Chen Zimo touched the bandage on his head. The wound still throbbed faintly. “Damn, did I become anemic? I lost so much blood. How long will it take to recover?”
He saw an elderly woman with a head full of silver hair, wearing a slightly yellowed white coat. The old lady handed him a cup and said gently, “Young man, don’t move around. Drink some water first. You can call me Grandma Zhang or Doctor Zhang. I want to ask you, how did you get the injury on your head? Judging from the situation, you were injured at least one or two hours ago, and it was handled very carelessly. The wound wasn’t treated properly, which caused inflammation. If those kind-hearted people hadn’t sent you here, you might have lost your life.”
Chen Zimo’s lips moved, but in the end he did not say that it was his biological father, Chen Tinghao, who had hit him. Thinking of his empty pockets, his face flushed slightly. “Grandma Zhang, I… I don’t have money. Can I pay the medical fee tomorrow? Don’t worry, I will definitely pay you back tomorrow.”
Grandma Zhang smiled kindly. “Alright. Get up slowly and come eat something. I saw that when you fainted, you had only taken a few bites of fried rice noodles before dropping it. So I cooked you a bowl of noodles. After you eat, rest here at the clinic. Just think of it as helping me watch the place. You should sleep early. I’m going back too.”
After speaking, Grandma Zhang pointed at the bowl on the table. Seeing Chen Zimo nod, she walked out of the clinic.
Chen Zimo’s eyes reddened slightly.
Even a stranger would help and save him when he was injured. Seeing that he had not eaten, she even cooked for him. She knew he had no money and told him not to worry about the medical fees.
But what had those so-called blood relatives ever done for him besides exploiting and bullying him?
“Leaving the Chen family was truly the most correct decision I’ve made in my life!”
If Grandma Zhang was an angel, then the Chen family were demons, demons from hell with no trace of family affection.
Chen Zimo walked to the table, drawn by the aroma of the noodles, and began eating.
The noodles were just ordinary dried noodles. Chen Zimo knew that only people in the south commonly ate this kind. If someone in the north served dried noodles to visiting friends, the friendship might not last.
Hot oil was poured over chopped scallions, a little light soy sauce was added, then water boiled before the noodles were placed in. After a short wait, a bowl of clear noodle soup was ready.
Yet to Chen Zimo, this simple bowl of noodles was worth more than gold.
He casually stirred the noodles with his chopsticks and discovered two plump poached eggs hidden underneath.
His nose tingled again.
The next morning, Chen Zimo felt much better.
After washing his face and picking up the lottery ticket he intended to redeem, he noticed a red banknote, a note, and a key on the table.
“Young man, in this world, apart from death, there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome. Grandma can see that you are a brave child. Consider this money a loan. Pay me back when you have it. By the way, the clinic is usually unattended. If it’s convenient for you, you can stay here and help me watch the shop. There’s no salary though.”
Chen Zimo did not know what to feel.
Even a stranger treated him so kindly, knowing he had no money and nowhere to stay, lending him money and deliberately saying the clinic needed someone to watch it. Not a single word carried disdain. Instead, it was full of consideration for his feelings.
Moreover, Chen Zimo had already died once in his previous life. Even if the obstacle before him were a mountain a thousand meters high, he should climb over it.
Compared to that, the so-called family members of the Chen family only beat and scolded him. Their family affection was not even as good as that given to a dog.
Over the past two years, they had repeatedly driven him out of the villa, forcing him to curl up in corners of the residential complex.
In his previous life, Chen Zimo had already returned his life to them. He owed the Chen family nothing. Now, he would live only for himself.
He felt his face itch and raised his hand to wipe it, only to realize tears had already blurred his vision.
“Grandma Zhang, I will remember this kindness. In the future, I will definitely repay you.”
After wiping away his tears and steadying his emotions, Chen Zimo picked up the red banknote.
“Since I have money now, I might as well tidy myself up.”
He went out, ate a portion of rice noodle rolls at a street corner, and headed toward the small commodity wholesale market. This story is hosted at g.com.
Although it was only a little after six in the morning, the shop owners had already opened and started their businesses.
He watched suppliers loading goods into carts in bundles while the shop owners stacked merchandise, their faces filled with simple and genuine smiles.
After strolling around, Chen Zimo spent 80 yuan on a frog costume used for street vending.
After paying, he borrowed the shop owner’s phone and called his homeroom teacher to ask for leave, then went to the Sports Lottery Center to redeem his prize.
Everything went smoothly. Wearing the frog costume, he entered the lottery center and claimed the prize. After taxes were deducted, he donated another 100,000 yuan to a children’s foundation before leaving.
He found a secluded place, removed the disguise, deposited the money at the bank, and then boarded a bus toward No. 11 Middle School.
