Chen Ke checked the radio. "The transistor looks fine; it's probably a wiring problem, which can be fixed."
Gao Jin was overjoyed. "Great job, Chen Ke! I knew I hadn't misjudged you. Just between you and me, I wanted to bring this radio over to you for repairs as soon as I found out you fixed it. These days, it's really hard to find a repairman."
“Not many people can afford a radio these days.” Chen Ke picked up the tools Gao Jin had prepared and began to repair it.
Gao Jin chuckled, "This is what my wife and I bought when we got married. It cost my parents a lot of money. I didn't dare tell them when it broke. Luckily, I met you. You helped me a lot."
While reciting Gao Jin's instructions, Chen Ke asked about his situation. Only after learning about Chen Ke's background did he realize, "Ah, I didn't expect that you dropped out of school because you had to support your younger siblings. It's still a pity. You're so smart. If you could continue your studies, you would definitely be able to get into university."
"You can fix these things just by reading books? Amazing! I truly admire you from the bottom of my heart." Gao Jin gave him a thumbs up, completely convinced.
"You even went to night school? That's a rare opportunity."
"What? You chose mechanical manufacturing? Why didn't you choose accounting or something? You're smart, this isn't difficult to learn, and if you study it well, you might be able to switch from the workshop to the office." Gao Jin's surprised tone was full of regret.
The radio wasn't a big problem. Chen Ke had already fixed it while they were talking. He handed it to Gao Jin and said, "I'm very interested in machinery. I've even designed a few kinds of grain harvesters at home, and I'm hoping that one day I can actually make one."
"A grain harvester?" This was the first time Gao Jin had ever heard of such a machine.
Chen Ke nodded and explained simply, "It's a machine that can automatically harvest grain, so people no longer need to bend over and cut it handful by handful."
Gao Jin stared in astonishment, “Isn’t that just like the machines that farmers use abroad? The kind where people sit on it and it just chugs around the field a couple of times and the wheat is harvested?”
"Yeah, similar."
"Well done, Chen Ke, you have ambitious goals. Although some countries have already achieved this, our country's top priority right now is developing industry. We can't even focus on agriculture yet. If you succeed, won't we have to give you a Best Contribution Award?"
"What Best Contribution Award?" Zhou Qi suddenly pushed the door open and came in.
Gao Jin smiled and said, "It's nothing. I was just chatting with Chen Ke. Is Zhou finished with his work?"
Zhou Qi's gaze swept back and forth between the two of them. "When did you two become so close? Why isn't Chen Ke at work at this hour?"
Chen Ke sensed the subtle targeting in Zhou Qi's words and didn't want to exchange pleasantries with such a person, so he simply nodded to Gao Jin and said, "Then, if there's nothing else, Officer Gao, I'll head back now."
Gao Jin put his arm around Chen Ke's shoulder and said, "What do you mean by 'doing something'? I'm just a handyman in the union. If you don't mind, we're brothers. Just call me Gao Jin."
"Okay, Gao Jin." Chen Ke was happy to make friends with straightforward people, so he readily changed his tune.
Zhou Qi, standing nearby, looked at Gao Jin with disdain. "So what if he fixed the radio? Is it really worth Gao Jin going to such lengths to curry favor with him?"
Gao Jin personally saw Chen Ke out and carefully advised him, "Although the award quota has been decided, you'd better keep a low profile before it's announced, so as not to arouse the envy of some people who might try to trip you up in secret."
Gao Jin's words were a well-intentioned reminder. Although Chen Ke wasn't one to show off, he appreciated the gesture and said, "I understand, thank you."
It was almost time to finish work and have lunch, so Chen Ke went straight to the cafeteria.
After finishing my meal, I found a shady spot under a tree to nap for a while before returning to the textile workshop. It was another afternoon of simple, repetitive labor. Because of the machines running in the workshop, coupled with the small space and many people, even the fans hanging from the beams seemed to be smoking, yet there wasn't much coolness.
The workers were all listless, and even Wang Jingjiang barely spoke all afternoon, except for the sound of him gulping down water.
Finally, it was time to leave work. Wang Jingjiang was the first to rush out of the workshop, and even Chen Ke quickened his pace.
"Chen Ke, hurry up, I'll treat you to an ice pop." Wang Jingjiang called out to him from the doorway.
Chen Ke shook his head. "You go eat by yourself. I'll go directly to the cafeteria."
"You're going home right after dinner? How boring! How about I take you to a dance hall?"
Chen Ke glanced at Wang Jingjiang. He had almond-shaped eyes, a high nose, and a angular face with a roguish air. He might actually charm quite a few girls at the dance hall.
"No, you go ahead. I have to go to night school after I finish eating." If it weren't for the pressing issue of survival, Chen Ke would have really wanted to go with Wang Jingjiang to experience the unique entertainment features of this era.
Wang Jingjiang was astonished. "When did you start attending night school? How come I didn't know?"
"yesterday."
Wang Jingjiang:
"Hey, let me ask you something." Wang Jingjiang suddenly leaned closer to Chen Kelou, put his arm around his shoulder, and asked mysteriously, "Do you have someone in the guild?"
Chen Ke was a little confused. "What is that?"
"They have connections, powerful backers!"
"Oh, no."
"Dude, that's not very interesting. Night school spots are so precious, do you think the union will just give them to you like that? I'm not saying anything, but if you ever become successful in the future, don't forget to give me a hand."
Chen Ke found it amusing. Wang Jingjiang's calculations were far too far-reaching. Right now, he was still just a textile worker. Not to mention making a fortune, it seemed impossible for him to even change jobs.
"Don't laugh, I'm just taking precautions. A storm begins with a ripple, and a wave is formed from a gentle ripple. I have faith in you."
Chen Ke: ""
This translates to: "Bro, you're awesome! Bro, keep it up! Bro, don't forget me when you're rich..."
"You've got such a clever plan, do your parents know about it?"
Faced with Chen Ke's soul-searching question, Wang Jingjiang remained unfazed. "My mom said that if you can't rely on yourself, you have to rely on others. So I'd rather rely on my brothers than myself... Why are you looking at me like that? I can't just starve to death, can I?"
Chen Ke was speechless. Such a simple and brutal way of educating people must mean that Wang Jingjiang's mother was quite an extraordinary person.
"Okay, you go to the cafeteria first, I'll go buy some popsicles and come find you when I'm done. What flavor do you want? Orange or peach?"
Chen Ke: "...Peach."
"Okay, wait a minute, I'll be right there."
In the cafeteria, Wang Jingjiang watched Chen Ke finish his popsicle before leaving satisfied, convinced that he had made the right bet.
After Wang Jingjiang left, Chen Ke washed his lunchbox and went straight to night school.
Wang Jingjiang leisurely returned home. The Wang family lived on the second floor of a tenement building, a spacious apartment with two rooms and a living room, which was quite comfortable for the family of three.
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