In 2023, failed businessman Lin Weidong died suddenly of a heart attack. When he opened his eyes, he had returned to Jinling in 1987, to the day of his military recruitment physical at age eighteen. Carrying the endless regrets of having dodged conscription, squandered his family’s money, and lost his parents in his previous life, he resolutely enlisted. The army’s harsh discipline wore away his recklessness, forged his resilience, and brought him lifelong comrades-in-arms, instilling in him a soldier’s sense of duty.
When he returned home after his service, China was surging into the era of reform and opening up. Bringing a soldier’s discipline and foresight to the business world, Lin Weidong set his sights on the clothing industry. From running a night-market stall to opening a factory and establishing a brand, from heading south to seek his fortune to taking his brand overseas, he faced competition, crises of trust, and clashing ideas. He remained grounded in integrity and relied on hard work as his weapon, steadily moving forward through the era’s major turning points, including the dual-track pricing system, state-owned enterprise reform, and the real estate boom.
In this life, he made up for the affection he had missed, protected his bonds with his fellow soldiers, and found a happy love. He transformed a small clothing factory into a diversified conglomerate. After achieving success, he devoted himself to charity, taking on social responsibility without forgetting his original aspirations.
From 1987 to 2023, reborn into a new life, Lin Weidong seized the opportunities of his era, tempered his youthful spirit into steel, and carved out a path to triumph that let him honor his family, his times, and himself. His story captures both the iron will and the warmth of a soldier’s approach to business.
