Chapter 69: Planet Development
“Mu Lantu, my dad went bankrupt! Was it you? Was it you—” Meng Jiaqi screamed hysterically.
“Take a guess?”
Mu Lantu hung up, blocked the number, and turned to the butler still waiting for his order not far away, smiling brightly.
“Butler, I’m in a good mood today. Please send a 10,000 yuan red envelope to everyone in the villa. I’ll transfer the money to you now. Don’t forget to include yourself and Brother Tao.”
“Of course.” The child was happy, and so was the butler. “Let’s celebrate lunch properly. If you really can’t decide on the dishes, shall I arrange it?”
Mu Lantu nodded repeatedly.
“Sure, sure. You arrange it.”
After transferring the money to the butler, he also sent a red envelope and a message to Xu Huazhang to share his joy.
Unfortunately, Xu Huazhang wasn’t around, otherwise, his joy would’ve doubled.
Two months later, Xu Huazhang returned and made up for the “joy” he missed.
The two of them moved back to the courtyard house in Dream Home and lived peacefully, unaware of the passage of time.
Until a phone call from Mu Zhenguo disrupted the peace.
“Lantu, I’ve got great news—your sister-in-law is pregnant!” Mu Zhenguo was in high spirits, his voice loud with excitement.
Mu Lantu thought to himself: I hope you don’t disappoint me.
“Congratulations, Dad. One more grandchild.”
“A grandson!” Mu Zhenguo burst into laughter. “Your sister-in-law secretly had the gender checked. It’s confirmed—it’s a boy!”
Mu Lantu replied calmly, “Gender equality. Boy or girl, it’s the same.”
Mu Zhenguo paused, then laughed again. “Sure, they’re the same… but still a bit different. Girls are married off; boys stay in the family.”
Mu Lantu said, “Many sons don’t stay in the family either.”
“Ai, you—never mind, let’s not talk about that.” Mu Zhenguo cleared his throat and became serious. “You still don’t understand what it means for your brother to have two sons.”
“What does it mean?”
Mu Zhenguo became anxious. “Why are you so dense? You and… Huazhang can’t have children. If your brother passes one of his sons to you, wouldn’t that solve everything? Your brother and sister-in-law have agreed—they’re both willing!”
Xu Huazhang, sitting next to Mu Lantu, suddenly turned his head, staring intensely. His eyes surged with stormy waves. Is having a descendant really that important?
“Baby…”
Mu Lantu placed his hand on his chest. “Dad, hold on—since when do I have a brother?”
Mu Zhenguo was taken aback, annoyed and weary. “You’re still holding a grudge against your brother?”
Mu Lantu said, “I know exactly what they’re trying to do.”
Mu Zhenguo remained silent.
“Dad, do you remember something you once said? ‘To be a good elder, one must pretend to be deaf and blind.'”
His silence was perhaps a form of protest.
Mu Lantu added, “How about I arrange a trip for you and Mom? Have my sister accompany you—start with domestic travel, then go abroad?”
Mu Zhenguo hung up.
Xu Huazhang pulled Mu Lantu into a tight embrace.
Mu Lantu let him, then called Nie Sheng.
“Help me get in touch with a trustworthy charity. I want to make a donation.”
Xu Huazhang looked down at the person in his arms. Why bring up donations all of a sudden?
“Baby, our Xu Corporation has a charity foundation. Totally reliable.”
Nie Sheng heard and hung up automatically. Xu Tech Group donated billions every year and had proper supervision. Nothing was more reliable.
Ten minutes later, the sulking Mu Zhenguo received a message from his younger son. It was a screenshot.
A donation certificate—10 million yuan!
Mu Zhenguo froze in place.
The message was crystal clear: His son would rather donate his money than adopt his older brother’s son or let that child inherit his wealth.
Was he supposed to be angry? That was tens of millions! Just handed over to someone unrelated? But did he have the right to be mad?
No time for dwelling—on the third day, Mu Zhenzhen arrived in a hurry. She had packed for their parents and was ready to take them on a trip.
Mu Zhenguo resisted. “What’s this about? I’m not going!”
Mu Zhenzhen didn’t push. “Really? Your younger son already bought the tickets and booked hotels. The three of us cost over twenty grand altogether.”
Mu Zhenguo’s eyes bulged, and with a heavy snort, he stormed out.
Mu Zhenzhen smiled secretly and followed with He Cuifang, dragging the luggage.
On the plane, Mu Zhenzhen was given the cold shoulder, and He Cuifang didn’t know what to say either.
The first stop: Kun’nan, a city of eternal spring.
There, they saw things and people different from Anfeng, tasted new food and drinks…
Everything was novel and exciting.
Gradually, the old couple forgot their previous grievances…
Each trip lasted about three or four days, followed by two or three days of rest at home with family, then on to the next journey.
