Reborn in 1982, the prodigal son returns

After the start of spring, the weather grew warmer day by day. The morning sun lazily shone under the old locust tree at the village entrance, where several old men squatted by the wall, chatting idly.

The old foreman sat on a wooden chair, his eyes closed, as if he were dozing off.

He's been living with the Lin family for several days now. Zhao Xiuying cooks different dishes every day, and Lin Weiguo often plays chess with him. His complexion has indeed improved a lot.

"Uncle Zhang, you look great."

Wang Lao Er squatted down to the side, a cigarette between his fingers, and smiled with his eyes narrowed.

The old foreman didn't open his eyes, he just grunted in response.

Wang Lao Er didn't mind and continued smoking. Several old men nearby chatted idly about this year's crops and last year's harvest.

Zhao Dana placed the enamel mug on the ground and patted the dust off his knees:

"Spring came early this year, and the market is good, so planting here will guarantee a good harvest."

"That's right. Last year's heavy snow made the ground thoroughly moist."

Another old man chimed in.

Just then, a figure walked over from the other end of the village road.

Yang Sanshun, wearing a half-new military overcoat with the collar turned up, carrying two bottles of wine and a bag of steamed rice cakes, walked briskly towards the old locust tree with a smile on his face.

"Oh, Mr. Zhang! You're here! I've been looking for you for ages!"

His voice was quite loud, which made several old men look up at him.

The old foreman didn't open his eyes.

Yang Sanshun wasn't embarrassed. He squatted down, placed what he was holding in front of the old foreman, and said in a fawning tone:

"Master Zhang, this is a gift for you. Two bottles of fine wine, and the steamed rice cake is freshly made. Please have a taste."

The old leader didn't move.

Yang Sanshun moved closer:

"Uncle Zhang, I've been wanting to visit you for a long time, but I haven't had the time. How are you feeling? Are you settling in well with the Lin family?"

Old Wang, who was standing nearby, couldn't stand it anymore and shoved his cigarette butt onto the ground.

"Sam-soon, you didn't say that a while ago."

Yang Sanshun's face flushed red instantly:

"I...what did I say? I didn't say anything!"

"Didn't you say?"

Wang Lao Er sneered:

"'Who knows what they're after? Nobody gets up early for nothing, who doesn't want more money these days?' Did you say that? You were squatting at the back of the crowd that day, thinking nobody could hear you?"

Yang Sanshun's face turned from red to purple, and he couldn't even open his mouth to defend himself.

Zhao Dana, who was standing nearby, chimed in:

"San-shun, you have no guts when it comes to your words. They brought the boss over here, and instead of saying anything nice, you went around badmouthing them behind their backs. Now you're coming to curry favor? How dare you?"

The eyes of several old men all fell on Yang Sanshun.

Yang Sanshun stood there, as if he had been stripped naked.

The old foreman finally opened his eyes.

He glanced at Yang Sanshun, a glance that was more scathing than an insult.

Yang Sanshun was completely humiliated. He bent down, picked up the two bottles of wine and the steamed rice cake, and turned to leave.

He gritted his teeth, quickened his pace, and slunk away at the end of the village road, like a dog running away with its tail between its legs.

Wang Lao Er watched his retreating figure, shook his head, and put the cigarette in his mouth:

"This is how a person's life will always be."

Quiet returned to the area under the old locust tree.

Zhao Dana picked up the enamel mug:

"Yang Sanshun is a real piece of work. He used to be all brother to people when he borrowed money, but he turned on them when they didn't get it. Now that they've made it big, he's trying to curry favor with them again."

"you do not say."

Another old man chimed in:

"Now that the second son of the Lin family has some ability, he's jealous. And to make matters worse, he's gossiping behind people's backs. People like that deserve to be disgraced."

Wang Lao Er stubbed out his cigarette, stood up, and patted the dirt off his backside:

"Alright, alright, let's stop talking about him. Master Zhang is here, let's talk about something more pleasant."

The old men then turned the conversation to crops.

Lin Nuo stayed in the yard.

A bicycle bell rang out from outside the courtyard gate.

Postman Xiao Liu rode over on his bicycle, parked it at the gate, and said with a smile, "Brother Nuozi! A letter! It's from the south!"

Lin Nuo took the envelope. The envelope was addressed to "Lin Family, Liujiagou," the handwriting messy, clearly written by the third brother. A stamp was affixed to the upper right corner of the envelope, bearing a Shenzhen postmark.

"Thank you for your hard work, Xiao Liu."

"It's not hard at all! Brother Nuozi, how's Third Brother doing over there?"

"I don't know yet, let me see."

Lin Nuo opened the envelope and took out the letter.

Zhao Xiuying poked her head out from the kitchen: "Third brother wrote a letter? What did he say?"

Lin Nuo handed her the letter. Zhao Xiuying took it, read two lines, and her eyes reddened:

"This child... said everything is fine over there, and told the family not to worry."

