Chapter 136 Finale

After all, Grandma Li was already an elderly woman. Though she had been full of energy at first, after a long flight, she was completely drained by the time they got off the plane. The others weren’t doing any better—each one looked exhausted, too tired even to admire the foreign scenery. Fortunately, Xi Junjie had anticipated this and had booked a hotel in the arrival city in advance.

Grandpa Xi and Old Madam Xi had seen some of the world in their youth, but ever since the political movement began, they hadn’t left the Imperial Capital. In the blink of an eye, more than twenty years had passed. Now, faced with the rapid changes outside, they felt a little dazed. As for the Li family, there was even less to say—just staying at a guesthouse used to be a luxury for them. The lavish hotel exceeded all imagination. When the staff introduced the hotel’s facilities, the group stared wide-eyed at the swimming pool, seemingly puzzled as to why a place for swimming was built indoors.

Xi Junjie had booked luxury suites for everyone. To accommodate the elderly, Xi Changbo and his wife shared a room with Grandpa Xi and Old Madam Xi. Li Muwu, Wang Sufen, and Grandma Li shared another suite. The rest stayed with their children—each suite had three bedrooms, so there was no concern about space.

After entering their rooms, those with a bit more energy took a bath before sleeping. The others couldn’t hold on and fell asleep on the bed as soon as they took off their shoes. The group slept for a solid seven or eight hours, waking up groggy. Grandma Li, being older and a light sleeper, woke up early due to fatigue. Seeing Grandma Li constantly rubbing her legs, Zhenzhen knocked on the door of the suite where Grandma Li and Wang Sufen were staying.

Wang Sufen opened the door and quickly invited her in. “How are the twins? Any issues with the new environment or jet lag?”

Thinking of the two lively kids, Zhenzhen chuckled. “No one adapts faster than them. They were still full of energy when they first lay down, shouting from room to room. After finally falling asleep, they only rested four or five hours before getting up and waking everyone else. Junjie took them to the children’s play area.”

“Our twins really are strong,” Grandma Li praised the children while eating cake. “They’ve been easy to raise since birth. Aside from being a bit weaker than Zhenzhen was as a child, they’re better than most kids. Never had issues like diarrhea or fevers. If raising kids was always this easy, it’d be great.”

Zhenzhen smiled. “Easy? They’re more troublesome than anyone.” She handed her grandma a glass of warm water. “Lie down, I’ll help you with your meridians.”

Ever since Zhenzhen gained control over her powers, she had made it a routine to give Grandma Li massages whenever she was home. Later, she even learned acupuncture points and techniques from Mr. Zhang, making her massages even more effective. Not to mention Grandma Li’s bound feet from childhood—thanks to Zhenzhen’s long-term energy healing, the bones had returned to their proper place, and sensation had even returned to her toes.

Grandma Li, becoming more particular with age, had taken a bath before sleeping despite her exhaustion. Zhenzhen first pressed on her temples. As she kneaded the area, a thread of her energy, like a fine embroidery needle, entered through her fingertips. Under her methodical pressure, Grandma Li felt her foggy mind clear and her whole body come alive.

Zhenzhen massaged her grandmother from head to toe. The soreness disappeared, and Grandma Li felt refreshed, more so than after sleeping for hours. Zhenzhen washed her hands and smiled. “Dinner’s booked. I think my brother and the others are awake. Do you want to eat first?”

Old Madam Xi, wearing her reading glasses, glanced at her watch. “Let me see what time it is.” She squinted and muttered in confusion, “Why is my watch broken after just a flight? I paid thousands for this—it’s not supposed to be this fragile.” She had specially worn the watch Zhenzhen gifted her on this trip. But although the hands showed it was past noon, it clearly looked like evening outside.

“There’s a time difference between the countries,” Zhenzhen explained as she adjusted the watch. “This place is a few hours ahead of China.”

Though Grandma Li didn’t quite understand, she wasn’t happy about suddenly losing half a day. “Well, that’s something. We barely got here, and half a day is gone.”

Zhenzhen laughed and hugged her. “It’s okay, we’ll make it up when we return to China. Anyway, I need to give Junjie’s grandparents a massage too. It’ll take at least an hour. Do you want to eat first?”

