Chapter 1

In June, the scorching summer heat, the chirping of cicadas, and the rolling heat waves in the afternoon made people unbearably irritable.

Zhou Ming opened his eyes and looked at the ceiling fan creaking and swaying as if it might fall at any moment.

Can this be real? Is this really happening? I can't just be dreaming, can I? If this is a dream, it's too real and too long, isn't it?

Zhou Ming thought to himself, closing and opening his eyes repeatedly. After doing this many times, he finally believed that he had truly been reborn.

If I have really been reborn, then that incident...

Thinking of this, Zhou Ming sat up abruptly from the bed. He looked at the wall, where the calendar clearly showed today's date: July 12th.

Today, today is the day my father started feeling unwell. At first, he thought it was just something he had eaten, so he didn't pay much attention. Later, when the pain became unbearable, he was taken to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with appendicitis. Because the family had no money for surgery, my father's appendicitis turned into a perforated appendix. In the end, even though my mother borrowed money, my father died from peritonitis and sepsis due to the delayed surgery, and he only lasted less than a year.

That was the pain of my life. If I could earn money for the family now, my father wouldn't have let his appendicitis turn into a perforated appendix, and he wouldn't have suffered for a year and then died. Since I have been reborn, I will work hard to earn money and make sure these things don't happen again!

When Zhou Ming lifted his head again, his eyes were full of determination.

Think and act, Zhou Ming ran out of the house. As he passed a crossroads, he suddenly heard the ring of a bicycle bell. Zhou Ming turned his head and saw a bicycle charging towards him. He didn't have time to dodge and was knocked to the ground.

"Who's that? Don't you look where you're going when you ride a bike?" Zhou Ming shouted angrily.

"Hey, isn't that the college graduate from our 760 Factory? I'm really sorry, I didn't see you. But what can you do? Why aren't you working in the factory at this time? Why are you wandering around on the road?" A hateful voice came from above. Zhou Ming looked up and saw a young man with a side parting standing over him, holding his bicycle. His eyes were full of disdain. On the back of the bicycle sat a girl in a floral dress. Zhou Ming recognized both of them; one was Ma Lin, and the other was Zhang Qian, the ones who had caused him to lose his job.

Zhou Ming remembered that after he graduated from college, he was assigned to work at the 760 Factory in Nanhui County, along with his girlfriend Zhang Qian. But later, Ma Lin, whose father was the deputy factory manager, took Zhang Qian away. Not only did Ma Lin take Zhang Qian, but he also flaunted her in front of Zhou Ming every day. One day, Zhou Ming couldn't bear it anymore and fought with Ma Lin in the factory. Ma Lin, using his father's influence, had Zhou Ming fired, and he had been unemployed ever since.

If this were in a more economically developed era, it wouldn't matter much; he could just find another job. But this was the late 1980s. If someone was fired from a unit and no other unit would take them, they would be looked down upon. This was especially true at the 760 Factory, where Zhou Ming remembered being pointed at and gossiped about for a whole year.

Because of this, every time Ma Lin saw him, he would mock him. Zhou Ming could imagine that he had deliberately ridden his bike to hit him.

Zhou Ming didn't want to deal with Ma Lin. He got up and tried to leave, but Ma Lin blocked his way and said, "Zhou Ming, let me tell you, why don't you just learn a skill at our factory's technical school? At least you wouldn't be lazy at home! Why did you have to go to the provincial capital to study economics? What's the point? You don't even have a job now, how tragic! Your parents have to work so hard in the factory every day. How about this, if you kneel down and kowtow to me three times, I'll help you talk to my father. Maybe he'll let you sweep the factory!"

Zhou Ming clenched his fists, feeling extremely angry. Seeing Zhou Ming's anger, Ma Lin became even more delighted and said, "What? You want to hit me? Come on, I promise I won't get your parents laid off. Come on, come on!"

"Aren't you being a bit cheap now?" Zhou Ming said coldly, "Isn't it because I got into college and you didn't, that you've been jealous of me all along?"

Ma Lin laughed, "Jealous of you? Ha! Are you joking with me? Or do you think we're still in school? You really think you're something, don't you? You should take a good look at yourself. What's the difference between you and a parasite on your parents? I'm about to be promoted. Do you think I would still be jealous of you?"

Zhou Ming, facing Ma Lin's insults, didn't get angry: "You don't know what my economics degree is for, but you'll find out in a few days."

"Great! I'll be waiting!" Ma Lin said arrogantly.

Zhou Ming glanced at Zhang Qian, who was sitting on the back of Ma Lin's bike, indifferent, as if she didn't recognize him. This made Zhou Ming's heart ache, but as a reborn soul, he quickly adjusted his mindset and left.

