Chapter 159: The First Day of the New Year

Lin Feng ultimately could not win against the old patriarch. Right in front of the Chairman and the Premier, he conceded to Old Master Lin’s demands, thereby making the call to the Chairman and the Premier.

Eventually, Xia Ruoxi stepped forward to have Future Tech issue another announcement. This time, the tone was much more tactful, vaguely hinting that the recent decisions made by Future Tech had nothing to do with the nation's top leadership.

The release of this announcement finally resolved the current dilemma facing the state leadership, and the external situation suddenly stabilized quite a bit.

Both Lin Feng and Xia Ruoxi began to get busy. Although there were only a few days left before the Lunar New Year, who could have anticipated such events? Lin Feng was forced to implement his overseas plans ahead of schedule.

Xia Ruoxi also had to deal with domestic affairs. With such a major crisis hitting the company, she made a sudden flight to Zhanhai City, where she would spend a couple of days intensely handling the company's relocation issues.

As for Lin Feng, he remained behind in Yanjing, staying secluded within the Lin family compound. Not only him, but all the other members of the Lin family also stayed indoors. None of them went outside, knowing that going out would only subject them to endless pleas for mercy and immense annoyance. Staying home was far better.

"Zhao Ze, how are things? Did that kid Sun Long safely escort Zhang Wen to your location?" Lin Feng called Zhao Ze from his room, asking with a hint of worry.

"Don't worry, Young Master Lin. He has already arrived safely in Iraq and is currently staying at our base. He is completely safe!" Zhao Ze replied.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, he curiously asked, "Young Master Lin, what happened domestically? Why are you in such a rush to transfer all your assets over here? Now is definitely not the best time; many of the basic infrastructural developments at the Iraqi laboratory have not even been completed yet."

Lin Feng sighed, then detailed the recent events that had transpired in Yanjing to Zhao Ze. After finishing, he added, "If I had any other choice, I wouldn't be in such a hurry to pull the company out."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ze fell silent, unsure of what to say to Lin Feng over the phone. Eventually, with nothing left to discuss, the two hung up.

Time passed quickly, and the Spring Festival arrived in the blink of an eye. Although the Lin family had been in the eye of the storm during this period, fortunately, they had weathered it all.

It was time for the annual family meeting. In Old Master Lin’s study, Eldest Uncle Lin Chuanming spoke first: "There have been no other major changes this year. The first half of the year was spent handling military affairs, but fortunately, we later obtained the weapon schematics provided by Lin Feng. My energy for the second half of the year and all of next year will be dedicated to the research and development of weaponry and equipment."

Since this was a matter of great significance, Old Master Lin could not help but chime in, "Mm, this matter is indeed extremely important. It concerns our nation's future defense strength. You must devote more effort to it and strive to produce results as early as possible."

As the old master's words fell, Eldest Uncle nodded and accepted the instruction.

Following the eldest uncle, it was naturally the turn of Second Uncle Lin Chuanyan. He paused slightly, gathered his thoughts, and said, "Overall, there haven't been too many prominent incidents in Yanjing this year. We've managed to pass the year quite peacefully."

Since nothing particularly significant had occurred on the second uncle's side, the old master did not interject, merely nodding in acknowledgment and signaling for the next person to speak.

Soon, the other Lin family members in the room finished their reports, and the turn came to Lin Feng.

Because Lin Feng's situation was rather unique, Old Master Lin did not dare to force him to reveal his entire plan. Instead, he compromised and said to Lin Feng, "Tell us about your plans for next year. Share what you think can be shared; as for the things that cannot be mentioned, you can just keep them to yourself."

Since the old master was being understanding, Lin Feng naturally knew how to reciprocate. He selected a few aspects of his plans that could be disclosed: "My company's headquarters will be relocated to Iraq. As for the domestic companies, we will treat them as branch offices! If the state is still willing to let me continue selling goods domestically, I will leave these operations untouched; if the state leadership no longer permits it, I will dissolve all factories and companies entirely."

"Lin Feng, you must not act rashly! Do you have any idea how many employment problems these factories solve and how much tertiary industry they generate? Tens of thousands, upwards of a hundred thousand people! And that's just the data for Yanjing alone, not even counting the factories you've set up elsewhere." Hearing Lin Feng express such an intention, the second uncle—who served as the Mayor of Yanjing City and whose interests were directly tied to this—was the first to voice his objection.

Lin Feng understood the other man's concerns, but given the current winds blowing from the top, who could really be sure? Lin Feng pacified his second uncle, saying, "Second Uncle, if it's possible not to move them, of course I wouldn't want to either. But right now, we still don't know the leadership's intentions. It's hard to say."

"Sigh..." Lin Chuanyan let out a sigh. This was indeed a matter beyond the control of a mere city mayor.

Following the second uncle's sigh, Old Master Lin spoke up again, "Lin Feng, regarding the situation with your company, we can talk with the Chairman and the others. I believe they don't want to see any sudden changes to your company's operations either, and will allow you to continue selling domestically."

Uncertain whether that would actually be the case, Lin Feng gave a perfunctory reply to Old Master Lin, "Let's hope so."

Having replied, Lin Feng noticed that Old Master Lin still wore a hesitant, lingering expression. He found it amusing; when had Old Master Lin ever worn such an expression? Still, he couldn't help asking, "Old Master, do you have another question?"