“No rush.” Grandma Li waved her hand. “It’s only five o’clock. We’ll snack on some cake and go together later.”

Seeing that, Zhenzhen didn’t waste time and went to knock on the suite next door. As soon as Ling Xiulan saw her, she smiled. “Did you sleep well? Where are the kids?”

“Junjie took them downstairs. I figured Grandpa and Grandma would be uncomfortable after such a long flight, so I came to help with a massage,” Zhenzhen replied cheerfully.

Old Madam Xi heard her from inside and quickly called her in. She used to get sore from sitting and playing mahjong with Grandma Li and often relied on Zhenzhen’s massages. She naturally knew Zhenzhen had skill.

Familiar with the process, Zhenzhen transmitted her life-force energy into the old lady’s body through massage. This energy regenerated within Zhenzhen and had no side effects, so she had come to treat it as a secret weapon for keeping her loved ones healthy.

After the session, Old Madam Xi felt invigorated and praised her nonstop. “I always say Zhenzhen gives the best massages in the family. Your aunt doesn’t believe me—claims she learned the same techniques from you. Says I’m biased. But how am I biased? Her massages feel like nothing, unlike yours—I always feel years younger afterward.”

Zhenzhen chuckled. “That’s an exaggeration. I’m just younger and stronger, so it feels better. But if you keep saying that, Auntie will get jealous.”

“She always gets jealous just to tease me.” The old lady had lived with her daughter-in-law for many years and shared a bond like mother and daughter. She smiled warmly. “The more she acts like that, the more I like teasing her.”

Zhenzhen smiled. “Is Grandpa feeling unwell too? I’ll go massage him as well.”

As soon as Old Madam Xi heard that, she jumped up. “Let me call him. He’s so stubborn.”

Grandpa Xi, who never even took traditional medicine, wouldn’t easily accept a massage from his granddaughter-in-law. But Old Madam Xi marched over, pressed him onto the bed, and nearly squashed him. “Hurry, Zhenzhen! I got him!”

“What’s going on here?” Grandpa Xi grumbled from beneath her.

“Zhenzhen wants to massage your legs,” the old lady replied, patting his head. “Lie still.”

“I don’t…” Grandpa Xi began, but as soon as he felt pressure on his back, he quickly changed his tone. “Fine, fine, just let me up first.” Old Madam Xi reluctantly got off but sat nearby, keeping a sharp eye on him like she’d pin him down again at any moment. Zhenzhen couldn’t help but laugh at the pair acting like playful children.

Knowing that Grandpa Xi cared about his dignity, Zhenzhen selected key acupoints and infused them with energy. Once the energies began to circulate in his body, she withdrew her hand. The heaviness in his body disappeared, and he felt as light and youthful as he had in years.

Seeing Grandpa Xi staring at himself in surprise, Old Madam Xi proudly raised her chin. “Told you Zhenzhen’s massages are amazing. If you hadn’t been stuck in bed, I wouldn’t have let her wear herself out for your sake.”

Zhenzhen washed her hands and smiled. “It’s getting late. Junjie’s already booked the restaurant. Let’s go have dinner.”

The elderly couple, who hadn’t had much of an appetite before, were now full of energy and aware of their hunger. They quickly returned to their room to change. Zhenzhen called the other rooms, telling everyone to head down to the buffet restaurant.

The Mingdong brothers had all attended college and could speak English. Plus, the hotel staff had given a thorough orientation upon arrival, so everyone knew where to go. By then, Xi Junjie had brought the twins back to their room. Zhenzhen knocked on their door and brought them out, and together, the two families went to the buffet restaurant for dinner.

The head chef of this five-star hotel is very famous, and many tourists from abroad come specifically to taste his dishes. The buffet restaurant is also one of the hotel’s highlights. It’s only open one day a week and features the freshest ingredients shipped from around the world, all prepared by the chef’s team personally. Today happened to be buffet day, and Xi Junjie directly booked half the seats—he had no choice, his family was too large.

To provide a better dining experience for Xi Junjie and his group, the restaurant had even rearranged the buffet area in advance, setting up a relatively private section. This way, even though they sat at different tables, communication wasn’t hindered.