Ma Lin was taken aback by Zhou Ming's silent departure. In his memory, Zhou Ming had always been a hot-tempered person, and he wouldn't have fought with him and been fired if he hadn't been provoked. Why was he so patient today? And he seemed different.

Ma Lin spat and said, "Damn, you can pretend all you want in front of me, but let's see how long you can keep it up!"

Zhou Ming left Ma Lin and went directly to the 760 Factory to find his father's workshop. At this moment, Zhou Guoping was sitting on a chair resting. Zhou Ming walked over and asked, "Dad, are you okay?"

Hearing Zhou Ming's voice, Zhou Guoping looked up in surprise, "Xiao Ming, why are you here? Quick, get out. There's a lot of gamma radiation here, and it's very dirty."

"Dad, you've been working here for over twenty years, and you're fine. I'll be fine for a little while," Zhou Ming said.

"How can that be the same? I'm a worker, and I'm used to it here. You're a college graduate, you should be a leader," Zhou Guoping said.

"But you're my dad," Zhou Ming said, "Dad, let's not talk about this. Do you feel any discomfort in your body?"

Zhou Guoping shook his head, "No, I'm fine!"

"Xiao Ming, don't listen to your dad. He's been feeling unwell since this afternoon. You didn't see your dad standing by the lathe, did you? When you came to the workshop as a child, wasn't your dad always working on the lathe?" A worker passing by said, "Master, you always try to endure everything. This illness can't be endured. You should go to the hospital and get checked."

Zhou Ming recognized this person; he was his father's apprentice, Zhang Jianjun. Zhang Jianjun had always respected his father. Zhou Ming remembered that after his father's death in his previous life, the family had a hard time, and it was Zhang Jianjun who helped them.

Zhou Guoping said nonchalantly, "Jianjun, you're worrying too much. I just drank some cold water at noon and got a stomachache. What's the big deal?"

"Dad, I think Uncle Zhang is right. Your health is the most important. You should go to the hospital and get checked," Zhou Ming said, his voice choking up. Zhou Guoping and Zhang Jianjun were taken aback by Zhou Ming's sudden expression.

Actually, Zhou Ming didn't want to show this, but as a reborn soul, his father had been dead for over twenty years in his previous life. Now, seeing his father again, Zhou Ming couldn't control his emotions.

"You've changed since you went to college," Zhou Guoping said, "Alright, I'll go. I'll go after work, but now I need to check the lathe. It's been a while, and I should try to finish a few more pieces before the end of the shift."

Saying this, Zhou Guoping got up and walked to his lathe. Looking at his father's back, Zhang Jianjun said to Zhou Ming, "Xiao Ming, you should take your dad to the hospital for a check-up after work."

"Uncle Zhang, do you think my dad won't go to the hospital?" Zhou Ming asked.

"Do I know my master's character? He's very frugal, trying to save every penny. If he weren't so frugal, how could he have afforded your college education with his salary?" Zhang Jianjun said, "Don't blame me for saying this, but you, as a college graduate, haven't made things easy for your dad. The tuition for those few years was understandable, but now that you've graduated, you were assigned to a desk job in the factory, a position that could lead to leadership. Why did you have to fight with Ma Lin? Now you're at home doing nothing, and your parents, who are so old, have to work so hard in the factory. Your dad is even working on the lathe while feeling unwell."

Zhou Ming lowered his head. This wasn't the first time he had entered his father's workshop. It hadn't changed in ten years, always dark and stifling, with piles of hot metal shavings around the lathes, and his father's work clothes were always stained with black oil. Zhou Ming knew that all of this was for him and the family, but after graduating from college, he hadn't helped his father at all; instead, he had added to his burden.

If my father's appendicitis worsened because of the lack of money, then I am also greatly responsible. If I could earn money, this wouldn't have happened.

Seeing Zhou Ming's lowered head, Zhang Jianjun thought he had said too much and tried to comfort him, "Xiao Ming, don't take it to heart. I just said it because you're young, and your major isn't suitable for the factory. Ma Lin was also bullying you a bit, so it's not all your fault..."

Before Zhang Jianjun could finish, Zhou Ming interrupted, "No, Uncle Zhang, you're right. It's all because I couldn't help my dad, which made him overwork and unwilling to spend money on medical treatment, even though the factory would cover 70% of the costs. But that's just now. I will use the knowledge I learned in college to work hard and earn money, so my dad won't have these burdens anymore!"

Looking at Zhou Ming's determined gaze, Zhang Jianjun was stunned. He saw the confidence in Zhou Ming, and it seemed that Zhou Ming was very different from before.

(New book uploaded, hoping for support from new and old readers! Xiao Fang is very grateful!)

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