62: Chapter 62 again grants five points of freedom.

Vice President Liu Qingyan understood the unspoken message: "Boss, why don't you go keep Tangtang company? We'll handle the media."

Lin Yu nodded and turned to walk toward the lounge not far away. Tangtang was lying against the window, watching the excavators outside. Seeing Lin Yu come in, she immediately ran over and hugged his leg: "Daddy Lin Yu! The big excavators are so cool!"

Lin Yu picked up Tangtang and kissed her on the cheek: "When Junlin Food City is built, Daddy will bring you here to eat yummy food, okay?"

"Okay!" Tangtang nodded vigorously, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

"Let's go! Let's go play with the excavators!"

"Yay!"

...

By noon that day, reports from all major media outlets in Ze City had flooded in.

The Xinhua News Agency app published an article titled "Groundbreaking of Ze City Junlin Food City: 3,000-Mu Livelihood Project to Benefit One Million People," detailing the scale, positioning, and significance of the project to public livelihood. It specifically highlighted the core promise of "zero-profit meal services for schools and nursing homes," and featured high-definition photos of the groundbreaking ceremony and excerpts from the leaders' speeches.

The Provincial Daily featured a front-page article titled "Junlin Food City: A 'New Benchmark' for Ze City's Livelihood Projects," which stated: "The construction of Junlin Food City is a vivid practice of Ze City's implementation of the 'people-centered' development philosophy. It will fundamentally change the circulation pattern of agricultural products in our province and set a model for livelihood projects across the province."

The municipal TV station's "Ze City News" program dedicated a five-minute special report to the event, recording the entire process of the groundbreaking ceremony. It interviewed Secretary Wang Zhenshan, Deputy Mayor Wang Jianguo, Lin Yu, and Liu Mingxuan, a representative of the Young Masters Group. It also broadcast segments of the project's planning promotional video, allowing citizens to intuitively grasp the grand blueprint of the food city.

Streamers on online live-streaming platforms brought the atmosphere of the scene to millions of netizens, with the comment sections filled with messages like "Ze City is awesome," "Junlin Capital is so responsible," and "Looking forward to the early completion of the Food City."

That afternoon, in the streets and alleys of Ze City, people's conversations over tea and after meals all revolved around Junlin Food City.

"Did you hear? They're building a super huge food city in the east of the city. From now on, our school cafeteria's vegetables will be supplied directly from there, and it's zero profit!" A student named Zhang from Ze City No. 1 Middle School showed the news on his phone to a classmate. "My parents said we won't have to worry about cafeteria food being expensive and gross anymore!"

"Really? Zero profit? What does the boss get out of it?" a classmate asked skeptically.

"What does he get out of it? They're a big enterprise, they have social responsibility!" Xiao Zhang pointed at Lin Yu's photo in the news. "Look at this President Lin, how handsome he is!!"

At Ze City's Third Nursing Home, the elderly sat gathered around the TV, watching the municipal station's report, beaming from ear to ear.

"Will we be able to eat cheap and fresh vegetables from now on?" 78-year-old Grandma Li held the caregiver's hand. "My teeth aren't good, I love eating soft, stewed vegetables. The cafeteria food never suited my taste before, but with direct supply from the Food City, they'll definitely be able to do it right!"

"That's right, Grandma Li. The news said the Food City has a specialized nutritional meal team that will customize menus according to our needs!" the caregiver, Xiao Liu, said with a smile.

In the vegetable market, vendors were also discussing it animatedly.

"This is great. With the big food city, our vegetables will have a stable sales channel." Vendor Sister Wang said while weighing vegetables. "I used to worry about vegetables not selling and rotting in the fields. From now on, we can sell them directly to the Food City at a fair price. We vegetable farmers have a future to look forward to!"

"Exactly, and I heard the Food City is also going to build a cold-chain logistics center, so our vegetables can be sold to other cities!" Brother Li next to her chimed in.

In office buildings, white-collar workers were also discussing it.

"Our company lunch is sorted from now on. Meals will be provided below market price, and we can save quite a bit of money every month!" Xiao Chen, an administrative supervisor at a company, forwarded the news to the department group chat. "I've already contacted the person in charge of Junlin Food City. Once the first phase of the project is completed, we'll sign a meal supply contract."

"That's great, no more eating takeout. Directly supplied food is more reassuring!" Colleagues chimed in with likes.

As the sun set, the sky over Ze City was dyed a golden red. Lin Yu, with Tangtang and Tang Man, walked on the way home. On the electronic screens on the street, the news of the Junlin Food City groundbreaking ceremony was playing—Secretary Wang Zhenshan's speech, Deputy Mayor Wang Jianguo's address, and the spectacular scene of three hundred excavators starting work simultaneously were repeating over and over again.

Tangtang pointed at the screen and said excitedly: "Daddy Lin Yu, that's you! And the big excavators!"

