Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 2544 An Encounter on the Way Home (First Update, Please Subscribe)
Amidst the mountains, a green train, like a giant steel python, slowly travels along the railway line along the cliff edge through the towering peaks of the southwestern plateau.

The carriage was packed to the brim, with bedding rolls crammed into the aisles and under the seats. The air was thick with the smells of sweat and cheap tobacco. Sleepy people would crawl under the seats to take a nap. No one would monopolize the "sleeper berth"; everyone took turns sleeping. In the hard-seat carriage, this was the best spot.

Most of the passengers in the carriage were young, and although their clothes had many patches, they were very clean.

This place is filled with Shanghai educated youth returning from forest farms and farms in the southwest. Most of them haven't been back to Shanghai for more than a decade.

Because the distance is too far, because the journey is too long.

The train rattled and vibrated, the sound of the rails and wheels colliding monotonously and continuously, yet it was a pleasant sound.

They're finally home!
They were the first to return home.

Lin Weiguo leaned against the car window. The clothes he wore when he was sent to the countryside were patched up again. His eyes were deep-set and bloodshot, but they shone with an astonishing brightness.

At twenty-seven years old, he had already spent a full ten years in the rubber forests of Xishuangbanna.

Now, I can finally go home.

"Weiguo, do you think Shanghai is still the same as before?"

Across from her, a girl with braided pigtails approached. Although several days had passed, Lin Xiaomei's voice still trembled whenever the topic of going home came up. She had been sent to the countryside at the age of sixteen and was now twenty-five. Her face still bore the marks of the sun and wind in the rubber forest, but her eyes shone with a dazzling light.

Lin Weiguo said with a smile:

"It'll definitely be the same as before! I heard from the comrades who went back earlier that everything is the same, just like before. Once we're settled, I'll treat you to a slice of cream cake."

Only heaven knows how much he missed Shanghai and everything about it while he was there.

Soft drinks, cakes, milk...

You know, there was a time when he thought he would never come back.

Therefore, his feelings toward Shanghai were very complicated.

But now all that is in the past. My father has returned to school and continues teaching as a professor.

What about himself?

I can go home now!

I can finally go back to Shanghai and reunite with my family.

"Ok!"

The carriage suddenly became lively, the previously somewhat dull atmosphere ignited by these small, hopeful conversations. People were once again talking about what they would do and eat after they got back.

It's as if, as soon as you return home, back to Shanghai, all the wonderful things will come rushing towards you.

The train continued its journey through the darkness. Over the next few days, the scenery outside the window gradually changed from rolling mountains to flat fields, with occasional scattered lights in the distance, like the earth opening its eyes.

As the journey continued, the people in the carriage gradually quieted down. Some people fell asleep leaning on their companions' shoulders, seemingly with smiles on their faces; others kept their eyes open, gazing at the dark night sky outside the window, their minds replaying images of home.

Exhaustion washed over them like a tide, engulfing everyone, but their faces bore no complaint, only an almost devout longing. This longing was the belief that had sustained them through the years.
Every day, passengers get on and off the train, but almost no one enters these carriages because they are already full, so outsiders simply cannot squeeze in.

As the train passed Huashan Station, among the sparse passengers, one stood out. So much so that Lin Xiaomei couldn't help but remark on him.

“Wei Guo, look at that man’s attire. I’ve never seen him dressed like that before.”

While they were talking, that person went straight onto the carriage.

Soon, a small commotion arose at the connecting area between the carriages. The educated youth who had been chatting in groups suddenly stopped talking and turned their eyes in that direction—a young man who seemed out of place in the atmosphere of the carriage was struggling to squeeze in. His backpack was bulging like a small mountain, and his sky-blue outdoor jacket stood out against the green, gray, and blue crowd. The carabiner hanging from the zipper jingled with his movements.

His hair was neatly cut, his skin was neither dark nor light, and his eyes, full of curiosity, were also curiously observing them.

"What... what kind of clothes are these? They look quite smart."

Zhao Weidong scratched his head, his voice loud enough for everyone around him to hear.

The once noisy carriage instantly quieted down, and even those who were dozing by the window opened their eyes. All eyes were focused on this "strange person"—not out of hostility, but out of pure curiosity, a natural desire to explore unfamiliar things.

They had seen cadres in military uniforms and farmers in straw hats, but they had never seen a young man dressed like this. His clothes looked quite thick, and even the backpack he was carrying was oddly shaped. A water bottle was hanging on the backpack, and he looked like he came from another world.

The young man clearly noticed the stares. He stopped and smiled amicably at the gazes directed at him, revealing a set of neat white teeth.

"Excuse me, I'm sorry to bother everyone,"

His Mandarin had a slight Jianghuai accent, and his pronunciation was much softer, but it was easier to understand than the Shanghai dialect spoken by most of the educated youth in the carriage.

"I heard at the train station that these carriages are for people who went to the countryside to work and are now returning to Shanghai, so I wanted to come and see them. I hope I haven't bothered you?"

Lin Weiguo straightened up from the window and looked him over:
"Where are you from?"

His question voiced everyone's doubts—after all, his attire did look rather strange.

"My name is Shen Jiaming. I came here from SEA for tourism. I just came down from Mount Hua."

As the young man spoke, he carefully moved his backpack behind him to avoid bumping into the bedding roll next to him.

