Chapter 30: Getting the 3100

This time they made 4000 yuan; Ye Cheng gave Xiao Hu 1000, and the guy grinned happily again.

Brother, we finally made it into the city; want to buy something?

Yes, I want to buy a phone.

Brother, you want to buy a phone? That thing isn't cheap, and calls are expensive too—why buy it?

You don't understand; from now on we'll need phones for our seafood business—do we have to go to Li Quezi's every time to make a call, letting everyone know everything? Ye Cheng scolded softly.

Phones are the trend of development; besides, before it was annoying to clock in with phones, but now not having a phone on you is really uncomfortable—we've gotten used to it.

In later times phones have their own brand stores, but now there aren't any; now it's called the communications market, with stalls selling various brands mixed together.

Li Yong knew his way around the communications market and led the two there directly; he himself also had a phone and understood its convenience, but he didn't say much.

Just looking at Ye Cheng's expression, it seemed to have changed a bit—this kid suddenly has money to buy a phone?

A few days ago he was still stealing chickens and dogs in the village, peeking at Zhang Guafu taking a bath.

Xiao Hu was visiting the communications market for the first time, dazzled by the variety—straight bar, flip, round, square phones all there.

Brother, which one are you planning to pick? I've seen ads for several brands before—Motorola, Nokia, and that fighter-jet of phones; I feel that one's the strongest.

It's not about picking ad slogans for a player's phone; you need to choose one that's usable.

Brother, look at this—wow, amazing, a rotating cover!" Xiao Hu suddenly grabbed Ye Cheng, pointing at a phone and said.

Ye Cheng looked over; it was the famous Moto V70, round-headed design, 360-degree rotation—when it first came out, its stylish look made it a nationwide hit.

Standing on the street, a finger push lightly turns it, 'hello'—it's definitely the handsomest guy on this street.

Of course, its price back then was also quite moving.

Check the price yourself." Ye Cheng pursed his lips.

Xiao Hu lowered his head, glanced, then inhaled sharply and stood straight, eyes wide, held up a hand gesturing: "Brother, 8000—this is way too expensive."

The stall owner glanced at Xiao Hu's exaggerated reaction, proudly said, "What's 8000? You can't even get the goods for 8000; this phone just came out, you still have to pay a markup to get it."

Xiao Hu sucked in a breath of cold air: "Ten thousand—who would buy something that expensive?"

Don't worry, plenty of people will buy it." The owner said leisurely.

To say the least, those selling phones back then made a lot of money; demand was huge, and many people, once they had money, first thought of buying a phone.

High-end or low-end, they didn't worry about sales, so those years were their golden age; later, when everyone had a phone, replacement frequency dropped and phones weren't as easy to sell.

Ye Cheng wore a calm expression, waited for the owner to finish showing off, then asked, "Do you have the 3100?"

Yes, just released, 1500." The owner gave the price.

(The 3100 came out in 03; I personally like it, used it for many years, have feelings for it, so I'm borrowing the name.)

Ye Cheng calculated: when he was in college he bought one, seems like it was also over a thousand, about the same price.

Alright, get a red one.

Generally men don't need red things, but this model's red color scheme from back then is really nice, much better than the white and blue versions.

Ah, brother, you're buying it already? Don't you want to look more?" Xiao Hu hadn't had his fill yet.

What's there to look at? I'll bring you over in a few days to buy one too.

Then should I buy one too now? I think I have enough money." Seeing Ye Cheng buy a phone, Xiao Hu felt a bit tempted.

You'd spend dozens a month, and a call costs two bucks—you buying it?" Ye Cheng countered.

Eh, forget it, brother—then when I need to, I'll borrow yours to make a call.

Big brother, who could you call?

Me?" Xiao Hu scratched his head, seeming to really have no one to call.

The owner quickly brought out a new phone from behind; in this era new phones aren't that particular, just need to see if it's the first boot—basically if you can turn it on, you can use it.

Mainly it doesn't have many functions, so it's not that complicated.

Ye Cheng picked up this little 3, turned it skillfully in his hand—same feel, solid and heavy in the grip; his old unit from back then had been dropped who knows how many times, yet still worked great.

If smartphones hadn't later appeared, Ye Cheng truly wouldn't have planned to replace it.

He held the power button, and those familiar letters appeared on the phone.

Brother, you've got good eyes; I tell you this phone is absolutely usable and affordable." The owner praised from the side.

Alright, let's go with this one.

As for the manual, Ye Cheng didn't bother with it; back in school he used to send texts with his eyes closed—called blind typing, far fewer errors than keyboard typing, so he didn't need any damn manual.

Ye Cheng calculated his current money,

Last time out at sea Ye Guowei gave him back 1000, plus this time he got 3000 of his own, subtract this 1500 leaves over 2000, and he still has to give Ye Guowei a share.

Feels like this money is going fast.

After leaving, he had Li Yong take him to the mobile service hall to get a card; the phone matter was finally settled.

On the way back, Li Yong finally couldn't hold back his curiosity and asked, "Old Two, you went to sell seafood?"

Before he hadn't paid attention to what it was, but seeing the two come out of the seafood restaurant and then go buy phones, it looked like they'd made money.

Mm, today we made a bit from gathering at sea." Ye Cheng gave a perfunctory reply.

You made quite a bit, huh—you even got phones." Li Yong glanced at Ye Cheng's new phone.

Not bad, luck's been better.

Li Yong chuckled, "Looks like Old Chen Jinhai couldn't do anything to you either."

That's right, my brother is who?" Xiao Hu interjected, quite proud.

He doesn't remember what cowardly look he had when he saw the Village Chief.

Li Yong gave a couple of heh-heh dry laughs; Ye Cheng's change is quite big—just this demeanor is worlds apart from the former lecherous Ye Cheng, making him have to watch his words.

After returning, Ye Cheng first ran to his older brother's house, gave Jiang Yunxiang 1500 yuan—part was his brother's morning help money, part was to let the sister-in-law take it to repay debts.

Jiang Yunxiang objected a bit, didn't push it away, and just accepted it.

Looking at how Jiang Yunxiang took the money, what Ye Guowei said earlier about the family having savings was all fake; they definitely have no money left.

After returning home, Ye Cheng slept for a while; waking up early in the morning left him a bit tired.

In the afternoon, Zhang Guafu suddenly came, carrying the morning's bucket.

"Lao Er is up, huh; I came to return the bucket, and I also brought you some vegetables I grew myself."