Rebirth of the Hong Kong Millennium Conglomerate

Lunch was simple: a few golden-yellow cornbreads and a bowl of plain water. But Zhang Lingyun ate with great relish, devouring two in one go, her little belly round and full.

Zhang Zeyang ate two as well, and felt full of energy. He calculated that the cornmeal at home was enough for them to eat for three or four days, so they didn't have to worry about going hungry for the time being.

After lunch, he coaxed his younger sister to take a nap, then sat on the doorstep and began to plan for the evening.

When the night is deep and quiet, he will summon a special forces squad.

He needed to send these special forces soldiers to scout out the route to the sea, avoiding the checkpoints and patrols, and find a safe route for smuggling.

The afternoon sun hung obliquely in the western sky, casting long shadows of the Zhang family's three mud-brick houses. The wind rustled the leaves of the old locust tree at the village entrance, the sound drifting into the courtyard and mingling with the lingering aroma of lunch from the kitchen, adding to the tranquility of a rural afternoon.

After Zhang Zeyang finished cleaning up the dishes after lunch, the rough porcelain bowls and plates clinked crisply in his hands. He quickly washed and dried them, then put them into the wooden cabinet next to the stove. When he turned around, he saw his younger sister, Zhang Lingyun, clinging to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), her short legs kicking on the mat, gazing longingly at the sparrows outside the window.

The little girl was only three years old. Her cheeks were flushed with a healthy glow from just finishing her meal. Her jet-black hair was tied into two little buns with red ribbons. Her round eyes were like black grapes soaked in water. When she saw Zhang Zeyang looking over, she immediately grinned, revealing two small tiger teeth: "Brother, the sparrow flew away!"

"If it flies away, we won't watch anymore. I'll play cat's cradle with you." Zhang Zeyang walked over, reached out and rubbed his sister's soft hair. His fingertips touched the little girl's warm scalp, and the tension he had been holding in instantly eased.

He sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), pulled over the coarse cotton thread drying on the kang mat, and twisted a knot with his nimble fingers. Lingyun immediately came over, her little head nestled against his elbow, her little hands tightly gripping the other end of the cotton thread, chattering about trivial matters in the village.

Zhang Zeyang listened patiently, occasionally responding, while the cotton thread between their fingers created one pattern after another in their hands.

Sunlight streamed in through the cracks in the window, falling warmly on the two of them.

After playing for a while, Lingyun gradually became sleepy, her little head nodding off, and finally she simply leaned on Zhang Zeyang's shoulder, her long eyelashes fluttering gently like two small fans.

Zhang Zeyang stopped what he was doing and carefully put away the cotton thread, afraid of disturbing her. He just sat there, letting his sister lean against him, his gaze fixed on the sunlight outside the window, his eyes holding a depth that was beyond his years.

After seeing his younger sister fall asleep, Zhang Zeyang began to think about his plans for Hong Kong.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhang Lingyun nuzzled against his shoulder, groggily waking up and mumbling while rubbing her eyes, "Brother, I'm hungry."

Zhang Zeyang patted her back with a smile: "If you're hungry, we'll cook. I'll make you your favorite corn pancakes."

As he spoke, he helped Zhang Lingyun off the kang (a heated brick bed) and turned to go into the kitchen. The firewood by the stove was piled up neatly; he had cut it up on the mountain a few days ago. He lit the fire first, and the dry pine branches crackled in the stove. The orange-red flames licked the bottom of the pot, and warmth quickly spread.

He scooped cornmeal from the jar, added some warm water, and kneaded the dough vigorously. The dough gradually became smooth in his palm. Lingyun stood by the stove, tiptoeing to pass him firewood. Her little face was covered with soot, making her look like a little kitten.

Zhang Zeyang smiled and helped her wipe the dust off her face. He then divided the kneaded dough into small portions, rolled them into round pancakes, and stuck them onto the hot pot wall.

Soon, the aroma of crispy cornbread wafted from the pan.

Dinner was simple: a few cornbreads and a bowl of clear soup. Zhang Lingyun ate with relish, taking small bites of the cornbread, her eyes crinkling into crescents. She even offered Zhang Zeyang a cornbread, saying, "Brother, you should eat too."

Zhang Zeyang took the pancake and watched his younger sister wolf it down, feeling both warm and bittersweet.

He quickly finished his meal, cleaned up the dishes, and by then it was getting dark.