As the group opened the thick menus, half of them stared blankly at the English text. Xi Junjie had been here before while handling property paperwork, so he was quite familiar with the buffet. He set his menu aside and smiled at the waiter, saying, “One of everything on the menu.” Immediately, everyone glanced at their hefty menus, looking at Xi Junjie in shock: “You’re ordering one of everything? That’s a bit much. What if we can’t finish it? We shouldn’t waste!”

But not even three minutes later, they were all stunned by the tiny portions of exquisitely plated meat. Mingbei, the most talkative, mumbled while putting a piece in his mouth with a fork, “This piece of meat is so small, people with poor eyesight wouldn’t even see it.” After chewing, his eyes lit up: “It’s delicious, so tender. I want ten portions.”

Zhenzhen stopped him with a laugh and a sigh, “There’s a whole book of dishes. Why are you in such a rush? Wait until we’re done—if it’s not enough, then order more.”

By the end of the meal, most people were full just from finishing the menu once, and they got to try all kinds of fresh delicacies—truly an eye-opening experience. The younger and more energetic ones like Mingnan and Mingbei were already rolling up their sleeves and grabbing the menu for round two.

After another restful night at the hotel and a Western-style breakfast in the morning, a bus took the whole family to the dock. To give his family the best travel experience, Xi Junjie had rented the most comfortable cars and boats available.

Though they had already seen the ocean through the bus windows, stepping out into the air where the blue sky and sea met overwhelmed everyone with awe. Grandma Li pulled a mirror from her bag to adjust her sunhat and called out, “Where’s my dear girl?”

“Coming, coming!” Zhenzhen ran over, camera around her neck. “Grandma, where do you want your photo taken?”

Grandma Li pointed toward the sea. “A few photos with the ocean, then a couple with that big ship. My goodness, that ship’s way fancier than the ones back in Beicha.”

Zhenzhen nearly doubled over with laughter. “Can you not compare the little wooden boats in Beicha River with this? Those can barely fit three people before someone has to get off.”

After taking photos of the family, Xi Junjie counted heads while ushering everyone onto the boat. With both families and their children, over twenty people were traveling together—losing even one would be a disaster.

The island Xi Junjie purchased is famous for its soft beaches and beautiful ocean views, but what people talk about most is the luxurious villa on it. For years, wealthy individuals and celebrities from around the world had tried to rent the island for weddings or parties, but the steep weekly rental price of $200,000 turned most away. If the previous owner’s family hadn’t suddenly encountered financial trouble and needed a large sum to stay afloat, they never would’ve let go of this gold mine.

When the ship docked at the island, everyone stepped onto the soft sand and was captivated by the stunning scenery. Watermelon and Grape threw off their shoes and danced barefoot on the sand, marveling at the softness they had never felt before.

In the face of such natural beauty, no one wanted to enter the villa just yet. Fortunately, the sun was warm but not scorching, making the air feel comfortably pleasant. The villa’s housekeeping team had prepared various fun tents for the children and beach chairs and umbrellas for the adults.

Everyone picked their favorite spots. The staff came out with trays of fragrant red wine, fresh fruit, freshly squeezed juice, just-made cakes, and ice cream still cold from the freezer. None of the kids, big or small, could resist—they all squealed and ran over.

Zhenzhen led them to wash their hands at the beach restroom before letting them dig in. Vacation was meant to be carefree and joyful, so the whole family threw dietary restrictions out the window. Even Grandma Li took a bowl of ice cream and scooped a little into her mouth with a small spoon.

The milky ice cream slowly melted in her mouth, and Grandma Li nodded in satisfaction. “This is delicious—way better than the old frozen popsicles we had at home.”

Zhenzhen laughed out loud at her words and snapped a close-up of the elderly lady in her sunhat enjoying ice cream.

With ocean-view rooms, luxurious restaurants, and the freshest ingredients straight from the sea, the family fully relaxed. Once they had explored the island, Grandma Li made a new demand—she wanted to see the seascape.

