Chapter 26: Uncle in the Provincial Capital

As the first snow of winter began to fall, Mr. Fang, his wife, and Bai Ping with her son boarded a long-distance bus bound for Fengyuan City, the provincial capital.

Looking out the window at the passing scenery, Fang Mingyuan was eager to see his uncle, Fang Ya, in the provincial capital. In his previous life, Uncle Ya was the only paternal relative who maintained close contact with him after his parents passed away. After graduating from junior high school, Uncle Ya had a chance to work in the provincial capital, Fengyuan, and was one of the few lucky ones from Hai Zhuang Town to make it out. However, life in the provincial capital was not easy for him, as he had to fend for himself.

In the 1980s, there were no highways in Qinxi Province, and even decent provincial roads were rare. The four of them rattled along in the bus for nearly four to five hours, finally arriving in the provincial capital around five in the afternoon.

As soon as they got off the bus, Fang Mingyuan immediately spotted Fang Ya in the crowd. Indeed, he looked young! Following Fang Mingyuan's direction, Mr. Fang and the others also saw Fang Ya.

"Father, Mother, Sister-in-law, did you have a smooth journey?" Fang Ya saw the four of them and hurriedly pushed his way through the crowd.

"Smooth, smooth, just a bit too long!" Mr. Fang casually replied, handing over the largest of the luggage bags. At Fang Mingyuan's insistence, the four of them had four luggage bags, and even Fang Mingyuan himself was carrying a small backpack. In 1984, the circulation of goods in China was poor, and to enjoy local specialties, people had to carry them back themselves. Bai Ping had many brothers and sisters in Beijing, and it wouldn't do to bring too little. Moreover, it was Mr. Fang and his wife's first trip to Beijing, so they couldn't afford to be careless about appearances.

"How did Xiao Yuan do in his exams this year?" Fang Ya asked with a smile as he carried the luggage.

"What do you think? The same as always!" Grandmother proudly answered first, "Another double hundred, and first in the grade! He's much better than you were when you were young! We've never had to worry about his studies!"

"Great, Xiao Yuan, how many consecutive championships have you won now?" Fang Ya pinched Fang Mingyuan's little cheek, "You're getting smarter and smarter!"

"Three consecutive championships, my goal is ten consecutive championships to complete elementary school!" Fang Mingyuan waved his little fists, naturally drawing laughter from everyone.

Fang Ya had already arranged a guesthouse near Fengyuan Railway Station. Although it looked rather simple compared to the future, with only two beds, a few chairs, and a kettle and teacups, there was nothing else. Even the bathroom and toilet were in the hallway, much like the dormitory buildings in Fang Mingyuan's previous life.

"Father, Mother, why didn't you let me know you were coming to the provincial capital? You caught me off guard!" Fang Ya complained in a low voice. He only found out the day before yesterday that Mr. Fang and the others were coming to the provincial capital, which left him quite flustered.

"What's the fuss about? We won't be staying long in the provincial capital, and we'll be heading to Beijing with your sister-in-law right after. Xiao Ya, have you bought the tickets?" Mr. Fang said nonchalantly.

At this, Fang Ya couldn't help but look troubled, "Train tickets are very tight right now. I've already asked someone to help, and I should have news by tonight." It was close to the Spring Festival, and train tickets were extremely hard to come by.

"Uncle, if possible, get us all sleeper berths. If not, at least get two for Grandfather and Grandmother. They're too old for hard seats!" Fang Mingyuan interjected, "Grandfather and Grandmother can't handle it!"

"Xiao Yuan is really considerate, thinking about Grandfather and Grandmother!" Fang Ya picked him up and placed him on his lap. He hadn't seen this little nephew for over half a year, and he had grown even cuter.

"Yes, Xiao Yuan is much better than you. At his age, he already knows to care for adults!" Grandmother beamed with pride.

Mr. Fang took out a stack of money from his pocket and placed it on the bed. "Fang Ya, this is the money you've sent home over the past six months. I've brought it all back."

"Father, what do you mean by this?" Fang Ya was surprised.

"Fang Ya, your father and I are not short of money now. Your younger brother has opened a bun stall, and Xiao Yuan has set up a lending library. The family is much better off. Otherwise, your sister-in-law and I wouldn't have thought of visiting Beijing. You're on your own in the provincial capital, and you have to take care of your own food, clothing, and housing. The family can't help you much, and this money isn't needed. So your father's idea is to bring it back for you to use for yourself. You're not young anymore, and you'll need to get married. The expenses in the provincial capital are high, and you need some savings!" Grandmother earnestly explained, "This is also the opinion of your older brother and the others. The family really doesn't need this money."

"Father, Mother, how can this be? To raise us five siblings, you've suffered a lot over the years. The younger ones haven't even gotten married yet, and as the second eldest, I should help the family." Fang Ya waved his hands, "I'm doing well here, and I have enough money." Mr. Fang insisted on giving the money, but Fang Ya refused to accept it.

"Uncle, listen to me." Fang Mingyuan grabbed the money and stuffed it into Fang Ya's hand, "The teacher said, 'Adding flowers to brocade is not as good as adding charcoal in the snow.' The family really isn't short of money now. With eight of us, we earn at least four to five hundred yuan a month. The money you send is negligible. It would be better if you kept it and used it to develop yourself. Maybe in the future, you can help the family even more."

"How much?" Fang Ya was shocked. The average worker's monthly salary was just over twenty yuan, and a new apprentice might earn only a dozen or so yuan. Grandmother had never worked, and Fang Mingyuan was even younger. For six workers to earn four to five hundred yuan a month, each person would need to earn nearly a hundred yuan, which was almost unbelievable! Although he had heard that his younger brother, Fang Bin, had not become a factory worker but had opened a bun stall, how could he earn so much?

"Fang Ya, you heard right. Our family now earns four to five hundred yuan a month. Just Xiao Yuan's lending library alone brings in twenty to thirty yuan a month. This kid is already earning a salary!" Mr. Fang affectionately looked at his grandson. Since Mr. Fang had spoken, Fang Ya naturally no longer doubted it, but he looked at Fang Mingyuan with a new light in his eyes.

"Uncle, so you should keep the money. Don't send it back anymore. In the future, the family will send money to support your development in the provincial capital!" Fang Mingyuan patted Fang Ya's leg.

"Mingyuan, don't talk nonsense!" Bai Ping pulled him over. How could this kid talk so freely? Returning the money Fang Ya sent was fine, but deciding to send money to support him was not something a child should be involved in, especially not in front of his uncle.

"Grandfather!" Fang Mingyuan cried out pitifully.

"Bai Ping, don't do that." Mr. Fang stopped her and said seriously, "At this point, there are some things you should know."

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