"Yes." Lin Chuan nodded and said, "This list is good. I'll go find Brother Zhao now."

Without delay, Lin Chuan immediately took action.

After returning to Jiangbei City with his son Goudan, Zhao Zhonghai continued his barbecue business. Barbecuing was still very profitable, and over the year, Zhao Zhonghai had made more than a hundred thousand. However, he used these funds to help the impoverished households in the village and the elderly, leaving only a bit for his own expenses.

In the afternoon, Zhao Zhonghai began busying himself with preparing skewers for the evening. Slicing the slices, threading the skewers. Goudan was also helping by his side. The father and son worked in silence, which created a very harmonious atmosphere.

At this time, Lin Chuan's jeep stopped in front of the barbecue shop.

"Master." With keen eyesight, Goudan immediately spotted Lin Chuan.

"Goudan, where's your dad?" Lin Chuan asked with a smile.

"Inside." Goudan excitedly replied.

"Alright." Lin Chuan nodded and said, "I'll go find your dad."

Zhao Zhonghai was busy working. When he saw Lin Chuan come in, he immediately stopped what he was doing, washed his hands, and then prepared to take out a cigarette. At this moment, Lin Chuan offered him one, saying, "Smoke mine."

"Sure." Zhao Zhonghai nodded and said, "Tell me, what brings you here?"

"Heh, no one visits a temple without a cause." Lin Chuan smiled, "I indeed have something for which I need your help this time."

"What is it?" Zhao Zhonghai asked with a smile.

"It's nothing major." Lin Chuan chuckled and said, "Here's the thing, I have a group of brothers under my command who I plan to seriously train. I wonder if Brother Zhao is available? Help me drill these youngsters. Perhaps they could be of great help to me in the future."

"This..." Zhao Zhonghai was stunned, as he had not expected Lin Chuan to make such a peculiar request.

"How about it?" Lin Chuan asked, seeing Zhao Zhonghai's hesitation, he smiled and said, "Don't worry Brother Zhao, I'll pay you monthly, and it definitely won't be less than what you earn from barbecuing."

"It's not about the money," Zhao Zhonghai said with an awkward smile.

"Then what is it?" Lin Chuan asked curiously.

"The thing is, I haven't been in the army for so many years and haven't trained anyone," Zhao Zhonghai laughed, "My skills have regressed a lot, nowhere near what I used to be."

"What does that matter?" Lin Chuan said with an awkward smile, "I'm not trying to form a new military unit, I just want them to learn some basic skills. Besides, I believe Brother Zhao will not let me down."

"Alright." A determined look flashed in Zhao Zhonghai's eyes as he said, "Since brother holds me in such high regard, of course, I won't let you down. How many people are you planning to train?"

"More than twenty," Lin Chuan said seriously to Zhao Zhonghai.

"Alright!" Zhao Zhonghai threw away the cigarette butt and said, "I'll sell off the stock I have and come to find you immediately. Selling barbecue here is always under the sun and rain, so I might as well return to my old profession."

"Haha, that's great." Lin Chuan was overjoyed and said, "Don't worry about money, Brother Zhao."

"No worries." Zhao Zhonghai shook his head and said, "We're brothers, it doesn't matter if you don't pay me."

Actually, Zhao Zhonghai was still very interested in military training. Although he had been away from the military life for many years, every day he stuck to a five-kilometer weighted run. Through wind and rain, he maintained this routine for years, keeping the essence of a soldier.

After persuading Zhao Zhonghai, Lin Chuan drove back to Changlin Factory.

He hadn't expected things to go so smoothly. Initially, Lin Chuan thought Zhao Zhonghai would not agree, but he ended up readily agreeing, which was beyond Lin Chuan's expectations. The smooth handling of the matter naturally put him in a good mood.

Upon returning home,

Nuo Xiaoxi was wearing an apron and washing vegetables. She smiled and said, "Brother Lin, why are you in such a good mood today? Did something nice happen?"

"You bet!" Lin Chuan nodded.

"What's making you so happy?" Nuo Xiaoxi asked curiously.

"Little kid, I'm not telling you." Lin Chuan smiled and then walked in.

Nuo Xiaoxi muttered to herself, saying, "What is it, where am I still little?"

While speaking, Nuo Xiaoxi looked down at her chest, which was obviously much bigger than last year. Nuo Xiaoxi felt indignant, eager to show Lin Chuan that she had grown up and was no longer the little girl from before. Thus, Nuo Xiaoxi felt both shy and annoyed.

But how could Lin Chuan possibly know what was going through Nuo Xiaoxi's mind?

Upon returning to his room, Lin Chuan lay on the bed and then took out his phone.

He didn't know how Tang Yumeng was doing right now; she was clearly his girlfriend, yet she had opted to go to dinner with Bai Yifan. Lin Chuan felt uneasy about it. However, after a bit of thought, he reassured himself that what belonged to him would always be his, and forcing what didn't belong to him was futile. If Tang Yumeng could be swayed by a mere meal with Bai Yifan, then it meant she was not the woman of his life. He could not force it.

