[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-rising-in-1979":3,"chapter-rising-in-1979-rising-in-1979-chapter-117":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Rising in 1979",{"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},2260825,4412,"Chapter 117: A Letter to Hong Kong (Guaranteed Minimum Post, Happy New Year!)","rising-in-1979-chapter-117",117,"\u003Cp>This letter existed in his previous life, but Wei Ming didn’t know about it at first—it was only when Old Wei fell ill and recalled his past in his final days that he told him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By then, Old Wei couldn’t remember what the letter said, only that it came from Hong Kong and asked about family affairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although in the early 1980s, having overseas connections was already something urban residents could boast about with pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But rural areas moved slowly, and their reactions lagged behind, still thinking in terms of the past decade’s mindset.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Added to that, Old Wei had cut off contact with Uncle Ping’an and had no one sensible to consult; he feared the letter might bring trouble to the family, so he burned it outright—a decision he regretted for life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On his deathbed, he gripped Wei Ming’s hand and lamented: “I should’ve kept an address—maybe our family had overseas connections after all, and maybe they could’ve helped you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By then, it had been over a decade since reform and opening; Old Wei fully understood the benefits of overseas connections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He firmly believed he truly had overseas connections, because he had an elder uncle in Taiwan who held high office, and perhaps some cousins as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming took it and glanced at it, surprised—the envelope bore traditional characters, which was normal, and Wei Ming could read them, but the handwriting was extremely elegant, even slightly childish, suggesting the writer wasn’t old.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The return address read: “Opposite Zhou’s Department Store, Gao Street, Xihuan, Central and Western District, Hong Kong Island.” No sender’s name was written.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The recipient was written as Wei Ming’s grandmother’s name, and the address was Gouzi Tun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, the letter matched the handwriting outside and was brief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It contained only a few simple questions, with no subject and no information about the writer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is everything well with your family now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is Goudan well?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is Gousheng well?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How many people are there?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is there enough to eat?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are you going to school?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you receive this letter, please reply—I miss you very much in Hong Kong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that was all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming couldn’t help asking: “Dad, who are Goudan and Gousheng?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Wei, whose face had turned red from drinking, instantly went black, dark red and black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming understood: “One of them is you, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then who’s the other?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Wei said: “Uncle Ping’an. Back then, during the chaos, we gave ourselves humble names to help us survive—we changed our names only when we grew older.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This letter even mentioned Uncle Ping’an—Wei Ming was surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled: “I’ve never heard anyone in the village mention them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Jiefang: “I didn’t care much, but Uncle Ping’an’s skin was thin—he hated being called his childhood name after middle school; whoever called him that got beaten. Don’t let his scholar look fool you—he was a fierce fighter, no wonder he later joined the army. Anyway, he beat everyone into submission, and no one dared call my childhood name anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming asked again: “Besides your generation, who else knows your and Uncle Ping’an’s childhood names? Do my grandpa’s family know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Jiefang thought back: “They probably did—back then, the KMT and CCP were still cooperating against the Japanese; your grandfather and your great-uncle often exchanged letters, and they likely mentioned us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this thought, Old Wei grew even more certain: “It must be your great-uncle. I’m afraid of this—he’s probably still a big official over there. Given the current situation, should we even be stirring him up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming tried to dispel his worries: “It probably isn’t your great-uncle—didn’t you notice the last line? ‘I miss you very much in Hong Kong.’ This letter was addressed to Grandma.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Wei’s face flushed again: “What nonsense are you talking? Your grandma wasn’t that kind of person!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming paused, realizing Old Wei had misunderstood, and quickly explained: “I didn’t mean that—I meant, could it be a relative from Grandma’s side?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s impossible—your grandma had only two brothers: one died on the anti-Japanese battlefield, the other is your uncle (Fan Chunhua’s father), and he’s still alive and kicking at home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming hinted: “Someone who knew your and Uncle Ping’an’s childhood names, who said they missed Grandma, and who cared so much about the family—who else could it be?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I came all this way to ask you about this, and now you’re asking me?!” Old Wei grunted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming smiled: “Since we can’t guess, let’s just write back and see what they say next.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Wei thought it over and agreed—no mention of burning it this time. With such a capable son in this life, his courage had grown considerably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing the main topic, Wei Jiefang turned to his son’s love life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your aunt says your British girl is stunning—do you have a photo?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Shufen nudged him: “Your son barely got out of that trauma—why bring it up again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming patted himself and actually had one—a photo taken while ice-skating at Shichahai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unexpectedly, Xu Shufen moved faster than Old Wei and snatched the photo first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What a beautiful little girl—her hair is so red! Her eyes are so big! This is a foreigner!” She’d never seen a foreigner before—no TV at home, not even electricity. She gasped in awe. After seeing it, Wei Jiefang was also deeply satisfied—this girl was worthy of his son, and crucially, she was tall; he’d know exactly how to brag when they returned to the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when Old Wei reached out to take it, Wei Ming stopped him: “I only have one copy of this photo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Jiefang: “Did you take any others?