After returning to China, Lindsay found herself busier than she had ever been in the United States. On the very second night, President Zhu himself came to visit.
Thanks to the full support of Tianlong Investment Bank, China's economic development had accelerated rapidly, much faster than in Zhao Dong's previous lifetime. President Zhu had even secured re-election the year before.
But time had clearly left its mark. Now seventy-six years old, the once-vigorous leader looked far older than he had just a few years ago.
Zhao Zhenguo personally received President Zhu, arranged for him in the study, and then quietly excused himself, leaving the elder statesman with Zhao Dong and Lindsay.
This was no casual visit. President Zhu wanted clarity—did Zhao Dong and Lindsay truly intend to settle in China for the long term? Once he heard their confirmation, his expression softened into genuine relief.
"Liu Wei is nearly twenty-six now, and Zhao Dong is already twenty-seven," Zhu said, shaking his head with a half-smile. "You're both still so young!"
He paused, then leaned forward with a serious gaze. "Tell me, what are your future plans? Will you continue focusing on business, or do you see yourselves stepping into politics?"
"Politics?"
Zhao Dong and Lindsay exchanged startled glances. Neither had ever seriously considered such a path.
President Zhu chuckled at their reaction. "Your father will be reassigned later this year. Most likely, he'll go to Tianjin first."
Zhao Dong frowned slightly, scratching his head. Politics? Me? I'm no politician. Even the idea of being sent to the Sports Federation didn't sit right with him. Quickly, he shook his head.
"President Zhu," he said respectfully, "I already have a plan. From here on, I'll focus on charity. I'll take over the Dongwei Charity Foundation from my mother. This year, I want to build a thousand Hope Primary Schools across the country…"
Zhu's eyes widened slightly at the ambition before nodding. "That's not bad. In recent years, the Dongwei Foundation's schools have made a real difference for our people. It has been a tremendous contribution."
Still, his true interest was Lindsay. In his mind, Zhao Dong could have been placed at the Sports Federation, given his background as the NFL's first global superstar. But Lindsay—she was something else entirely.
As the chairwoman of Tianlong Investment Bank, she had influence across virtually every major state-owned enterprise. She was already serving as a senior financial consultant and was regarded domestically as nothing less than the "God of Wealth." If she accepted, Zhu wanted her as a special assistant and deputy director of the General Office, overseeing financial industries and supervising Tianlong directly.
Lindsay, sharp as ever, caught the look in Zhu's eyes. With an IQ of 165, she didn't need anyone to spell it out—he had come here for her. She glanced sideways at Zhao Dong, only to find him smiling innocently, refusing to intervene. She shot him a glare.
"Liu Wei," Zhu said seriously, "your father also hopes you'll take office officially, so that you can contribute more to this country."
Lindsay didn't give an immediate answer. Instead, she promised to consider it carefully.
She knew the truth: if she accepted the post, she could no longer remain chairwoman of Tianlong Investment Bank. The regulator couldn't also be the regulated—she couldn't be both referee and player.
After three days of weighing the decision, Lindsay gave her answer to Zhu. She would accept.
But the transition would have to wait. Her due date was at the end of the month, and nothing mattered more than bringing her baby safely into the world.
---
News of her appointment wasn't public yet, but among the country's top circles, word spread quickly.
"The Zhao family's ancestral tombs must be blessed. To have a daughter-in-law rise to such a high position—unheard of since ancient times!"
"The family was once considered lacking in foundation, but now they have a future as bright as the sun. Perhaps a second female leader may even emerge someday."
The Zhao family themselves, however, remained quiet, keeping a deliberately low profile.
---
Meanwhile, Zhao Dong was preparing for his own mission.
He officially took over the Dongwei Charity Foundation from his mother and set his sights on Wenchuan, a small county in Sichuan that had been on his radar for years.
Zhao Dong knew what history held: in four years, a devastating earthquake would strike, killing more than 70,000 people. He couldn't stand by and allow that to happen again.
So he devised a bold plan.
Wenchuan was blessed with pristine Class I air quality and was famous as a natural oxygen bar with rich tourism resources. Zhao Dong planned to pour massive investment into tourism and real estate development, and—under that cover—relocate the entire county to safer ground.
He had four years to prepare. More than enough.
Funding? Not an issue. Paperwork and approvals? With Tianlong's influence, all green lights. Designs for the new county were already complete. Everything was ready.
On February 20, Zhao Dong flew to Chengdu in his private jet to preside over the groundbreaking ceremony alongside local officials.
The first phase of construction included not only roads but also twenty schools ranging from vocational colleges to elementary schools, plus dozens of kindergartens.
At the same time, Zhao Dong introduced something unheard of at the county level: a comprehensive earthquake-prevention program. Regular drills and training would be conducted in schools, factories, and other gathering points to ensure readiness.
"Wenchuan lies in a seismic zone," he explained to officials at the ceremony. "In 1933, an earthquake of magnitude 8 struck here, lasting a full minute and leveling mountains. Another disaster is not just possible—it's inevitable. We must be prepared."
