Yet Jiang Lu’s first sentence stunned both father and son.

Jiang Lu: “I actually… have two daughters.”

Lin Dong nearly dropped his teacup: “What? Two?”

In ten years of marriage, he’d never heard his wife mention having another daughter!

Lin Feng was also stunned. What was going on here?

Hadn’t they always said there was only that unseen younger sister Tongtong? How did it become two?

Jiang Lu explained: “Tongtong is my younger daughter. My older daughter, Niannian, went missing shortly after birth. I suspect she was abducted.”

“Back then, I searched for her for a long time—reported to the police, posted missing person flyers, used every connection I had, but I couldn’t find her. I cried daily, my spirit nearly collapsed. I could only keep going with psychiatric medication.

My ex-husband was actually named Liu Lei. He was once a police officer, but I felt he was neither a competent cop nor a competent father.

As a father, he wouldn’t search for his own daughter, always fobbing me off with excuses about being busy. As a police officer, he spent all his time mingling with gang members. Later I learned he’d been fired for disciplinary violations and had become the leader of a powerful syndicate in Pearl City.

Later, I completely lost hope in him. What kind of scumbag doesn’t care when his own daughter goes missing, who abandons being a police officer to join the underworld? Why should I stay with him? I asked for a divorce.

He agreed to the divorce. After the paperwork was done, I left Pearl City. By then, I was already pregnant with Tongtong. He didn’t know.

Later… I never imagined I’d be targeted by human traffickers. When I woke up, I’d been sold to a gambler in the countryside. He’d paid for me, locked me up, and forced me to be his wife.

In the end, for the sake of my unborn child, I compromised, thinking I could live an ordinary life as a rural woman. But I never expected that he was a compulsive gambler who also abused me. His ex-wife had fled because of his beatings.

After Tongtong was born, I couldn’t take it anymore. While he was out gambling one night, I escaped under cover of darkness.

Laughably, that gambler always thought Tongtong was his child from when he was drunk. In reality, I’d never once been intimate with him.

After escaping, my mental problems grew worse. I constantly hallucinated, always feeling both children crying for their mother, always feeling someone was chasing me… Until I finally made my way back to my parents’ home. I stayed there for three years. It was during those three years that my mother and father passed away one after another…“

“Later, I went to Imperial Capital. There, I found professional psychiatrists. After long treatment, I gradually emerged from the shadows.

Afterward, I taught myself finance, joined an investment bank, and then… met your father.“

“Meeting your father was the luckiest thing that ever happened to me. Your father didn’t look down on my past, didn’t mind my history of mental illness, and was even willing to accept that I had a daughter…….

As she said this, she looked at her husband Lin Dong with eyes full of love. Without this man, she might not have been able to carry on.

Lin Dong reached out and held her hand, saying with heartache: “Lulu, you’ve suffered so much. Why have you never told me these things?”

Though he had some general understanding of his wife, he’d never imagined her journey had been this arduous.

Jiang Lu’s eyes gradually reddened: “I was afraid you’d look down on me, afraid you’d think my past was too sordid… and truly, I didn’t want to relive those days.”

Lin Feng was silent for a long time before speaking an apology: “Auntie, I’m sorry!”

He truly hadn’t imagined his stepmother’s past was so painful and tortuous—marrying poorly, a daughter abducted, imprisonment and domestic abuse, parents dying young… it could be called a history of blood and tears.

At the same time, he was astonished by his stepmother’s powerful learning ability and resilience.

A woman who had endured so much hardship, who before thirty had become nearly disconnected from society and even teetered on the brink of mental collapse, had managed through self-study to enter investment banking and even help his father turn the tide and save the Lin Family Group from disaster.

One could imagine that if she hadn’t chosen to marry so early, her personal achievements would likely have been immeasurable.

No wonder Dad was so taken with her. Her looks and temperament aside—and it’s not that he’s shallow, but without looks as a foundation, Dad might not have noticed his stepmother—what mattered most were her resilience, capability, and gentle wisdom. These were the rarest qualities.

Setting aside her past experiences, she could almost be called perfect.

It was only natural that Dad fell for her.

“Xiao Feng, you don’t need to apologize to me.”

Jiang Lu said: “You’re also a member of this family. You have the right to know your family’s past. Perhaps one day, I might still find my eldest daughter. Though the hope is slim….. I will still try to find her.”

Lin Dong: “It will definitely happen!”

Lin Feng: “Auntie, I’ll help you search from now on too!”

………..

Meanwhile.

In a private room upstairs at Fisher’s Joy.

Liu Yutong and Gao Min were sorting through the clues they’d extracted from Zhao Weixiang.

“Sis, Zhao Weixiang confessed to many things, including who really killed Dad back then.”

Liu Yutong: “It’s Jiang Yuan, right?”

Gao Min nodded: “This Jiang Yuan is no simple man. He’s a famous patriotic businessman from Harbor City, a regular at charity galas, holding seven or eight positions as a ZX committee member. He appears very upstanding.

But behind the scenes, he’s involved in all kinds of dirty business—smuggling, money laundering, fraud… possibly even espionage.

We’ve pretty much sorted out the evidence now. The problem is how to arrest him. The guy is cunning. Every time he comes to the mainland, it’s a brief visit—he leaves after one night at most, returning to Harbor City. Most importantly, he hasn’t been back to the mainland recently. Who knows if he’s caught wind of something or sensed something’s off.“

Liu Yutong, of course, knew why. Jiang Yuan was waiting and watching. He was probably uncertain whether Zhao Weixiang was really dead, or if the materials in Zhao’s possession had fallen into others’ hands. That’s why he was being so cautious.

However, she didn’t necessarily have to wait for him to walk into her trap, because an opportunity to capture him was at hand.

“If he won’t come, we can invite him.”

“How?”

“Jiang Yuan has some connections with a top-tier elite family in Imperial Capital—the Jiang Family. I hear the Jiang Family is throwing an eightieth birthday banquet for the family matriarch soon. Jiang Yuan has always wanted to climb into relationships with such elite families, to have his ancestral roots recognized. He wouldn’t want to miss such an occasion, would he?”

“Hmm? How did you learn about this?”

“Last time I returned to Imperial Capital, I heard it from Uncle Li and their conversations. The NDRC leader I met was surnamed Jiang, and he also sent me an invitation.”