In my memory, in 1996, the unemployment rate due to layoffs in society was becoming seriously high, and it continued to rise afterward. The increasing number of layoffs and unemployment made people realize the hard truth that “there is no such thing as a job for life.” Later, my mother was also laid off and had to find a new job. At first, she worked for others, but after many twists and turns, she finally managed to open her own stationery store, which has stood strong for many years.

So, if I could start over, wealth is something I must firmly grasp in my own hands. Otherwise, there will be many things that, even if I know about them in advance, I still won’t have the ability to accomplish...

Mrs. Bennett 曾珂, who had absolutely no idea what had happened to Eric Bennett, also didn’t know that her son, facing a new day, would have such astonishing and unconventional thoughts.

……

Carrying his backpack, he walked out of the residential complex. Someone came running up from behind in a hurry and gave him a hard slap on the shoulder. A familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar voice rang out, “Hey, I was yelling at you from behind and you didn’t answer. What were you thinking about!”

Just now, Eric Bennett had been recalling the math content he reviewed last night. Clearly, he hadn’t encountered any obstacles. He didn’t expect that, with the mindset of a twenty-seven-year-old adult, looking at things now, “crystal clear at a glance” was the most fitting phrase to describe his current state. He really hadn’t heard someone calling him from behind, and now that his train of thought was interrupted, he looked at the person beside him with some annoyance.

Big ears, a crew cut, a high forehead, wearing a pair of rimmed glasses for nearsightedness, thick lower lip, tall and skinny—Henry Grant appeared in front of him.

Eric Bennett suddenly froze, blinking his eyes. Was he seeing things? Henry Grant from eleven years ago!?

A familiar sense of closeness welled up inside him, and Eric Bennett once again felt the urge to tear up. Sometimes, there’s a kind of friendship between men that’s almost like childhood sweethearts.

In 2007, Henry Grant came home for a month on family leave. When his leave ended and he was about to return to the Hainan naval base by special plane, the two of them had a few drinks in the cramped apartment Eric Bennett rented in the big city, snacking on peanuts and sunflower seeds, reminiscing about the silly things they did growing up together, and looking forward to the future. It was joyful and happy—this kind of bond is irreplaceable.

After that brief stay, he went back to the base. That guy was a naval ground crew sergeant, responsible for maintaining the fighter jets that went out on every sea patrol. This was grueling work that ordinary people couldn’t handle. Every time a plane took off, the sweat and effort put in by the ground crew was enormous.

Of course, there were all sorts of confidentiality rules and regulations. Even coming home for a visit involved a lot of procedures. The pay wasn’t high, and if something went wrong, you’d have to face a military tribunal, so the hardships of ground crew members were little known.

And this childhood best friend—after that heart-to-heart talk about life and dreams in 2007, it was the last time Eric Bennett ever saw him.

During a night patrol mission over the South China Sea in 2008, Henry Grant, who was responsible for the final engine pneumatic manifold check before takeoff, was accidentally sucked into a fighter jet engine due to a misstep, resulting in a major accident.

The efforts and sacrifices made by the nation’s soldiers behind the scenes of peace are things ordinary people can never see.

Eric Bennett only learned about this later. When he heard the news in 2009, he drank himself into a stupor for two days and nights, tears streaming down his face, with a glass of untouched, full wine always placed beside him.

Now, seeing Henry Grant alive and well in front of him, also sixteen years old like himself, Eric Bennett turned around and gave him a big, tight hug, grateful to heaven for this chance at rebirth.

“Brother!”

“Hey, hey, what’s wrong with you, man! Are you sick or something!” Henry Grant said this, but there was a hint of emotion in his tone. The three best friends in their courtyard grew up together, and this bond was truly deep.

“It’s nothing... Ha, so, are you going to school?” Eric Bennett knew he was obviously a bit out of control. Under the surprised gaze of a nearby auntie, he let go and patted Henry Grant on the shoulder.

Henry Grant glanced at the unusually odd Eric Bennett today, then said cheerfully, “So chill, I don’t have class this afternoon! What about you guys, are we going to the usual place tonight?”

The usual place was a disc game room. At that time, it was still the oldest first-generation PlayStation console, already considered the most luxurious form of entertainment. Internet cafes were just starting to pop up across the country and were expensive. Eric Bennett had only heard of them and had never been to one. It wasn’t until after high school that he gradually got to experience the emerging phenomenon of internet cafes. So back then, disc game consoles were the most attractive entertainment.

Henry Grant attended the city’s No. 1 High School. His grades had always been better than Eric Bennett’s, though not by a huge margin. Plus, the junior high students at No. 1 High School had a “high fee” discount as a protective policy for entering the high school division. So, although Henry Grant’s entrance exam scores were higher than Eric Bennett’s, they didn’t meet the high school’s admission requirements. It seemed he paid a high fee of three thousand yuan to continue studying at No. 1 High School.