Beijing, Beijing.
Eastern District, North Heping Street.
Dong Xuebing was touched by his resurrection yesterday. If time did not turn back, he would not be able to see his mother and Aunt Xuan again. This was the first time he felt it was good to be alive. Dong Xuebing only went to bed in the wee hours of the morning. When he woke up, it was already past 10 am. He got off the creaking old spring sofa, rubbed his eyes, and went to the bathroom to wash up. When he was done, he wiped his face, yawned, and casually said to the closed bedroom door, "Mom, are you awake?"
Dong Xuebing's mother, Luan Xiaoping, replied. "I woke up early to tidy up the room. Are you still having breakfast?"
"Let's have lunch." Dong Xuebing felt something was wrong with his mother's voice. He quickly walked over and saw his mother sitting on the white bedsheets. She was wiping her tears with the back of her hand. When she saw Dong Xuebing entering the room, she turned her head and forced a smile. She kept a few old black and white photos in her wallet. These photos were taken more than 20 years ago. Dong Xuebing felt something was wrong with his mother's voice.
Dong Xuebing's heart ached and sat beside his mother. "Do you miss my father?"
"No … no." Dong Xuebing's mother kept her wallet carefully and wiped her tears. "I saw it earlier. Let me take a look."
Dong Xuebing had seen this scene many times over the years. His mother was a weak person, and she would cry whenever she thought of something sad. Dong Xuebing was not feeling well. "Mum, it's all because I am useless. I am not good at my studies, and I don't even have the confidence to pass the Civil Servant exams. The most I can do is work at Panjiayuan Antique Market during the winter and summer holidays. I … I … sigh … a few years ago, when my father was hospitalized, if I had made enough money to send him to the best hospital, he might still be here."
Dong Xuebing's mother nudged his leg. "Stop talking nonsense. My son is the best, and he will surely be a government official in the future."
Dong Xuebing's lips moved but did not say anything.
Mom smiled and touched her son's hand. "Don't think too much. Mom will make you a delicious meal for lunch."
A small plate of stir-fried pork with garlic sprouts, a bowl of boiled cabbage, and half a pot of porridge. This was considered a good meal in Dong Xuebing's house. When Dong Xuebing is alone at home, he doesn't dare to eat like this. He would cook a pot of rice and stir-fry some vegetables for lunch and dinner. It's not because he is frugal, but because his family does not have enough money. Every penny is split into two halves.
He, Dong Xuebing, 23 years old, graduated from university.
His appearance was average, his height was average, his personality was average, and his abilities were average.
Family savings: Not more than five digits.
The year my dad was hospitalized, all the family's savings were spent. In the end, even the house was sold. This one-bedroom apartment was rented later. After Dong Xuebing's father passed away, Dong Xuebing's mother lost her job. Beijing's living expenses were too high, and she returned to her hometown. She got a job as a language teacher in a village middle school to earn money for her university education. She would only stay with Dong Xuebing for one to two months during the winter and summer holidays.
His mother's meager salary was not enough to cover the rent, utilities, living expenses, and daily expenses. That's why Dong Xuebing would go to the supermarket during the holidays or weekends to work part-time at the Antique Market. Other than his school fees, he was able to earn his own living expenses. He did not need to ask his mother for money and could live on his own.
Although it was a little tough, he had managed to endure the four years of stumbling through.
After dinner, Dong Xuebing's mother was cleaning up the dishes and watching the old black and white movie < Underground Warfare > on TV. Dong Xuebing returned to his bedroom and lay on his wooden bed. He stared at the ceiling in a daze. Dong Xuebing thought for a long time. The universities in Beijing do not have any job assignments now, and he had graduated from Union University. What if he could not become a government official? Sigh.
It would be great if he had superpowers.
Unfortunately, after trying so many times yesterday, he didn't succeed.
Try again?
The door opened, and Dong Xuebing's mother poked her head out. She said gently: "You read by yourself. I will go upstairs to Mrs. Xu's house for a while. I heard that her son will also be taking the Civil Servant exam this year, and it will be the same exam venue as you. I want to see if I can let her son tutor you. Xiao Dong is good at studying."
Dong Xuebing's chest tightened, and he replied with a hoarse voice.
"I will be back in a while." Dong Xuebing closed the door.
Dong Xuebing gritted his teeth and continued with another boring experiment.
Go back! Go back! Go back! Go back! BACK！
Suddenly, Dong Xuebing, who was lying on the bed, felt his body moving. He looked around and shook his head helplessly. Damn … there is still no reaction.
Just as he was about to give up on trying, the door of the hut opened without any warning.
Dong Xuebing's mother poked her head out and looked at her son. "You read by yourself. I will go to Mrs. Xu's house for a while. I heard that her son will also be taking the Civil Servant exam this year, and it will be the same exam venue as you. I want to see if I can let her son tutor you. Xiao Dong is good at studying."
Dong Xuebing was stunned. "Ah?"
It was the same words and the same tone.
This had clearly happened about fifty to sixty seconds ago!
Seeing her son's reaction, Dong Xuebing's mother guiltily blinked her eyes and whispered, "I know that you care about your face, but her son, Xiao Dong, was only a few questions away from getting full marks in the National Examinations. Let him talk to you, and you will have a higher chance of passing."
Dong Xuebing replied in a daze: "That's not what I mean."
Dong Xuebing's mother looked at Dong Xuebing's expression. "Then I will go now."
After his mother left, Dong Xuebing slapped his forehead. I did it! I did it!
Suppressing the surprise in his heart, he quickly grabbed a small orange plastic alarm clock and stared at the time on it without blinking. Once again, he silently chanted the incantation.
Go back! Go back! Go back! Go back! BACK！
Dong Xuebing mumbled to himself from afternoon to night. After dinner, he will continue to mumble to himself from night to night. Finally, hard work paid off. At two minutes and twenty-eight seconds past midnight, time rewound once again, returning to one minute and twenty-eight seconds past midnight. It had been a full minute!
Dong Xuebing is overjoyed at this moment.
Dong Xuebing knew the time on the alarm clock was off, and he quickly switched on the old 29-inch TV.
On the top right corner of a military program, the time displayed was 23: 59: 19.
It took about 19 seconds for Dong Xuebing to switch on the TV. That means when he used the "return" button, it was exactly 12 am. Dong Xuebing blinked his eyes and guessed that the "return" button could only be used once a day, and every time he used it, he would go back to 60 seconds ago.
God!
If this was the case, then God was too kind to him!
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