Lin Weiguo came out of the main room and stood at the doorway without saying a word, but his eyes remained fixed on the letter. Zhao Xiuying handed him the letter, which he took and read through from beginning to end.

"As long as he does his job well, that's fine."

After Lin Weiguo finished speaking, he turned and went into the main room.

Zhao Xiuying stood at the kitchen door:

"This child still knows to write home. He told his family not to worry, so he must be really doing well."

Lin Nuo nodded, then took out a note from the envelope, which was addressed to him separately:

"Second brother, everything is fine here. The factory provides food and lodging, and there's a subsidy for overtime work. I can save fifty or sixty yuan a month. If you need anything, just write to me, and I'll buy it here and send it back."

After reading it, Lin Nuo folded the note neatly and tucked it into his pocket. He looked up and smiled at Zhao Xiuying:

"Mom, the third son said he's doing well over there, saving up several tens of yuan a month. Don't worry."

"How much should I save?"

Zhao Xiuying was stunned for a moment.

"Fifty or sixty yuan."

Zhao Xiuying clicked her tongue, unable to suppress the smile on her face.

"This kid is really good at saving. Much better than working at the fertilizer factory."

Lin Weiguo came out of the main room again:

"The third brother is over there. Write him a letter. Ask him if he's cold and if he's eating well. Don't just say nice things."

"Understood, Father."

Lin Nuo responded.

Lin Weiguo stood there for a while longer, then turned and left.

In the afternoon, Lin Nuo carried an empty basket and walked towards the town.

Several bicycles were parked in front of the supply and marketing cooperative, and a donkey was tied up there.

Lin Nuo pushed open the door and went in. Behind the counter, Liu Jun was bent over, calculating with an abacus, making a clattering sound. Hearing footsteps, he looked up, put down the abacus, and came out from behind the counter.

"Hey, Nuozi! It's been a while since you've been here! I thought you'd forgotten about the supply and marketing cooperative!"

Lin Nuo smiled and placed the empty basket on the ground:

"Brother Jun, I've been busy lately and haven't had time to reply."

"What are you busy with? I heard you're doing quite well raising chickens, sending eggs to the county town every day?"

Liu Jun took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulled one out, and handed it to Lin Nuo.

Lin Nuo waved his hand and didn't take it; Liu Jun lit it himself.

"It's alright, enough to make a living," Lin Nuo said.

Liu Jun clicked his tongue and looked him up and down:

"You don't look like you're trying to make a living."

Lin Nuo smiled but didn't reply. He walked to the counter, took out a piece of paper from his pocket, and handed it over.

"Brother Jun, please prepare these things for me."

Liu Jun took the note, looked down at it, and paused for a moment:

"Tea leaves? Salt? So much of that? Are you opening a convenience store?"

Lin Nuo shook his head, took out some money from his pocket, and placed it on the counter:

"It's not about opening a small shop. Brother Jun, you can just help me prepare the goods."

Liu Jun glanced at him but didn't ask any more questions. He turned around and took things out of the warehouse; the tea was brick tea.

"Tea costs forty-two, salt costs eight, that's exactly fifty."

Liu Jun flicked the abacus beads, making a crisp "snap" sound.

Lin Nuo handed over the money, which Liu Jun took and stuffed into the drawer. He put the things into the basket and patted Lin Nuo on the shoulder again:

"Nuozi, how's your medicinal herb sales lately? I heard you've made contact with dealers in the south?"

"It's alright. We have established channels, so we don't have to worry about selling them."

Lin Nuo hoisted the basket onto his shoulder.

Liu Jun nodded, put the cigarette in his mouth, and squinted his eyes:

"Okay, as long as you have connections. Don't forget the supply and marketing cooperative if you find any good products in the future; the price is negotiable."

"Brother Jun, I'll never forget you."

Lin Nuo pushed open the glass door.

Liu Jun saw him to the door, watched his retreating figure, shook his head, and muttered something under his breath:

"This kid is really getting bigger and bigger."

The sunlight shone on Lin Nuo's shoulders, casting a long shadow. He carried the basket and walked briskly towards the village entrance.

By the time he got home, the sun was already setting. Lin Nuo put the basket down at the kitchen door, washed his hands, and walked towards the west wing.

The door to the west wing was ajar, and he gently pushed it open. The old foreman was sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), holding a yellowed hand-drawn book of medicinal herbs in his hand.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up and his gaze lingered on Lin Nuo's face for a moment.

"Uncle Zhang, you look great today."

Lin Nuo sat down next to him and handed him a packet of tea.

"Uncle Zhang, this is brick tea I bought for you. Please try it."

The old foreman took the tea leaves, smelled them, and set them aside. He didn't say anything, but glanced at Lin Nuo and then at the basket outside the door.

"What did you buy?"

