Chapter 77: The Premier Young Master of Yanjing

The Prime Minister’s secretary escorted Lin Feng and his companions to the Lin Family Estate and immediately returned to the Prime Minister’s office at Zhongnanhai to report to Premier Zhu.

“Everyone has been safely delivered to the Lin Family Estate?” Premier Zhu looked at his secretary, who had served him for over a decade.

“Yes, Premier, they’ve all arrived safely,” the secretary nodded, confirming to Premier Zhu.

“That’s good. If there’s nothing else, you can go about your work. I’ll call for you if I need anything,” Premier Zhu instructed, dismissing the secretary.

Usually, the secretary would have obediently left right away, but today, the things Lin Feng had said in the car left him unsure whether he ought to report them. He hesitated.

Premier Zhu noticed the anomaly. He knew his secretary well, and seeing him linger with an unspoken look, Zhu sensed there was something on his mind.

“What’s the matter? If you have something to say, spit it out. You know my temper—report anything important immediately,” Premier Zhu pressed, thinking perhaps something significant had been omitted. If anything were delayed, who would be responsible for the consequences? He fixed his secretary with a stern gaze.

The secretary saw the Premier’s face darken. Anyone who knew him would recognize these were the signs of impending anger. The secretary realized his own hesitation had caused a misunderstanding.

“Premier, don’t misunderstand. I do have something to report, but it concerns Lin Feng, and I wasn’t sure if I should bring it up,” the secretary anxiously explained.

Hearing it wasn’t a matter of state, but about Lin Feng, Premier Zhu’s sternness faded and his interest was piqued. “Oh, it’s about that boy? I’m quite interested—go on and tell me.”

“Ah, so you’d like to hear, Premier. Well, on the way back, he kept saying your office was a pit of fire, that you and Minister Xie had set him up together. He said he’d never meet with you again, and if there were any more deals like this, he’d stay far away, and so on…” Encouraged, the secretary relayed Lin Feng’s original words.

He hadn’t finished before the Premier burst out laughing in his office. The secretary was left confused by this reaction. After Premier Zhu had laughed his fill, the secretary cautiously asked, “Premier, isn’t it inappropriate for Lin Feng to speak like that? It’s not very respectful or serious. If word got out, wouldn’t it reflect badly on you or him?”

“Don’t worry. If it gets out, it changes nothing for us, and certainly not for him. That boy fears nothing—look around Beijing, which family would dare provoke him? They’re all desperately trying to curry favor now. That’s all, I’ve got it. You can go,” Premier Zhu explained, still smiling, before dismissing his secretary.

This time, the secretary left promptly, thinking as he walked that he’d been too talkative. He’d never dealt with Lin Feng before, and hadn’t realized how highly Premier Zhu and the others valued him. Going forward, he’d clearly need to adjust his attitude towards Lin Feng.

News that Lin Feng’s group had been received by the Premier and the Minister of Defense, and that the Premier had placed a massive order with Future Technologies on behalf of the state, spread through Beijing’s prominent families in just a morning. Fortunately, news about Lin Feng’s second-generation computer hadn’t leaked, but the state order alone detonated like a bomb among the city’s elite. Everyone knew Future Technologies now had the highest backing—especially with the Premier and the Defense Minister behind them.

Now, every family set their sights on securing overseas agency rights from Lin Feng. Winning those rights would not only bring wealth, but also forge a connection with the government. Opportunities like this were rare indeed.

Lin Feng, of course, was unaware of these developments. He and Lin Chuanyan and Xia Ruoxi returned to the Lin Family Estate. Lin Feng and Xia Ruoxi went upstairs to their room, while Lin Chuanyan headed to the study to report to the old master on the day’s discussions with the Premier and the Defense Minister in Zhongnanhai, as well as matters concerning Lin Feng’s second-generation computer.

“Sir, what do you think this cooperation means for our family?” Lin Chuanyan asked excitedly after his report.