Lin Yu smiled and touched Tangtang's head: "That's right. That's the big kitchen that Daddy and his uncles built for the children and grandparents of Ze City."

Tang Man looked at Lin Yu's profile, her eyes full of tenderness. She knew that this man had not only given her a new life but was also protecting the warmth and vitality of this city in his own way.

Ding! Tang Man's Intimacy +5

Current Intimacy: 92

Ding! Reward of 5 Free Attribute Points has arrived.

After thinking about it, this time Lin Yu chose to add to Strength and Agility!

Opening personal panel:

Host: Lin Yu

Age: 24

Charm: 82

Height: 182cm

Health: Normal

Strength: 15

Agility: 16

Constitution: 10

Spirit: 12

Free Attribute Points: 0

Intimacy Reward:

Beauty Intimacy reaches 90, reward 5 Free Attribute Points.

Beauty Intimacy reaches 100, reward 10 Free Attribute Points.

Normal range for the four attributes of ordinary people: 5-10.

In the back seat, Tangtang was lying against the car window looking at the neon lights outside when her little tummy suddenly gave a "rumble."

Lin Yu smiled: "Hehe, what's wrong? Is Tangtang hungry? Let's go eat then."

She turned her head, looking at Lin Yu with eager eyes, and reached out her little hand to tug at his sleeve.

"Daddy Lin Yu..." Tangtang's voice was soft and sweet. "Tangtang is hungry. I want to eat that... the White-Bearded Grandpa's fried chicken, and a hamburger! The one that comes with a toy!"

Lin Yu's heart melted instantly upon hearing this. He smiled and rubbed Tangtang's little head: "Okay! White-Bearded Grandpa, right? Uncle will take you to the store to eat it right now, and we'll get the biggest toy!"

The Fat Man in the driver's seat had sharp ears, and his eyes lit up in the rearview mirror instantly: "You got it! Old Lin, that place ahead is pretty good. The decor is super fancy, and there's even a children's playground! I've been craving that for days!"

Sitting next to him, Tang Man's delicate brows furrowed immediately upon hearing this. She subconsciously tugged at Tangtang's little hand, her tone gentle but with a hint of principled insistence: "Tangtang, that kind of fried food isn't healthy. It's full of trans fatty acids. Eating it makes you easily inflamed and can cause cavities... How about we just go home and eat something light?"

Tangtang's little mouth immediately pouted, the light in her eyes instantly dimming. She looked at Lin Yu pitifully, not daring to speak.

"Hey, Manman."

Lin Yu reached out directly and gently blocked Tang Man's posture of wanting to continue lecturing. Looking at Tangtang's aggrieved little appearance, the hard edges in his heart instantly melted into a puddle of water. His tone carried an unquestionable dominance:

He looked at Tang Man: "What trans fatty acids? It's fine to eat it once in a while. We're happy today, and it's rare to have time to accompany the child when I'm busy with work. Listen to me!"

Tang Man opened her mouth, watching Lin Yu's "dictatorial" yet doting appearance for the sake of the child. In the end, she swallowed her words of persuasion. She sighed helplessly, but a flash of happiness flickered in her eyes—the relief of seeing her daughter so cherished.

"Thank you, Daddy Lin Yu, thank you Mommy, you guys are the best!" Tangtang cheered and clapped her little hands excitedly.

Inside the store, the decor was very warm. Warm yellow lights shone on the red brick walls, and the air was filled with the rich smell of butter and spices, mixed with the sweet scent of cola, instantly whetting one's appetite.

As soon as they entered, the Fat Man acted as if he had returned to his own home, skillfully leading everyone to find a booth by the window.

"Come, come, come, Tangtang, you want to sit here and look at the scenery, right?" The Fat Man spread the menu out in front of Tangtang, but he had already taken out his phone. "Old Lin, Sister Man, what do you want to eat? I'll order! Today, we must let Tangtang eat her fill!"

"Fat Man, take it easy, don't eat them out of business." Lin Yu teased with a smile.

"Look at you saying that!"

The Fat Man placed the order on his phone while loudly announcing the dishes, as if he were performing a solemn ritual: "Hmm... two children's sets, one for Tangtang and one for me! This 'Volcano Eruption Bucket' is a must. These 'Golden Crispy Wings' look good too, let's start with two pairs... Oh my, what the heck is this 'Cheese Burst Chicken Nuggets'? Must try it! And these 'Blizzard Fries,' they look crispy, give me three portions! Large cola, with ice, no, extra large!"

Tang Man looked at the order on the Fat Man's phone screen that was almost too long to scroll to the bottom, and couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle: "Fat Man, can you finish all that?"

"Sister Man, you don't understand!" The Fat Man put away his phone righteously. "I'm taste-testing to see which ones are the best for Tangtang. This is called... a professional taste tester! Besides, I'm still growing too!"

"Haha, give it a rest. Is it that hard to admit you're a foodie?" Lin Yu exposed him.

