The quiet reverence of Grandfather's anniversary lingered like incense smoke in the courtyard. Anze, his parents, Anya, and Grandmother sat sipping steaming cups of jasmine tea, the simple ritual a grounding counterpoint to the ambitious plans discussed the night before. The peace was gently broken by the approach of the village head, Old Man Chen, his weathered face etched with a mix of hope and cautious disbelief. He bowed slightly to Li Weijun.
"Weijun," he began, his voice raspy but respectful, "the news you shared earlier... about the roads, the water, the lights... is it truly correct? And... when might such things begin?" His eyes darted towards Anze, seeking confirmation from the source.
Anze set down his teacup and stood. Without a word, he walked into the house, returning moments later carrying a sleek, black aluminum briefcase. He placed it on the low table before Old Man Chen and clicked it open. Inside, neatly stacked bundles of crisp ¥100 notes gleamed under the afternoon sun – five million yuan. A collective, soft intake of breath came from the family, though they had known the plan.
"This," Anze stated, his voice calm and authoritative, "is five million yuan. It will remain under my father's control, Village Head Chen. You will coordinate with him for all expenditures related to the village upgrades – materials, labor, planning. Draw from it as needed, with his approval." He closed the briefcase and handed it directly to Li Weijun, who accepted it with a solemn nod, the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders. "Construction crews will arrive next week to begin surveying for the roads and water system upgrades."
Anze continued, gesturing towards the fields beyond the village perimeter. "Additionally, I am acquiring the land bordering the west fields. Construction on 'Lao Li's Beacon' – the supermarket and café – will commence there shortly after the infrastructure work begins."
Old Man Chen stared at the briefcase now held by Li Weijun, then back at Anze, his eyes wide with awe and gratitude. "How... how long will you be staying to oversee this, Anze?"
"I'll be here for the next few weeks," Anze replied. "Long enough to get everything properly launched and ensure the initial phases are running smoothly. You have my word, and my presence."
"Thank you, Anze," Old Man Chen breathed, bowing deeply this time. "Thank you for remembering your roots." He exchanged a few more respectful words with Li Weijun before taking his leave, walking away with a noticeable spring in his step, already envisioning the transformed village.
The quiet that followed was soon shattered by the crunch of tires on the dirt path leading to the house. A sleek SUV, startlingly modern against the rustic backdrop, pulled into the courtyard. Doors flew open, and Jiaxi tumbled out first, radiating energy in vibrant vacation wear. "Surprise!" she yelled, throwing her arms wide. Xia emerged more gracefully, though a warm smile lit her face, followed by the ever-composed Yuhan, carrying a small travel bag.
"We are here for vacation!" Xia announced, walking towards Anze's mother, who had risen to greet them. "And apologies, Auntie Meiling, Uncle Weijun, we're a bit late arriving."
Li Meiling enveloped Xia in a quick hug. "It's perfectly alright, dear Xia! The more the merrier! Welcome, welcome, all of you!" Li Weijun offered firm handshakes to Yuhan and Jiaxi. "Good to see you. Your journey was smooth?"
"Very smooth, Uncle Weijun," Yuhan confirmed.
"And your parents?" Li Meiling asked, looking past them towards the car. "Are they coming?"
Jiaxi bounced on her toes. "Oh, yes! They should be here any minute! We came ahead to surprise you!" As if on cue, the distant rumble of two more vehicles could be heard approaching down the village path.
Yuhan stepped forward and handed Anze a sealed document envelope. "The finalized land purchase papers for the west fields, Anze. All signed and recorded."
"Excellent. Thank you, Yuhan," Anze said, taking the envelope with a nod of satisfaction. The tangible proof of progress felt good.
Li Meiling ushered everyone inside for tea, the courtyard suddenly buzzing with the newcomers' energy. Anze, however, caught the eyes of Xia, Yuhan, and Jiaxi, nodding subtly towards the small garden bench near the bamboo grove. They understood, letting Anya follow their parents and grandmother inside while they lingered outside.
Once the kitchen door slid shut, leaving them in the dappled shade of the bamboo, Yuhan spoke first, his tone characteristically direct. "Anze, with the Hanul and Sakura expansions solidifying, plus this village project... your workload is becoming unsustainable for one executive assistant. You need a dedicated, trusted second secretary. Someone solely focused on your schedule, travel, and the high-level coordination this scale requires."