"Uh, well... have you handled all your affairs abroad?" Old Master Lin finally asked the question he had been hesitating over.

Hearing this, Lin Feng realized it was about that matter. He had never expected Old Master Lin to ask with such cautious steps, which struck him as somewhat comical.

After a brief chuckle, however, he nodded to Old Master Lin to put his mind at ease.

Since the next day was New Year's Day, and the Lin family members had been hiding indoors for several days without seeing anyone, tomorrow would be the day for paying New Year greetings. Unwilling to continue hiding, they planned to go to sleep early so they could stand outside as usual the following morning to receive guests.

By the next morning, Old Master Lin was already up early, waiting in the main hall. Because of his outstanding performance recently, Lin Feng had now become a symbolic figure of the Lin family. Just as Lin Feng was planning to sleep in, he was hauled out by his ears by Liu Runli, who had been dispatched by Old Master Lin.

Helplessly rubbing his burning ears, Lin Feng stared speechlessly at the calm-faced Liu Runli, completely at a loss for what to do. Seeing Lin Feng's aggrieved expression, the rest of the Lin family found it hilarious. In the Lin family, the person Lin Feng feared most was not Old Master Lin, but his own mother, Liu Runli.

The weather during the Spring Festival is always exceptionally cold. Lin Feng, Lin Yu, and the second generation of the Lin family accompanied Old Master Lin as they stood outside the main gate, waiting for the people coming to offer New Year greetings.

Struck by a few gusts of the biting external wind, which raised goosebumps all over his body, Lin Feng could not help secretly complaining to himself, "This is madness, standing out here freezing in the early morning. How much more comfortable would it be to stay hidden under the covers and sleep."

Yet these thoughts remained merely thoughts; he certainly lacked the courage to voice them aloud.

After muttering a few silent complaints to himself in a corner, the visitors arriving for New Year greetings gradually increased. The first batch consisted of members from the Lin family's political faction. They paid their respects to each member of the Lin family in order; while they were quite respectful toward Old Master Lin and the elders, they were relatively relaxed around the other family members. However, when they reached Lin Feng, they grew stiff and constrained once more, treating him with the exact same reverence they reserved for Old Master Lin.

It wasn't that they deliberately wanted to act this way; rather, the pressure Lin Feng radiated was simply that immense. Had they not witnessed the Murong family and the Wang family get crushed by Lin Feng? Many outside families had been desperately searching for a way to beg the Lin family for mercy without success. Lin Feng was a figure several times more ferocious than Old Master Lin himself, not to mention his youth.

One by one, they greeted Lin Feng with utmost courtesy and reverence, desperately shoving their business cards into his hands. It made Lin Feng extremely awkward, yet he could do nothing against such overwhelming enthusiasm.

Gradually, it wasn't just members of the Lin family's faction; even the heads and direct descendants of the small and medium-sized families that had previously participated in the moves against Lin Feng came forward respectfully to pay their respects to Old Master Lin, and then to Lin Feng. They lowered their postures as much as humanly possible, and their objective was glaringly obvious—they hoped Lin Feng would spare them.

After finally clearing through this wave, noon was fast approaching. Lin Feng thought he would finally be able to go inside for lunch, but to his dismay, the Chairman and the Premier arrived at the Lin family residence once again.
"Chairman, Premier, Happy New Year!" Seeing the Chairman and Premier arrive, Old Master Lin felt deeply honored and excitedly greeted them.

The other Lin family members also greeted the Chairman and Premier with great excitement. Only Lin Feng maintained an expression of having seen them but refusing to engage.

The Premier was well aware of Lin Feng's personality and did not take offense. Instead, he teased Lin Feng, "You brat, this is your home after all. Is this any way to greet guests?"

To the Premier's teasing, Lin Feng chose absolute silence. He was terribly sleepy and just wanted to eat quickly and head upstairs to sleep.

The Chairman and the Premier had timed their arrival precisely for lunch, and they shared a midday meal at the Lin family estate. Naturally, Old Master Lin and the other Lin family members were thrilled by this.

After lunch, the Chairman and the Premier showed no hurry to leave. In fact, it was the Premier who intercepted Lin Feng just as he was trying to slip away, forcibly pressing him down onto the sofa in the main hall and refusing to let him leave.
"I say, Grandpa Zhu, I don't have any grudge against you, do I? I'm practically dying of sleepiness. Have some pity, old man, and let me go upstairs to sleep!" Pressing his hands together in a comical plea, Lin Feng implored as Premier Zhu forced him back down.

Seeming thoroughly accustomed to Lin Feng's antics, Premier Zhu refused to fall for it. He cast a disdainful look at Lin Feng and said, "Cut the act. Sit properly. We came here today because we have business with you. Did you really think we just came for a meal? Eating was merely incidental, you understand?"

"Ah! You have business with me again? No, wait, Chairman, Grandpa Zhu, I'm just a nobody. Why do you keep looking for me? Besides, my company has already become a foreign-funded enterprise, and its headquarters has moved out of China." Lin Feng expressed profound confusion over why they sought him out yet again, deliberately emphasizing his company's new status.

With an unhappy snort, Premier Zhu stared at Lin Feng and retorted, "No need for your reminders; I am well aware your company has become a foreign-funded enterprise. But you, Lin Feng, are still a citizen of China, and you still have a duty to contribute to the nation's development!"