There was a yacht on the island, so the group set off again, bringing two chefs, two waiters, and a captain. Xi Changbo asked a waiter for two fishing rods and tossed one to Li Muwu: “We always competed in your courtyard before. This time, let’s see who’s better in the ocean.”

Li Muwu wasn’t afraid—he believed that thanks to his daughter’s influence, his fishing skills had improved significantly. Both men confidently cast their lines, while the waiter brought over two glasses of red wine. Xi Changbo took a sip and swirled it with admiration. “Good wine, good view—this is what living life to the fullest feels like.”

Li Muwu scoffed while holding his glass. “How pretentious.” Then he downed it in one gulp, smacked his lips unsatisfied, and said, “Tastes like grape juice. Hey, kid, you got any Erguotou?” The waiter smiled politely. “What?”
—

Ten years later, when the Yidong government saw that the area’s Korean pine forest had shrunk to less than one percent of its original size, they finally panicked. They halted all logging and began promoting eco-economy initiatives. When Zhenzhen saw the long-awaited news online, she couldn’t help but sneer. Back when the ecosystem was perfect, they rampantly logged; now that wildlife is nearly gone, they suddenly care about the environment?

By now, Zhenzhen was a renowned businesswoman in China. The Mingzhen Group had become a nationally recognized enterprise and was a leader in industries such as furniture, clothing, cosmetics, and beauty. Its botanical base in Imperial Capital spanned one million square meters, and every summer, the blooming flowers there had become a famous sight. However, the management of the botanical base was very strict, and visitors could only admire it from the outside—entry was strictly prohibited. Even more enviable to pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies was Mingzhen Group’s traditional medicine plantation, which had turned a once barren mountain into over a dozen peaks managed by a professional herbal cultivation team.

Still, the group’s most impressive achievement was its real estate company. Housing prices were changing daily, sometimes rising tens of thousands in just half a month—truly hard to keep up. Mingzhen Real Estate had developed many properties nationwide, known for upscale communities and premium management. As soon as construction began, people would show up at the sales office to inquire about prices. As an established real estate brand, every Mingzhen development had become a symbol of quality.

After closing the news webpage, Zhenzhen pressed the internal hotline: “Xie Hua, come in.” Dressed in a neat professional suit, Xie Hua entered with a standard smile. “President Li, what are your instructions?”

Zhenzhen handed her the printed news. “Hold a work meeting in half an hour. Notify the investment, operations, and ecology departments. We’re discussing the forest contract project in Yidong.”

After scanning the news quickly, Xie Hua immediately went to notify the relevant departments. Half an hour later, Zhenzhen arrived punctually in the meeting room, where a projection of the Korean pine forest situation in Yidong had already been pulled up.

Zhenzhen briefly introduced the history and current state of the forest, then asked, “What are your suggestions and opinions on this contracting project?”

The investment department was the first to raise a question: “President Li, it seems the government’s stance is for the forestry department to carry out this work and to transition former forestry workers into forest maintenance roles to ensure that tens of thousands of forestry workers don’t lose their jobs. If we take on the contract, the annual investment will be enormous, yet the returns are not guaranteed. After Assistant Xie issued the meeting notice, I looked up some information about Yidong City. Though it has pleasant scenery, it’s very remote, served only by the slowest trains, and its economy is extremely sluggish—even the state-owned hydrolysis plant with decades of history couldn’t escape closure. Most young people have left to seek work or start businesses, and the area is largely populated by the elderly. I don’t believe it’s a good place to invest.”

Thinking of her hometown’s current state, Zhenzhen sighed, then seriously raised her head and looked at her team: “I’m not investing there to make money, but to restore the most beautiful mountains.”

The head of the investment department was stunned. Over the years, every single project Mingzhen Group invested in had turned a profit. At a time when the company’s performance was on the rise, why had the chairwoman suddenly changed her approach? As he puzzled over it, a phone was handed to him while Li Mingzhen was lost in thought staring at the image of Mount Hongsong on the screen. He glanced at the screen—it was Li Mingzhen’s personal profile: a native of Beicha, Yidong City, in the Black Province.

