Courtyard House: A Prosperous and Joyful Life

In Beijing in 1985, television sets were still a rarity among the "three major household items".

Yan Bugui's 14-inch black and white TV attracted neighbors from half the alley to watch "Huo Yuanjia" through their windows every night, but the signal was intermittent, and there were more static dots on the screen than human figures.

Wang Jun squatted at the entrance of the alley, smoking and staring at the Yan family's window with a grin: this scene was his "business opportunity".

Recently, a bunch of "TV antenna manufacturers" have sprung up on the market, selling telescopic antennas or passive antennas with a maximum receiving radius of 500 meters. The signal is so weak it's practically non-stable.

Wang Jun had already read the "Electronic Newspaper" and knew that the "Yagi antenna" was popular in Japan. It has a five-element structure, with an active element and four passive elements, an aluminum frame, and the signal strength can be tripled!

But this thing has a high technical threshold: the spacing between the oscillators has to be calculated as "wavelength ÷ 2", and the signal amplifier has to be tuned to the intermediate frequency. In the 80s, the number of skilled craftsmen could count them on their fingers.

"That's the information gap!"

Wang Jun flicked away the cigarette butt and pulled an aluminum tube from the cardboard box. It was industrial waste that he had traded for radio parts; the rust on it was still reflective.

The core of the Yagi antenna is "precision".

He took out his vernier calipers and checked the data in the "Antenna Manufacturing Manual": the active element length is 28.5cm, the passive element length decreases by 5cm, and the spacing is set to 5.7cm according to "0.2 wavelength".

Sparks flew as the aluminum tube was hammered against his knee, and in half an hour it was welded into a "spider web," gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

"The difficult part is the signal amplifier."

Wang Jun squatted in the yard, laid carbon paper on the copper-clad board, and traced the hand-drawn circuit line stroke by stroke with an oil-based pen. This was the "tracing method" for making circuit boards, a technique used by electronics factories in the 80s.

He drew a "high-frequency amplification + detection" circuit, which required a 3DG6 transistor, and the resistors and capacitors were all salvaged from old radios.

The most critical issue is corrosion: when ferric chloride powder is mixed with water, the solution turns a strange green color. Wang Jun soaks the copper-clad laminate in it, and bubbles rise to the surface with a "hissing" sound.

"We need to keep a close eye on it; the circuit will break if it gets corroded."

He moved a small stool to guard it, and two hours later he fished it out. He rinsed off the residue with clean water, and the lines on the circuit board were as thin as hair, yet each one was clearly visible.

"It's done!"

Wang Jun soldered the amplifier onto the antenna vibrator and wrapped the interface tightly with black tape.

These five-element Yagi antennas are rough but sturdy, and when placed on the roof, they look just like a "signal catcher".

We can't do it without TV testing.

He noticed that Yan Bugui's light was on, so he picked up the antenna and went over: "Uncle Yan, can I borrow your TV antenna to test it out?"

Yan Bugui was fighting with Jia Zhangshi for the remote control when he saw Wang Jun fiddling with the antenna. He scoffed, "What can this brat possibly do? Don't break my TV!"

Wang Jun climbed onto the roof, pointed the antenna towards the southeast, and adjusted the angle.

Suddenly, the TV screen in the Yan family's house crackled with a "sizzle," the static decreased by 80%, and the theme song of "Huo Yuanjia" rang out loudly!

"My goodness!" Jia Zhangshi exclaimed, scattering the melon seeds all over the floor. "These are ten times better than the ones sold in the factory!"

Yan Bugui leaned close to the screen, his face stiff. Normally, he had to bend the antenna into a pretzel to see it, but now it was as steady as if it were welded to a wall.

Wang Jun came down from the roof and clapped his hands: "Uncle Yan, I'll sell these antennas for 50 yuan a set, installation included. If you like them, could you help me promote them?"

Yan Bugui touched the antenna frame, his throat moved. 50 yuan is expensive, but with this effect, who in the alley wouldn't be envious?

Seeing that Jia Zhangshi was glued to the television, he gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! Install one for me first!"

