Chapter 1

1980.

One day in July.

At seven in the morning.

The sky was not yet fully bright, and the morning mist had not completely dissipated, creating a hazy atmosphere. Already, a line of people had formed against the wall in front of the tightly closed windows of the Rongcheng Supply and Marketing Cooperative, standing like soldiers awaiting inspection.

Yawning, Su Chen hurried over when he saw so many people and quickly joined the line at the very end.

He continued to yawn while waiting in line, unable to help but sigh: It’s really not easy to buy things these days.

This was because most goods required coupons to purchase, such as grain coupons, cloth coupons, soap coupons, oil coupons, and meat coupons, among others. The list was endless, covering everything you could imagine.

Some products were only supplied at specific times and places, like meat.

Before he knew it, he had been reborn in this era for a month, but he still felt a sense of detachment.

In his previous life, he was a young professor at a prestigious 985 university, researching economic topics related to the reform era and the turn of the millennium. Perhaps due to overwork, he fell asleep and woke up in this time—1980s—and was even taking the college entrance exam this year.

Isn’t that amazing?

…

Counting the people in front of him, there were nine, making him the tenth in line. Today’s meat was secure.

The supply cooperative usually sold only two pigs, four sides of meat. If you arrived late, you wouldn’t get any.

More people continued to arrive and join the line.

People stood in line, one after another, chatting about family matters and gossip with those they knew.

Time ticked by slowly.

Finally, it was 8 o'clock.

By then, the sky was fully bright. Su Chen looked back and saw that the line had stretched for dozens of meters, with at least a hundred people, all eagerly waiting, their eyes fixed on the cooperative’s door.

“Move, move, you’re blocking the entrance. If I can’t get in, you’ll all eat chicken feathers today!”

The meat seller, still half-asleep, arrived with various tools in hand.

“Master Chen, you’re here?”

Someone in the crowd greeted him with a smile.

No matter the era, meat sellers were always in high demand.

Master Chen yawned as he opened the door, complaining, “You all look like hungry ghosts. How could I not come?”

Once inside, Master Chen closed the door and began to prepare. The sound of chopping boards and other noises soon filled the air, sounding like the most beautiful music to those outside, gradually waking them up and making them more excited.

Soon, someone pushed a cart with the meat for the day.

Seeing the four sides of meat, the crowd became restless, knowing that if they were late, they wouldn’t get any.

“Old Chen, Old Chen, the meat is here!”

“Hurry up and bring it in.” Master Chen poked his head out.

The pork was brought inside, and the wooden boards covering the meat-selling window began to be removed one by one.

The crowd instantly surged forward, the window surrounded by a sea of heads.

Su Chen also pushed his way to the front. The crowd was so dense that people were pressed chest to back, with no regard for personal space. Elderly people and women were equally forceful, like Lu Zhishen come to life, strong and determined.

Everyone had only one thought: Get the meat first!

Trapped in the middle, Su Chen was surrounded by various odors—sweat, bad breath—filling his nostrils. A woman’s hair even got stuck in his nose…

Inside, a few state-owned restaurant buyers had joined the crowd. They had a good relationship with the cooperative and enjoyed the privilege of buying first.

After these buyers left, only a little over two sides of pork remained, about 300 pounds at most.

The crowd surged forward again…

Finally, after a long struggle, Su Chen managed to pay and get his meat, his clothes drenched in sweat. He looked back at the still-waiting crowd, shook his head, and walked away with 2.3 pounds of pork.

Despite being in this era for a month, he still felt like he had stepped into an old photograph, as if he were in a historical documentary. Everything looked clear, but it didn’t feel real, a sense of distance and haziness.

Most people passing by carried military-green shoulder bags, women with long braids, either long or short; men with center-parted hair or very short hair, or wearing hats.

Everyone’s clothing was uniformly plain, from blue and white to gray and black. The vibrant colors had not yet reached this small county town.

On his way back from the cooperative, Su Chen felt as if he had pushed open the door of time and stepped into history.

Holding the meat, he walked through a few intersections, turned into an alley, and arrived at his front door.

A tall, slender woman in her forties was about to step out. She was Su Chen’s mother, Wei Hong, who worked at a state-owned candy factory.

Although working at a state-owned factory was a hereditary iron rice bowl, with children able to take over, there were still different levels of status, and not everyone could get in.

“Mom, I got the meat.” Su Chen lifted the meat in his hand.

Wei Hong took it from him. “Give it to me.”

“Where’s Dad?” Su Chen asked casually as he handed the meat to his mother.

In this life, his father was Su Weiguo, a machine repairman at the state-owned candy factory. Though not highly educated, he had traveled extensively and was skilled in machinery, able to repair any equipment in the factory.

