Reborn in 2005, starting with repairing mobile phones

The mother stood by, nervously clutching the hem of her apron.

Lin Dong knew he had to get past his father.

He had prepared his explanation long ago.

"Dad, I'm getting my phone repaired in Shenzhen."

Lin Dong said calmly, "In Huaqiangbei, there's a Motorola V3 phone that has a common problem that I can fix. It costs less than 300 yuan to repair one, but I can sell it for 800 yuan. In the past two weeks, I've repaired several hundred of them."

He paused for a moment, then said, "This 50,000 is just a small fraction; I've already deposited most of it in the bank. It's all money earned through my craft, clean money."

After listening, the father remained silent for a long time.

He remembered that his son had loved taking apart the radio and alarm clock at home since he was little; he was very skillful. If it was due to his craftsmanship... that made sense.

"So the boss... just lets you earn so much all by yourself?" The father was still worried.

"The technology is mine. If he won't let me make money from it, I'll find someone else."

Lin Dong's tone was steady, "Dad, in this world, you can make money if you have a skill. Don't worry, I won't do anything illegal."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Today, let's stand tall and pay off our debts."

The father stared into his son's eyes for a full minute, then finally let out a long sigh and relaxed his shoulders: "Okay...okay. Dad believes you."

He turned to Li Xiuzhen and said, "Go and bring the notebook. Today, we'll go and return the money to each family one by one."

The mother looked at her husband, then at her son, and tears welled up again, but this time she wiped them away with a smile: "Oh, I'll go get it right now!"

The mother took out the old notebook, her hands trembling slightly. She opened it; page after page was filled with pencil writing.

Our first stop was my maternal uncle's house.

My aunt was peeling garlic behind the counter when she saw them arrive, and her face fell: "Guodong, what brings you here today?"

The tone was impatient and subtly contemptuous.

She was thinking to herself: "They're probably here to ask for an extension again. Last time they said it would be at the end of the year, and now it's already January. I lent them five thousand yuan three years ago, and haven't heard a thing. I'm afraid my money is just wasted."

Lin Dong understood the meaning behind those words.

He didn't respond, but simply placed the five thousand yuan on the counter: "Auntie, please count it. I've owed you for three years, I'm sorry."

My aunt was stunned.

He...repaid the money? Just like that? So readily? So...new? I was just making fun of him in my mind...turns out he came to settle accounts! If I had known the Lin family kid was this capable, I should have looked better earlier.

The eldest uncle came out from the inner room and was stunned to see the money: "A-Dong? When did you get back?"

"yesterday."

Lin Dong took out another three hundred yuan, "The interest isn't much, please don't think it's too little."

The eldest uncle quickly insisted, "No interest! Just get your principal back!"

"It's what should be given."

Lin Dong stuffed the money into his hand, saying, "Uncle, thank you for all these years."

Auntie finally realized what was happening: "Oh, Dong! Look at you! Honestly! Why are you talking about interest when we're all family!"

As she deftly put the money into the drawer and locked it, she leaned out, a broad smile spreading across her face.

"You've made a fortune in Shenzhen, haven't you? Oh, I knew you'd be something special, Dong! You're quick-witted and hardworking! Xiuzhen, you've really raised a good son. Just wait and enjoy the good life from now on!"

Lin Dong knew that from today onwards, when his aunt mentioned his family to other relatives, she would no longer use that tone of "Oh, they've owed my family money for years."

He smiled, his tone still calm: "Uncle, Aunt, we'll be going now."

"Oh! Okay! Okay! Come again anytime, Dong! Come over for dinner sometime!" Auntie chased after them to the door, waving enthusiastically, her smile lasting until the Lin family turned out of the alley.

As we walked out of the alley, my mother's eyes reddened.

Next up were my second aunt's house, my third uncle's house, my cousin's house...

I visited six places in one morning.

With each new home they visit, the parents straighten their backs a little more.

The neighbors in the alleyway changed their gaze from curiosity to envy.

On my way home at noon, I passed by the convenience store, and the owner greeted me warmly: "Ah Dong's back? You've made something of yourself!"

