Reborn in 1982: I Became the Richest Man by Repairing Cars

"I must say, your idea was really useful."

"I spread the word that if you want to marry me, you have to support my bedridden mother together, and I also have to give a portion of my salary to my brother to live on."

"My ears have been much quieter these past few days."

Lin Wanqiu turned her head and glanced at Jiang Hui, then smiled gently.

Even though the evening air wasn't so hot anymore, Jiang Hui suddenly felt his blood boil.

Lin Wanqiu, without any makeup, was more clean-cut and beautiful than any internet celebrity of later generations.

Standing at 1.7 meters tall, wearing a polyester shirt, with an upright posture, every aspect of him is in line with his aesthetic sense.

She's thin overall, but she's still very plump in the right places.

He simply couldn't understand how he could have been so bewitched in his past life, betraying such a wonderful woman.

Is it really because a wife is not as good as a concubine, and a concubine is not as good as a stolen woman?

"If anyone dares to harass you again, just tell me."

"With me here, no one can bully you."

Jiang Hui spoke solemnly: How could he allow others to covet the meat in his own bowl?

Having been reborn, Jiang Hui is now absolutely confident and fearless in the face of anyone.

Lin Wanqiu blushed slightly, lowered her head, and whispered, "Okay."

"Your dad didn't beat you last night, did he?"

Lin Wanqiu quickly changed the subject. She knew all too well how astonishing it was to give up a secure job and choose to set up a street stall in this day and age.

Speculators, street vendors, idlers, those without a stable home, street hustlers...

Anyway, nobody would think this is a respectable profession.

Since they don't consider it a respectable profession, there are probably very few people who would think that people who set up stalls are respectable.

Therefore, it is normal for Jiang Hui to be scolded or even beaten at home.

"I was criticized and denounced yesterday!"

"They probably knew they couldn't beat me now, so they stopped attacking me."

Jiang Hui made a joke and casually changed the subject.

They chatted and laughed all the way, and soon arrived at the entrance of the courtyard where the two lived.

Jiang Hui watched Lin Wanqiu walk into the neighboring courtyard before turning around and going into the house.

When will I be able to spend the nights with Lin Wanqiu again?

We need to find a way to open as soon as possible!

Otherwise, if you don't have money in your pocket, you won't have the confidence to say anything.

……

In the courtyard, Jiang Dadong and Jiang Yong had already finished get off work.

Jiang Yong was sitting at the door wiping his bicycle when he saw Jiang Hui. His face immediately darkened, and without saying a word, he got up and went inside.

That evening, Jiang Dadong and Jiang Yong certainly wouldn't treat Jiang Hui well.

The family finished their dinner in a silent and oppressive atmosphere.

"Second brother, this is my saved pocket money. You can take it in case of emergency."

Before going to bed, Jiang Yu secretly lifted the curtain and slipped Jiang Hui a handful of change.

Most of the banknotes were one cent or one jiao, with the largest one being one yuan. They were neatly stacked, with some wear on the edges—this was her New Year's money and pocket money saved up over several years, which she usually couldn't bear to spend a single cent of.

Reincarnated at eighteen, the first money I ever received was from my younger sister.

Jiang Hui was quite touched and couldn't help but reach out and pat her head. "Little Yu, keep this money for yourself to buy stationery. Your second brother will be able to earn money soon and buy you a pretty dress then."

The floral dresses of 1982 were mostly made of Dacron fabric, with bright colors, and were the favorite clothes of young girls, but they were a bit expensive.

Jiang Yu's eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously: "I believe in Second Brother! Second Brother's skills are so good, he can definitely make a lot of money."

For Jiang Yu, who is only fourteen years old, all they can do now is offer verbal comfort to Jiang Hui.

"Xiaoyu, go to sleep!"

Jiang Yong's voice came from outside, his tone stern.

He lifted the curtain, glanced at Jiang Hui, his eyes filled with disappointment, "You can do whatever you want, but don't interfere with Xiaoyu's studies."

Jiang Hui did not refute.

