Chapter 946: Chapter 819: Faces of All Beings

At noon in Beijing, the sun was like a fireball, scorching the earth. The sweltering heat in the air made it hard to breathe, without a trace of wind. The ground was scorching hot, and people felt the heat burning their feet while walking. Even the parasol trees by the road stood droopily without moving.

Riding her bicycle, Lin Liyin arrived at the gate of the Big Courtyard, and as soon as she got off, she anxiously rushed to the security booth, asking why no one from the Zhou Family was answering the phone.

"When Chief Zhou left for business out of town, he took the whole family with him," the sentry, familiar with Lin Liyin, thought for a moment, "You can call them over there."

"How about the Cheng Family then?"

"They’re not here either."

Lin Liyin bit her lip and asked, "Besides my older brother-in-law, when will the others return?" She knew some families would leave messages in case of emergencies.

"No idea."

Realizing she couldn’t get any more information, Lin Liyin hesitated for a moment, thanked him, and then hurried to the Art Troupe.

A young female soldier shook her head as usual, "We can’t know the troupe’s activities in advance. If there’s a mission, Director Mou would come back early."

Mou? Lin Liyin felt a jolt in her heart, her face changed slightly, and she forced a smile, "When did your director change?"

"No, just a surname change." The female soldier stuck out her tongue after speaking, chuckling awkwardly, "You can call her home, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go now."

Lin Liyin sighed as she watched the other person quickly leave after speaking. It turns out the surname had been changed long ago, it’s genuinely different now. Call? She smiled bitterly while getting back on her bicycle. Since her brother-in-law Zhou Xiaozheng had been promoted again, ordinary calls no longer reached the Zhou family.

Dejected, Lin Liyin returned to the retirement home. Upon stepping into the living room, she saw several people sitting there and quickly gulped several sips of tea without speaking much.

"Hold on, I’ll wash my face first."

"Go ahead, no rush. I asked Auntie to make green bean soup." Sitting in an upper seat, Mr. Lin was aware that running around outside in such a hot day was not easy.

Lin Liyin nodded listlessly.

If it wasn’t urgent, why not let her wait until the sun set? As if her daughter mattered when it pertained to her son. It’s a pity wasting a good weekend, also not knowing how the two sons are doing at their aunt’s house.

In the living room, Lin Lao’er, Lin Aidang, had returned to Beijing just a few days ago with a veteran’s certificate. Seeing his sister’s worried expression, he glanced at his wife. The two exchanged looks and looked toward Mr. Lin.

"Old Lin, let the child report according to regulations." Elder Jiang patiently advised. He thought it would be good to work as a security director at the factory, also facilitating his daughter’s employment there.

"That place is too far away, going to the vacuum flask factory is also fine." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

By this time, the Beijing suburb thermos factory had been established for two or three years, growing in scale, no longer the open-air small workshop it used to be, despite being located remotely.

Hearing the family-in-law say so, Elder Jiang immediately kept silent. If even the father doesn’t agree, how could he manage the son-in-law? Especially seeing the sparkle in his daughter’s eyes across from him. Alas, children are perpetual debts!

By the time Lin Liyin finished her shower and sat down with wet hair, half an hour had passed. She shook her head without waiting for them to speak.

Mr. Lin furrowed his brow, "Didn’t you say in a few days it’s my 70th birthday?"

"Dad, I didn’t even see them."

"What’s going on? Your brother-in-law needs to do business there, but does your sister need to go too?" Mr. Lin asked angrily with a stern face.

"Old Lin, don’t rush, let the child speak slowly."

"Alas, as children grow older, they grow wings."

Elder Jiang was silent again. He glanced at his old in-law, quickly lowered his head, and picked up his teacup. Rather regretful of coming after hearing what his daughter said.

Lin Liyin also felt helpless. Were these words directed at her or implied to her older sister? She didn’t want to dwell on it. Some things shouldn’t be pondered upon, thinking too much would close her family’s path.

"I went to the Big Courtyard, indeed as Uncle Jiang said, no one was home at the Zhou family. Then I went to the Art Troupe..." Lin Liyin thought it best to be brief, "They also said my sister wasn’t there."

"Didn’t you think of asking Shanshan when she might return, with August 1st approaching?"

"Her husband is the army commander; how would an ordinary person like me know her whereabouts?"

Having lived for most of his life, Mr. Lin, if not born wise, could certainly detect something wrong from the sourness in her words. He asked calmly, "Did someone say something unpleasant?"

While speaking, he glanced at his old in-law, sipping tea with his head down, with a wry smile and sigh, "Indeed, people abandon you once you leave your position. Old Jiang, you’d better not retire."

This remark was laden with provocation, causing Elder Jiang to chuckle and shake his head lightly.

"Come on, did someone give you a hard time? Don’t be afraid, as long as your father is alive, I’ll back you up."

Lin Liyin initially thought she could bypass the topic but didn’t expect Mr. Lin to pursue it. Whether to mention her older sister having changed her surname, she pondered, should she bring it up or not?

"Did you lose your temper and offend someone?"

Alongside, Lin Aidang continued, "Little sister, you should change your temper."

Provoked by this father-son duo, Lin Liyin sighed, "It’s nothing important, better not trouble Director Mou, as she’s no longer surnamed Lin."

"What? That ungrateful..."

Jiang Jiangyu blurted out and was instantly hushed by Elder Jiang’s sharp gaze, shifting uneasily and nervously glancing at her father-in-law with a tense expression.

Doomed, absolutely doomed, why couldn’t she restrain her blabbering mouth? After much effort for her father to bring her in, getting kicked out again would be her absolute end!

Mr. Lin paid her no mind; whether the in-law was present or not, he still had to consider his two grandsons.

"Has your older sister truly changed her surname? I recall the last time she visited me in the hospital, people still addressed her as Director Lin."

Elder Jiang worried about his friend’s condition, kindly advised, "Regardless of the surname, doesn’t the child still call you Dad?"

"It’s different."

"What’s the difference? Actually, Shanshan changed her surname long ago, but everyone was used to calling her that, and she didn’t care, always being called Little Lin, Little Lin."

"So I’m the only one in the dark?"

Elder Jiang regretted immersing himself in this chaotic affair, giving his daughter a covert glare before continuing to comfort, "The child didn’t even change her name, why would anyone mention it to you under normal circumstances?"

"Old Lin, you should still consider the child. People from her biological father’s side have come to find her, it wouldn’t make sense not to change it. These are all formalities. Let’s focus on the important matter, I have something to do later."

Lin Liyin looked at him in surprise, then at everyone else, suddenly realizing. So for a birthday celebration, did she really need to venture so far in the heat?

Upon looking at the few people present that day, she understood whose important matter was being discussed.

In disbelief, Lin Liyin turned to Lin Aidang, "Hadn’t he already reported to the District Military Office? Is the person not assigning you work?"

The more she thought, the more possible it seemed. "That Wu fellow, is he being excessive? This damn scoundrel, no need for father to act, I’ll bring him down!"

Mr. Lin hurriedly stopped his daughter from getting up, "What are you shouting for! There’s no such thing, sit down quickly!"

Beside her, Lin Aidang also held her back, "Little sister, don’t be impulsive, listen to what it’s about first."