Rebirth: The Tumultuous Year of 1979

"Gurgle!"

Xiao Hu gasped, his throat bobbing, his eyes widening in shock. He was stunned by Zhong Wei's words.

Twenty thousand yuan... Third Brother took so much money?

The average person only earns a little over 300 yuan a year, so 20,000 yuan is almost 30 years' worth of wages! Can he earn that back by opening a shop with 30 years' worth of wages? He was dumbfounded; Third Brother's move was too audacious!

"Hiss!" Zhang Qiang also gasped, looking at Xiao Hu with envy. He never expected that Xiao Hu would be chosen by Zhong Wei and given 20,000 yuan directly.

"Third Brother..." Wang Er hesitated, "Will we be able to make it back?"

Lu Guoqiang swallowed hard, looking at Zhong Wei in disbelief. Twenty thousand yuan? What kind of shop would invest so much?

All eyes turned to Zhong Wei, filled with disbelief.

Zhong Wei sneered, "Do as I say. Buy the store if you can, and if you don't have enough money, ask Guoqiang for it."

"Yes!" Wang Er took a deep breath and calmed himself down before replying.

Zhong Wei continued, "I've written down the methods for finding people and selling products; you guys keep a close eye on it. Money isn't an issue when recruiting; the salaries are one-third higher than other companies."

"That much?" Xiao Hu was shocked. Nowadays, the average person's monthly salary is thirty yuan. A third more would be forty yuan, which is more than that of a large factory or state-owned enterprise!

"I have only one requirement," Zhong Wei said in a deep voice, "The store must be clean and bright, and the staff must wear uniforms."

He wasn't worried about the initial lack of ingredients. In his previous life, when KFC first entered China, it served Western-style fried chicken and hamburgers with Coke. Now, there was no Coke, but there were alternatives. The key was management: KFC's management was world-class, and he was concerned that China, which had just begun its reform and opening up, couldn't keep up. Fortunately, it was just a trial branch, and the management methods were all written down. Xiao Hu just needed to strictly implement them.

Wang Er? Zhong Wei scratched his head, unable to count on him. He was only responsible for going through the formalities and taking Xiao Hu to "pay respects to the powerful." Zhong Wei himself couldn't show up (the Zhong family was too conspicuous; even a single action could trigger endless interpretations).

"Xiao Hu!" Zhong Wei emphasized, "Learn more from Wang Er and get to know more people. You need to be careful about this."

"Thank you, Third Brother!" Xiao Hu bowed quickly. He could tell that this was an important task. Maybe he would be able to manage this store in the future and accidentally reach the pinnacle of life!

Zhong Wei nodded in satisfaction. Although Xiao Hu was young, he had a reliable personality, and he felt at ease with him. He then looked at Lu Guoqiang: "Guoqiang, your expansion is progressing rapidly. I'll arrange for you to go and take a look in the south in a while."

"Third Brother, going south?" Lu Guoqiang was overjoyed.

"Yes!" Zhong Wei laughed, "Go out and see how others do things, broaden your horizons. It's not a solution to always be dependent on others for supply channels."

"Yes, Third Brother!" Lu Guoqiang replied with great joy.

"I'm leaving now. Do as I say, and we'll talk about the rest later." Zhong Wei took out 10,000 yuan from his bag and left the rest for Lu Guoqiang to expand.

"Third Brother, let me see you off!" Wang Er wanted to follow.

"No need," Zhong Wei shook his head. "You and Xiao Hu can handle the opening procedures. Once you've chosen a good location, start renovations and open for business as soon as possible."

"Third Brother, don't worry about the procedures!" Wang Er patted his chest and assured him.

Zhong Wei waved for everyone to go back, and walked lightly out of the courtyard. He carried a large sum of money back to the Ministry of Railways' staff quarters. This was the first house he bought after his rebirth. Although it wasn't the biggest house he would ever own, it was of extraordinary significance.

As soon as he went upstairs and opened the door, he was suddenly stunned: Zhong Jianguo had actually returned and was sitting on the sofa.

"Dad!" Zhong Wei called out quickly.

Zhong Jianguo turned his head, unable to hide his smile: "You're back? The old man invited us over for dinner today."