Wang Jun stood at the door of Yan Bugui's house, clutching the bamboo pole base of the Yagi antenna. The bamboo sleeve made his palms itch. He had modified the antenna according to the system blueprints, and it worked even better than the ones he bought.

"Hey Jun, what's that new gadget you're holding?" Yan Bugui shuffled out in his cloth shoes, squinted at it, and said, "That wire looks like a clothesline from the village entrance!"

"Uncle San, this is a TV antenna, I made it myself." Wang Jun held up the antenna. "I'll borrow your TV to test the signal. If it's good, everyone in the compound will be able to see clearly in the future."

"antenna?"

Aunt Zhang, who was hanging clothes to dry in the yard, and Uncle Li, who repaired bicycles, all gathered around and formed a circle.

"A TV antenna? My TV has more static than shadowy figures, could such a thing even exist?"

"I heard that those installed in the south cost tens of yuan. Did you make this yourself?"

"Can you receive Hong Kong channels? 'Fearless' is airing right now!"

Yan Bugui slapped his thigh: "Let's go! Let's go inside and try it out! This nine-inch black and white TV has been with me for thirteen years. Except for the antenna, everything else is original. It's top-notch quality!"

Inside the room, a thin layer of dust covered the TV cabinet. Yan Bugui wiped the screen with his sleeve, as if handling an antique.

"Jun, be careful! You can't afford to pay for it if you break it!"

Although his words were harsh, his eyes were drawn to the Shanghai brand watch on Wang Jun's wrist, a symbol of a nouveau riche who could afford to buy a TV as easily as playing a game.

Wang Jun laughed and asked Aunt Zhang to bring over a four-meter-high bamboo pole. He set up the antenna, plugged the connector into the back cover of the TV, and it was done in three minutes.

"Uncle San, turn it on!"

With a "click," the screen lit up, and everyone in the room gasped. The dense static on the screen vanished as if by magic, and even the news anchor's eyebrows were clearly visible!

"My dear mother!"

Grandpa Li leaned closer to the screen and poked at the glass with his finger.

"This...this is even clearer than the film reels in a movie theater!"

"Not a single grain of snow!" Aunt Zhang slapped her thigh. "Watching the news on my TV is like trying to see through a fog. Did your antenna take some kind of magic pill?"

Wang Jun leaned against the table and calmly nodded: "Uncle San, try changing the channel and see how many you can get."

Yan Bugui rubbed his hands together and turned the knob. The old television creaked, and suddenly, a figure dressed in short martial arts clothes popped up on the screen, and the loudspeaker blared: "The Great Wall will never fall, the Yellow River flows on and on!"

"The Legendary Hero Huo Yuanjia!" Aunt Zhang shrieked. "Yuedong TV! This is Yuedong TV!"

"Eastern Guangdong is thousands of miles away from here, can it even receive signals?" Yan Bugui's eyes widened, and he slammed his teacup against the edge of the table. "This antenna... can it receive channels from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan?"

The entire room erupted in chaos: "Wang Jun, what did you do?"

"Will you sell this antenna? I'll offer twenty yuan!"

"I'll bet thirty!"

In the early 1980s, thirty yuan could buy half a pig, but "Huo Yuanjia" was a national phenomenon. Who didn't want to see Huo Yuanjia's elusive fist technique?

Looking at his neighbors with their eyes shining, Wang Jun was overjoyed. He was glad he had bought the Yagi antenna blueprints from the system store.

He tapped the antenna: "This thing is called a Yagi antenna. It has strong directional reception. The signal in Beijing is too mixed, and ordinary antennas can't pick it up clearly, but this one specifically targets strong signals."

Yan Bugui grabbed his arm: "Jun! Sell me this antenna! How much? Fifty yuan? Eighty yuan? I'll sell my old bicycle!"

Outside, the setting sun bathed the gray walls of the courtyard house in a golden-red hue.

Aunt Zhang gripped Wang Jun's sleeve tightly: "Jun, get my house renovated first tomorrow!"

