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

Chapter 141 Buying a House for Parents

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Rongping County was filled with festive spirit.

Red lanterns hung everywhere on the streets as many Rongping people who had been working away from home returned to their hometown, and the county town suddenly became much more crowded.

The sound of firecrackers could be heard from the alleyway from time to time, as people went out to the street to select various New Year's goods such as sausages, cured meat, and roasted nuts.

Lin Feng got up early and, while having breakfast with his parents, brought up the topic of buying a house again.

"Dad, Mom, let's go look at houses today."

Lin Guofu said, "We're used to living in our old house, it's fine. You should use your money on your business."

Lin Feng patiently said, "Dad, I have the ability now to make sure you have better and more comfortable accommodations. It's only right that I do this."

Li Huilan also advised from the side: "Your career has just stabilized, and you need money everywhere. Buying a house is no small matter."

"I know what I'm doing." Lin Feng picked up his car keys and smiled confidently. "I've already found a house. I'll take you there to see it. If you're satisfied, we'll make a purchase; if not, just consider it a stroll around."

Having said all that, it would be too distant for the elderly couple to refuse any further.

After breakfast, Lin Guofu put on his coat, and Li Huilan changed into a new outfit before going out with her son.

A black Audi A6 was parked downstairs.

A neighbor passed by, his eyes lingering on the car and Lin Feng, and greeted him with a smile, "Old Lin, your son's back? That car's really impressive!"

Lin Guofu responded with "It's alright, it's alright," but his back straightened unconsciously.

Lin Feng opened the car door, his mother got into the back seat, and his father sat in the passenger seat.

With the heating on, the cold outside was completely undetectable inside the carriage.

The county town is not big; it only takes ten minutes by car to reach the Rongping Garden residential complex, which is currently for sale.

The European-style gate is grand and orderly, with security guards in uniform standing guard. The courtyard is shaded by green trees, and the brand-new buildings are arranged in an enclosed layout, forming a stark contrast with the old family compound.

"This is the best residential complex in our county right now." Lin Feng parked the car and led his parents inside. "It's an apartment building with an elevator, two units per floor, very convenient to live in."

The sales manager was already waiting at the door. As soon as he saw Lin Feng, he quickly came to greet him with great respect.

"Mr. Lin, uncle and aunt, please come in!"

The manager introduced the community's planning and supporting resources to Lin Feng's family. Whether it was the location or the surrounding schools, hospitals, and large supermarkets, this property was impeccable.

"I'll take you to see the actual property."

The three followed the manager into the building, and the elevator ascended smoothly without any bumps.

Aside from shopping malls, this was the first time Lin Guofu and his wife had ever ridden a home elevator.

The elevator doors opened, revealing two apartments per floor. Both apartments had high-security doors installed.

The manager opened the door and gestured for them to come in: "Uncle and Auntie, please come in."

The 198-square-meter apartment features a four-bedroom, two-living room, and three-bathroom layout. It is well-ventilated from north to south, with sunlight streaming into the living room, making it dazzlingly bright.

The Hong Kong-style living room connects to a viewing balcony, where you can overlook half of the community's green landscape from the window.

The restaurant is spacious and bright, and the kitchen has a balcony.

The four bedrooms are of moderate size, with two master bedrooms each having an ensuite bathroom. The remaining rooms can be used as guest rooms and studies.

As soon as Li Huilan entered the room, her eyes widened, and she walked lightly on the clean floor, touching and looking at everything.

Lin Guofu walked to the center of the living room and looked around. The walls were clean and white, and the windows were large and bright. There was no dark and dampness like in old houses, and no fatigue from climbing stairs.

He walked onto the balcony, held onto the railing, and looked down. The community was lush with greenery and had complete sports and leisure facilities.

"Xiaofeng, this house—it's too big." Li Huilan snapped out of her daze and quickly pulled her son over. "When you're not here, the two of us old folks can't live in such a big house. It's such a waste."

"It's better to have more space. It'll also give relatives a place to stay when they come over," Lin Feng reassured his mother with a smile. "The elevator will make it easier for you to go up and down, so you won't have to climb the stairs anymore. It'll be much more convenient for you."

The manager chimed in at the opportune moment, "Auntie, our apartments have a well-proportioned layout, with the best natural light and views. Many business owners who live away from home have chosen this type of apartment, and it's selling extremely well!"

Lin Guofu turned around and looked at his son: "It's a nice house, but the price must be high."

"Dad, you don't need to worry about the price." Lin Feng said calmly, turning to the sales manager, "I'll buy this house."

The sales manager smiled and said, "Okay, Mr. Lin, this is a fully furnished villa, priced at 5200 yuan per square meter, 198..."

The total price is 1,029,600 yuan. A 30% down payment is 308,800 yuan. Both China Construction Bank and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China offer loans.

