King of Technology: A Fresh Start in 1983

As soon as August began, He Fan pestered Zhan Yiling to help him complete a difficult task.

Although Zhan Yiling was unwilling, seeing He Fan's almost pleading gaze and remembering that He Fan had never asked her for anything, she couldn't bear to refuse.

"Do we really need that many ID cards? A few dozen wouldn't be enough, why do we need hundreds?"

This is the third time Zhan Yiling has questioned this, but her tone has become increasingly weak.

"not enough."

He Fan said firmly, "Think about it, with a one in ten chance of winning, dozens of ID cards can only win a few lots, and each lot can only buy a thousand shares."

"I went through so much trouble to get a mere few thousand shares. Even if they multiply several times in the future, I'll only make tens of thousands of dollars."

"If we're going to do something, let's do something big. If we can get our hands on a few hundred ID cards, we can easily make hundreds of thousands!"

"You're not satisfied with making tens of thousands of yuan all at once?" Zhan Yiling continued, "Why do you insist on making me go back to school to help find my ID card?"

"I've tried everything I could think of, not just schools, and I've been to every place I could go."

"People from companies like Zhang Wei's or IBM often need to use their ID cards when traveling for work, so they definitely can't borrow them."

"Think about it, what kind of people rarely use their ID cards? Only students! And where are students most concentrated? Of course, it's schools."

"But school's already on holiday, there aren't many students left..."

"We can only blame our bad luck, but let's look at it from another angle..."

"There are still students staying on campus during the summer vacation, and these people must have their ID cards."

"Why don't you give it a try? Find as much as you can."

Zhan Yiling looked at He Fan pitifully:

"Then why do you insist that I go to Gao Jianmin? You know, among our classmates, he's the one I least want to see."

He Fan was getting impatient: "What happened between you and Gao Jianmin several years ago? It's been four years since graduation, what's there to be uncomfortable about?"

"He stayed on at the university as a counselor and liked to organize various student activities, so he came into contact with a lot of people."

"I think he's the right one. Can you think of anyone else besides him?"

"Besides, isn't he the most likely person to give you face? He'll definitely do his best to fulfill any request you make."

Zhan Yiling immediately frowned: "You're using me!"

He Fan panicked: "Hey, what are you thinking? I'm so anxious and upset I have blisters all over my mouth..."

"Why is it so hard to ask you for a favor? If you won't help me at this crucial moment, who else can I turn to?"

Upon hearing He Fan's words, Zhan Yiling quickly examined his face and then asked him to open his mouth.

He Fan brushed Zhan Yiling's hand away and said, "Also, try to find a few more ID cards from Pengcheng, and they have to be from males."

Why?

"To go to Shenzhen, I need a border pass, and I'm worried that the police stations in Beijing won't easily issue me a certificate..."

He Fan continued, "Ideally, I'd like to find a photo that looks like me. If I can't get one, I'll have to find a way to smuggle myself out."

Zhan Yiling was even more worried: "But our school doesn't recruit many students from there every year, and even fewer are willing to leave Shenzhen to study in other places."

"And those who happen to stay at school this summer vacation are extremely rare..."

"That's why I kept begging you to find Gao Jianmin to help!" He Fan stamped his feet anxiously.

Zhan Yiling quickly reached out and rubbed his back repeatedly: "Okay, okay, I'll go, don't worry, I'll definitely find a way."

...

The next morning, Zhan Yiling dialed Gao Jianmin's number.

Gao Jianmin was overjoyed when he received Zhan Yiling's call.

Hearing that they were going to meet, he became even more excited, and replied in a trembling voice, "Okay...no problem...you can decide the time and place."

"Let's go to that little restaurant near our school where we used to hang out."

...

That evening, after getting off work, Zhan Yiling got out of the taxi and walked into the small restaurant…

Gao Jianmin jumped up from beside a table and warmly extended his right hand to greet him.

Zhan Yiling finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She was worried the whole way, afraid that when they met, Gao Jianmin would suddenly rush up and hug her...

Although he didn't hug her, he held her hand tightly and led her to the dining table.

Taking advantage of the moment when she placed her handbag on the chair, Zhan Yiling pulled her hand back.

But he didn't dare put his hands on the table; instead, he tucked them between his knees.

Zhan Yiling nodded to Gao Jianmin: "You're here really early! I'm not late, am I?"

"I'm not late, I'm not late. You came all the way from the city, it's too far. I rode my bike from the department here in less than five minutes."

Gao Jianmin carefully examined Zhan Yiling: "You haven't changed at all; you still look as innocent as you did back then."

"I thought that if you went to a foreign company, you would definitely be all jewels and look like a slick, worldly woman."

Zhan Yiling chuckled: "It's only been four years since I graduated, do you think I should be really old by now?"

"No, no, in my heart you've always been the same."

Gao Jianmin said sincerely, "I was so happy to receive your call this morning, it means you haven't forgotten me."

"It's just that the time was a bit rushed, otherwise I would have found a better restaurant."

"This place is exactly the same as it was a few years ago; there hasn't been any improvement or enhancement whatsoever."

Zhan Yiling continued, "That's why I wanted to eat here! When I was in school, whenever someone had a birthday or received a scholarship, we would all come here for a meal."

"You guys come here to celebrate when you win, right? Oh, and when you lose, you come too."

Gao Jianmin's gaze suddenly became somewhat dazed and unfocused.

"But the atmosphere here doesn't seem quite right for our reunion after so long..."

Zhan Yiling casually replied, "Because we agreed on the phone that you would treat us, of course we should find something affordable."

"If we go to those places that rip people off, I won't let you pay the bill."

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Gao Jianmin's eyes.

Zhan Yiling pretended not to see it and took out a large wallet from her handbag and placed it on the table.

She then took out her business card holder from her wallet, pulled out a business card, and handed it to him: "Please take care of me."

Gao Jianmin took the business card from Zhan Yiling, but his eyes widened in surprise!

His gaze was fixed on the bulging wallet on the table.

Inside, a thick stack of RMB banknotes was visible.

At this moment, Gao Jianmin felt extremely uncomfortable!

I remembered the hundred-yuan note and the fifty-yuan note in my pocket…

There were also a few one-yuan and five-yuan notes...

He couldn't help but glance again at the large wallet on the table...

The money in there was more than he earned in a year of hard work by keeping it in the bank…

Surprisingly, Zhan Yiling carried it with her casually, as if it were everyday pocket money.