Silly Zhu's Moving: The Old Neighbor's Nightmare

Chapter 185 Radio

These three books were all found by Sha Zhu while browsing temple fairs, libraries, Liulichang (a famous antique market in Beijing), or scrap metal recycling stations.

I was already thinking that I might need to find a legitimate way to make money in the future, so that I wouldn't be caught unprepared after being reported by some malicious neighbors.

So I bought it on a whim after seeing it, without even looking into the information inside.

In Sha Zhu's mind, it's all about using intention as an aid, buying a set of tools, and replacing the internal parts; eventually, it can be fixed.

Li Jianguo now has an idea: he wants to make some money. As a public servant, he has no other choice.

Unless they engage in embezzlement or corruption in their work or real estate transactions, this is precisely the time to crack down on such public officials and corrupt officials.

"Crystal Radio" was written by Cheng Quan and printed by the Amateur Radio Research Society in May 1951.

The book "Vacuum Tube Radio" was published by People's Posts and Telecommunications Press, but the exact publication date is unknown. The book's cover is also missing.

It was somewhat damaged when I bought it, but nothing inside was missing. Based on the content and style, I suspect it was recently released.

The book "Radio and Tape Recorder Repair: From Beginner to Expert" is also damaged; the lettering on the cover is blurred and the original text is no longer legible.

The contents contained technology and knowledge from before 1952. Sha Zhu saw it at a scrap metal yard.

This book is a valuable resource for anyone learning to repair radios.

I don't know who sold it to the recycling station as a waste book, and Sha Zhu bought it back.

Sha Zhu originally planned to buy one in 1953, which is next year, when the "Panda" brand radio from Shanghai was sold in Beijing.

Do you remember the "Panda" brand radio? It was this brand of radio that appeared in the movie "Heroes and Daughters," witnessing the development of radio technology and the growth of several generations.

This radio performs well and is much cheaper than other radios sold on the market.

In the same year, 1953, a domestically produced radio was developed at the Nanjing Radio Factory, and the "Panda" brand was established in 1956.

It just goes to show how much people love pandas.

The radios sold on the market now are either huge and bulky, or they are imported radios that are expensive and beyond Sha Zhu's reach.

If I buy it and put it at home, I'll probably be waiting to be reported any minute now; that would be a real problem.

"Brother Li, I've always wanted to buy a radio, but they're too expensive, so I haven't made a move yet."

I was worried that buying a used one would break down after a few days, so I bought a few books to study first, but naturally I couldn't get into them.

These books are for you. But Brother Li, don't underestimate them. Although I didn't get into reading them, I did investigate the market for them.

Let me give you an example: an old radio usually sells for a few dollars or a dozen dollars at a recycling center.

If only a small part inside is broken, and it can be repaired and resold, the price often increases more than tenfold.

Sha Zhu, feeling thirsty, picked up his teacup, took a sip to moisten his throat, and continued.

"You know Dongdan Dadi and Dongsi People's Market, right? I like to stroll around there when I have free time."

There were many vendors selling all sorts of goods, including old radios and some simple electronic devices.

In Beijing's Qianmen and Wangfujing areas, there are also some specialized electronic equipment stores, such as "Radio Materials Stores," etc.

These shops specialize in selling all kinds of electronic devices and radios; you can research them when you have free time, or go take a look.

What are the prices at scrap metal recycling stations? What are the prices at Friendship Store? What are the prices for old radios in the market?

The price difference here will shock you.

As for radio repair, most of the content in the book can only be considered theoretical knowledge.

When you actually start repairing, you'll find that a lot of things are better left unsaid; it's just a matter of replacing a part and doing some manual work.

Of course, everyone's understanding is different. If you want to learn it thoroughly, that would be even better. Anyway, the price of repair equipment is very low, and spare parts don't cost much either.

They were those old, broken radios, old radios that cost five or ten yuan, not many costing twenty yuan.

Compared to new radios that easily cost over a hundred yuan, this price is quite low. "As long as you put in the effort, Brother Li, and you can really fix it, will we ever lack money again?"

Li Jianguo was so fooled by Sha Zhu that he was completely dumbfounded. This incredible wealth was his! Sha Zhu realized that Li Jianguo was so engrossed in his dream of getting rich that he had been fooled.

Suddenly, Li Jianguo came to his senses and looked at Shazhu, saying, "Zhuzi, if there's such a good thing, why don't you do it yourself?"

Sha Zhu looked at Li Jianguo speechlessly and said, "Didn't I just tell you? I can't concentrate on this book."

I did have this idea; otherwise, why would I have bought the book?

Now that I've given you the book, if Brother Li really does enter this industry, maybe I can just contact you directly for the radio I've been longing for."

However, even a dozen or twenty dollars is a considerable sum for Li Jianguo now.

His current monthly salary is only a little over twenty yuan, and it takes a lot of courage for him to invest a month's salary into it.

Sha Zhu was willing to spend money for his good brother. "Brother Li, if you need to buy equipment but don't have the money on hand, just let me know. I can come up with ten or twenty yuan right now."

Li Jianguo took the three books, looked them over, and finally said, "I'll take them back and take a look first, and then I'll check out the markets you mentioned. Zhu Zi, don't try to fool me!"

"Why would I lie to you? Seeing is believing, hearing is deceiving. Just go ahead and do it," Sha Zhu said clearly.

Li Jianguo suddenly frowned again, thought for a moment, and said, "Zhuzi, even if I could really fix the radio, given the current situation, I can't sell it."

Although Li Jianguo did not explicitly state who he would sell to, where he would sell to, or how he would sell to.

But Sha Zhu understood: the dictatorship of the proletariat and public officials engaging in business would inevitably have a negative impact on their future work.

Regarding housing, the government and local street offices are now encouraging and supporting increased population, especially since families already have many members.

Even if you are transferred to another job, the house can be left to your parents and family.

If it is an allocated house, it should be returned to the subdistrict office.

But it's not allowed for public officials to do business. Even if you sell some radios you've repaired, it might become a stain on your record.

Even though the policy on buying and selling has not yet been implemented, Li Jianguo, as a public official, would not dare to buy or sell casually.

"Trust shops, agency shops, you can sell there. Although the price is lower, as long as the documents are complete, it's safe," Sha Zhu suggested.

While the two were chatting in the living room, the courtyard gate was pushed open, and Second Uncle Cai Quanwu walked in with a girl of about seventeen or eighteen.