It’s said that money can get things done, and besides, Zhenzhen held a special place in the hearts of Chinese people. Even though she had focused on her business in recent years, she still set aside a month each year to travel the world. She never returned empty-handed, always bringing back numerous cultural relics, becoming a distinctive presence in China. She was frequently received by top leaders and publicly praised every few years. Because of this, although Zhenzhen wasn’t a government official, her words often carried more weight than one.

So when such a wealthy and respected entrepreneur expressed a desire to give back to her hometown by taking over forest cultivation and maintenance, the local government readily agreed and processed the relevant documents. To show their support for Mingzhen Group’s investment, the government even promised to allocate the annual forestry funds to the company, with the condition that forestry workers’ employment be preserved.

This gesture was a great show of goodwill to Mingzhen Group, especially giving the investment department a huge sigh of relief. With state subsidies covering part of the cost, early losses would be more manageable. Once eco-tourism was established, returns would eventually come—it would just take longer than other projects.

Zhenzhen attached greater importance to this initiative than to any other, and she planned to personally return home to supervise the afforestation work. After living with Zhenzhen for twenty years, Xi Junjie knew all her past efforts had led to this moment. He also knew that once she went back, she could be staying for three to five years. Now a high-ranking diplomat, Xi Junjie quietly submitted his resignation. Facing many puzzled looks, he just smiled faintly: “I’m going home with my wife to plant trees.”

Grandma Li had already celebrated her hundredth birthday, and both Li Muwu and Wang Sufen were around eighty. Upon hearing that Zhenzhen would return to Beicha to work on forest cultivation, Grandma Li, who had recently begun pondering the idea of returning to her roots, was the first to speak: “I want to go back too—just live where we used to.”

Zhenzhen held Grandma Li’s hand with a smile, her eyes shimmering with tears: “Alright, I’ll take you back. But our old house collapsed long ago. I’ve already had a new one built in the same spot.”

Grandma Li sighed in distress: “All those houses we built back then went to waste. Your brothers barely lived in theirs. What a shame.” Zhenzhen helped tidy Grandma Li’s hair as they prepared for the trip home.

The twins were now fifteen, and having been raised to be independent from a young age, they didn’t feel too strongly about their parents’ departure. But realizing they wouldn’t see their grandparents and great-grandmother every day after school anymore, the two who called themselves “grown-up” still ended up crying.

Grandma Li held the twins’ hands, smiling kindly: “Once your school holidays start, your mom will bring you over. The mountains back home are so much fun—wild chickens, rabbits, mushrooms to pick.”

Wang Sufen also held their hands, giving repeated instructions: “Listen to Grandpa and Grandma, study hard, okay? Your mom always ranked first in school.”

Xi Junjie and Zhenzhen were both deeply committed to their children’s education, especially in moral guidance. Influenced by positive role models like Grandma Li, Wang Sufen, and Ling Xiulan, the children grew up exceptionally well. They always shared the top spot academically and never showed any spoiled behaviors common among the rich. In fact, they helped Wang Sufen water the garden, pick vegetables, feed the chickens and ducks on weekends—tasks many kids born in the 1980s rarely experienced.

Now, unless something major came up, Ling Xiulan only oversaw the company through reports and remote video calls, which made it easy to stay informed without physically being at the office. So she took on the responsibility of looking after the twins.

They said they were ready, but by the time everything was truly in place, it was three months later. Mingzhen Group had established a company in Beicha to oversee ecological restoration, as well as the future development of a forest park and resort. With the mountain rich in natural delicacies, Zhenzhen also set up a green specialty food factory, hoping to bring Beicha’s healthy cuisine to the whole country.

Having been away from Beicha for years, Zhenzhen was unfamiliar with the people there, though everyone knew her. Walking down the street, strangers would greet her: “Aren’t you Li Mingzhen? Ah, Beicha’s celebrity, come back to build your hometown? That’s great!” Back on her old street, things were even more surreal. Zhenzhen found that her life in the Imperial Capital over the years was common knowledge among the neighborhood, who used her story to educate their kids and told them to treat her as a role model.

The kids on the block were about ready to kneel to their parents. They wanted to follow Li Mingzhen’s example too. Who in all of China didn’t? She made the Forbes Rich List before forty, had a handsome, gentle, considerate husband, and two outstanding kids. She was the very definition of a winner in life.