“Heh, this is definitely good news. Our family’s standing among the country’s leadership will rise. Even though Lin Feng is the one interacting with them, he’s one of us, and the rest of our family in public service will benefit by association and be remembered by the top brass. Don’t underestimate these impressions—they can be decisive at critical moments,” the old master said, equally excited by the report.

“Yes! You see things clearly, sir. If you hadn’t insisted we reconcile with Lin Feng in Zhanzhai City, who knows where we’d be now. I was blinded by greed back then, suggesting we take what Lin Feng had. No wonder my elder and younger brothers were displeased—I was wrong!” Lin Chuanyan, reflecting on their current position, could only smile wryly at the past.

The old master, initially still excited, was moved by Lin Chuanyan’s remorse and regained his composure. “Everyone makes mistakes, especially when acting for the family, not just themselves. What matters is you’ve changed in time. Lin Feng may still have his guard up, but if we truly treat him as family, he’ll open up to us eventually.”

“You’re right, sir. We didn’t do well before, but now I see clearly. As long as Lin Feng continues on his current path, he alone can uphold the Lin family. It doesn’t matter whether he’s in public service or not,” Lin Chuanyan said, moved. The rise of Lin Feng had solved all the family’s concerns about the third generation.

“It’s not too late to understand now. We mustn’t restrict him—let him develop as he sees fit. The better he does, the more our family will benefit. Even if I wanted to limit him, I doubt I could outmatch that boy,” the old master said with a wry smile. For him to admit defeat was no small thing.

“Father, it’s not just you—even the Premier and Defense Minister together couldn’t get the upper hand with him today. The boy’s an anomaly. No wonder the Premier calls him Beijing’s number one young master. I don’t even know when he earned that title—but he truly deserves it. Among all the third-generation scions in Beijing, none can match his achievements. Even Xue’er has been won over. If she hears anyone speak ill of Lin Feng, she’ll be furious!” Lin Chuanyan said, somewhat exasperated, thinking of Lin Xue’er’s recent changes and how Lin Feng could, without batting an eyelid, gift a bank card loaded with a billion.

The old master, amused by Lin Chuanyan’s complaints, said, “You can hardly blame Xue’er. Who else would give her a billion so casually? I hear she’s been flaunting it everywhere lately—countless young ladies from other families envy her. With Lin Feng doting on her, you’ll have your hands full. Even the other old men have complained to me, saying our family set a bad example. Now, when their daughters act up, they all cite Xue’er and Lin Feng.”

After hearing this, Lin Chuanyan could only imagine Xue’er’s righteous confidence after causing trouble and could only offer a helpless smile.

While the old master and Lin Chuanyan discussed the day’s events in the study, Lin Feng and Xia Ruoxi were talking about them in their room.

“Lin Feng, weren’t you being too hasty today? Are you sure you can launch the new product in June? Do you really have that much faith in Zhang Wen and the others?” Xia Ruoxi asked anxiously.

“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. The lab will be fully operational after the New Year. The technical data for the high-definition display and hard drive I’m giving them isn’t difficult. For professionals like them, understanding and replicating the designs will be easy. What I’m really worried about is doing business with the state. As things stand, the country is too weak in electronic technology. I’m afraid they’ll become overly dependent on us. We’re just a private company—if we get too close to the government, we’ll be labeled as a state enterprise. That could cause problems when we launch our products abroad,” Lin Feng confided.

Xia Ruoxi fell into deep thought, unable to come up with words to comfort him.

Watching her ponder in silence, Lin Feng continued, “That’s why I didn’t agree to long-term cooperation with the Premier. Think about it—our computers and operating system are already so profitable. Once the second-generation computers launch, it won’t just be computers—displays and hard drives will sell too. When we control that much wealth, will the state still be content to let us grow unchecked? Especially since bringing other families in as overseas agents ties them to our ship—such a powerful alliance would seriously upset Beijing’s balance. The state won’t let any one power grow that large.”