Chapter 1767 - 1364: Homesick Fear (Part 4)

This isn't pretentious, it's a fact.

The money hidden in secret offshore bank accounts around the world is enough for him to live a hundred lifetimes.

He has taken so much money, yet he doesn't dare to speak of it.

I remember the first time he and "Chef" Yevgeny got their hands on Sadam's gold, sold it to Avanti in exchange for US Dollars, and ended up with tens of millions, he couldn't help but transfer two million to each of his younger siblings.

It was supposed to be a happy thing, but his brother's voice trembled when he called: "Brother... What kind of business are you doing to earn so much? You're not..."

What makes money in Africa?

Either arms, gold, or drugs.

"The building materials business has grown big, got some government projects."

He lied without a change in his expression.

After that, he became more restrained in sending money back home.

Didn't dare to give too much.

Afraid his siblings would get suspicious, afraid they would worry.

Having money but not being able to spend it feels quite strange.

Over the years, he's sent money to renovate the ancestral home and bought his siblings houses in the city.

But he himself has only gone back once.

Why?

Fear.

Afraid of customs, afraid of the police, afraid of security departments.

Afraid his family would know the truth.

Also afraid...

That the person he used to be no longer deserves to go home.

"Sir, would you like a drink?"

The flight attendant's voice pulled him back to reality.

"Water, please."

Four hours later, transfer at Dubai Airport.

A modern terminal, dazzling lights, and a plethora of luxury stores.

He sat in the waiting area, watching the bustling crowd.

Many were fellow countrymen, tour groups, business travelers, students.

Hearing familiar dialects, he felt a little disoriented, as if he were home.

When he went to the restroom, he looked at himself in the mirror.

A man born in the '80s.

In his mid-thirties.

Rough skin, fine lines at the corners of his eyes, a few gray hairs at the temples.

His eyes...

Only his eyes remained exceptionally bright and sharp, just as they were when he was in the army.

He remembered himself when he first enlisted, the young man with bright eyes in the military mirror.

Over a decade has passed, as if in another lifetime.

Boarding the flight to GZ, Southern Airlines' Airbus A380.

This time he chose a window seat.

Most of the passengers were fellow countrymen, the noise, the crying of children, the gentle Chinese broadcasts by the flight attendants.

"Ladies and gentlemen, our plane is about to take off, please fasten your seatbelts..."

Hearing this Chinese broadcast, his nose suddenly tingled with emotion.

Quickly, he turned to look out of the window.

The night scene of Dubai receded, the plane soared into the night sky.

This time he fell asleep, slept very soundly.

In his dream, he returned to the riverside of his hometown, fishing with his brother.

The sunlight was great, the river water clear, with little fish swimming around. Mother was on the shore doing laundry, humming a song.

When he woke up, his eyes were wet.

After an eight-hour flight, the first light of dawn appeared outside the window.

The flight attendants started serving breakfast.

Among the offerings was a Chinese-style pancake with meat.

He ate slowly, savoring each bite.

It wasn't that the taste was particularly good, but it was the flavor...

He hadn't tasted it in so long.

At ten in the morning, the plane landed at Baiyun Airport.

Following the crowd off the plane, entering the terminal.

Chinese signs, Chinese broadcasts, customs emblems.

As he queued up, he grew nervous again.

This was the real exam.

The few people in front of him passed smoothly.

When it was his turn, he handed over his passport.

The customs officer was a middle-aged woman, with a stern expression.

She took the passport, opened it, looked at the visa page, and personal information page.

Then, she performed a specific action—placing the passport under a special scanner.

Song Heping's heart skipped a beat.

That was the online verification system.

His information would be sent to a database, compared with various lists.

Time ticked by second by second.

The officer stared at the screen, her brows slightly furrowed.

Song Heping's palms began to sweat.

He imagined what might happen next—being invited to the side room, security personnel appearing, questioning him about his activities in Iraq, his company, his business dealings with Lao Mo, and those gray businesses in Africa...

"You've been in Iraq for a long time?" the officer suddenly asked.

"Yes, working on engineering projects."

"This time you're returning to..."

"Visiting family. Haven't been home for many years."

The officer glanced at the screen again, then picked up the stamp.

"Thud."

The sound of the stamp.

"All set. Welcome back home."

Song Heping took back his passport, almost unable to believe it was this simple.

He nodded, trying to sound calm: "Thank you."

Walking through the customs channel, entering the luggage claim area, he finally let out a real sigh of relief.

The second hurdle was over.

Retrieved his luggage, passed the final security check, and exited the arrival hall.

Homeland.

This time he truly returned.

Standing in the bustling arrival hall, he felt a moment of confusion.

All around were the familiar sounds of Chinese chatter, people holding signs to pick up passengers, taxi drivers soliciting business, airport broadcasts announcing flight information.

Everything was so familiar, yet so foreign.

"Brother!"

He turned his head, seeing his brother Song He Xie waving in the crowd.

His brother had gained some weight, wearing a polo shirt and casual pants, glasses on his face, looking like an ordinary urban white-collar worker.

Next to him stood his sister Song Lingling, much more mature than he remembered, with light makeup, wearing a dress.

Beside Lingling stood a slightly cautious-looking young man, dressed neatly in a shirt and trousers, with an honest appearance.

Song Heping walked over.

His brother looked at him, eyes a bit red: "Brother... you've finally come back."

His sister rushed forward to hug him: "Brother! I've missed you so much!"

He hugged his sister, patted his brother's shoulder, then naturally turned his gaze to the young man.