Due to limited resources, the three siblings squeezed into one room. Jiang Yu slept in a small bed inside, separated by a blue cloth curtain. Outside, there was a bunk bed where Jiang Hui slept on the top bunk and Jiang Yong slept on the bottom bunk.

Such living conditions were commonplace in the Beijing tenement in 1982.

Some large families even have to sleep on the floor, with no room to turn around.

In some tenement buildings, the living conditions are even more cramped, with no space even available for couples to conduct their business.

……

Silent all night.

In the following days, Jiang Hui set up his stall at the entrance of the alley on time every day. Almost everyone in Wudaoying Alley knew that the second son of the Jiang family had given up his secure job to set up a car repair stall.

When passing by his stall, people would always point and whisper among themselves.

When Jiang Hui looked up, he acted as if nothing had happened.

If it were the original Jiang Hui, he would definitely feel very embarrassed.

But now, having experienced the ups and downs of life, he no longer cares about what others think.

Money is hard to earn, and life is tough. If you want to turn your life around, you have to put aside your so-called pride.

He still sits at his stall every day, either studying the auto repair knowledge in the system or chatting with Lao Wu, maintaining a very calm attitude.

Old Wu saw this and admired Jiang Hui even more: "Jiang, you have a good mentality. Anyone else would have given up long ago."

"Uncle Wu, we're here to make money, not to listen to gossip."

Jiang Hui smiled and handed over a cigarette—he'd swiped his dad's Sheep Brand cigarettes. "When I make a lot of money, we'll smoke Peony cigarettes (Peony cigarettes cost 1.3 yuan a pack)."

Old Wu took the cigarette and chuckled, "Alright, I'll be waiting to benefit from your kindness."

"Young mechanic, are you really only charging if you can't fix the car?"

Seeing that it seemed like he was going to get nothing again today, Jiang Hui remained calm on the surface, but he was a little anxious inside.

Unexpectedly, business came knocking at this time.

"That's right, no money back if it can't be fixed."

"Don't let my young age fool you, I've been working on car repairs with my dad since I was six, and I have over ten years of experience."

"No matter what kind of car it is, I can quickly diagnose the problem."

"It's definitely repaired quickly and well."

Jiang Hui's eyes lit up, and he immediately stood up, a warm smile plastered on his face, but his tone was neither humble nor arrogant.

Zhang Wuchao looked at Jiang Hui suspiciously, but estimated that there wouldn't be a better option in the short term.

Early this morning, he secretly drove his boss to the Yonghe Temple to offer incense, but the car suddenly broke down when it reached the entrance.

He called several groups of people to come and fix the problem, but none of them could. Some of them were even too scared to come when they heard that the car in question was a Crown sedan.

Even if some of them come, we don't dare to disassemble them casually.

After struggling for most of the day, there wasn't even anyone willing to fix it.

The leader had already gone home, instructing him to get the car repaired and drive it back as soon as possible, and to make sure no one knew about it.

You should know that in this day and age, burning incense and worshipping Buddha were considered "feudal superstitions," and if word got out, it would affect one's future.

He had been asking around when a passerby told him there was a car repairman at the entrance of Wudaoying Hutong, so he decided to give it a try.

But seeing Jiang Hui's age, his heart sank.

"Our car is parked in front of the Yonghe Temple. It's a Toyota Crown, imported. Can you fix it?"

Zhang Wuchao asked tentatively.

Imported cars were extremely rare in the 1982 BJ, and were mostly used by foreign friends or high-ranking officials.

This car is technically difficult to repair; even experienced mechanics at state-owned repair shops might not dare to attempt it easily.

Jiang Hui was overjoyed—the Toyota Crown had complete maintenance data in the system, so it was not a difficult task for him at all.

"Imported cars can be repaired too! Sir, let's go take a look right now!"

Fearing that Zhang Wuchao might change his mind, he picked up his toolbox and left, walking faster than usual.

This was his first business deal. How much money he made wasn't important; what mattered was making a name for himself and letting everyone know that Jiang Hui really knew how to repair cars.