"Heartily celebrating the thirty-seventh anniversary of the victory of the People's War of Resistance Against Japan in the People's Republic of China!" The spirited national anthem resounded through the radio.
At this time, Mingzhao Li rolled out of a wooden bed in a dilapidated earthen house. This news was simply too shocking for him.
He had clearly died on August 15, 2021, so how could he have come back to life now! Looking around, the house was empty. The ragged house felt extremely familiar to Mingzhao Li!
He has reincarnated!
Previously, he worked at a supply and marketing cooperative, where his father was the director and his wife was the youngest and prettiest girl there.
However, Mingzhao Li did not know how to cherish what he had, and not long ago, everything he possessed turned into thin air!
Everything changed after his father suddenly suffered from a stroke and passed away.
The supply and marketing cooperative then appointed a new in-charge, who happened to be his father's old adversary!
The new director resisted him at every turn.
When the warehouse of the supply and marketing cooperative was flooded, the director directly held him responsible.
As a result, Mingzhao Li lost his job and even spent half a year in jail.
After he got out, Li Mingzhao was in a daze, getting drunk every day.
His wife, Yang Ping, didn't despise him. On the contrary, she took care of him wholeheartedly. Still, Li Mingzhao vented all his frustrations on Yang Ping, often physically abusing his wife.
Yang Ping humbly accommodated Li Mingzhao, but he became even more violent, beating her up at the slightest provocation.
Yang Ping couldn't bear it anymore. Carrying a world of grievances, she jumped into the river to commit suicide!
Only when Li Mingzhao lost his wife Yang Ping did he have regrets, but unfortunately, it was too late!
When he found out that Yang Ping was pregnant, he became utterly desolate.
It wasn't until he regretted for thirty-nine years that he found relief!
While he was brooding, the sound of plastic sandals clicking brought him back from his thoughts.
Turning his head, he saw a familiar figure walk in.
A slender figure, wearing a plaid skirt and a white blouse.
It was Yang Ping!
The person he had missed for thirty-nine years!
Yang Ping looked much skinnier than when she married him and her face was very pale. Despite this, she still looked beautiful.
Seeing her, Li Mingzhao stood completely dumbfounded, his gaze fixated on Yang Ping.
At this moment, he didn't even know what to say.
Originally, he had a thousand words of guilt to express, but at this moment, all those words turned into tears streaming down his face.
Unable to help himself, he walked over, only to notice the bruise on Yang Ping's face.
Despite being concealed under a thick layer of makeup, he could still see it clearly.
You could just imagine how hard his blow had been.
He remembered, this bruise was from when he hit her with a rolling pin.
At this moment, his guilt deepened, and he lowered his gaze.
Meanwhile, Yang Ping, holding a plastic basket of vegetables, walked into the kitchen with a cold face.
“Ah!” sighed Li Mingzhao.
He knew that Yang Ping was thoroughly disappointed in him now.
He had truly brought this upon himself!
Li Mingzhao followed her, trying to grab Yang Ping's hand, but she coldly shook him off.
Yang Ping cast him a cold glance and went on her way.
Not a single word was exchanged between them, replaced only with an icy, deathly silence.
"Fortunately, everything is still redeemable."
Without warning, he said something that left Yang Ping utterly perplexed.
Ignoring him, she put down her grocery basket and started picking out vegetables.
Li Mingzhao stood there, dumbstruck, watching the virtuous Yang Ping.
"Bang bang bang!"
A loud series of knocks on the door.
"Is that kid Li Mingzhao in there?"
The speaker's voice was strong and booming, loud enough for everyone in the entire building to hear.
Li Mingzhao was just about to open the door when Yang Ping stood up, clapped off her hands, and beat him to it.
"Screech."
The door opened, and dust fell from the ceiling.
"Cough, cough."
Yang Ping coughed lightly.
"Oh, Mrs. Li, it's you. Has your good-for-nothing husband gone out drinking again?"
On hearing this, Li Mingzhao stepped forward.
It was their landlord, Auntie Wu, a middle-aged woman with a perm and a floral dress.
Seeing Li Mingzhao, Aunt Wu cringed and held her nose in disgust.
"So, you've finally decided to come back today, reeking of alcohol, oh my... And the rent! Since you're here today, you should know last month's rent hasn't been paid yet!"
She tutted twice.
"Li's wife, I say your life is just too hard, being married to this kind of man..."
"Aunt Wu, about the rent… I… will figure something out. Moreover, please don't trouble yourself over my affairs."
Yang Ping spoke with a flushed face, stuttering through her words.
"You…"
Looking at the skeletal Yang Ping, Aunt Wu sighed deeply.
"Let's do it this way, I'll lay it out for you today, I'm giving you three more days. If you still can't pay, you better pack up your things and get out!"
Me…
The rent?
After Aunt Wu left, the couple closed the door.
Yang Ping rummaged through boxes and cabinets, finally finding a small worn-out bag patched up in places.
Opening it, she found it completely empty.
Yang Ping had not a penny in her pocket. All her money had been spent by Li Mingzhao on alcohol.
Now, he only has one coin left in his pocket.
Yang Ping shook her head, turned around and walked out of the door, causing Li Mingzhao's heart to flutter in anxiety.
"Where are you going?"
"To borrow money!"
No sooner had she finished speaking when the door closed with a bang.
Li Mingzhao was left helpless, slumping down onto a plastic stool. He let out a heavy sigh.
Looking at the mottled wall and the old furniture, which were filled with traces of the life he shared with Yang Ping, Li Mingzhao silently made up his mind.
Given that, since fate had given him another chance to start over, he has to cherish the opportunity and start anew.
He weighed the single coin in his pocket, and he started to have a goal.
A single coin, which in modern times, only suffices to buy one outdated ice lolly.
Back in 1982, it could buy 20 sodas or 40 spicy chips, or a decent pen.
I need to strive!
Traveller of two lifetimes, it was the first time Li Mingzhao conceived such a strong urge to make money.
The debt he had left on his past life, in this life, he must repay it thousandfold, ten thousandfold!
It is not too late for everything!