Although both parents worked at state-owned factories, they lived a tight, modest life. The idea of becoming wealthy was a distant dream; they just had a stable income and supply.

“Your dad went out with Uncle Cao. He left early this morning, not even bothering to tidy up the house…” Wei Hong said as she walked, then stopped and asked seriously, “Son, are you confident about the college entrance exam?”

“I should be fine.” Su Chen was confident about the exam he had personally taken, but he didn’t want to sound too sure.

“Your father and I have agreed. If you don’t pass, you’ll retake the exam. Don’t follow our old path; the family must have a college graduate.”

“If I don’t pass, I’ll retake it.” Su Chen nodded and said, “Mom, I’m going out for a bit.”

“Don’t go too wild, and remember to come back for dinner.” Wei Hong reminded him.

Su Chen turned and left.

Although he had been here for a month, to be honest, he still hadn’t decided what to do. While there were many opportunities to make money, there were also many pitfalls. One wrong step, and he wouldn’t know how he ended up dead.

Nothing was easy to do.

But there was a saying: since you’re here…

Although he was a professor in his previous life, could he really rely on teaching to make a living now?

He needed to adapt to the current situation and live well, not be stuck in his past profession.

Besides, who said a professor couldn’t use underhanded tactics or take a different path?

This was 1980. Who among those who succeeded in the future did so by playing it straight?

Don’t be naive; they were all adults.

Unfortunately, Su Chen had no capital.

No matter the era, you needed capital to do anything.

Especially if he wanted to go south to buy goods and resell them, a business that required connections and background. Without them, it was impossible.

It was tough!

So, Su Chen decided to first get some capital.

He hadn’t considered philately, as it couldn’t be quickly converted to cash and was practically worthless before the millennium.

Even if he wanted to collect stamps, there were opportunities in the next few years, as people didn’t value them now.

If he remembered correctly, most of the well-known companies that emerged decades later started in 1984, known as the Year of Modern Chinese Companies.

But that was in the future. The current problem was where to get some capital.

Su Chen remembered that he had applied to Tsinghua University for the college entrance exam and was confident he would pass.

So, he needed to save some money before going to Beijing. With capital, he would have the confidence to do various things, like collecting antiques or buying a few properties.

Although his neighbor had made a fortune by trading eels in the countryside, that was in the rural areas.

Now, Su Chen was in a county town. Where could he find eels to trade?

What?

You mean live streaming?

There was no such thing in 1980.

Rongcheng, where he was, was a small county town at the foot of the Taihang Mountains, not far from Beijing. In the future, a new district would be planned nearby, causing a significant rise in property prices in Rongcheng.

But now…

The future looked bright, but he couldn’t find a way forward.

He was lost.

Very lost.

As he walked out of the house, he saw his father, Su Weiguo, and Uncle Cao Weimin playing chess at Cao’s doorstep.

“Su Weiguo, don’t always stay at the factory. Take some time to go to Beijing with me.”

Cao Weimin placed a chess piece on the board and continued, “A few days ago, I caught a Southern man selling watches in Beijing. I kept him for two days and beat him a few times. Finally, he told me that a watch that costs five yuan in the South sells for how much in Beijing?”

“How much?” Su Weiguo asked casually, holding a cigarette.

Cao Weimin held up his hand and wiggled it.

With a deep voice, he said, “Fifty.”

Su Weiguo shuddered, and his cigarette fell onto the chessboard. He quickly picked it up, disbelievingly asking, “Fifty?”

“Absolutely. I think he makes at least 30 yuan per watch.” Cao Weimin’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “I’m planning to do the same tomorrow. I’ve had enough of the countryside. Without money, you’re nothing. Even if you die, you should die with a full stomach!”

Su Weiguo’s hand holding the cigarette trembled. “But that’s speculation…”

“Speculation of what?” Cao Weimin blew a smoke ring and said slowly, “During my years in the countryside, I learned one thing: money is the ultimate power.

We grew up together, and I’m telling you this because I trust you. I want to borrow some money from you.

If you betray me, I won’t say anything bad about you, but our friendship will be over.”

Su Weiguo was silent, his thoughts unclear.

But he seemed distracted.

Seeing Su Chen approach, Cao Weimin quickly changed the subject. “Little Su, where are you going?”

“Just out for a walk. Nothing to do at home.” Su Chen smiled. “Uncle Cao, are you playing chess with Dad?”

“Just a casual game.” Cao Weimin chuckled, then paused and asked, “Little Su, I’m going to Beijing tomorrow. Want to come along and see the sights?”

PS: New author…