Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 199 Contra

Chen Hui raised his right hand and scratched his head a few times: "That's all, I can't think of anything else for now. We've tried everything, like billiards, singing, and mahjong. I also want to buy my own car, maybe a nice motorcycle, but I don't want to ride that kind of motorcycle anymore."

Xiao Wei said, "If I have the chance, I'll buy a motorcycle. This is for real. Motorcycles are not as reliable as cars. Besides, winter is so long here, motorcycles are not cost-effective, and even the good ones are not cheap."

Chen Hui said, "By the way, eating Western food, I've been thinking about it for years. Once, my dad and his family hosted some foreign guests at the Liaodong Hotel. We ate French or Italian food, I think, and they even brought me back a foreign pie. Sometime I'll treat everyone, and we can go eat there together and see what foreign food is really like, okay?"

Chen Xiao rolled her eyes and analyzed the situation. It seemed she could participate in everything Chen Hui wanted to do, and aside from staying in a hotel, it was all group activities. Relieved, she said, "Sure, let's go sometime. I want to try it too. You've at least eaten a pie before, while I've never even smelled one. Besides, stop with those ideas. This business hasn't even started yet and you're already showing off. Let me tell you, Chen Hui, you can't go anywhere without Xiao Wei and the others. You hear me?"

Chen Hui chuckled and glanced at Chen Xiao sideways, saying, "Are you stupid? Why would I go do something everyone else is doing together? Am I crazy?"

A sharp glint flashed in Chen Xiao's eyes. He gathered his energy and channeled it into his fingertips. Fortunately, Chen Hui was driving at the moment. After thinking for a moment, Chen Xiao withdrew his half-raised hand and secretly dispersed his energy.

Chen Hui, still laughing and joking, was unaware that he had just escaped death.

After returning the car to its storage, the five men carried large and small bags, along with the leather bag used for collecting electricity fees, home.

When they arrived at Xiaowei's house, they divided up the things they had bought and then piled up the money on the coffee table to admire it. Mou Degang once said that people can't be happy just looking at money at home. In fact, whether they can or can't laugh heartily depends on the amount.

The group chuckled around the money for a while longer, and Xiao Hong and Chen Xiao's heartache over spending the money that afternoon disappeared. Chen Hui suggested playing a Famicom, as he had been wanting one ever since he learned that Chen Xiao's family had one.

Chen Xiao went home to get the machine, while Xiao Wei put away the money. The payment for the goods and the mold was his own, and he only left Chen Hui's 100,000 yuan on the table.

Chen Hui took the package containing the money, grabbed 20,000 yuan from the table, and threw it to Xia Maosheng, saying, "Here, let's divide the spoils. We'll split it in half when we meet. I'll take 50,000, you take 20,000, and Xiao Hui will take 30,000. Hahaha, finally we have money! Looks like my old Chen won't confiscate it."

Xia Maosheng threw the money back on the table and said, "Bullshit, what's the big deal about me taking your money? You and Xiaowei can split it, I'll just freeload. I have nothing to do with this. Are you trying to insult me?"

Xiao Wei said, "I've made some money, you can keep this little bit for yourself."

Xiao Hui asked Xia Maosheng, "Are we buddies?" Then he asked Xiao Wei, "Are we brothers?"

The two nodded, and Chen Hui said, "If we're brothers, why are you two begging me? The three of us went together; am I supposed to carry all the money?"

Xiao Wei laughed and said, "I didn't share any of what I earned."

Chen Hui shook his head and said, "That's different. These are two different things. Without you, there's not a single penny, let alone 100,000. You two have to take this money."

Xia Maosheng said, "I got two overcoats and a pair of military-style coats, that's enough, it cost several thousand yuan."

Chen Hui said, "Okay, you take 10,000, is that alright now? Xiao Wei takes 40,000, I only need half anyway."

Xiao Wei said, "I really can't take this money. What kind of situation is this?"

Chen Hui was getting a little angry. Xia Maosheng picked up ten thousand yuan and said, "Forget it, Xiaowei, don't say anything more. Let's take this money. We need to clean up the house in the yard over there and buy some appliances and stuff. We'll use this money. Anyway, it's just for the three of us."

Xiao Wei thought for a moment, nodded and said, "Okay, let's go buy the things that day, and then ask Han San to take them over."

Xia Maosheng said, "Okay, we still need to buy a pager, right? Let's do it together tomorrow. We can put the rest there for now."

Chen Hui perked up again, clapped his hands, and said, "Great! Pager, TV, washing machine, refrigerator—we'll buy a twin-tub washing machine, three TVs, all Changhong color TVs, the biggest ones. We'll also buy a laser projector to set up the karaoke bar over there. Oh, and I'll buy the projector. It'll be a three-way partnership, okay?"

Xiao Wei said, "Okay, let's set up dance halls and karaoke bars right away. You don't need to contribute anymore. Just take this 50,000, and we'll cover the rest."

Chen Hui said, "Why don't we set up the billiards ourselves?"

Xia Maosheng said, "No, we can't go back on our word without a reason after we've already agreed on something. What kind of person would we become if we did that?"

Chen Hui scratched his head and laughed, saying, "I just said it offhand. I understand the principle of keeping one's word and fulfilling one's promise. It's just that I feel a bit cheated."

Xiao Hong laughed from the side and said, "Do you know what 'keeping one's word and fulfilling one's promise' means?"

Chen Hui was taken aback for a moment, then said, "What do you mean? Keeping your word and delivering results, isn't that just being honest?"

Xiao Hong smiled and shook her head, saying, "To be a man of his word and to be resolute in action is no different from being a petty person. This is what Confucius said. It's not a compliment, but rather a derogatory term."

Chen Hui, Xiao Wei, and Xia Maosheng were completely dumbfounded: "Huh?"

Xiao Hong giggled and said, "Mencius said that a great man does not necessarily keep his word or carry out his actions, but only acts in accordance with righteousness. A truly great person may not always keep his word or achieve results, but he will definitely act in accordance with morality. In other words, one cannot be rigid; one must be adaptable and act in accordance with righteousness."

The three men looked at each other, Chen Hui and Xia Maosheng with pity in their eyes as they looked at Xiao Wei. How could he possibly live with a girlfriend like that? And wouldn't the immense psychological pressure affect... well, you know...?

A short while later, Chen Xiao carried the Famicom into the house. The group carried the TV to the coffee table, and Chen Hui connected it. As electronic music started playing, Xiao Wei and Xiao Hong's first Famicom experience began.

"Sizzle, sizzle, biubiubiu, biubiubiu, swish... snap."

"Jump, jump, oh, ouch. Lie down, lie down, no, oh, that's too clumsy. Jump up, jump up, up at 45 degrees, press 45 degrees."

"Up, down, down, left, right, left, right, right, ABBA, 45 degrees, is this how you drive invincible?"

"There's no such thing as invincibility, there are countless lives. I'll get you some."

"Don't fight, don't fight, this is the last chance. Damn, I'll buy three tomorrow."

……

The next morning, all five of them woke up with dark circles under their eyes and stayed up watching TV until after 1 a.m.

The Famicom (NES) was probably the earliest game that Chinese people came into contact with. It was so attractive and exciting that some people would play it all night long. There were also people who would buy the machines to rent out or set them up for others to play. It cost 20 cents to pass a level, 3 yuan for an hour, and 10 yuan to rent the machine for the whole night.

Back then, many families had two TVs, one black and white and one color. The black and white one was the original, and the color one was a replacement. Back then, things were of good quality and could withstand a lot of wear and tear. Even if there were no problems, you couldn't just throw them away, so they became dedicated gaming consoles.

(End of this chapter)