Chapter Five, Still a Youth

Lu Xuedong's feelings were a mix of excitement and confusion

"Please say, as long as it is within my capabilities, I will certainly do my utmost." Lu Xuedong replied, clenching his fist

Upon arriving at the parking lot of the car rental company Enterprise, I paid a rental fee of 24,000 yuan and received the reserved compact car, which was an ordinary Toyota

So, do you plan to stay in the United States? Have you found a job yet

Despite having other means to secure funding, the increasingly severe subprime mortgage crisis presents a rare opportunity

After looking at the lottery trend chart on the wall, he pretended to fill in five sets of numbers at random, paid 5,000 yuan, and left with the Powerball ticket

I..." Lu Xuedong hesitated, took a sip of hot coffee, and finally sighed, feeling somewhat embarrassed as he said: "Ha! I plan to stay in the United States"

Lu Xuedong, who may appear dull, actually possesses a passionate heart. He once spoke with great ambition, expressing his hope to return to his home country and dedicate himself to the semiconductor industry after achieving academic success

It is now Thursday, the 24th, and the Powerball draws take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays. With two days left, feeling that there is still plenty of time, I called the rental car company Enterprise's hotline to reserve a small car

He took his driver's license, wallet, and phone, and went out again

A mere penny can thwart even the greatest of heroes, such is the harsh reality

Looking back on the past, from acquaintance to understanding, the two have become confidants to each other

Just the thought of the future and Lu Xuedong's tragic fate makes him unable to suppress his sighs

After a multitude of emotions, Huang Xiuyuan was also contemplating certain matters. Considering the future, he did not wish to give up on the talent that Lu Xuedong represented

Without waiting for the other party to speak, Huang Xiuyuan continued, "I plan to return to my country to start a business. How about we make an agreement?"

Passing through downtown Boston, we head directly onto the highway towards Hartford, the capital of Connecticut, which is 162 kilometers away. Despite the frigid and snowy weather, the traffic on the highway is not heavy.

Because there are no Powerball sales locations in Massachusetts, he can only go to neighboring Connecticut to make a purchase

In these years, not only have I not asked my family for money, but I have also remitted a considerable amount to support my younger siblings' education.

Xue Dong, I am lending you 15,000 yuan. My mother needs dialysis now, and this amount should be sufficient to last for about a year

Lu Xuedong possesses an indomitable quality; had it not been for the sudden tragic news, he would undoubtedly have remained true to his ideals

Upon hearing these words, Lu Xuedong tightly gripped the hot coffee with both hands, as if he were trying to feel the faint warmth being transmitted from the cup.

There was a taxi driver who won the grand prize in that issue

The weather at noon is somewhat better, with a few rays of sunlight filtering through the clouds and scattering upon the earth

Certainly

A period of three months, if I can offer you a signing fee of 1 million yuan, you must work for me for 10 years. If I cannot do this, then you may choose Texas Instruments!

Some fragments are memories of the past, which are directly excluded, and the distant future is also excluded.

Huang Xiuyuan immediately searched his memory for relevant information, and after several seconds, he locked onto thousands of clear images

The forensic autopsy results indicate that there are seven gunshot wounds to the back, classified as suicide

In my memory, after joining Texas Instruments, Lu Xuedong successively engaged in the improvement of semiconductor materials and new semiconductor processes, becoming a pivotal senior engineer at the company

A title of moderate size catches the eye

Therefore, obtaining a sum of startup capital through the Powerball is the safest and most reasonable method

Once the actions become too extreme, the Americans are not to be underestimated

After driving around downtown Hartford for more than half an hour, I returned to Boston in the car

At the entrance of the buffet restaurant, watching the gradually receding figure, Huang Xiuyuan prepared to return to the dormitory. His peripheral vision swept over one side of the restaurant entrance, where there was a newspaper rack

In the latest draw of the Powerball, there were again no winners for the grand prize, and the current jackpot has accumulated to 230 million U.S. dollars

