Reborn in 1985, starting from the mountains of Northwest China

"mother……"

Liu Xia didn't let Chen Feng finish speaking.

"Have you forgotten what you used to be like? Today you want to make a fortune, tomorrow you want to start your own business. After all that fuss, what have you accomplished?"

Chen Feng opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

Liu Xia continued, "Back then, Xiu'er was heavily pregnant and still had to do laundry to earn money. You, on the other hand, were always out there messing around and didn't care about anything at home. Your father and I saw it and were worried sick, but what could we do? It's your life, and you have to live it yourself."

As she spoke, her eyes reddened.

"These past two years have finally brought you stability. Although hiking in the mountains is dangerous, seeing you work so diligently makes your father and me very happy. We feel that you've finally matured and know how to manage a household."

She raised her hand and wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

"But now you want to try making braised pig intestines? Have you ever made that before? Do you even know how? What if you lose money? That money didn't just fall from the sky; you earned it in the mountains, it's a gift from God!"

Chen Feng stood there, unable to utter a single word.

Chen Laogeng lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) and sighed.

"Old woman, let the child finish speaking."

Liu Xia glanced back at him, said nothing, and didn't speak again.

Chen Laogeng looked at Chen Feng, his voice not loud, but with a hint of heaviness.

"Fengzi, your mother may be a bit blunt, but her words are rough but her reasoning is sound. Our Chen family has been honest and hardworking farmers for generations, diligently cultivating the land and working the mountains. We've never been involved in business."

He paused, then said, "Every time you tried something like that before, you lost money. Back then you were young and alone, so it was okay to lose money. But it's different now. You have a wife and children, and you have to think about them."

Chen Feng stood there, listening to his father's words, feeling as if a stone was pressing on his heart.

In his past life, he was indeed a bit too picky, always thinking about making money, but this time, he really believed that someone else would do the business in his previous life.

How could he tell his parents that in his previous life, the peddler made a fortune by doing this?

Is he going to say that he was reborn?

Let alone his parents, even he wouldn't believe it if he hadn't experienced it himself, okay?

If I told my parents about this, they might have to ask a fortune teller to tell my fortune!

Chen Feng didn't know how to explain it; he wanted to say that this time was different from before.

This time he planned to test the waters. Even if he lost money, it wouldn't be by much. Besides, he had been reborn, so he should have some luck to his name, right?

Seeing that Chen Feng remained silent, Liu Xia spoke up again, her voice filled with heartache and disappointment.

"Fengzi, you've only been good for a few days? The New Year just passed, you were just starting to look like a normal person again, how come you've gone back to your old ways?"

She reached out and took Chen Feng's hand.

"Fengzi, listen to your mother, don't go, okay?"

Chen Feng looked at his mother's hand.

Those hands, covered in calluses and with large knuckles, were hands that had been used for a lifetime of farm work.

He glanced at his father on the kang (a heated brick bed).

His father lay there, the old cotton quilt on his lap worn white, his face sickly, but his eyes full of worry.

In an instant, Chen Feng felt as if something was stuck in his chest.

It wasn't a feeling of being wronged, nor was it anger; it was a kind of indescribable sourness.

He knew that his parents didn't disbelieve him; they were just afraid.

I'm afraid he'll go back to his old ways, and I'm afraid this family can't withstand any more turmoil.

But it was this fear that made the fire in his heart burn even brighter.

He recalled the days since his rebirth, working tirelessly from dawn till dusk in the mountains, taking his elder brother into the mountains, and falling out with Lin Bei over a few winter bamboo shoots...

What's in it for?

Isn't it all about wanting a change?

If he shrinks back and lives his life obediently because of a few words from his parents, then what is the point of God giving him a second chance at life?

The plan was to make him continue to watch Xiuer suffer with him.

The picture showed him that his father couldn't afford to treat his leg.

The picture made him watch helplessly as Xiaoshan and Xiaoyue grew up, still crammed into this dilapidated house.

That damn rebirth!

Chen Feng was never a peaceful person by nature.

He was reborn, not to have his sharp edges dulled!

He was determined to try, regardless of whether the path would work out or not.

If one method doesn't work, then try two.

Even if he hits a brick wall, he'll still smash a hole in it!

He just wants his wife, children, parents, and friends to live a good life!

No matter what the process, he wants it!

When Chen Feng opened his eyes again, his gaze was more determined than before.

This is the true meaning of rebirth, this is the true and clear meaning of rebirth!

"Father, Mother, I've remembered what you said."

Chen looked at Liu Xia, then at Chen Laogeng, his gaze resolute.

I'll give it a try this once.

"Let's just buy a set of large intestines, braise them ourselves, and eat them. If it works out, we'll think about selling them. If not, consider it a way to improve Xiaoshan and Xiaoyue's meals."

He looked into Liu Xia's eyes.

"Mom, braised pork intestines sell for 1.2 yuan a pound in that county, which is more expensive than pork. But those in the village who have worked on construction sites are willing to buy them. Why? Because they've eaten them on construction sites and know what they taste like."

He then looked at Chen Laogeng.

"Dad, the people in our village don't eat meat more than a few times a year. If there were a cheap snack to go with their drinks, a dollar a pound, would they be willing to buy it?"

Chen Laogeng didn't speak, he just looked at him.

Chen Feng said, "Dad, Mom, I'll give it a try this once. If it doesn't work, I'll never try again and will honestly go to the mountains and do odd jobs."

It won't work?

joke!

He will definitely find a way to get rich and bring a good life to his family!

Liu Xia looked at him for a long time.

Chen Laogeng was also looking at him.

The room was quiet.

Finally, Liu Xia sighed.

"Okay, go try it."

Chen Feng felt relieved.

Liu Xia then said, "I'll take care of the child for you. But you have to promise your mother, just this once."

Chen Feng nodded: "Just this once."

Liu Xia reached out and patted his arm.

"Go."

Chen Feng turned around and walked out.

As he reached the door, he suddenly stopped and looked back.

His mother was standing inside the house, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.

His father lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) and waved to him.

Go ahead, but be careful.

Chen Feng stepped out of the courtyard, the sunlight outside making his eyes slightly blurry.

He stood at the doorway, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled.

Just a moment ago, his mind was in turmoil, but now that he's outside and the wind has cleared his head a bit.

He glanced back at the old house.

The walls were made of mud bricks, the roof was thatched, and the gate was the same one he had used when he was a child, though the cracks in the door panel had widened.

His father lay in that room, his legs covered with an old, worn-out cotton quilt.

His mother stood in the room, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.

Chen Feng withdrew his gaze, clenched his fist, and strode home.

His mind was a jumbled mess the whole way.

His mother's tears, his father's eyes, Lin Xiu's expectant gaze, Xiao Shan and Xiao Yue lying on the edge of the kang waiting for meat... these images kept swirling in his mind.

And there's the peddler's braised large intestine.

The aroma, the chewiness, the way it was wrapped in oil paper.

He quickened his pace.

When he arrived home, Lin Xiu was sweeping the yard. Seeing him return, she put down the broom and came to greet him.

"How did it go? What did Mother say?"

Chen Feng looked at her, then suddenly reached out and took her hand.

Lin Xiu was taken aback: "What's wrong?"

Chen Feng shook his head: "It's alright. Mother agreed to come and take care of the child tomorrow."

Lin Xiu breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

"That's good. I was worried that Mother wouldn't agree."

Chen Feng didn't speak, he just held her hand.

Lin Xiu looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"Fengzi, what's wrong?"

Chen Feng shook his head and released his grip.

"It's alright. Come on, let's go inside and discuss tomorrow's plans again."