If someone asked Zheng Bai Cheng, "What would you do if you were reborn?", what would he say?
Zheng Bai Cheng would definitely say, "Become a landlord, collecting rent every day, wouldn't that be nice?"
At that moment, Zheng Bai Cheng saw this question on his phone and instinctively left a comment, writing the above words. He simply joked about it and didn't take it seriously.
Zheng Bai Cheng was an employee of a company, with a side hustle as an online writer specializing in business and economics. He loved reading about Hong Kong's business battles, the era of grand schemes where various bigwigs and entertainment stars emerged.
As for how he became an online writer, it all started with his encounter with a series of loans: mortgages, credit cards, personal loans, business loans... Initially, he was just an ordinary sales representative, idling his time away at work, gossiping with the ladies, and living a carefree life. But those loans forced him into a busy, overworked life, robbing his life of meaning.
This arduous, workhorse existence was incredibly tough on him, and his girlfriend eventually left.
During those days when his girlfriend broke up with him, he swore to himself in front of his computer, "If I don't succeed, I'll become a martyr. I'll show that short-sighted woman that she'll regret leaving me."
He embarked on his writing journey, researching historical stories, writing for two years without much success, barely enough to sustain himself. Just when he was about to give up, he saw the question above.
After playing on his phone for a while, he lay down to sleep. Even though it was a sunny summer day outside, he no longer cared about the time. These past two years of writing, he had worked day and night, a true workhorse in the world of writing.
However, over those two years, his weight had ballooned from 70kg to over 90kg, leading to lower back strain, shoulder pain, high blood pressure, and other ailments.
His phone suddenly rang, jolting him awake. He saw it ringing and instinctively pressed the answer button, but he felt a sudden dizziness, his vision blurring.
"Help... me..."
"Thud!"
The phone dropped to the floor, and he collapsed onto the sofa with a heavy thud.
...
Zheng Bai Cheng's parents named him with the hope that he would be honest and live a simple life. He did not disappoint them, becoming the first university student from their village, a shining star back in the day.
However, whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, he happened to coincide with the expansion of university enrollment that year, allowing him to enter a second-tier university. Unfortunate because it meant no guaranteed job assignment, and no free tuition.
After graduating from college, he got a job, found a girlfriend, and changed partners a few times over the next ten years. Finally, at the age of forty, he still had to grind away at his computer after work.
Over the years, he had settled into a laid-back attitude at work, just going through the motions and slacking off. While doing so, he had seen countless films, from American, European, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japanese, Korean… a true veteran. He watched legitimate movies, of course, but occasionally indulged in… well, he was also a novel enthusiast, reading all sorts of world literature and browsing the bestsellers list.
His lack of ambition kept him single until he was in his forties. His girlfriends all left him because of his laid-back lifestyle.
…
Zheng Bai Cheng didn't know if people reminisce about their life before death, but he heard someone calling out. What was going on? Had he not died? Just as he was listening, those words, though familiar, made no sense.
He opened his eyes, looking outside, where the bright sunlight shone upon him, and the sound of waves crashing came from a distance. He saw someone talking to him.
"Hey, young man, did you come from over there?"
Whoa! What was going on?
...
Zheng Bai Cheng left the police station with his new black-and-white ID card, feeling a sense of wonder. He had actually time-traveled! This was Hong Kong decades ago. He looked at the rickshaws on the street, women in cheongsams, and people wearing modern dresses, a kaleidoscope of styles, making him doubt whether this was really Hong Kong.
"You idiot, what are you staring at? Let's go."
"Excuse me, I'm just excited to get my ID card." Zheng Bai Cheng excitedly explained to the old man who had brought him from the beach. On the beach, he had been called a "靓仔" (handsome guy), but now, here, he was called a "衰仔" (stupid boy). Such are the ways of the world!
"Let's go, you idiot, the store is empty now."
Along the way, the old man started talking incessantly.
"You idiot, I brought you to the city to get your ID card. You have to remember to repay me, to take care of me in my old age and send me off."
"You're my adopted son now, we'll pick an auspicious day and hold a feast for you."
"You need to learn the shop's work quickly, otherwise, we won't have anything to eat."
"Once you make money, we'll find you a wife so I can have a grandson…."
The old man had no children, let alone grandchildren. When he was traveling to the New Territories to buy goods, he passed the beach and saw Zheng Bai Cheng lying on the sand. Perhaps, the sight of the solitary Zheng Bai Cheng suddenly made him think of his own lonely life, feeling desolate with no one to care for him in his old age, and so he had an idea.
This man from the mainland had no roots, he would definitely rely on him in the future.
"I understand, Dad."
The word "Dad" made the old man smile happily, he softened his tone, "Good boy, the shop will be yours in the future, just be obedient."
"I know, Dad, I will definitely take good care of you." Zheng Bai Cheng's slightly foolish demeanor pleased the old man even more.
Their shop was in Yau Tsim Mong, a small convenience store, about 600 square feet, which is about 50 square meters using the British system.
The shop, though small, was packed with goods, barely leaving room to move. Their living quarters were built on top of the store.
That upper level was also filled with boxes of goods, making it extremely cramped.
"Zāhuò Qiáng, this is your adopted son! Such a handsome young man."
"Adopted son? He's my son from now on, isn't that right, Ah Cheng?" Zāhuò Qiáng, the old man, had run the convenience store for a lifetime. This shop was an inheritance from his ancestors.
"Dad, you called for me?" Zheng Bai Cheng was busy tidying up the convenience store. Convenience stores were called 杂货店 (Zāhuò Diàn) in Chinese, which is why they called the old man Zāhuò Qiáng.
"In a few days, I'll pick an auspicious day to hold a feast, recognize him as my son. I'll also need to hire a lawyer..." Zāhuò Qiáng was talking nonstop, probably overwhelmed with joy.