Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 172 The elder brother arrives and the elders arrive.

Two days later, at dusk, the New York sky was dyed a magnificent orange-red by the setting sun. A passenger plane from Hong Kong landed smoothly at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Lin Yi, dressed in a well-tailored dark gray suit and carrying a simple briefcase, walked out of the gate with the flow of people.

Charles, who was already waiting in the arrivals hall, immediately went up to him and took the briefcase from his hand: "Mr. Lin, you must be tired from your journey. Young Master is waiting for you at home."

Lin nodded: "Thank you for your trouble."

By the time the car entered the Upper East Side, it was completely dark. Warm lights from inside the villa shone through the windows, dispelling the chill of the autumn night. Lin Yan, unusually, was waiting on the porch. Seeing Lin Yi get out of the car, a genuine smile appeared on his face. He quickly stepped forward and gave Lin Yi a firm hug.

"Big brother, it's been a long time!" Lin Yan's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible excitement. Although Lin Yi was just his puppet, for a long time, Lin Yi had been managing his vast Hong Kong business and handling countless complicated matters for him. He was loyal and devoted, and in Lin Yan's heart, the relationship had long surpassed that of an ordinary subordinate. He was more like a reliable older brother and right-hand man.

Lin Yi was slightly taken aback by Lin Yan's sudden and enthusiastic hug, but he quickly recovered. His gaze swept across the living room and he saw Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming looking over curiously. He then hugged Lin Yan back tightly and asked with concern, "Xiao Yan, how have you been lately?" He was referring to the old ailment that Lin Yan had previously claimed to be taking a reasonable "rest".

Lin Yan immediately understood and continued the act, loosening his arms, patting his chest, and saying loudly, "No problem, I'm all better! I'm sorry to have worried you, brother."

The brothers' genuine yet somewhat scripted interaction seemed to Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming, who followed behind, to them that the brothers had a genuinely good relationship and had no suspicions whatsoever.

Lin Yi then walked over to Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming, a gentle yet measured smile on his face, and proactively extended his hand to shake hands with each of them: "Wenbin, Jiaming, hello. I'm Lin Yi. I've heard Xiaoyan talk about you all the time, and it's great to finally meet you today." His handshake was firm and strong, his gaze sincere. "Xiaoyan... he doesn't have many friends, and he can be quite solitary at times. Thank you for going to such lengths to fly all the way to America to celebrate his birthday with him. Thank you for being willing to be his friend!"

These words were sincere and heartwarming to Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming, who quickly waved their hands and said, "Brother Lin, you're too kind," and "We're good friends with Ayan, it's only right."

Lin Yi took out two exquisite velvet watch boxes from his briefcase and handed them to Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming respectively: "A small gift to mark our meeting. I hope you like them."

When the two opened it, they were surprised to find two classic and elegant Vacheron Constantin watches, which were quite valuable!

"This... Brother Lin, this is too precious!" Li Wenbin said somewhat embarrassed.

"Brother Lin, you're going to too much trouble," Zheng Jiaming declined.

"Please accept this," Lin Yi said with a gentle smile, but his tone left no room for refusal. "Xiao Yan's friends are my friends. This is just a small token of my appreciation. I hope you have a great time in America."

Standing to the side, Lin Yan watched Lin Yi's smooth and effortless actions—from heartfelt greetings to sincere gratitude to a friend, and then to a perfectly chosen generous gift—and couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "Lin Yi has really honed his skills these past two years! His social skills are impeccable, he's got them down to the wire!"

With Lin Yi's arrival, the villa became even more lively. He was witty and knowledgeable, and quickly became friends with Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.

Time flew by and it was already the afternoon of November 28th.

John F. Kennedy International Airport once again welcomed important guests. Li Yaozu, Zheng Yizhi, and Tang Bingyuan and his wife arrived in New York on the same flight.

Outside the airport, Lin Yi personally led a team, waiting with Li Wenbin, Zheng Jiaming, and Tang Liuqian. This welcoming lineup clearly demonstrated the high regard he held for his three partners.

