Whether the Fang family could win this matter mainly depended on Fang Wenhua.
Lin Xiao Tian believed that with Fang Wenhua's skills, she would surely have her own methods.
The information from Tian Wang did not have many records about hidden families. However, one record was very clear.
Within hidden families, the struggles between heirs were often of the life-or-death kind.
This meant that if Fang Wenhua lost, she would not only lose her company but possibly her life, or even the lives of her children!
To avoid such a situation, some hidden families generally only had one son as the direct heir, while collateral lines could have any number of members.
However, the Lin family was different now. The direct heir had sacrificed his life defending the country, and other male direct descendants of the family were either dead or missing.
Currently, only two collateral relatives of the Lin family could inherit the family's legacy, so the outcome was bound to be brutal.
Considering the current situation, Lin Xiao Tian began to ponder.
At present, only one person could determine the outcome of this struggle: the old lady of the Lin family.
If the old lady of the Lin family could live long enough, and if Fang Wenhua and her family could raise their descendants well, then in the end, Lin Xiao Tian believed the Lin family would make the right choice.
Thinking of this, Lin Xiao Tian suddenly thought of a remedy.
There were many longevity elixirs recorded in the Shen Nong Yi Dian. If he could make them, and give them to the old lady, it might help her live for a few more years.
Given the old lady's age, if she could live for another twenty years, it would be a win for Lin Xiao Tian.
"Alas! That old lady treated me so terribly, and yet I still have to help her!" Lin Xiao Tian could not help but complain.
After that, Lin Xiao Tian called Fang Wenhua and explained his intentions.
"You want to prepare longevity elixirs for the old lady?" Fang Wenhua was clearly a little surprised. "Why are you suddenly thinking about this?"
"Ms. Fang, I'm considering your interests. The longer the old lady lives, the better it is for you, isn't it?" Lin Xiao Tian retorted.
Fang Wenhua was silent for a moment on the other end of the line.
"Xiao Tian, I heard you received an invitation from Tian Wang?" Fang Wenhua suddenly asked.
"Ms. Fang, you always seem to know everything," Lin Xiao Tian said directly.
"Xiao Tian, don't think I'm spying on you. In fact, from the moment you started interacting with me, the Lin family has been closely monitoring your every move," Fang Wenhua stated frankly. "Every action you take is reported to the Lin family, and then forwarded to me."
"However, you can rest assured about one thing: I haven't received any information involving your privacy."
"Privacy matters?" Lin Xiao Tian was momentarily stunned.
Fang Wenhua cleared his throat and then said solemnly to Lin Xiao Tian, "Xiao Tian, do you know why we always choose large hotels when we go out?"
"Why?"
"Because... there's absolutely no possibility of cameras appearing there. If one were found, the hotel would have to pay enormous compensation. So, Xiao Tian, you need to be more careful in the future..."
"You didn't see anything, did you?" Lin Xiao Tian felt his blood rising.
"Xiao Tian, I promise you, I saw nothing. I am the Lin family's son-in-law, why would they give me such information? However, the old lady might have..."
"That old scoundrel!" Lin Xiao Tian couldn't help but curse.
"By the way, I need some medicinal ingredients, and I might need your help to prepare them. For the rest, I'll have to try my luck in Hei Shan."
"Hei Shan? Isn't that very dangerous?"
"It's not dangerous. For me, it's no problem at all."
"Right, I shouldn't have any at home, right?" Lin Xiao Tian asked warily.
"I don't know about that!" Fang Wenhua said innocently.
"This... old scoundrel!"
After chatting for a few more minutes, Lin Xiao Tian hung up the phone.
At this very moment, within a pavilion in the Lin family's estate.
"Achoo!"
The old lady couldn't help but sneeze.
As she sneezed, she happened to hear Lin Xiao Tian's words.
There were some things that even Fang Wenhua did not know.
For example, the Lin family was not only monitoring Lin Xiao Tian, but also her.
The Lin family old lady had heard every word of their conversation just now.
"Truly, the poor mountains and bad waters give birth to rude people!" the old lady couldn't help but shake her head.
However, upon hearing that Lin Xiao Tian intended to prepare longevity elixirs for her, the old lady became very curious.
From Lin Xiao Tian's conversation, she already knew that he wanted her to live twenty years longer!
Although she was nearly seventy years old and her health was well-maintained, she herself couldn't guarantee that she would live to ninety.
Especially with the increasing troubles within the Lin family recently, the old lady had been constantly considering the issue of family inheritance.
If this matter was not handled properly, the future Lin family could face a devastating disaster!
"You little scamp, I'm very curious if you can really make me live twenty years longer," the old lady murmured.
"Old Lady, this Lin Xiao Tian has quite some abilities. I quite think highly of him," an old man beside her said.
"Hmph! He's just a minor character!" the old lady snorted. "However... if he can truly make me live more than twenty years, I might consider it. I might reconsider the matter of the heir."
The old lady's words startled the old man beside her.
Reconsider the heir?
This was a monumental event for the Lin family.
It seemed the old lady was not satisfied with the children of the Jiang family!
Thinking of this, the old man felt more assured.
Originally, he had leaned towards the Jiang family's lineage, but now he had to reconsider.
Just then, the old lady's surprised voice suddenly rang out.
"What is this little scamp doing now?"
On the screen, Lin Xiao Tian was staring intently at the monitor.
The next moment, Lin Xiao Tian gave a thumbs-up to the monitor.
The old lady didn't react and was about to scold Lin Xiao Tian for being crazy when, the next moment, she closed her mouth.
After giving a thumbs-up, Lin Xiao Tian sharply pointed downwards.
The old lady naturally recognized this internationally recognized gesture.
"You little scamp!" the old lady grumbled as she turned off the screen.
"Let's go! Let's take a walk in the garden."
The old man beside her was suddenly a little surprised.
Ever since the loss of her son that year, the old lady had rarely left this room except for important matters.
But just now, after watching Lin Xiao Tian, she had unprecedentedly suggested going for a walk?
"What is it? Why are you standing there like a fool?" the old lady looked at him.
The old man nodded and respectfully opened the door for her...