The old man invited him? Zhong Wei's heart skipped a beat!

"You need to be mentally prepared."

Zhong Jianguo slowly stood up, his gaze steady and unwavering, and looked at Zhong Wei with a gentle smile.

"Okay!" Zhong Wei nodded. "I'll go back to my room to get something, then I'll leave."

He entered the room, placed ten thousand yuan in cash and the property certificate on the table, took a deep breath, and was surprised by the old man's quick reaction. Perhaps... the old man had been paying attention since the train speed-up project his father was in charge of started, but his attitude had always been unclear.

Zhong Wei frowned slightly, memories of his two lifetimes intertwining in his mind: that old man was the Zhong family's anchor; with him, the Zhong family was as stable as Mount Tai; without him, the Zhong family would decline within a few years. It was just like that in his previous life; after the old man passed away, the Zhong family rapidly declined.

"In this life..."

Zhong Wei closed the drawer, clenched his fist, and his voice was low and menacing, like a beast's roar: "I will never allow history to repeat itself!"

His eyes were sharp as knives: "The old man's stance is hard to change, but even the thickest wall will eventually crumble if you dig a little bit every day. As long as we can change his mind a little each time, the Zhong family won't fall into ruin. Besides,"

A bright smile spread across his face. "I'm also constantly getting stronger, and that's the most powerful piece of evidence."

Long

"Are you ready?" Zhong Jianguo was ready, his gaze falling on Zhong Wei. In the past, when he introduced Zhong Wei to his elder brother and nephew, he would sigh inwardly, lamenting that his son, in his twenties, had accomplished nothing and had no intention of pursuing a career in government. Especially his elder brother's son, Zhong Wen, who at such a young age was already a deputy fourth-rank official, a rare achievement among his peers; while he himself was over forty and only a deputy third-rank official, fearing that his nephew would catch up in a few years.

But now, he has no worries. His son is not a good-for-nothing; he is a hidden dragon, just not yet ready to soar to great heights. Perhaps even his own rank of third grade is thanks to his son!

The more Zhong Jianguo looked at Zhong Wei, the more he realized his son was extraordinary, and he secretly felt proud: "Truly worthy of being my son!"

"Alright!" Zhong Wei noticed the smugness in his father's eyes, scratched his head, and said, "Dad, let's go!"

The two went out and arrived at the family compound. Zhong Jianguo's official car was parked downstairs; as a third-rank cadre, he had a driver. Twenty minutes later, the car stopped in front of an old courtyard house. This area was adjacent to the imperial city, and the residents were all protected by a security force.

Two upright figures stood at the entrance of the courtyard. Zhong Jianguo and Zhong Wei approached, and the other party saluted. The two nodded slightly and entered the courtyard.

"Commander Zhong, Zhong Wei, we've arrived."

As soon as he entered, a bespectacled, refined-looking middle-aged man greeted him. It was Li Ming, the secretary of Old Master Zhong and the head butler of the Zhong family. Zhong Wei knew that he belonged to the Zhong family faction. In his previous life, Li Ming had taken good care of him. Seeing him again now felt like a lifetime ago.

"Secretary Li," Zhong Wei greeted.

Zhong Jianguo nodded: "Have my older brother and the others arrived?"

"Commander Zhong (Zhong Jianjun) and Zhong Wen are already inside chatting with Elder Zhong."

Secretary Li led the two through the front yard to the back hall. From afar, Zhong Wei could see Old Master Zhong sitting at the octagonal table, flanked by his uncle Zhong Jianjun and cousin Zhong Wen.

The two are the future hope of the Chung family and the core of a certain faction within the Chung family.

Zhong Jianguo, who was not expected to achieve much in the past, was suddenly promoted to the third rank, just one step away from the second rank, which surprised everyone.

Zhong Wei and Zhong Jianguo entered the hall, and several gazes swept over them, finally settling on Zhong Jianguo. Zhong Wei's lips curled slightly; he knew that these gazes contained scrutiny and comparison.

"Mr. Zhong, Commander Zhong and Zhong Wei have arrived." Secretary Li stepped forward and reported to the old man beside the octagonal table.

