Rebirth 03: Starting a Business After Giving Up a Secure Job

Chapter 140 Returning Home in Glory

After the New Year's gathering, Lin Feng announced that the company would officially begin its holiday, and employees went home to celebrate the New Year.

Lin Feng stayed in Chengdu an extra day, buying New Year's goods at a department store. On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, he drove home for the New Year.

The parents had been eagerly awaiting their arrival back in their hometown of Rongping County.

Lin Feng drove his newly purchased black Audi A6 out of Chengdu city and onto the Chengdu-Chongqing Expressway.

He gripped the steering wheel with his left hand, looking at the scenery on both sides of the road, and relaxed for once.

In just over a year since its rebirth, starting from 10,000 yuan, the company now has 30 million yuan in cash in its accounts, nearly 200 employees, and business spanning Chengdu and Shenzhen.

It would be a lie to say I wasn't tired, but I felt more fulfilled. Especially when I thought about going home for the Chinese New Year, the fatigue turned into anticipation.

Outside the car window, in the villages on both sides of the highway, every household had put up Spring Festival couplets. Children were setting off firecrackers in the courtyards, and the crackling sounds could be heard from time to time.

Rongping County is located in southern Sichuan, more than 200 kilometers from Chengdu. Lin Feng drove for two and a half hours, then exited the highway and turned onto the county road.

The county roads were in poor condition, but the Audi A6's chassis smoothly filtered out the bumps. There were quite a few cars on the road, mostly people returning home. (Sichuan A license plate)

The most common license plates were those of Chongqing (渝A) and Shanghai (沪C), indicating that people from all over the country were heading home.

The county town is getting closer and closer.

Familiar streets, familiar buildings. A huge "Happy Spring Festival" flowerbed has been set up in front of the county government building, and colorful lights are already on.

The shops along the street were all decorated with bright red lanterns, and the Chinese knots that could be seen everywhere were particularly eye-catching.

The sound of firecrackers could be heard from time to time in the streets and alleys, and everywhere was filled with the liveliness of the New Year. Every household was preparing for the New Year, visiting relatives, and there were various street stage performances.

Lin Feng drove his car into his own residential compound, which was the old state-owned enterprise dormitory where his father worked.

There was no elevator; it was a six-story building, and Lin Feng lived on the fourth floor. The courtyard downstairs was already full of cars, and he finally managed to find a parking space.

Just as I stopped, an old lady came out of the next building, carrying a shopping basket. It was Grandma Wang.

"Wow, this car is so beautiful—" Grandma Wang squinted at it, then suddenly paused, "? Isn't this the Lin family's Xiao Feng?"

Lin Feng got out of the car and smiled, "Grandma Wang, buying groceries?"

"Wow, what a breeze!" Grandma Wang took two steps closer, her eyes glued to the Audi. "This car—it must cost hundreds of thousands, right?"

"Not bad." Lin Feng smiled and opened the trunk.

It was packed full.

The woolen overcoat, genuine leather belt, fine Biluochun tea, two bottles of Moutai, and two packs of Zhonghua cigarettes were prepared for his father, Lin Guofu.

A cashmere sweater, new gold earrings, and a whole box of health supplements for my mother, Li Huilan;

There are also several boxes of pastries, candies, and beef from time-honored Chengdu brands, all classic and practical New Year's goods.

Grandma Wang's eyes widened in amazement. "Oh my, your parents have been waiting for this day! Just yesterday, your mother was saying that her son was busy this year and she didn't know if he would come back. Look at him, he's brought so many good things with him! He's really made something of himself!"

Grandma Wang's shout caused several windows upstairs and downstairs to open. Some people recognized her, and some didn't, all peeking out.

On the fourth-floor balcony, Li Huilan poked her head out: "Xiao Feng?"

"Mom!" Lin Feng called out as he looked up.

"Oh, you're really back!" Li Huilan's voice was full of laughter. "Wait here, Mom will come down and help you get it!"

"No need, I can take it."

Grandma Wang was still marveling, "That Lin family kid is really something. Driving such a nice car and carrying so many good things—the Lin couple are living the good life."

"Grandma Wang, I wish you good health!" Lin Feng offered his blessings and carried his things upstairs.

The stairs were narrow, so he proceeded cautiously. Just as he reached the third floor, he heard heavy footsteps; it was Li Huilan coming down.

"Slow down, slow down, there's so much stuff—" Li Huilan saw the New Year's gifts in her son's hands and his crisp cashmere coat. Before they even entered the door, she pulled him aside and looked him up and down. "You've lost weight. Have you been eating poorly?"

"I haven't lost weight, I've actually gained two pounds. Mom, can you open the door for me?"

"Hey, hey." Li Huilan quickly went upstairs, took out her keys to open the door, and called into the house, "Old Lin! Our son's back! Come and help!"

Footsteps came from inside the house. Lin Guofu opened the door and saw Lin Feng. He quickly called out, "You're back."

"dad."

