"Huh? We haven't been back for over a year, what's there to talk about if we go? Besides, they probably don't even know we're back, do they?"
"I just said it casually, seeing them chatting,"
Tan Jincheng replied while refreshing the webpage.
"We'll see then, they might not even know we're back yet."
"That's true."
Interpersonal relationships at the turn of the century were purer than in later generations; this was especially true for young people like Tan Jincheng who had not been long out of school.
In his previous life, Tan Jincheng had also attended several class reunions, and aside from some comparisons later on, the overall feeling was quite good.
Of course, the current Tan Jincheng naturally had no interest in so-called class reunions, and just now he had indeed only mentioned it casually.
He had intended to discuss future plans with Zhang Xupeng, but seeing him engrossed in the game, Tan Jincheng didn't speak again.
Over a year on the ship, though not completely isolated from the world, his understanding of it was limited; Tan Jincheng opened webpages one by one.
Through these news pages, Tan Jincheng gradually integrated into this world.
"April 1, 2003, superstar Zhang XX fell to his death."
"February 2004, thanks to my roommate for not SHA-ing me."
Dormant memories began to assault Tan Jincheng.
After opening a few webpages, Tan Jincheng couldn't help but marvel at the internet's unrestrained nature in those years.
The openness of various search terms was far beyond what later generations could compare to.
Most of the forbidden words in later generations could be searched openly at this time.
Search engines were much easier to use than in later generations.
Although bidding rankings were introduced last year and advertisements had started appearing on search pages, they were not comparable to the full-screen ads of later generations.
For a non-professional like Tan Jincheng, who also carried memories from a later generation, such a network environment was truly like a fish in water.
Unlike in later generations, where even to see something naughty, one would have to ask for links in various WX groups.
Before long, Tan Jincheng, who had just scorned Zhang Xupeng as an internet-addicted youth, activated the "true fragrance" rule.
However, to outsiders, this short-haired teenager who didn't play games, didn't chat on QQ, and didn't watch movies, but only clicked on various news pages repeatedly, seemed somewhat unusual.
Unbeknownst to them, Tan Jincheng and Zhang Xupeng had already been in the internet cafe for several hours, yet they still hadn't noticed.
Until the phone in his pocket rang.
"Oh, it's ten o'clock, my mom called, let's go back,"
Tan Jincheng nudged Zhang Xupeng.
"Huh? That fast? Want to play a bit longer?"
"No more, let's go; I originally had something to tell you, but seeing you so engrossed in the game, forget it."
Seeing this, Zhang Xupeng also quit the game, turned off the computer, and said,
"Alright then, what did you want to talk to me about?"
It was evident that Zhang Xupeng's self-control was quite good.
If it had been a year ago, he would have definitely procrastinated for a while.
Tan Jincheng could see that Zhang Xupeng had also undergone significant changes over the past year or so.
After leaving the internet cafe, Zhang Xupeng still remembered the earlier matter and asked Tan Jincheng,
"What did you just say you wanted to talk to me about?"
"You probably won't continue your studies, right? What are your plans for the future?"
"Huh? How do you know?"
"Guess."
"Haha, you're amazing."
Zhang Xupeng gave Tan Jincheng a thumbs-up, then added, "I'm planning to do a small business, what about you?"
"Me? I'm not studying either. Tell me, what kind of business are you planning?"
Tan Jincheng laughed.
"Why aren't you studying either? Your grades are better than mine, won't your parents beat you?"
"They already did. Don't talk about that, what business are you planning?"
Tan Jincheng's grades were indeed quite good.
Last year, he actually got into university, but not going to study and instead boarding a cruise ship was an accident.
Of course, although Zhang Xupeng's grades were a bit worse, he also got into a vocational college.
If it were a normal pace, the two of them should be in their high school classmates' group chat discussing where to meet up for National Day.
In short, fate is capricious, but with something like rebirth happening, there's nothing strange about it.
"Haha, you actually got beaten; it seems your status has dropped a lot with the second child."
"Quickly tell me what business you're planning."
Tan Jincheng kicked Zhang Xupeng.
"I'll tell you later, let's go eat some fried noodles first, haven't had them in a long time."
Zhang Xupeng rubbed his belly and said.
Tan Jincheng, who originally wanted to go home early, could only helplessly follow Zhang Xupeng to find a late-night snack stall.
A plate of fried noodles, a bottle of soda, simple and straightforward.
Dinner was too early, and Tan Jincheng was a bit hungry now.
After the fried noodles were served, the two slurped them up, not bothering to talk.
Not to mention, Tan Jincheng hadn't eaten Yicheng fried noodles in a long time.
Vendors these days used much more wholesome ingredients than in later generations, at least there were no pre-made dishes.
As for the experts claiming that pre-made dishes have a long history, citing things like baozi and mantou as pre-made dishes; that's simply nonsense.
Tan Jincheng, who had run a construction site fast food business, knew that vendors selling baozi and mantou these days steamed them fresh starting in the early morning.
Growing lads eat their fathers out of house and home; within a few minutes, their respective plates of fried noodles were wiped clean.
Zhang Xupeng patted his stomach contentedly, picked up the soda, and took a big gulp, saying,
"What do you say, how about we open a small restaurant? It seems quite profitable."
Haha, sure enough, Tan Jincheng couldn't help but laugh.
It was still that familiar idea.
"What are you laughing at? Don't you think so? We learned some skills helping out in the ship's galley before, so opening a restaurant shouldn't be a problem, right?"
In their previous life, they didn't have as much capital as they do now, and they started with construction site fast food.
Now that they had more capital, it was understandable that Zhang Xupeng wanted to go straight to opening a restaurant.
"It can indeed be profitable, but I don't want to do this."
Tan Jincheng looked at Zhang Xupeng.
In this era of infinitely expanding domestic and foreign demand, the catering industry, as a major consumer category, will naturally make money as long as one is not overly ambitious.
In fact, in their previous life, due to funding limitations, the construction site fast food they initially sold was actually better than directly opening a restaurant.
Construction workers value good quality and low prices, and don't have too many demands on the taste of fast food; heavy oil and heavy salt are enough.
There's no need to rent a storefront, rent is cheap, a pushcart, small profits but quick turnover; besides being hard work, there's nothing wrong with it.
In fact, small profits but quick turnover was only in the early stages; for the two who found their way, the later profits were actually quite good.
A five-yuan fast food meal could have its cost controlled within two yuan, and the gross profit was quite substantial.
"Ah? Not doing this? Then what do you want to do? Besides knowing a bit of cooking, we don't know anything else. We can't just go work for someone, can we?"
"Sell clothes."
(End of Chapter)
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