The car stopped in front of a small courtyard. Looking at the familiar gate and wall, Grandma Li was taken aback, her hands trembling slightly: “Didn’t you say the house had collapsed?”

Zhenzhen smiled without answering, helping her down from the car: “Go in and see for yourself.”

With Zhenzhen’s support, Grandma Li walked to the door, gently touching the timeworn gate. After a long moment, she pushed it open. A familiar courtyard appeared: a flock of chickens pecking at the ground, green vegetable gardens on either side bursting with fresh cucumbers, red tomatoes, and plump purple eggplants—just like the old days.

Her gaze drifted to the five-room tiled house ahead. Though the exterior looked much the same, it was clearly rebuilt—broader and grander than before.

The wooden door inside was open, only a screen door shut. Grandma Li pulled it open and stepped inside. As before, the kitchen greeted her first, with rooms on either side. Firewood burned in the stove, and the house was filled with the smell of chicken stewed with mushrooms. Grandma Li and Wang Sufen stood dazed, as if they had only stepped out for a match and hadn’t been gone for years.

Grandma Li pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her eyes, then turned toward the eastern room. The familiar kang bed was there, its cover looking exactly the same as when she’d left. The zither on the bed, the big chest on the floor, the old radio on top of it—every furnishing and detail perfectly replicated the past.

“These old pieces of furniture lasted all these years?” Grandma Li asked suspiciously, touching them.

Zhenzhen chuckled, “To tell you the truth, your antiques couldn’t be used anymore. I had a furniture factory remake everything with solid wood, even had them replicate the wear marks so it’d look exactly the same.”

“You really went all out—made brand new things look old.” Grandma Li smiled and climbed onto the bed cross-legged. “Hey, Mingdong’s mom, what’s for lunch?”

Wang Sufen wiped away tears and beamed brightly: “Chicken with mushrooms, pickled vegetables, and a fish stew.”

The mother- and daughter-in-law burst into laughter, while Li Muwu sighed dejectedly, “Now there’s no place to fish anymore.”

Zhenzhen couldn’t help laughing: “Perfect. My brothers’ houses are all sitting empty. I’ll get the paperwork done and dig a pond for you.”

Li Muwu looked at her with hopeful eyes: “Then during summer and winter breaks, can your in-laws bring Watermelon and Grape over to visit? Fishing alone is no fun.”

Zhenzhen glanced at Third Uncle, who had been standing behind her father and completely ignored, and said with a laugh and a sigh, “Those two are bound to come. Honestly, you’ve argued with my father-in-law for twenty years and never got tired of it. Now you’ve only been apart for a day or two and you’re already missing him this much.”

Li Muwu didn’t see anything wrong with that. On the contrary, he was quite pleased and started calculating, “Then you better fix up the pond quickly and stock it with more fish. I need to get some good practice in and secure the home advantage.”

Zhenzhen shook her head with a smile and said to Grandma Li, “If you’re not used to sleeping on the heated brick bed, I’ve also bought an apartment. We can move in anytime.”

“Move for what?” Grandma Li lay on the kang, enjoying the warmth rising through the mat. “I’m telling you, sleeping on the kang is the best. Never get any back or leg problems.”

The whole family returned to Beicha. Apart from the elderly, everyone else was busy, so Zhenzhen hired a housekeeper to take care of daily life. When it was time to eat, Grandma Li went into the west room and only then realized the layout had changed from before—it had been turned into a combined living and dining room. Zhenzhen and Xi Junjie kept a room for themselves in the west inner room, planning to stay three or four days a week.

Over the years, Mingnan had been working in Beicha, tirelessly advocating for ecological conservation. Despite his efforts, he earned less than Zhenzhen’s housekeeper. But like her, he had his own dreams. Since studying at Forestry University, he’d realized how devastating logging was to the primeval forests. After graduation, he was assigned to the forestry department and had thought he could make a difference. But once he got involved, he learned just how naïve he had been. In a profit-driven logging industry, his suggestions and hard work were like a tiny boat in a vast ocean—completely ineffective and easily overturned.

