Samuel Clark didn’t say much more, just asked if he had enough money. William Bolton said he did, that meals and lodging were provided here, so he didn’t really spend any money, and told his mom to take care of her health and not overwork herself. Such an ordinary sentence actually made Samuel Clark on the other end of the line feel a lump in her throat, her eyes brimming with tears—unfortunately, William Bolton couldn’t see it.

After hanging up with his mom, he found another number and called back.

It took quite a while before the other party picked up. The background was a bit noisy, and a man shouted at the top of his lungs, “Xiaohuan? It’s your dad!”

William Bolton almost shot back, I’m your dad! My dad’s been dead for years. But then he remembered—his life had been reset, and he’d used his wealth and life to save his whole family. He first verified the caller’s identity: “David Bolton?”

“You little brat, you’ve got some nerve! You think you can just call your old man by his name?”

William Bolton wasn’t the least bit angry at being scolded. As his real father, David Bolton definitely had the right. After confirming it was really his dad, William Bolton finally called out cheerfully, “Dad!”

To be honest, his dad had always treated him well. When he was sixteen, his dad took him to eat nyotaimori, and the “platter” was a starlet being promoted by Xingyu Media. He remembered that, as a teenager, he’d even licked the plate clean that day.

This dad was a bit outrageous, but he truly cared for him. He just didn’t know if the David Bolton on the other end of the line was still the same second-generation rich chairman as before.

David Bolton actually fell silent on the phone, and after a long pause, finally said, “Son, are you short on money?”

William Bolton was taken aback, not understanding why he’d suddenly ask that. He didn’t know that after his parents divorced five years ago, he’d never called David Bolton “dad” again.

“Yes!”

“How much?”

“Two hundred billion!”

“Screw you! Even if I went bankrupt, I wouldn’t have that much!” David Bolton cursed, then started laughing himself. He told William Bolton that he’d opened a logistics company in the provincial capital, business was booming lately, and asked if his son wanted to come help out.

William Bolton refused without hesitation. He had no interest in logistics, and what he needed most right now wasn’t money, but reputation. He didn’t have time to waste on small money-making ventures.

David Bolton asked for his QQ number. All of William Bolton’s old QQ accounts were defunct, and he couldn’t recover the password for the one on his phone, so he had to register a new one. He’d thought his dad wanted to transfer him money, but then remembered that mobile payments didn’t really take off until after 2014, and it was only 2011 now.

The parallel world had changed a lot, but the process of economic development seemed to be the same.

Still, his dad asked him to send over his bank card number. William Bolton sent the number for his newly issued Jin Sui card, and not long after, David Bolton transferred him five thousand yuan. It seemed his dad was no longer as lavish as before—probably not living as comfortably these days.

Although William Bolton didn’t think much of five thousand yuan, it was still a huge sum for him at the moment.

Outside, a not-so-standard broadcast voice could be heard—it was Grace Cooper in the broadcast room, reading the local news. With the times changing, many townships had already done away with their broadcast rooms, and thus township broadcasts, but Limiao Town still kept this traditional way of broadcasting. There were two news bulletins every morning and afternoon, and of course, they’d also announce lost-and-found notices and such.

Though a bit outdated, the villagers really enjoyed listening, especially the elderly. Whenever they lost something or needed to find someone, they liked to ask the broadcast room for help.

“Next is the lost-and-found segment. Li Fengmei from Wangmeng Village is missing. The old lady is seventy years old, has short hair, is wearing a gray Dacron shirt on top, khaki rayon pants on the bottom, and black cloth shoes. If anyone has information, please contact the Limiao Town police station... Comrade Li Chengwen from Xiaoli Village found a wallet, with some cash inside, and two condoms in the inner pocket...”

William Bolton couldn’t help but laugh when he heard this. This broadcast room really would announce anything—people who lost things here must really love life.

He opened the door and walked out, heading to the neighboring broadcast room, where he saw Grace Cooper sitting upright, reading the news in all seriousness. Since there wasn’t much content, she finished quickly. William Bolton knocked and walked in, handing Grace Cooper a box of chocolates—something he’d bought before coming. William Bolton was well-versed in the art of gift-giving, especially when it came to women, never stingy regardless of age.

“Xiao Zhang, you’re too polite.”

“Sister Lü, thank you for looking after me. I just heard your broadcast—it was great, just like the national news.”

Grace Cooper giggled, “Did I disturb you? How could I compare to them? I only graduated high school, never had any professional training. Sorry to make you laugh.”

“The most important thing in broadcasting is being warm and natural. In that regard, you do great—better than the hosts at the county radio station.”

“Really?” Grace Cooper smiled so hard her eyes turned into slits. This young man really knew how to talk.

William Bolton was flattering her mainly to build good relations with the locals. While they were chatting, someone knocked on the door—a girl of about seventeen or eighteen came in. She was Grace Cooper’s niece, Mary Scott, a senior at Limiao Town High School.