Huayu: Returned Overseas Chinese

new York.

On the north shore of Long Island, in the garden of a private estate, a group of people stood, raising their glasses and chatting and laughing. Among them was a young man who looked to be around twenty years old.

"Jingming, are you really determined to return to China?" A man in his early fifties asked Chen Jingming with a smile.

"Hmm." Chen Jingming responded softly, then said with a wry smile, "Attorney Chen, you know my situation. It seems I have no choice but to return to China now."

Chen Guoli paused for a moment upon hearing this, then shook his head with a smile. He didn't believe Chen Jingming's words—how could someone who could send his own family to prison have no other choice?

Chen Jingming's grandfather, Chen Yueshan, and his younger brother, Chen Yuewu, were displaced during the war and initially made a living in a foreign trading company in Shanghai. Chen Yueshan was honest, studious, hardworking, and willing to endure hardship, which caught the eye of an American trading company merchant, and he was taken to the United States in 1940.

The brothers' subsequent development was unexpected: starting as street vendors, they later became the largest retailer in New York City, accumulating enormous wealth over decades of hard work.

In 1993, when Chen Jingming was twelve years old, both of his parents died in a car accident, leaving him and his grandfather to depend on each other. In 1999, his grandfather, Chen Yueshan, passed away after falling seriously ill.

In his past life, Chen Jingming trusted his uncle's family, Chen Yuewu's son, and entrusted them with the management of a retail store. However, in less than two years, all the assets were transferred, leaving him in dire straits. Later, when Chen Jingming grew up, he discovered that his parents' car accident was not an accident. From then on, he was obsessed with revenge, but he never succeeded in his wish until the day he died.

Perhaps it was a blessing from heaven, but the moment Chen Jingming closed his eyes while lying on the hospital bed, he was transported back to 1999—a week after his grandfather's death.

The same scenario played out again: Chen Jingming's uncle's family, citing his young age and continued schooling, offered to help manage the company. This time, Chen Jingming didn't relinquish control. Instead, he hired a private investigator to uncover the truth behind his parents' accident and simultaneously sued his uncle's family for secretly transferring funds within the company. After three months, he finally managed to send his uncle's entire family to prison.

"Brother Jingming, Brother Jingming!" Just as Chen Jingming's thoughts were drifting away, cheerful shouts came from not far behind him. Chen Jingming snapped out of his reverie, turned around, and saw the person who had come, a smile immediately appearing on his face.

"Slow down, don't fall," Chen Jingming said gently.

"Jingming, Mom said you're preparing to go back to China?" Liu Yifei asked softly, tilting her head back, her tone tinged with reluctance.

"Yes, I'm getting ready to go back to China. I probably won't be going back to the US much in the future," Chen Jingming teased Liu Yifei, responding with a smile.

When talking about his connection with Liu Yifei, Chen Jingming felt it was all fate. His grandfather, Chen Yueshan, had built a successful business in New York, and Liu Yifei's mother, Liu Xiaoli, remarried to Mr. Chen Guoli, who was the legal representative of Chen Jingming's family's global retail business.

In 1997, Liu Yifei settled in the United States with her mother, Liu Xiaoli. Because they were both Chinese, and Chen Guoli was the legal head of Global Retail, Liu Yifei, who was only ten years old at the time, and Chen Jingming, who was fifteen, met and became acquainted.

"Jingming, now that you're gone, I don't even have a playmate anymore," Liu Yifei said, sounding somewhat dejected.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jingming reached out and patted Liu Yifei's head, saying with a smile, "I remember you said you wanted to be a big star in the future. This time when I go back, I will also go to Beijing Film Academy. If you still want to be a star then, you can come back to study there."

Before Liu Yifei could reply, Liu Xiaoli, who had walked up behind her, asked, "Jingming, are you planning to develop your career in the film and television industry?"

"I've had this idea, and I'll start learning for now. I've already applied to the Public Administration Department of Beijing Film Academy and have been accepted. I'm just waiting for the start of the semester," Chen Jingming replied with a smile. Liu Xiaoli nodded upon hearing this, without saying anything more, and then walked to Chen Guoli's side. The couple chatted as they walked away.

In Liu Xiaoli's eyes, Chen Jingming and Liu Yifei were just two close friends. After nearly three years of getting along, she had practically watched Chen Jingming grow up, so she felt very reassured.