Mingnan had been focused solely on forest replanting. His salary was already low, and he often spent his own money on seedlings because he wanted to see again the clear blue skies and lush forests of his childhood. For this reason, he had refused Zhenzhen’s offers over the years to come to the Imperial Capital.

When he heard that his little sister had returned—and that it was for ecological restoration—he couldn’t hide his joy as he rushed over. “Grandma, Mom, Dad, Zhenzhen!”

Seeing the fifty-something Mingnan running like an excited teenager made Grandma Li laugh. “You’re too old to be acting like this.”

Mingnan grinned, showing a row of white teeth, and then eagerly pulled Zhenzhen aside. “Your company really is here to restore the forest?”

“Of course. What do you think I’ve been earning all this money for? Ecological restoration costs a fortune.” Zhenzhen smiled and patted his shoulder. “Brother, you’re almost retired. Why not process it early and join me in restoring the Korean pine forest?”

“Sure! I’d love to do that!” Mingnan held out his hand and high-fived Zhenzhen. “Let’s do it together!”
—

Though Zhenzhen had the ability to instantly return the Korean pine forest to its most lush state, she chose not to. Not only would it be too shocking, but she also wanted people to witness how long it takes for a single pine tree to grow from a seedling into a towering giant. Human life depends on trees, but the consequences of sustainable use and reckless deforestation are vastly different. You can’t always wait until there are no trees left to cut and then regret it. This time, there was still a chance to fix things—but what about next time? The primeval forest might never return.

They replanted the trees one by one. Mingnan led the workers in checking survival rates daily. A month later, he was thrilled to find that not a single tree had died. Touching the saplings as thick as his arm, he said in awe, “No wonder it’s called Red Pine Mountain. Anywhere else, an 80% survival rate would already be excellent.”

Xi Junjie and Zhenzhen smiled at each other upon hearing that. Seeing it was nearly noon, Zhenzhen turned to Mingnan and said, “I promised to have lunch with Grandma. Are you coming?”

“There’s still a batch of trees to plant—I can’t rest easy until I supervise it myself. You guys go ahead and tell Grandma I’ll visit her tonight.” Zhenzhen nodded and went down the mountain with Xi Junjie.

The place wasn’t far from home, so they didn’t drive. Nowadays, they both preferred walking, enjoying the long-lost pace of a slow life.

Hand in hand, they strolled along the uneven dirt road. Xi Junjie smiled as Zhenzhen chatted about how the twins were doing. Suddenly, two boys came running toward them, one behind the other, laughing and holding wild fruits.

Zhenzhen stopped to look at their faces. Though she had never seen them before, there was a deep and indescribable familiarity in her heart.

The older boy stopped in front of her. He looked about thirteen or fourteen. The younger one, perhaps seven or eight, caught up shortly after.

“What’s your name?” Zhenzhen couldn’t help wanting to pat the older boy’s head.

That age is usually when boys start getting rebellious, but this one, faced with a beautiful woman, was oddly well-behaved. He replied obediently, “My name is Li Yingzhong.” Then, looking into Zhenzhen’s eyes, he added without thinking, “My nickname’s Hongzhong.”

The little boy behind him burst into laughter. “My brother made that up himself. My aunt says he must have watched too much mahjong when he was little.”

“What’s your name?” Zhenzhen asked, amused.

“I’m Huang Yuhu. My nickname is much better than his.” The boy looked quite proud.

Typically, names like that would earn nicknames like Xiaohu or Huzi, so Zhenzhen asked as much. But Huang Yuhu shook his head, very pleased with himself. “I knew you’d guess wrong—nobody’s ever guessed it right.”

Then a thought suddenly came to Zhenzhen, and she said instinctively, “Could it be Dahuang?”

“Huh? How’d you know?” Huang Yuhu scratched his head, revealing two small tiger teeth. “My nickname was given by my cousin.” He pointed to Li Yingzhong and grinned. “My mom says it sounds like a dog’s name, but I love it. They don’t get it—sounds more like a tiger’s name if you ask me.”

Listening to Huang Yuhu’s rambling self-defense, Zhenzhen couldn’t help but laugh. She patted both their heads, a look of affection on her face. “So you two are already this big. That’s wonderful.”

