After leaving the mansion by Houhai, the black Mercedes-Benz drove through Deshengmen Inner Street and arrived at a restaurant located in a courtyard near Beihai Park.
As soon as they got out of the car and saw the unassuming entrance, Lin Dacang immediately expressed his dissatisfaction. He turned to his daughter, who had just stepped out of the car, and said, "What kind of place is this? Why didn't we go to a proper restaurant?"
Vice Mayor Jiang, who had just gotten out of the front passenger seat, walked over. Hearing Lin Dacang scolding his daughter and seeing Lin Zhao at a loss for words, he once again stepped in to smooth things over. "Old Lin, you don't understand. The high-end restaurants are all hidden in these deep courtyards. The big restaurants you're thinking of are for outsiders."
Facing Vice Mayor Jiang, Lin Dacang immediately changed his tone and smiled. "That's good. We mustn't let Vice Mayor Jiang feel slighted."
He then quickly signaled his daughter to stop looking so cold and to hurry up and lead the guests inside.
Lin Zhao forced a smile and gestured for everyone to enter. Once inside, she requested a private room. After everyone was seated, Vice Mayor Jiang, who had been subtly probing the female guard during the car ride, noticed that Sister Yan hadn't come in. He turned to Lin Zhao and said, "Should we invite Ms. Yan to join us?"
Lin Dacang, who had just taken the menu from the waitress in a qipao, immediately interjected, "Why would a driver come in? Vice Mayor Jiang, please, order whatever you like. Don't be shy."
Vice Mayor Jiang didn't press further. He took the menu, glanced at it, and even though he was well-traveled, the prices still made his eye twitch slightly. He ordered one meat and two vegetable dishes before handing the menu back to Lin Dacang.
Lin Dacang, while saying that Vice Mayor Jiang was being too polite, looked at the menu and, lacking the vice mayor's composure, blurted out, "Why is it so expensive?"
However, after the words left his mouth, he realized he sounded like a country bumpkin. His face reddened as he glanced at the waitress still standing nearby.
Vice Mayor Jiang once again smiled and casually remarked, "Old Lin, think about the car your daughter just rode in. That Mercedes-Benz? You couldn't get it for less than 2 million."
2 million?!
Lin Dacang looked at his daughter in shock. He had known the car was nice, but he hadn't expected it to be that expensive. The factory he had recently taken over, not counting its debts, was only worth about 2 to 3 million.
His daughter had really made it big.
Lin Zhao, feeling her father's gaze, softly explained, "That's the company's car."
Lin Dacang nodded repeatedly, and now without hesitation, he ordered seven or eight dishes. When it came to drinks, he even dismissed Maotai and instead asked for two bottles of foreign liquor whose names he couldn't even pronounce.
Lin Zhao watched uncomfortably as the waitress took the menu away, feeling uneasy.
The money she had borrowed from Sister Yan earlier was around 700 to 800 yuan, equivalent to a month's salary in this era. It would have been enough for a meal here, but she hadn't expected her father to order so much, and all the expensive items at that.
What... what should she do now?
Lin Dacang, feeling proud after his lavish display in front of Vice Mayor Jiang, was already flushed even before drinking. As soon as the waitress left, he couldn't wait to ask again, "Xiao Zhao, that Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon premiere you attended, where you appeared on TV, what was that all about? Tell me again."
Lin Zhao sighed, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Dad, that was just a... friend playing a joke on me."
"Still lying to your dad?" Lin Dacang said, not believing her. "That's not something you can joke about!"
Lin Zhao simply fell silent.
Lin Dacang didn't wait for his daughter's response. He patted his son, Lin Yan, who was sitting beside him. "Your brother is good-looking too. Why don't you pull some strings and get him to stay in Beijing? Send him to that... film academy, and then he can become a star. I heard the guy who starred in Shaolin Temple is now earning tens of millions in the U.S. Your brother is just as handsome as him."
Lin Zhao glanced at her brother, who was looking eager, and could only say, "He's only 15. He's too young. It's better for him to continue studying."
"Of course, he'll study," Lin Dacang said firmly. "He'll study in Beijing. Your mom and I have mentioned this to you several times. The No. 1 Middle School in our city is just average. If he comes to Beijing, it'll be easier for him to get into a university here."
Lin Zhao paused and changed the subject. "Dad, how are Mom and my sister doing?"
"They're fine, all good. And your sister, your dad knows it's not easy for you to be here alone. This time, I only brought your brother. You have a pair of siblings, and helping this one is enough. Your mom and I won't ask for more."
Lin Zhao fell silent again.
