Rebirth 08: Equipment God

Chapter 198 I am your grandfather's friend
Blue equipment?

This is the second blue equipment Zhai Da has seen since the Uncertainty Pocket Watch, and it was the pocket watch that led him there!

This was the first time the pocket watch had reacted, and he finally understood what it meant to "you will always feel it"—it was a shiver running through his body, a feeling of sudden enlightenment.

If it weren't for this incident, he would never have been interested in running out even after hearing the noise, just to catch a glimpse of the blond guy and his girlfriend.

The convertible didn't stop; it sped past the barbecue restaurant, drawing curses from many passersby.

"What a bunch of scoundrels! They're just showing off because they have a little money!"

"Really lacking in quality."

Actually, they misunderstood the car owner. He's probably not rich at all; he's just bold and reckless.
Chasing after them was impossible, and intercepting them was even more unrealistic. Zhai Da simply kept his eyes glued to the other car's license plate number and memorized it.

This car is ridiculous, but I still need to find a way to get my hands on it.

He believed that the system's "blue" rating must have its reasons, and besides, the pocket watch's initial reaction was probably not that simple.

It's not just because it's a blue item.
Does this involve changes to the rules regarding [equipment modification]? Based on previous tests, any equipment modified is weakened, but the [Nine-Turn Resurrection Chariot] is immune to this rule and may even be strengthened.
It integrates well with any component. Does that mean other equipment counts? During modification, equipment is also incompatible with each other; does this mean it's immune to another rule-restricted feature?
Well, since the start of the semester, the overwhelming new university environment, the fulfilling life, and the intense coursework have somewhat delayed his exploration of the system.

Since there has been no further attempt to modify the equipment, nor a "planned" search for special items, it's time to pick it up again.

For example, you could keep an eye on foreclosure auctions or something similar; you can easily do that without leaving home.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The next morning, Zhai Da felt something was different after he got up.

I sat on the bed in a daze for a few seconds before realizing what was going on, and put my bare feet on the ground.
The floor was warm.

Heating has started.

Interesting. I've been to the North before in my past life, but I don't know if I subconsciously avoided winter. This is my first time experiencing central heating.

Is the whole city just going to stay burning like this?
How much energy will be used, and how many pipelines will be laid?

Central heating is indeed a huge project. If it is not planned from the beginning, it will be too late no matter how well the city develops later.

Many cities in the south want it, but no amount of money can buy it.
The temperature in Harbin has already reached four or five degrees Celsius, changing every day. My hands and face feel increasingly cold and stiff when riding my bike. I feel like my sturdy old bicycle can be stored away in a while.

Feeling Lu Wei pressed close to him, her neck hunched against the wind, Zhai Da said, "Let's go shopping this weekend. We need to stock up on down jackets, thermal underwear, gloves, scarves, and things like that. You never know when it might suddenly drop below zero."

Lu Wei shook her head: "I can buy the down jacket, but I'll make the thermal underwear, gloves, and scarf."

Zhai Da thought to himself that he had almost forgotten that Xiao Mutou could make clothes. Although his skills were not as good as his mother's, they were still wearable.

"But we don't have a sewing machine."

"purchase"

Is it possible that a sewing machine is more expensive than thermal underwear and also requires more manual labor?

Lu Wei whispered, "Just buy a cheap sewing machine, I can make you lots and lots of clothes."

Truly good at managing a household
If you had a little piece of wood like this, what time would you be home?
While chatting, the bicycles arrived at the main gate of Harbin Institute of Technology. Because of the turnstiles, the two had to get off and push their bikes for a while. As they were walking, they unexpectedly saw President Wang Chunguo standing at the gate.

Wang Chunguo saw Zhai Da and Lu Wei and waved to them with a friendly expression: "Xiao Zhai, Xiao Lu, how's university life?"

"Hello, principal."

