In her past life, Old Lin had listened to advice from a contractor friend. The two went into partnership: one provided the money, the other did the labor, and they agreed to split all profits fifty-fifty.
Being an honest, simple farmer, Old Lin threw himself into the venture with great enthusiasm.
But the citrus variety they chose was extremely sensitive to frost. As fate would have it, the harvest was scheduled for the third year—right around next year—when temperatures suddenly dropped to minus one degree Celsius. Overnight, the frost killed every tree across their more than one hundred mu of orchard.
Since they had already signed a ten-year land lease, they could not just walk away. They had no choice but to start all over again from scratch.
The family fell deeper into poverty. When Lin Yaozu went off to vocational college, they could barely scrape together enough money for his tuition. Even the first year’s fees were only paid in small, scattered installments.
Gu Shaonan’s mother had complained endlessly about this situation. But she never stopped to think that her own younger daughter’s family had lived under Old Lin’s roof for more than a decade, and Old Lin had even helped raise their children.
So why should she, Lin Sui, care so much now that Gu Shaonan had broken his promise?
Thinking this, Lin Sui felt a tightness in her chest once more. “Dad, I think working for the contractor right now is a great opportunity. You should learn everything you can from him—how to read blueprints, how to draft plans, and work your way toward becoming a contractor yourself. It’s a promising career.”
Old Lin stroked his beard and replied, “You’d do better to mind your own business first. Has that job your aunt found for you come through yet?”
“Almost,” Lin Sui answered.
She did not push him further just then; she would wait until she had spoken with her brother-in-law Tang tomorrow.
When she set off, she brought along two bags of dried bamboo shoots her family had preserved: one for her cousin’s husband, and the other for her uncle in the county seat.
Linjia Village was three kilometers from Yunshui Town, which sat halfway between the village and the county seat—another twenty kilometers away.
Qiu Yang, the man driving the tractor, was truly a good sort, happy to share whatever knowledge he had. As they talked, Lin Sui realized there was a real opportunity: Old Lin could buy a tractor of his own.
People were gradually growing wealthier, and new houses were going up everywhere. The demand for sand, cement, and bricks was soaring. And since Old Lin already knew a contractor, he would have a ready supply channel.
As they spoke, a dark blue motorcycle roared past them, its engine actually quieter than the tractor’s. Even catching only a glimpse of its rear, Lin Sui recognized it immediately—it was a Harley.
“Wow, you can even see such a stylish motorcycle out in the countryside?” she wondered.
Back then, paved roads were still rare; the paths were made of packed sand. Before Lin Sui could get a clear look, a cloud of dust kicked up by the bike blew straight into her face. She nearly swore out loud: Just because you ride a Harley doesn’t make you something special. Just you wait—one day I’ll drive a Ferrari supercar.
The motorcycle sped away in the blink of an eye, as if fleeing for its life.
All Lin Sui could make out was the rider wearing a helmet, his white shirt billowing in the wind—an image straight out of the Hong Kong films of the era—and yet, somehow, it felt strangely familiar.
Meanwhile, Gu Shaonan had already returned to the shoe factory. His engagement to Chen Qinghe was all but finalized.
He felt a faint twinge of guilt toward Lin Sui, but told himself it was nothing serious. Thankfully, Lin Sui did not know him yet, so his feelings would not affect her. Once he had sorted out his own plans, he would find the right time to get to know her properly.
Come to think of it, wasn’t Lin Sui’s uncle working as the factory manager’s driver?
In her past life, on the evening they first met, Lin Sui had mentioned asking her uncle for help with something. He could not recall exactly what it was—only that she had seemed eager to get married and had pursued him quite actively.
At that time, he had just come out of a painful breakup. Having someone like Lin Sui—bright, lively, and full of energy—by his side slowly soothed the ache in his heart. By the end of that year, they had registered their marriage. But this time around, he would be marrying Chen Qinghe instead.
The thought that Lin Sui would end up married to another man stirred a tangled feeling in his chest. After all, they had spent many years together in their previous lives. Yet no matter what, he was determined not to let Chen Qinghe down in this lifetime.
Knowing that Chen Qinghe would come to see him at noon so they could go home to meet his mother and discuss the wedding plans, Gu Shaonan felt a warm lightness in his heart. He pushed aside all those messy thoughts and focused back on his work.
