After the college entrance examination, life began to follow one's heart

Chapter 314 Chinese New Year
New Year's Eve was unlike any other.

However, Rong Xiyan wasn't there this year. After all, like last year, Xu Lin had bought fireworks to set off.

Now that Rong Xiyan isn't here, Xu Lin has no desire to set off fireworks.

After dinner.

Xu Lin went out to look at the stars.

In rural areas, the night sky is filled with stars.

Tonight, there will be countless stars.

Bored, Xu Lin could only take out his phone and chat with the women.

By this time, everyone had finished eating, and messages were replied to instantly.

Unlike Ning Yuhan and the others, who all had family members with them and it was quite lively.

Rong Xiyan is different. She didn't feel much of a sense of belonging in her own family, but since coming to Xu Lin's family, she has felt a sense of belonging to Xu Lin's side.

"Xu Lin, I'm so bored at home."

Rong Xiyan started a video call, and this time Xu Lin finally spoke to her.

Xu Lin saw her on the balcony of her room.

"To be honest, I'm a little bored too."

Do you miss me?

"I still miss you a little."

"Xu Lin!"

"I miss you so much, okay?"

"Xu Lin, you heartless bastard!"

Rong Xiyan felt very lonely and said, "But it's really boring. There's no one to talk to at home, and I don't have any friends."

"I'll come pick you up on the third day of the Lunar New Year. Stay home for a few more days, don't rush."

"OK then."

"Xu Lin, did you set off fireworks?"

"You're not here, what's the point of setting off fireworks?"

"What if I were there?"

"Of course they'll set off fireworks!"

"Humph!"

Rong Xiyan gave a soft snort. In her opinion, Xu Lin's words were quite romantic; fireworks would only be set off when she was present.

The two chatted for half an hour.

Twelve o'clock in the evening.

Xu Lin and his father came out of their respective rooms to burn incense, paper money, and set off firecrackers.

For Xu Lin, this moment was the true New Year's Eve, not the one on the night of December 31st.

At this time, the entire village and surrounding villages were filled with the sound of firecrackers, creating a lively and booming atmosphere that could last for more than half an hour.

After finishing the work for the New Year.

Xu Lin returned to his room around 12:10.

He opened his phone; a lot of messages had already arrived.

These were all New Year's greetings from Ning Yuhan and the others.

Ning Yuhan, in addition to wishing Xu Lin a Happy New Year, also sent him a video of Sui Sui An An and the other two children, who unanimously wished their brother-in-law a Happy New Year. The two little ones were wearing new clothes and shoes, their faces beaming with happiness.

Xu Lin felt that many people said that the New Year has lost its festive atmosphere, but that's not true. The real New Year belongs to children, not adults. This is the reason why "it is not a time for youthful exuberance."

Xu Lin transferred two 1,000-yuan red envelopes to Ning Yuhan.

This is for them, hoping for peace and happiness every year.

"Please give them both the red envelopes for me," Xu Lin instructed.

Ning Yuhan has a considerable amount of cash.

"Okay, I'll give them to them as soon as I wake up tomorrow!"

Then it was Rong Xiyan's turn.

"Xu Lin, where's my red envelope?"

"Damn, we're already so close, why the red envelope?"

“Xu Lin, you swore on New Year’s Day, I’m going to tell Mom.”

"Then you should tell her quickly."

Xu Lin was fearless.

However, Xu Lin then transferred a red envelope containing 1314 and 520 to Rong Xiyan.

This kind of format is only liked by someone like Rong Xiyan who's obsessed with romance; Xu Lin never even gave it to Ning Yuhan.

A wealthy person like him wouldn't even pay attention to these random red envelopes.

"Xu Lin, I love you!"

Rong Xiyan happily accepted the red envelopes, and then transferred two red envelopes each containing 1314 and 520.

Rong Xiyan: "My love for you is twice as much as yours!"

Xu Lin: "Getting emotional now, huh?"

"Quickly claim your red envelope!"

Xu Lin then accepted the red envelope.

On Xia Xiyao's side, Xu Lin also started chatting with her, and she also transferred a red envelope to Xu Lin.

520.

This girl doesn't have much money, so 520 is already a big amount for her.

Xu Lin: "No need for a red envelope, the thought is enough. How's Grandma doing lately?"

"She has been discharged from the hospital and is currently in good health."

"That's good."

While chatting with Xia Xiyao, Xu Lin also replied to Shang Wanjun's message.

Shang Wanjun only sent a New Year's greeting, nothing special, and Xu Lin returned the greeting.

To Yu Xinyan.

"Happy New Year, honey! Here's a red envelope for you!"

It's also 1314 and 520.

"No need for red envelopes, it's meaningless. The thought is what counts. Happy New Year, my darling."

Apart from Shang Wanjun, every woman actually gave Xu Lin a red envelope.

After all, Xu Lin and Shang Wanjun haven't reached the final step yet.

The two older sisters gave the most red envelopes, each transferring 200,000 yuan to Xu Lin.

