Entertainment: Since 1990

Chapter 1 I Don't Want to Go to College
In the summer of 90, in a northern rural area, a group of villagers were gathered in a courtyard where the cool breeze was blowing.

After finishing a day's work, some of them were carrying small stools, some were smoking and chatting, and the children were playing and fighting back and forth, making the courtyard look warm and joyful.

On the steps of the yard, there is a black and white Haiyan brand TV.

"Twist it a little more, and don't move! Yes, yes!"

"Back up a little, yes! Don't dare to move anymore! Okay!"

Several children stared at the TV screen, fearing that there would be too many snowflakes.

On the roof, Cao Jian quickly fixed the simple antenna, sat on the roof, and looked up at the sky.

A month ago, he was reborn into the impoverished 1990s from the 1920s when mobile phones and computers were popular, but he was not depressed at all.

Is there anything more joyful than rebirth?

The sky now is as clear as a mirror, and every star in the sky is so bright.

From a middle-aged Chinese teacher, he returned to the energetic and desire-filled age of 18, something he had never dreamed of.

There is no belly, no thinning hair, and the processor has been upgraded from Microsoft to Pentium. It feels so good.

Although he won the super prize of rebirth, he was very confused about what to do next.

Should I go to college or go out and explore the world?
If I choose the latter, will my parents agree?
In this day and age, having a college student in a family is not only a very difficult thing, but also a very glorious thing.

The college entrance examination has been over for a month, and this matter must be decided early!
On the elm tree in the backyard, a few cicadas were chirping tirelessly, which made Cao Jian a little irritated.

He pulled out a cigarette and took a drag.

The smell of low-quality cigarettes made him cough a few times. He put out the cigarette and said harshly, "I've already been to college once, why should I go a second time? I want to go south!"

Although the spring breeze of reform was blowing across the country in the 1990s, the north is still very backward.

The south, which is at the forefront of reform and opening up, has plenty of opportunities!
The past two years have been the golden age for domestic records. Going south can not only help you realize your dreams, but also make more money.

In the yard, the TV series hasn't started yet.

"Yanwu! Yanwu! Let's sing and express our love! Yanwu brand tape recorder."

"Gaole brings you plenty of energy"

The Cao Jian aunts were so bored watching the commercials on TV that they chatted while sewing shoe soles.

"Has your Xiaojian received the acceptance letter from the university?"

"If he could get into college, even pigs could climb trees."

When Cao Jian's mother Li Chunlan talked about this topic, her smile disappeared.

Although this son's academic performance is above average, he has excellent calligraphy skills, likes painting, and often makes bulletin boards for the school.

In addition to these, I also learned to play some musical instruments and sing from my grandfather.

But in today's rural areas, this is called not doing one's job properly.

All things are inferior, only reading is superior. This is the right way.

Especially in the month after the college entrance examination, Cao Jian seemed to have become a different person. He became less talkative and often ran to the city, but he would not say anything when asked.

"Don't say that. Xiaojian has been a well-behaved child since he was young. When your family has a college student, you will enjoy your life."

"Yes, Xiaojian has shown promise since he was young. He should be able to pass the exam."

"Even if I don't pass the exam, I'll still be better than my third child. He only knows how to fight and never does anything serious."

The neighbor aunts talked a lot, knowing that Cao Jian's mother was unhappy. Some of them were genuinely comforting, while others were jealous.

After chatting for a while, the mother of the "third child" suddenly asked, "By the way, why does Xiaojian go to the city so often recently? Don't learn bad habits."

Someone immediately echoed: "That's right, it would be a shame if such a good child learned bad things."

"The baby is grown up now, there are some things he won't tell us."

Li Chunlan was worried. What if her son was like the "third brother" and started fighting and causing trouble?

The "third child" is named Cao Wei. He has never liked studying since he was a child. He likes practicing martial arts and often fights. He is a well-known bad boy in the area.

However, he has a good relationship with Cao Jian, and he is willing to help Cao Jian if he has any problems.

