Chapter Summaries

Clear Wind and Bright Moon used a terrifying illusion to punish Li Youtian and Li Hongwei for plotting to extort Chen Lin. They tricked the pair into jumping from a second-floor window, leaving them with broken legs as the cats headed back to collect their reward from Master.

• Li Youtian and Li Hongwei celebrated their plan to force Chen Lin to give them half the shares in his resort project.
• Clear Wind and Bright Moon overheard them and sent psychic power into the room, making them see grotesque monsters and blood.
• Clear Wind intensified the illusion with a blazing fire and a voice that urged the pair to escape through the window.
• Li Youtian and Li Hongwei jumped from the second-floor window and broke their legs.
• Clear Wind and Bright Moon left to return to Master, while the illusion faded and the injured men passed out.

Chen Lin’s supernatural intervention kept Li Youtian and Li Hongwei from disrupting construction, deepening Gao Qiqiang’s awe of him. As Chen Lin rewarded his workers and drove to visit Song Qiuya, a village official dismissed the injured father and son’s claims of ghosts as drunken nonsense.

• Gao Qiqiang, Su Mei, and Chang Chenghu learned that Li Youtian and Li Hongwei had broken both their legs after jumping from their house in terror of supposed monsters.
• Chen Lin rewarded Clear Wind and Bright Moon with Crimson Moon Fox meat and pretended not to know what had happened to Li Youtian.
• Gao Qiqiang warned Chen Lin about criminal investigation techniques, then decided Chen Lin was someone who must be a friend, never an enemy.
• Chen Lin gave the courtyard workers bonuses, praised Li Xiaoyue’s work, and drove toward downtown Yicheng City to visit Song Qiuya.
• At the hospital, Secretary Wang rejected Li Youtian and Li Hongwei’s ghost stories, called them drunken idiots, and ordered their transfer to Yicheng Seventh Hospital.

Zhao Lidong ordered a sweeping investigation into An Changlin’s reservoir project after learning that Li Youtian and his son had jumped from their own window. At the Zhou Xiaofu jewelry store, Song Qiuya broke down over her estrangement from her father, Song Guoan, but Chen Lin comforted her and helped lift her spirits.

• Secretary Wang told Zhao Lidong that security footage showed Li Youtian and his son had jumped from their own second-floor window, and Zhao ordered departments to investigate An Changlin’s reservoir project for regulatory violations.
• Song Guoan urged Song Qiuya to return home, but she rejected him and accused him of marrying her mother’s best friend soon after her mother died.
• Song Guoan left the manager’s office, and Chen Lin found Song Qiuya standing by the window in distress.
• Chen Lin embraced Song Qiuya as she sobbed, then gave her water with spirit spring water mixed in.
• Song Qiuya drank the water, joked with Chen Lin, and began to smile as her sadness eased.

Chen Lin took Song Qiuya on a date to Jade Spring Scenic Area, where they ran into An Changlin and the three elderly men who had previously visited Chen’s farmhouse. As they toured the temple together, Gao Qiqiang called to report that officials had halted their project over alleged pollution.

• Chen Lin persuaded Song Qiuya to postpone work and go with him to Jade Spring Scenic Area.
• Chen Lin and Song Qiuya toured Jade Spring Temple hand in hand.
• Chen Lin recognized An Changlin and met Gao Yuliang, Ji Changmin, and Ding Yizhen again.
• Gao Yuliang invited Chen Lin and Song Qiuya to join their group as they toured the temple.
• Gao Qiqiang called Chen Lin and reported that the environmental protection department had ordered the project to stop work and make corrections.

Chen Lin's Reservoir Project was shut down by environmental protection officials despite having an approved assessment, and An Changlin confronted the team over the order. Wang Peirong arrived with Zhao Lidong's secretary, whose reaction to the elderly visitors left the confrontation unresolved.

• Chen Lin learned that environmental officials had halted his Reservoir Project and left Jade Spring Mountain with An Changlin, Gao Yuliang, Ji Changmin, and Ding Yizhen.
• Captain Wang ordered Gao Qiqiang to shut down the construction site, camping area, parking lot, and Natural Bathing Beach, then mocked An Changlin's authority.
• An Changlin confronted Captain Wang and ordered him to summon Wang Peirong, while Chen Lin explained the resort plans to Gao Yuliang, Ji Changmin, and Ding Yizhen.
• Wang Peirong arrived with Secretary Wang and claimed the project had violated its approved plan after receiving public complaints.
• Secretary Wang noticed the elderly men behind An Changlin and froze.