They posted it in the group chat for Xu Lin to claim, as if it were some kind of competition.

Xu Lin said in the group chat, "Big sisters, you've gone to so much trouble! I'm so surprised!"

Chi Linyue: "What kind of spirit are you being subjected to?"

Pei Danqing: "This kind of person should be banned; their language is outrageously obscene!"

Chi Linyue: "Tch! Qingqing, I miss you a little!"

"Ah!"

Next, Chi Linyue posted a selfie. In the photo, she was in front of a full-length mirror in her room, wearing a pink bikini that could barely cover her three points.

@Xu Lin: "Do you miss your sister?"

Xu Lin: "Salute first!"

Chi Linyue replied with an emoji: “Smirking.jpg”

Pei Danqing: "So filthy!"

"Tch, you're the cleanest!"

The two women started arguing again.

For the entire hour until after 1 p.m., Xu Lin chatted with several women, switching back and forth between them.

Everyone was quite happy during the New Year's celebration.

Fast forward to the next day.

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, Xu Lin prayed to the gods and then ate breakfast.

It was already past eight in the morning.

Ms. Ren said to Xu Lin, "Xu Lin, let's go to the temple to burn incense. There are a lot of people there."

"If a lot of people go, won't the queue be hundreds of meters long?"

Xu Lin thought Ms. Ren was going to the big temple in the county town. He wondered how many people would visit that temple all day.

Meanwhile, the big bosses in the county town would offer the first incense, which would cost hundreds of thousands of yuan per stick, making it a very lively affair.

But Xu Lin didn't want to join in the fun.

“We’re going to the brigade’s temple to burn incense, not to the county town. Why are there lines of hundreds of meters?” Xu Lin’s village, like Ning Yuhan’s village, is a group. The brigade is the former production team, which is like a large village with more than a dozen groups under it.

There is a temple in the brigade area.

Ms. Ren said, "My mother doesn't know anyone in the village, so she'll come with me."

"Okay, I'll go with you."

Xu Lin agreed without much thought. Ms. Ren was quite lonely. Someone like her was destined to be out of place with the women in the village. Most of them were ordinary people, while Ms. Ren was a successful person, a social elite with a very respectable job and an annual income of several million. Ms. Ren didn't have much in common with ordinary people. Besides, she only came back for a few days during the Spring Festival. It would be strange if she got to know the people here.

So at 8:30, Xu Lin accompanied Ms. Ren on a walk to the brigade.

There were actually quite a few people along the way, men, women, young and old. It seemed like half the village had gone out to burn incense. Xu Lin's group was thriving, with a population of over two thousand.

Upon arriving at the temple, Xu Lin and Ms. Ren took incense and then lined up to offer incense and pray to the gods, but the line didn't take long.

As Xu Lin left the temple, he remembered Ms. Ren's complaint the day before yesterday about her father consulting an old man, and teased her, "Didn't you say Dad was superstitious the day before yesterday?"

"I'm offering incense here, isn't it all for your good health?"

"Stinky boy!"

"Hehe, it's my fault." Xu Lin chuckled.

For the next hour or so, Xu Lin accompanied Ms. Ren around.

For urban women like Ms. Ren, the rural environment is still quite novel, much like a farm stay. Farmers would probably think: What the hell is this? Are city people idiots?

But city dwellers think differently: "Wow, this farm stay is really interesting."

Ms. Ren is the latter.

Having lived a life of luxury, she found many things in the countryside quite interesting.

"Without Yan Yan this year, I feel like something's missing," Ms. Ren said after shopping for more than an hour.

"I'll pick her up the day after tomorrow, then you'll see her."

"But it's already the start of the new year, today is the first day of the Lunar New Year, it's different, it's the most festive time!"

"That too."

At noon, Xu Lin and his group returned to the village.

In the village's large playground, my father was chatting with a group of people.

Xu Lin is probably the tallest man in the village right now.

He is 1.9 meters tall and has exceptionally good looks.

Soon everyone saw him.

"Ah Cheng, isn't that your son?"

"Cheng, your son is so tall and handsome!"

"She looks just like her dad!"

“He looks just like his mother, they’re cut from the same mold.”

Actually, Ms. Ren and Xu Cheng look somewhat alike. After living together for a long time, the two people's appearances will gradually show some similarities.

Xu Lin walked over and asked, "What are you all talking about?"

The old man said, "The Xu clan in our city is planning to build a Xu clan ancestral hall, and they invited us to the village, so we are discussing this matter."

Xu Lin suddenly understood.

Xu Lin's ancestors included officials, including Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) and Juren (successful candidates in the provincial imperial examinations), and various other famous figures, so he was quite successful.

Of course, Xu Lin wouldn't think that far ahead. He felt that after four generations, there was basically no need to consider it anymore, as those relatives were too distant to be related at all.

However, if it's a particularly powerful family, that's a different story. With a single command, they can go toe-to-toe with local governments.

