[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-my-restarted-life-1992":3,"chapter-my-restarted-life-1992-my-restarted-life-1992-chapter-972":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","My Restarted Life: 1992",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2280522,4460,"Chapter 972","my-restarted-life-1992-chapter-972",972,"\u003Cp>Jian Qiu smiled; Guo Qizheng calling at this moment could only mean the Brazil negotiations had succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Guo, the Brazil contract is signed, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Signed!” Guo Qizheng couldn’t help laughing: “I didn’t let you down. The news about China’s shortage of raw sugar has already spread—within three days, raw sugar prices will surge. You need to prepare.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood!” Jian Qiu said gratefully: “Thank you, Old Guo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No thanks needed!” Guo Qizheng said: “When the nation needs me, I’m glad to contribute.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After chatting a while, they hung up. Jian Qiu leaned against the bathroom doorframe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Brazil contract is signed. International raw sugar prices will surge within three days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Andong was showering. Hearing Jian Qiu’s words, he turned off the shower and wiped his face with his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Notify Xiangjiang and Britain—don’t rush to sell.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jian Qiu hesitated: “We’ve invested too much capital. If we don’t sell early, we might not finish liquidating before prices peak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Andong smiled: “Don’t underestimate how greedy those capitalists are. Watch—raw sugar prices will rise to a height you can’t imagine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jian Qiu nodded: “Alright, I’ll notify them right away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Andong turned the shower back on and continued washing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was nearly done when Jian Qiu came in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steam curled through the bathroom, the rush of water blending with faint singing—like swallows whispering in the wind, or cicadas calling for mates, a melodious sound radiating irresistible allure…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>………………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>October 4, 1993, Eighth Month Nineteenth, Lunar Calendar, Monday!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Andong, Jian Qiu, Wu Hongkang, and Zhang Shenghui stepped out of Yangcheng Airport.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Few people were outside—back then, few could afford air travel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as they emerged, they saw a young man holding a sign with their names on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There he is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had Wu Hongkang spoken than a beautiful girl in a professional business suit, her hair pinned up, hurried over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl was Cao Li, an event receptionist for the Entrepreneurs Forum. She recognized Zhou Andong the moment he appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Zhou, hello. I’m Cao Li, the conference receptionist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Andong shook her hand: “Thank you for your trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No trouble at all—it’s my job.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Li then shook hands with Jian Qiu, Wu Hongkang, and Zhang Shenghui: “Young Master Jian, Factory Director Wu, General Manager Zhang, nice to meet you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, she had reviewed their profiles. But since these three weren’t as famous as Zhou Andong, they hadn’t been recognized immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The car’s over there—follow me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group got in the car and headed straight for the Garden Hotel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hotel stood on Huanxiang East Road; the car stopped at the entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They got out, and under Cao Li’s guidance, took the elevator to the 28th floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Zhou, Factory Director Wu, General Manager Zhang—your rooms are 2818, 2819, and 2820!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Li used her key to open the doors, then handed each of them their keys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dinner will be held at five p.m. in the banquet hall on the second floor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, she pulled three name tags from her bag—each bearing the names Zhou Andong, Wu Hongkang, Zhang Shenghui, and Jian Qiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Andong took the tag: “Just carry this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!” Cao Li nodded: “Rest now. I’ll come get you at 4:40.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright!” Zhou Andong replied, turning to Wu Hongkang and Zhang Shenghui: “You two—rest, or go out for a walk?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Hongkang said: “It’s still early. Let’s walk around. I haven’t been to Yangcheng in two years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shenghui added: “I came to Yangcheng a few months ago, but had no time to explore. Let’s take this chance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine!” Zhou Andong took his luggage inside: “Pack up, we leave in half an hour.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the room, it was spacious—a suite with a bedroom inside and a living room outside, over fifty square meters total.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not bad. Yangcheng shows some sincerity.” Zhou Andong lit a cigarette and walked to the window, yanking open the curtains with a rustle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jian Qiu unpacked her suitcase, took out her clothes, and hung them in the wardrobe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This Entrepreneurs Forum is organized by the provincial government—high-level. The Secretary and Governor will both attend.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing, Jian Qiu washed her face in the bathroom: “Aren’t you washing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.” Zhou Andong crushed his cigarette in the ashtray, checked the time: “Let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait!” Jian Qiu found her makeup and dabbed a little on her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tap-tap-tap…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, someone knocked on the door. Zhou Andong opened it—it was Wu Hongkang and Zhang Shenghui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ready?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ready.” Jian Qiu picked up her bag: “Let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four left the hotel and wandered aimlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jian Qiu pointed ahead: “There’s a mall—let’s check it out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mall was large, with heavy foot traffic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, vendors sold everything, but the most common were shoe shiners—and the busiest were the shoe shiners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About ten or twenty of them sat on small stools, each with a wooden box and a chair in front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Hongkang looked at the dirt on his shoes and smiled: “You guys go shopping. I’ll get my shoes shined.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shenghui waved: “I’ll get mine done too. You two go ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright!” Zhou Andong laughed: “Wait here after you’re done—we’ll be out soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Andong and Jian Qiu entered the mall; Wu Hongkang and Zhang Shenghui sat side by side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How much for a shine?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One yuan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shoeshiner was a middle-aged woman who sprayed something from a small spray bottle—water or something else—onto the shoes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, a small aluminum basin appeared before Wu Hongkang, filled with a few coins, rattling as it was shaken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir, please, spare some change. May you have good luck every day and great fortune every year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Hongkang froze, turned around—and saw a young man, clothes and pants filthy beyond recognition, hair long and matted, unwashed for who knew how long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman glared and shouted: “Get lost! Don’t disturb my business!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the beggar was unkempt, he looked young—and had a fiery temper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old hag, this isn’t your yard. You do your job, I do mine—what’s it to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the woman about to yell again, Wu Hongkang feared a fight and quickly pulled out a yuan coin and dropped it into the basin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, sir!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy bowed to Wu Hongkang, then raised the basin before Zhang Shenghui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir, please, spare some change. May you have good luck every day and great fortune every year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shenghui readily tossed a yuan into the basin and teased: “Kid, you’ve got a good business—no capital needed. When I can’t afford food, I’ll join you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy chuckled but said nothing, limping away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After shining their shoes, Wu Hongkang and Zhang Shenghui squatted by the mall entrance, smoking two cigarettes, until Zhou Andong and Jian Qiu emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait a sec—we’ll get our shoes shined too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Andong and Jian Qiu sat down side by side, when suddenly someone shouted nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir, please, spare some change. May you have good luck every day and great fortune every year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Andong turned, puzzled—why did that voice sound so familiar?\u003C\u002Fp>",1175,"2026-06-20T01:18:52.456Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","18a3fa26eb9eb88729bb826812f7923b5149ef9d6db46bdc1bd962ce76efb7a0","my-restarted-life-1992-chapter-973","my-restarted-life-1992-chapter-971",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmy-restarted-life-1992-cover.jpg"]