While these people were chatting, Cao Jian had already come down from the roof.

He walked up to his mother and suddenly took out a stack of money from his pocket and handed it to Li Chunlan: "Mom, this is the money I earned during this period, take it."

"You earned it?"

Li Chunlan looked at the stack of blue hundred-yuan bills in disbelief and was completely stunned.

"Flowers bloom and fall, time passes by, the river flows by"

The TV series had already started, but except for the children, all the adults present were looking at the stack of money.

Judging from the thickness of the folded money, it must be at least several hundred yuan. Nowadays, the wages of workers in the city are only a little over one or two hundred yuan. How did you make so much money at once?

Isn't he a student?

You go out to earn money right after the exam. Don’t you plan to go to school?

Isn't it the right way?

Cao Jian felt the different looks from the people around him and said with a smile, "Mom, this is the money I earned from singing in the city."

"You earn it by singing?"

What is even more incredible is that although this child has been able to sing operas and songs since he was young, he is not a star. How can he make so much money by singing?

Just now I thought Cao Jian had learned bad things from those people, and I was too embarrassed to say anything.

Cao Jian earned several hundred yuan in just one month in the city, which is equivalent to the average person's salary for several months.

This kid is really promising.

"I didn't expect Xiaojian to be able to make money."

"With so much money, I can get you a wife."

"Whoever marries Xiaojian will have a wonderful life."

Under everyone's envious gaze, Li Chunlan took the money doubtfully, but unexpectedly Cao Jian said something in a serious tone that made everyone drop their jaws.

"Mom, I don't want to go to school anymore. I want to go to the South!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone who was watching TV looked over.

Nowadays, universities guarantee job placement. How can this kid just refuse to go if he can’t?

Is it because I didn’t do well in the exam?

I guess...

The villagers thought their guess was correct, so they said to Cao Jian's shocked parents: "Xiao Jian may feel that he didn't do well in the exam, so he said that. He just needs to wait for the admission letter to come out."

"Yeah, don't get angry, let the child think about it."

After that, everyone pretended to watch TV, with all kinds of thoughts in their minds.

Some wanted to watch the fun, while others felt sorry for Li Chunlan and her husband.

How could I raise such an ignorant child?

He was fine before, always talking about going to college, why has he changed now?
Now that there are more people in the family, the money has also won face for his parents. Cao Jian didn't want to explain more and started watching TV series with everyone.

On TV, after a large-scale bathing scene, "Investiture of the Gods" happened to show Mei Bo being burned with fire and turned into a skeleton on a copper pillar.

This is the childhood nightmare of many people born in the 70s and 80s.

However, Daji is not only beautiful, but also a real demon, and she wears very revealing clothes.

Who says domestic dramas are conservative?

It wasn't conservative back then.

After watching TV, everyone dispersed one after another.

Cao Jian's father, Cao Yongan, didn't even bother packing up his things. He pulled his son aside and said, "Tell me, did you not do well on the exam this time?"

"That's fine. I just don't want to go to college anymore. I want to go south to develop my career."

Cao Jian knew that his parents would definitely not understand this, but he couldn't just say that he was reborn, right?

I've already been to college once. If I go again, won't that delay me for several years?
In this day and age, time is money!

"My dear, once you graduate from university, you'll be a government employee. Even if you can make money, it's not as good as having a stable job."

Cao Yongan tried his best to persuade his son to change his mind.

Going to college is a great honor to the family.

He really wanted to slap his stupid son to wake him up.

It’s a pity that the child is older now and can’t do it directly like he did when he was little.

He finished the last puff of his cigarette and continued, "It wasn't easy for your mother and I to raise you. Think about it carefully."

"I'll think about it."

Cao Jian returned to his room, lay on the bed, and fanned himself with a book, but he was thinking in his mind that since he had already got the travel expenses, he must leave before receiving the admission letter.

Otherwise, it will be difficult to leave.

(End of this chapter)