Reborn in 2005, starting with repairing mobile phones

Lin Guodong also glanced at the menu and frowned.

"Ah Dong," he said softly, "how about we go to another place? This place..."

My aunt, who was standing nearby, heard this and nodded quickly.

"Yes, yes, let's go to another one, it's too expensive."

My second aunt and cousin also chimed in.

"Yes, it's too expensive. Let's just grab something simple to eat."

Lin Dong didn't respond to their words.

He took the menu and flipped through it.

My eldest uncle gave my father three thousand yuan when my father was hospitalized, which was several months' salary for him. My second aunt always sent my cousin over with gifts during holidays when the family was poor. My cousin's husband helped with all the paperwork without accepting a penny.

They couldn't afford it back then.

Now, we have to pay it back.

He looked up at the waiter.

"Australian lobster, three pounds each, give me one."

The waiter paused for a moment, then quickly jotted it down in his notebook.

"OK."

"King crab, steamed."

"OK."

"One grouper."

"OK."

"One abalone each."

"OK."

"And this, this, this—"

He ordered seven or eight dishes in a row, all of which were from the most expensive pages of the menu.

My aunt's eyes widened in surprise.

My second aunt opened her mouth, but couldn't say a word.

My aunt covered her chest with her hand, as if afraid her heart would jump out.

After Lin Dong finished ordering, he closed the menu and handed it to the waiter.

"That's all for now. We'll add more if needed."

The waiter took the menu.

"Yes, sir."

The dishes were served one by one.

When the Australian lobster was served, my aunt was completely stunned.

"This...this is so big..."

When the king crab was served, my second aunt covered her mouth.

My aunt exclaimed in surprise.

"It's still smoking! This thing can still smoke!"

My uncle, who was standing nearby, said, "That's dry ice, not smoke."

His aunt glared at him.

"What do you know?"

Second Aunt's eyes lit up.

"Wow, this is so beautiful! I have to take a picture to show my daughter!"

She frantically rummaged through her bag for her phone, and after pressing buttons on the plate of food for a long time, she finally found the camera function.

"How do I take this picture... Oh, press this..."

My aunt leaned over.

"Are you done taking the photos? Let me see them too."

My second aunt leaned closer to the screen, their heads touching, looking at the blurry photo, laughing like children.

Li Xiuzhen sat next to Lin Dong, watching this scene, her eyes a little red.

Lin Guodong didn't say anything, but the corners of his mouth remained curved.

The eldest uncle raised his glass.

"Come on, everyone, let's raise a glass to Ah Dong! Wishing Ah Dong a bright future and great wealth!"

Everyone raised their glasses.

"Respect, Ah Dong!"

Lin Dong also raised his glass.

"A toast to everyone."

He took a sip.

After several rounds of drinks, most of the dishes had been served.

My aunt held up the Australian dragon's pliers and examined it from all angles for a long time.

"I've seen this thing on TV; they said it costs several thousand yuan each."

Her uncle glared at her from the side.

"Just eat, why are you worrying about the price?"

Aunt ignored him, pried open the pliers, revealing tender white meat inside. She took a bite and narrowed her eyes.

"Wow, this meat...it's so tender!"

My second aunt and cousin are examining the king crab.

When the waiter brought it over, the crab legs were longer than chopsticks, bright red, and steaming with dry ice, leaving the two speechless for a long time.

"How do we eat this?" Auntie asked, holding the crab leg, unsure of where to begin.

The waiter demonstrated how to break it open, and my aunt tried to do it. A whole piece of crab meat slid out, and she paused for a moment before stuffing it into her mouth.

"oops--"

She covered her mouth, unable to speak, and just nodded frantically.

Second Aunt also took a bite, then turned to look at Li Xiuzhen.

"Xiuzhen, you've really raised a good son."

Li Xiuzhen smiled, her eyes crinkling.

"No, no, it's all because he worked hard."

The eldest uncle chimed in from the side, "It's one thing to be ambitious, but it's another to have the heart for it. Look at Adong, he came back once and brought gifts and treated us to meals—this child has us relatives in his heart."

Aunt nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, yes, unlike some people who forget their roots after making money."

My aunt leaned closer and whispered, "Let me tell you, my uncle just messaged me asking where I was eating. I sent him a picture, and he said—"

She paused, mimicking her uncle's tone.

"I've never been inside this place in my entire life."

The group burst into laughter.

The dinner party ended at 2 p.m.

My aunt walked out, leaning against the wall, still muttering to herself.

"Oh dear, I'm so full. I've never eaten such a big meal in my life."

Her second aunt laughed at her from the side.

"Who told you to finish that whole plate?"

"Isn't it a waste not to finish it? It costs several thousand yuan!"

My aunt was holding my second aunt's hand, her face flushed.

"When will there be another opportunity like this?"

Her uncle glared at her.

"You want a next time? This time it's already cost Ah Dong a lot of money."

Lin Dong walked at the back, with Li Xiuzhen and Lin Guodong beside him.

Li Xiuzhen held his wrist tightly.

"Ah Dong," she whispered, "how much did you spend today?"

Lin Dong glanced at her.

Not many.

Li Xiuzhen didn't believe it.

"Don't lie to me, that table of food..."

Lin Dong interrupted her.

"Mom, money is earned, not saved."

Li Xiuzhen opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Lin Guodong chimed in from the side.

"The child is right."

Li Xiuzhen glanced at her husband, then at her son, and finally smiled.

"Alright, alright, you two are in charge."

As I walked to the door, the manager was already waiting beside me, bowing even lower than before.

"Mr. Lin, take care. Please come again soon."

Lin Dong nodded.

His aunt muttered something under her breath as she passed by him.

"This attitude is quite different from when you came in."

Her aunt nudged her.

"Don't talk nonsense."

My aunt chuckled twice and then said nothing more.

A group of people got on the bus.

Lin Dong sat in the driver's seat and started the engine.

Li Xiuzhen was sitting in the passenger seat when she suddenly smiled.

Lin Dong glanced at her.

"Mom, what are you laughing at?"

Li Xiuzhen shook her head.

"It's nothing."

She paused.

"I just feel like today is really great."

Lin Dong glanced at her.

"May every day be good from now on."

Li Xiuzhen paused for a moment, then laughed.

"You're getting sweet-talking, kid."

Lin Dong didn't respond.

"Ah Hao, take them back in a bit."

Zheng Hao nodded.

"it is good."

The car drove out of the hotel parking lot and turned onto the main road.

The sunlight streamed in through the car window, making it feel warm and cozy.

Li Xiuzhen leaned back in her chair, looking out the window.

"Ah Dong, are we leaving tomorrow?"

Lin Dong nodded.

"Okay. Pack your luggage today, and we'll leave first thing tomorrow morning."

He paused.

"By the way, Mom, do you have the phone number for Director Chen at the school?"

Li Xiuzhen turned her head.

"Yes, what's wrong?"

Give him a call.

Lin Dong said, "They've arranged accommodation for us, and we're going tomorrow, so we should let them know in advance."

Li Xiuzhen was stunned for a moment, then nodded quickly.

"Yes, yes, that's right, that's right."

She took out her phone, scrolled through it for a while, and found the number.

"That's it?"

Lin Dong glanced at it.

"Um."

Li Xiuzhen pressed the dial button.