After spending three days in Wenchuan, Zhao Dong rushed back to BJ to prepare for the birth of his daughter.
On March 26, 2004, Lindsay's due date finally arrived. The entire Zhao family gathered at the hospital—parents, elders, everyone. Even the old man and the old lady insisted on being there.
Before the little girl was even born, her name had already been settled. She didn't need to follow the Zhao family's generational system. Lindsay personally chose her full name, Zhao Yun, while her grandmother, Li Meizhu, gave her the nickname Qiaoqiao.
The first baby girl in the Zhao family in over a hundred years was a monumental event. Ironically, Zhao Dong wasn't even allowed to name his own daughter, and he grumbled about it more than once.
---
At 9:00 PM sharp, with the sharp cry of a newborn, little Qiaoqiao entered the world.
Zhao Dong stood at the delivery table, his grin stretching ear to ear.
"Easy, easy! Pat her gently, gently!" he barked, seeing the nurse giving his daughter a few firm taps on the backside to make her cry louder.
The nurse only chuckled, not easing her hand in the slightest. "Got it, Dad."
"Husband… is Qiaoqiao beautiful?" Lindsay asked weakly from the delivery bed.
"She's gorgeous, just like you, sweetheart." Zhao Dong answered without hesitation.
In truth, the little girl wasn't pretty at all yet—her face wrinkled, eyes barely open, more like a little scrunched-up football than a princess. But to him, she was perfect.
"Six pounds, three ounces," the nurse announced after bathing and weighing the baby.
The details were logged to be engraved later on a gold plate—her birth time, weight, name, and parents' names.
"Much heavier than her four brothers," Zhao Dong chuckled proudly.
Soon, Lindsay and baby Qiaoqiao were cleared to leave the delivery room.
---
The moment they stepped out, the Zhao family swarmed like a blitzing defense.
"Come, let the old lady hold her first!" Li Meizhu declared. She practically snatched the baby from the nurse and cradled her tightly, though her words betrayed her own reluctance to let anyone else touch the child.
"Daughter-in-law, you want to hold her? Or should I?" the old lady asked, glaring playfully at Li Meizhu.
"You hold her, you hold her!" Li Meizhu laughed, not loosening her grip an inch.
"Grandma! I wanna hold my baby sister!" the fourth child, Zhao Rongxing, shouted, bouncing on his toes.
"I want to too!" his three brothers yelled in unison.
Like passing around the game ball after a Super Bowl win, the newborn was carefully handed from one family member to the next. By the time everyone had their turn, Zhao Dong had already escorted Lindsay back to the ward.
---
Just like her four brothers before her, Qiaoqiao opened her eyes unusually fast. By the time she was settled in the ward, those tender, crystal-clear eyes blinked curiously at the world. The whole family leaned in, gazing at her like she was the star quarterback of a new dynasty.
Three days later, her little face had filled out, becoming cuter by the hour. Zhao Dong couldn't stop staring at her.
Like her fourth brother, she had a big appetite. After nursing in Lindsay's arms until she was full, she burped and let out a tiny bubble from her lips.
"Wow, she blew a bubble!" Rongxing exclaimed, poking at it with his finger. But he accidentally tapped her little mouth, making Qiaoqiao wail.
"Pa!"
Zhao Dong smacked Rongxing on the butt without hesitation—the first time he'd ever spanked one of his sons.
Rongxing clutched his backside, pouting with watery eyes, while his three brothers laughed like fans watching a replay on the jumbotron.
"Listen up, boys." Zhao Dong pointed at them like a coach laying down rules in the locker room. "Your mission is to protect your sister. Don't make her cry—make her laugh. Got it? If you mess up, I'll spank you too."
"Yes, Dad!" the quadruplets chorused instantly, not daring to hesitate.
In two days, Lindsay and baby Qiaoqiao would be discharged and finally brought home.
---
A few days later, Liu Yumin, now the deputy director of the General Administration of Sports, visited Zhao Dong. In charge of the "big three" sports—basketball, football, and volleyball—she wasted no time bringing up the year's biggest event.
"This year's the Olympics, Zhao Dong. Are you planning to suit up for the national team?"
Zhao Dong shook his head. "Not this time, Director Liu. I've got too much on my plate right now. I'll be there for the BJ Olympics, though."
She nodded. Without Zhao Dong, the men's basketball team's strength would drop like a team missing its franchise QB. But she couldn't pressure him. As long as he committed to the Beijing Games, that was enough.
She sighed and shifted the topic. "As for football…" She shook her head. "It's a mess. From the league to the national team, everything's in disarray. The Chinese Super League just launched this year, but it looks no different than before. Corruption, poor training… I don't even know where to start. You've seen how things work abroad. Any advice?"
Zhao Dong scratched his head, thoughtful. Finally, he answered:
"Director Liu, football has to start at the grassroots level. Invest in youth programs. Build a complete training system. The current generation is beyond saving. The only way forward is to require every Chinese Super League team to set up youth academies and reserve squads by age group. No exceptions."
Liu Yumin nodded firmly. It wasn't a magic fix, but it was a real solution.
---
(End of Chapter)
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