TL: Etude
Such gadgets were not even popular yet!
The main reason is that the network access fee and service charge are not cheap for the average salaried class.
For someone like him with a purely digital model, it's somewhat more affordable. If it were a Motorola with a Han display, the network access fee and service charge alone would be enough to buy another handset.
Fang Aiguo glanced at it, a hint of envy in his voice, "Brother Hai, you bought a beeper?"
Chen Jianghai looked up and asked, "What, you want one too?"
"Want it? Of course, I do! It would be so much more convenient to have this little thing." Fang Aiguo nodded without hesitation.
"You already have money, don't you? If you like it, buy one yourself! Or get a second-hand one," Chen Jianghai said with a smile.
Hearing this, Fang Aiguo suddenly looked deflated, like an eggplant hit by frost.
"Ah, Hai, let's not talk about it. The money I've earned these days, my mom took it all. She said it's for my future wife."
Chen Jianghai had nothing much to say about this.
The worries of Fang Aiguo's parents were obviously reasonable.
The guy was still young and known for spending money lavishly. With so much money suddenly in hand, who knew how he would squander it?
His parents saving the money for him was indeed a sensible choice.
Besides, buying a new one along with the network fee and all wasn't something Fang Aiguo could afford at the moment. Better wait for some time.
"Your parents are doing this for your own good, what's there to complain about?" Chen Jianghai, concerned that Fang Aiguo might not see reason, patiently explained to him.
Fang Aiguo scratched his head and muttered, "I know it's for my own good, but..."
"There's no 'but' about it."
Chen Jianghai cut him off directly, his expression turning serious, "Filial piety comes first! You must listen to your parents. If you dare not to, I won't be easy on you."
Fang Aiguo could tell Chen Jianghai wasn't joking and replied earnestly, "Don't worry, Hai, I'll definitely honor them."
Ten more minutes passed, and the landlord still hadn't shown up.
Fang Aiguo frowned, "Why hasn't he come yet? It's past the agreed time!"
"Forget it, let's not wait."
Chen Jianghai stood up and decisively said, "It's not like we can only hang ourselves from this one tree."
For someone as unreliable as this, Chen Jianghai didn't want to get too involved. Who knows what problems they might cause in the future.
"Okay!"
Fang Aiguo had been impatient for a while, but he didn't dare to make decisions without Chen Jianghai's consent.
Chen Jianghai stood up, pushed his bicycle, and headed towards the post and telecommunications office.
Fang Aiguo called out after realizing the mistake, "Hai, you're going the wrong way, the warehouse is over there!"
"You go back first!"
Chen Jianghai mounted his bicycle and waved, "I haven't paid the fee for my beeper yet. It's a good time to get it activated."
Hearing this, Fang Aiguo perked up, "Hai, take me with you!"
"What for?" Chen Jianghai couldn't help asking.
Fang Aiguo grinned, "To broaden my horizons first, I'm definitely going to buy one later!"
"Alright, then let's go!"
Chen Jianghai gestured, and the two rode their bicycles to the post and telecommunications office.
Once inside, they saw that the place for beeper payment was deserted, as not many in Linghai could afford such a device at present.
Seeing the plainly dressed Chen Jianghai and his companion enter, the clerk behind the counter glanced over and didn't even bother to greet them.
Fang Aiguo couldn't help but blurt out, "Hey! Here comes a customer!"
"What do you want?"
The woman behind the counter, knitting a sweater, asked without even lifting her head.
"Well, aren't you full of yourself!" Fang Aiguo muttered.
Chen Jianghai said in a calm manner, "I'm here to activate my beeper."
Upon hearing this, the female clerk finally deigned to lift her head and sized up Chen Jianghai before saying, "Do you know how much it costs?"
"I'm not sure, tell me about it."
Chen Jianghai genuinely didn't know the specific cost as he couldn't afford such a device in the past.
"The network access fee is 100 yuan, 200 yuan for a digital machine for a year, 600 for a character-display machine for a year. Which one do you want to apply for?"
The woman rattled off the prices efficiently.
Chen Jianghai wasn't surprised by the price; the cost of beepers was indeed high these days.
Fang Aiguo, however, was gazing at the various sizes of beepers behind the counter, his eyes alight with eager fascination.
"Sign me up for a year!"
Chen Jianghai didn't beat around the bush and directly handed over the money.
The female clerk looked at Chen Jianghai with a touch of surprise.
She hadn't expected this unremarkable-looking man to actually have a beeper; quite the low-key presence!
Exiting the post office, Fang Aiguo wore a face full of longing and spoke up again, "Brother Hai, let me play with it for a bit!"
"Hey, what's there to play with?"
Chen Jianghai couldn't help but feel amused, "This thing is useless unless someone is trying to reach you."
Fang Aiguo quickly said, "Just let me hold it for a while, to satisfy my hands."
Chen Jianghai, helpless, took the beeper off his waist and handed it over.
After Fang Aiguo took it, he examined it from all angles, then curiously began pressing the buttons.
After a while, he lost interest; after all, what fancy tricks could one play with a beeper's simple functions?
"Brother Hai, here you go."
Fang Aiguo handed the beeper back to Chen Jianghai with earnest honesty and then asked, "Are we heading back?"
"You go on ahead, I've still got someone to meet." Chen Jianghai clipped the beeper back at his waist and waved.
"Brother Hai, who are you looking for?" Fang Aiguo was curious.
Chen Jianghai couldn't help but chide him with a laugh, "Are you minding my business now? Hurry back and get those TVs sold!"
With that, he got on his bike and turned back to Pozijie Street.
The person Chen Jianghai wanted to find was Boss Jin, whom he had met before.
Boss Jin owned a gold shop on this street, and surely knew many people; he might be able to help.
As Chen Jianghai made his way to the gold shop, he saw several advertising boards erected outside.
[Our store has launched a promotion, 10 yuan off for orders over 500, 30 off for orders over 1,000!]
[If you purchase jewelry over 600 yuan, you can get a lucky draw!]
Chen Jianghai couldn't help but be amused upon seeing them.
In the year 2020, such advertisements were common everywhere.
But now, in 1991, Boss Jin's shop was the only place on the entire street with such advertising boards.
This method was something Chen Jianghai had casually mentioned during a chat on his last visit home.
He didn't expect Boss Jin to put it into practice so quickly.
Observing from the outside, Chen Jianghai could see quite a number of customers coming and going in the shop, which indicated that the strategy was indeed effective.
The prospect of discounts and the chance to win a prize naturally stimulated people's desire to spend.
"Take care, Boss Xu, welcome back anytime!"
Just as Chen Jianghai was about to enter, a familiar voice reached his ears.
He glanced over and saw Boss Jin, whom he hadn't seen in a few days, coming out to see off a client.
With a beaming smile after sending off a big customer, Boss Jin turned his head and saw Chen Jianghai standing at the doorway.