Unless one has the ability to assist others, it is best not to offer unsolicited advice; without having experienced the hardships of others, one should not urge them towards goodness

Calmly, Huang Xiuyuan picked up the hot milk and took a sip, even though he had a thousand words to say in his heart, he did not know how to begin

A morning newspaper caught my eye, and I casually picked it up. The fresh scent of ink wafted up, a subtle aroma lingering in the air

The two individuals, each with their own concerns, transferred 15,000 yuan to Lu Xuedong after finishing their lunch

On one hand, there is the abandonment of ideals, choosing to stay in the United States for work, obtaining a high salary from Texas Instruments, treating my mother's uremia, and subsidizing some household expenses

After a long silence, he finally murmured with slightly reddened eyes: "My mother is ill, she is in the late stage of uremia"

He cast a meaningful glance at the other person and casually replied, "It's done; I can apply for graduation at any time. What about you?"

After a moment of consideration, he made a decision in his heart

Looking at the 15,000 US dollars in the account, Lu Xuedong felt a heavy weight in his heart, and finally managed to utter a single phrase: "Thank you, Xiuyuan"

Xue Dong, if you encounter any difficulties, do not keep them to yourself.

Only three segments remain in nearly one month, the most recent segment is a news report from the 27th of this month, which he came across while browsing online news.

He hurriedly returned to the dormitory after putting down the newspaper

Huang Xiuyuan, browsing the web, muttered to himself: "This is a bit troublesome"

It is not possible to obtain a large sum of funds all at once solely through financial means, and there are also some operational difficulties, in addition to being wary of those fellows on Wall Street

Huang Xiuyuan said this because he understands the other party

On one hand, there is a steadfast adherence to ideals, resolutely returning to the homeland, where one may face an uncertain future and a heavy economic burden

He searched for information about the Powerball online, but his understanding of it was limited to hearsay, mainly from one of his roommates who played it.

As he passed by the lottery sales point, Huang Xiuyuan paused, stepping into the warm sales area.

Upon arriving in the United States to pursue a doctoral degree in semiconductor studies, I have been working part-time while studying, relying on various scholarships. I have not even dared to rent a dormitory, and can only continuously stay in the laboratory, spending nights there and resting.

After driving for more than one hour and forty minutes, the car stopped near a lottery sales point. However, he did not go directly inside; instead, he walked a few dozen meters away and entered a bakery to purchase a bag of bread

Mentor Marshall recommended that I go to Texas Instruments, but I have not yet made up my mind

Moreover, such opportunities are rare, and it is essential to seize this chance to obtain the funds before the butterfly effect becomes significant

Even if there is no strong foundation there, he still has not changed his ideals. Lu Xuedong is a pure person; if it were not for the twists of fate, he would definitely not have stayed in the United States for over ten years

Despite some disbelief, he still harbors a glimmer of hope. If possible, returning to his home country to engage in the semiconductor industry would be his ideal.

The sentiment of the nation and the affection for home collide intensely at this moment

Although the two individuals are three years apart in age and did not attend Harvard University in the same year, the concept of fate is difficult to explain

In the end, Lu Xuedong chose to yield, opting for the high salary offered by Texas Instruments

In January of the following year, just one day before he was scheduled to board after purchasing his flight ticket, he was found dead in his apartment

After four hours, Huang Xiuyuan returned to the dormitory and carefully stored the lottery ticket, as this was the quickest way to obtain startup capital

Lu Xuedong did not think twice: "Alright, I agree."

By 2020, the new Cold War pattern was officially established, which sparked his desire to return to his home country; unfortunately, Lu Xuedong underestimated human nature

May you emerge from half a lifetime and return still as a youth

Unlike Huang Xiuyuan from the Xiaofu family, Lu Xuedong's parents are farmers who toil in the fields. The funds for his studies abroad were primarily derived from his part-time work during university and from writing outsourced programs for some small companies