Chapter 29: The Critic

Big 5 Sporting Goods, often abbreviated as Big 5, is a sporting goods chain founded in 1955.

From Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour, to Fila, Bearpaw, and New Balance, nearly every major sports brand has a counter here.

In his previous life, Ethan frequented this place often, as spending a couple of hundred dollars was enough to assemble a complete sports outfit.

However, Evelyn brought him here today not to shop for clothes or shoes.

Upon entering the store, the girl made a beeline for the hunting display.

Soon, the array of firearms on display came into Ethan's view.

The next moment, he heard the girl say, "Hello? Is anyone here? I need to take the Firearm Safety Certification."

Before she could finish, a burly middle-aged white man stood up from behind the counter.

"Who's taking the test?" he asked, first glancing at Evelyn and then shifting his gaze to Ethan. "The test costs ten dollars, and you can take it twice. If you don't pass, you can retake it after 24 hours."

"Okay." Evelyn took ten dollars from her handbag and handed it over, then pointed to Ethan. "He's taking the test."

The Firearm Safety Certification, or FSC, is a firearm safety certificate required by California law. Anyone purchasing or owning a firearm must pass this exam, which involves answering twenty-three out of thirty questions correctly. The certificate is valid for five years.

In fact, when Ethan saw Evelyn dash to the firearm section as soon as they arrived at Big 5, he had already guessed what she was planning. When Evelyn announced her intent to take the test, Ethan's face lit up with a smile.

"Oh, Evelyn…" Ethan called out his sister's name.

However, before he could finish, Evelyn interrupted, "Don't refuse."

"Didn't you say someone threatened you when you were buying materials?"

"Although California has strict gun regulations, the truth is San Francisco is still quite chaotic. Having a gun here is quite handy, so… consider this a gift to celebrate the game's success?"

"Wow, I love this gift!"

Ethan grinned, saying, "And you misunderstood me. I wasn't refusing earlier."

"I'm just… very pleased."

Indeed, when Ethan saw the array of firearms in the display case, his smile stretched from ear to ear!

Because in his past life, he had always wanted to handle a firearm!

Unfortunately, with his long-term visa in New York, obtaining a gun license was quite troublesome.

So he never had the opportunity.

But now, it was different. Although California's gun laws were painfully strict, he was under the Old Glory of Washington, D.C., right?

Without the restrictions of identity, handling a firearm was much easier!

The FSC test was quite straightforward, consisting only of true or false and multiple-choice questions. The content could be understood with a third-grade level of intelligence.

The knowledge of firearm construction could be deciphered by recognizing words, and the usage was incredibly simple. The only potentially challenging safety questions were things like, "Is a firearm with a safety mechanism 100% safe?" and "Is it legal to fire a gun into the sky?"—questions that were extremely leading.

With a modicum of logical thinking, not believing that the Earth is flat like some deities, one would know that nothing in this world is absolute, so a safety mechanism is not 100% foolproof.

And if the test asks if it's legal to fire a gun into the sky, then it's definitely illegal.

Ah, it's all about rebellion! Oh no, I mean, reverse logic!

Therefore, after a half-hour of written training, Ethan completed the test with a perfect score in just ten minutes and received his FSC certificate on the spot.

Next, he presented his driver's license, vehicle registration, and filled out a questionnaire as requested by the counter staff.

After answering a series of questions about criminal records, DUI records, arrests by law enforcement, and use of mental health or illicit drugs, Ethan selected a Remington 870 shotgun worth $350.

Evelyn and Ethan then returned home empty-handed.

Indeed, purchasing a gun for the first time in California requires a background check.

The store staff will submit the information to the California Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to ensure its validity and authenticity. This process takes ten days, so the earliest Ethan could pick up his gun was on the eleventh day.

But that didn't matter, did it?

With the FSC already obtained, the ten-day countdown seemed to fly by!

Uh… well…

Ethan admitted that those ten days were quite agonizing.

Just the thought of owning a gun made him restless.

So much so that on the tenth morning, when he went to Big 5 to pick up his gun, he sported panda eyes.

But once he held that heavy shotgun, he felt the wait was worth it.

Eagerly, he went to the shooting range in San Jose, slapped a twenty-dollar bill on the counter, and hired a private instructor to teach him shooting.

Although the Remington 870 lacked a sight or scale, it was incredibly easy to handle.

Whether shooting from the shoulder or from the waist, using 18.4 gauge ammunition, aiming was straightforward. Just point at the general location of the target and pull the trigger.

With a thunderous boom, the board at ten meters flew away! The watermelon at twenty meters was smashed to bits! The plastic barrel at thirty meters cracked instantly! Even the steel plate at forty meters had bullet holes!

The power was truly enthralling for Ethan.

Handling the dark gun barrel, Ethan decided that from now on, he would carry this weapon whenever he went out.

'Damn it! If anyone threatens me in the future, I'll whip out this big guy! Let's see if those idiots want to be Yongle or Prince!'

However, realizing that he was only shooting at targets and there was still some gap from actual combat, he discussed with Thomas whether they should organize a family outing.

How about hunting in nearby fields?

Thomas understood Ethan's excitement about his new toy, but—

"Ethan, I go to the orchard every day and really can't find the time. Maybe you all should go on your own?" Thomas suggested with some reluctance.

"Oh, Thomas! What are you saying? This family can't do without you!" Ethan continued to insist.

Evelyn also agreed, "Dad, I think Ethan has a point."

"Don't you get tired going to the orchard every day? A day off would be like a vacation for you."

"Yes, you're always busy; you should rest. Our hired workers follow an eight-hour workday, so why should you, as the boss, work year-round?" Linda also agreed, "We employ workers who follow an eight-hour workday, so why should you, as the boss, work non-stop?"

Seeing that his wife, daughter, and nephew had all united in their stance, Thomas could no longer find excuses.

"Alright, I'll think about it. Give me some time to check with the Fish and Game Department about suitable hunting spots."

"Wild boars and black bears are too ferocious… How about deer and antelope instead?"

"Oh yeah~" Ethan was the first to cheer, "Thomas, I love you!"

"Okay, okay~" Thomas nodded slightly, accepting Ethan's affection, and said to his wife, "Linda, if you decide to go hunting, make sure to pass the hunting license exam. Although it only requires eighty correct answers out of a hundred, you need to complete the offline training yourself."

"Okay, okay, I'll do it," Linda smiled and nodded.

With the arrangements confirmed, the home was filled with a happy atmosphere.

However, just as Ethan was eagerly preparing for the upcoming family outing, on the evening of April 30th, Steve Jobs unexpectedly visited.

His arrival caused a delay in the Johnson family's plans.

After dismounting his motorcycle, Steve Jobs smiled at Ethan and said, "Ethan, tomorrow morning at ten o'clock, Nolan will be presenting 'Snake Game' to the invited merchants at Atari's factory."

"After I advocated, he agreed to let me be the main speaker and introduce the product on stage."