Lin Jiatao

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Lin Jiatao (林家涛)
Alias(es)	Boss Lin; CEO Lin; “Big Brother” among his longtime associates 17 281
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Lin Family; Haochi Group; Far East Chamber of Commerce; later allied with Su Rui against the Zhong Family 15 407
Occupation/Role	Head of the Lin Family; CEO of Haochi Group; former underworld leader 17 80
Status	Alive; attempting to withdraw from major-family conflicts after the Zhong Family’s collapse 493 505
First Appearance	Chapter 2
Age	52 4

Background / History

Lin Jiatao rose from the underworld alongside four sworn brothers, including Jing Hui, Fang Yuan, and Cao Feng. After founding Haochi Group, he entrusted those old associates with substantial authority within the company. His wife later installed her own relatives in senior positions, creating a long-running split between her faction and the original members. 111 115

Before the main conflict, the Lin Group faced a capital-turnover crisis and narrowly avoided bankruptcy after Director Su lent it fifteen billion. With the Far East Chamber of Commerce’s backing and Lin Jiatao’s business acumen, the group expanded rapidly and became a major force in Tongzhou. 2 15

When his son Lin Tianyou was hospitalized after provoking Su Rui, Lin Jiatao initially believed the attacker belonged to the Nanning Su Family. He attempted to identify Su Rui through Director Su, then dispatched armed men to seize him after learning that Su Rui had no genuine connection to the Su Family. 4 13

Su Rui defeated Lin Jiatao’s men and confronted him at Haochi Commercial Building. Lin Jiatao initially sought measured retribution for Tianyou’s injuries, but immediately changed his stance after learning that Li Ruobing was involved; he compensated Wang Chen and treated Su Rui cordially rather than risk a direct clash with the Li Family. 15 16

Privately, Lin Jiatao regarded Su Rui as a future threat and planned to weaken the Li Family over the following three years, intending to replace it as Tongzhou’s leading wealthy family. He ordered veterans to capture Su Rui, but Su Rui retaliated by shooting him in the leg, leaving him severely injured and later comatose. 17 79 125

After awakening, Lin Jiatao learned that internal discord had damaged the Lin Family during his absence. He blamed Madam Lin for the winery fire and removed her from company affairs, prioritizing the group’s survival over family unity. 125

Youth Lake and the Zhong Family

Seeking to expand into Yan City, Lin Jiatao pursued the Youth Lake project through Zhong Qiuyue. Wheelchair-bound from his shooting injury, he accepted Zhong’s demand for a 37% rebate—an implicit pledge of loyalty required to operate in Yan City—and received a discounted commercial building as a local base. 258 259 281

The arrangement became increasingly one-sided. Zhong Qiuyue took control of the Youth Lake project while directing Lin Jiatao and his men to confront Su Rui. She also used Lin Tianyou’s overseas trip with Zhong Ling as leverage, effectively turning the Lin Family into her puppet. 337

Jing Hui’s death broke Lin Jiatao’s resolve. He attempted unsuccessfully to recover Jing Hui’s body from Su Rui, then personally informed Jing Hui’s parents, accepted their anger, and promised to support them with money and Jing Hui’s company shares. 339 340

Su Rui later offered to help recover Lin Tianyou, forcing Lin Jiatao to acknowledge that Zhong Qiuyue held both his money and his son hostage. Though he hated Su Rui for Jing Hui’s death, he came to resent Zhong Qiuyue even more for treating his family and old brothers as expendable tools. 367

Break with the Zhong Family

Lin Jiatao covertly coordinated with Su Rui while maintaining the appearance of Zhong Family loyalty. He provided convincing phone conversations for Wei Zhen to overhear and concealed his dissatisfaction with Zhong Qiuyue’s control. 382 383

During the Zhong Family crisis, Lin Jiatao invoked a notarized agreement granting him 50% of Zhong Group equity. Backed by Fang Yuan and explosives capable of destroying the Zhong Residence, he openly declared his alliance with Su Rui, slapped Zhong Ping, shot Zhong Nan, and seized authority from the remaining Zhong Family leadership. 407

He subsequently took control of Zhong Family Real Estate and nearly half of the family’s assets with Su Rui’s coordination. Once the conflict ended, however, he returned the Zhong Group companies to Su Rui and abandoned his ambition to raise the Lin Family into a first-tier wealthy family. 412 493

Later Developments

In France, Lin Jiatao planned to hand Zhong Ling over to Su Rui after the Zhong Family’s downfall. Lin Tianyou refused, insisting on protecting Zhong Ling; after a violent argument, Lin Jiatao reluctantly allowed her to remain because he could not bring himself to abandon his son’s choice. 460 461

Lin Jiatao later refused Director Su’s demand for the remaining Zhong Family industries, arguing that he had already given them to Su Rui and that they had never truly belonged to him. He remained caught between Su Rui and Wan Cheng after transferring Youth Lake land to Wan Cheng to repay a favor. 503 505

Appearance

Lin Jiatao is a well-maintained middle-aged man with slicked-back hair and a polished, boss-like appearance. At age fifty-two, he was described as resembling “Brother Fa” from God of Gamblers. 4

• Often wears formal business attire, including neat suits. 406
• Required a wheelchair after being shot in the leg. 258 281
• Appeared pale and physically weakened upon awakening from his coma. 125
• Frequently smokes when under pressure or contemplating major decisions. 17 340