Mu Zhenzhen also taught them how to take photos, post on Weibo, and livestream their travels.
Once their follower count hit over 3,000, they got more and more into it—and naturally, spent less energy on other matters.
Mu Hongtu and Yang Xiurong weren’t happy.
Mu Hongtu hadn’t given up on the adoption plan. He called their parents, but every time, they hung up quickly. When he visited, they were too busy editing videos and photos…
Their passion for travel had direct consequences for Yang Xiurong. With the parents away, no one helped with the kids anymore. Pregnant and alone most of the time, she had to manage everything.
To be fair, Mu Zhenzhen’s parents had always helped her out. From babyhood to school, they had handled most things. Now she finally understood how exhausting parenting really was.
She even thought about going back to work—just to escape child-rearing. But with limited education and a pregnancy, finding a job was harder than ever.
Meanwhile, Mu Zhenzhen’s parents didn’t want to return to their old life. Even if they were to help again, it’d be after they had their fun.
This also weakened the alliance between Mu Hongtu and Yang Xiurong. Fights became frequent—divorce seemed imminent.
Still, they clung to the hope of inheriting Mu Lantu’s fortune. So likely, they wouldn’t separate.
Time would tell.
Over two years, Mu Zhenzhen’s parents traveled all over China’s major landmarks, growing happier and younger in spirit. Their livestreaming brought them over 300,000 followers and a monthly income of at least 5,000 yuan.
At first, they needed Mu Zhenzhen’s company. Later, they became confident enough to travel alone, even joining friends made along the way. These were mostly peers, and they had plenty to talk about.
Mu Lantu, concerned for their safety, hired a male and female bodyguard to accompany them.
With such a thoughtful son, what more could they want?
They finally accepted Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang’s relationship and visited them in the Capital every few months.
Grateful, Mu Lantu transferred 2 million yuan to Mu Zhenzhen.
She was too scared to accept and returned it. He transferred it again.
This time she accepted, and after discussing with Luo Wangjun, she invested it in gold.
They became even more filial toward the parents.
This in turn improved her relationship with her in-laws.
Mu Hongtu and Yang Xiurong didn’t divorce, and had a third child. Yang Xiurong became a full-time housewife—raising kids, playing cards, her sharpness dulled. Mu Hongtu gave up the adoption idea and returned to operating his excavator.
They had to face the widening gap between their lives and Mu Lantu’s.
Mu Zhenzhen’s parents had money from their livestreams and from Mu Lantu. Occasionally, they helped out, mostly for the grandchildren.
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang’s love grew stronger each day. They passed season after season together, hand in hand.
Every year, the LEGO competitions, the growing number of Lantu Supermarkets, and the thousands of buildings in Dream Home supported each other in a self-sustaining cycle.
At age 28, Mu Lantu completed his 100 billion fortune goal.
After that, whenever Xu Huazhang had time off, they traveled together—mainly within the country due to his status. When Xu was busy, Mu Lantu occasionally went abroad, accompanied by bodyguards arranged by Xu.
Time flew by. Decades passed. 005 reappeared.
[Host, gentle reminder: Only five years left until the 80-year mark.]
Mu Lantu, scissors in hand to prune flowers gifted by Xu Huazhang, dropped them onto the table. He looked across at the man making goji tea and realized—they had been together for so long already?
“What’s wrong, baby?”
Xu Huazhang’s hair was white, but his tall figure was still graceful. Despite the wrinkles, he remained handsome—a dashing old man, still calling him baby.
Of course, Mu Lantu had secretly given him the best medicine over the years.
Mu Lantu smiled warmly. “Nothing, just wondering—today’s so hot, can I have two ice creams?”
“No way!” Xu Huazhang hurried over and coaxed gently, “Baby, did you forget you had a stomachache after two ice creams the other day? No ice cream today. How about we go to Hainan for some fresh coconut milk pudding?”
Mu Lantu, easily appeased, replied, “Okay.”
One phone call, and their private jet—Lantu Baby, named by Xu Huazhang—was ready.
Mu Lantu secretly told 005:
[Little Five, inform the Jasmine Nation’s government: starting tomorrow, Dream Home will be handed over for development for five years.]
[Understood.]
That day, Jasmine Nation TV stations aired a news flash: only five years left until Dream Home disappears.
It was a reminder for residents to prepare for relocation.
The Jasmine government kept a low profile, never revealing that they secured the five-year development rights, and quietly sent top talent into Dream Home.
Over those five years, they harvested resources, built a launch base, and even landed on the moon—achieving major technological gains.
Though other nations eventually found out and pressured them, the Jasmine Nation still gained immense benefits. Overall, tech across the planet advanced to a full level…
Five years later, Dream Home vanished—like it had never existed.
The people of Blue Planet felt a profound sense of loss.
[End of World One – Next World: China’s 1970s]
