Reborn in 2005, starting with repairing mobile phones

The plane landed slowly at San Francisco International Airport.

In the U.S. Customs hall in 2005, the white lights were cold and bright, and the order was well maintained. Pedestrians of all skin colors and languages ​​hurried by with their suitcases, and flight information was constantly updated on the huge electronic screen.

Everything exudes a sense of a mature, well-established system.

Lin Dong, carrying a bag and simple luggage, walked out with the flow of people.

Outside the glass window, the California sun poured down relentlessly, the cars in the parking lot gleamed, and in the distance, highways and overpasses crisscrossed, with traffic flowing like a river.

This scene is completely different from the bustling, dusty "construction atmosphere" of Shenzhen.

Everything here seems to be in place; the prosperity has settled rather than bursting forth.

The technological gap and economic scale are now manifested in the most direct visual impact.

A clear idea struck him: he had to snatch food from the jaws of death in the backyard of future giants, and every step he took had to be perfect.

The arrival gate was bustling with people.

His gaze swept across the room, and a Chinese woman holding a sign that read "LIN DONG" quickly came into view.

In his early twenties, dressed in a well-tailored beige trench coat and suit pants, he stood tall and straight, with light yet refined makeup and bright, searching eyes, forming a stark contrast to the casual, even slightly laid-back, Americans around him.

She is capable and knows how to maintain a dignified demeanor in a foreign country.

"Mr. Lin?"

Upon seeing Lin Dong, she immediately approached him, speaking fluent Mandarin with a slight Cantonese accent, "I'm Chen Wei'an, you can call me Vivian. I'm entrusted by the mainland to handle your itinerary and communications for this trip."

She handed over a simple business card, and at the same time, naturally and without any deliberate gesture, took the small suitcase from Lin Dong's hand.

"Thank you for your trouble." Lin Dong nodded and walked side by side with her toward the parking lot.

On the way to the city, Chen Wei'an didn't rush into pleasantries but quickly got to the point, her tone clear and concise: "Mr. Lin, the situation has changed somewhat. We're not the only ones eyeing that batch of aluminum."

Lin Dong turned his gaze from the window to her.

"Currently, there are four companies clearly competing in the market, including ourselves."

Chen Wei-an observed Lin Dong's reaction through the rearview mirror.

"The first one was a well-established Hong Kong trading company, led by a man surnamed Wu, Wu Ming. They arrived earliest and had very deep connections in the port and the local banking system, making them the most formidable competitor."

Wu Ming. Lin Dong silently repeated the name in his heart. It must be him, the Hong Kong businessman who made nearly 20 million US dollars and wrote a legend in his previous life.

"The second one is a local metal trading family with a history of over a century, the 'Rosie'. They have a strong foothold on the west coast, and their methods... are more direct."

"The third one is somewhat mysterious. It's registered in the Cayman Islands, and its funds seem to come from the Middle East. It only joined in the last two weeks, and its offer is very high. Its purpose is unclear."

"And we,"

Chen Wei paused for a moment, then said, "It's the fourth one. In the eyes of the other three, it's probably the 'newest' and 'weakest' one."

The information Lao Chen received was that the atmosphere at the port and among the sellers was already somewhat tense due to the power struggle among the four parties.

Transactions may deviate from purely commercial bidding.

Four groups. The sole winner from the previous life, plus a local power broker, a mysterious troublemaker, and yourself, the "variable" who intends to rewrite history.

The situation was more complicated than he had anticipated, but also more interesting.

This means he must carve out his own path in a completely new and chaotic battlefield.

"Therefore, it's no longer a simple matter of the highest bidder winning."

Lin Dong spoke slowly, his voice unusually calm in the carriage, "It's not about who can integrate resources the fastest, overcome overt and covert obstacles, and ensure the safe delivery of the goods."

Wu Ming has the advantage of distribution channels, Rossi has local influence, and that Middle Eastern company has money. As for us," he glanced at Chen Wei'an, "we need to find the 'key' that none of them have."

Chen Wei'an tightened her grip on the steering wheel slightly. Upon hearing of the complex situation, this young employer showed no surprise, nor did she press for details. Instead, she instantly grasped the essence of the matter and began searching for a solution.

This calmness and insight made her put aside her initial reception attitude, which was merely out of professional courtesy.

"You're right. Old Chen is trying his best to negotiate, but the other three are not easy to deal with. What should we do next..."

"Let's go to the hotel first."

Lin Dong made a decision: "I need these four companies, especially Wu Ming and that Middle Eastern company. All the background information I can find, the more detailed the better."

Also, please arrange for me to go to the port tomorrow to check on the goods. Without seeing the actual cargo, all analysis is just castles in the air.

"Understood, Mr. Lin." Chen Wei'an replied crisply, and the car accelerated, merging into the golden traffic of San Francisco in the evening.

Lin Dong turned his gaze back to the window.

The setting sun cast a crimson hue over this city where opportunities and risks coexist.

Inside the hotel suite, the thick stack of documents prepared by Chen Wei'an was laid out on the table.

Under the light, Lin Dong's fingertips traced across the paper, his gaze leaping between several key names and pieces of information, as if reviewing a silent game of chess.

Wu Ming's information is the most detailed: Hong Kong Mingyuan Trading started in the 1980s, specializing in the transshipment of bulk commodities, and was particularly adept at taking advantage of information and time differences to navigate the gray area with ease.

The man in the photo is in his fifties, with a smooth smile, but his eyes reveal the shrewdness and ruthlessness of an old-fashioned businessman.

His greatest advantage lies in his 20-year-long "relationship" with port management, some customs officials, and even local Chinese-owned banks.

This is not something money can buy immediately.

The Rossi family, in their black-and-white family portrait, reveals the unity and xenophobia of the Italian community. Their "directness" means that, when necessary, the "security" of the warehouse or "accidents" during transportation can become bargaining chips.

Information on the "Gulf Capital" in the Cayman Islands is extremely scarce, consisting only of a few names commonly found in the Middle East and a series of complex records of fund transfers.

However, Chen Wei'an marked one point in red: "One of her behind-the-scenes partners has a marriage relationship with a branch of the Saudi royal family."

The purpose may not be simply resale, but may involve longer-term strategic reserves.

On his side, Lin Dong, through his company Oriental Technology, a new company established less than half a year ago, had 25 million RMB in its account—equivalent to just over 3 million USD.

In the world of commodity trading, where deals often start at tens of millions of US dollars, this amount of money is barely enough to even get a foothold.

He was at a complete disadvantage in terms of capital, connections, and power.

He had no chance of winning in conventional business negotiations or by simply raising the price.

He must find that hidden path beneath the rules, the path that belongs to the "variables".

Lin Dong put down the documents and walked to the window.

San Francisco’s night view is as dazzling as a galaxy, and behind every light there may be a behemoth.

His gaze eventually fell on the "strategic reserve" label on "Gulf Capital".

An idea suddenly flashed through my mind.