If you could go back to a specific moment in your past, armed with your current knowledge and abilities, what would you choose to do differently?

This thought-provoking question came from a recent interview I conducted. The candidate was a man in his 50s, who had worked his way up from the factory floor into manufacturing management. However, a business venture five years ago had left him disillusioned with real-sector entrepreneurship after facing a debt crisis and near bankruptcy. His company’s overreliance on a single customer and lack of agility led to its downfall. When the customer began delaying payments, he chose to trust and tolerate, which ultimately crushed the business. I asked him: “If you had the chance to walk the same entrepreneurial path again, what would you do differently?” He replied, “I wouldn’t put all my eggs in one basket. I’d diversify my clients and cut losses at the first sign of trouble.”

I smiled and said, “If you were to walk that same path again, you might still fall into the same trap. For small businesses, finding a ‘good’ customer is like finding a needle in a haystack. You might avoid one pitfall, only to stumble into another. The outcome could be the same—only the timing might differ.”

That conversation inspired this month’s theme.

Reflection: Would I Choose Differently?

If I truly had the chance to return to a specific moment in my past, would I do it? I’ve been pondering this ever since the HR team announced November’s writing theme. Was there ever a moment in my life I wished I could redo?

Only as I began writing did I find my answer: I would not go back. I believe everything that happened was the best possible arrangement. Even if we could go back and alter the past, would the outcome necessarily be better than today? Not necessarily.

My Path with New Hongji

As a child, I was mischievous and not focused on academics, so my father guided me into vocational education. I started out as an ordinary worker. Back then, I never imagined starting my own factory. But it was this path—marked by perseverance—that eventually led to 30 years of success at New Hongji.

Had I gone back and taken my studies seriously, gotten into a top university like Tsinghua or Peking, perhaps New Hongji wouldn’t even exist. Nor would there be this company that now stands as a symbol of China’s high-end manufacturing excellence. So no—I wouldn’t choose to relive my school years.

The journey of building New Hongji could take days and nights to recount. The people and events are like frames from an old film reel, capturing every moment. A reel can be rewound and replayed, but life cannot. From our humble beginnings at the school-run factory at No. 18 High School, to a 40 sqm space at Xiaowangjia Lane, to over 200 sqm at Gebaihu Lane, to 680 sqm at the old TV factory, and finally to owning 2,300 sqm of land on Jinhai Road in 2003, growing into today’s 8,000 sqm Shengpu plant—every step was a precisely right decision. Had even one step gone wrong, there would be no New Hongji today. Looking back, I have no regrets and no need to start over.

Some might say, “What if you had bought more land, built more facilities, or snapped up some real estate in 2002 when prices were just over 2,000 RMB per square meter?” My answer: Wrong thinking. Had I made a fortune in real estate, would I have still focused on precision machining? Highly unlikely. And without that focus, there would be no New Hongji today. So would that be a big gain—or a huge loss? Anyone with insight knows the answer.

The One Thing I Still Carry in My Heart

What I do hold on to is the deep longing and guilt I feel toward my late father. I was a handful as a kid and caused him much worry. But as I grew older, I began to make him proud—I had the talent for real work. I consistently took first place in city-level vocational competitions. When we founded New Hongji together, I gradually became more decisive in major business decisions. My father always respected my choices—whether in site relocations, major equipment investments, or project launches.

But perhaps I became too proud. I often disagreed with him in company management. I would lose my temper, while he always showed tolerance. He quietly shouldered the burden alone. If I could go back just once, I would choose to spend more quality time with him—travel across China’s beautiful landscapes together, share more meals, talk more, watch movies together… just be there for him.

Every Qingming Festival feels like time travel—bringing me back to my father’s side. I tell him about the company’s growth, about our family’s changes, about what’s happening in life. Perhaps New Hongji today is exactly what he dreamed of. I’m merely fulfilling my duty as a son: to carry his legacy forward and make New Hongji shine even brighter.

The Best Arrangement

Regret is part of human nature. The greatest unhappiness often stems from dwelling in the past—lamenting what we should or shouldn’t have done, whom we should or shouldn’t have trusted. But perhaps everything, just as it is, is the best arrangement.

Let’s stop dwelling on the past. Let’s release the burdens in our hearts. Let’s face the second half of life with bright smiles and open arms.

May everyone live a life of their own brilliance!

Li Jian