The village was poor and didn't even have electricity. As soon as it got dark, the whole village was plunged into darkness. Every household would turn off their lights and go to sleep early to save firewood. There wasn't a sound in the village except for the occasional bark of a dog, which would soon fall silent again.

The night was like a huge black cloth. Lingyun was already feeling sleepy. She rubbed her eyes and yawned. Zhang Zeyang laid out a mat for her on the kang and found a clean thin quilt to cover her. He sat on the edge of the kang and hummed a lullaby to her.

The melody of the lullaby was gentle and clear in the quiet night. As Lingyun listened, her eyes slowly closed, her breathing became even and long, and a faint smile remained on her face.

Zhang Zeyang sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), quietly watching his younger sister's sleeping face, his fingertips gently brushing her forehead, his eyes full of tenderness.

Once he was sure his younger sister, Zhang Lingyun, was sound asleep, he quietly got up, moved step by step to the outer room, and closed the door behind him, his movements so subtle that they made no sound.

The moonlight in the courtyard was faint, barely enough to see the path beneath his feet. He stood in the center of the courtyard, his eyes instantly becoming sharp as an eagle's, and his demeanor shifted from that of a gentle older brother to one of coldness and decisiveness.

He took out the Special Forces Squad Recruitment Card from his spatial ring, and after confirming the summoning, a slight ripple suddenly appeared in the air in the courtyard. Several dark figures appeared out of thin air, their figures as straight as pine trees, their movements uniform and synchronized. They landed silently, without even raising a speck of dust.

In the blink of an eye, a special forces squad dressed in black combat uniforms appeared in the courtyard. There were twelve of them, each with agile figures, sharp eyes, and an aura of battle-hardened soldiers. Even in this remote mountain village, they maintained the most standard combat posture, with their hands on the weapons at their waists and solemn expressions.

The leader was a middle-aged man with a stern face and a tall stature. A faint scar on his forehead added to his fierce appearance.

He stepped forward, gave Zhang Zeyang a crisp military salute, and said in a strong, crisp voice, "Sir!"

Zhang Zeyang nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the special forces squad in front of him. These people were summoned by him using his special abilities; they were absolutely loyal and reliable, and were his greatest reliance.

He pulled a cloth bag wrapped in oil paper from his pocket, opened it, and inside were stacks of brand-new US dollars, each bill bearing Franklin's portrait, gleaming faintly in the moonlight.

He counted out ten thousand US dollars, handed it to the captain, and said with an unquestionable command: "This ten thousand US dollars."

The captain accepted the US dollars with both hands, carefully put them away, and maintained his salute, replying in a deep voice, "Please give your orders, sir!"

"I want you to find out two routes. The first route starts from our village and goes to the nearest port. You must find out all the checkpoints and outposts along the way, without missing a single one."

The second point is to find out which vessels are going to Hong Kong recently, whether they are cargo ships or fishing boats, as long as they can get there. However, it's crucial to thoroughly investigate the boat owners and arrange their departure times and docking locations.

He paused, then emphasized, "Remember, it's crucial to remain secretive. Don't reveal your whereabouts. I need detailed information within three days, understand?"

"Understood!" the captain replied in a deep voice, his tone firm and without the slightest hesitation. In their minds, Zhang Zeyang's order was the highest command, and it had to be carried out without fail.

"Go ahead." Zhang Zeyang waved his hand, his eyes regaining their calm.

The captain saluted again, turned around and made a gesture to the team members behind him. The twelve black shadows turned into afterimages once more, their figures flashing in the moonlight and disappearing into the night as if they had never existed.

Zhang Zeyang stood in the courtyard, gazing in the direction where the dark figure had disappeared, remaining motionless for a long time.

The night was deep, and the mountain wind howled, making his clothes flutter. He knew that from the moment he summoned this squad, there was no turning back.

The road ahead was long and fraught with danger, but the thought of his sleeping sister in the inner room gave him a renewed sense of determination.

After an unknown amount of time, he slowly withdrew his gaze, gently pushed open the door to the inner room, afraid of disturbing Zhang Lingyun.

Moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating his sister's peaceful sleeping face. He sat by the kang (a heated brick bed), quietly watching over her until drowsiness overcame him. Then, fully clothed, he lay down on the kang and closed his eyes.

The night remained deep, and the entire village was immersed in dreams. No one knew what was happening in this remote mountain village.

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