"Brother, do you know how much a television costs nowadays?"
Cheng Jinyun didn’t expect Lin Xiang’s attention to be drawn away from the bicycle and towards televisions instead.
Though it was quite a shift, he still answered Lin Xiang’s question.
"For black and white televisions, the prices differ by size. A nine-inch black and white TV, depending on the brand, typically ranges from three hundred to five hundred. A twelve-inch black and white TV usually costs between three hundred seventy to four hundred thirty yuan."
"Color TVs are more expensive. Our country doesn’t manufacture color TVs at the mont, so they need to be imported. With limited quantities and high prices, they’re for internal supply only, and even with money and tickets, you can’t buy one."
Lin Xiang couldn’t help but turn her head to look at Cheng Jinyun, "Brother, how do you know this so well?"
Although he ca to Beijing earlier than her, he spent most of his ti in the military!
She thought Cheng Jinyun wouldn’t know the market prices for TVs, or would just give a rough estimate, but she didn’t expect his answer to be so clear.
Cheng Jinyun couldn’t resist flicking Lin Xiang on the forehead, "Weren’t you the one who asked to find out?"
"?" Lin Xiang pointed to her nose, "When was that? How co I don’t rember?"
"Think carefully yourself!"
Lin Xiang pondered for a while and finally rembered. It was when they were talking about buying a refrigerator and freezer. She casually ntioned that if they had the chance, they should buy a television.
It was just a casual remark, but Cheng Jinyun rembered it and looked into it so thoroughly.
"Director Chen gave a few tickets before, which should be enough to buy a television. When we have more ti next weekend, I plan to go to the departnt store to take a look and buy a TV."
Cheng Jinyun: "Televisions are scarce, even in Beijing, many places still don’t have them. Even if you have money and tickets, you might not be able to buy one at the departnt store."
Lin Xiang’s face fell, "Does that an I can’t buy a TV?"
The feeling of having money but nowhere to spend it is even more frustrating than wanting to spend money but having none.
"You could ask Aunt Manager for help. As the manager of the Friendship Store, she has connections and might be able to get you a TV. Maybe even a color TV."
Lin Xiang’s first thought was that a black and white TV would suffice.
It wasn’t about saving the few hundred yuan difference; it was just that a black and white TV was already quite extravagant. If they got a color TV, it would be like openly announcing that they had money, inviting trouble.
"Wouldn’t it be too much trouble for Aunt Manager?"
She had only t Aunt Manager once and was already asking for such a big favor; it seed a bit too much.
Cheng Jinyun thought for a mont, "If you’re not in a hurry, give so ti. At most a month, and I’ll get you a TV."
Finally, he added, "You don’t have to trouble Aunt Manager, and you won’t feel embarrassed."
Lin Xiang’s eyes widened, looking at Cheng Jinyun in shock, "What are you planning? Brother, we can’t do anything illegal!"
Cheng Jinyun chuckled, flicking Lin Xiang’s head again, "What are you thinking? Do you think your brother can’t tell right from wrong?"
"There’s a TV in the military that’s often broken, and they’re planning to replace it. Once it’s replaced, I can find a way to get it, and as for the frequent breakdowns, don’t worry, I can fix it."
Lin Xiang was even more shocked, "You can fix televisions too?"
Cheng Jinyun: "I don’t know if I can fix a TV yet, since I haven’t dealt with one before."
Lin Xiang: ?
"But I seem to have a knack for it. I’ve repaired many machines in the military before. The two freezers at Xingfu Restaurant were bartered after I helped repair a few problematic ones at the ice pop factory."
Of course, so money was involved, but Cheng Jinyun didn’t think it necessary to tell Lin Xiang that.
"And this bicycle." Cheng Jinyun rang the bell, "I assembled it from parts collected from the junkyard."
"I considered buying you a new bicycle, but you might find it too flashy and not want to ride it, so I assembled this one for you. Although it makes so noise, it doesn’t affect its overall function. After a month or two, once Xingfu Restaurant’s business stabilizes, I’ll buy you a new bicycle."
Lin Xiang was surprised, "How did you assemble a bicycle from parts? And how did you know I’d think a new bike would be too flashy?"
Cheng Jinyun smiled and explained, "You’ve complained more than once about walking too much every day and how tiring it is. You ntioned how nice it would be to have a bicycle."
"You’ve got both money and a ticket but haven’t bought a bicycle, so you must have your reasons. I guessed that the idea of a new bike being too flashy made more sense."
Lin Xiang was at a loss for words.
Even though soone had figured out her thoughts from her actions and words, she didn’t mind it at all.
She looked up at Cheng Jinyun, though in the darkness she couldn’t see his face or expression, but she could see his eyes, bright like stars, silently watching her and smiling.
At that mont, Lin Xiang felt like her heart skipped a beat.
To be fair, the male lead is quite impressive and ets her expectations of a partner.
But the issue is, the male lead belongs to the female lead.
Even though they are far apart now.
Lin Xiang patted her cheeks, trying to snap herself out of it.
"Lin Xiang, calm down. He’s your brother, don’t even think about crossing that line!"
"What are you mumbling about?"
Cheng Jinyun’s voice was in her ear, and Lin Xiang quickly shook her head, "Nothing. It’s getting late. I need to head back to school quickly, or I’ll miss room check."
"Yeah, riding the bike will be faster. You better hurry back."
It’s at least a forty-minute walk from here to Huaqing University, so Lin Xiang naturally wouldn’t let Cheng Jinyun walk back alone at night.
She promptly got on the back of the bicycle, leaving Cheng Jinyun to handle the ride.
By the ti Lin Xiang reached her dormitory, the dorm manager was just checking their floor.
After the dorm manager left, a few of her roommates surrounded her.
"How was business this afternoon?"
"It wasn’t as good as at noon, but it was still not bad. But today is the new store’s opening day, so business is relatively better. We’ll have to wait until things stabilize to see how it really goes."
"Xiangxiang, we’re roommates and friends, right?" Mao Ying looked at Lin Xiang eagerly, "If I go to your small restaurant every day to eat, can I keep getting discounts?"
The flyer said that for the first three days of opening, custors at the scenic spot get a 10% discount.
It doesn’t sound like much, but it adds up over ti.
User Comments
0 comments from readers