An Changlin exposed Wang Peirong’s unlawful shutdown of Gao Qiqiang’s construction project in front of Gao Yuliang, who supported An and ordered him to handle the matter. Wang Peirong faced a disciplinary investigation, construction resumed, and Secretary Wang was left staring at an urgent call from Secretary Zhao.

• Secretary Wang and Wang Peirong recognized Gao Yuliang and realized their attempt to intimidate An Changlin had backfired.
• An Changlin demanded the complaint records and proper procedures, exposing that Wang Peirong had no documentation for shutting down the project.
• Gao Yuliang criticized An Changlin’s oversight, then told him to handle the matter according to regulations without discouraging people trying to improve ordinary lives.
• Secretary Wang bowed to Gao Yuliang, while An Changlin announced that Wang Peirong would be reported to the municipal Party standing committee and investigated by the municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection.
• An Changlin ordered Gao Qiqiang to resume construction, and the crowd cheered as Gao Qiqiang thanked him.
• Secretary Wang received an urgent call from Secretary Zhao and hesitated to answer.

Zhao Lidong rushed to the reservoir after learning Gao Yuliang was there and accepted responsibility for Wang Peirong’s conduct. Gao warned him against following his cousin Zhao Licun’s example, and Zhao recommended expelling Wang Peirong and Wang Liang from the Party and dismissing them from office; Gao then asked Chen Lin to speak privately.

• Ding Yizhen urged Secretary Wang to answer Zhao Lidong’s call, and Secretary Wang revealed that Gao Yuliang and the others were inspecting the site.
• Zhao Lidong realized the significance of Gao Yuliang’s presence and hurried to Chen Family Village.
• Gao Yuliang praised the Camping Area as Chen Lin showed the visitors around the reservoir.
• Zhao Lidong apologized to Gao Yuliang and Chen Lin, accepted responsibility for Wang Peirong’s actions, and received a warning not to follow Zhao Licun’s footsteps.
• At An Changlin’s prompting, Zhao Lidong recommended expelling Wang Peirong and Wang Liang from the Party and dismissing them from public office; Wang Peirong fainted and Secretary Wang collapsed.
• Gao Yuliang asked Chen Lin to find somewhere quiet to talk.

Gao Yuliang and the other officials questioned Chen Lin about the unusual health benefits of his restaurant’s food, but Chen Lin pretended to know nothing. An Changlin set aside the mystery of how Chen Lin produced the ingredients and asked whether he could supply them consistently.

• Gao Yuliang invited Chen Lin and the others to the Farmhouse Courtyard while Zhao Lidong stayed behind to handle the construction-site misconduct.
• Chen Lin brought the group upstairs, where Li Xiaoyue served them tea and Song Qiuya stayed beside him.
• Gao Yuliang, Ding Yizhen, and Ji Changmin described how Chen Lin’s food had improved their ailments and said laboratory tests found no unusual substances in the ingredients.
• Chen Lin exaggerated his surprise and offered to supply the ingredients, leaving the officials unconvinced by his performance.
• An Changlin asked Chen Lin whether he could provide the ingredients consistently.

Chen Lin negotiated with An Changlin, Professor Gao, Elder Ji, and Elder Ding to supply his special ingredients for several years, earning their protection in Northlake Province. After dining at his restaurant, the group left impressed, while Song Qiuya watched Chen Lin with growing admiration and curiosity.

• Chen Lin told An Changlin, Professor Gao, Elder Ji, and Elder Ding that he could supply the ingredients for a few years, and they accepted his terms.
• Gao Yuliang celebrated the agreement, and the group asked Chen Lin to address them informally as Professor Gao, Elder Ji, and Elder Ding.
• Chen Lin arranged an early meal in the largest private dining room, while Song Qiuya and Li Xiaoyue reacted with awe to the distinguished guests.
• The older men relaxed over Chen Lin's food, swapped stories, and joked with him about how he raised his ingredients.
• After the meal, Gao Yuliang thanked Chen Lin and said the group would visit often, then departed with the others.
• Song Qiuya met Chen Lin's gaze at the courtyard entrance, looking at him with curiosity, admiration, and affection.

After provincial leaders proposed building a private recuperation center in Chen Family Village, Chen Lin comforted Song Qiuya and invited her to stay the night. The chapter ended when Song Qiuya emerged from the bathroom in Chen Lin’s shirt.

