Chapter 086: Battling the Giant Python in the Tropical Rainforest

Lin Tenghui and Chen Qiang finally put down their work and followed Lin Le outside. Xu Xi’er had heard several times from Lin Le about their family’s plan to open a noodle shop, but she had never visited before. Today, as she entered, she looked around curiously, taking in the décor.

“Xiao Le, is something the matter?” Lin Tenghui asked.

“I’d like to discuss something with you both—about opening branch stores,” Lin Le said, voicing his idea.

“Branch stores?”
“Branch stores?”

Lin Tenghui and Chen Qiang spoke in unison, both utterly surprised.

“Brother Le, we haven’t even opened the main store yet, and you’re already thinking of branches?” Chen Qiang said with a wry smile. He had never seen such a thing before.

“Once the main shop’s renovations are done, we should be able to open this month. With the appeal of Tianwai Noodles, I believe it won’t take even half a month for word of mouth to spread throughout Haizhou. When that happens, the name of Lin’s Noodle House will multiply exponentially, and our main store alone will never be enough. Opening branches is only a matter of time,” Lin Le analyzed.

In fact, Lin Le had considered this before. Previously, due to a lack of funds, he couldn’t execute it, but now with Zhao Mingyi’s one hundred million and over ten million left after paying debts, they had more than enough to start opening branches.

“I’ve thought about opening branches too. I’ve even scouted some locations already,” Lin Tenghui replied with a smile.

Someone as seasoned as Lin Tenghui always approached things with foresight, making preparations in advance—something a newcomer to business like Chen Qiang couldn’t compare to.

“But right now, our funds are limited, so we had to postpone,” Lin Tenghui said helplessly.

“I’ve already solved the funding issue for you, Dad. You can go ahead without worries,” Lin Le said calmly.

“What?!” Lin Tenghui could scarcely believe it.

Chen Qiang’s eyes widened in shock.

“Xiao Le, opening branches isn’t a small expense. Even if we start with just ten, the setup costs will exceed ten million. Not to mention hiring staff and other startup expenses,” Lin Tenghui analyzed.

“Here’s a card for you. The funds inside should be enough,” Lin Le said, handing over the card with one hundred million yuan to his father.

“How much is in here?” Lin Tenghui asked cautiously.

“You’ll see when you check later. It should be more than enough,” Lin Le replied mysteriously.

Judging by Lin Le’s tone, Lin Tenghui could guess that the amount must be over twenty million at least; otherwise, Lin Le wouldn’t be so confident.

One could only imagine what sort of reaction Lin Tenghui would have when he saw the true balance on that card.

“Brother Le, you’re incredible! Where did you get so much money?” Chen Qiang was practically overjoyed.

Thinking of the tiny three hundred thousand he had invested and the fifteen percent share he’d received, Chen Qiang felt a bit embarrassed. Given the current capital of Lin’s Noodle House, his three hundred thousand wouldn’t even buy a fraction of a percent.

“Don’t worry about it. Just work hard with my dad; your chance to make a fortune will come,” Lin Le said with a laugh.

“That’s for sure!” Chen Qiang grinned.

“All right, Brother Le, you keep talking. I’ll go check on the renovation progress.”

After Chen Qiang left, Lin Tenghui turned to his son, still uneasy. “Xiao Le, where did this money come from? Can you be honest with your old man?”

“Don’t worry, Dad. I didn’t steal or rob anyone. All I can say is, this money was Zhao’s gift to you.”

“Zhao? You mean Zhao Mingyi?” Lin Tenghui was incredulous.

“All right, Dad, let’s not dwell on the money. Let’s talk about Mom,” Lin Le seized the chance to change the topic.

“So, have you thought about your mother’s situation?” Lin Le had come back this time hoping to reunite his parents.

“Well… let’s wait until the noodle house opens. I don’t think now is the right time,” Lin Tenghui seemed to have reservations.

Lin Le could guess what was on his father’s mind. It was nothing more than a sense that he wasn’t yet worthy of bringing his wife back for a happy life, and perhaps he feared she wouldn’t agree to remarry. To Lin Le, such worries were unnecessary. He knew his mother best; for her, money was secondary. Her feelings for his father went beyond material concerns.

In fact, it was his father, Lin Tenghui, who cared more about such things.

But more importantly, there was the issue of his mother’s difficult family background.

The Xie family of Shangjing.

In all of China, few could rival the Xies. Perhaps only the Wang family in Shangjing was comparable. Even the powerful Gu and Qu families of Haizhou were nothing next to the Xies—utterly outmatched.

Being part of such a clan, his mother often had no say in her own fate, and Lin Le understood this well.

The Xie family had always seen his father as a nobody, an upstart unworthy of their attention. Even during Lin’s Group’s heyday, it never caught their eye.

What seemed so illustrious to ordinary people was, to the Xies, not even worth mentioning.

Now that his mother had returned to the Xie family, she would inevitably face all sorts of demands. If she wanted to remarry his father, the Xies would never make it easy.

The Xies of Shangjing—there was hardly anyone in China who dared cross them.

But even so, Lin Le would never give up. If his mother agreed to remarry his father, not even the Emperor himself could stand in their way!

A storm of emotions raged in Lin Le’s heart, though none of it showed on his face; he remained calm and composed.

“Since you have your own thoughts, Dad, I won’t ask further,” Lin Le said quietly.

Despite his words, Lin Le had his own plans. There were many things to handle at the moment, but once he achieved mastery in his cultivation and the noodle house stabilized, he would find an opportunity to go to Shangjing, meet his mother, and see what she truly wanted.

After leaving the noodle shop, Lin Le asked Xu Xi’er to drive him back to the villa by Longyuan Lake.

Once home, Lin Le called Guo Zhao.

“Uncle Guo, how’s the preparation for the Four Symbols going?” Lin Le asked.

“What? What did you say? I can’t hear you!” Guo Zhao shouted madly from the other end.

Amid a cacophony of chaos—shouts, screams, even the staccato of gunfire—Lin Le could hardly make sense of it all.

“Good grief, Uncle Guo, where are you right now?” Lin Le felt as if he was listening to a battle.

“I’m in the Amazon rainforest hunting golden pythons! Hey, shoot, damn it! Don’t you know how to use a heavy machine gun? Are the rocket launchers for dipping in sauce? If you don’t fire now, we’re all dead!” Guo Zhao was yelling wildly at his team.

Hearing this, even Lin Le was left speechless.

The golden pythons he’d requested were the fiercest of their kind—quick, massive, incredibly strong, capable of taking down seven or eight crocodiles at once. Asking Guo Zhao and his men to handle them was certainly a tall order.

“Well then… Uncle Guo, you get back to it. We’ll be in touch…” Lin Le hung up, still a bit worried, hoping he’d have the chance to reach him again…