Reborn in 1985, starting from a machine factory

It was getting dark.

The stove was fully open, and the red-hot coals were scorching the aluminum pot.

In the pot, Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers floated and sank in the soup along with several pig's trotters.

An enticing aroma filled the courtyard. Chen Fen stood by the stove, watching the pot while swallowing her saliva.

Similarly, the strong aroma deterred all the neighbors who wanted to watch TV.

These days, life isn't easy. If you know someone is stewing meat, it's a cowardly thing to do.

They won't be coming today.

Chen Mo handed the meat to Li Guihua and began assembling the antenna.

Having the experience and traces from the first assembly, this time it was much easier to assemble.

Chen Gang didn't watch TV or look at the meat; he kept staring at Chen Mo.

Ever since he saw Chen Mo take out that wooden stick, he felt uneasy all over.

He only breathed a sigh of relief after he saw what Chen Mo was busy with.

This younger brother changes his mind faster than turning the pages of a book; we have to be careful.

However, the more he looked at the thing in Chen Mo's hand, the more something seemed off to him.

Chen Gang often wanders the streets. Although he can't do anything that costs money, he has seen a lot of things.

He couldn't help but ask, "Second brother, are you making an antenna?"

Chen Mo looked up in surprise: "Big brother, you've seen this before?"

"In the eastern district, some people have one on top of their houses, but theirs is different from yours!" Chen Gang said.

Chen Mo's hands moved swiftly, placing the tangled aluminum tubes one by one back into their original positions:

"Brother, I'm planning to borrow money to do something, and I might need your help sometime."

Chen Gang turned his head, looked carefully at the busy Li Guihua, and then firmly shook his head: "I'm not going!"

"Huh? What's wrong?" Chen Mo looked up, his gaze falling on Chen Gang's arm.

"Big brother, this is a serious matter, completely different from your previous reckless behavior."

"Second brother, save your breath! Mom's home, and you've practically beaten me to a pulp!" Chen Gang said with a disdainful look.

"Work with you? Wouldn't I really be crippled?"

"Alright!" Chen Mo didn't say anything more and inserted the last aluminum tube.

Then, it was fixed to a bamboo pole that had been found beforehand.

Unlike Zhao Degui's house, Chen Mo's house was not surrounded by big trees, and the house itself was not very tall. A three- or four-meter bamboo pole would be more than enough!

Chen Gang observed everything: "Second brother, is your work better than everyone else's?"

"So, you're planning to borrow money to do this, whether it's from Sun Yat-sen or your uncle?"

"Wow!" Chen Mo's face lit up with delight. "You could even tell that, brother, that's impressive!"

"I'm not stupid!" Chen Gang rolled his eyes at Chen Mo.

"If you're not stupid, why would you go and mess around like that? You might lose an arm or a leg one day, or even your life."

"You don't understand!" Chen Gang shook his head.

"You see, if you want to make money, you need capital."

"Where will the capital come from?"

"You expect you and Dad to save up?"

Chen Mo slowly turned his head, looking at Chen Gang carefully as if he were seeing him for the first time.

"What's wrong?" Chen Gang looked around and continued:

"Saving money is definitely unreliable!"

"The only reliable option is to take a small risk and risk a large return!"

"You can lose countless times, but if you win just once, you can get it all back!"

"Second brother, don't you think that makes sense?"

"Brother, are you still gambling?" Chen Mo's eyes instantly turned sharp.

"No, no, no!"

Chen Gang hurriedly waved his hands: "Who gambled?"

"That's the point I'm making with you."

"Brother, if you're going to bet, I'll definitely break your legs!" Chen Mo said this very softly.

Chen Gang suddenly shuddered.

...

The following afternoon.

As soon as it got a little dark, Chen Mo turned on the lights in the front door and the yard.

Li Guihua didn't say anything today; she urged Chen Fen and her father, who had just returned, to change their clothes.

Chen Fen struggled to pull her glasses out of the television and went inside.

