Reborn in 2005, starting with repairing mobile phones

The next day. Morning. Shantou.

As the black Mercedes drove into the old streets of Miancheng, the sun had just climbed to the top of the old banyan tree.

The old banyan tree at the alley entrance is still the same, its branches and leaves blocking out the sun.

Several middle-aged women who had gotten up early to buy groceries were chatting under the tree. When they heard the car, they looked up and glanced at it.

Then he forgot to put down the shopping basket in his hand.

The Mercedes slowly drove over the bumpy cement road and stopped in the middle of the alley.

Lin Dong opened the car door.

He looked up at the third floor.

The windows in the house were open, and the curtains were swaying gently in the breeze.

Li Xiuzhen had already leaned half her body out to look down.

"Ah Dong!"

Lin Dongchong waved to her.

Zheng Hao parked the car and followed Lin Dong upstairs.

The staircase is still the same staircase, but the cement steps are worn and uneven, and the handrails are rusty.

But it felt different when I stepped on it today.

Third floor, room 302.

The door was open.

Before even entering the door, I could hear voices and the sounds of things being moved coming from inside.

"Oh my, Xiuzhen, your Adong is really back?"

"Of course! I called yesterday and said I'd arrive first thing this morning!"

"I heard you drove back in a Mercedes?"

"I don't know either, you'll see for yourself later!"

Lin Dong pushed open the door and went in.

There were seven or eight people standing in the living room.

My eldest uncle, eldest aunt, second aunt, third uncle, and cousin are the closest families. Several packed burlap sacks are piled on the floor, cardboard boxes are stacked in the corner, and folded quilts are placed on the sofa.

Everyone stopped what they were doing when they saw him come in.

Li Xiuzhen squeezed out of the crowd and grabbed his hand.

"Ah Dong!"

Lin Dong looked at her.

"mom."

Li Xiuzhen's eyes reddened, but she held back her tears and simply looked him up and down.

She couldn't get enough of looking at him. Was he thinner? Darker? Or thinner still?

Lin Guodong stood to the side, still holding tape in his hand—he had probably been sealing boxes earlier—and nodded when he saw his son.

"I'm back."

He didn't say much, but Lin Dong noticed the corners of his mouth move upwards.

My eldest uncle was the first to come over.

"Ah Dong! Are you tired from the journey? Have you had breakfast yet?"

Lin Dong called out.

"Uncle."

My aunt was standing nearby, glancing towards the door.

"Ah Dong, did you drive back alone?"

Lin Dong shook his head.

"Ah-hao is with me; the car is parked downstairs."

My aunt's eyes lit up, but she didn't say anything.

Second Aunt came over and took Lin Dong's hand.

"Ah Dong, you've lost weight. Did you not eat well while you were out?"

Lin Dong smiled.

"fine."

My aunt chimed in from the side, "Ah Dong, how many days are you staying this time? Is things busy in Shenzhen?"

Before Lin Dong could answer, Li Xiuzhen spoke for him.

"He came back to pick us up! We're moving to Shenzhen!"

The living room fell silent for a moment.

The eldest uncle was stunned.

"Moving to Shenzhen? The two of you?"

Li Xiuzhen nodded, her smile impossible to hide.

"Yes! The school arranged the accommodation, saying it's a talent apartment specifically for family members!"

My aunt slapped her thigh.

"I was wondering why you called us over so early in the morning to help you move. Turns out you're going somewhere else, but it turns out you're going to Shenzhen!"

My second aunt chimed in, "Did the school arrange accommodation? Shenzhen University?"

"Of course!" Li Xiuzhen smiled, her eyes crinkling.

Second Aunt opened her mouth.

"Shenzhen...that's a big city."

My aunt chimed in, "Big cities are great, there are so many opportunities. Ah Dong's company there is bound to grow bigger and bigger."

The eldest uncle nodded.

"Yes, yes, Shenzhen is great. I heard that the salaries there are several times higher than here."

His aunt tugged at his sleeve.

"Ah Dong owns a company, why would he talk about salary?"

Several people laughed.

Lin Dong stood there, looking at the people in the room.

The burlap sacks and cardboard boxes piled on the ground were all the results of this morning's work.

He knew that these people had come early this morning to help with the move.

He glanced at Zheng Hao.

Zheng Hao understood and turned to go downstairs.

A few minutes later, Zheng Hao came up carrying two huge black duffel bags.

The bag was bulging, and he could carry it without much effort, but when he put it on the ground, it made a dull thud.

My uncle leaned over and took a look.

"What are all these?"

Lin Dong squatted down and unzipped the zipper.

The first bag contained cigarettes and alcohol.

The packs of Zhonghua cigarettes were neatly stacked.

The bottles of Moutai liquor were wrapped in velvet cloth.

My uncle's eyes widened.

Lin Dong took out a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes and handed it to him.

"Uncle, this is for you. You've worked hard today."

The eldest uncle paused for a moment, then took it with both hands.

"Oh, Dong, this is too kind of you..."

Lin Dong then took out a bottle of Moutai and stuffed it into his hand.

"Alcohol too."

My uncle stood there, holding cigarettes and alcohol, his mouth agape, unable to speak.

My aunt was staring wide-eyed.

Lin Dong took out two packs of Zhonghua cigarettes from the bag and handed them to his second aunt and cousin.

"Second Aunt, this is for Uncle. Cousin, this is for Uncle. Please thank them for me; they couldn't come today, but we'll have a drink together later."

The second aunt took it and glanced at it.

"Ah Dong, you silly child..."

She couldn't continue.

My aunt was already holding the cigarette in her arms, grinning from ear to ear.

"Oh, Dong, you're too kind! I can't accept this!"

Lin Dong opened the second bag.

Lancôme, Estée Lauder, SK-II – the bottles were neatly stacked.

There were also several boxes of bird's nest and cordyceps, beautifully packaged.

My aunt's eyes widened again.

Lin Dong took out a Lancôme set and handed it to his aunt.

"Aunt, this is for you."

My aunt took it with both hands and looked at it again and again.

"This...this is Lancôme, right? I've seen it before! They always advertise it on TV!"

My second aunt and cousin also came over.

Lin Dong took out two more sets and handed them to them.

"Second Aunt, Cousin, you have some too."

My second aunt took the set of cosmetics, gently touching the packaging box with her fingers, her eyes a little red.

"Ah Dong, you silly child... It's not easy for you to earn money outside, and you've bought so much..."

My aunt has already opened a box and smelled it.

"Wow, this fragrance—it's so luxurious!"

She picked up the box of bird's nest again.

"Is this bird's nest? I've seen it before; they say it's good for your complexion!"

My aunt, who was standing nearby, said, "What do you know? That's for women."

Her aunt rolled her eyes at her.

"I am a woman."

The group burst into laughter.

Lin Dong then took out several boxes of health supplements and handed them to his third uncle.

"Third Uncle, this is for you to nourish your body."

Third Uncle took it, glanced at it, and then looked up.

"it is good."

He nodded, without saying anything more.

All the items have been sent out.

All the items have been sent out.

The living room was quiet for a few seconds.

Then my aunt was the first to speak.

"Oh, Dong, you've really made something of yourself!"

Her voice was so loud that the whole building could hear it.

"I've always said Ah Dong is capable! I could tell from him when he was little!"

Her uncle glared at her from the side.

"When did you say that?"

His aunt ignored him.

Second Aunt held Li Xiuzhen's hand.

"Xiuzhen, you've raised a wonderful son! You can look forward to a life of luxury from now on!"

Li Xiuzhen laughed, her eyes crinkling with laughter.