Chapter 24.2 (1/2)
Lin Jingzhe politely declined Tian Dahua’s offer to drive them to the airport because—what airport?
He checked out, withdrew the deposit, and, under the eager gazes of the staff, got in the taxi arranged by the hotel. After arriving at the station, he bought everyone tickets and boarded the bus to Qunnan City.
When he had first arrived, he had 20,000 yuan, but now he was going back with only a few thousand left. The bus started and jerked forward, passing by the main urban area. Lin Jingzhe leaned out and looked at the city behind him.
He knew that he would be back soon.
Despite Gao Sheng and the others’ anxiety about the 700,000 yuan Lin Jingzhe borrowed, this trip to a big city had taken their breaths away. This new world, with rules completely different from anything they’d been exposed to in the past, slowly unfolded before them like a priceless handscroll, revealing a magnificent painting inside.
It frightened and unnerved them, yet at the same time, it filled them with an indescribable longing.
Gao Sheng caressed the covers of the books that Lin Jingzhe had just bought from the bookstore next to the station. They had names that he had never heard of, but he could feel the endless power contained within them.
After seeing the bustle and prosperity of Shen City, once they returned to Qunnan City, it seemed to have lost its spark.
All of them wanted to return home as soon as possible, so they didn’t stop to take a rest but immediately boarded the bus bound for Liyun Town.
The bus unhurriedly rambled along the winding mountain road. As the noon gave way to evening, the quiet town slowly emerged in the distance.
When Gao Sheng and Deng Mai set their feet back on their home turf, they ran to the side and began to throw up.
“Well,” Lin Jingzhe, watching them from a distance, commented with a nod, “You’ve finished the way you started.”
Zhou Haitang sorted out the things they brought from Shen City. Lin Jingzhe bought many gifts: a fashionable cheongsam dress for each of the mothers, on trend and using fabric not available in Liyun Town, and for the fathers, cigarettes, good leather shoes, and alcohol. It all cost a lot of money; the three youths had spent the journey back distressed by Lin Jinzhe’s extravagance.
Since they called home before returning, their parents were already waiting for them.
They’d used staying at a classmate’s house for a few days as an excuse for leaving. However, they had stayed in Shen City for too long, so their trip couldn’t be concealed. Shen City—how far away did this city seem to be to the people of Liyun Town? And their children had secretly gone to such a distant place without telling them. Later, Gao Sheng and the others called home every day to report their safety, but their parents had still been worried.
The group of middle-aged people gathered by the iron fence at the bus station exit, anxiously peering inside. At the sight of their son’s silhouettes, the mothers couldn’t help crying out.
“You blasted children! You disappeared for so many days! Do you know how worried we were?!”
Hu Yu was the first one to run forward. She took the bags that Lin Jingzhe carried, put them on the ground, then raised her hand and slapped his head.
Mother Zhou and Deng Mai’s mother, Su Wei, followed her lead and, without further comment, raised their own hands.
Zhou Haitang’s and Deng Mai’s fathers exchanged glances. They had been waiting at the station for more than three hours. The men said nothing and had not expressed their concern, but the ground by their feet was littered with cigarette butts.
Lin Jingzhe was beaten several times without knowing who hit him. He wasn’t angry and only smiled and lowered his head, letting his elders vent.
Hu Yu’s eyes turned red. Since the first phone call when the children informed them that they were in Shen City, she had been so worried she couldn’t sleep well.
“Tch! Why are you crying?” Lin Jingzhe couldn’t stand it. Helpless, he hugged her and patted her comfortingly on her back, coaxing, “Don’t cry, don’t cry! Is going to Shen City for a few days really something you need to be so worried about? We’re adults already, you know.”
This kind of consolation seemed useless, however, because the other mothers also began to cry, aggrieved. The big tears rolled down their faces, leaving their sons overwhelmed and at a loss what to do.
Father Zhou and Father Deng watched from the distance, unwilling to approach and get caught in the crossfire—they were of no help at all. Lin Jingzhe cajoled and coaxed; finally, at his wits’ end, he hurriedly unpacked the gifts he’d brought back, hoping it would cheer them up.
The cheongsam dresses he bought were from well-established brands that were very popular in Shen City, made with excellent fabrics and superb craftsmanship. Also, his taste was much more refined than that of a real eighteen-year-old. Most women liked to be well-dressed—the mothers were immediately attracted by the clothes.
The tears stopped, and a profound discussion ensued concerning the dresses Lin Jingzhe unfolded and displayed.
Hu Yu caressed the silk constructing the outer layer of the dress. The afterglow of the setting sun make the soft, exquisite fabric look as if it was glowing.
Mother Deng had seen a bit of the world, but she’d never owned such beautiful clothes. Voice still thick with tears, she choked out, “This… it must’ve been expensive, right?”
Lin Jingzhe saw that they finally stopped crying and breathed a sigh of relief. He pushed the dresses into their intended owners’ arms and sweet-talked, “As long as you like it, it’s worth it!”
The spectating fathers also got their cigarettes, leather shoes, and alcohol. The looked at the brand on the cigarette boxes, one which all smokers knew, and were reluctant to open them. The alcohol was also well-received and highly praised—they kept fondling the bottles admiringly.
Father Deng couldn’t wait to have a taste. Hugging the gifts in his arms, he grinned from ear to ear and vigorously said, “All right, what time is it—what are we still standing here for? The children probably haven’t eaten the whole day. Let’s all just go to my house for dinner and a drink or two!”
“Yes, there’s no point in splitting up. I have a pig leg frozen, perfect for a big pot of pig leg stew!” Mother Deng echoed.
Hearing this, Mother Zhou immediately nodded. “I’ll cook!”
Lin Jingzhe slept at Gao Sheng’s. It was the most peaceful sleep he’d had in a while.
He didn’t dream—he fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow and woke up at noon the next day.
He sat up in the bed. As his gaze penetrated through the mosquito net and took in the worn-out, cramped interior of the room, he almost thought that his trip to Shen City was just a dream.
However, the sight of Gao Sheng’s perfectly ironed, mature casual clothes hanging on the wall pulled him back to reality. His brain slowly recovered from his deep sleep and began to process his thoughts.
He found a notebook, sat down at the table, and started calculating.
He had bought 500,000-yuan worth of Aeon Technology’s stock. The money came from the business loan, and he’d been able to get this loan from the bank on the basis of his company, which was actually funded by Tian Dahua who had become Lin Jingzhe’s guarantor for three months.
His company, while registered, definitely wouldn’t open for real—even if he opened it, he would never do it in Shen City. So, before Tian Dahua’s 200,000-yuan guarantee expired, he would have to close the company he just made.
This meant he must pay off the bank loan and interest within three months.
Where would the money come from?
Stocks.
Lin Jingzhe closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. He was a little tired, but not in the least worried.
He knew very well how good his stock’s prospects were. If not for the fact that he wanted to avoid attracting too much attention or be compelled into sitting on the board of supervisors due to his large capital injection, he would’ve tried to borrow a much bigger sum.