Lin Feng carried things into the house in trip after trip, with Li Huilan following behind, muttering "wasting money" but busy taking things and placing them on the table one by one, her smile impossible to hide.

Lin Guofu took the coat from his son and felt the fabric with his hand: "Buying these things again? We don't need anything else at home."

"Dad, it's almost Chinese New Year, you should get a new coat." Lin Feng smiled and draped the coat over his shoulders. "Try it on and see if it fits."

Lin Guofu stood in front of the full-length mirror, his overcoat crisp and stylish, making him look much more energetic. He didn't say anything, but his eyes in the mirror brightened.

Lin Feng handed two thick red envelopes to his parents, his voice steady: "Dad, Mom, these are my New Year's red envelopes for you. You've worked hard all year, so please accept them and buy whatever you want. Don't be stingy."

The red envelope was thick and substantial.

Li Huilan quickly declined, saying, "You have a lot of expenses when you start your business outside, so we don't need it. You can keep it for your own cash flow."

"The company's cash flow is very stable, we don't need this." Lin Feng stuffed the red envelope into his mother's hand. "I'll only feel at ease when you're living comfortably."

After several refusals, the parents finally accepted it.

Li Huilan clutched the red envelope in her hand, her eyes slightly warm.

A year and a half ago, their son made a bet with his family, promising to start a business with 10,000 yuan in capital. They were on tenterhooks every day.

This year, my son drove an Audi worth hundreds of thousands of yuan, carrying a car full of New Year's goods, and gave out generous red envelopes.

The changes are so great, it feels like a different world.

At dinner time, the house was filled with familiar aromas. Li Huilan had prepared a table full of dishes: cured pork, sausages, crispy pork soup, and sweet and sour pork ribs—all of Lin Feng's favorites.

A family of three sat around a table, watching the festive New Year on TV, with the sound of firecrackers occasionally drifting in from outside the window.

Lin Guofu wanted to ask about the company several times, but he was afraid of appearing opportunistic, so he just ate in silence, occasionally putting food on his son's plate.

Seeing this, Lin Feng took the initiative to speak up: "Dad, Mom, the company has been developing very steadily this year. The MP3, ringback tone, and local life network businesses are all on the right track, and we have set up branches in major cities such as Chengdu, Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai, and Wuhan."

Lin Guofu listened attentively.

"We're already a leading local services platform in Shenzhen," Lin Feng said confidently. "Our cash flow is very healthy, and we'll launch a large-scale nationwide expansion after the Spring Festival."

Li Huilan didn't understand many technical terms, but she grasped one sentence: "Just be steady, being steady is better than anything else."

Lin Guofu nodded and let out a long sigh: "Back then, I had a narrow vision and only thought that a stable job was the most secure — but now it seems that the path you've taken is much wider than the one I chose for you."

This was the first time Lin Guofu had admitted to himself that he was wrong.

Lin Feng felt a warmth in his heart and smiled, "Dad, you were doing it for my own good. I know that."

The meal was peaceful and warm, without the past disputes over a secure job, without any anxiety, only the satisfaction of hard-won happiness.

The next day at noon, the Lin family gathered at the eldest uncle's house for their reunion dinner as usual.

My uncle Lin Guodong, my third uncle Lin Guoliang, my cousin, my sister-in-law, my cousin's sister, and my niece—the whole family was together, making it a lively gathering.

As soon as I entered, my eldest uncle and third uncle greeted me warmly, their attitudes being far more respectful than last year.

My cousin, Lin Xiaoyu, looked like a total fangirl: "Brother! You're finally back! All my classmates know you started a big company in Chengdu, and they all want to buy your company's custom-made MP3 players from me!"

Last year at the dinner table, everyone was still urging him to take the civil service exam, their words tinged with some apprehension.

This year, everyone looks at him with admiration and respect.

After everyone was seated, the eldest uncle raised his glass first: "The biggest joy for our Lin family this past year is that Xiao Feng has built a great business. At such a young age, he's dared to take risks and work hard, quietly establishing a nationwide business and bringing honor to our Lin family!"

Everyone raised their glasses, and Lin Feng stood up to return the toast, his attitude humble and modest: "It's all thanks to good luck, catching a good time, and also the support of my family."

After a few rounds of drinks, the conversation naturally turned to the development of their hometown.

The uncle sighed: "Rongping has developed quite well in recent years, but it also has its difficulties. Xichuan University of Science and Technology is located in Rongping, and several thousand students graduate every year, but it's hard for them to find jobs. The county wants to improve employment and services to retain talent, but it lacks the channels and can only worry helplessly."

Uncle San nodded in agreement: "To be honest, what college students learn in school these days is somewhat disconnected from the real world, and companies are also struggling to find talent because they are too isolated from information. Many students leave as soon as they graduate, and we can't retain them."

Lin Feng put down his wine glass, his tone calm: "Actually, cities like Chengdu and Shenzhen already have mature solutions to this problem. The core of my local life website is to solve the information asymmetry in local life. This includes job searching, renting houses, second-hand trading, and housekeeping services, making the information transparent and standardized."

