Chapter 5, The Poetry of Time, Never Ceases

But Cheng Ran knew what his father had missed. The current 1990s were roughly the same as in his previous life. At this time, the penetration rate of landline telephones was extremely low. The national information industry development goal was to achieve a telephone penetration rate of 6% by the year 2000. However, in reality, with the update and replacement of new technologies, the telephone penetration rate in the Republic skyrocketed, far exceeding the national information industry's predictions by that time. As the era progressed, landline telephones entered countless households and then disappeared from them, replaced only by a small screen that people carried with them. The advancement of technology was no different from magic.

In the current situation, nothing is more significant than successfully gaining admission to a high school, as it brings happiness and a sense of pride to one's parents. Due to the inherent examination-oriented education system in the country, the ingrained belief that only good schools lead to a good future and a fulfilling life has taken deep root in their minds. This is not entirely unreasonable, as the college entrance examination has become one of the few relatively fair channels for social mobility in this society.

After entering the military academy, he studied electronic computers, digital technology, and automatic control, among other subjects. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the engineering corps. However, when the country abolished the infrastructure engineering troops, he transitioned to a state-owned enterprise, Huadong Company, headquartered in Rongzhou. Due to his strong technical skills, Cheng Feiyang also held a senior executive position in this area. However, because he was not adept at navigating the bureaucratic system, he was ultimately marginalized in internal conflicts. When a leader above Cheng Feiyang fell from power, despite his capabilities, he could only be "exiled" and was assigned to a branch company in Shanhai City, serving as the director of the technology department. The so-called technology department was essentially a division with several dozen technical personnel.

Some memories surged to the forefront of my mind like a tide. My father belonged to the old generation of engineers. In those days, our family had three sons and one daughter, and he was the eldest. After graduating from junior high school, he enlisted in the army to alleviate the family's burden. Later, he self-studied in the military camp and was admitted to a military academy.

What his father missed was not merely a trend, but an opportunity where an investment of several million at that time could rival the billions spent on research and development abroad, a market with immense potential. He also gave up his dreams for Cheng Ran, relinquishing "Fulong" and breaking his own wings

... ...

On the front line, my father had already begun research in this area a long time ago. The theory behind the "Fulong" high-capacity switch they developed has nearly matured; however, at this critical moment, the company could not sustain itself, and state-owned assets had to be sold off or restructured.

Cheng Ran, that is a black line. Wasn't it agreed that the aura of a reborn person can suppress everything? What is with this attitude of hopelessness? Hey, hey, are you listening to me? As a reborn person, I don't want to have any self-respect!

On the other hand, the state-owned hotel where my mother works is also in discussions with employees regarding the buyout of their years of service

Xu Lan and Cheng Feiyang exchanged a glance, seemingly comforted by Cheng Ran's sudden change. However, they did not truly care. This situation was not unprecedented; sometimes Cheng Ran would suddenly change his demeanor due to some provocation at school, focusing on his studies. Yet, this enthusiasm rarely lasted long, at most a week, before his true nature would be revealed.

Xu Lan was somewhat surprised by this, and Cheng Ran noticed that her mother's eyes were slightly swollen, clearly indicating that she had cried last night

The company owned by my father, Guozi Huaneng Enterprise, is one of the earliest companies in the country to pioneer the development of programmable switches, once enjoying great glory with revenues exceeding 100 million yuan. However, as market competition intensified and coupled with the cumbersome nature of the system, the company has been declining year by year. In fact, as an old technology, Cheng Feiyang has already sensed that traditional programmable switches have become outdated, and the future direction lies in high-capacity digital switches. Yet, the company stubbornly adheres to its old path, making obsolescence almost inevitable. Cheng Feiyang clearly sees the company's decline, but unfortunately, his lowly position renders him powerless to change the will of those in higher authority.

Thinking of this, as she looked at the man in front of her with a square jaw and a national character face, Cheng Ran felt an indescribable warmth in her heart. He said, "Dad, you should choose what you want to choose and follow your own path. I will get into high school!"

But what exactly influenced his judgment at that time ... The answer is Cheng Ran

At that time, the company underwent restructuring and presented two options: either to buy out the entire length of service for those in technical positions who would be laid off, or to independently reorganize a company and bear the responsibility for survival and profit. Cheng Feiyang originally intended to choose the latter. He had confidence in his own abilities and technology, and he was unwilling to see the fruits of his past struggles and efforts go up in smoke due to the turmoil of the broader environment

For a long time, Cheng Ran chose to blur and diminish this memory, as most of the recollections were unbearable to revisit, filled with intense frustrations from the first half of life and the incessant shouting and quarrels of a tumultuous family.

... ...

Xu Lan prepared a bowl of fried egg noodles, and Cheng Feiyang also got up. She served him a bowl from the pot and then served Cheng Ran an even larger bowl.

