Seeing the Village Secretary urge him, Tang Wen thought for a moment, shook his head, and put on an appearance of being at a loss, saying:
“I haven’t touched this Tractor much, I can’t figure it out right away.”
Chen Yonggui grunted a couple of times, but didn't Taunt him, after all, that was the nature of the Tang boy, but he felt a sense of disappointment:
“If you want to learn your father’s craft, calm down and study properly, don’t be so restless like before.
Alright, go find your classmate, I need to go back.”
The Tractor sputtered and drove away again. Tang Wen watched the four-wheeled monstrosity disappear into the darkness, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
The Shipyard couldn't repair Tractors, but he could sell them.
However, not many people could afford a Tractor right now. There certainly wouldn't be much business in the village; sales would have to be in the Town or the city.
Moreover, the 10 Horsepower Diesel Engine was a bit small. Tang Wen, who had crossed over from twenty years later, felt it was too shabby, so he boosted the Data from 10 Horsepower straight to 25 Horsepower in the Shipyard.
This time, the Research and Development screen was different from before. A Technology tree appeared, based on the Imitation of the 10 Horsepower Diesel Engine, which branched out to the 25 Horsepower Diesel Engine.
【Engine Research and Development（Upgrade）:
Low-speed Single Cylinder Four-stroke Diesel Engine
Fuel Supply Method: Swirl-type Nozzle
Start Method: Hand Crank
Rotational Speed: 2200 rpm/minute
Power: 18KW（25 Horsepower）
Main Material: Steel, Aluminum
Weight: 78kg】
【Can consume 50 Experience/100 Silver Coin to research, research now?】
With the foundation of the 10 Horsepower Engine, the R&D Cost for the 25 Horsepower was surprisingly still 100 Silver Coin. Tang Wen didn't hesitate and topped up another 100 Silver Coin; the ten thousand Deposit he had collected was now down to just over a thousand.
【Research complete, Silver Coin -100】
【Required Manufacturing:
1. Direct Manufacturing: 8 Silver Coin/unit（6 hours）
2. Processing with Provided Materials: Steel 62 kilograms, Aluminum 25 kilograms, Petroleum 0.5 kilograms, 5 Silver Coin/unit（3 hours）】
A 25 Horsepower Diesel Engine for 8 Silver Coin—8 Silver Coin is only 370 yuan—the Cost-effectiveness is much higher compared to the 10 Horsepower Diesel Engine.
This level of Tractor could be considered a large Tractor. Due to the inherent Torque advantage of Diesel Engines, it was basically the ceiling for household users.
It would also be quite good Power if used on a small Fishing Boat; generally, 15 Horsepower is enough.
The 25 Horsepower Diesel Engine is absolutely Advanced goods on the market. If a 10 Horsepower Tractor could be bought for three or four thousand yuan, the 25 Horsepower would directly double or more, requiring over ten thousand yuan for a new Tractor.
Even the Engine alone would sell for at least seven or eight thousand yuan.
However, going higher becomes difficult. There are many Performance Indicators for an Engine; Horsepower is only one.
The quietness, Fuel Consumption, and vibration of a Single Cylinder Diesel Engine all have an upper limit. Exceeding this limit requires abandoning the original structure. A normal Single Cylinder Diesel Engine maxes out at thirty or forty Horsepower; anything higher requires moving to double, quadruple, or sextuple cylinders, with the Technology difficulty increasing exponentially.
Tang Wen tried the 100 Horsepower Diesel Engine, and the Research Silver Coin immediately surged to 800 Silver Coin, not much lower than the 250 Horsepower Gasoline Engine.
However, the 25 Horsepower Diesel Engine definitely needed to be produced. While thinking about how to sell them, Tang Wen walked towards the teahouse in the Town.
Commercial scale in remote areas is very small, and there isn't much Particularity. What they call a teahouse actually also functions as a convenience store, a postal receiving agent, and a restaurant.
The shop wasn't large and had always been run by a family of three.
At this time, there wasn't a single person inside. Tang Wen walked in and sat down. The Boss, who had been resting his head on the counter, yawned and looked up. After seeing clearly, he asked:
“Tang boy, are you buying something or eating?”
“A bowl of pork noodle soup, with two fried eggs.”
The Boss Nodded, then shouted towards the kitchen:
“Panpan, Panpan!”
A few seconds later, a little girl with her hair tied up and an apron tied around her chest appeared at the door, revealing a face mostly hidden by her bangs.
“Pork noodle soup, two fried eggs!”
The Boss repeated the order. The little girl tossed her head, revealing one eye to glance at Tang Wen sitting in the Chair, and said expressionlessly:
“There is no pork noodle soup, and no fried eggs.”
“Hey, you child, aren't there ingredients in the kitchen?”
The Boss immediately got anxious, but “Panpan” shut him down with just one sentence:
“Then you come clean the kitchen.”
“……”
Tang Wen then remembered this was just a Township restaurant. Cooking late at night with cold stoves and cold pots was very strenuous, unlike the All Night restaurants in Shenzhen.
Realizing this, he was about to get up, but the Boss quickly signaled to his daughter when he saw this:
“Then go make some instant noodles, put two preserved eggs in.”
Panpan rolled her eyes, reluctantly took a bag of instant noodles from the shelf, and retreated to the kitchen to boil water.
