"Go home often, find some free time, find some time, go home and have a look..."
The 14-inch black and white Panda TV was playing Chen Hong's masterpiece, with warm scenes and lyrics that touched the soul. Every sentence made Ji Donglai very excited.
In a daze, Ji Donglai felt uncomfortable returning from his 40s to the 19-year-old in 1999, especially when he saw his beloved mother again, with his father sitting in front of him. Even though this year was very sad, Ji Donglai still felt very happy.
During the 1998 Southeast Asian economic crisis and the major adjustment of the domestic economy, Ning Caiyun, the mother of a state-owned enterprise employee, was finally laid off because the enterprise failed to hold on.
In July, I received a one-time buyout salary of just over 10,000 yuan, and my life hit a low point.
Ning Caiyun, who refused to admit defeat, opened a video store with the help of her sister-in-law. She rented out various CDs from her cousin who came from Jidong, Zhongguancun. The deposit was ten yuan per CD, and the rent was three yuan a day. The neighbors took care of the business and paid for it. It's okay.
His father, Ji Ping, took the initiative to be laid off a few years ago due to poor economic performance of his company. As an eighth-level electrician in the factory, he moved into the private sector and did very well. Because his skills were very good, he took on private work from time to time. The family's life was once very comfortable under the management of the two.
But with the year 1998, a large number of laid-off workers began to look for jobs, and fewer and fewer companies approached Ji Ping for private work. Not only that, because the factory's performance is not good, the promised increase in Ji Ping's salary did not come true. Instead, it dropped this year.
As for Ning Caiyun's video store, when he was just laid off, it was the only one in this alley and the income was considerable. Later, when everyone saw that Ning Caiyun had made money, they all learned to drive.
There are about six video stores in one alley, and the rent for DVDs has dropped from three yuan a day. Now the deposit has been reduced from ten yuan to five yuan, and the rent has been reduced to fifty cents. And you still have to be picky.
"Son, why are you crying?"
The fragments of memories in Ji Donglai's mind were integrated in various ways, and he thought about the tight days at home. He was not sensible in his previous life, and he felt really bad.
His parents didn't study much, but they insisted that Ji Donglai take the college entrance examination. It would be best to go to Beijing. This way, he would be close to home and it would be easier to find a job in the future. After all, there are more factories in Hebei.
Ji Donglai's parents both work and rarely control their children, which makes Ji Donglai rebellious since he was a child. With his adolescence, he often makes his parents angry.
There is also the family's grandfather, Ji Heng, who dotes on his eldest grandson, which can be described as lawless, and Ji Ping and his wife dare not take care of him at all.
After school, Ji Donglai studied electricianship with his father, repaired computers with his cousin, and worked as a bricklayer... He failed in any of them, and ended up confused all his life, accomplishing nothing until he was in his forties.
Like other ordinary people, he worked hard, worked abroad, and had the opportunity to immigrate, but Ji Donglai, who had no sense of direction, did not grasp it.
Fortunately, his parents never gave up on their son, and finally helped Ji Donglai barely get married. In a world that is changing rapidly, Ji Donglai's family can barely make ends meet.
"Mom, this sounds really nice... I miss my grandpa. I want to go back to Northeast China to see my grandpa in a few days!"
After wiping away his tears, Ji Donglai tried to calm down. After two lifetimes, Ji Donglai realized that the person he needed to cherish was by his side. He must work hard to live a personal life and live up to his family's expectations in this life.
"What's wrong! I miss your grandpa. When I just asked you to go back to Northeast China during the vacation, you still didn't go. Wipe your tears clean during the New Year!"
Hearing his son say this, Ning Caiyun felt a little better.
The huge pressure of life is like a mountain. My son will take the college entrance examination next year and needs money! Her husband's job is uncertain, and the video store is basically no longer profitable. If this continues, Ning Caiyun doesn't know what to do with her life.
As the financial leader of the family, Ning Caiyun knew deeply that the family's finances were in serious trouble. Last year, her father-in-law Ji fell ill and the family's savings were almost spent.
As the eldest son, Ji Ping would always lend a hand when other siblings were in trouble. The house had not been spacious in so many years.
The unsatisfactory life has gathered into various negative emotions. Although Ning Caiyun tried hard to suppress it, she became more and more violent in the end. Her temper was like a New Year's firecracker, which ignited when exposed to fire.
"I joined the Youth League first and then the Party. I was on the honor roll three times. The director of the factory paid special attention to me and was about to promote me as deputy team leader. The boss talked to me and said that the unit was downsizing and wanted to merge the factory. At that time, I expressed my position that we workers should Thinking about the country, if I don’t get laid off, who will get laid off…”
The Spring Festival Gala TV program is still going on, and the passionate lines of the actors in "Cheer Up" are still echoing. Ji Donglai can almost memorize the lines of this sketch, but the content is not flattering...
"Turn it off, it's annoying to watch!"
The familiar scene reappeared again. Before Ji Donglai could finish recalling it, Ning Caiyun scolded him, and Ji Ping quickly turned off the TV. Ji Donglai finally confirmed that he was not dreaming, that everything around him was real, and he was reborn.
Ji Donglai also denounced the content of two sketches, and even wanted to hit someone, secretly saying that he was so high-minded that many viewers might laugh.
But when the workers inside see this scene, they will feel even more overwhelmed during the Chinese New Year and want to stop celebrating the New Year... Haha!
"Dong Lai, come to my house to play for a while?"
The atmosphere at home was gradually getting serious. The door outside the bungalow was pushed open, and Liu Yupeng's big head poked in from the door. The slight mustache on his chin looked particularly mature.
Liu Yupeng and Ji Donglai are classmates. Both parents came to Hebei from the Northeast to make a living in their early years. Liu Yupeng is five years older than Ji Donglai. Counting this year, Liu Yupeng has stayed in high school for five years. The family is closed to let the other person take the exam. University, but it's a pity that the other party is really not that material.
Liu Yupeng's parents were laid off at the same time as Ji Ping. Unlike Ji Ping, who specialized in technology, Liu Yupeng's parents used their laid-off wages to start a transportation business. Now they have two big cars at home and live a very comfortable life.
Life at home is comfortable, so Liu Yupeng is so focused on enjoying himself that he doesn’t even think about going to college. He hangs out with Ji Donglai all day long and is the famous second general of Hengha in the alley.
"Go ahead, go ahead, I'm getting upset just looking at you two!"
Watching Liu Yupeng come in, Ning Caiyun stuffed his son with ten dollars and waved his hand. Ji Donglai didn't want to go. He looked at his parents and had no choice but to go out. Being at home during the Chinese New Year, he could easily cause a war.
"Your wife is back, let me take you to see her?"
The two walked out of the yard. Liu Yupeng tightened his scarf and looked around to see if there was no one around. Then he smiled at Ji Donglai.
"Who? Jiang Xue?"
After hearing what Liu Yupeng said, a name flashed in Ji Donglai's mind, a clear and pretty face flashed before his eyes, and his mood suddenly worsened.