However, he did not go directly to school. Instead, he circled behind it and found a real estate agency.
The agent’s name was Qin Lang. He was about 170 centimeters tall, dressed in dress pants, leather shoes, a white shirt, and a tie, the standard four-piece outfit of a real estate agent.
There was no clichéd scene of him looking down on Chen Zimo for wearing a worn school uniform.
Besides, the area around No. 11 Middle School was an old district. Even three-story houses were rare.
Five years ago, there had been rumors of redevelopment. Once the word “demolish” was written, every household would become millionaires.
Unfortunately, residents had waited five years in vain.
As the area was far from the city center, house prices had continued to drop, except for properties with school district quotas.
“Handsome young man, are you looking to buy or rent? Don’t worry, we have the most listings in the area. Tell me what you need, and I’ll definitely find it for you.”
As he spoke, he took out a pack of cigarettes and offered one to Chen Zimo.
Chen Zimo shook his head, indicating he did not smoke, while recalling a joke.
After 5G networks became widespread, short videos became people’s entertainment, and more people learned about Guangdong East. Some even traveled there just to hear someone call them “handsome.” Unfortunately, one shop owner had addressed a visitor with a crude term instead, nearly sending him into rage.
Seeing that Chen Zimo did not smoke, Qin Lang tucked the cigarette pack back into his pocket.
Few salespeople truly indulged in expensive cigarettes. It was all for show.
“I want to buy two standalone houses near the back gate of No. 11 Middle School. They must have their own courtyards. I don’t need school district quota. The main requirement is that the houses be large and cheap. Whether they’re new or old doesn’t matter.”
After hearing this, Qin Lang once again took out the cigarette pack and respectfully offered it, his eyes lighting up.
In his eyes, Chen Zimo had already turned into a walking gold ingot.
Buying standalone houses right away, and asking to see two at once.
Although not needing school district quotas meant 3,000 yuan less commission, the total commission would still amount to tens of thousands.
If he closed this deal, he would be the kind of agent who did not open for three months but ate for half a year once he did.
“Brother, customers are our priority. Your needs are our mission. Based on my brain’s calculations, I have matched ten standalone houses that meet your requirements. Please choose which ones you want to see first. I’ll get you a cup of coffee.”
Chen Zimo did not waste time. He selected five out of the ten and followed Qin Lang to view the properties.
By the time they saw the last two houses, both were drenched in sweat, their backs soaked.
They each gulped down a bottle of water and discussed details in the shade. This story is hosted at g.com.
Finally, Chen Zimo decided on those two houses.
They were closest to the back gate of No. 11 Middle School. He currently had no place to live, so one would serve as his residence. They were also large and cheap.
After bargaining with the owners, he successfully purchased both standalone houses with private courtyards for 1.2 million yuan in total.
This was only possible because he had been reborn.
Ten years later, the average price in this area would reach 80,000 yuan per square meter, far beyond what ordinary people could afford.
In some remote areas of Great Xia Nation, 80,000 yuan could buy two entire houses.
When Chen Zimo swiped his card successfully, Qin Lang was stunned.
In three years of being an agent, he had never seen such a young and decisive buyer.
Judging by his professional standards, Chen Zimo might not have been an expert, but his analysis of the base price and market trends was extremely thorough.
His negotiation tactics were also methodical.
Many buyers spent weeks or even months viewing houses. Yet Chen Zimo closed two deals in a single morning.
If every client were like him, Qin Lang would have become a millionaire long ago.
Still, he was curious. Chen Zimo had not even blinked while swiping 1.2 million yuan. Yet he wore a faded No. 11 Middle School uniform that was clearly too short. The top was slightly short, but the pants on his 183-centimeter frame looked like cropped trousers, almost comical.
Moreover, his head was still wrapped in bandages.
Qin Lang’s gossiping mind began to wander.
He recalled a fraud prevention program he had watched, where scammers pretended to be injured, then calmly browsed houses and cars on their phones.
“No way… Could I have guessed right? Otherwise, why did he pay so readily, as if the money had fallen from the sky?”
He shook his head.
But regardless, he treated Chen Zimo with full professionalism. In this world, people laughed at poverty, not immorality.
It was not because you were a customer that you were treated like a god, but because you had money.
Soon after, Qin Lang accompanied Chen Zimo and the owners to the housing bureau to complete the transfer procedures.
Within a single morning, from viewing houses to obtaining property certificates, everything was completed.
Holding the two property certificates, Chen Zimo bid farewell to Qin Lang and returned to his own courtyard.
He could no longer suppress his laughter.
“Hahaha!”
“Knowing the future really feels amazing!”
“On the second day after rebirth, I bought houses immediately!”