Chen Mo also glanced at the TV. It had been assembled and tested last night, but the feeder cable wasn't connected yet, so there was no difference from usual.

Actually, seeing Li Guihua's joy today, Chen Mo already knew he was wrong!

Unlike others, my uncles and aunts supported me not because the antenna was so good or how much money it could make.

It was because he was Li Guihua's son.

Just this one.

But this one is enough!

"Ring ring!"

Suddenly, a sound came from the doorway.

A tricycle covered with a blue tarpaulin was parked at the door, and my aunt and uncle got off.

"Auntie, Uncle." Chen Mo immediately went to greet them.

Before her aunt could speak...

A bicycle came speeding towards them, and as the tires scraped the ground, a man in a leather jacket got off.

"Such a show-off!" The aunt looked up at the man.

The man scratched his head.

Chen Mo smiled and said, "Uncle, why did you come by yourself?"

"Your aunt said it's too cold tonight and she doesn't want to move!"

"Where's Chen Fen? I haven't seen her." The uncle asked.

"They're watching TV inside!" Chen Mo said.

"oh!"

"Big sister, come on, let's go inside!" The younger uncle helped the older aunt up.

Uncle smiled憨厚ly and followed Chen Mo.

"Look at you, you're almost thirty and still have no decent life!" Auntie couldn't help but say.

"Hey sis, what's gotten into you? Let me tell you, these days, working a regular job is no better than running your own shop."

"Your brother-in-law and I are getting old, there's nothing we can do about it."

"You're a man, and you're cutting your hair? You're so pathetic!" The aunt turned her head to the side.

The younger uncle shook his head, his eyes full of smiles, and did not refute, but carefully held his aunt's arm with his hand.

"Go away, I'm going to help Guihua cook. You go play somewhere else." Auntie waved her hand.

The younger uncle immediately perked up: "Xiaofen, third brother, where are you?"

Feeling utterly helpless, Chen Fen turned her head away from the television and asked, "Uncle, I'm here. What are you doing?"

"Wow, the new TV is so clear!" The younger uncle looked at the TV carefully, then turned to his brother: "Third brother, put your hand out!"

Chen Fen looked puzzled: "What's wrong, Uncle?"

"I brought you some local specialties from the city, and I must give them to you personally; I don't trust anyone else to do it for me!"

"What is it?" Chen Fen asked, extending her hand.

The uncle carefully put his hand into his pocket and grabbed Chen Fen's hand with his other hand.

"I put a lot of effort into this thing!"

He gently placed his hand in Chen Fen's hand, then abruptly released it:

"Ta-da! Golden hamster!"

Chen Fen felt the furry little thing crawling in her palm.

She instinctively lowered her head, and their eyes met!

"oh!"

"mouse!"

Chen Fen suddenly spoke up, eager to pull her hand away, but her uncle seemed to have already guessed and did not let go of her hand.

"Waaah... Mom, there's a mouse!"

Seeing that she couldn't break free, Chen Fen spoke with a sob in her voice.

The uncle hurriedly grabbed the mouse and released Chen Fen.

Just then, a corncob flew out of the kitchen and headed straight for him.

"How old is he? He's not even a hundred years old yet. Why are you teasing him?" the aunt scolded.

The younger uncle dodged the corn cob, saying, "Big sister, it's nothing, the third brother and I were just joking around!"

"Are you kidding me? Sending me a mouse?"

"It's not a mouse, it's a hamster, a novelty pet in the city!"

The uncle said, while opening his palm to reveal the little golden mouse in his hand.

Chen Fen wiped away her tears and moved closer. She had always loved these furry things: "Uncle, does it bite?"

"It doesn't bite, and there's a cage. I'll bring it in for you in a bit!"

"But a hamster is still a mouse, isn't it?"

"It's not a mouse!" Uncle said smugly. "Just tell your classmates that you have a golden hamster as a pet."

"They were incredibly envious of how accurate and reliable it was."