Before long, a waiter pushed a cart full of food over. Golden crispy fried chicken was piled up like a small mountain, burgers exuded an enticing meaty aroma, and the fries were sprinkled with thick cheese powder.

"Wow! So much yummy food!" Tangtang's eyes went wide, and her little hands reached for the chicken wings impatiently.

"Oh, my little ancestor, it's hot!" Lin Yu was quick-eyed and fast-handed, gently pressing down on Tangtang's little hand. He pulled out a tissue to put underneath, then picked up a burger and carefully cut it in half: "Here, eat this, Uncle has cut it for you."

The Fat Man couldn't hold back anymore. He grabbed a chicken leg, took a huge bite, and squinted his eyes in satisfaction, saying indistinctly: "Mmm! This is the taste! Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, juices overflowing! Amazing! Old Lin, you have to try it, the chili powder here is the soul of it!"

Lin Yu smiled and shook his head. He wasn't in a hurry to eat. Instead, he picked up a fry, dipped it in some ketchup, and offered it to Tangtang's mouth: "Come, Tangtang, say ah—"

Tangtang opened her mouth wide and "nommed" the fry. Her cheeks bulged like a little hamster, and she ate with great relish, with a ring of ketchup smeared on the corner of her mouth.

"Is it good?" Lin Yu wiped her mouth with a tissue.

"It's good! Daddy Lin Yu, you eat too!" Tangtang picked up a chicken nugget and clumsily offered it to Lin Yu's mouth.

Lin Yu felt a warmth in his heart and took a bite from Tangtang's little hand: "Mmm, really sweet."

Tang Man watched this scene, watching Lin Yu patiently feed the child, and watching the Fat Man devouring his food without any decorum on the side. She picked up a chicken wing and also began to eat it in small bites. It had to be said that the taste of this "junk food" was indeed addictive, but what was even more addictive was this atmosphere surrounded by doting affection.

The store was playing light country music, surrounded by the laughter and chatter of other diners. The Fat Man ate while vividly recounting Lin Yu's embarrassing stories from the past—how he once ate twenty steamed buns at once, how he would call the owner of the restaurant next door "brother" just to get a free meal—making Tang Man and Tangtang laugh non-stop.

After a whirlwind of eating, more than half of the plates on the table were empty. The Fat Man rubbed his round belly, burped, and slumped in his chair with a look of happiness.

"Old Lin, let's come again next time! I found that this place's 'Hell Chili Sauce' is interesting; I have to challenge it next time!"

"Sure, I'll let you challenge it to your heart's content next time." Lin Yu smiled and patted his shoulder, then beckoned the waiter to pack up the leftovers: "Let's go, let's take them home first."

The Phantom drove steadily through the night in Ze City. After dropping Tang Man and her daughter off at their doorstep, Tangtang hugged Lin Yu's neck and gave his face a loud kiss.

"Daddy Lin Yu, bring Tangtang to eat White-Bearded Grandpa again next time! And Fat Uncle too!"

"Okay, I'll take you to eat something even better next time." Lin Yu replied with a smile.

Watching Tang Man holding Tangtang's hand as their figures disappeared into the hallway, Lin Yu sat back in the car.

"Fat Man, back to the company."

"You got it!"

...

Late at night, at the Ze City Municipal Committee building.

Secretary Wang stood in front of the window, looking at the pitch-black night outside, the cigarette in his hand having burned down to his fingertips. On the desk, a letter from the provincial department regarding "postponing the arrest of Zhang Tieshan and his mistress" looked particularly glaring.

"Secretary Wang, the secretary to Vice Governor Zhao from the province just called again. His words were all about 'the bigger picture'." Secretary Zhou reported cautiously.

Secretary Wang sneered and stubbed out the cigarette butt in the ashtray: "The bigger picture? How many enterprises has Zhang Tieshan ruined, how many families has he harmed? Is that his bigger picture? Now that Junlin Food City has just started construction, he wants to embarrass Lin Yu, he wants to turn this 3,000-mu plot into a mess—is that his bigger picture?"

He picked up the red-headed document on the table; it was a news clipping from the day Junlin Food City broke ground, with the front-page headline reading "Ze City's Conscience Project, Benefiting One Million Students."

"Since the knife in the city has become dull, I will go and borrow the Shangfang Sword from the province." Secretary Wang grabbed his coat: "Go back and rest. We're going to the provincial capital first thing in the morning."

...

When Lin Yu pushed open the door to his home in Ruiyuan Residential Compound, Su Manqin was wearing a silk light-purple bathrobe, sitting on the sofa flipping through a magazine. Hearing the door open, she immediately put down the book and walked over barefoot, stepping on the soft carpet.

"You're back?"

Su Manqin's voice was soft, carrying a hint of fragrance from just having bathed. She naturally took the briefcase from Lin Yu's hand, then bent down to take a pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet and placed them at his feet, her eyes full of concern: "Have you had dinner? Do you want me to heat up a bowl of soup for you?"