Chapter 5

By the way, the scale used by the old scrap collector, Mr. Li, was problematic. This scale only measured 90% of the actual weight, meaning it was a nine-tael scale. Feng Xiaotian had long known about this, but even so, he still chose to sell the scrap he collected to Mr. Li. This was because Feng Xiaotian knew everything about the scrap collectors in the area. Although Mr. Li's scale was a nine-tael scale, the others were even worse, only measuring eight taels. Comparatively, Mr. Li was still more honest.

After cooking the dishes, Feng Xiaotian served them onto plates, then poured the washed rice into the pot, added some water, and started cooking the rice. What? You ask if he washed the pot? Well... This was certainly not because Feng Xiaotian was lazy, but because he believed that any waste was shameful. The pot still had oil on it from cooking the dishes, and washing it off with water would be a waste. By cooking rice directly, he could save every drop of oil. One drop of oil weighs 1.5 grams, which is not insignificant!

After preparing the meal, Feng Xiaotian squatted in front of the stove to eat. There were still some embers in the stove, making it warmer to eat there. By the time he finished eating, it was already 8 PM.

Feng Xiaotian tidied up the bowls and chopsticks, placed the leftover food on the stove, and then came to the computer. He had an important task to do—connect the computer to a wireless network.

In this era, there was virtually no wireless network in the country. If there was, it would only be the military's wireless network. As the protectors of the nation, the military had priority in many areas, including the use of computers.

Feng Xiaotian knew that there were only two ways for a computer to connect to the external network: wired and wireless. Wired networks were still a blank slate in the country, so he could only consider wireless networks. The problem was: how could he connect the computer to a wireless network?

Well... This was a problem, and it seemed like an impossible one to solve. However, Feng Xiaotian found a feasible method: using a radio as a medium to achieve this goal.

Radios were not new; they had been popular in the country for over two or three decades. For a long time, radios were important tools for receiving information, and they had a vast number of fans. However, this changed with the widespread adoption of televisions. It was 1990, and many families already owned televisions, even if they were small black-and-white models. Compared to radios, which could only be heard, televisions, with their visual and audio content, were naturally more appealing.

Feng Xiaotian, being a scrap collector, would always sort the items he found. He kept the ones that could be used, and radios were among them. He had found five radios, but all were broken. However, he was enthusiastic about tinkering, and after piecing them together, he managed to fix two of them. These two radios were the only household appliances he had. Now, Feng Xiaotian turned his attention to these two radios.

Since radios required batteries to operate, which was a waste in Feng Xiaotian's eyes, he rarely used them. He only listened to them for a few days when he first got them, and then they mostly sat on the table unused.

Feng Xiaotian knew a lot about radios and understood that they received signals through electromagnetic waves. Depending on the frequency of the electromagnetic waves, radios could tune into different stations. Most wireless signals in the world were transmitted via electromagnetic waves, and the principle of a computer's wireless network was the same.

After careful consideration, Feng Xiaotian began to work. He was still somewhat uncertain, not knowing if this would work, but it was the only method he could think of, and he was not willing to give up without trying.

Feng Xiaotian took out his toolbox, first disassembled the radio, and carefully removed the signal receiver. Then, he turned his attention to the computer. After some hesitation, he finally started working.

Although this computer was a treasure to him, a computer without internet was merely an expensive toy. To further connect to the network world, Feng Xiaotian decided to take a risk.

After disassembling the computer, Feng Xiaotian did not touch anything else; he focused on the wired port. After some thought, he tried to connect the radio's signal receiver to the port. This process was complex and uncertain, so Feng Xiaotian worked very slowly. It took him over an hour to complete the task.

"Phew—"

Feng Xiaotian let out a long breath. Although it was cold, he was sweating profusely. Clearly, he was under a lot of stress. If he made a mistake, the computer could be damaged, which would have severe consequences for him.

Feng Xiaotian wiped the sweat from his forehead, looked at his creation, and felt a mix of pride and anxiety. He was proud because not everyone could accomplish this; without high theoretical knowledge and practical skills, it would be impossible. He was anxious because he was not sure if this would work. If it didn't, he would be at a loss.

Standing in front of the computer, Feng Xiaotian felt his heart racing. After a moment, he decided to turn it on and see the result.

Five minutes later, Feng Xiaotian sat motionless in his chair. The computer booted up just like before, with no indication of receiving a wireless network signal. It seemed his method had a problem.

What was the problem? Feng Xiaotian sat in his chair, thinking carefully. After a while, he opened the computer's applications and checked the network settings. The computer had all the necessary basic programs, so the problem should not be with the computer itself. Could it be the radio's signal receiver?

Thinking of this possibility, Feng Xiaotian immediately began a thorough inspection. After repeated checks, he found no issues. Feng Xiaotian was stumped. He sat motionless, staring at the disassembled computer, wondering: theoretically, this should work. What is the problem?

This was a problem, and Feng Xiaotian could not figure it out. However, a vague idea formed in his mind, but it seemed to be playing hide-and-seek with him. Every time he was about to grasp it, it would slip away. Feng Xiaotian felt frustrated, and after a while, he was almost driven mad.