Chapter 101: Lin Yuangui's Outburst

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Hong Chen gnawed at a chicken leg, his gaze meeting Lin Meimei's for a brief moment. He smiled enigmatically and mumbled in response, "I accept your apology. I'll pass it along to my boss."

The old lady stared at him intently. "Hong Chen, this matter must be settled properly. Can you guarantee that?"

This time, Hong Chen didn't hedge. He shook his head plainly. "No, I can't guarantee it. I'm the driver, and he's the boss. A subordinate can hardly sway his superior's decision."

A flicker of displeasure passed through the old lady's eyes. She ignored Hong Chen and turned her gaze back to Lin Yuxin. "Yuxin, since Hong Chen's boss is willing to step forward on the strength of his regard for Hong Chen, I believe that as long as Hong Chen is willing, he can surely persuade his boss to clear up the misunderstanding with the Lin family. What do you think?"

It was the same old tactic—to achieve her goal, she imposed her will and pressured relentlessly. The difference was that in the past she had relied solely on high-handed coercion, whereas now she was alternating between the carrot and the stick. Since Linfeng Commerce and Trade no longer belonged to the Lin family, the only leverage the Lin family had to force her compliance was a shred of so-called family affection—but that affection had long since grown thin and insipid in Lin Yuxin's heart.

"Grandmother, pressuring me about this is pointless. I'm just an employee now. Whatever the company leadership says, that's what I'll do."

Rebuffed once again, the old lady's patience was nearly worn through. After a brief silence, her tone suddenly shifted. "Yuxin, today, apart from Yufei who is at school, all of the Lin family is present. If you consider us all family, then say outright whatever grievances weigh on your heart. If you feel your grandmother has wronged you in any way, I'll apologize to you right here and now."

These words carried tremendous weight. Since the old man's passing, the old lady's word had been law in the Lin family. Who among them could bear an apology from her?

Lin Yuangui's expression tightened. Seeing that the old lady was growing angry, and fearing that Lin Yuxin might say something inappropriate and pour fuel on the fire, he quickly interjected, "Mom, you said it yourself—we're all one family. There's no need for talk of wrongs done or not done."

The old lady knew perfectly well that Lin Yuangui was soft-hearted and had been waiting for him to speak. She immediately darkened her expression. "Yuangui, this old woman hasn't lost her wits. I'm fully aware that all of you in your household bear a grudge against me over the Yufei matter. But I have my own unavoidable difficulties. Lately, the Lin family has been beset by misfortunes: first we lost two pharmacies to the Liu family, then Meimei's advertising agency was blacklisted by Hongcheng Group, and after that, Lin Group ran into a financial crisis..."

She paused, glancing at Lin Yuanhai, who picked up the thread at once. "Recently, Lin Group has failed to collect three accounts receivable in a row. I also negotiated a new project in Luoshi and invested a large sum in the early stages, which strained the capital chain. Mom took out two million from her personal savings to lend to Lin Group, and that still wasn't enough—I previously mortgaged Linfeng Commerce and Trade and took out a loan of three million. Yuxin, you know about this."

Lin Yuxin's gaze met Lin Yuanhai's briefly, but she said nothing.

Once Lin Yuanhai finished, the old lady continued, "Yuangui, now do you understand my difficulties?"

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Lin Yuangui nodded with simple, honest submission. The old lady sighed and shifted tack. "Yuangui, this time I've gone out of my way to elevate you to the position of vice president of Lin Group. I made it clear to you from the start: first, because I feel guilty over the Yufei matter—this counts as a form of compensation to your household. Second, I hope Lin Group can cooperate with Linfeng Commerce and Trade. Yuxin is your daughter, and with you in charge of the matter, there will be fewer awkward barriers between father and daughter. If Lin Group makes money, everyone in the Lin family shares in it. I'm doing this for the sake of the entire family. What do you say?"

Lin Yuangui wore a troubled expression. He might be soft-hearted, but he was not stupid. He couldn't agree carelessly—agreeing would mean helping the old lady pressure Lin Yuxin into submission.

The old lady didn't wait long for his answer. She spoke again. "Yuangui, since we're all family, I'll lay things out plainly. Back then, the old man credited that life-saving contract worth twenty million to your name and rewarded you with ten percent of Lin Group's shares, gave Yuxin thirty-five percent of Linfeng Commerce and Trade's shares and the position of president. I knew full well that the old man was playing favorites, but did I ever raise a single word of objection? Now I'll speak a plain truth: that contract was secured by my maiden family on behalf of the Lin family."

At these words, shock spread across everyone's faces.

Lin Shujie was the first to jump up, bristling with indignation. "Mom, Dad was too biased! How could he credit your contribution to... someone else's name?"

