| September 29, 2023 – 5:05 PM
Richard Zhang climbed out of his truck, his usual easygoing grin in place, a duffel bag slung over one shoulder. But Lin didn't miss the way he rolled out his shoulders like he was shaking off something heavier than just a long drive.
Lin stepped onto the porch, arms crossed. "Dad? What are you doing here?"
Richard let out a short chuckle, glancing around at the land like he was already imagining himself in it. "What? A guy can't visit his daughter?"
Lin's eyes narrowed. "Spill it."
Richard sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, his smile shifting just a fraction. "They offered me early retirement."
That got her attention. "Wait—what?"
"Lump sum payout, small pension. Clean break." His tone was casual, but Lin caught the flicker of something underneath it.
"And you took it?"
Richard let out a slow breath, gaze drifting toward the tree line. "Yeah. Figured it was time."
Lin studied him, sensing there was more. "You don't just walk away from a job you've had for twenty years without a reason."
Richard gave a wry smile. "You know how it is. New management, younger guys with degrees but no damn clue what they're doing. They look at people like me and see an expense, not experience. So when they put the offer on the table, I looked at it, looked at my half-finished coffee, and thought… 'Why the hell not?'"
Lin smirked. "You really walked out mid-coffee?"
Richard grinned. "Didn't even finish the cup."
Lin shook her head, but there was a quiet satisfaction in her expression. "And now what? You drove two hours just to tell me you finally quit?"
Richard slung his duffel bag higher onto his shoulder, stepping up onto the porch. "Nope. Figured you could use an extra set of hands around here."
Lin tilted her head, lips curling slightly. "You offering to be my farmhand, Dad?"
Richard scoffed. "Farmhand? Please. I call dibs on the sheds."
| September 29, 2023 – 5:30 PM
Lin pulled the truck into the long gravel driveway, the familiar crunch of tires over stone filling the quiet between her and Richard.
Her father leaned forward slightly, eyes scanning the land like he was taking inventory. The weathered barn. The sprawling fields. The old hotel standing tall against the horizon.
"Bigger than I pictured," he admitted, resting an arm against the door.
Lin smirked. "Still think I'm crazy?"
Richard let out a small chuckle. "Oh, I know you're crazy. But at least you've got space to be crazy in."
She pulled up near the main house, shifting into park. "Come on, I'll show you around."
Richard stepped out, taking in the crisp evening air as Lin led him across the property.
She pointed to the shed first. "That's where you'll be working for now. It's got power, space, but needs cleaning."
Richard eyed it, nodding. "I've worked in worse."
Next, they stopped at the old horse stable. The wooden beams were worn but sturdy, the structure holding up better than expected.
Richard ran a hand over the wood, knocking on it lightly. "Yeah. This could work. Little reinforcement, maybe a fresh coat of paint…"
Lin crossed her arms. "I'll get the supplies. You can turn it into whatever you need."
Richard glanced back at her, smirking. "You're really giving me free rein on this?"
Lin shrugged. "You're retired now. You need a hobby."
Richard laughed, shaking his head. "You're something else, kid."
| September 29, 2023 – 6:15 PM
Lin leaned against the kitchen counter, phone pressed to her ear as she scrolled through a takeout menu with her free hand.
The line rang twice before Helen picked up.
"Hello?" Her mother's voice came through, curious.
"Hey, Mom," Lin said, voice casual as she scanned the list of dinner options. "Guess who just showed up at the farm?"
A pause. Then—"Oh, no."
Lin smirked. "Yep. Dad quit. Drove straight here."
Helen let out a sharp sigh. "That man. He didn't even call me first?"
Lin chuckled. "Nope. Just showed up with a duffel bag like he was moving into a college dorm."
Richard, sitting at the kitchen table, raised an eyebrow. "I can hear you, you know."
Lin grinned but didn't acknowledge him. "So, what's your ETA?"
Helen clicked her tongue. "Still in the city, having dinner with friends. I won't be home till late."
Lin nodded, already making a decision. "Alright, we'll get takeout."
"You're feeding him? He should've planned ahead."
Lin smirked. "Oh, believe me, I already made him work for it."
Richard scoffed, but there was a faint, amused smirk on his face.
Helen sighed. "Fine. But tell your father he's not off the hook for disappearing without telling me."
Lin smirked, meeting Richard's gaze as she said into the phone—"Oh, don't worry. He knows."
| September 29, 2023 – 6:45 PM
Lin hung up the phone, tossing it onto the counter as she grabbed her truck keys.
Richard, still sitting at the kitchen table, raised an eyebrow. "So, what's the plan? Takeout or do I have to cook for myself?"
Lin smirked. "Change of plans. We're going out."
Richard blinked. "Thought we were grabbing food in town?"
Lin was already heading for the door. "We're going to the next town over."
Richard let out a short laugh, standing up. "You drive two hours to the middle of nowhere and now you want to leave?"
Lin shrugged, tossing him his jacket. "We have one Chinese place, a diner, and a gas station that sells questionable sandwiches. Next town has real options."
Richard caught the jacket, shaking his head but following her to the truck. "Alright, alright. But if we're driving out, I'm picking the place."
Lin smirked as she climbed into the driver's seat. "Deal. Just don't pick anywhere that serves steak."
Richard scoffed, buckling in. "I raised you better than that."
Lin chuckled, starting the engine. The truck rumbled to life as she pulled onto the open road, the darkening sky stretching wide ahead of them.
A quiet, easy silence settled between them—father and daughter, heading toward good food and new beginnings.