| October 4, 2023 – 8:30 AM | Lin's Farm – Porch
Lin was just finishing her coffee, half-listening to Sophia and Ethan argue over tile grout colors, when her phone buzzed.
Lucas.
She sighed, answering. "What now?"
Lucas's voice was tight, fast, and 100% panicked. "My dad wants to take Jake on a six-month cruise."
Lin blinked. "Excuse me?"
Lucas let out a frustrated breath. "I just got off the phone with him. He's convinced it's the safest option. No cities, no chaos, just ocean and security. He thinks I'm overreacting about everything."
Lin hummed. "Your dad, the retired general, thinks you're overreacting?"
Lucas groaned. "I know, right? But the old man still believes in the system. Thinks things will 'stabilize' if anything happens."
Lin leaned against the railing, considering. "Alright. You want my advice?"
Lucas exhaled. "Obviously."
Lin grinned. "Send the kid and the old general here."
Silence.
Then—
"What?"
Lin sipped her coffee, unfazed. "If he's worried about security, I can guarantee this place is safer than some overpriced floating hotel. And Jake? He needs stability, not six months trapped on a boat."
Lucas hesitated. "You sure?"
Lin arched an eyebrow. "Fang, do I ever say things I don't mean?"
Lucas was quiet for a moment, then sighed. "No. You don't."
Lin smirked. "Then pack their bags. If your dad wants safety, I'll show him real security."
Lucas grumbled something under his breath, then muttered, "I'll book their tickets."
Lin chuckled. "Good. And while you're at it? Tell your dad to bring whatever military-grade supplies he's been hoarding."
Lucas let out a tired laugh. "Why do I feel like he's going to like you more than me?"
Lin grinned. "Because I don't argue with him. I just get things done."
Lucas sighed again, but this time, there was relief in it. "Alright. I'll call you when their flight's booked."
Lin hung up, stretching.
Well. This was about to get interesting.
| October 4, 2023 – 9:00 AM | Lin's Farm – Petting Zoo Area
Lin tossed the last handful of feed into the goat enclosure, watching as the little escape artists—Beans especially—immediately went into a headbutting competition over the best pile.
"You know there's enough for everyone, right?" Lin muttered. "Idiots."
The rabbits were easier. She refilled their water, tossed in fresh greens, and made sure none had managed to dig a tunnel to freedom. The pigs? Content, lazy, already rolling in the dirt.
Rex and Roxanne trotted behind her, the golden retriever excited about everything while the Doberman stayed watchful, already growing into her role as a guard dog.
Lin checked each pen, making mental notes.
Goats? Menaces, but thriving. Rabbits? Multiplying as expected. Pigs? Smug little freeloaders. Chickens and ducks? Loud, but laying eggs.
Satisfied, she dusted her hands off and moved toward the tents.
| October 4, 2023 – 9:30 AM | Checking the Tents & Bathrooms
The glamping tents were finally up, stretched tight, and looking every bit the luxury escape they were meant to be. Lin peeked inside one, noting the wooden platforms for beds, the solar-powered lamps, and the woven rugs that made it feel less like camping and more like a boutique retreat.
"Not bad," she murmured.
Next, she headed toward the old buildings now converted into bathrooms.
Ethan's guys had done solid work—fresh plumbing, clean tiles, new stalls that didn't look like they belonged in a horror movie.
Lin turned on one of the taps. The water pressure was strong, no weird noises.
She smirked. "Good. No haunted pipes."
A voice called from behind.
"Boss, you checking my work?"
Lin turned to see Ethan strolling up, arms crossed.
"Always," she said, grinning. "Gotta make sure I'm getting what I paid for."
Ethan snorted. "You're getting five-star treatment at a three-star price."
Lin patted the bathroom doorframe. "Good. Because I expect this place to last a lifetime."
Ethan grinned, shaking his head. "You really don't do things halfway, do you?"
