"Fatty, nothing happened at the welfare institute, right?"
At 3:30 in the afternoon the next day, Qin Lin headed straight from his rental apartment to the welfare institute. He had spent the entire day cultivating, which allowed him to completely master the Qingyun Immortal Technique and stabilize his strength at the mid-stage of Inner Strength.
"Nothing serious!" Fatty Qi hurriedly handed Qin Lin a cigarette. "However, people from the sub-district office came by this morning. They just walked around the welfare institute, came inside to rummage through the records, and then left without another word."
"I asked them what it was about, and they said it was an order from their superiors to re-examine our welfare institute's ownership rights." Fatty Qi looked at Qin Lin and scratched his head, perplexed. "Brother Qin, do you think this means the sub-district office is preparing to recognize our ownership and stop the Shen Family Group from demolishing the place?"
"Hope is slim." Qin Lin shook his head gravely. He knew Shen Zhao wasn't the type to suffer a loss without retaliating. "Besides, even if our formal complaint had actually worked, it should have been the district's petitions office or a relevant city department coming to investigate and gather evidence."
Having the sub-district office come to "check" on things... wasn't that just a case of them investigating themselves? It was like the magistrate asking who in his own court dared to file a complaint against him.
"Brother Qin, I think you're overthinking it," Fatty Qi grinned. "Yesterday, a bunch of online media outlets reposted the story about our welfare institute, and everyone is blasting the sub-district office and Shen Zhao. On top of that, even more good-hearted people drove over today to visit and bring things for the kids."
"Besides, demolishing this place won't be that easy for them. They'd have to build us a new institute and give us compensation, right?" Fatty Qi looked at Qin Lin. "I think the sub-district office and the Shen Family Group are probably going to compromise."
"Let's hope so." Qin Lin didn't argue, simply patting Fatty Qi's shoulder. "In any case, we have to guard the welfare institute well. At least until the official documents are issued and the Shen Family Group agrees to build a new facility and provide compensation."
"Take this money."
"Brother Qin, what is this?" Seeing the 10,000 yuan Qin Lin handed him, Fatty Qi quickly tried to refuse. "How can I take your money?"
"It's not just for you," Qin Lin smiled. "Everyone took time off work to come here, keep Grandpa Wang company, look after the kids, and guard the institute. We can't expect them to pay for their own food and drinks. There isn't much left in the welfare institute's public account, is there?"
"Use part of this money to buy groceries, and distribute the rest. Give everyone a few hundred yuan for now." Qin Lin patted Fatty Qi's shoulder again. "In a few days, I'll give everyone another allowance."
"Brother Qin, there's no need. Everyone has their own savings," Fatty Qi insisted. "You don't have much money yourself, and you've put in the effort too. How could we possibly let you pay?"
"We all grew up in the welfare institute. It's our duty to come back and protect this place and Grandpa Wang!"
"Don't worry, your bro isn't short on cash!" Having just received fifty thousand yuan in compensation from that hulking man the day before, Qin Lin pushed the money back into Fatty Qi's hands. "I still have things to do. I'm leaving this place in your hands. Call me anytime if something comes up."
"This…?" Fatty Qi could only stand there dumbfounded, clutching the 10,000 yuan as he watched Qin Lin ride away on his electric scooter.
Inside the welfare institute's classroom, a few girls looking after the children watched Qin Lin leave, murmuring their admiration.
"Brother Qin is such a good person."
"I know, right? If I hadn't heard he has a girlfriend, I would totally want to marry him."
Of course, Qin Lin had no idea his actions had moved several girls from the welfare institute so deeply that they were actually thinking of marrying him. The Spiritual Power Mr. Qin Sr. had left in the Jade Pendant was only enough for him to cultivate to the mid-stage of Inner Strength. Faced with the pressure from Shen Zhao and the Shen Family Group, Qin Lin urgently needed to get stronger to protect the welfare institute from harm. That was why, after leaving, he headed directly for the medicinal herb market at the foot of Wu Mountain in Hangcheng.
Standing outside the medicinal herb market, Qin Lin took a deep breath. His eyes instantly lit up as he felt every pore in his body open wide. Hangcheng's urban areas were polluted and crowded, so the air contained very little of nature's spiritual energy. Here, however, next to Wu Mountain and West Lake, the concentration was surprisingly good.
If I buy some medicinal herbs to refine pills, I should be able to reach the high-stage of Inner Strength quickly. That way, I can give Shen Zhao a clandestine warning and make him too scared to make a move against the welfare institute!
A glint of light flashed through his eyes, and Qin Lin walked straight toward the medicinal herb market.
SCREECH!
Before Qin Lin could even enter, the piercing sound of brakes tore through the air. Two Audis had boxed in a black Mercedes-Maybach, one in front and one behind, stopping right at the market's main entrance.
Then, an elderly man with a full head of silver hair and a commanding presence stepped out of the car. Surrounded by a large entourage, he strode confidently toward the medicinal herb market.
As his gaze inadvertently fell upon the silver-haired man, Qin Lin's brow furrowed subconsciously. Who is this? A sunken glabella, an unnaturally flushed complexion, and even a faint darkness to the skin at his temples... That's right. According to the medical texts of the Qin Family, these are the telltale signs of a cerebral illness on the verge of an episode!
THUD!
The instant the thought crossed Qin Lin's mind, the elderly gentleman, who had just stepped through the entrance to the medicinal herb market, swayed as his vision went black. He staggered and collapsed on the spot