Tea leaves, salt.

"Why buy so much?"

Lin Nuo didn't answer immediately. He stood up, walked to the door, closed it, and then walked back.

"Uncle Zhang, I'd like to go into the mountains."

The old foreman paused for a moment. He closed the sketchbook, placed it on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), turned around, and looked at Lin Nuo.

"Where to?"

"That village of Oren you mentioned last time. The one deep in the mountains."

The old foreman didn't speak. He remained silent for a while, then pulled out a pipe from his waist, filled it with tobacco, and lit it with a match.

"You want to do business with them?"

"Yes. They live deep in the mountains, so they must be lacking in salt and tea. I'll take some with me and trade them for their hides and medicinal herbs."

The old foreman took another drag of his cigarette, his eyes narrowing as if he were thinking about something.

"The people of Oren Village don't like to go down the mountain. They have little contact with outsiders and are quite temperamental. If you go there, they might not even acknowledge you."

Lin Nuo nodded, his voice firm:

"Uncle Zhang, I know. But I want to give it a try."

The old foreman looked at him, his gaze lingering on his face for a long while. The expression on that face was very calm.

He placed his pipe on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and sighed softly.

"All right."

He pulled a small cloth bag from under his pillow, untied the rope, and took out a piece of deer sinew rope tied with an animal tooth. The deer sinew rope was threaded through a hole. He handed the item over.

"This is my token. The old chieftain of Oren Village recognizes it. Take this with you, and they won't make things difficult for you. After you enter the mountains, follow the river upstream to its source, cross a ridge, and you'll see their village."

Lin Nuo took the beast tooth with both hands and gripped it tightly. The tooth was still warm, the old foreman's body temperature.

"Uncle Zhang, aren't you going to stop me?"

"Can we stop them?"

The old foreman put the pipe back in his mouth, took a drag, and exhaled a puff of white smoke.

"You're like someone who learns to hunt; once you've made up your mind, nothing can change it."

He paused, then lowered his voice:

"The villagers of Oren Village are just as skilled hunters as I am. If you can make contact with them, things will be much easier for you in the future."

Lin Nuo carefully tucked the animal tooth into his pocket. He looked up at the old foreman:

"Uncle Zhang, thank you."

"What are you thanking me for?"

The old foreman tapped his pipe on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and the ash fell to the ground, forming a small pinch of gray powder.

"I'm old and can't walk anymore. If you want to go, go ahead. Be careful on the road. The mountains are different from the outside world; there are many wild animals, and the roads are dangerous. Take a few more people with you; don't go alone."

"Understood, Uncle Zhang."

The old foreman looked at him, remained silent for a while, and then suddenly said:

"You've got some nerve."

Lin Nuo paused for a moment, then smiled. The smile wasn't overt, but her eyes curved into crescent moons.

"Uncle Zhang, are you praising me?"

The old foreman didn't reply. He tucked his pipe back into his waistband, picked up the sketchbook, and continued flipping through it.

Lin Nuo stood up, walked to the door, and looked back one last time.

The old man kept his head down, with no expression.

Lin Nuo gently closed the door, stood in the courtyard, and let out a long breath.

The sunset glow on the horizon had burned out, leaving only a last touch of dark red, as if someone had lightly drawn a line on the horizon with a charcoal pencil.

On the distant mountain ridge, the moon had already peeked out, its face half-hidden, cold and clear.

The aroma of food wafted from the kitchen, and Zhao Xiuying called out from inside, "Nuozi, tell your Uncle Zhang to eat!"

"Yes!" Lin Nuo responded, then turned around and pushed open the door to the west wing.

"Uncle Zhang, dinner's ready."

The old man placed the sketchbook beside his pillow, stood up, and followed Lin Nuo into the main room.

Inside the main room, Lin Weiguo was already seated, with two wine cups in front of him. Zhao Xiuying came out of the kitchen carrying dishes, and seeing the old foreman, she smiled and said:

"Brother Zhang, I stewed some fish today, please have a taste. Nuozi caught it from the river this morning, it's very fresh."

The old foreman sat down, picked up his wine cup, and clinked it against Lin Weiguo's. The porcelain cups made a crisp sound as they touched.

Lin Nuo sat down next to him, picked up a piece of fish, and put it into the old man's bowl. The fish was white and tender, steaming hot, and the fish soup at the bottom of the bowl was glistening with oil.

"Uncle Zhang, eat more."

The old foreman didn't say anything; he just ate.

Outside the window, the moon peeked out from behind the clouds, its cool light illuminating the courtyard.

Lin Nuo picked up his wine cup, took a sip, and thought to himself: when the weather gets warmer, I'll call Zhao Dazhuang, bring some tea and salt, and head into the mountains.

He touched the beast tooth in his arms, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

How can you do business if you're not bold?

While hunting is still permitted, seize the opportunity to earn a fortune.