"No need, I'll just pay the full amount by card," Lin Feng said.

The sales manager's pupils were wide with shock. In Rongping County in 2005, very few people could afford to pay the full amount upfront for a villa like this, which cost over a million yuan.

Lin Feng's parents were also taken aback.

Lin Guofu turned to look at his son, his heart churning with turmoil.

A year ago, they desperately tried to persuade Lin Feng to return to his hometown to take the civil service exam, believing that was the only right path and stubbornly thinking that starting a business was just doing business and that working from dawn till dusk wouldn't earn him much money.

If Lin Feng had listened to them and returned to the county town to have a stable job, even if he worked for ten years, he wouldn't have been able to save enough money to buy this house.

Now, in just over a year, Xiao Feng has founded a company, expanded nationwide, driven luxury cars, and bought a villa outright, allowing his elderly parents to live in such a dignified house in their later years.

Their lifelong adherence to the "iron rice bowl" mentality seems narrow-minded and laughable in the face of their son's hard-earned achievements.

Lin Feng noticed his parents' concerns and explained softly, "Dad, Mom, don't worry, my company has plenty of cash flow right now, so buying this house won't have any impact at all."

Lin Guofu let out a long breath, patted his son on the shoulder, and smiled with relief: "In the past, I was narrow-minded and didn't understand the times. You've grown up and are capable. I'm not worried."

This one sentence is worth more than a thousand words.

Seeing that her husband had relented, Li Huilan could no longer contain her joy and kept talking to Lin Feng while holding his hand.

"Okay, okay, we'll listen to you. Your filial piety makes your parents happier than anything else."

He kept saying, "The old house is still habitable," but the joy on his face and the light in his eyes were impossible to hide.

Lin Feng led his parents through each room, patiently listening to their explanations of the decor and layout, feeling completely at ease.

The significance of returning home in glory is not about showing off, but about allowing parents who have worked hard all their lives to truly enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Back at the sales office, Lin Feng took out his bank card and quickly completed the formalities.

"Write down my parents' names," Lin Feng said calmly.

The manager immediately arranged for staff to prepare the contract. Lin Feng carefully checked the information, and after confirming that everything was correct, he signed and made the payment.

The bank card swipe notification sounded, and the full amount of 102.96 yuan was credited to the account in one go, without installments or loans, clean and efficient.

Lin Guofu sat to the side, watching his son skillfully handle the procedures and listening to the staff's respectful address to Lin Feng. His pride was almost overflowing.

Li Huilan held her husband's hand tightly, her smile never fading.

In less than an hour, all the formalities were completed, and the purchase contract was securely in the hands of the elderly couple.

With the purchase contract in hand, this spacious and bright villa now belonged to the Lin family.

"Mr. Lin, Uncle and Aunt, we will handle the handover and certificate processing throughout the entire process, so you don't need to worry about anything." The manager respectfully escorted the three to the door.

After completing the formalities, the family of three walked out of the Rongping Garden sales office. The winter sun was shining brightly, warming them and even the wind felt gentle.

Clutching the purchase contract, Li Huilan walked with a lighter step, muttering about wanting a big bed in the master bedroom and pondering what kind of sofa to put in the living room.

Lin Guofu walked in the middle, his wife's arm linked with his left, and his tall, upright son beside him on his right. He unconsciously straightened his back a little more.

"Xiao Feng, buying a house is such a big deal, shouldn't we tell your uncles?" Lin Guofu suddenly asked, his tone tinged with pride. "They're all close family members, let them share in the joy."

Lin Feng replied with a smile, "Don't rush. Let's invite our relatives over after we move in after the New Year."

During the Chinese New Year, telling relatives that one's son bought a house for the family puts a lot of pressure on the cousins. They can't even enjoy the holiday properly.

But this can't be kept a secret forever. After all, relatives need to visit each other, and they'll find out sooner or later if the family moves.

"Good, good!" Lin Guofu laughed. "Your third uncle has long said that you are the most promising child in our Lin family. At first, I thought he was just praising you casually, but now it seems he was right—"

Li Huilan couldn't help but laugh, "Now you know your son is doing well? Who was it that was always frowning, saying Xiaofeng's entrepreneurial ventures weren't reliable, and insisting he come back to take the civil service exam?"

Lin Guofu looked embarrassed and coughed twice, but did not refute.

He completely relinquished his fatherly authority and fully acknowledged his son's choices and abilities.

Lin Feng didn't say much; adults let results speak for themselves. That's just how this society is.

The Audi A6 was parked in front of the sales office. It was a striking black car. Lin Guofu liked it more and more as he looked at it, but he remained calm and composed as he got into the car without making a sound.

They started asking Lin Feng about some of the features and configurations of the Audi.