Grandpa Li stroked his chin: "My TV is in the main room, where am I supposed to put the bamboo pole?"

Yan Bugui stared at the TV screen, enjoying it more and more. The picture was so clear; how could he stand the static from before?

In short: there's no going back.

What's even better is that this antenna can receive several more channels, making it even more enjoyable to watch.

He was intrigued and asked Wang Jun, "Jun, how much is this antenna?"

Wang Jun thought for a moment and said, "45 yuan." The cost is about 5 yuan, so selling it for 45 yuan makes a profit of 40 yuan per piece, which is not bad.

Yan Bugui immediately made the decision: "I'll take it!"

Upon hearing this, the neighbors were all eager to speak and began to chime in:

"Jun, I want to buy one too!"

"Hey Jun, make one for me too!"

"Me too!"

"Make a note of this, I want one!"

In the dead of winter, with little entertainment at night, watching TV is the best way to pass the time.

Buying this antenna is like upgrading your TV; who wouldn't be tempted?

In the blink of an eye, four or five people wanted to place an order.

Wang Jun was delighted; the Yagi antenna was popular as soon as it was made, and the business was secure.

He said, "Okay, it will be done in two or three days. I will install it for everyone free of charge. All you need to do is prepare a bamboo pole."

The installation only takes a dozen minutes and is not troublesome, so Wang Jun simply took care of it.

"Very good!"

"Installation included!"

"Jun, hurry up! I want to watch 'Huo Yuanjia'!" The neighbors urged even more enthusiastically.

On the other side, Yan Bugui changed the channels and found three or four more. After installing the Yagi antenna, this TV could receive six channels, which was quite impressive in the 6s.

He pulled out 45 yuan with satisfaction: "Jun, your antenna works like a rocket!"

Wang Jun pressed his advantage: "Uncle San, I'm planning to have this antenna mass-produced. Are you interested?"

Yan Bugui's eyes lit up. The effect was good and the demand was high. It would definitely be in high demand in the market.

With nearly ten million people in Beijing, and hundreds of thousands of them owning televisions, they are all potential customers!

This is a great opportunity to make money; we absolutely cannot let it slip by.

He replied decisively, "Yes! Assemble it and sell it to me, and I'll help you sell it."

Wang Jun nodded: "Okay, I'll sell it to you for 45, you sell it for 50, and you'll make 5 yuan profit on each one. If you sell 30 or 40 a day, you'll make 200 yuan. More and more people are buying TVs, so there's no worry about sales."

The neighbors' eyes widened and their hearts raced. Making 5 yuan on each item, 50 yuan on 10—that's money coming in too fast! They all chimed in, saying:

"Jun, I want to help you sell them too!"

"Yes, yes, I want to too!"

"Jun, you absolutely must sell a batch to my aunt. She has six children and they're so poor they can't even afford to eat!"

"Soldier, I need ten, please help me!"

It all boils down to one thing: they want to buy antennas and make money!

Yan Bugui was unhappy; wasn't this stealing his business?

Wang Jun was delighted. He planned to produce two to three hundred units a day, the more people who helped promote them, the better. After all, these people were essentially working for him, and he would earn the most. He said with a smile, "Don't worry, everyone, I'll produce in large quantities. Anyone interested can join me in making money!"

Wang Jun gripped the newly assembled Yagi antenna. The metal rod gleamed coldly in the sunlight. Once this thing was mounted on the TV, it could receive four more channels, and the picture was so clear that you could count Huo Yuanjia's braids!

Next, it's time to recruit more people.

The first people he thought of were his junior high school classmates Guo Hongbing, Li Xiangdong, and Luo Xuenong.

These three lads have been making a living by refurbishing radio casings, earning about ten yuan a day. They're living a very comfortable life, and their eyes light up whenever they see Wang Jun.

"Junzi, what's the good news?"

Guo Hongbing, with an ice pop in his mouth, came over, and Li Xiangdong and Luo Xuenong followed suit.

Wang Jun tapped the antenna: "Assembling this thing, 80 cents a piece, wanna do it?"