Personality

Lin Jiatao is ambitious, calculating, and highly conscious of face. He can become conciliatory when circumstances demand it—such as his immediate change in attitude toward Su Rui after learning of Li Ruobing’s identity—yet privately prepares ruthless countermeasures against those he views as threats. 16 17

His underworld background shapes his leadership style. He values the men who helped him rise and sees them as brothers rather than disposable subordinates; Jing Hui’s death leaves him devastated and drives him to personally face Jing Hui’s parents. 339 340

Despite his criminal methods and political ambition, Lin Jiatao is not as emotionally detached as Zhong Qiuyue. His greatest vulnerability is Lin Tianyou: Zhong Qiuyue exploits this attachment to control him, and Lin Tianyou’s refusal to abandon Zhong Ling ultimately forces Lin Jiatao into a compromise he considers dangerous. 337 461

Repeated defeats gradually temper his earlier ambition. He recognizes that he cannot match Zhong Qiuyue’s ruthlessness or Su Rui’s strategic ability, leading him to seek survival and stability over dominance. 382 493

Abilities & Skills

Business Leadership and Expansion

Lin Jiatao built Haochi Group from an underworld foundation into a major Tongzhou enterprise and pursued expansion into Yan City through the Youth Lake project. 15 17 259

• Leveraged Far East Chamber of Commerce support to accelerate the Lin Group’s growth. 2 15
• Maintained a broad network of old associates, company executives, and subordinate crews. 111 115
• Negotiated complex concessions, including Zhong Qiuyue’s rebate terms and cross-shareholding agreement. 259 407
• Took over Zhong Family Real Estate and other assets during the Zhong Family’s collapse. 412

Underworld Influence

Lin Jiatao retains the methods and connections of his earlier criminal career despite attempting to operate through legitimate business structures. 16 17

• Ordered armed mercenaries and veterans to capture Su Rui. 13 17
• Possessed enough influence to pressure law-enforcement personnel; Peng Guoqiang’s demotion was attributed to Lin Jiatao’s intervention. 66 68
• Kept longtime sworn brothers in positions of significant authority within Haochi Group. 111 115
• Used intimidation and lethal threats during his seizure of Zhong Family power. 407

Adaptability and Political Judgment

Lin Jiatao quickly adjusts his behavior when facing a stronger opponent, preferring survival and future leverage over reckless confrontation. 16 259

• Avoided provoking the Li Family after realizing the consequences for the Lin Family. 16
• Recognized Zhong Qiuyue’s rebate demand as the price of entry into Yan City rather than a simple business expense. 259
• Secretly shifted toward Su Rui after Zhong Qiuyue’s control over his son and capital became intolerable. 367 369
• Limit: His strategies were repeatedly anticipated by Su Rui, while Zhong Qiuyue’s control of Lin Tianyou left him unable to act freely. 337 367

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Handgun — Drew a gun on Su Rui during their confrontation at Haochi Commercial Building. 15
• Explosive device — Used a bomb threat during the Zhong Residence standoff; Fang Yuan held the detonator fuses. 407
• Wheelchair — Used while recovering from the gunshot wound to his leg. 258 281

Relationships

• Lin Tianyou — His only son and greatest emotional weakness. Lin Jiatao alternates between harsh disappointment, indulgence, and protectiveness toward him. 4 337 461
• Madam Lin — His wife. Their relationship is strained by her spoiling of Tianyou, interference in Haochi Group, and pursuit of personal revenge; Lin Jiatao eventually removes her from company affairs. 4 111 125
• Su Rui — Initially a bitter enemy after Su Rui injured Tianyou and retaliated against Lin Jiatao’s assassination attempts. Lin Jiatao later allies with him against the Zhong Family, though their partnership remains unequal and tense. 17 367 407 505
• Zhong Qiuyue — Yan City business partner turned controller and adversary. She used Youth Lake, Lin Jiatao’s capital, and Lin Tianyou to force his obedience. 259 337 367
• Jing Hui — Longtime sworn brother and Haochi Group’s second-in-command. Jing Hui’s death profoundly affects Lin Jiatao and becomes a turning point in his break from Zhong Qiuyue. 79 339 340
• Fang Yuan — One of Lin Jiatao’s longtime brothers and a participant in the Zhong Residence coup. 111 407
• Cao Feng — One of Lin Jiatao’s four sworn brothers and a senior Haochi Group figure. 115
• Xiao Tian — Protégé and trusted subordinate who accompanies Lin Jiatao through the Youth Lake conflict and Jing Hui’s death. 339 340
• Director Su — Former benefactor who loaned the Lin Group fifteen billion and introduced Lin Jiatao to Zhong Qiuyue; their relationship deteriorates after Lin Jiatao refuses to surrender Zhong Family assets. 2 258 503
• Zhong Ling — Lin Tianyou’s fiancée. Lin Jiatao views her as a potential danger after betraying the Zhong Family but permits her to remain for Tianyou’s sake. 460 461
• Wan Cheng — Pressured Lin Jiatao into transferring the Youth Lake land, placing him once again between powerful opposing interests. 504 505

Notable Quotes

“I’ve never been a member of the Zhong Family, so what betrayal are you talking about?” 407

“I’m just taking back what’s mine. Taking back my dignity.” 407