Old Newspaper

"Good morning, Auntie Xu!"

"Morning! Early birds get the freshest picks!"

As dawn just began to break, Xu Zhendi, as usual, hurried through the alleyways with her old canvas grocery bag, heading to the nearby market to buy vegetables. Along the way, she encountered many people greeting her in the typical Shanghai dialect, all familiar faces from the neighborhood, to whom she carefully smiled back in response.

At 49, Xu Zhendi looked somewhat aged, her frosty temples and the wrinkles around her eyes making her appear older than she actually was. Clad in a clean, light-colored cotton shirt, although it seemed a bit old-fashioned, it was neat and tidy.

She was once a worker at the Shanghai Dyeing and Chemical Factory. However, in 2001, when the factory shut down, hundreds of workers lost their livelihoods, including her, making her unemployed. Since then, the family had been relying mostly on her husband, Lee Cunrong's income, living quite a tight life.

"Auntie, the bamboo shoots today are fresh, how about two pounds?"

Despite the early hour, the market was already bustling. The vendors, eager to sell, shouted about their wares, but Xu Zhendi wasn't easily fooled; one look and she knew whether the vegetables were fresh or not. After browsing and selecting, her bag was soon filled with various fresh and tender greens.

Even as she grumbled about the rising prices of vegetables, Xu Zhendi carefully chose her purchases, squatting down at a familiar stall. Today was a weekend, and her daughter, who was in college, would be coming home, so she decided to buy a fish to cook a nice red-braised dish.

Despite the family's poor financial condition in a big city like Shanghai, thinking of her two children always filled Xu Zhendi's heart with joy. Her pride was evident whenever she had a chance to boast about them.

Her son, a graduate of a prestigious university, was studying abroad in the United States and had reportedly found a job, poised to make good money. Her daughter was also competitive, having been admitted to the same university as her brother and often tutoring to help support the family.

Everyone in the North Road community knew that Xu Zhendi's family was destined for better days, perhaps even moving to the United States with her son. However, while she boasted about it, the thought of actually moving there had never crossed her mind; her husband, Lee, was still years away from retirement, and his salary was crucial.

"How much for this fish?" As she thought of her children, Xu Zhendi's voice brightened, and she stood a bit taller, as if even the way people looked at her changed.

"20 yuan per pound, all fresh, good for both red-braising and steaming," replied the fish vendor, a burly man with bushy eyebrows and an open coat revealing a hairy chest. Despite his appearance, his tone was earnest as he greeted Xu Zhendi warmly.

"Ah, how can it be so expensive! Last time I bought it for 15 yuan. Don't try to hike the price!"

"15 yuan? Impossible, Auntie Xu, you know the prices. I've been selling vegetables here for seven or eight years; when have I ever overcharged?" 

"How about a little cheaper, maybe 16 yuan?"

Xu Zhendi bargained with a smile, expertly haggling while keeping a keen eye on the fish she had already set her heart on, plump and still lively.

"Alright, alright... 17 yuan per pound for you, but I can't go any lower. You always drive such a hard bargain, Auntie Xu; I hardly make any money off you," the vendor grumbled good-naturedly, outmatched in the art of bargaining by the seasoned Xu Zhendi. They settled on the price after a bit of back and forth.

"How could you not make any money! Sell it cheaper to Auntie Xu, and you'll make a fortune in the future. You're only in your twenties and not yet married; you'll find a good wife soon enough," Xu Zhendi chattered away, pointing to the fish she had chosen, while keeping a watchful eye on the scale.

"Alright, thank you for your blessing! I'll take your word for it," laughed the vendor, Ye Tianlong, a familiar face to Xu Zhendi. They both laughed, enjoying the haggling process, knowing that a bit of good cheer is worth the loss in profit. He quickly wrapped the fish in a plastic bag and handed it over.

"Ah no, this won't do; the bag's all wet. Give me a couple of newspapers to line it with," Xu Zhendi said, noticing the dripping water and worried about her canvas bag getting wet. She hastily asked the vendor to find something to line the bottom.

"Sure, sure, don't worry. It's just a couple of old newspapers, no big deal," Ye Tianlong casually pulled out two wrinkled newspapers from under the counter.

"Hold this for a moment while I get my money out," Xu Zhendi handed the bag back to him and dug into her purse for the money, taking the newspapers with her other hand.

"That'll be 37.5 yuan. Don't short me on the change now, Auntie Xu, it's cheap enough as it is," Ye Tianlong said somewhat impatiently, holding the bag with the lively fish still flopping inside.

Xu Zhendi, however, seemed not to hear him, her gaze fixed on the old newspapers in her hands. The grimy papers bore a small photo of a dapper young man shaking hands with a foreigner. The picture, slightly blurred and faded from the old newspaper, would have been hard for most to make out clearly, but Xu Zhendi recognized him instantly – her beloved son, whom she had raised for so many years.

Below the photo was a large black headline that read—$1.08 billion! The Wealth Myth of a Genius Scientist.

Trembling, Xu Zhendi carefully smoothed out the newspaper, afraid of tearing it. She stared at the small photo, growing more certain of its resemblance. After double and triple-checking the mind-boggling figure and the man in the photo, she had no doubt—it was indeed her own cherished son!