Watching her mother and stepfather walk away, Liu Yifei took Chen Jingming's hand, and the two walked to the pond in the garden. As she kicked at the pebbles at her feet, Liu Yifei asked, "Jingming-ge, I remember your grades weren't very good, how did you get into the Beijing Film Academy?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Jingming's face immediately darkened—how could someone be so blatantly sabotaging someone? He retorted irritably, "What? You think you're the only academic genius who can't go to university?"

"Hehe." Liu Yifei chuckled, then explained, "I'm just curious, tell me, how did you get accepted?"

Chen Jingming was speechless at Liu Yifei's persistent questioning. He thought to himself that if he didn't explain, she would probably call to ask again even after she got back. After thinking about it, he decided to just tell her; there was nothing to hide anyway.

"I submitted my application through the Beijing Film Academy International Training Center. I only took a specialized written test and an interview, and I didn't have to take a general education exam, so it was relatively easy."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yifei nodded. This was consistent with her impression of Jingming, who was a bit clumsy—she had been quite surprised when he told her he had been admitted to university.

"Jingming, will you come to see me again after you return to China?" Liu Yifei asked expectantly as she walked along the pool.

"Don't worry, I'll be back. Although I sold Global Retail this time, I still have a lot of properties here, including this manor, which I don't plan to sell. I'll definitely come back to take a look," Chen Jingming said directly, no longer teasing Liu Yifei.

"Really?" Liu Yifei's eyes lit up, and a look of surprise appeared on her face. Then she stretched out her hand, clenched her four fingers, and stretched out her little finger straight.

Seeing this, Chen Jingming smiled and did the same. The two pinky sweared, chanting, "Pinky promise, never to change for a hundred years, whoever changes is a little dog."

They let go of each other's hands and burst into laughter. Liu Yifei regained her cheerful demeanor and strolled and chatted with Chen Jingming in the garden.

Around four o'clock in the afternoon, the guests at the private estate gradually dispersed. Chen Jingming escorted Liu Yifei to Liu Xiaoli and Chen Guoli, smiling as he said to the three of them, "Lawyer Chen, Aunt Liu, Yifei, drive carefully and be safe."

"Jingming, remember to call me!" Before getting into the car, Liu Yifei turned to Chen Jingming and made a phone call gesture. Chen Jingming nodded, watched their car disappear around the corner of the manor, and then turned back into the house.

"President Chen." Lin Dan stood up and greeted Chen Jingming respectfully as he entered.

"Sit down." Chen Jingming gestured to the sofa, then sat down opposite Lin Dan, smiling as he said, "Lin Dan, you've been with my grandfather for five years. This time, I'm selling Global Retail and preparing to return to China to develop my career. I'm keeping you here to ask for your opinion—would you like to come back with me?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Dan fell silent. He himself was a Harvard MBA graduate, joined Global Retail at the age of 25, and had just taken the helm of Global Retail at the age of 30 (last year). He never expected that Chen Jingming would sell Global Retail so soon after his father, Chen Yueshan, passed away.

"Mr. Chen, may I ask, what sectors do you plan to invest in after returning to China?" Lin Dan did not answer Chen Jingming's question directly, but instead asked in return.

Chen Jingming raised an eyebrow, knowing that if he didn't answer this question well, Lin Dan would probably part ways with him.

"The film and television industry," Chen Jingming said firmly. Upon hearing this, Lin Dan leaned back on the sofa, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest, and then asked, "The domestic film and television industry is too small. If you want to achieve something like Hollywood, it's almost impossible."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jingming leaned forward slightly and said, "But I've received news that starting next month, China will allow non-state-owned capital to participate in film production. Don't you think that's good news?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Dan sat up straight. As a top talent in the business world, he was extremely perceptive of a country's policy trends, so he asked, "How many more years do you think it will take for full reopening? Any news regarding cinemas?"

"It should take two to three years. By then, the government will no longer restrict capital from entering the market. As for cinemas, we already have them, but state-owned shares must exceed half, so I'm not considering that for now. However, I will make preparations and get the venues ready so that we can enter the market as soon as an opportunity arises—by the time others want to set up their operations, we will have already completed our expansion." Chen Jingming leaned back and said sharply.