Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 344 The Wavering Humanity

Around 10 a.m. on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Lin Yi and Lin Er had just opened the door to their suite when they saw Fok Ying-tung's entourage waiting respectfully in the corridor. After learning of the lunch invitation, Lin Er went directly to Lin Yan's room to report.

"Young Master, Fok Ying-tung is hosting a banquet at the Lisboa Casino at noon. What do you think?"

Lin Yan was leaning against the window looking at the sea when he heard this. He turned around, a playful glint in his eyes: "Go, why not? Today's play should be quite interesting." He walked to the coat rack and picked out a suit. "Let Lin Gang and the others take Brother Zhu and his sister to try some authentic Australian cuisine. Don't get involved in this nonsense."

"Understood, I'll arrange it right away." Lin Er nodded and left.

At midday in the banquet hall of the Lisboa Hotel, crystal chandeliers illuminated a table laden with exquisite Cantonese dishes. Henry Fok was already waiting in the private room. Upon seeing Lin Yan and his companions, he immediately rose to greet them: "Xiao Yan, did you sleep well last night?"

"Thanks to Uncle Huo, I slept soundly until dawn." Lin Yan sat down with a smile, his gaze sweeping over the aged Shaoxing wine on the table. "It seems Uncle Huo has prepared some good wine today."

After everyone exchanged pleasantries and took their seats, Fok Ying-tung personally poured wine, saying, "This simple meal today serves two purposes: to apologize and to bid farewell to the old year." As he raised his glass, he glanced at Lin Yan, adding, "Please forgive those who came uninvited."

After several rounds of drinks, the door to the private room opened again. Stanley Ho walked in alone, carrying a sandalwood box in his hands: "Mr. Lin, I was very rude yesterday..." He opened the box, revealing a complete set of Northern Song Dynasty Jun porcelain tea set. "A small apology, nothing more."

"Mr. He, you're too kind. This gift is quite valuable. Please put it aside for now and take a seat!" Lin Yi politely invited.

"Actually, what happened last night has little to do with you, Mr. He. It was the Lan family who were blind and arrogant, which caused that situation. My brother and I naturally won't take it to heart," Lin Er said, picking up the celadon teapot and pouring tea as he comforted her.

Stanley Ho smiled wryly and decided to play his hand openly, "To be honest, if I want to gain a foothold in Macau, I can't avoid or get around the influence of these triads! Even with Mr. Fok's prestige, he still had to make compromises. Your company, unlike us, doesn't need to make money through these shady dealings, so naturally you don't need to deal with these people!"

Lin Yan's fingers, which had been casually toying with the teacup, suddenly stopped. He looked up, his eyes brightening slightly. "Oh? Uncle Huo was also bothered by these bugs?" He leaned forward slightly. "Why didn't you tell Lin Yi and the others sooner?"

Before Fok Ying-tung could respond, he turned to Lin Yi beside him: "Why don't you find some people to clean up all these triads?" He then smiled at Fok Ying-tung, "Consider it a New Year's gift for Uncle Fok, how about that?"

"Cough, cough, cough—" Fok Ying-tung choked on his tea, his face turning red, the silver chopsticks trembling slightly between his fingers. He took the towel offered by the waiter, shaking his head helplessly: "This child... he really dares to say anything."

Stanley Ho nearly dropped his cigar, but he managed to shake the ash into the crystal ashtray with great composure, though his knuckles had already turned white.

"Young Master Lin," his voice tightened, "if word gets out, I'm afraid the threshold of the Lin Group will be worn down by people tomorrow."

Lin Yan suddenly turned his attention to him, his eyes narrowing slightly: "Mr. He, I've heard your wife is the most beautiful woman in Macau?" He rested his chin on his hand, as if pondering an interesting question, "Then why did you take Miss Lan as a concubine? Did you stop loving her? Or—"

He lightly touched the tea stain that had just been spilled on the table with his fingertip, his voice suddenly softening: "Is it related to what you just said about 'having no choice'?" The boy tilted his head, a cryptic smile playing on his lips. "Mr. He, you should think carefully before you answer. This answer... will determine whether I continue watching your show."