He failed his high school entrance examination and was unable to gain admission to a good high school. Naturally, schools like No. 1 High School and No. 2 High School were out of the question, as the score gap was too large. Even with money, it would be impossible to get in. In order for him to attend the Fourth High School of the city, the family urgently needed a substantial amount of money. However, where could this money come from? They would have to borrow from relatives, which was absolutely unacceptable to his father, who had served in the military, had never asked anyone for help in his life, and was inherently proud. Therefore, Cheng Feiyang gritted his teeth, rejected the requests from a group of subordinates who hoped he would lead them out to work, and chose to buy out his years of service, taking that sum of thirty thousand yuan, which might seem extremely laughable in the future.

During this period in Cheng Ran's memory, his parents often quarreled, over the future, over various trivial matters, and over the pressures of life. At one point, he even became their outlet for frustration; even when he was not at fault, he would still receive a scolding if he was disapproved of at home. An ancient saying goes, "Poor couples have a hundred sorrows." In fact, happiness has its own brilliance, while an unhappy life tends to be largely the same.

Later, Cheng Feiyang met Cheng Ran's mother here, started a family, and had children. To be fair, with Cheng Feiyang's technical abilities, he managed to make the branch company thrive and gain some fame in Shanhai City. However, with the changes of the times, the entire bloated Huatong system began to gradually collapse in the market. Under the fallen nest, how can there be intact eggs? Naturally, the branch company was also affected.

... ...

In this era of widespread economic downturn for state-owned enterprises, the wave of layoffs has also arrived... The company is currently considering issues related to restructuring and division, and survival has become a challenge.

No, Mom, I see you cooking

His father remains so domineering and unilateral. ... However, Cheng Ran really wants to say, can I not care? This is a matter that concerns my immediate environment greatly ...

Cheng Ran woke up to the faint rustling sounds coming from the kitchen. At this time, it was still dark, around six in the morning, and somewhere in the apartment building, a rooster had already begun to crow. The sounds from the kitchen were caused by Xu Lan getting up to prepare breakfast for Cheng Ran, as she used tongs to place honeycomb coal into the stove and operated a hand-cranked blower to help start the fire. Although she was being very careful, typically at this hour, Cheng Ran would still be completely unaware. However, the reborn Cheng Ran might have the habits from his previous life imprinted in his soul, and with the slightest noise, he would immediately awaken.

In fact, he had previously experienced some lingering feelings about the unreality of rebirth. At this moment, awakening from sleep on this bed, which he had not used for over a decade, he found himself completely accepting of this outcome

Before the 1990s, installing a telephone was a significant undertaking; at that time, not to mention households, even a single unit installing a telephone was a considerable expense. Even afterwards, with initial installation fees often reaching around 8,000 to 9,000 yuan for a single phone, it was not something an ordinary family could afford. This was largely due to the fact that the technology for programmable switching systems was monopolized by foreign countries, which divided the domestic market, resulting in exorbitant costs. By the 1990s, domestic production of mid-range programmable switches had gradually begun, significantly reducing initial installation costs and allowing fixed telephones to enter countless households.

They now regard Cheng Ran as a case of this incidental learning enthusiasm

Youth is a poem of time, which should never cease. However, in the past of Cheng Ran, it is a melody filled with pain and sorrow

Cheng Feiyang was somewhat surprised by Cheng Ran getting up so early, "It's Saturday, why so early?"

Get up early to review. Make up for what I have missed. Cheng Ran speaks the truth; the lingering sharp pain from yesterday's whipping by Li the Butcher only serves to fuel the motivation to defeat him.

In the words of my father at that time, their troops were stationed at the coal mine, and there was a layer of coal dust on the blankets, making it impossible to sleep. He lit a lamp on the table to read and gritted his teeth to self-study, ultimately passing the military examination, which can be considered a turning point in his destiny

In the past, I used to sleep until around 11 or 12 o'clock, close to noon.

Cheng Feiyang waved his hand proudly, saying, "This is an adult matter, children should not interfere. Just focus on your studies for now!"

As a reborn individual, his words carried a resonant power, and he could even feel the strong confidence and inner strength radiating from within him.

Father, I have heard that all the subordinates in your technology department are willing to work with you. As for the company, as long as you all agree, they will reorganize the technology department and implement a shareholding reform. The headquarters will hold a portion of the shares, while the rest will belong to the employees of the technology department, effectively replacing the previous arrangement.

Last night, he went to bed late and vaguely heard his parents arguing. At that moment, he got up with a somersault, quickly put on his clothes, and opened the door. Xu Lan was somewhat surprised, "Did I wake you up?" As far as she remembered, her son had never gotten up this early before

Cheng Feiyang nodded, extended a finger pointing at Cheng Ran, turned to his mother, and said in a deep voice, "It is better to buy out the years of service! Leave some money to pay for his tuition later!"

Cheng Ran no longer wishes to go through it a second time