• Gao Yuliang praised Chen Family Village, and An Changlin proposed building a high-end recuperation center there.
• Ding Yizhen and Ji Changmin backed the proposal, and An Changlin promised to lead a task force to plan it.
• Chen Lin held Song Qiuya and told her she only needed to know he was her man, then invited her to stay overnight.
• Chen Guofu and Liu Shuqin welcomed Song Qiuya, and Li Xiaoyue left the farmhouse alone after the guests and helpers went home.
• Chen Lin gave Song Qiuya a clean shirt after she went to shower, and she emerged from the bathroom an hour later.

Song Qiuya’s period arrived just as Chen Lin was about to kiss her, forcing her to flee to the bathroom and leaving them both embarrassed. After Chen Lin comforted her, Song Qiuya decided to help ease his discomfort, and the chapter ended as she offered to do so.

• Chen Lin carried Song Qiuya to the bed and leaned in to kiss her, but she realized her period had arrived early.
• Song Qiuya pushed Chen Lin away, retrieved a sanitary product from her handbag, and locked herself in the bathroom.
• After more than ten minutes, Song Qiuya apologized and explained what had happened, and Chen Lin teased her before comforting her.
• Song Qiuya noticed Chen Lin was still aroused, knelt beside the bed, and offered to help him.

Chen Lin shared a tender morning with Song Qiuya before learning that An Changlin planned to build an officials’ health and recuperation center in Chen Family Village. At the village campsite, Liu Ruyan brought her sister Liu Ruxue and niece Gu Mengyao, whose anorexia had left her frail, while privately hoping to see Chen Lin again.

• Chen Lin teased Song Qiuya after they woke together, and she kissed him goodbye before hurrying into the Zhou Xiaofu jewelry store.
• An Changlin told Chen Lin that officials planned to build a health and recuperation center across the reservoir in Chen Family Village, and Chen Lin welcomed the project.
• Liu Ruyan helped Liu Ruxue set up a tent at Chen Lin’s campsite while Gu Mengyao sat nearby holding her worn doll.
• Liu Ruyan recalled how Chen Lin had cared for her after she got drunk and hoped her visit to the campsite might lead to a chance encounter.

Liu Ruxue rushed her daughter Gu Mengyao to the Farmhouse Courtyard after hearing its food might tempt someone with anorexia, but staff initially refused to serve them before opening. Chen Lin arrived, recognized Liu Ruyan, and used his friendship with the family to have the kitchen prepare food early.

• Liu Ruxue heard a couple praise the Farmhouse Courtyard's food and hurried there with Gu Mengyao and Liu Ruyan.
• Liu Ruxue begged Li Xiaoyue to serve food early, explaining that Gu Mengyao had anorexia, but Liu Shuqin asked them to wait until opening time.
• Chen Lin arrived and recognized Liu Ruyan at the courtyard.
• Chen Lin asked Liu Shuqin to prepare a few simple dishes for his friends, and she agreed to cook for them immediately.
• Liu Ruyan told Liu Ruxue that Chen Lin owned the Farmhouse Courtyard.

Gu Mengyao ate Chen Lin’s cooking after nearly a year of refusing food, giving Liu Ruxue and Liu Ruyan hope that she was recovering. After Liu Ruxue called Gu Shaotang with the news, Liu Ruyan thanked Chen Lin and awkwardly stopped him from bringing up her drunken behavior.

• Liu Ruxue and Liu Ruyan watched as Gu Mengyao eagerly finished Chen Lin’s chicken and corn soup and asked for more.
• Gu Mengyao ate hot and sour shredded potatoes by herself, and Liu Ruxue called Gu Shaotang to tell him the news.
• Liu Ruxue refused Chen Lin’s offer of a million yuan, while Liu Ruyan confirmed to Gu Shaotang that Mengyao was eating on her own.
• Chen Lin asked Li Xiaoyue to help Liu Ruxue and Gu Mengyao settle into the village Guesthouse.
• Liu Ruyan thanked Chen Lin in the backyard, then blushed and cut him off when he started to mention her drunken antics.

Gu Shaotang saw his daughter Gu Mengyao recover her appetite after eating at Chen Lin's Farmhouse Courtyard, then tried and failed to buy Chen Lin's ingredients for Haidilao. After reviewing evidence of the courtyard's extraordinary food, Haidilao president Zhou Hai decided to visit Chen Family Village in person.

• Gu Shaotang arrived at the Farmhouse Courtyard, found Gu Mengyao eating, and offered Chen Lin a million-yuan check, which Chen Lin declined.
• The next morning, Gu Shaotang watched Gu Mengyao wake with a healthy complexion and eat porridge, confirming that her anorexia and fear of food had lifted.
• Gu Shaotang offered to buy Chen Lin's entire ingredient supply at ten times the market price, but Chen Lin said he had no surplus to sell.
• Gu Shaotang called Haidilao president Zhou Hai and described how Chen Lin's food had cured Gu Mengyao and captivated him.
• Zhou Hai investigated the Farmhouse Courtyard, reviewed videos, customer reports, and rumors of visits by retired officials, then canceled a major meeting and arranged a secret trip to Yicheng.
• Chen Lin relaxed in his backyard with Clear Wind and Bright Moon, who expressed sympathy for Gu Mengyao.