Although he was the only top scholar in his family, he was in charge of so many places and had only inquired about him a few times. Since he happened to meet him today, he naturally had to show concern.

His gaze unconsciously fell on Zhai Da's "28-inch bicycle," and he thought to himself that such a thing was rare even in Harbin. This top scholar was quite unassuming.

Didn't you say you made a lot of money writing books?
It's good that he would have a headache if he really flaunted his wealth by driving a sports car around campus!

Zhai Da gave a brief response to the concern, basically saying that everything was normal, went smoothly, and was pleasant.

He also put in a good word for Jiang Xiaobai, saying that his personal tutor had helped him a great deal.

Principal Wang glanced at his watch, smiled, waved his hand, and said, "Go to class. I'll wait here for a senior colleague."

Zhai Da nodded and was about to leave when a Buick minivan pulled up behind him.

The main gate is usually not open to vehicles; it must be for senior figures like Principal Wang.

The van wasn't particularly luxurious. A young man in his early twenties got out first, followed by someone taking out a wheelchair from the trunk.

When the side door opened, an elderly figure was revealed inside. The young man tried to pick him up and place him in a wheelchair.

But it was a bit difficult; the old man's legs kept banging against the car door.

"Stop it! You're so clumsy! You can't even do this properly! I'll do it myself."

He then got down on his own.
The young man looked helpless and at a loss.

Principal Wang had already gone to greet him: "Professor Song, you're getting better and better!"

The old man put on a smiling face and was about to exchange a few pleasantries when his gaze fell on Zhai Da, and he froze.

"Hey, Principal Wang, how did you know I was here to see this student, Zhai?"

Wang Chunguo thought to himself: How should I know? I have no idea!

Zhai Da: Don't say he doesn't know, I don't know either!
The elderly man, known as Old Song, walked shakily toward Zhai Da, his face beaming with joy.

Taking tiny, inching steps, moving slowly for three to five seconds.
Five meters was a distance that hadn't been covered in ten seconds. Zhai Da couldn't hold back any longer and simply went up to greet him: "And you are?"

The other person grabbed Zhai Da's arm, tilted his head back, and chuckled:
"I am your grandfather's friend."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

On the scenic path adjacent to "Shengmajiagou" on the campus of Harbin Institute of Technology, Zhai Da pushed his wheelchair, still somewhat bewildered.

When he called Jiang Xiaobai to ask for leave, Jiang Xiaobai asked him why.

He said he didn't know either; the principal told him to invite them.

After that, Principal Wang took the phone directly, and Jiang Xiaobai was probably quite flustered when he heard the sound.

After that, I accompanied my grandfather's friend for a walk around the campus.

This elderly woman is named Song Gufen, a senior academician. She is a retired academician who has left the front line and no longer holds any position.

"Friends from the time of 'Up S Down X'? Northwest?"

The old man smiled and nodded: "We were in the same production team."

The cold wind was particularly biting by the river, making it not a suitable place for an elderly person in a wheelchair, but Song Gufen still specifically asked to walk around here, as he seemed to be very familiar with the campus.

The young man behind him, slightly older than Zhai Da, was the old man's grandson, named Song Feiyu, but he wasn't very well-liked.

The old man was quite weak; he was walking at a speed of only five centimeters per second. Zhai Da was worried that he might get hurt, so he took the initiative to adjust the old man's scarf to prevent the wind from getting in.

Song Gufen was taken aback, then felt extremely pleased. She even turned around and gave her good-for-nothing grandson a look, as if to say: Look at them!
Zhai Da continued, "Grandpa didn't talk much about those years; we don't even know what he was doing back then."

Song Gufen didn't seem surprised and said with a smile, "It's just the same old stuff. He's in charge of herding sheep, and I'm in charge of herding cattle."

“Yesterday I saw a picture of your grandfather on the news. I recognized him at a glance. We were very close back then, but I didn’t know his name. I only knew that his accent was similar, so for decades I thought he was in Northeast China. But I never met him.”