She knew exactly what her siblings were like.
If... she could really help, she would rather have her sister, who consistently ranked in the top three in her grade, come to Beijing. As for her brother, although he seemed well-behaved now, he was always getting into fights and his grades were a mess. There was also that incident last time. She knew all about it. Her only hope for her brother was that he would grow up and live a stable life. That was all.
She wanted to be good to her family, but she wasn't a fool.
Vice Mayor Jiang, seeing the tension between father and daughter, quickly intervened again. "Old Lin, these family matters take time. Don't pressure the child."
Hearing Vice Mayor Jiang speak, Lin Dacang immediately changed his tone and nodded repeatedly.
Vice Mayor Jiang took control of the conversation and turned to Lin Zhao. "Xiao Lin, you must have met Director Ang Lee at the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon premiere, right?"
Lin Zhao nodded slightly.
Lin Dacang, seeing this, got angry again. "Your Uncle Jiang is talking to you, and you can't even say a word?"
Vice Mayor Jiang, ever the diplomat, intervened again. "Old Lin, don't be like this. Some people are naturally shy. You can't force it."
Lin Dacang nodded repeatedly.
Vice Mayor Jiang looked at Lin Zhao again, his expression kind, though his mind was racing. If only he had known earlier that the Lin family had such a daughter... But now... Still, from the conversation between father and daughter, it seemed there was a younger sister... But given Lin Zhao's current status, he would have to plan carefully.
Thinking this, Vice Mayor Jiang spoke sincerely, "Xiao Lin, since Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was released, the Bamboo Sea in southern Sichuan has become incredibly popular. I heard that in the past few months alone, hundreds of thousands of foreign tourists have visited. Think of how much foreign currency that brings to the local economy. Our city, your hometown, has beautiful mountains and rivers too. Could you help introduce us? It doesn't have to be Director Ang Lee. I heard Directors Chen and Zhang are also working on big projects. Could they come to our city to film? The city will do everything to support them."
Lin Zhao hadn't expected Vice Mayor Jiang to make such a request. She shook her head. "Uncle Jiang, it really was just a friend playing a joke on me. I only met Director Ang Lee briefly. I can't help with this."
Lin Dacang, however, seized the key point. "Xiao Zhao, if that's the case, then ask your friend to help?"
When he said "friend," Lin Dacang emphasized the word slightly.
Lin Zhao thought of Chen Qing. Honestly, she wanted to avoid her at all costs. How could she ask her for help? Moreover, even if she did ask, would Chen Qing be willing to help?
However, Lin Zhao sensed the underlying meaning in her father's emphasis on the word "friend." He probably thought she had hooked up with some wealthy and powerful man. This made her think of a certain man's figure. But now, she wasn't even sure if he counted as her... "friend." That first night, she had been robbed of him by two "Daji" figures. The second night, she had thought she would finally get her chance, only to find out that he had to leave urgently due to the so-called Westeros Effect.
Nothing had happened in the end.
Lin Dacang, seeing his daughter fall silent again, was about to get angry when the waitress arrived with the food. Remembering Vice Mayor Jiang's earlier advice, he softened his tone. "No rush, no rush. Xiao Zhao, let's eat first."
Lin Zhao finally relaxed a little.
Although Lin Dacang and Vice Mayor Jiang continued to probe and inquire throughout the meal, they didn't press her for anything immediately.
About ten minutes later, Lin Zhao excused herself briefly and went to the restroom. She pulled out her phone and called Xia Panxi, softly asking to borrow more money.
The lunch lasted an hour.
The final bill came to 6,300 yuan, eating up more than half of the 10,000 yuan Xia Panxi had quietly brought over.
Lin Zhao felt both heartache and helplessness.
---
After the meal, Vice Mayor Jiang bid farewell. It turned out a Santana had been following them, so they didn't need to drive him back to the guesthouse.
With just the three of them left, since they were in Beijing, they naturally wanted to do some sightseeing. Lin Zhao suggested visiting the Forbidden City, and both her father and brother agreed. How could you come to Beijing without taking a photo in front of Tiananmen?
However, after touring the Forbidden City, Lin Yan mentioned wanting to buy some clothes.
With winter approaching, Lin Zhao thought about getting some clothes for her parents and sister as well, so she agreed. Knowing the best brands were on Wangfujing, east of the Forbidden City, but considering the few thousand yuan left in her bag, she decided to go to Xidan instead.
Unfortunately, things quickly took a turn.
After buying a few pieces of clothing, they entered a branded down jacket store. Lin Dacang, looking at a down jacket priced at 700 yuan, pretended to be pained as he joked, "This costs more than a month's salary back in the day. I've never worn anything this expensive in my life."
