Reborn in America, I am a legendary short seller on Wall Street.

Chapter 40 1892 (Seeking monthly votes and recommendations)

There's not much to say about the last week of 1891.

Larry seemed to have returned to his initial stage when he first arrived at Paine Weber Securities, diligently completing his work of copying market data and then writing down the stock fluctuation patterns he had summarized in his small notebook.

After get off work, Larry would ride his bicycle around the world looking for fun and delicious things to bring home and enjoy with his parents.

Larry had discovered a pattern: his parents didn't intend to spend their own money, and they wouldn't accept his salary even if he brought it to them; however, his parents didn't object to Larry buying all sorts of food or other practical items, as long as they could share them.

So, every day of the week felt like Christmas. Larry and his parents spent every day enjoying delicious food and wine.

On Thursday, December 31st, the day before the New Year holiday, a small incident occurred in the sales department.

Paine Weber Securities opened a branch in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and wanted to transfer several people from its Boston office to serve as full-time traders after the New Year.

This is a lucrative job; any junior employee in the sales department who goes there can become a full-time employee with a contract and have their weekly salary increased to $7.

The two most favored candidates for the job were Larry and Marco De Niro, who later replaced Logan and spoke with an Italian accent.

Marco was anxious because he felt that Larry would definitely take the position from him, given Larry's reputation among the company's senior management.

But Larry didn't take it seriously at all. When Marco came over with a sheepish look on his face and asked him to give him the opportunity, Larry agreed without hesitation.

Larry had never considered going anywhere other than Wall Street in New York. Since Marco wanted to go, why not generously give him the opportunity? It's a good deed, so why not do him a favor?

Marco was so grateful to Larry that he even took off a silver cross he always wore and gave it to Larry on the spot.

Larry thought it was a trivial matter he would forget about as soon as he turned around.

New Year's Day, Friday, 1892.

The Larry family got up early to attend worship at the largest church in the vicinity.

At noon, Larry's family ate smoked herring, thick-cut steak, and maple buckwheat pancakes. Larry, who was almost 15 years old, was also allowed by his parents to drink a cup of hot cider for the first time.

In the afternoon, the three of them spun oak tops on the frozen river in Charles, while the father and Larry competed to recite Shelley's long poem from memory on the snow. Laughter from the family could be heard from time to time in the snow. When the three of them sat down to rest in the snow, the mother even took off her wool shawl and wrapped it around them, humming "Happy New Year".

For dinner, my mother prepared a whiskey-roasted ham, made from the hind leg of a local farm pig, brushed with Kentucky bourbon whiskey and roasted. The aroma was so enticing that it even attracted the Maine Coon cat from next door.

Other options include creamed potatoes and cranberry scones.

The family tacitly avoided mentioning their impending separation the next day, instead indulging in joyful celebration.

After dinner, Larry's parents gave him a gift: the Sherlock Holmes stories, which were the most popular novels in America at the time. They both agreed that a boy Larry's age would like it.

Larry gifted his father a pocket watch, an entry-level model from Hamilton Railroad, featuring a gold-plated case, Swiss movement, shockproof design, and highly accurate timekeeping, suitable for professionals such as railroad workers or sailors.

Larry bought this at a newly opened watch store in the Back Bay for $25.

The father was delighted with the gift, remarking that if he had possessed the pocket watch earlier, he could have been promoted from sailor to second mate. Larry also gifted the mother a Chinese-imported silk shawl, a style favored by Back Bay ladies, and a complete set of imported British bone china teaware, including a teapot, cups, saucers, and a tray for snacks—the standard setup for afternoon tea in England. According to Larry, they could invite their neighbors to afternoon tea in Oak Valley to foster friendships.

The two items together cost approximately $25.

His mother was reluctant to wear the silk shawl, always saying she would wear it for a formal occasion later. But Larry insisted on putting it on his mother himself, saying that New Year's Day in 1892 would be the most important formal occasion.

The first day of 1892 ended perfectly.

The next morning, the freight wagon that Larry's father had rented arrived.

Their house in Boston was about 30 miles (48 kilometers) from their farm in Holliston, a journey that would take about 12 hours by horse-drawn carriage, making the time very tight.

Larry and his father loaded all the necessary furniture and supplies onto the freight wagon, securing them securely to ensure nothing would fall off on the bumpy road. His mother then packed all of Larry's belongings into a leather trunk and personally handed it to him.

When it was time to say goodbye, the mother cried so hard she couldn't speak, and Larry kept smiling and comforting her.

"Larry, come to Holliston this weekend if you have nothing to do, and write to us every week," his mother said, her voice choked with emotion.

“No problem, Mom!” Larry agreed with a smile.

"Hurry up and get in the carriage, don't waste time on the journey," Larry's father shouted from inside the carriage.

So the three of them said goodbye to each other.

The father didn't say much; he just patted Larry on the shoulder and told him to be careful on his own.

The mother then gave Larry a long, detailed instruction, especially reminding him to eat three meals a day on time and not to live a dissolute life just because he was living alone. She also said that they would ask Mr. Potter about Larry's situation later.

It was just dawn, the sun leaping high above the Atlantic Ocean, casting a warm glow upon wintery Boston. The sunlight shone directly on Larry's parents' faces, making them appear almost sculpted. Larry didn't say much, simply giving his parents a brief hug before stepping aside.

"drive!"

The driver raised his whip, and the heavy wagon pulled by four packhorses moved slowly forward.

The mother nestled in the father's arms, trembling from sobbing. The father maintained a smile and urged Larry to get to his rented place as soon as possible so as not to waste any more time on the road.

Larry only turned around after the freight wagons had disappeared from sight.

He pushed his bicycle over, placed his suitcase on the homemade cargo rack on the back of the seat, and locked the door tightly with a large padlock. He gazed at the two-story wooden house in the courtyard for a long time before pushing his bicycle and leaving the home where he had stayed for more than half a year.

Thinking of his parents whom he would never see again in his past life, and of his father and mother whom he had just become familiar with and then parted from, Larry couldn't help but let his tears fall into the soil.

1891 has ended, and I miss him so much...

　Thank you to all the generous donors (Dilraba and Yanzu), and thank you to all the lucky winners (Zhongfacai and Gaosheng) for your monthly tickets and recommendations. This newbie can't copy everyone's names to thank you individually, so I'll express my gratitude here and visit you all in person when I have the chance.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)