2003: Starting with Foreign Trade

Chapter 6 The Night in Yicheng
"Huh? We haven't been back for over a year. What's the point of talking if we go? Besides, they probably don't even know we're back, right?"

"I just said it offhand because I saw them chatting," Tan Jincheng replied while refreshing the webpage.

"We'll see when the time comes; they might not even know we're back yet."

"Too."

Interpersonal relationships at the beginning of the century were relatively pure compared to later generations; this was especially true for young people like Tan Jincheng who had only recently graduated.

In his previous life, Tan Jincheng had attended several class reunions. Apart from some later comparisons, he felt that it was generally a good experience.

Of course, Tan Jincheng has no interest in the so-called class reunion now, and he was just saying it casually.

Tan Jincheng had intended to talk to Zhang Xupeng about his future plans, but seeing that he was engrossed in the game, he didn't say anything more.

During the year or so on the ship, although he wasn't exactly isolated from the world, his understanding of it was still limited; Tan Jincheng clicked on web pages one by one.

Through these online news articles, Tan Jincheng gradually integrated into this world.

"On April 1, 2003, superstar Zhang XX fell to his death."

"In February 2004, I am grateful to my roommate for not SHA."

Dead memories began to assault Tan Jincheng. After clicking on a few web pages, Tan Jincheng couldn't help but marvel at the unbridled nature of the internet these days.

The level of openness in terms of various entries far surpasses that of later generations; most of the forbidden words in later generations can now be searched openly and legitimately.

Search engines were much better than those of later generations. Although a bidding system was introduced last year and ads started appearing on search pages, they were still far superior to the full-screen ads of later generations.

For someone like Tan Jincheng, who is not a professional but has memories of later generations, the online environment is truly like a fish in water.

Unlike in later generations, where even wanting to see something erotic requires asking for links in various WeChat groups.

Not long after, Tan Jincheng, who had just been looking down on Zhang Xupeng, a teenager addicted to the internet, suddenly found himself falling for the novelty.

However, to outsiders, this short-haired boy who doesn't play games, chat on QQ, or watch movies, but instead repeatedly clicks on various news pages, seems somewhat unconventional.

Unbeknownst to them, Tan Jincheng and Zhang Xupeng had been in the internet cafe for several hours, but they still hadn't realized it.

Until the phone in my pocket rang.

"Hey, it's ten o'clock. My mom called. Hurry up and go home," Tan Jincheng said, nudging Zhang Xupeng.

"Huh? So fast? Want to play a little longer?"

"I'm done playing, let's go; I was going to talk to you about something, but you're too engrossed in the game, so I'll pass."

Seeing this, Zhang Xupeng also exited the game, turned off his computer, and said, "Alright then, what do you want from me?"

It's clear that Zhang Xupeng has good self-control; a year ago, he would have dawdled for a while.

Tan Jincheng could see that Zhang Xupeng had undergone considerable changes in the past year or so.

After leaving the internet cafe, Zhang Xupeng was still thinking about what had just happened and asked Tan Jincheng, "What did you say you wanted to talk to me about?"

"You probably won't continue your studies, right? What are your plans for the future?"

"Huh? How do you know?"

"Guess."

"Haha, you're awesome." Zhang Xupeng gave Tan Jincheng a thumbs up, then added, "I'm planning to start a small business, what about you?"

"Me? I'm not going to study anymore either. Tell me, what kind of business are you planning to start?" Tan Jincheng said with a smile.

"Why aren't you studying anymore? Your grades are better than mine, wouldn't your parents beat you up?" "They already have. Let's not talk about that. What kind of business are you planning to start?"

Tan Jincheng's grades were indeed quite good. He actually got into university last year, but he didn't go to school and instead went on a cruise ship, which was an accident.

Of course, although Zhang Xupeng's grades were a bit poor, he still got into a junior college. If things were going normally, the two of them would probably be chatting in their high school classmates' group about where to go for a get-together during the National Day holiday.

In short, it's all just the cruel twist of fate, but since rebirth has already happened, it's not surprising at all.

"Haha, you actually got beaten up; it seems your status has dropped quite a bit since having a second child."

"Quickly tell me what kind of business you're planning to do," Tan Jincheng said, kicking Zhang Xupeng.

"We'll talk about it later. Let's go get some fried noodles first; I haven't had them in ages," Zhang Xupeng said, rubbing his stomach.

Tan Jincheng, who originally wanted to go home early, had no choice but to follow Zhang Xupeng to a late-night snack stall.

A plate of fried noodles and a bottle of soda—simple and straightforward.

Having eaten dinner too early, Tan Jincheng was a bit hungry. After the fried noodles were served, the two of them ate them with gusto, not even bothering to talk.

To be honest, Tan Jincheng hadn't had Yicheng fried noodles in a long time. These days, vendors use much more conscientious ingredients than in later generations; at least there are no pre-made dishes.

As for the experts' claim that pre-cooked meals have a long history, such as steamed buns and mantou, that's utter nonsense.

Tan Jincheng, who used to work as a construction site fast food vendor, knows that these days, those who sell steamed buns and mantou (steamed bread) get up in the early morning to steam them fresh.

The young boy ate his father out of house and home; within minutes, their fried noodles were all gone.

Zhang Xupeng patted his belly with satisfaction, picked up a soda and took a big gulp, saying, "What do you think about us opening a small restaurant? It seems like it could make a lot of money."

Haha, just as I thought, Tan Jincheng couldn't help but laugh.

It's still that familiar idea.

"What are you laughing at? Don't you think we learned some skills when we helped out in the ship's kitchen? Opening a restaurant shouldn't be a problem, right?"

In their past lives, the two of them didn't have as much capital as they do now, and they started by running a fast food business on construction sites.

Now that he has more capital, it's understandable that Zhang Xupeng wants to go all out and open a restaurant.

“It can indeed make money, but I don’t want to do it,” Tan Jincheng said, staring at Zhang Xupeng.

In this era of ever-expanding domestic and foreign demand, the catering industry, as a major consumer goods category, can naturally make money as long as it doesn't aim too high.

In fact, due to limited funds in their previous life, the construction site fast food they initially sold was actually better than opening a restaurant directly.

Construction workers prioritize quality and affordability, and don't have high demands for the taste of fast food; they just need it to be oily and salty.

The house doesn't need to rent a storefront, the rent is cheap, and with just a pushcart, it's all about small profits and quick turnover. The only downside is that it's hard work.

In fact, the strategy of "small profits but quick turnover" only applies to the initial stage. Once the two got the hang of it, the profits in the later stages were actually quite good.

A five-yuan fast food meal can have its cost controlled to within two yuan, resulting in a considerable gross profit.

"Huh? Not doing that? Then what do you want to do? Besides a little cooking, we don't know anything else. We can't just go and get a job, can we?"

"Selling clothes."

Thank you, Little Red Horse Father-in-law. My heartfelt donation comes from the person whose last four digits are 3721, Rain Falls Without Sorrow.

Yu Luo Wei Gan Chou is an author in the same group who mainly focuses on the historical fiction genre. His book, Shu Han, is currently being serialized, and interested readers can check it out.

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(End of this chapter)