Chapter 25: Entering the Capital?

After a busy day in the cold winter, people finally gathered together to enjoy a warm meal.

"Again, cabbage, radish, and potatoes!" Fang Mingyuan muttered under his breath. Although his grandmother was a great cook and often prepared these few vegetables in different ways, it couldn't change one thing: no matter how delicious the dishes were, they couldn't withstand being eaten every day. No matter how the three main dishes were varied, cabbage couldn't turn into lettuce, potatoes couldn't turn into eggplants, and radishes couldn't turn into ginseng. Fang Mingyuan somewhat missed the days in the future when he could eat watermelon and cucumber in the dead of winter.

"Could it be that greenhouse farming hasn't taken off yet?" Fang Mingyuan scratched his head. In his previous life, he had never cared about such things, only knowing that greenhouse farming could supply vegetables out of season and that there were greenhouses covered with plastic film in the fields. As for deeper theories, he was clueless. However, he thought carefully and remembered that even in the early 1990s, families in the capital still stored large amounts of cabbage. It wasn't strange that Hai Zhuang in 1984 didn't have greenhouses.

"This could be a good way to make money!" Fang Mingyuan pondered, "And if it succeeds, it's a surefire profit!" But although the idea was good, how could he implement it? Fang Mingyuan was troubled. Without land or people who knew farming, even a skilled housewife couldn't cook without rice. Moreover, in 1984, he wasn't sure if such a venture would cause any trouble.

"Maybe I should wait and see? Observe the situation?" Fang Mingyuan thought. He had enough money now, but there were few investment opportunities, and the policies were still unclear.

"Where are you reaching with your chopsticks!" His father, Fang Sheng, lightly scolded, and Fang Mingyuan suddenly realized that his chopsticks were about to reach into his grandmother's bowl. He quickly withdrew his hand and smiled awkwardly.

"What are you yelling about? I didn't reach into your bowl to snatch food!" His grandmother immediately protested. She loved her precious eldest grandson more and more, afraid to drop him if she held him and afraid to melt him if she put him in her mouth. It wasn't an exaggeration. After all, Fang Mingyuan had brought her face. In the factory residential area, whenever someone mentioned that she was Fang Mingyuan's grandmother, everyone would give her a thumbs up and praise her grandson. First, he invented a water heater for bathing at home. Even though it couldn't be used for bathing in winter, it was perfect for washing hands, vegetables, and clothes, making the tap water much warmer. Later, even the school principal, Lu Shan, treated him differently. Among hundreds of students, who else received such treatment?

More importantly, his grandmother knew that their current happy life stemmed from Fang Mingyuan's suggestions. A small bun had made the Fang family more financially comfortable than ever before. The dowries for the two girls and the dowry for the youngest son were no longer a problem. All of this was due to Fang Mingyuan's efforts. If he hadn't convinced his grandfather, Fang Bin wouldn't have saved so much money in just half a year at the Qinxi Pressing Equipment Factory. Especially when the old lady thought about how Fang Mingyuan had said he wanted to earn money for his grandparents' old age, her heart felt as sweet as honey.

Moreover, she had heard from her husband that Fang Mingyuan was now a genuine little tycoon. His monkey stamps had tripled in value, now worth at least several thousand yuan. When the child insisted on buying them, the old man had only hoped to test his luck. If it worked out, everyone would be happy; if not, a little setback for a child wouldn't be bad. But no one expected that in just over half a year, the monkey stamps would triple in value. The old man often secretly rejoiced that he had been so open-minded to agree. Spending several hundred yuan on them had been worth it. Such a good grandson, he couldn't love enough.

"Xiao Yuan, what do you want from Grandma? Just pick it up, don't be afraid of your father. If he says anything more, Grandma will hit him with her shoe!" The old lady turned and said to Fang Mingyuan with a kind face.

Fang Sheng was at a loss, not having even tried to assert his authority as a parent, but his mother-in-law was already upset. Mingyuan's status at home had risen significantly. Sometimes, when he was a bit strict, his mother, father, sister, and brother would all come to his defense. This way, how could he educate the child?

Fang Mingyuan chuckled inwardly, "It's okay, Grandma, I was just lost in thought!"

"Hmm, Xiao Yuan, eat your meal properly. Don't do multiple things at once! Fang Sheng, don't scold the child at home, understand?" The old man concluded, ending the matter.

"Father, Mother, I want to take Mingyuan back home for the Spring Festival. It's been five years, and I don't know how my brother and sisters are doing," Fang Mingyuan's mother, Bai Ping, said softly to the old man. She was a knowledge youth from the capital who had been sent to the countryside. In the capital, she had a brother and several sisters. Over the years, due to the long distance, a trip back was both time-consuming and expensive. Although the Fang family's life wasn't exactly frugal, they weren't well-off either. A visit home could deplete their savings for the year. So, they hadn't returned home for several years. But since Fang Bin started the bun stall and later Fang Mingyuan set up the lending library, Bai Ping had more money to spare. So, she had the idea to visit her family.

Fang Mingyuan's ears perked up. In his previous life, he remembered that he only went to the capital in 1988 when Bai Ping discovered a tumor at the factory hospital and went to the capital for treatment. But that turned out to be a false alarm—a misdiagnosis. He never imagined that in this life, he would have the chance to go to the capital in 1984! This was a good opportunity to explore the capital and assess the situation.

The old man put down his chopsticks and looked at Fang Sheng, who nodded, indicating that they had already discussed it. The old man pondered for a moment. It had been five years since they last went back, and it was indeed a long time. They should go.

"Grandpa, Grandma, why don't you come with us?" Fang Mingyuan suddenly interjected.

"You two are going to visit your family, why should we two old folks tag along?" The old man laughed.

"Ancient people said, 'Read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles.' Grandpa can't read ten thousand books, but he can travel ten thousand miles. As the head of the family, the future development of our family needs Grandpa's guidance. If your vision isn't broad enough, how can you steer our family's ship, which will become a ten-thousand-ton vessel in the future? Do you want Uncle to sell buns all his life?" Fang Mingyuan's words made everyone at the table stop eating.

"Father, Mother, I think Xiao Yuan is right. We're not short of money now, and it would be good for you to broaden your horizons in the capital! If it weren't for the bun stall, I would go too!" Fang Bin was the first to support the idea. He was a firm supporter of Fang Mingyuan's suggestions. Even if it meant going to the south alone, he would have no objections. Fang Mingyuan's two aunts also agreed wholeheartedly.

Fang Sheng looked at Fang Mingyuan. His son's words made sense. His parents were getting older and had never left Qinxi Province. They had worked hard for the bun business and the lending library. Now that everything was on track, it would be good for them to relax in the capital. He looked at his wife.

"It would be great if Father and Mother could come with us," Bai Ping said, though she was worried about whether her brother and sisters had enough space to accommodate them. But at this moment, she couldn't refuse.

The old man pondered for a moment. He suspected that Fang Mingyuan had some ulterior motive for insisting they go. The Fang family was now well-off, and a trip to the capital wouldn't cost much. It would be good to see the place. What truly moved him was Fang Mingyuan's statement about not wanting Uncle to sell buns all his life. "Alright, then we'll all go together! We can also help take care of Xiao Yuan."

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