"Logically speaking, I should have met someone from the three northeastern provinces who works in technology over the decades. I only found out yesterday that he had been living in a small county town in a scattered province since he left. No wonder, no wonder." Inside a scenic pavilion, because the sunlight was very good, Zhai Da subconsciously pushed his wheelchair to a stop, feeling the warm sunlight on his body.

The old man said slowly, "The TV didn't explain it very clearly. How did your grandfather pass away? In what year?"

Zhai Da raised his hand to shield his eyes from the direct sunlight: "Very early. 1990, primary multiple cancers."

Song Gufen's hand, hidden under the blanket, trembled slightly.
The old man said slowly, "It's been eighteen years since I left. I really didn't expect that."

"How is your family? Are you having any difficulties?"

Zhai Da truthfully replied, "It's not difficult. My grandfather left me a house, so I've always had a livelihood. Besides, I've started earning money now."

"How do you make money? Aren't you still in school?"

"I'm actually a writer, and my books sell pretty well."

Song Gufen was genuinely surprised this time, and then immediately turned her head and rolled her eyes at her grandson: Look at them!

"What about before?"

"Before? Just an ordinary single-parent family in a small town."

The old man asked many questions, showing unusually meticulous concern despite it being their first meeting.

For example, what kind of place is Dongyang County? Is it big? How is Yu Xiaoli's health, and what kind of work does she do?
If these questions came from someone of the same age, Zhai Da would probably be very annoyed, as it would feel like a census.

However, if you put it into the world of the elderly, it is not difficult to understand.

If Zhai Da and Wu Yue had been out of touch for decades, and Zhai Da were to suddenly meet Wu Yue's grandson in his old age, he would probably ask him all sorts of questions to find out every detail.

However, Song Gufen gradually became depressed, and her tone became increasingly sad.

After a long while, he seemed to have made a decision and called out to those behind him, "Xiao Fei, come here for a second!"

Song Feiyu, who had been standing a few meters away and seemed to be hesitating about whether to light a cigarette, was startled and quickly jogged over:
"Grandpa, is there anything you need me to do?"

"You stay away from me."

Song Feiyu: ? ? ?

Then, speechless, they could only widen the distance again.

After her grandson had walked away, Song Gufen slowly said, "Logically speaking, I shouldn't have come. You're a top scholar and a writer, a smart kid. If I came, it would definitely make you overthink things, wouldn't it?"

Zhai Da remained silent for a while, then nodded.

Yes, in this life, due to various coincidences, the grandfather from the previous life, who was almost just a "remnant", has become increasingly suspicious of his past life.

An academician happened to be a friend of my maternal grandfather. Despite their seemingly close relationship, he didn't even know where my grandfather's hometown was or what his name was. How could I not overthink it?
"Xiao Zhai, just pretend you're listening on behalf of your grandfather and tolerate me playing a riddle with you."

Zhai Da nodded calmly, but his hands gripping the wheelchair handles tightened unconsciously.

Who wouldn't want their elders to have a glorious and great past so that they can bless their children's future? But life from childhood to adulthood has repeatedly reminded Zhai Da that his family is just an ordinary one.

Just as Yu Xiaoli said, all her grandfather left her was a house and a bicycle.

When my maternal grandfather passed away, no strangers came to pay their respects.

When the mother and son lived in poverty, no strangers offered them any help.

Even after Xiaoli's death in his previous life, and for nearly ten years after the shadow of his maternal grandfather was completely severed, Zhai Da lived an ordinary life.

So those "fantasies" gradually faded, and Zhai Da had long since forgotten about them from his previous life.

The mother, Yu Xiaoli, may have also experienced similar changes in her thinking.

The appearance of Song Gufen seems to be the final piece of the puzzle in this life's "unraveling of the mystery". The more cryptic her words are, the more convinced Zhai Da becomes!
Even if it's just a riddle.

