Funny Memoir: My "Plastic Brotherhood" with the Carter C-9 Engine

Don't be fooled by its steely exterior; the C-9 is actually quite capable of acting like a spoiled child. When starting it in winter, it would cough and cough for ages without igniting, like someone who'd been sleeping in bed. I pushed it, but it wouldn't budge. I scolded it, but it still wouldn't budge. It wasn't until I patiently added a little heat that it finally hummed and hawed, slowly waking up, as if to say, "Okay, okay, I'm getting up and working!"

Even when it was working, it was no pusher. The throttle blared louder than the high notes in a karaoke bar, and the smoke instantly turned me into a "kebab chef." And don't forget, it was incredibly strong. It pushed harder than my moving buddies, a true "head mover" on the construction site.

Of course, we had our share of arguments. Once, there was a problem with the fuel injection system, and it simply stopped moving. I was so angry I stamped my feet and yelled at it, "Are you breaking up with me?" But two days later, after it was repaired, it was back to normal, roaring loudly, as if saying, "Kid, I was just teasing you."

Thinking back, the C-9 is that kind of "plastic brother" that both rips you off and protects you. Sometimes you complain about its fuel consumption and noise; but once it's gone, you'll find the construction site suddenly becomes eerily quiet, and even your heart feels empty.

So, my most unforgettable memories aren't my first love or the college entrance exams, but the days I spent working on the construction site with the Carter C-9 engine. It taught me a lesson: A true brother is someone who can piss you off to death, yet you can't live without him.