Seeing his daughter disappear, the Boss finally breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Tang Wen, gesturing with his fingers and giving a Wink and nod:
“No one’s here now, want to play a couple of hands of cards with Uncle later?”
Along with his movements, a surge of memory flooded Tang Wen’s mind; he remembered that the original owner was quite familiar with the Boss.
This Boss was named Guo Chenliang. In his youth, he was also a hooligan and had ventured out before.
He had done business, fought, gambled, and when he was nowhere to turn, he returned to his hometown, relying on his parents' savings to marry and start a business.
But Guo Chenliang was boastful. The teahouse only managed to operate because his wife handled everything inside and out. Later, when his daughter Guo Panpan grew up, she also helped with chores, reducing her mother's burden.
Guo Chenliang himself was idle all day, indulging in playing cards and drinking alcohol, often disappearing for the whole day.
If you ever saw Guo Chenliang minding the counter, it was 100% certain that this guy was planning to sneak some pocket money from the till.
However, since he had been out in the world, Guo Chenliang was quite articulate when bragging. He had several younger brothers like "Tang Wen," all young men who had dropped out of school and were idle.
This guy always tried to induce Tang Wen to smoke and play cards, but Tang Wu used to be strict, so the original body only sneakily tried it a few times.
Now that Tang Wu was dead, and Guo Chenliang heard that Tang Wen had sold off his assets recently, he was sure Tang Wen had a lot of spare cash, even ordering two eggs with his noodle soup. Thoughts began to stir in his mind.
Tang Wen saw through his petty trick at a glance, feeling nothing but disgust for this kind of lazy man, and calmly refused:
“No thanks, I have to go back later.”
“Why go back so late? I’ll teach you Bullfighting, do you know how to play? You can sleep here at Uncle’s tonight, and leave after having a bowl of porridge in the morning.”
Seeing the fake smile on Guo Chenliang’s face, Tang Wen felt some regret. He should have just bought some snacks and left. Dealing with this old hooligan was quite difficult to deal with.
Just as he was getting impatient, Guo Panpan finally finished making the instant noodles and carefully placed the bowl on the table in front of Tang Wen.
It wasn't because she was happy about a customer late at night; it was because the price of a bag of instant noodles now was more expensive than pork noodle soup. Pork noodle soup was only four mao, but instant noodles cost 5 mao, and the sealed preserved egg was much pricier than a fried egg.
She even felt a bit sorry for Tang Wen. Her own father was clearly trying to overcharge him, yet the former just accepted it silently. Instant noodles were so expensive.
In fact, Tang Wen’s thoughts were similar. If he hadn't wanted something hot tonight, he wouldn't have agreed to eat instant noodles.
The Black Technology in instant noodles now couldn't compare to twenty years later, and the seasonings were lackluster. They looked not good at all...
Tang Wen sniffed, and surprisingly found that it was very different from the instant noodles he was tired of eating before.
In reality, instant noodles twenty years later were all non-fried. Although they were advertised as healthy, their flavor was actually not as good as the "unhealthy" fried instant noodles.
Moreover, in the noodles before him, Guo Panpan had added some simple seasonings and lard. The combination was actually quite good.
Having eaten plain Noodles for several days, Tang Wen buried his head and slurped down the instant noodles, making Guo Chenliang too embarrassed to persuade him further. At the same time, the aroma of the instant noodles whetted his own appetite, and he couldn't help but turn to look at his daughter.
Who knew that Guo Panpan already knew what kind of person her father was? She quickly untied her apron, circled behind the counter, and started reading a book, completely ignoring his gaze.
Guo Chenliang wasn't too disappointed. He took a bag of instant noodles from the shelf himself and went into the kitchen, planning to treat his own stomach.
By then, Tang Wen had finished the instant noodles, sweating profusely. In reality, he was only half full, but taking advantage of Guo Chenliang's absence, he planned to leave.
He stood up and caught sight of the cover of the book in Guo Panpan's hand—*The Deer and the Cauldron*?
Guo Panpan also noticed his gaze, looked up, and said plainly:
“Six mao, the hot water is free.”
Tang Wen handed over a 10 yuan note and pointed behind her:
“No need for change, give me all the rest in instant noodles and snacks.”
“Are you done with your life?”
The young girl didn't take the money immediately but stared at Tang Wen, surprised.
In her mind, her scoundrel father was an old rogue, and Tang Wen was a prospective little rogue, but seeing him spend money so lavishly, she couldn't help but say something.
“I don’t know how to cook, so I can only eat this.”
Hearing Tang Wen’s reason, she almost fainted from anger. Uncle Tang Wu was also a frugal person; how could he have such a son?
How could she know that Tang Wen’s mind was full of huge business deals worth tens of thousands, and he didn't care about this small amount of money.
Although it was a "Big Business" Order, Guo Panpan was somewhat reluctant. She took the money awkwardly and went to pack the snacks, thoughtfully avoiding the kinds she considered "not worth it."
Tang Wen took the two bulging bags, said thank you, and quickly disappeared into the Dark night before Guo Chenliang could come out to Pester him.
When Guo Chenliang came out, Tang Wen was nowhere to be seen. He clicked his tongue regretfully and looked at his daughter:
“That kid has a lot of money on him. Why didn't you keep him around for a while?
If Dad wins his money, won't it be easier for your mother to support your schooling?”
Guo Panpan snapped her book shut and walked towards her room without looking back.
“You close the shop yourself!”