As Lin Feng answered the questions, he drove back to his old family compound. Before he even got out of the car, he saw several neighbors chatting and sunbathing downstairs.

Upon seeing Lin Feng and his family of three get out of the car, they immediately greeted them warmly.

"Hey Lao Lin, Happy New Year! Your new car is really impressive!"

"Xiao Feng, you're really different now, so young and promising!"

"Where did you guys go for fun?"

Lin Guofu responded with a smile: "Xiao Feng changed our house, and we went to see it today."

"Moved to a new house?" The neighbors exclaimed in surprise. "Where did you move to? That newly built residential area in the county town?"

"It's Rongping Garden," Li Huilan couldn't help but chime in. "I bought one with an elevator, so it'll be more convenient to go up and down the stairs in the future."

"Rongping Garden? That's the best residential complex in our county! I heard it's all villas, large apartments."

"Xiao Feng is so filial; he bought such a nice house for his parents right after graduation!"

Amidst the constant praise, Mr. and Mrs. Lin Guofu beamed with joy, while Lin Feng simply smiled politely.

The way the neighbors looked at Lin Feng was no longer the same as when they looked at that rebellious boy. Now, it was full of appreciation for a true young talent. He was now the pride of the entire residential compound.

Since taking the elevator today and then climbing up to the fourth floor to go home, climbing stairs has never felt so strenuous.

The family of three finally entered their home.

Upon entering the house, Li Huilan carefully put away the purchase contract before rushing into the kitchen to cook Lin Feng's favorite dishes.

"We're in a good mood today, let's have a couple of drinks, you and me." Lin Guofu was in high spirits and took out the Moutai liquor that Lin Feng had brought home for the Chinese New Year from the cabinet.

Li Huilan quickly stopped her: "We have Luzhou Laojiao Special Qu at home, and Xiaofeng brought you some Moutai. Keep it for when we have important guests!"

Lin Guofu glanced at her: "What distinguished guest is more precious than my son? My son bought us a big house, such a joyous occasion, we must have a couple of drinks!"

The elderly couple both laughed.

Lin Feng had a few drinks with his father.

On the dining table, the salty aroma of cured pork, the tenderness of crispy pork, and the warmth of hot soup, mixed with the family's laughter, made the festive atmosphere even stronger.

After drinking a couple of glasses of wine, Lin Guofu became more talkative, chatting with Lin Feng about the changes in the county, his old colleagues, and the days when he would move into his new house. His tone was full of anticipation for the future.

Li Huilan kept putting food on Lin Feng's plate, reminding him to eat on time when he was out and not to overwork himself. She kept repeating her caring words, but she didn't find them annoying at all.

After dinner, Lin Feng helped his mother clear the dishes and then sat with his father on the sofa for a while to chat about company matters.

He didn't use overly complicated business jargon; he simply talked about the business progress in Shenzhen and Chengdu, and that after the new year, they would expand the local life network nationwide, including Jianrongping Station.

Lin Guofu listened attentively, nodding occasionally: "I'm very pleased that you think of your hometown. Doing business isn't just about making money; you also need to have a conscience and a sense of responsibility. Otherwise, people will say you're rich but heartless."

"I'm also from Rongping, so I definitely want to do something for my hometown," Lin Feng said with a smile.

After finishing their work discussion, Lin Feng changed the subject: "Dad, Mom, I have something to tell you."

"Go ahead," Lin Guofu said, picking up his teacup.

"Tomorrow is the third day of the Lunar New Year, and I'm going to Luxian County in western Sichuan," Lin Feng explained. "The two best employees in the company are a brother and sister, and their home is in Luxian County. It's the New Year, and as the boss, I'm going to visit their family and thank their parents for supporting their children's work."

Lin Guofu immediately nodded: "Of course, of course. You're the boss now, so you have to be considerate of your employees."

"There are many mountain roads in western Sichuan, so drive slowly and be careful," Li Huilan instructed. "Be sure to be polite and bring some local specialties with you, so as not to lose face."

Lin Feng laughed and said, "I'll only be gone for two or three days, just a quick trip, and then I'll come back to spend the rest of the New Year with you."

That afternoon, Lin Feng began packing his luggage for his trip to Luxian County.

The trunk was packed full:

The physiotherapy device, knee pads, medicinal wine for removing dampness, and a thick, warm coat were prepared for Lin Xiaowen's father.

The down comforter, tonics, and new cotton clothes prepared for Lin's mother.

Each of the siblings, Lin Xiaowen and Lin Xiaoqiang, was given a set of brand-name winter clothes and genuine leather shoes; there were also Rongping specialties, New Year's goods, and prepared red envelopes, everything was thoughtful and presentable.

While helping to tidy up, Li Huilan kept giving instructions, going over every detail she could think of.