Amidst the aroma of tea wafting from the rosewood round table, Old Master Zhong slowly raised his head.

His face was lined with wrinkles like old tree bark, and his eyes were cloudy like amber covered in dust. But the moment he looked up, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. It was the sharpness of a lifetime of battles and the edge of political experience. At this moment, it was quietly sweeping over Zhong Wei and Zhong Jianguo.

"They've arrived." The old man's voice was hoarse, yet carried an undeniable composure.

Zhong Jianguo bowed slightly: "Dad."

Zhong Wei stepped forward and respectfully greeted, "Grandpa!"

The old man pointed to the chair opposite him, his gaze lingering on Zhong Wei's face for a half-second longer. If one didn't look closely, who would notice the scrutiny hidden in those cloudy eyes? He smiled, his wrinkles like blooming chrysanthemums: "Sit down."

The atmosphere was tense as the dinner party began.

As soon as Zhong Wei sat down, his older brother Zhong Wen suddenly spoke up, a disdainful smile playing on his lips: "Zhong Wei, you're over twenty and still don't have a job. If you keep drifting around like this, you'll fall far behind your peers."

Zhong Jianguo's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He understood the unspoken message all too well: Zhong Wen was the son of Zhong Jianjun (his uncle), and Zhong Jianjun, as the second-generation leader of the Zhong family, had always controlled the family's resources. His own promotion to the third rank due to the "railway speed-up plan" had disrupted this resource-sharing pattern. Zhong Jianjun and his son were using this as a way to put pressure on Zhong Wei, and ultimately, on Zhong Jianguo!

Zhong Wei smiled, his fingertips tracing the rim of his teacup, a knowing glint in his eyes. There's no such thing as "simple" in wealthy families; resources are limited, and whoever touches the cheese becomes the target. He looked up, his gaze sweeping over Zhong Wen before landing on the old man: the old man was slowly picking at his food, as if this "beating" was merely a spice in the meal.

"What you say is true, brother." Zhong Wei was neither in a hurry nor annoyed, his tone so sincere as to be almost "naive." "But with my personality, if I went to work in a government agency, I'm afraid I'd be making people clean up my messes every few days. In that case, it wouldn't just be me who would lose face, but also the reputation of the Zhong family. It's better to be free outside."

"You..." Zhong Wen frowned, his prepared "reverse psychology" hitting a brick wall. He had intended to provoke Zhong Wei into a rage and expose his "unemployed" weakness, but Zhong Wei turned the tables on him, saying that "not having a job" was "for the sake of the family's reputation," leaving him speechless.

Zhong Wei glanced at the old man out of the corner of his eye. The old man was still slowly drinking his soup, but a hint of surprise flashed in his cloudy eyes: When did this grandson learn to "retreat to advance"?

"Hehe," Zhong Wei turned to the old man at the opportune moment, revealing two rows of stuttering teeth, smiling like a charming young boy, "Grandpa, don't you think so?"

The old man put down his soup bowl, his cloudy eyes narrowing slightly. He had lived a whole life; what kind of power struggles hadn't he seen? Zhong Wen's petty tricks were like child's play in the mud to him, but Zhong Wei's reaction surprised him. This boy hadn't fallen into the trap of "dispute," but instead used "self-deprecation" to defuse the attack, even subtly protecting the family's reputation.

"Chung Man," the old man finally spoke, his voice calm yet carrying a commanding authority, "If your younger brother wants to be free outside, let him be."

In short, the Zhong Wen father and son's plan to put Zhong Jianguo in a bad light had failed. He glared angrily at Zhong Wei, only to see the other man still smiling so slyly, like an eel. Was this still the "idle grandson" he had looked down upon?

Grandpa Zhong placed a piece of braised pork into Zhong Wei's bowl, the sharp glint in his eyes softening slightly: "Young man, it's good to have your own ideas." He raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Zhong Jianguo, "Jianguo, you've done a good job on the acceleration plan."

Zhong Jianguo's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. The old man was hinting to him: the plan was correct, but the "minor squabbles" within the family were nothing to worry about.

Zhong Jianjun frowned slightly as he watched Zhong Wen lose. He turned his gaze to Zhong Wei, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. When did this nephew become so slippery?