He paused, and all the relatives turned to look at him.

Lin Feng continued, "The country is currently promoting informatization and urbanization, and county-level economies will be a key focus going forward. For college graduates seeking employment, relying solely on the efforts of schools and the government is insufficient; a market-based platform is needed to connect them."

For recent college graduates, the first step is finding a job, the second is finding a place to live, and the third is dealing with unwanted items. Successfully completing these three steps will save you a lot of trouble.

His speech was well-organized, demonstrating both business acumen and an understanding of policies and trends.

The eldest uncle and the third uncle nodded repeatedly.

"Well said! You've hit the nail on the head!" the uncle praised. "Xiao Feng, your vision is truly exceptional; you have a broader perspective. So, do you think we could do the same in Rongping?"

Lin Feng smiled slightly and said, "I came back this time with this plan in mind. After the Spring Festival, I plan to set up the Rongping branch of the Tongcheng Life Network. We will give priority to recruiting college students from this county, providing them with information on internships, employment, and part-time jobs, and also helping local businesses recruit talent."

The table fell silent instantly, followed by a chorus of exclamations.

"Great! This is fantastic news!"

The uncle patted his chest and said firmly, "Don't worry, I can help you with the government procedures and open a fast track for you!"

'

Lin Jun, a cousin who works as a civil servant, thought to himself: "When others come back, they visit relatives and bring gifts, but Xiao Feng, you directly build platforms and find ways out for your hometown. Your energy and vision are different."

My third uncle, a teacher, also praised, "Doing practical things for our hometown is better than making any amount of money!"

Lin Feng remained modest: "Within my capabilities, I'll do what I can. It just so happens that my model is replicable, so I'm just going with the flow."

Lin Feng's father held a wine glass, feeling embarrassed to say much as relatives praised their son. However, his ears were perked up, taking in every word of praise. His lips were taut, but the smile in his eyes was barely concealed.

Li Huilan lowered her head and served food to her son, her face calm, but her heart was already bursting with joy.

The pride of having a successful son who is neither boastful nor arrogant, and who is always thinking about doing things for his hometown, is more down-to-earth than any boasting.

Changing the subject, Third Aunt smiled and looked at Lin Feng: "Xiao Feng, your career is so successful, you should start thinking about your personal life too. Do you have a suitable girl? When are you going to bring her back for us to meet?"

Auntie chimed in, "Yes, with your qualities, what girl wouldn't want you? The sooner you settle down, the sooner your parents can rest easy."

Lin Feng chuckled, picked up his teacup, and took a sip. "Thank you for your concern, Aunt and Madam. My focus right now is on my career. We've just started expanding to several cities across the country, and there's a lot going on. As for fate, you can't rush it; you have to let it take its course."

While he was talking in circles, two figures flashed through his mind.

One is Lin Xiaowen, who is reserved and beautiful, and whose eyes are always on him.

One is Shen Jingyi, who shines on the campus stage and bravely approaches others.

He appreciated both girls' qualities, but he didn't rush to point them out or deliberately avoid them, preferring to let things take their natural course.

Seeing that he was unwilling to say more, the others stopped asking and just smiled and said, "We'll wait for your good news."

Lin Feng's cousin, Lin Xiaoyu, seized the opportunity to sidle up to him and tug at his arm: "Brother, I'm graduating next year, and I want to work at your company! I can do copywriting, marketing, and campus promotion—I can learn it all!"

The little girl looked at Lin Feng with adoration, completely regarding him as her idol.

Lin Feng smiled and nodded, readily agreeing, "Sure, come find me at the company after you graduate. I'll arrange a suitable position for you."

Lin Xiaoyu cheered immediately, "I love you so much, brother! I promise I won't let you down!"

Uncle and Auntie immediately beamed with joy and quickly raised their glasses: "Thank you, Xiaofeng. Xiaoyu doesn't understand things, so as her older brother, you should teach her more. If she's disobedient, help me discipline her. Come, let's all toast you!"

Lin Feng quickly stood up, called his parents, and toasted with his third uncle's family, drinking the wine in one gulp.

The family reunion dinner was a lively and joyous occasion.

Lin Feng has clearly become a promising talent in the eyes of his relatives, a future pillar of the nation!

When Lin Feng returned home that evening, he and his parents watched the Spring Festival Gala on the sofa. Zhao Benshan's performance in the third installment of the "Selling Crutches" series, "Kung Fu," amused audiences across the country.

Amidst the laughter, Lin Feng suddenly suggested, "Dad, Mom, let's go look at houses in a couple of days."

"Want to go look at houses?" Lin Guofu asked.

"Yes!" Lin Feng had already planned this out. "We're still living in the old staff housing building, which doesn't have an elevator, and the property management isn't good either. I'd like to get you a bigger new apartment, a townhouse with an elevator, which will be more comfortable to live in."