Of course, if Bai Yifan used some coercive method, then he absolutely could not sit idly by. It didn't matter if his father was the deputy secretary—if he was even the secretary, he would be equally merciless.

......

Thai Restaurant.

During this meal, Tang Yumeng was actually far from at ease. If it had been before, she might have felt completely justified, but since that subtle relationship with Lin Chuan started, Tang Yumeng had experienced a change in her thoughts. Deep inside, there seemed to be a strange feeling, an inexplicable feeling that she belonged to Lin Chuan. As if she was a piece of merchandise, easily possessed and obtained by Lin Chuan.

Tang Yumeng found it odd, why did she feel this way deep inside?

"Xiao Yu, eat," Bai Yifan said softly from the side.

"Yeah," Tang Yumeng nodded, responding, "Thank you."

"Why be so formal with me?" Bai Yifan smiled gently, then continued: "You said you would give me and Lin Chuan the same chance to compete. I believe I can definitely beat Lin Chuan and win your heart."

On hearing this, Tang Yumeng felt conflicted; indeed, she really didn't feel the same way about Bai Yifan as she did for Lin Chuan, the kind of feeling between lovers. Tang Yumeng helplessly said, "Yifan, please don't put it like that, I don't want you to waste so much time on me."

"Don't say that," Bai Yifan chuckled, "What I have set my mind on is definitely not wrong."

Tang Yumeng felt a bit helpless; it seemed Bai Yifan was steadfast in his determination to pursue her. Persuasion seemed to have no effect. What should she do?

Even though Thai cuisine was one of Tang Yumeng's favorite dishes, the dinner that day felt tasteless, like chewing wax.

After a hard time getting through dinner, Bai Yifan took Tang Yumeng back to the City Committee compound.

Standing downstairs, Bai Yifan smilingly asked, "Xiao Yu, aren't you going to invite me up for a while?"

"It's so late," Tang Yumeng smiled and said, "You should head back and rest early too."

"Okay," Bai Yifan nodded.

Afterward, Bai Yifan drove his Mercedes away from the City Committee compound. As soon as Bai Yifan left, Tang Yumeng immediately turned around, entered the garage, jumped into her Porsche, and drove away. The garage door slowly closed automatically.

At this moment, Tang Yumeng felt an urgent desire to see Lin Chuan. For some reason, having not seen Lin Chuan for only a few hours felt like ages. She drove very fast, her speed anxious. It seemed like a voice inside was telling her, see Lin Chuan soon, see Lin Chuan soon.

Lin Chuan was lying in bed playing with his mobile phone.

He was also struggling, hesitating.

Debating whether or not to call Tang Yumeng, after thinking and hesitating for a long time. It seemed there was a voice in his head saying: "Call her, if you don't, Tang Yumeng will become someone else's girl. Call her, maybe she is already home; call her, isn't it normal to say goodnight before sleep?"

On the mobile screen, Tang Yumeng's phone number appeared several times. But, Lin Chuan had not made the call, as if the phone's keypad was unusually dangerous.

Beep Beep Beep…

Suddenly, the brick-like Nokia phone vibrated abruptly.

Lin Chuan immediately pressed the answer button, excitedly saying, "Sister, have... have you had dinner?"

"Lin Chuan, where are you?" Tang Yumeng urgently asked.

"Sister, what... what's wrong? Is there some trouble?" Lin Chuan was alarmed.

"Yes, a big issue," Tang Yumeng said through gritted teeth.

"What happened?" Lin Chuan jumped up from the bed hurriedly.

"Come outside," Tang Yumeng said just that, then hung up.

Immediately, Lin Chuan felt extremely anxious, feeling as if the sky was about to fall. Could it be that Bai Yifan did something to Tang Yumeng? No, he had to check the situation immediately. After saying that, Lin Chuan hastily put on his shoes and rushed out, not even managing to wear a coat, just clad in a white shirt. Although the temperature was already around zero outside, to Lin Chuan, that meant nothing.

However, when Lin Chuan rushed outside, he saw a Porsche parked by the roadside.

"Sister?" Lin Chuan was taken aback.

Tang Yumeng leaned against the car door, her hands tucked in the pockets of her coat, gazing affectionately at Lin Chuan.

"Sister, what... what's wrong?" Lin Chuan rushed over, his face tense, asking urgently, "What happened? Did Bai Yifan do something to you?"

"No," Tang Yumeng smiled slowly.

"Then what is it, please don't scare me," Lin Chuan was very anxious.

"I just lost something very important to me," Tang Yumeng said, biting her red lips shyly while glancing at Lin Chuan.

"What thing?" Lin Chuan startled, quickly pulled out his phone, and said, "Tell me quickly, I'll have Zhou Kai gather everyone immediately to find it."

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