Jiaxi chimed in immediately, her eyes sparkling. "What about Anya? She's sharp, she's family, she *knows* you, and she clearly has the drive! She'd be perfect!"
Anze leaned against a bamboo stalk. "My plan was for Anya to finish college, then start at Luminous from the bottom – warehouse, customer service, analyst shadowing. Learn the foundations properly before stepping into anything near the executive floor. Nepotism needs to be managed."
Xia, who had settled on the bench beside him, spoke softly but firmly. "The foundations are crucial, Anze. But the scale and speed of what's happening now... Korea, Japan, this village project launching simultaneously... It's unprecedented. Maybe the plan for Anya needs acceleration *within* structure." She turned to look at him. "How about she joins *now*, as your second executive assistant? Apprenticed directly under you and Mei Lin. She learns the ropes of high-level coordination, scheduling, travel, and deal support *while* finishing her degree remotely or part-time. It's a steep learning curve, but she's capable. Then, once the initial Korea/Japan push stabilizes and she graduates, she transitions fully, having already gained invaluable experience."
Anze was quiet, considering Xia's words, looking towards the house where Anya's voice could be heard chatting animatedly with Jiaxi's parents who had just arrived in the second car. He saw the logic. Having Anya embedded now, learning the intricate dance of his schedule and the pressures of international deals firsthand, would indeed fast-track her understanding far more than the warehouse ever could. It was still demanding, but it leveraged her intelligence and familial trust during a critical growth phase for Luminous.
"That... is actually a very good plan, Xia," Anze conceded, a thoughtful nod. "Mei Lin is exceptional, but she's stretched thin managing the entire executive support pool. I'll promote her to Head of Executive Secretariat and Corporate Secretary. That elevates her role, recognizes her value, and gives her broader oversight." He paused, formulating it. "Anya then becomes my primary executive assistant, reporting directly to me but shadowing Mei Lin closely initially. She stays with me in key meetings, handles my immediate logistics, travels with us as needed. The immersion will be intense, but yes, it would accelerate her learning curve exponentially for when she takes on more later. I'll speak to her tomorrow." He looked at his three friends, the core who had weathered every storm with him. "Thank you."
The sound of more car doors and cheerful greetings drifted from the courtyard. The third car had arrived. Peering around the bamboo, they saw Xia's parents – Professor Ma Jianhong with his thoughtful demeanor and Dr. Ma Lihua radiating calm competence – stepping out, followed by Yuhan and Jiaxi's parents emerging from the other vehicle: Yuhan's parents, owners of the Fujian tea shop chain, more reserved but with kind eyes, and Jiaxi's vibrant parents, whose energy immediately matched their daughter's as they hugged Li Meiling effusively.
The Li family courtyard was now a joyful hub of reunion, filled with the laughter and chatter of lifelong friends and extended family spanning generations. Lanterns were being strung as dusk approached, promising a long evening of shared food, stories, and the deep comfort of roots intertwined under the watchful gaze of the village and the ancestors. Anze watched the scene, the weight of business momentarily lifted, replaced by the profound warmth of homecoming and the luminous network of people who made his world whole. The future, both global and deeply local, was unfolding right here.
The joyful chaos of arrivals swelled as Xia's parents, Professor Ma Jianhong and Dr. Ma Lihua, and the tea-shop-owning parents of Yuhan and Jiaxi were enveloped in warm greetings by Anze's family. Laughter and excited chatter filled the courtyard as old friends embraced and new connections were made. Li Meiling began ushering everyone towards the house, already fragrant with the evening meal.
"Inside, inside! Food is ready! Wash up, everyone!" Li Meiling called out, her voice warm but firm.
Anze, however, caught Anya's sleeve and gave his father a subtle nod. Li Weijun paused, understanding flickering in his eyes. As the others streamed inside, drawn by the delicious aromas, the three of them – Anze, Anya, and Li Weijun – remained in the lantern-lit courtyard, the buzz from the house a muffled backdrop.
"Pa," Anze began, his voice low but clear. "We just discussed Anya's role." He quickly outlined Xia's suggestion and his decision: Anya joining immediately as his primary executive assistant, learning under the newly promoted Mei Lin, while finishing her degree part-time. "It's demanding, but it accelerates her path during this crucial phase for Luminous. What do you think?"
Li Weijun looked from his son, radiating quiet authority even in the village dusk, to his daughter, whose eyes shone with a mix of excitement and apprehension. He placed a large, calloused hand briefly on Anze's shoulder. "It sounds... perfect, Son. Practical. Challenging. Good for her, good for the company." He then turned his steady gaze to Anya. "Daughter. This is a great opportunity, but a heavy responsibility. Respect your brother. Listen. Learn diligently. Work hard. Make us proud."
