Chapter 63: Reclaiming the Ancestral Estate!

"You want verification? Fine! Just wait!"

Lin Ran turned around and went back inside the house.

This time, the waiting period seemed even shorter, but the atmosphere in the small courtyard grew tense to the extreme.

Director Chen and the other official exchanged looks of nervous bewilderment, a deep sense of unease welling up inside them.

A moment later, Lin Ran's figure reappeared!

This time, what he held in his arms was no longer a scrap of paper, but a dark brown kraft paper scroll cylinder!

The cylinder had an antique design, with both ends tied with fine string.

Lin Ran walked over to the stone table and, under the astonished, dumbfounded, and incredulous gazes of everyone present, calmly untied the string.

"Hold on a second, let me find it. The Deputy Director..."

He pulled a stack of traditional rice paper out of the cylinder.

Yes, a large stack!

"This one belongs to the Vice Commander... This one belongs to the Chief of Staff... This one belongs to the Division Commander..."

Lin Ran flipped through them.

Everyone else was utterly dumbfounded!

Those names, those signatures, those official seals...

Every single one of them was like a thunderbolt!

Director Chen's face instantly turned ashen, his lips trembling slightly. The composure he had forced just moments ago vanished completely!

Behind him, the officials stared with eyes wide as saucers and mouths agape large enough to stuff an egg into. Their brains had completely short-circuited!

As for the law enforcement officer who had initially claimed he was going to take Lin Ran away, he had completely hidden himself behind the crowd.

This was entirely out of their league!

Finally—

"Found it!"

Lin Ran pulled out a sheet of rice paper and gave it a gentle flick with both hands, causing it to unfold with a crisp snap.

On the rice paper, two lines of bold, vigorous calligraphy written with iron-like strokes instantly captured everyone's soul:

"Heroes of heaven and earth possess a righteous spirit; through the ages, it remains awe-inspiring."

Lin Ran gently tapped this piece of rice paper, which carried an overwhelming weight, onto the red velvet cloth in front of Director Chen.

"Here, verify it!"

...

More than half an hour later.

In the shadow cast by the lush, leafy old locust tree in the courtyard, Director Chen had his entire body bent almost into the shape of a shrimp.

One hand tightly covered the phone receiver, while the other unconsciously wiped away the cold sweat continuously oozing from his forehead:

"It's true! It's all real!"

"Yes, yes... Understood! I understand completely!"

"Rest assured! We will certainly pacify the matter properly! We will never let Mr. Lin feel any dissatisfaction!"

"Alright, alright, I'll handle it personally..."

"Yes, yes, yes..."

...

"Alright, alright... Goodbye, Secretary..."

Hanging up the phone, Director Chen let out a long breath.

Immediately afterward, he squeezed out an extremely enthusiastic smile and hurried back to the stone table.

Facing Lin Ran, who was still sitting there leisurely and composed, he instinctively bowed a few notches lower:

"Mr. Lin, the higher-ups have given word—the restitution process is to be initiated immediately!"

"We will handle this extraordinary matter through special channels with every traffic light glowing green! Your ancestral home will be returned to its rightful owner right away!"

Lin Ran merely nodded slightly, as expected.

Seeing Lin Ran remain so calm, Director Chen hardened his heart and immediately offered a second piece of "sincerity":

"The higher-ups have also specifically emphasized that any illegal or criminal activities involved in this matter will be dealt with collectively, holding everyone accountable to the end!"

Lin Ran's expression remained expressionless.

He had little interest in holding those petty scoundrels accountable; taking back his ancestral home and fulfilling his grandfather's dying wish was his sole purpose.

Seeing Lin Ran's impenetrable and unfathomable demeanor, Director Chen gritted his teeth:

"Mr. Lin, to express our apologies and the importance we attach to this matter, the higher-ups have also decided to present you with this traditional courtyard you are currently residing in as a gift!"

"And we will process a complete, clear, and permanent property ownership registration!"