Zhou Hai, founder of Haidilao, secretly visited Chen Lin’s restaurant and was stunned by the extraordinary ingredients. He offered Chen Lin shares worth over 3.5 billion yuan and a yearly procurement contract in exchange for exclusive purchasing rights, leaving Chen Lin silent as the chapter ended.

• Zhou Hai toured Chen Family Village and saw its growing crowds, camping area, and reservoir construction.
• Zhou Hai waited in line at the Farmhouse Courtyard and was amazed by the rice and dishes made with Chen Lin’s ingredients.
• Zhou Hai approached Chen Lin and tried to learn about his business and ingredient supply, but Chen Lin deflected his questions.
• Zhou Hai revealed that he was Haidilao’s founder and offered five percent of the company’s shares plus a 100-million-yuan annual contract for exclusive rights to Chen Lin’s special ingredients.
• Chen Lin’s smile faded, and he silently looked at Zhou Hai’s offer.

Chen Lin refused Zhou Hai’s offer of 3.5 billion and an annual procurement contract because his ingredients could not be scaled up and he wanted Chen Family Village to become an independent health and wellness retreat. Zhou Hai accepted Chen Lin’s decision and left, while Chen Guofu praised him and Li Xiaoyue grew more captivated by him.

• Chen Lin rejected Zhou Hai’s offer, explaining that his ingredients were limited and could not be expanded to meet Haidilao’s demand.
• Chen Lin described his ambition to develop Chen Family Village into a world-class health and wellness retreat where residents could prosper independently.
• Zhou Hai acknowledged that Chen Lin’s vision exceeded his own, apologized for his earlier narrow thinking, and departed.
• Liu Shuqin scolded Chen Lin for turning down the money, but Chen Guofu praised him for wanting the people of Chen Family Village to live well.
• Chen Lin promised Chen Guofu they would build a fortune worth thirty billion, and Li Xiaoyue watched him with growing admiration and infatuation.

Chen Lin followed Li Xiaoyue home after noticing her distress and overheard her mother-in-law berating and slapping her. The chapter ended with Chen Lin stepping out of the darkness, furious and ready to confront the household.

• Chen Lin noticed Li Xiaoyue hiding her face, acting unusually quiet, and making mistakes at work.
• After Li Xiaoyue hurried home, Chen Lin followed her to her husband’s family house and listened from outside.
• Li Xiaoyue’s mother-in-law accused her of pursuing Chen Lin and threatened to keep her trapped as her dead son’s widow.
• Li Xiaoyue protested that she had done nothing wrong, and her mother-in-law slapped her.
• Chen Lin emerged from the darkness, his killing intent rising as he fixed his gaze on the house.

Chen Lin broke into the Chen family home and found Li Xiaoyue being beaten by Ma Lanhua. He convinced Xiaoyue to leave with him, then knocked out Ma Lanhua and Chen Tiande when they tried to stop them.

• Chen Lin kicked down the door and interrupted Ma Lanhua as she raised a whip over Li Xiaoyue.
• Chen Lin confronted Ma Lanhua and Chen Tiande about abusing Xiaoyue, then asked Xiaoyue to leave with him.
• Li Xiaoyue accepted Chen Lin's offer, and he covered her with his jacket and led her toward the door.
• Chen Tiande and Ma Lanhua blocked the exit and threatened Xiaoyue, so Chen Lin kicked them both unconscious.

Chen Lin rescued Li Xiaoyue from the house where she had been imprisoned and comforted her at the Farmhouse Courtyard. After discovering the many scars on her back, he sent Clear Wind and Bright Moon to punish her abusers.

• Chen Lin knocked out the two men and led Li Xiaoyue away from the house where she had been held.
• Chen Lin brought Li Xiaoyue to the Farmhouse Courtyard, gave her warm water, treated her swollen cheek, and promised she would never have to return.
• Li Xiaoyue cried in Chen Lin's arms, then settled down and fell asleep on the sofa.
• Chen Lin discovered old and fresh scars covering Li Xiaoyue's back and grew furious at the abuse she had endured.
• Chen Lin summoned Clear Wind and Bright Moon and ordered them to make the men at the house become real idiots.