Anya swallowed, meeting her father's eyes, the weight of his words settling on her. "Yes, Pa," she said, her voice firming. "I will. I promise." Impulsively, she threw her arms around Anze in a tight hug. "Thank you, Anze. I won't let you down."
Before Anze could fully return the hug or respond, Li Meiling reappeared in the doorway, hands on her hips. "Anze! Anya! Weijun! Stop conspiring in the dark! Dinner is getting cold! Everyone is waiting!" Her tone brooked no argument.
They filed inside, joining the lively scene around the large, extended table groaning under the weight of food. Grandmother's culinary prowess was on full display: steaming pots of rich, herbal chicken soup; platters piled high with glistening stir-fried river shrimp; tender braised pork belly with preserved vegetables; mountains of fluffy white rice; and an array of vibrant seasonal vegetables picked fresh from the garden that morning. The air was thick with delicious scents and the happy clamor of overlapping conversations.
As bowls were filled and chopsticks clinked, talk naturally turned to the village. Li Weijun, prompted by Anze's nod, addressed the table. "Anze and Anya have shared their vision with us," he began, his voice carrying easily. "Proper roads. Clean water all day. Reliable electricity. Modern sanitation. All for the village. And a new place – 'Lao Li's Beacon' – a good market with a café corner, honoring my father." He gestured towards Anze. "The funds are secured. Work starts next week. Essentials there will be free for villagers." A wave of appreciative murmurs and nods swept around the table. "It's a great blessing for our home," Li Weijun finished, pride evident in his voice.
The talk flowed easily – Professor Ma asking insightful questions about the infrastructure plans, Dr. Ma complimenting Grandmother's soup, Jiaxi's parents marveling at the peaceful setting. Then, during a slight lull as second helpings were served, Li Meiling leaned towards Xia, her eyes twinkling. "Xia, dear, this village is so peaceful, so good for families... When are you going to find a nice young man and settle down? Give your parents some grandchildren?" She patted Xia's hand. "You're such a clever, beautiful girl!"
Xia, caught mid-sip of tea, nearly choked. A blush crept up her neck. "Auntie Meiling! I... I'm focused on Luminous right now! The Sakura expansion, Hanul... it's very demanding!" she stammered, avoiding looking directly at Anze.
This was the opening Jiaxi had been waiting for. "Exactly, Auntie Meiling!" she chirped, leaning across the table, her eyes dancing mischievously. "But look at us!" She grabbed Yuhan's hand, holding it up. "We managed! Found each other, got married, *and* we run Luminous PR and Finance! It's the best! You get a partner *and* a colleague! Saves so much time!" Yuhan, usually stoic, gave a small, affectionate smile and squeezed Jiaxi's hand, silently confirming their happiness.
"Yeah, Anze!" Anya piped up, seizing the chance to tease her brother, her earlier serious mood forgotten. "When are *you* going to stop being a grumpy CEO and find a nice wife? Or are you waiting for Xia Jie to finally notice you?" She waggled her eyebrows dramatically.
The table erupted in laughter. Xia's blush deepened to crimson, and she busied herself intently with a piece of pork belly. Anze, however, remained remarkably composed, though a faint flicker of something unreadable passed through his eyes as he glanced at Xia. He took a deliberate sip of tea, then fixed Anya with a cool stare. "Focus on your new job, *intern*. Warehouse duty is still an option if executive assistance proves too distracting." His tone was dry, but the underlying affection was clear, effectively shutting down Anya's teasing with a threat she knew he might just follow through on, drawing more laughter.
The conversation ebbed and flowed – talk of the upcoming village projects mingling with reminiscing about the children's younger days, discussions about the tea business, and Professor Ma sharing amusing university anecdotes. Lanterns cast a warm glow over the crowded table, faces illuminated with shared food, shared history, and the simple joy of being together. The pressures of Shanghai, Seoul, and corporate battles felt worlds away, replaced by the comforting rhythm of family, the deep roots of home, and the gentle, persistent nudges towards a future where professional empires and personal happiness might, just might, find a way to intertwine. As the meal wound down and the stars emerged over the quiet village, the air hummed with contentment and the unspoken promise of more luminous days ahead, both for the village and for the hearts gathered under its roof.