The young lady handed over, saying, "Ten yuan!" High Light went through all his pockets and managed only scattered one-dollar bills, which he handed over. "Not enough! You'd better have a bottle of mineral water instead!" the young lady said. "Alright!" High Light smiled sadly—truly, he couldn't afford even a bottle of water. What should he do? Go back to his hometown to visit his mother or look for a job? But now, he had no money at all! Compared to his situation back home, his elder brother, Lao Zi, was even worse off. High Light felt a wave of sorrow, hesitating as he stood there, when suddenly a voice reached him: "Oh! Isn't this High Light?" Looking up, he saw a middle-aged man in a suit—Mr. Zhang, who had previously worked at the automobile sales company. He smiled warmly at High Light and asked, "You're doing so well in the U.S., aren't you? Why have you come back?" High Light replied calmly, "I've resigned." "Zhang Zong was about to ask more questions, but Gao Liang waved him off and prepared to leave. Zhang had bought a bottle of Coca-Cola and offered it to Gao, who didn't take it—after all, how could he afford a bottle of Coca-Cola that cost ten yuan, let alone hold it with dignity? Yet Zhang said, 'Hold on, I'm not giving it to you for nothing! If you ever have any difficulties, just let me know!' Gao's eyes widened. 'Please, forget it! It was you who pushed me out the first time—I certainly don't want to go through the same thing again!' 'This time, I'm truly trying to keep you. Our customers here are all major clients who specifically need experience in the U.S.—we really do need someone with your background...' Zhang's words trailed off as Gao's old Motorola phone rang. Gao picked it up. A faint voice came through: 'Liang! Are you in the U.S.? Don't worry about Mom...' Before the sentence could finish, the caller hung up. Upon hearing that it was his mother, Shen Hanfu's voice, he felt excited. He borrowed 500 yuan from Mr. Zhang, who reassured him not to worry about repayment and casually handed him a business card with his new phone number. Should he need to reach out, he could contact Mr. Zhang. "Hand it over! Or I'll take you out!" A rough voice boomed like a mountain blast, shaking High Bright's ears so loudly they nearly went deaf. "What exactly are you asking for?" High Bright thought these desperate men just wanted money, so he replied, "I'll give you my life—my life, yes—but I really don't have any money." "Black Head! Go search!" one voice ordered. Immediately, High Bright felt hands rummaging around him. Besides finding that old Motorola phone, he was also able to feel the remaining 9 yuan and 5 jiao. "Sir, really, there's nothing!" Black Head said, looking disappointed. "Damn it!" The scar on Lei's face became more pronounced as he shouted at High Bright, "You're going to hand it over now—otherwise, I'll take you out!" Lei's knife was now pressed firmly against High Bright's chest. High Bright remained calm. It wasn't that he didn't fear death—rather, his current situation made living no better than dying. All that remained was—where was his mother? Seeing that Gao Liang showed no fear, Lei Yi raised both hands. Then, Black Head unrolled the cloth. Gao Liang was stunned to see the scene before him: his mother, Shen Hanfu, was being held captive by two ruthless assailants. She looked much more worn out, with deeper lines on her forehead than before. With a weak, hoarse voice, she said, "Liang, why have you come back? As soon as you return, you've just stepped right into the jaws of the wolves!" "Mom! Isn't it true you're critically ill?" Gao Liang asked in surprise. Lai shouted, "Gao Liang, if you don't hand it over, I'll send your mother to the Western Heavens right away!" As he spoke, one of the thugs held a knife in one hand and pressed his fingers tightly against Shen Hanfu's throat, causing her face to instantly pale. Gao Liang cried out, "Let her go! I'll give it to you!" Then, from his inner pocket, he produced the CD—the very one that had changed his life's course. Lai took it, smiled warmly, and said, "Done! We can now go back and report to our superiors." With a wave of his hand, the black-headed man and the two thugs departed, leaving Gao Liang and his pale mother, Shen Hanfu. Now I truly understand the greatness of maternal love. My mother is kind and patient, generous, and doesn't care whether you're poor or wealthy—what matters most is that you're safe and sound. (⊙o⊙) Yes, I am currently starting from nothing, but as long as I'm alive, I will strive hard, begin from scratch, and never let the loss of my training DVDs diminish my ability to earn a living. I am a bachelor's student in Computer Science and Technology at Hanshai University of Science and Technology, a renowned institution, and I've been recognized as an outstanding student at Stanford University, world-famous. Even though I haven't graduated, my experience studying and working abroad in the U.S. has already opened my eyes to the world. As the plane touches down and I step onto Chinese soil, I feel a deep sense of warmth—this is my homeland! With determination, I will make a remarkable impact in China, starting from nothing and continuously growing stronger and more accomplished through relentless effort. Thinking of this, Gao Huang grasped Shen Hanfu's hand and said, "Mom, I'll work hard so you can live a happy life. I'm sure I'll achieve success someday, and then I'll bring you both to Hanshai to enjoy a peaceful retirement. You just rest at home, and I'll be off to Hanshai! Once I succeed, I'll definitely bring you there to enjoy your well-deserved comfort!" The fish-eye wrinkles on Shen Hanfu's forehead smoothed out into a contented smile. Seeing her son so devoted, having sacrificed his prime opportunity for development in the U.S. to return home, she felt deeply reassured. Tears of happiness welled up. She said, "Liang, I believe in you! I believe in your abilities!" That evening, Gao Huang and his mother sat together in their old family home, chatting warmly, laughing and sharing stories, which brought great comfort to Shen Hanfu. The next morning, Gao Huang said goodbye to his mother. As he was leaving, she gently pressed 1,000 yuan into his hands and said, "My dear son!" I know you've started from scratch. Mom has very little—only these things at hand. Take them. Buy a better ticket and take a sleeping car. Pick up some snacks on the way. It's not easy being away from home all by yourself. Please take good care of yourself!" Gao Liang, holding back tears, accepted the money. Back in the U.S., when he had millions of dollars to spend, he never hesitated—now, with just 600 yuan, the weight of this amount feels immense! After arriving in this inland city, the first thing Old Zhi did was to find a job. No matter how hard or tiring the job, he always managed to stay strong. In the executive office of Hao Hai City's Hao Shi Auto Marketing Company. General Manager Zhang Shijie sat comfortably in a sofa chair, looking at the stack of documents on his desk, his head now full of stress. He turned to his young assistant beside him and shouted, "Liu! This kind of work isn't acceptable! We're a high-end car sales company—our service must be superior!" "Yes! Yes!" Li Qingsong, at the sound of the words, nodded respectfully and humbly.