The old man's voice was unhurried, as if he himself was reminiscing:
"Back in the production team, Brother Li... well, he was called Li Hua back then, so I guess I wasn't used to it yet, so I'll just call him Brother Li."

“Brother Li is a few years older than me and took good care of me. The conditions there were harsh, and many times I couldn't hold on anymore. I wanted to run away and find all sorts of excuses to leave, but that was impossible and even very dangerous. It was Brother Yu who kept persuading and encouraging me.”

“When ‘Up S Down X’ ended, I said that if we met again after returning to my hometown, I would introduce my sister to him and ask her to be his brother-in-law. At that time, the situation was special, and neither of us could say where we came from. We only knew that when we returned to our original units, our accents and habits were very similar. We never thought that he might come from a scattered province.”

"As a result, I returned to Institute 601, while he returned to an obscure wool mill. How could he have a good career? He should have had opportunities. If he had just been a little thick-skinned and used his connections, he wouldn't have been locked up in the wool mill for so many years."

Song Gufen felt a pang of sadness. The rules back then were indeed extremely strict, but after all, tens of thousands of people had participated, and decades of changes had taken place.

Many people write letters to express their grievances when they encounter difficulties or seek development.

Admittedly, there is absolutely no way that the local authorities could know any information about this matter. Even at the higher levels, there is only one department that exists in a "passive secrecy" manner, doing nothing but storing the data.

But if you expose yourself in reverse, how can you not be discovered?
Yu Lihua, however, did indeed remain anonymous until his death. Even though Song Gufen felt that his life was not satisfactory and that he had even wasted many years of his life.
The old man reached out to grab Zhai Da's hand, but Zhai Da offered it to him. Song Gufen patted the back of Zhai Da's hand.
"Xiao Zhai, do you feel this is unfair?"

"What injustice?"

Your maternal grandfather wasted decades working at the wool mill in the county town.

Zhai Da thought about it for a long time, so long that the smell of tobacco could be smelled from afar.

Past Life and Present Life
A silhouette seen through my grandfather's notes: a simple and peaceful family.
Zhai Da frankly stated:
“We expect our elders to be full of honors and have achieved great success, which is nothing more than wanting to be lazy and live an easier life. I also really hope so, but when my grandfather was working hard, I was nowhere to be seen.”

“He also has his own life. He chose not to go to university, chose to go to ‘S Mountain X Township’, chose to return to Dongyang County and live a stable life, and chose not to ‘struggle and jump’ for development. All of this was based on his own beliefs, not on ‘leaving a legacy for his descendants’.”

"Grandpa Song, did you become an academician because of 'S Mountain X Township'?"

Song Gufen shook her head: "No, that was many years later. It was awarded for building airplanes."

"Back then, in 'Shanxi Township,' were you promised that your descendants would make money or hold official positions?"

"Of course not, we were told from the beginning that we would most likely never receive any honors related to it until our death."

"Then I don't feel it's unfair."

Zhai Da seemed to have figured something out, and his expression relaxed.

"Just as I wouldn't live for my descendants if I had descendants, I shouldn't expect my parents to live for me either. I'm already very lucky in every way. Maybe this is the good fortune my grandfather left me?"

"Grandpa Song, thank you for playing this riddle with me, but if 'no one knows' is Grandpa's wish, then let it remain a riddle."

Just keep it in mind.

Remember your grandfather; he was indeed a giant.

Zhai Da pushed Song Gu Fen away from the pavilion.

The wind picked up again.

Along the long scenic path, an old man and a young man walk against the wind and falling leaves, as if measuring the contours of time.

The sounds of their conversation were carried by the wind and quickly dissipated.

"I think my grandfather's wish has already been fulfilled."

"What wish? Brother Li has a wish?"

"He probably hoped that his descendants would have enough to eat and wear. And hasn't that been achieved perfectly?"

(End of this chapter)