The meeting naturally began with pleasantries. Tang Liuqian had already booked a top-tier hotel suite for his parents nearby. Lin Yi, on the other hand, arranged accommodation for Li Yaozu and Zheng Yizhi—a penthouse duplex in a high-rise apartment building purchased by the Americas Group in the heart of Manhattan, which was only a five-minute drive from Lin Yan's villa, making it extremely convenient.

Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming accompanied their respective fathers in a luxury car arranged by Lin Yi to their Manhattan apartment.

In the car, Li Wenbin could no longer contain his excitement and began chattering to his father, Li Yaozu, about his experiences in the United States over the past few days.

"Dad, you have no idea! Ah Yan's manor is bigger and more beautiful than our house in Repulse Bay! The air is so fresh!"

"And also, we went to see an NBA game! The very front row! Those Black players jumped so high!"

"Sister Yuling's cooking is absolutely amazing! I've never eaten anything so delicious before!"

"And another thing, Ah Yan just casually pulled out ten million US dollars in cash! He said it was pocket money, and told us to use it as start-up capital for our brand! My God, ten million US dollars! He just threw it in the living room in a burlap sack!"

Li Wenbin spoke with great enthusiasm, spitting as he spoke, completely unaware that with each additional word he uttered, the expressions on the faces of his father, Li Yaozu, beside him, and Zheng Yizhi, opposite him, grew more serious.

Li Yaozu and Zheng Yizhi exchanged a glance, both seeing undisguised shock and a barely perceptible tension in each other's eyes.

A sixteen-year-old boy can casually pull out ten million US dollars in cash and call it "pocket money"?

This is no longer an ordinary wealthy family! What kind of unfathomable family power lies behind the Lin family?

The two looked at their son, who was still babbling on and on with an air of pride, and felt a complex mix of emotions. On one hand, they were relieved that their son had managed to befriend such a person by chance, which was incredibly lucky; on the other hand, they couldn't help but worry about their "foolish son," fearing that he might not know his place and offend the mysterious "Lin Yan."

"Fools sometimes have all the luck!" Li Yaozu sighed inwardly, looking at Li Wenbin beside him who was still laughing carefree. For the first time, he felt that his son's "unambitious" and optimistic personality might not be entirely a bad thing. At least, it had inadvertently allowed him to latch onto a golden opportunity that even seasoned veterans like them wouldn't dare to dream of.

That afternoon, Lin Yan personally called to invite Gu Weijun and his wife, Tang Bingyuan and his wife, Li Yaozu, and Zheng Yizhi, among other elders, to his home for dinner. As evening fell and the city lights came on, the wrought iron gate of the Lin family villa slowly opened, and Lin Yi and Charles personally greeted them at the porch.

Gu Weijun and his wife Yan Youyun, along with their daughter Yang Xi'en, were the first to arrive. Lin Yi immediately stepped forward, shook hands with Gu Weijun respectfully, and said with a humble yet dignified demeanor, "You must be Mr. Gu Weijun? I've long admired your name. I am Xiao Yan's elder brother, Lin Yi. Thank you and your wife for always taking care of Xiao Yan. Welcome to the Lin family!"

Upon hearing that the distinguished young man before him was Lin Yan's elder brother, Gu Weijun's eyes flashed with understanding and admiration. He immediately responded with a smile, "Mr. Lin, you're too kind. My wife and I both adore Xiao Yan. He's handsome, humble, and polite. What's even more remarkable is his vast knowledge and extraordinary insight. My wife and I have always been curious about what kind of family could raise such an outstanding child." He looked at Lin Yi with gentle eyes and sincerely praised, "Meeting Mr. Lin today, you truly are a man of exceptional talent and character, a testament to the Lin family's distinguished lineage."

Lin Yi's smile grew even more sincere: "Mr. Gu, you flatter me. Please come in, you and your wife. And Miss Yang, don't just stand at the door. Let's go inside and talk."

Gu Weijun and Yan Youyun led their daughter into the villa. Passing through the wrought-iron gate and ascending the stairs to the main house, Gu Weijun's gaze was immediately drawn to the decorations along the way and inside the main building. Despite his extensive knowledge and refined taste, he couldn't help but nod slightly in approval. The exterior of the mansion was in classic English style, dignified and imposing, while the interior decoration was not merely a haphazard accumulation of luxury.

