Chapter 2

In mid-March 1980, a fresh and chilly dawn.

Since it was not yet five o'clock, it was still dark.

A thin layer of frost rested on the eaves and tree branches, shimmering with a crystalline light under the moon.

The courtyard at No. 2 Shanye Alley was also cold and quiet, with curtains drawn on every window.

Occasionally, one could hear the snoring of people in their rooms and the rustling of rats in the small kitchens.

But in such a silent moment, Ning Weimin had already woken up.

He could hardly wait, escaping from the warm bed and dressing hurriedly.

To say it was a bit depressing, today he was actually woken up by his own flatulence.

This was probably the side effect of eating too much scallion with sauce, stinky tofu on steamed buns, and salted and fried soybeans last night.

There was no way around it; when it came to eating, the essence was to enjoy the taste, even if it meant a stinky bottom.

Moreover, he was trying to save money.

For just a few cents, he could indulge in a feast, but physiologically, he had to pay a certain price.

Otherwise, how could this meal be called "Poor Man's Joy"?

After getting up, Ning Weimin, in the dark, used the chamber pot in the room.

He then tiptoed to the outer room, used a water dipper to fill the washbasin, washed his face, and brushed his teeth.

He added coal to the stove and put a pot of water on to boil.

After that, he picked up the canvas suitcase with "Capital City" in large letters and a pattern of "Capital City Railway Station" on it, and pulled the latch of the outer room door.

Despite his utmost care, even though he was very familiar with the environment, he did not make any unnecessary noise.

Unfortunately, the outer room door, which was older than Ning Weimin, was a creaky old thing.

With a "creak," it still managed to summon Kang Shude's cough.

This proved that the old man had been woken up.

Sure enough, a voice came from the bed in the outer room.

"Are you leaving, Weimin?"

"Grandpa, go back to sleep. I'll close the door for you."

"Why so early today? It can't be time yet, can it?"

"I did wake up a bit early. But it's only a few minutes. It's already a quarter past five."

"Alright, then go early and come back early. Make sure to eat well. A man is iron, food is steel; don't just get by..."

"Sure, I won't neglect myself. Don't worry."

"Also, remember, when dealing with those people, it's okay to take a loss. You won't get rich by being petty. There's a long road ahead, don't be too hot-headed..."

"I understand. Don't worry, I'm not stupid..."

With his steps, the door was gently closed, and Ning Weimin, carrying the large bag, finally left the small room.

He then went out of the courtyard gate and arrived at Shanye Alley.

At this moment, the narrow alley was empty.

There were no pedestrians, not even the chirping sparrows.

Ning Weimin, breathing out white mist in the cold breeze, tightened his cotton hat and felt a deep sense of comfort.

Not for any other reason, the old man who had nagged him, though talkative, had said truly warm words.

It was wonderful to have someone who genuinely cared about him.

Indeed, he was not Ning Weimin himself.

This body had been mysteriously occupied by him.

In fact, he had only been at home, drunk, and slept for a few days before the Spring Festival in 2020.

When he woke up, he found himself in this era, with this identity.

From the perspective of this timeline, the real him had not even been born yet.

It would not be until 1986 that he, as an infant, would be abandoned at the doorstep of an orphanage by his heartless parents.

So, the first thing he and the real Ning Weimin had in common was that they both had no family and were orphans.

Therefore, since he was here, he had to make the best of it.

Why he had traveled through time and what his real name was no longer mattered.

What mattered was that he was here.

From the moment he woke up from the gas poisoning, he had taken over and become Ning Weimin.

He now had a brand new life, full of countless opportunities.

And this was the fundamental reason why he was willing to sell his blood to save Kang Shude.

Think about it, what kind of era was the 1980s?

It was like the opening of "August 1st Film Studio," radiating a golden glow!

It was the starting point of a new era, where China was rising from weakness to strength, and reforms were creating miracles.

With the economic boom, countless opportunities to make money were available.

Even any investment at this time was at its historical low.

Without a doubt, anyone in his position,

If they did not aspire to become the world's richest person, they would at least try to surpass the achievements of the "Two Ma" (Ma Huateng and Ma Yun).

Even the most unambitious and lackluster person could easily enjoy a life of luxury and comfort, with a harem and a retinue.

Therefore, Kang Shude, who had woken him up in this era, was like giving him a blank lottery ticket of the era.

This gave him the opportunity to become a first-generation rich person.

Naturally, he regarded him as his benefactor, like a second father.

Even a chick or a duckling, when hatched, would regard the first living thing they see as a source of dependence.

When he woke up, he saw this old man spraying water, fanning, and wiping his face.

For a moment, he even thought this old man was the real family of the body he had occupied.

How could he not feel good about the old man?

Although he gradually realized that Kang Shude was actually a competitor for the two small rooms,

This only made him feel even more moved and trusting.

There was no doubt that the old man was kind-hearted.

He was not someone who would lose his conscience for a bit of profit.

Moreover, besides the life-saving favor, there was one more crucial point.

As a predecessor in the antique trade, Kang Shude was someone he genuinely admired and respected.

Before traveling back in time, he had also made a living from antiques.

He dealt with the recovery of pawned items and the trading of commemorative coins and stamps online.

He had to visit pawn shops, auctions, and the Majian stamp and coin market regularly, dealing with various collectibles.

Naturally, a well-known collector like "Teacher Ma" was his true idol.

He never expected that Kang Shude was a hidden expert.

His knowledge was as profound as Teacher Ma's.

Just a few casual words during the Spring Festival were enough to make him bow in admiration.

How could he argue with the old man over petty gains?

If he were as shortsighted as the old Ning Weimin, he would be a fool.

Although these two small rooms in the heart of the capital would be worth millions in the future,

Compared to Kang Shude's personal value, they were nothing.

Therefore, for all these reasons, besides gratitude, he felt the joy of meeting a true master.

His admiration and respect for the old man were genuine.

This allowed him to truly build a good relationship with the old man, becoming more and more compatible.

Otherwise, just selling blood would at most make them even.

Afterward, they might remain polite and courteous, but their relationship would not be as close as it was now.

In short, as a soul who knew the future trends of the world and the drastic changes in China,

His core interests were no longer limited to the present.

To put it bluntly, since he confirmed the reality of his time travel, he could laugh in his sleep every day.