Chapter 14: Reborn 1987 Chapter Fourteen: Troubles Come One After Another

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Protagonist:

Jiang Wenyu

Chen Lan took Nuan Nuan out early this morning; today she's going to check out the clothing factory Wu Guoli introduced, and also look at the new kindergarten's environment. Jiang Wenyu also left early and headed for the Mall.

But when he arrived he found Li Chen still hadn't opened up. He knocked hard on the door and waited a full five or six minutes before seeing Li Chen stumble out in a daze.

Normally Li Chen lives here; who knows if he has another place. He swayed as he opened the door and welcomed Jiang Wenyu in, then rubbed his head and said, "Aiyo, my head is killing me..."

Jiang Wenyu smiled wryly, helpless; he'd experienced the feeling of a hangover himself.

"Right, did you find the picture tube?"

While rubbing his head, Li Chen pointed at the counter. Jiang Wenyu walked over, picked it up, looked, and couldn't help saying, "Eighty percent new. Where'd you get it? How much?"

Li Chen replied in a daze, "Didn't spend a dime. Don't ask where it came from — legitimate source, that's all. Aiyo, I can't take it anymore. Going back to lie down. Yell if you need anything."

Li Chen went back to sleep like a log. Jiang Wenyu immediately set to work repairing it. With the picture tube found, the rest was simple.

Disassembly, installation — not that he was extraordinarily fast, but absolutely steady. Not a single mistake the whole way. He even took the time to tidy up some of the internal wiring. The whole process wasn't long, but not short either.

Actually repairing these things isn't hard. The problem is few people in this era have the skills. Forget fixing a big color TV — even fixing a small radio, few can do it, especially in a small city like this. That's where Jiang Wenyu's edge shows. And he knows far more than just a little.

By mid-morning Li Chen finally got up. The moment he rose he saw the already-assembled big color TV and instantly perked up. He ran over to Jiang Wenyu and said, "Finished this fast?"

Jiang Wenyu was sitting in a chair smoking. He smiled and said, "Done. That brick phone is finished too."

In just one morning both jobs were completely done. It practically stunned Li Chen. He laughed loudly: "Good, brother. You're simply my money tree!"

Jiang Wenyu also laughed heartily: "But my money tree still needs your fertile black soil of resources."

The two looked at each other, then both burst out laughing.

"Deal! I'll take these two things to Dianqi Cheng right now."

Jiang Wenyu nodded: "Then I'll head back first. Still have some other matters. Oh right — can you sell me that bicycle of yours cheap?"

Li Chen instantly clicked his tongue and said: "Between us brothers, what's this talk of selling or not? Take it and use it!"

Bidding farewell to Li Chen, Jiang Wenyu rode the bicycle off in a set direction. He planned to swing by Cheng Dacheng's place to take a look — not to demand money, just to see how Cheng Dacheng's Wangba Ting has been doing these past couple days.

Cheng Dacheng is a sharp one. Not cut out for business, but he's got a knack for handling money. Might come in handy later.

Arriving at that not-so-clean district, before Jiang Wenyu could even stop he saw crowds of people walking back and forth over there from afar. Mostly young people. Getting closer he realized they were all coming out of the Wangba Ting. Some were even waiting outside.

Jiang Wenyu parked the bike and slipped in from the side. One step inside and he was startled again. The whole little Wangba Ting had only three Big Heads, yet it was packed. Everyone clustered around those few computers wandering about. Shouts rang out from time to time.

Although the internet hasn't taken off yet, these Big Heads still had some little games and such installed. The graphics looked nothing special, but they played with relish.

"Hey, Mr. Jiang!" Cheng Dacheng, busy as a bee, spotted him at a glance. He squeezed through the crowd and pulled Jiang Wenyu into the small living room at the back.