"I've always heard the elders in my family talk about this place, so I wanted to come and see for myself. I just finished climbing Mount Hua, and now I'm planning to visit Jiangnan."

After graduating from university a few years ago, he served in the navy for three years. After his discharge, he didn't work or pursue graduate studies; instead, he became a backpacker. He's been here for a month now, and in that time, he's traveled all over northern China.

"SEA?"

Lin Xiaomei covered her mouth in surprise and looked the other person up and down.

"Isn't that a foreign country? You came all alone?"

Unlike many others, because they live in the southwest, they have some understanding of the SEA and Nanyang. After all, they often see related descriptions in the bulletin boards, which basically say that the place is hell on earth.

Although I had some understanding of it, "sEA" was a distant and vague concept to me. I never expected to meet someone from overseas on the train home.

Lin Weiguo then sized up the young man in front of him.

Only heaven knows how moved he was when he heard that the other person was from SEA.

He's actually from SEA!

That country was unfamiliar to many, but it was very familiar to Lin Weiguo. This wasn't just because they were in the southwest and could hear rumors about it.

Rather, to some extent, that place even influenced his entire life.

Therefore, upon learning which country Shen Jiaming was from, he immediately began to scrutinize him.

As he watched, he felt a mix of emotions, and then he said to Old Liu beside him.

"Old Liu, make room over there for the foreign guests."

"Thank you,"

Shen Jiaming first expressed his gratitude, and then sat down in the empty seat next to Lin Weiguo.

"By the way, judging from your appearance, you must be an overseas Chinese. Where are your ancestors from?"

"My father was from Hubei and Hunan. After the victory of the War of Resistance against Japan, he went to SEA."

As he spoke, he took a water bottle from the side pocket of his backpack and took a sip. Then he explained:

"I originally bought a sleeper ticket, but when I heard you were on the train at the station, I thought we were all around the same age and these carriages were the most lively, so I couldn't help but run over."

"Haha."

By this time, a considerable crowd had gathered around them, and upon hearing his words, the others echoed his agreement:
"That's for sure, after all, we're all young people."

"It's bound to be lively when young people get together."

"That's why I came here." Shen Jiaming smiled, pointed to the people in the carriage, and said:

"I hope I haven't bothered you."

"Look at what you said."

Lin Weiguo said with a smile:

"We'd love to welcome you!"

Shen Jiaming then started chatting with them, and because they were all young, they quickly became acquainted. They talked about their interesting experiences during their time in the countryside, and learned about foreign countries from Shen Jiaming.

This was their first time meeting foreigners, so naturally they wanted to learn about foreign countries.

Long-term travel has taught Shen Jiaming how to handle such issues, and what to say and what not to say.

As he described the scenery of Chang'an, everyone in the carriage was incredulous.

After all, people can never imagine things they've never seen before. Even those from big cities can't imagine a scene filled with skyscrapers.

Liu Andong, who was standing to the side leaning against the back of the hard seat, came over and pointed at Shen Jiaming's windbreaker:
"Your clothes look quite sturdy and new. What kind of clothes are these?"

"It's an outdoor windproof jacket. It's waterproof, so it not only blocks the wind when you're outdoors, but you also don't need to wear a raincoat when it rains. Therefore, it's very suitable for outdoor activities."

Shen Jiaming's explanation only fueled the curiosity of the people in the carriage.

What is the outdoors?

"It's rainforest, mountainous areas, or the wilderness."

"You mean this outfit is specifically for wearing outdoors?"

"Yes."

"Don't you usually wear it?"

"I don't usually wear this."

Shen Jiaming's answer left them speechless. Their clothes were patched upon patched, but what about his?
The unpatched clothes she was wearing were only worn when traveling.

Moreover, he probably has quite a few more clothes like that in his backpack.

They chatted back and forth, gradually becoming more familiar with each other and completely losing their initial awkwardness.

Lin Xiaomei thought for a moment, then tentatively asked:

"So...does your monthly salary really reach several hundred yuan?"

Upon hearing this question, everyone in the carriage looked at Shen Jiaming and said:
"It should be more than that. I should be able to earn over 1000 now."

"What! Someone can actually earn over 1000?"

Amidst the gasps of surprise around them, Shen Jiaming laughed:
"I don't know the specifics, it might be more. However, I haven't worked for the past few years, so I don't know the exact figures."

"If you don't work, how will you make a living?"

"I had some savings before, and I wanted to take advantage of my youth to travel and see the world."

"And what about your job?"

"I haven't decided what I want to do yet, so I'll wait and see until I've thought it through."

Shen Jiaming's answer left everyone speechless. Although they were filled with longing to go home, what would they do when they got home?

Are you hiring? Are there any jobs available?
No one was sure, so they all tacitly avoided discussing the topic, as it was too heavy. But now, this foreigner was telling them, "Let me think about what I need to do first."
Does it matter what you do?
Isn't work the most important thing?

Only with a job can you get a salary, and only with a salary can you eat.

This is basic common sense, isn't it?

Even now that they have transferred their grain and oil ration coupons back, it is still just a relationship, merely the qualification to receive grain and oil coupons.

Rice, oil, and salt still had to be purchased with ration coupons.

But the foreigner in front of them, who was about the same age as them, told them that he hadn't decided what to do yet, so he was traveling all over the world.

Is work important?

(End of this chapter)