In the living room, several seemingly unassuming yet profoundly evocative Chinese ink paintings hung on the walls, creating a wonderful dialogue with the minimalist modern Western sculptures in the corner; on the dark European classical furniture, warm and lustrous Chinese classical porcelain was displayed. This fusion of East and West was not a forced combination, but a harmonious coexistence under the guidance of an aesthetic that transcends time, possessing both the understated elegance of the East and the expansive vision of the West, showcasing the owner's extraordinary taste and magnanimity in the details. His evaluation of the Lin family's background couldn't help but rise even higher.

In the living room, Xiao Qi was circling around Lin Yan's legs, whining and acting cute. As soon as Yan Youyun and Gu Weijun entered, the clever little girl immediately changed direction, trotting over to Yan Youyun's feet and affectionately rubbing her fluffy head against her trouser leg, her big eyes filled with "grievance".

Yan Youyun's heart melted instantly. She bent down and lovingly hugged Xiaoqi in her arms, gently stroking its snow-white fur, and asked softly, "Oh dear, what's wrong with our Xiaoqi? Who bullied you? Tell Grandma."

Lin Yan, watching from the side, was both amused and exasperated. He stepped forward and "complained" to Yan Youyun, "Aunt Yan, don't be fooled by it! This little guy has already tricked me out of ten special milk candies today, eating them one after another! After finishing them, it came back for more. When I didn't give them to it, it used this trick, circling around me, throwing a tantrum and doing everything it could! Now that you're here, it's finally found a protector, it's so naughty!"

This was the first time Gu Weijun and Yan Youyun had seen Lin Yan so childlike, a stark contrast to his usual composed demeanor. They found it both novel and amusing, and burst into laughter. Gu Weijun teased, "Looks like our Xiao Qi is quite intelligent and brave, knowing how to assess the situation!" Yan Youyun hugged Xiao Qi tighter and laughed, "It's just a few candies, look how much our Xiao Qi is drooling over them."

As 6:30 approached, the guests gradually arrived. Tang Bingyuan and his wife, Li Yaozu, and Zheng Yizhi arrived one after another, accompanied by Li Wenbin, Zheng Jiaming, and Tang Liuqian. Lin Yi, as the host, naturally took the seat of honor and warmly invited everyone to sit down. The long dining table was covered with a clean white tablecloth, and the silver cutlery and crystal glasses shimmered with a warm luster under the soft lighting.

Wang Yuling personally led her well-trained servants to serve the dishes in an orderly manner. Today, she showcased her best skills, making the dishes not only delicious but also visually appealing.

One after another, exquisite dishes were served, and the atmosphere was warm and harmonious. As the host, Lin Yi was well-mannered and eloquent, able to discuss international affairs and economic trends with Gu Weijun and Tang Bingyuan, and exchange business insights and market observations with Li Yaozu and Zheng Yizhi. He spoke highly of the elders, thanking them for their care and guidance of Lin Yan and the younger generation, including Li Wenbin, Zheng Jiaming, and Tang Liuqian, displaying great humility and giving everyone ample face.

Fine wine and delicious food filled the air, and toasts were exchanged. After a few glasses of mellow red wine, the elders opened up completely. Gu Weijun and Tang Bingyuan reminisced about their early experiences at home and abroad, filled with emotion; Li Yaozu and Zheng Yizhi expressed their admiration for Lin Yi's ability to manage the Lin family business, revealing a strong desire to cooperate. Li Wenbin, Zheng Jiaming, Tang Liuqian, Yang Xi'en, and other young people listened intently, occasionally interjecting with jokes that drew laughter from the room.

Wang Yuling's superb culinary skills were widely praised, and almost every dish was devoured. Yan Youyun smiled and said to Lin Yan, "Xiao Yan, your sister Yuling's cooking skills are truly comparable to those of a master chef at a state banquet! We're in for a treat today."

Looking at the scene before him, where guests and hosts were enjoying themselves immensely, Lin Yan felt a warmth fill his heart.