The father nodded, a smile appearing on his face.

The mother whispered to Lin Dong, "It's been a long time since I've seen your father smile like that."

Lin Dong looked at his father's slightly hunched back and felt a pang of sadness.

In my past life, my father never truly straightened his back until his death.

All I ever saw was my father's back as he sat in the dimly lit living room, smoking, his shoulders hunched over by the weight of life, like a bow that had been drawn for too long.

The rebukes from creditors, the whispers from neighbors, the pitying glances from relatives... all of these transformed into an invisible burden on the father's back.

One year during the Chinese New Year, his father drank too much and, holding his hand, mumbled, "Adong, Dad is useless... Dad is sorry for you..." At that time, he didn't fully understand, but now he understands everything.

This life is different.

Today, as the family went to repay their debts, my father didn't say much, but every time he took the money from Lin Dong and turned to hand it to the creditor, his back would unconsciously straighten up.

Although he is still a bit hunched over, the humility that has weighed on him for more than a decade is gradually peeling away.

This is enough.

Lin Dong took a deep breath.

Paying off debts to relatives is just the beginning.

He will enable his father to truly stand tall, so that in this alley, and in the entire city of Cotton, he will no longer have to be beholden to anyone.

In the afternoon, the appliance delivery truck arrived.

A 29-inch color TV, a double-door refrigerator, a water heater, a washing machine... people from half the alley came out to see what was going on.

"The Lin family bought a new TV!"

"That refrigerator must be expensive, right?"

While the delivery driver was unloading the goods, someone asked, "Guodong, have you struck it rich?"

The father answered according to Lin Dong's instructions: "A Dong's boss in Shenzhen is clearing out his warehouse and selling at cost price."

The mother added, "Ah Dong helped the boss a lot; they practically gave it away for free."

The TV was installed, and when it was turned on, the clear picture stunned my parents.

After the water heater was plugged in, my mother tested the water temperature: "It won't be cold when I take a shower in winter anymore."

When the washing machine started spinning, my father watched it for a long time and said, "Your mother has a bad back, so she won't need to wash things by hand anymore."

Lin Dong leaned against the door frame, looking at the brand-new appliances and the joy on his parents' faces.

This feels like a home.

That evening, Lin Dong took out a bankbook.

"Mom, this account has 30,000 yuan saved in it. The password is your birthday. It's for emergency use at home."

The mother took the passbook, her hands trembling violently.

The father looked at the bankbook, then at Lin Dong, and after a long pause, said, "Dong, I'm useless. I'm letting you..."

"Dad," Lin Dong interrupted him, "you used to be the ones who held this family together. From now on, I will."

Lin Dong took out two printed appointment slips: "Dad, Mom, I've booked a full physical exam at the Municipal People's Hospital. I'll go with you tomorrow morning."

The mother was stunned: "A medical check-up? We're perfectly healthy, why waste money on that..."

The father chimed in, "Keep the money; there will be many places to spend it later."

"We only need to get checked if we're perfectly healthy," Lin Dong insisted. "I'll have it checked every year from now on, so I can feel at ease."

The father's hand trembled slightly as he looked at the hospital's official seal on the appointment slip.

People of their generation endured minor illnesses and serious illnesses without ever thinking of going to the hospital for a check-up.

My son's sentiment is more precious than any gift.

Tears welled up in her mother's eyes again, this time warm: "You child...you just waste money..."

"It's worth spending."

Lin Dong laughed, "From now on, our family will spend money wherever necessary."

With tears in his eyes, his father patted Lin Dong's shoulder heavily.

He didn't say anything.

But Lin Dong understood.

The pat on the shoulder by the father was not just a gesture of entrustment.

It's the relief of finally being able to straighten my spine, which has been bent over for so many years.

It is also a silent acknowledgment of his son's transformation from a "child who needs to be worried" to a "capable adult".

This blow was heavy, carrying with it more than a decade of unspeakable suffering, and also carrying the hope for the rest of his life.

His mother wiped away her tears, and Lin Dong didn't say anything more, just nodded.

Some things don't need to be said outright; the family understands them in their hearts.