The New Year Was Almost Here, and the Family Reunited

The trip went incredibly smoothly, and they reached the Military Commission Compound in just a few dozen minutes.

The guards at the entrance waved them straight through after seeing the license plate, and the car pulled up at Courtyard No. 1.

"Hahaha! Mom, Dad, come see who's back!"

Fourth Uncle's booming voice rang out toward the house before he had even stepped inside.

Several people came out at his call.

Leading them was a kindly old lady with silver hair, an elegant air, and a pair of glasses. A smile rested on her face; she was a little old lady who loved to smile.

She was Lin Chao Ci's grandmother, Tang Ningxue, the former director of the Chinese Painting Institute. Now retired, she still held an honorary post as vice chair of the Women's Federation, at the vice-provincial level.

Supporting her was Fourth Uncle's wife, who also served in the military with the rank of senior colonel. Her father was among the military's top few figures, and her family wielded considerable influence in the armed forces.

Behind them came Lin Weiyi and two sturdy little boys, the older one twelve and the younger nine. Both were Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt's children.

"My darling grandson is back! Come let Grandma see if you've lost weight!"

Although Grandma was over seventy, she was still remarkably spry. Tears of excitement filled her eyes at the sight of her beloved grandson, and she hurried over in a few quick steps, took Lin Chao Ci's hand, and looked him over from every angle.

She kept insisting that he had lost weight.

Lin Chao Ci savored the moment. His little old grandma loved him more than anyone. Back when food had been rationed by the state, she had always liked to stash some away so she could give him extra treats.

His father and Fourth Uncle had been so jealous that they would protest, "Mom, this is favoritism! Now that you have a grandson, you've forgotten your sons. Nobody loves your poor sons—we're like weeds drifting in the wind."

The little old lady's love for Lin Chao Ci was sincere, straightforward, and plain for all to see.

Lin Chao Ci loved her just as much. He bent his six-foot frame slightly and gave Grandma a gentle hug.

"Grandma, how have I lost weight? Your darling grandson has gotten stronger!"

Lin Chao Ci lifted his shirt a little, deliberately showing off his muscles.

"Why are you lifting your shirt in this cold? You'll catch a chill!"

Grandma hurriedly pulled his shirt back down as she warned him.

"It's cold outside. Let's go in first!"

Lin Chao Ci felt that if they kept chatting like this, they could spend half the day standing at the door.

Only after his reminder did everyone realize it, and they went inside together. The house was heated, and they felt much warmer as soon as they entered.

"You ungrateful brother! Now that you've got Grandma, you've forgotten your sister. I'm going to tell Mom on you..."

Once inside, Lin Weiyi felt that her brother had ignored her. A little unhappy, she stood off to the side and threatened him with a pout.

Only when he heard her voice did Lin Chao Ci remember Lin Weiyi, the Lin Family's only little princess and his beloved younger sister.

"Hahaha! You're actually getting jealous of Grandma!"

Lin Chao Ci found the sight both funny and heartwarming. Since when had his sister become so possessive? Why was she so easily jealous?

Still, it warmed his heart to know that someone loved him, that someone cared about him.

He pinched his sister's little cheeks.

"Ah, Third Brother, I'm so jealous that you have such a pretty daughter! Unlike me—all I got were two sturdy little rascals! I want a sweet little girl to look after me too..."

Watching Lin Weiyi and Lin Chao Ci fool around, Fourth Uncle felt terribly envious.

Across three generations of the Lin Family, Lin Weiyi was the only girl.

Fourth Uncle wanted to be a doting father to a daughter too.

Unfortunately, both children his wife had given birth to were boys.

"Hahaha! Jealous, are you? Let me make you even more jealous! Weiyi, come give Daddy a kiss!"

Seeing his fourth brother's envious expression, Lin Jianguo could not resist teasing him. He beckoned Lin Weiyi over to give him a kiss.

"Dad! Fourth Uncle!"

Lin Weiyi saw through her father's intentions at once. He was probably trying to show off again.

With such a pretty, beautiful, impossibly gorgeous and well-behaved daughter, her father loved showing her off everywhere. Lin Weiyi was already used to it.

She rose onto her tiptoes and gently kissed her father's cheek.

Then she ran off to play with her brother again.

"That's cruel, really cruel! Just you wait, Third Brother. I'm definitely going to have a daughter too!"

Fourth Uncle watched with boundless envy and had already decided that he and his wife would try for another baby that very night.

He would do his best to bring a little daughter into his own family too.

"Oh, right. Where's Grandpa?"

Only after chatting with Grandma for quite a while did Lin Chao Ci remember the old man.

His grandfather had been a ferocious fighter back in the war, earning himself the nickname Mountain Tiger.

His military achievements had been outstanding. If he had not enlisted too late to take part in the earliest major campaigns, he could have risen another rank.

Still, he had received that promotion over a decade ago. Now, fewer than ten people in the country stood above him.

"Oh, him? He's too proud. He misses you all, but he's embarrassed to come straight downstairs to see you, so he's sitting alone in his study reading the newspaper!"

Grandma covered her mouth and chuckled. That old man really was something. He missed his darling grandson terribly, yet refused to swallow his pride.

He insisted on sitting alone in his study, pretending to be solemn.

Lin Chao Ci understood immediately and could not help finding it funny.

"Grandma, I'll leave Weiyi to keep you company for now. I'll go upstairs and have a chat with Grandpa!"

"Go on. That old man has missed you terribly. Spend some time talking with him..."

After telling Grandma, Lin Chao Ci went upstairs and headed straight for the study.

Knock, knock, knock!

"Come in!"

After knocking, Lin Chao Ci waited until he heard a steady, forceful reply from inside before pushing the door open.

The heating was on, so the room was not particularly cold. The shelves were filled with all kinds of books.

An old man in his seventies sat ramrod straight in a military uniform. His temples were white, his face resolute, and he wore reading glasses as he made a show of reading the newspaper.

As though he had only just noticed Lin Chao Ci, he lowered the newspaper and smiled with a hint of surprise. "You're back, my boy! How was your stay in Haikou City?"

"Grandpa, you're holding the newspaper upside down!"

Lin Chao Ci was both amused and speechless. One look at his grandfather told him that the little old man had been eavesdropping the whole time.

He had probably only grabbed the newspaper to put on an act when he saw Lin Chao Ci coming upstairs.

The old man glanced at the newspaper in his hands and discovered, somewhat embarrassingly, that he really was holding it upside down.

He had been in a bit of a hurry and had not looked closely...

"Ahem. I wasn't wearing my reading glasses when I picked up the paper just now, so I accidentally got it wrong!"

The old man forced himself to remain calm as he offered the awkward explanation.

"Grandpa, why didn't you come downstairs and chat with everyone? Aren't you bored sitting alone in your study?"

Lin Chao Ci asked curiously.

"I still have work to do! Naturally, I'll go down once I'm finished!"

Grandpa pointed to the work on his desk as he explained.

"Grandpa, you can work anytime. Everyone has finally managed to come home and get together. Having the whole family reunited is what matters most!"

Lin Chao Ci stepped forward and took his grandfather's hand. It was deeply aged and a little cold, with thick calluses covering the web between his thumb and forefinger.