“You know us?” Li Yingzhong couldn’t help asking. “You look so familiar to me… could it be…” A bold idea popped into his mind. “Could it be you’re my real mom? And the mom I have now is my adoptive one? No wonder she yells at me and says I can’t eat if I don’t finish my homework!”

Zhenzhen laughed until she teared up. “You’re overthinking it. I only have one set of twins, and they’re studying in the Imperial Capital. I haven’t had any other children.”

Li Yingzhong sighed. “Great, so I’m not escaping the tyranny after all. Guess I’m still not getting lunch today.”

Zhenzhen shook her head with a chuckle. “I think you two are pretty fun. How about coming to my place for lunch?” She pointed to a nearby brick house, her smile radiant. “Right over there.”

Li Yingzhong and Huang Yuhu had both grown up learning safety rules—don’t follow strangers, don’t take food from them, and so on. Normally, they were cautious around unfamiliar people. But today, all their guard vanished when they saw this pretty older sister. It all felt so natural, as if they belonged there, and they followed her without hesitation.

Entering the simple little courtyard, bathed in sunlight, Li Yingzhong scratched his head and asked in confusion, “Why do I feel such a strong urge to just sit here and soak up the sun?”

Zhenzhen brought him a stool and a basin of freshly picked string beans. “Then sit and shell these while you sunbathe.”

Grandma Li heard the commotion and came out. “Oh, whose kids are these?”

Without thinking, Li Yingzhong blurted out, “Grandma, I’m Hongzhong.”
—

Time passed quickly. The twins grew up and jointly took over the Mingzhen Group. Zhenzhen never favored one over the other and left a notarized document stating that all assets would be split evenly in the future. As for the museum she had always dreamed of building, surprisingly, it wasn’t located in the Imperial Capital—it was built in Beicha.

On the museum’s opening day, a reporter asked, “Ms. Li, why did you choose to locate your private museum here instead of in a major city like the Imperial Capital or Magic City (Shanghai)?”

Zhenzhen gave a faint smile and said, “Because the Imperial Capital already has many museums to visit, while people here rarely have the chance to see national-level cultural relics. So I chose to build the museum in Beicha and open it to the public for free, so more people can learn about our country’s history and culture.” Taking the opportunity of the interview, Zhenzhen also announced a major decision: “After I pass away, all these cultural relics will be donated to the state.”

The reporter was shocked: “All of them?”

Zhenzhen smiled, her gaze falling on the three Xuande incense burners in different shades, and said firmly, “Yes, all of them.”

Day by day, time passed. After graduating from university, Li Yingzhong and Huang Yuhu were hired by Zhenzhen’s ecological company in Beicha, joining the effort to restore the ecosystem. Thanks to the efforts of Zhenzhen and everyone involved, the forest gradually expanded. The once frail saplings had grown tall, and most surprisingly, due to the strict control over pine cone harvesting—especially the ban on tree felling for pine cones—many naturally regenerated pine trees began to sprout in the forest, bringing unexpected joy.

With ecological protection in place, wild animals in the Korean pine forest gradually increased. There were even rumors of hearing the sounds of tigers and black bears, though no one believed it. While people today haven’t seen wild tigers or black bears, they often heard elders talk about them in their youth—how encountering one often meant certain death, and escape was unlikely.

In the blink of an eye, Zhenzhen and Xi Junjie had reached sixty, but the two of them seemed especially favored by the heavens. Time had left barely any traces on their faces—not even a strand of white hair. If they put on white shirts and jeans, no one would doubt they were in their thirties.

Having walked hand in hand through life, and with decades more ahead together, Zhenzhen felt that nothing could be more beautiful than this kind of life.

Another spring arrived. Zhenzhen took Xi Junjie up to the mountaintop. Looking at the lush forest and a little tiger leaping nearby, she gently waved her hand, and in an instant, the entire mountain was blanketed in blooming azaleas.

Author’s note:

This story ends here. Everything has been clearly explained, so there won’t be any additional chapters. Thank you all for accompanying me on this journey and completing this story together. Thank you again.