"Zhong Wei," he pondered for a moment, his tone carrying an undeniable air of authority, "your elder brother is right. As a member of the Zhong family, we cannot act willfully. Here's what we'll do: with the nation's industry booming, go to the Ministry of Industry and gain experience for a few years!"

Zhong Wei narrowed his eyes and quietly met his gaze.

"Brother," Zhong Jianguo spoke up at the opportune moment, his smile warm, "Zhong Wei is naive by nature and not suited for officialdom. Let him hone his skills for a few more years."

"Jianguo..." Zhong Jianjun smiled with narrowed eyes, his tone steady, "Zhong Wei is not young anymore. Nowadays, the country advocates for younger cadres. Entering officialdom two years earlier will give you a head start."

Zhong Jianguo's delay is a perfectly valid reason. In a behemoth like the Zhong family, most of their children go into politics, or at the very least, hold important positions in the corporate world. Even if Zhong Wei doesn't enter politics now, he won't be able to avoid it for the next few years.

Zhong Jianjun continued, his voice rising: "Jianguo, you're spoiling him too much. Look at Zhong Wen, he's already a deputy third-rank official at twenty-eight, with a bright future ahead of him. You can't ruin his life by spoiling him!"

These words were like a soft knife, ostensibly showing affection, but secretly stabbing at the railway speed-up plan submitted by Zhong's father. In Zhong Jianjun's eyes, that plan might be considered "partisan," and if the reform failed, the Zhong family would be implicated.

Zhong Wei's heart skipped a beat: Here it comes. His uncle, by suppressing his father, was subtly implying the risks of the plan, and the phrase "ruined a lifetime" was a veiled barb.

He looked up at the old man, who seemed calm and collected, but his cloudy eyes were like deep pools, quietly scrutinizing him and his father. Those eyes clearly held a sharp edge and a calculating gaze.

The old man's attitude... was somewhat subtle.

Zhong Wei turned his gaze back to Zhong Jianjun and smiled, "Uncle, my eldest brother is the backbone of the third generation of the Zhong family. He has already reached the rank of deputy fourth grade at a young age, and his future is limitless."

These words made Zhong Jianjun's smile deepen, and Zhong Wen also showed a hint of pride.

Chung Wei then changed the subject: "But I am just an ordinary member of the Chung family and cannot represent the Chung family's attitude. Making some attempts and causing some noise may be puzzling to people, but it is not enough to make people mistakenly think that I represent the Chung family's position."

"Zhong Wei, you," Zhong Jianguo said, feigning a scolding, "what are you doing interrupting our elders' conversation? Hurry up and apologize to your uncle!"

Although his words were stern, his eyes gleamed with undisguised smile and pride. He had originally intended to use his elder brother's subtle pressure to teach his son a lesson, but Zhong Wei had deflated his sharp edge with just a few words, leaving no trace, like a stone thrown into still water.

"I'm sorry, Uncle." Zhong Wei bowed slightly, his smile undiminished. "It's inappropriate for a junior like me to interrupt your conversation with my father."

Zhong Jianjun stared at him, and for a moment he felt as if the person in front of him was not a young man in his early twenties, but a seasoned politician who had been sparring with those old foxes among his colleagues. His rapid growth was astonishing.

"Fine." He sighed helplessly. All the challenges Zhong Wei had launched today had been neutralized. A fourth-rank official and a second-rank official couldn't even control this kid.

"The Chung family's attitude..." Chung Man finally couldn't help but speak, his eyes revealing a hint of annoyance.

"Brother, Grandpa probably thinks the same way," Zhong Wei interrupted him, glancing at the old man observing the situation. This extremely shrewd old man had already seen through his and his father's attitudes and had his own conclusion.

Zhong Wei displayed his talent in front of the clan today, which was inconsistent with his usual temperament. But as a member of the Zhong family, how could he be content with mediocrity? His real purpose was to gain more weight in the old man's heart and perhaps gradually change his stance in the future.

"Let's eat." The old man suddenly smiled kindly, not criticizing Zhong Wei's unexpected behavior, but simply setting the tone.

"Yes, Grandpa!"