Stanley Ho placed his cigar on the edge of the crystal ashtray, then looked up to meet the boy's inquisitive gaze: "Young Master Lin seems particularly interested in my family affairs?"

"I'm not particularly interested in making money," Lin Yan said, his fingertips lightly tracing the rim of the gilded teacup, "but I'm fascinated by observing human nature. And human nature—" he suddenly smiled, "is often the most vulnerable to scrutiny."

The young man rested his chin on his hand: "You think this is a private matter? But in my opinion, how a man treats his wife best reveals his character and bottom line." He nodded slightly in Fok Ying-tung's direction, "Uncle Fok has also married several wives, but he has always placed his first wife in the most important position. The couple discusses things openly, giving the first wife the dignity she deserves and providing the legitimate children with the protection they need."

When Fok Ying-tung was suddenly called out, he blushed.

Lin Yan's tone suddenly turned cold: "But your Miss Lan and her family... they've probably been plotting for a long time how to devour the original wife and child until nothing is left."

He leaned forward slightly, his voice as soft as a whisper yet carrying immense weight: "So think carefully before you answer—this will determine whether I treat you as a spectacle worth watching, or... a stumbling block to be cleared away."

Stanley Ho gazed into the young man's clear eyes. The air seemed to freeze for a moment before he finally sighed dejectedly, "Since you want to hear the truth, young master... yes, when I pursued Wan-wah, I did have the intention of using the Lai family's influence. But my love for her was also genuine." His fingertips unconsciously traced the gilded patterns on the teacup. "Later, when I married Chiung-ying, it was ultimately because I coveted her beauty, and more importantly, I wanted to use the Lan family's power to gain a foothold in Macau."

Lin Yan chuckled softly, "So-so." He got up and walked to the window, "Since you're willing to reveal your hand—as long as you can be like Uncle Huo, keeping your first wife and children in your heart..."

"I might consider having Lin Yi give you a hand!"

Stanley Ho's cigar trembled slightly, pausing lightly on the rim of the ashtray. "Young Master's advice is correct." A complex emotion lingered in his deep brown eyes. "I will always keep your invaluable words in mind."

Lin Yan twirled the celadon covered bowl in his hand, then suddenly smiled broadly at Fok Ying-tung: "Uncle Fok, when I said I wanted to give you a New Year's gift... I wasn't just joking."

"Xiao Yan..." Fok Ying-tung wanted to persuade him further, but Lin Yichao gently shook his head. The man was shrewd and experienced, a meaningful smile playing at the corners of his wrinkled eyes. He picked up a piece of translucent braised sea cucumber with scallions using serving chopsticks: "This is cooked just right, try them all." The silver chopsticks traced a warm arc under the light. "If you're talking about a place like Macau, the most nourishing thing is definitely seafood."

After Lin Yan and his group finished lunch and returned to their hotel suite, Lin Yi casually put the gift box from Stanley Ho into his spatial storage and couldn't help but ask, "Young Master, since you dislike Stanley Ho's character, why did you give him this opportunity?"

Lin Yan chuckled softly upon hearing this, a knowing glint of amusement in his eyes: "Isn't this also a test of human nature?" He strolled to the window, gazing at the Macau street scene. "Previously, he neglected even his wife in his efforts to curry favor with the Lan family. Now, seeing me offer more to his wife, he immediately reverses course—isn't such a vivid example of human nature excellent material for observation?"

As he turned, his eyes held a hint of scholarly interest, as if he were a cultivator comprehending the secrets of the universe: "I should find more people like this and keep them close at hand for constant observation. If I could encounter more of these 'extraordinary individuals,' my understanding of humanity would likely advance to a higher level."

"Lin Yi, how about we leak this information to the Lan family?"

The Lin brothers silently lit a candle in their hearts for Stanley Ho and the Lan family...