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Shufen coughed twice: “Why keep these photos? Your son still needs to find a wife—what if someone sees them? Xiao Ming, listen to your mother—don’t keep these photos. What girl could tolerate that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was rare for his mother to speak so much at once—she was genuinely worried about her son’s marriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his previous life, he’d been unfilial, remaining unmarried past sixty; Wei Ming now thought he might as well marry in this life to make her happy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming nodded with a smile, saying he’d bury the photo somewhere later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, he said: “I’ll take the letter—I’ll think about how to reply.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He returned directly to Shao Yuan and told Wang Auntie, who had covered his shift: “I’ve already applied to the overseas office for a transfer and recommended you as my replacement—Auntie, good luck.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This job was far easier than cleaning—just sitting there to earn a salary. As for Sun Zi, it was just a few steps—he could walk home himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Auntie naturally thanked him profusely and kept to herself everything that had happened between Wei Ming and Melinda in that room—she didn’t keep a diary and had no intention of writing memoirs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Wang Auntie left, Wei Ming leaned on his bed, expressionless, greeting the female international students coming and going, sometimes receiving a few words of comfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After locking the door and drawing the curtains, Wei Ming spread out paper and pen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello, everything at home is fine, life is improving day by day…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After writing this line, Wei Ming started a new page—since the letter came in traditional characters, he’d reply in traditional characters too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He began again: “Please allow me to introduce myself—I am Wei Ming, the eldest grandson of Ms. Fan Erxiu, though she has passed away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My father is well—he works the land at home, cheerful and content, in good health, with no bad habits. At eighteen, following his mother’s wishes, he married my mother, Xu Shufen, who is from Sichuan and Chongqing. They later had me and my sister, Wei Hong. I am nineteen; my sister is fourteen. My academic performance is average—I finished high school and then took a job at Peking University, where I write and have gained modest recognition on the mainland, enough to support my family. My sister excels academically, possesses exceptional talent, and aspires to attend Peking University…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After describing his family, Wei Ming briefly mentioned Uncle Ping’an’s household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Ping’an is also well—he ranked first in his county in the early 1960s and was admitted to Peking University, then joined the army and is now retired and employed at Peking University. He is married and has raised a set of twins, boy and girl, though his mother, Mrs. Cheng, has also passed away. My job has benefited from Uncle Ping’an’s help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After writing this, he added: “We are separated by thousands of miles, but I am delighted to correspond with you—I hope to hear more about you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled out an envelope, filled in the address, and prepared to mail the letter the next day—he feared the other side might be waiting anxiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming had just lain down when he heard the door creak—but it didn’t open; he’d locked it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leonardo, are you asleep?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was clearly not Melinda’s ghost—by the voice, it was a Spanish classmate, wearing glasses, decent-looking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Wei Ming had once been with Melinda, some girls didn’t mind—being involved with a famous writer from a foreign land made for good gossip back home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Wei Ming clearly had no such intentions—he said he was asleep and to talk tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Spanish girl persisted for a while before leaving dejectedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, Wei Ming barely slept—three girls came to knock on his door at different times to comfort him, and one was even Black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—tomorrow I must move out!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, right after mailing the letter, Wei Ming’s transfer order arrived. He’d mentioned it at dinner the night before to Uncle Ping’an, asking him to help arrange the move—he couldn’t bear to stay where memories haunted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It came just in time—if delayed any longer, he feared he’d be ruined. But he hadn’t yet reported to his new post when he took a day off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, he would take his parents on a tour of Beijing—mainly because his mother had never seen the city before; it wouldn’t be right for her to leave without seeing anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming brought his camera and accompanied them all day, retracing every path, sight, and meal he and Melinda had once shared—leaving Wei Ming alone to swallow his bitterness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the day was joyful, Xu Shufen insisted on leaving the next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, she feared delaying her son’s work—taking too many days off wasn’t good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, her son was spending too much—he’d bought so many unnecessary things to take home as New Year gifts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he’d spent an entire year’s family income in one day—who buys a year’s worth of New Year goods at once?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She feared staying longer would damage her heart, and she worried about the pigs and chickens at home—if Fan Chunhua didn’t get eggs, she might kill the chickens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after seeing his parents off at the guesthouse, Wei Ming slipped them a handful of cash and vouchers, telling them to prepare a lively New Year and wait for him to return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mother needed time to slowly accept that her son was now wealthy—better days lay ahead!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After returning from the city tour, Wei Ming immediately took Biaozi and Xiao Mei to Shao Yuan to pack his bed and belongings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The international students, knowing Wei Ming was leaving, were all reluctant—Li Aiguo and Li Kui even suggested to the school that Wei Ming become the male dorm supervisor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Ming laughed and returned to the guard dormitory below Nandamen, where he first handed out candy he’d bought at Wangfujing Department Store.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brothers, I’m back!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(Requesting monthly votes—will continue writing at dawn! Happy New Year meow!)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1951,"2026-06-19T16:30:57.111Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","77a7d2839ee4a5a3e465c0fc407fded549a2659129275abc9712592cd6e01309","rising-in-1979-chapter-118","rising-in-1979-chapter-116",509,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frising-in-1979-cover.jpg"]