“Shaonan, the manager wants you in his office,” called Chen Feng, a fellow worker, walking over to him. “I reckon it’s because you took yesterday off. There’s been some trouble with the orders. You’d better be prepared.”
The workshop foreman’s nephew had competed with Gu Shaonan for the position of team leader before. But Gu Shaonan’s technical skills were far more solid, and the factory manager—himself a man with a background in engineering—had promoted him instead. Ever since, the foreman had held a grudge. Now he seized the chance to make trouble, claiming that Gu Shaonan’s absence during a tight production schedule had caused defects in a batch of goods. He lashed out at him harshly and announced he would deduct half of Gu Shaonan’s monthly wages.
But Gu Shaonan was no longer the helpless, bullied young man he had been in the past. He remained calm and composed, responding with dignity: “The factory rules do not prohibit taking leave. My application was approved by both you and the HR department. This responsibility does not fall on me.”
“Hmph!”
The foreman had not expected such confidence and composure. “I’ve been around a long time—don’t think I can’t put a young upstart in his place. Just you wait and see.”
Gu Shaonan walked out of the office, deciding he would go straight to Factory Manager Yang to state his case. In his past life, Manager Yang had always looked out for him. Two years later, when business turned slow, it was the manager who encouraged him to resign and start his own business, even introducing him to valuable contacts.
Though Lin Sui’s uncle might have played a small part in that, he was only a driver—ultimately, it had been Gu Shaonan’s own ability that opened doors.
Just as he stepped out of the foreman’s office, he saw Lin Sui’s uncle, Liang Junsheng, walking toward him. Gu Shaonan nodded and offered a polite smile.
Liang Junsheng recognized him. Earlier that year, a group of new vocational college graduates had joined the factory, and the manager had invited them all to a meal together. Gu Shaonan had been among them—handsome, skilled, and considered a key talent to develop. They had even taken a group photo. So Liang Junsheng returned the smile and continued on his way.
“Hey, Master Liang! There’s a phone call for you!” someone called out from the duty station.
“It’s your niece,” the person added.
Gu Shaonan’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be Lin Sui?
Indeed, it was her. She had arrived in the county seat and phoned her uncle to ask if he was at work and if it would be convenient to visit.
Though Liang Junsheng was only the manager’s driver, he handled many of his personal matters and had almost the same authority as a secretary. “Tell her to come over,” he said. “But I only have half an hour—some officials are coming to inspect the factory soon, and I need to be on standby.”
At that same moment, Lin Sui was sitting in a hair salon with Luo Feifei.
Luo Feifei had been her classmate in junior high and lived in town. After graduating, she had not continued her studies; instead, she went to Guangzhou and worked there for several years, learning the trade of hairdressing. Now she was back, working as a shampoo assistant at the salon.
“Wow, Shenzhen really does do wonders for people!” Luo Feifei exclaimed, looking her over admiringly. “Since you went there and came back, you’ve become so much prettier and more stylish—it’s almost unfair!”
Lin Sui was wearing a butter-yellow dress that day. Her fair complexion suited the color perfectly, making her look fresh and vibrant, as if her skin was dewy enough to squeeze water from.
“If I were a man,” Luo Feifei teased, “I’d definitely chase you.”
“Pfft,” Lin Sui laughed. “If you were a man, we’d never be friends.”
“Why not?”
Lin Sui stood right beside her. Luo Feifei pushed her away playfully. “Hey, I’m only five centimeters shorter than you!”
Height was a sore spot she never let anyone forget.
Seeing her old friend still there, just as she remembered, Lin Sui felt content and let the joke slide. “Hey, I’m heading to the shoe factory to see my uncle. Come with me, okay? If I happen to run into Gu Shaonan, I don’t trust myself to keep my expression steady. Having someone to chat and laugh with will help me hide how I really feel.”
She had not yet decided whether to let Gu Shaonan know that she too had returned to this new life. First, she wanted to see what kind of attitude he would show.
“Business is slow today anyway,” Luo Feifei said generously. She asked the salon owner for half a day off, then turned back. “Are you hoping to get a job at the factory, is that it?”
“Just looking around,” Lin Sui replied. “And I need to bring my uncle the dried bamboo shoots my mother prepared.”
It was true that her mother Liang Fengjiao cared deeply for her younger brother. She never forgot to send him a share of every good meal or preserved food they made. In return, her uncle was always ready to help the family—he had even pulled strings to get Lin Yaozu into high school when he had fallen just short of the required score.