“I don’t have any money,” Li Long replied.

“No money? How’s that possible?” Gu Ermao looked shocked. “You were working at a food factory, right? Even as an apprentice, you must’ve made at least ten or twenty yuan a month. You worked there for three months and didn’t save anything? That’s impossible!”

“Come on, Xiao Long, we’re like brothers. How could you ignore me when I need help? You used to be the first one to step up. Aren’t my problems yours too?” As he spoke, Gu Ermao reached out to rummage through Li Long’s pockets.

Smack! Li Long slapped his hand away. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Gu Ermao was used to rifling through Li Long’s pockets, and Li Long had never stopped him before. A few flattering words, and Li Long would always give in. Today, however, Li Long’s refusal stunned Gu Ermao. His face reddened as he spluttered, “What’s the big deal? I just need to borrow a little cash. I swear, I’ll pay you back!”

“I said I don’t have any!” Li Long’s voice rose. “Yes, I was earning a salary, but you think I didn’t have expenses? I’m staying with my brother and sister-in-law, eating their food. Of course, I pay them for it! Why don’t you ask your own brother for help instead of bothering me?”

His blunt response left Gu Ermao speechless, but then his face flushed with anger. “Fine, don’t lend it! You don’t have to go on about it. I can’t believe I thought you were my friend. You’re a real piece of work! No wonder you got fired—serves you right. Don’t come to me for anything after this! And don’t think I’ll let you hang out with me and the guys again!”

With that, Gu Ermao stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

As he left, he mentally counted.

One… two… three…

Usually, if he threw a fit, Li Long would come out within ten seconds, apologizing and trying to make amends. Gu Ermao knew Li Long had always craved acceptance among the local youth, especially since he wasn’t originally from the village. And he had been one of the first to make Li Long feel welcome.

But today, even as he counted to fifty, Li Long didn’t appear. Ermao was baffled—had Li Long really changed? Did he truly not have any money? Either way, Ermao wasn’t about to go back and ask again. He’d just have to find another way. But he’d make sure Li Long paid for this.

“If you don’t give me face, don’t blame me for being rude and reporting your affairs to Wu Shufen!”

Li Long was well aware that by the next day, Ermao would gossip to everyone about his firing, and then Wu Shufen would come to break up with him.

Perfect timing.

In the main house, Li Jianguo and his wife Liang Yuemei exchanged a puzzled glance. The voices had been loud enough for them to overhear Li Long’s firm rejection. They couldn’t believe it—Li Long, who always let Ermao push him around, had actually put his foot down.

“Could being fired from the factory have changed him?” Liang Yuemei wondered aloud.

“Maybe,” Jianguo replied. “Xiao Long isn’t stupid. It sounds like he’s finally figured out not to let people use him. If that’s the case, it’s a good thing.”

“But what about his money…?”

“Let him decide. He’s young, and he’s courting someone. He’ll need some money on hand.”

Just then, the door opened, and they fell silent as Li Long stepped into the room. He pulled out ten yuan and handed it to Liang Yuemei.

“Sister-in-law, I know my return was unexpected. There probably isn’t enough coal for all of us. Here, use this to buy more. I’ll also go out and gather some wood to help us get through the winter.”

“What? Go where?” Jianguo’s eyes widened. “It’s 30 degrees below zero out there, and you think you’ll find firewood?”

“Put your money away,” Liang Yuemei added, touched by his gesture. “Young men should keep a little something on hand. Just having you here with the right attitude is more than enough.”

“Sister-in-law, please take it,” Li Long insisted, pressing the money into her hand. “I can’t keep relying on you. I’m almost twenty now. I know I messed up before, but I’m learning from my mistakes. A bit of cold won’t hurt me. Just dress warmly, and let me handle it.”

After that, he turned and went back to his room, feeling a small sense of accomplishment.

In his last life, he’d often cringed when he remembered his past mistakes. Now, with this new chance, he was determined to make things right.

But he was starving.

Winters on the farm meant only two meals a day. Since people were less active, and food supplies had to be rationed carefully, portions were small. And with an extra mouth to feed, his brother’s family would struggle to make their supplies last until spring.

He really had been a burden—demanding food and clothes from his brother without a second thought. Now, looking back, he was ashamed of how little he’d cared about where those things came from.

Still feeling remorseful, he heard a soft knock at the door.

To his surprise, it was his five-year-old nephew, Li Qiang, bundled up against the cold, rubbing his nose with his sleeve.

“Uncle, I came to play with you,” Li Qiang said, his eyes lighting up. “You came from so far away! Did you bring anything fun?”

Li Long felt a pang of guilt—he hadn’t brought a single thing from the city, not even a small gift for his niece and nephew. Searching through his bag, all he found was a packet of rice paper wrappers from the factory. These thin sheets were used to wrap milk candies, a common item in the food factory but a novelty in their rural village.

He took out a small sheet and placed it in Li Qiang’s hand.

“Hold your hand still,” he said.

Li Qiang obediently extended his hand, staring at the rice paper. Slowly, the thin sheet began to curl.

“It’s moving, Uncle! Look, it’s moving!” Li Qiang exclaimed in delight.

Li Long chuckled. Having lived through two lifetimes, he knew the simple science behind it, though it was enough to amaze a five-year-old. The rice paper reacted to the warmth in Li Qiang’s hand, curling as it softened.

Li Qiang’s excited shout brought his sister, Li Juan, into the room. At ten years old, she was used to doing chores and helping around the house, even taking on tasks that Li Long himself had shirked. She resented him for it.

“Look, big sis! It’s moving!” Li Qiang held up the paper excitedly, but the warmth of his hand had started to melt it, leaving a sticky residue.

“It’s alright; there’s more,” Li Long assured him, handing Li Juan a sheet as well. She accepted it quietly, watching as it began to curl in her hand, her curiosity piqued.

“Uncle, why does it move like that?” Li Qiang asked, looking up with wide eyes.

“It’s sensitive to temperature,” Li Long explained simply. “When it’s warm, it softens and curls, just like how plastic melts when it’s heated. And you can eat this too.”

“Eat it?” Li Qiang’s eyes lit up. He licked the melting paper in his hand. “Hmm… but it’s not as good as meat.”

Looking back up, he added hopefully, “Uncle, I want to eat meat.”