Oh?

Lin Ran's eyebrows finally twitched ever so slightly, the corners of his mouth curving into an imperceptible arc.

This was indeed... an unexpected bonus!

Although this traditional courtyard, nestled in a quiet spot within the bustling core area, was far smaller in size than his ancestral home, its location and scarcity made its value equally astonishing!

Once the property registration was completed, it meant he instantly had another hard-currency asset worth several small fortunes in his hands!

Seeing Lin Ran look pleased, the heart that had been hanging in Director Chen's throat finally landed back in its place.

"Mr. Lin, then... is there anything else you need us to pay special attention to or handle?" Director Chen's posture was lowered to the extreme, practically asking for instructions.

Lin Ran thought for a moment and asked, "The paperwork... how long will it take?"

"Tomorrow!" Director Chen practically patted his chest to guarantee it. "By tomorrow afternoon at the latest! All property ownership registration certificates are guaranteed to be delivered to your hands!"

Fearing Lin Ran might find it troublesome, he quickly added, "You won't even need to show your face in person. I will deliver them to you myself! How does that arrangement sound... to you?"

Lin Ran nodded. "Then I've troubled you, Director Chen. It's getting late, so I won't keep you all any longer."

Hearing this, everyone instinctively looked up at the bright, blazing sun hanging directly overhead.

It was not even ten o'clock in the morning yet, and he called that getting late?

At this moment, however, who dared to utter a single word of objection?

"Yes, yes, yes, then we won't disturb you any longer."

With that, Director Chen glanced at the stack of rice paper on the stone table.

"Mr. Lin, regarding these precious... historical materials..."

Lin Ran waved his hand. "Director Chen, these are among the few cherished mementos left to me by the older generation. Don't even ask—they are strictly not for lending!"

"Understood, understood..."

Director Chen awkwardly withdrew his gaze, not daring to take another look.

"Then we'll be leaving first. Please don't see us out, stay as you are."

After the group left, Lin Ran went out to the alley to drink a bowl of authentic mung bean milk, then came back and went back to sleep.

...

Three o'clock in the afternoon.

Lin Ran was woken up again by a knock on the door.

He rubbed his head, feeling somewhat irritated.

"Who is it!"

Shuffling in his slippers, he ungraciously pulled open the courtyard gate.

Standing outside was an irresistibly youthful and beautiful young woman.

Her hands were behind her back, her pretty face tilted upward.

"Heehee, it's me!"

With that, Shen Zhiyao wrapped her hands around Lin Ran's neck.

Suddenly, however, the movement of her hands stiffened.

Her pretty, large eyes widened abruptly.

There, right on Lin Ran's neck, a cinnabar-colored hickey was clearly visible.

"Lin Ran, you went out fooling around behind my back again! Which little vixen did you go find?"

The young Miss Shen put her hands on her hips, her cheeks puffed up in anger.

Lin Ran was amused by her bristling appearance. "Unhappy? Then leave!"

Swish!

Miss Shen's previously arrogant aura instantly deflated like a balloon pierced by a needle.

"Hmph! I won't leave! The more women you have, the more it proves how exceptional you are!"

A black line crossed Lin Ran's forehead.

What kind of logic was this, dammit?

"Or maybe it just means I have a lot of money," he said irritably.

Shen Zhiyao blinked her large eyes, looking full of curiosity. "Money? Where did you get money? Aren't you very poor?"

Lin Ran chuckled. "Didn't you give it to me? One hundred million, forgot?"

"Oh, oh!"

Shen Zhiyao finally remembered.

Immediately afterward, however—

"Lin Ran! You actually used the money I gave you to go find... find..."

"Alright, stop fussing over these trivial details. Let's talk business, why did you come find me?"

"Hmph!"

Miss Shen angrily turned her head away, presenting the back of her head to Lin Ran, her voice muffled.

"Didn't you say you wanted medicine last time? This young lady has already gotten it all sorted out for you..."