Chapter 4: A Startling Revelation

In 1983, it was already the fifth year of the reform and opening-up policy. The small town of Hai Zhuang, located on the Loess Plateau, began to feel its influence and quietly underwent changes. Unnoticed, a few杂货摊 (miscellaneous goods stalls) appeared on the dirt street, which was no more than 600 meters long. Apart from the cooperative at the center of the street, a few new stores had also opened, and their shelves were stocked with some previously scarce goods. However, none of this could lift the spirits of Old Mr. Fang, who was feeling dejected.

Old Mr. Fang sat in a bamboo chair in the courtyard, frowning and smoking a pipe. His youngest son, Fang Bin, had been out of junior high school for nearly half a year. After much effort, he had managed to get Fang Bin a job at a factory in Pingchuan County. Unfortunately, after just three months, Fang Bin was fired for fighting and causing trouble. However, after learning the details, Old Mr. Fang felt somewhat helpless. This incident couldn't be entirely blamed on Fang Bin. Their workshop supervisor had been harassing female workers during work hours, and Fang Bin happened to witness it. The female worker in question was someone Fang Bin had secretly admired since he joined the factory. Thus, he didn't hesitate to give the lecherous supervisor a good beating.

At the time, Fang Bin felt a sense of satisfaction, but afterward, the workshop supervisor harbored a grudge and deliberately caused trouble for Fang Bin at work. With his youthful temper, Fang Bin couldn't control himself and publicly beat the supervisor again. This time, it was like poking a hornet's nest. The workshop supervisor wouldn't let it go, reporting the incident to the factory manager and even notifying the police station. Although Fang Bin didn't suffer much at the police station, he lost his job. Back in Hai Zhuang, Fang Bin spent his days idly, eating and sleeping at home or aimlessly wandering around the town.

"Old man, Little Five has been at home for two or three months now. Can't you find him a job somewhere?" Fang Mingyuan's grandmother, holding a stool in one hand and a sewing basket in the other, sat beside Old Mr. Fang. "This boy spends all day wandering around the street. What kind of life is that?"

"Oh, stop nagging me every day. Do you think jobs fall from the sky? It wasn't easy to get him that last job. I had to beg a lot of people to arrange it. But that boy didn't value the hard work his father put in to get him that job. He was fired after less than three months, and the whole county knows about it. Where am I supposed to find him a job now?"

"But it's not entirely our son's fault. That workshop supervisor was a real scoundrel, harassing female workers. Little Five was just standing up for justice. He should have been commended, not fired. Is there no justice in this world?" Fang Mingyuan's grandmother complained angrily.

"Standing up for justice!" Old Mr. Fang sneered. "If you can't remember these idioms, don't try to show off. Even Fang Sheng and the little brat Fang Mingyuan know more than you. Hmph, even if Little Five was standing up for justice, that workshop supervisor's sister is the wife of the deputy manager of the Pingchuan County Industrial and Commercial Bank. The factory manager has to treat him with respect. Little Five didn't give him any face and beat him up twice. It's a miracle he came back home safely."

Fang Mingyuan's grandmother fell silent for a moment, then sighed deeply and focused on sewing the shoe sole.

Old Mr. Fang took a few more puffs of his pipe. There was no point thinking about the factory now; the staff was already full, and he had already begged the factory manager several times for his two daughters' jobs. The factory, considering his years of service, had reluctantly helped his daughters. He couldn't ask for more. But Fang Bin needed a job. Staying at home wasn't a solution. However, in Pingchuan County, who would be willing to hire someone who had offended the deputy manager of the Industrial and Commercial Bank? To hire a poor, benefit-less boy and offend the deputy manager of the county bank—only a fool would do that! Thinking about this, Old Mr. Fang's headache worsened. He had been worried about this for a long time.

"Grandpa, Grandma!" A young voice called from the doorway.

Old Mr. Fang, whose face was as wrinkled as ancient tree bark, immediately beamed with joy. His grandmother, standing nearby, muttered softly, "It's still Little Yuan who can make this old man happy. As soon as he comes, the old man forgets all his worries."

Old Mr. Fang, who was neither deaf nor blind, heard his wife's muttering but didn't blush as he retorted, "Little Yuan is a good boy. If that stinky Fang Bin were as smart as Little Yuan, I'd sell everything to support him!"

As he spoke, Fang Mingyuan entered the house. Old Mr. Fang immediately pulled him into his arms and said affectionately, "Good grandson, how was school today? What new things did you learn?"

Fang Mingyuan instinctively wanted to break free. At his mental age of over thirty, he was not used to being hugged by the elderly. However, he quickly composed himself and stayed in the old man's embrace. In his previous life, after he went to Yanjing, he could only return home once a year. Later, when his parents moved to Yanjing, he could only return every few years. So, in this life, seeing the two elders made him feel particularly close.

"There's nothing fun. I'd rather stay home and read! I really want to find something interesting to do!" Fang Mingyuan grumbled. He had been awake for nearly half a month and was thinking about how to free himself from school. Re-experiencing elementary school was nice, but spending all day in school, surrounded by a bunch of kids and answering simple questions, was incredibly boring. Given the second chance at life, he couldn't waste it in elementary school. However, convincing his family of his plan would be a long and difficult process.

Changing one's life was a joy, but it had to be on one's own terms. Fang Mingyuan didn't want to be the first to stand out and be forced into some juvenile university program. He had already endured the Chinese cram education once and didn't want to repeat the same mistakes.

"Ha ha ha..." Old Mr. Fang couldn't help but laugh. He was very satisfied with his eldest grandson, who, despite his young age, spoke like a grown-up, earning him much face at the factory.

"So, what does Little Yuan want to do?" Old Mr. Fang asked with interest.

"Hmm..." Fang Mingyuan deliberately put on a thoughtful look, which Old Mr. Fang and his grandmother found endearing.

"I want to do business with Uncle! I'll earn money to support Grandpa and Grandma!"

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