Lin just smirked. "Not when it's an investment."
| October 4, 2023 – 9:00 AM | Lin's Farm – Petting Zoo Area
Lin tossed a scoop of feed into the goat enclosure, barely stepping back before chaos erupted.
Beans—her personal menace—immediately tried to climb onto a wooden stump for a better position, only to be shoved off by one of the bigger goats. He let out an indignant bleat, regrouped, and launched himself right back into the fray.
Lin sighed. "You'd think I starved you."
Rex sat beside her, tail wagging as he watched the spectacle like it was the best entertainment of his life. Roxanne, meanwhile, sat at her feet, ears perked, completely unimpressed.
"See, Rox?" Lin gestured at the chaos. "This is why you don't pick fights you can't win."
The Doberman puppy blinked up at her, unimpressed.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. You'd win." Lin smirked, tossing another handful of food in. "Arrogant little thing."
Rex wagged his tail harder, then sneezed when a stray bit of hay flew into his face.
| October 4, 2023 – 9:15 AM | Rabbit Hutches & The Pig Pen
Lin moved toward the rabbit hutches, checking that their water bottles were full and tossing in fresh greens.
The rabbits hopped forward, noses twitching, but she already knew which one to watch out for-Nibbler.
"Don't even think about it," Lin warned.
Nibbler, a tiny brown rabbit with a reputation for biting fingers, sat back innocently, pretending like he hadn't been plotting his next attack.
Lin narrowed her eyes. "Yeah. That's what I thought."
Leaving the rabbits behind, she walked toward the pig pen, where her two newest residents were happily rolling in mud.
Her mother, already in her work boots, leaned on the fence with a thoughtful expression.
"I still can't believe you bought pigs," Helen said, shaking her head.
Lin grinned. "They're efficient. They eat scraps, handle waste, and worst-case scenario, they're dinner."
Helen gave her a sharp look. "You are not eating the pigs, Lin."
Lin smirked. "Fine, fine. For now, they're just freeloaders."
| October 4, 2023 – 9:30 AM | Checking the Tents & Bathrooms
By the time Lin reached the glamping area, her dad was already there, checking the tent stakes like a man who didn't trust anyone's work but his own.
"They're not gonna blow away, Dad," Lin called as she approached.
Richard snorted. "I've seen bad setups before. Just making sure yours isn't one of them."
Lin rolled her eyes, stepping inside one of the tents. The wooden platforms were set, the rugs placed, and the solar-powered lamps were ready to go. It was starting to look less like a campground and more like an actual retreat.
"Not bad," she muttered.
Her dad poked his head inside. "You sure people will pay to sleep in a fancy tent?"
Lin grinned. "You'd be surprised how much city people will pay to 'rough it' while still having WiFi and good coffee."
Richard chuckled, shaking his head. "Scamming rich folks. Proud of you."
Lin grinned. "It's an investment."
Richard groaned. "You and that damn motto."
| October 4, 2023 – 9:45 AM | The Bathrooms & Ethan's Inspection
Lin turned on one of the sinks in the newly renovated bathrooms, watching the water run clear with perfect pressure. No weird noises. No issues.
Good. Because if it wasn't working, she was making Ethan redo it himself.
"Boss, you checking my work?"
Lin turned to see Ethan strolling up, arms crossed, looking entirely too smug.
"Always," she said, smirking. "Gotta make sure I'm getting what I paid for."
"You're getting five-star quality at a three-star price," Ethan shot back.
Lin patted the bathroom doorframe. "Good. Because I expect this place to last a lifetime."
Ethan grinned. "You really don't do things halfway, do you?"
Lin just smirked. "Not when it's an investment."
Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. "You're ridiculous."
Lin crossed her arms. "And yet, I keep you employed."
Ethan laughed, clapping a hand against the bathroom wall. "Alright, Zhang. Let's get this damn place finished."
Lin watched him walk off, then looked over the farm; her farm.
Yeah. It was all coming together.