Xu Lin is clearly not that awesome.

Just then, someone patted Xu Lin on the shoulder and said, "Our Xu family has produced such a famous person as Xu Lin, so this ancestral hall needs to be repaired!"

Xu Lin: "I'm not exactly a celebrity, just a small fry."

They were still talking about Mr. Xu, but Xu Lin felt it was beneath him.

We'll see when his name is displayed on the school wall, alongside celebrities like Einstein. Only then can Xu Lin claim to have brought honor to his ancestors.

"You're only nineteen. You have a long future ahead of you. Who knows what great person you'll become!"

"That's right, that's right! You're the most capable young man in the village. Your dad used to be the most capable. You two, father and son, are really awesome!"

"Third Grandfather and Fourth Uncle, you're all singing in unison, I can't stand it!"

Xu Lin is in a real bind.

To be honest, he's not as good as Xu Cheng.

Around 12 o'clock, Xu Lin and the others returned home, and Xu Cheng said to Xu Lin, "I'll contribute some money to reserve a spot in the ancestral hall."

Ms. Ren couldn't help but say, "You want to be ripped off again, don't you? Xu Lin, don't listen to him."

Xu Lin said, "Just contribute the normal amount. Others contribute a few hundred, but our family is a bit richer, so we can contribute a little more, maybe a few tens of thousands. That's all. When I become powerful, this ancestral hall will also be our family's place."

These wealthy people like to spend a lot of money on things like ancestral halls. It's all about returning home in glory. After all, hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars may only be a drop in the ocean for them, but reputation and people's praise are different. Sometimes, emotional value is much more important to them than money.

For example, in some large graves, there are powerful families that have produced outstanding people. When visiting the graves during the Qingming Festival, the richest or most powerful people are placed at the front, while those who are not so rich or powerful are placed at the back. Those who are not very capable may not even be able to dig up the grass on the grave with a hoe.

Xu Lin didn't care. In fact, once his true identity as Young Master Xu was revealed, he would be able to stand alongside, or even surpass, the powerful ancestors. The current members of the Xu clan would all feel honored by his existence.

At that time, people from all over the world will be Xu Lin's relatives.

Because throughout history, no one with the surname Xu has ever reached the level of Xu Lin.

Xu Lin has already possessed immense power to influence the course of human civilization.

One day in the future, he will be written in history books, whether he is criticized or praised, Xu Lin doesn't care, but one thing is certain, you can't deny my achievements.

Xu Cheng smiled and said, "Dad will listen to you. You've grown up now!"

The first day of the Lunar New Year ended quickly.

The New Year was quite boring for Xu Lin.

The second day of the Lunar New Year has passed quickly.

The Chinese New Year holiday ended quietly like that.

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, some people have already gone back to work.

Xu Lin drove to Suzhou early in the morning.

He set off at eight in the morning, and what should have been a seven-hour drive took him fourteen hours.

But this is still considered good, as traffic jams are everywhere during the Spring Festival.

Half past ten in the evening.

Xu Lin drove his car to the outside of Rong Xiyan's villa area. This time, he didn't go in; he just waited for Rong Xiyan to come out.

"I've arrived. I'm at the entrance to the villa area. Come out."

"coming!"

"Xu Lin, my dad is here too. He says he wants to see you. What should I do?"

"Okay, it's nothing."

They would have to meet eventually, so Xu Lin didn't care.

Soon, Xu Lin saw Rong Xiyan, who was carrying a schoolbag and pulling a small suitcase.

Behind him, Jiang Mingyang walked slowly forward.

Xu Lin got off the bus.

"Xu Lin!"

"You get in the car first, I'll talk to your dad."

"Okay, fine!"

Rong Xiyan glanced at Jiang Mingyang, worried that he might make things difficult for Xu Lin.

In fact, she thought too much.

Jiang Mingyang would not make things difficult for Xu Lin.

After Rong Xiyan got into the car, she saw Jiang Mingyang take out a pack of cigarettes.

An old man and a child started smoking.

Because of the distance, Rong Xiyan didn't know what the two of them were talking about.

"Mr. Xu, I never imagined that my daughter had been following you all this time."

“Yan Yan doesn’t feel like she belongs in your family. I protect her, and my mom is also very good to her, so things are fine now.”

"I feel relieved when you are here."

Jiang Mingyang glanced at Rong Xiyan in the passenger seat of Xu Lin's car and smiled, "I feel quite guilty towards her over the years, as well as towards my ex-wife and father-in-law. I haven't given her enough fatherly love. There has always been a considerable distance between us, and I don't know how to bring it up."

Xu Lin remained silent, puffing out smoke.

Jiang Mingyang continued, "Will Mr. Xu let her stay with you indefinitely?"

“She is my family now. I will not leave her and will always protect her.”

"That's good."

“I’ve discovered that your wife has been secretly transferring assets.”

"I'll handle it later."

Jiang Mingyang exhaled a puff of smoke.

(End of this chapter)