Lin Meimei chimed in, "That's right, Grandmother. I remember Grandpa going on and on back then about rewarding merit and punishing fault—it was pure favoritism."

Lin Yuanshan shook his head with a sigh. "So that's how it was. So that's how it was."

Lin Tianhao also cried out, "Grandmother, that's unfair!"

The old lady swept them with a stern glare. "Quiet! I'm the one who's been wronged, and I'm not making a fuss about it. What are you all shouting for? Do you think the Yuangui household owes the Lin family a debt? Search your own consciences—have you never wronged the Yuangui household yourselves?"

Everyone exchanged glances. Whatever they thought privately, at least they fell silent, and no one voiced further complaints.

The old lady turned her eyes back to Lin Yuangui. The moment his gaze met hers, he lowered his head at once, feeling utterly ashamed, guilt flooding through him.

He had always believed that contract had come through the old man's connections. He had felt some indebtedness to the Lin family, but not deeply—after all, the old man was his own father. Yet now, learning that it was actually the old lady's connection, and that she had silently accepted the old man's favoritism back then, his sense of indebtedness swelled instantly, and it was all transferred onto the old lady.

"Mom... I never knew about this."

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At this moment, Lin Yuangui was like a child who had done something wrong, tormented within. The old lady took the opportunity to assume the posture of an elder, magnanimously waving her hand. "I had intended to carry the truth with me to the grave. But now, because of the Yufei matter, I see that your household has developed resentment toward the Lin family, so I've spoken up. I hope you can understand the pains I've taken. Sometimes my decisions seem cold and ruthless, subjecting your family to unfair treatment, but I do it all for the greater good of the entire Lin family."

Lin Yuangui nodded again and again. Suddenly he looked at Lin Yuxin, as if he had made some momentous decision, and let out a breath. "Yuxin, just listen to your grandmother."

Lin Yuxin's brow furrowed slightly. Her lips moved, as if about to speak, but Lin Yuangui continued, "Your grandparents devoted half their lives to running Lin Group, and afterward your uncle tended it with care. Speaking frankly, our household never made any contribution. That ten percent of Lin Group shares I hold, your thirty-five percent of Linfeng Commerce and Trade, and the president's position—all of it was given to us by your grandmother out of the goodness of her heart. One must never forget one's roots."

He paused, then drew a deep breath. "Just now, Huihuang and Meimei have already apologized, and I'm about to take office as vice president of Lin Group—that's a form of compensation in itself. As for the Yufei matter, what's past is past. We are all Lins, all one family. You should stop dwelling on it."

Hearing her father say all this, Lin Yuxin fell silent, troubled at heart. Her father had thrown in his lot entirely with the old lady. He was soft-natured, but also single-minded—once he truly fixed his mind on something, not even nine yoke of oxen could drag him back, just as when he had agreed on her behalf to the old man's demand all those years ago, marrying her off to Hong Chen.

At this point, if she continued to make excuses and fob them off, even without the old lady pressing her, Lin Yuangui would most likely lose his temper. Would it really come to a public falling-out between father and daughter?

"Dad, pressuring Yuxin about this is pointless. That was my boss's decision." Just as Lin Yuxin was caught in a tangle of indecision, a cold, flat voice cut through abruptly, drawing everyone's gaze. Hong Chen ignored the others, looking calmly at Lin Yuangui. Lin Yuangui's brow twitched, and a sharp edge slowly crept into his eyes.

"Hong Chen, over the past two years, the members of the Lin family haven't treated you with much friendliness, and I understand that you harbor some resentment. But there's one thing you cannot deny: ever since you married Yuxin, all your expenses—food, clothing, housing, transport—have been provided by our family. As your father-in-law, is it too much to ask that you do something for the Lin family?"

Instead of answering, Hong Chen asked in return, "Dad, you want me to go convince my boss to drop his grudge against the Lin family, so that Yuxin can exercise her authority as president and have Linfeng Commerce and Trade strike a so-called partnership with Lin Group—in reality, to channel profits steadily into Lin Group, while those old employees who were transferred from Lin Group to Linfeng Commerce and Trade remain in their posts, which conveniently facilitates the operation. Am I right?"

Lin Yuangui's expression grew awkward. Hong Chen didn't press him for an answer and asked again, "Everyone has their own standpoint, and sometimes reason doesn't get through. Dad, let me ask one more question—what if I refuse?"

Something in that question seemed to strike a nerve in Lin Yuangui. His face darkened in an instant, and the words tumbled out with icy, resolute finality: "Then I, Lin Yuangui, will no longer acknowledge you as my son-in-law. Tomorrow, you will divorce Yuxin."

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