The sales assistant, surprisingly well-informed, looked at Lin Zhao, who was helping her father try on the jacket, and said with a smile, "Uncle, you're just too frugal. Not to mention the Burberry trench coat your daughter is wearing, just that Hermès handbag she has is probably worth tens of thousands. This down jacket is nothing in comparison."
Lin Dacang, hearing this, looked suspiciously at his daughter and then at the orange handbag she had casually placed on a nearby chair. His voice faltered. "This... such a small bag... costs tens of thousands?"
The tall and attractive sales assistant, her eyes filled with envy, wished the bag was a fake. But judging by Lin Zhao's outfit, her demeanor, and the woman accompanying her, it was clear the bag was genuine. She continued respectfully, "Uncle, bags aren't priced by size but by brand. Hermès is the most expensive brand in the world."
Lin Zhao, sensing her father's growing unease, quickly interrupted the sales assistant. "We'll take this one. Please wrap it up."
The sales assistant nodded and began packing the jacket.
After leaving the store, Lin Dacang clearly lost interest in shopping. He walked to a seating area by the window in the mall corridor and turned to his daughter, who had followed him. "Xiao Zhao, I won't beat around the bush. Tell me, did you find a man here?"
Lin Zhao thought of that man again, the two nights that never happened, the confidentiality agreements, and Chen Qing's warnings to keep her mouth shut. She instinctively shook her head. "Dad, there's no man."
Lin Dacang's anger flared again. "Still lying to me? No man? Then where did this bag, these clothes, and that car come from? Did they fall from the sky?"
Lin Zhao, holding back her frustration, explained, "Dad, the bag was a gift from a friend. The clothes were provided by the company. The car is also the company's."
"Fine, fine. You can lie so easily now," Lin Dacang said through gritted teeth. "Tell me, what kind of friend gives you a bag worth tens of thousands? Introduce me to this friend. Let me meet them."
Lin Zhao, her eyes stinging, blinked rapidly. "My friend... is a woman. It's not what you think. She... her family is very wealthy. She arranged for me to attend the premiere. I didn't know the bag was so expensive. If I had, I wouldn't have accepted it."
Lin Dacang didn't believe her. After his daughter finished speaking, he said directly, "Forget it. I won't ask you anymore. Vice Mayor Jiang and I came here to ask for your help. Besides the movie thing, the factory I took over needs funding. Will you help or not?"
Lin Zhao lowered her head and didn't respond, but she shook her head slightly.
Lin Dacang, seeing his daughter's stubbornness, stomped his foot and, completely disregarding his dignity, squatted on the floor and began wailing like an opera singer. "Fine, fine. My daughter has made it big. Carrying a bag worth tens of thousands, riding in a car worth millions, but she won't lift a finger to help her parents and siblings. What kind of daughter is this? How did I raise such a daughter?"
He kept his voice low, aware they were in a public place.
Lin Yan, seeing his father's sudden loss of dignity and noticing the strange looks from other shoppers, felt embarrassed and quietly stepped back, then stepped back again. Sister Yan, who had been silently following, stepped closer, worried about a confrontation between father and daughter.
Lin Zhao's tears finally fell. She stepped forward and tugged at her father's arm. "Dad, get up. I..."
Lin Dacang shook off her hand and returned to his earlier tone. "Just say it. Will you help or not?"
Lin Zhao wiped her eyes and whispered, "Dad, if I could, I would help. But I really can't."
"Fine, you can't help. You can't help..." Lin Dacang seamlessly transitioned back into his wailing. "You ride in a car worth millions, carry a bag worth tens of thousands, but you can't help with such a small family matter. If this factory goes under, how will I keep my job as manager? Your mom and I will lose our jobs. The whole family will starve, while our heartless daughter rides in a car worth millions and carries a bag worth tens of thousands."
Lin Zhao began to sob but still said, "Dad, I never wanted you to take over that factory. You said it yourself, it's about to go bankrupt."
Lin Dacang simply sat down on the floor, still dragging out his words and slapping his thighs. "If the factory were doing well, do you think they'd let your dad take over? You grew up in that factory. Uncle Kang, who was so good to you when you were little, always gave you cookies when you visited. And Xiao Qin, who grew up with you, just started working there this year. These are your people! Over a hundred mouths to feed. And here you are, saying you can't help. Fine, let the factory go under. Let everyone lose their jobs. Let us all starve, while our heartless daughter rides in a car worth millions and carries a bag worth tens of thousands..."
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