"TV antenna? What's that?" Li Xiangdong scratched his head.

"A gadget that can get more channels on the TV and make the picture straight!" Wang Jun gestured, "The work is simple, and if you're quick, you can earn over ten yuan a day!"

"Holy crap!" Luo Xuenong dropped his popsicle. "More than ten yuan a day? My dad only earns thirty-eight a month at the textile factory!"

Guo Hongbing was anxious: "Let's do it! We absolutely have to! Junzi, you have to save some spots for us!"

Li Xiangdong patted his chest and said, "I'll get the shell-flipping guy tonight, and he'll be here by tomorrow!"

Wang Jun laughed. In the 80s, people lined up to find work, and these three young men looked anxious, like wolves that hadn't eaten for three days seeing meat.

He tapped the three men on the forehead: "Come to my house tomorrow to learn. If you master it, you'll be well paid for!"

Carrying the antenna, Wang Jun squeezed onto a bus to the department store.

Tang Yanling, who was wiping the electronic component counter, widened her eyes when she saw him arrive: "Junzi, you've run out of components again?"

"We've got something new this time." Wang Jun shook the antenna. "We're assembling a TV antenna to help the TV receive more channels."

"Really?" Tang Yanling tugged at his arm. "My 'Flying Leap' TV can only receive CCTV and local channels, and the picture quality is terrible! If you could watch 'Huo Yuanjia' on Guangdong TV, I'd be your slave!"

"My antenna can receive six channels, and the picture quality is super clear!"

Tang Yanling immediately decided, "Get me one! How much?"

"It's free." Wang Jun handed her a list. "I'll bring it to you tomorrow. Have your brother come help me assemble it; the pay is good."

"My brother, Tang Xiaoshan?" Tang Yanling's eyes lit up. "He may be a bit slow, but he's obedient! We were just worried about not having any work to do!"

At the entrance of the department store, Wang Jun carried out two large boxes of components, which were piled up like a small mountain.

He pulled out six yuan and called out to four temporary workers waiting for jobs: "Help move the courtyard house, two yuan each!"

Temporary workers were happy to get started. In the 80s, two pieces of gold could carry a "small mountain" of goods, enough to buy a pound of pork.

Wang Jun followed behind, looking at the dusty roof of the courtyard house, and calculated in his mind: with two hundred sets of materials and ten workers, he could earn four thousand by the end of the month. If he saved enough money before the end of the year, he could renovate the west wing into an "antenna workshop"!

In the courtyard, Guo Hongbing was showing off his newly bought bell-bottoms to Li Xiangdong when Wang Jun returned. The two of them hopped over like rabbits: "Junzi, when are you going to learn antennas?"

"First thing tomorrow morning," Wang Jun said, piling the components in the yard. "Let's make this clear: no pay if you don't learn it!"

"I guarantee I'll learn it!" Luo Xuenong patted his chest confidently. "I'll go to the library tonight to look up information!"

Tang Yanling's younger brother, Tang Xiaoshan, stood at the door carrying his bedding and timidly called out, "Brother Wang, I'm here."

Wang Jun patted him on the shoulder: "Don't be afraid, the work is simple. If you do a good job, I'll give you twenty yuan at the end of the month!"

at night,

Wang Jun worked for several hours.

A batch of signal amplifiers were manufactured.

This is for tomorrow.

……

the next day.

Just as dawn broke, Guo Hongbing, Li Xiangdong, Luo Xuenong, and Tang Yanling's younger brother Tang Xiaoshan arrived at Wang Jun's house.

Tang Xiaoshan was short and stocky, and a very honest person.

Looking at the room full of radio casings,

There were also rows of assembled radios.

Four teenagers,

They were all stunned.

Guo Hongbing asked curiously, "Wang Jun, how many radios can you assemble in a day?"

Wang Jun casually replied, "A few dozen, I guess."

Four people,

It was shocking once again.

Dozens of radios can be assembled in a single day.

How much money would that make?

I bet they could eat meat every day without any problem!