Chapter 85

Chapter 41: The Panic Buying Trend (Part 2)

"What's wrong?" Su Aijun noticed the change in Fang Mingyuan's mood.

"Uncle Su, is the government currently considering a price reform plan? Are they planning to liberalize the prices of most goods and let the market decide?" Fang Mingyuan asked in a very low voice.

Su Aijun looked at Fang Mingyuan with a slight surprise. This kid's mind works like a rabbit's. He just mentioned that the price of eggs and pork had risen, and Fang Mingyuan immediately thought about national policies. "There are rumors, but the plan hasn't been finalized yet. Why are you so concerned about this?"

Fang Mingyuan sighed lightly. Those who hadn't experienced the panic buying trend couldn't imagine the madness at the time. People seemed to move everything from the stores to their homes as if it were free, regardless of whether they needed it or not. The madness was like that of religious believers. People had been poor for too long, and any slight price fluctuation would cause an overreaction. This was something the policymakers had overlooked. If his memory served him right, that trend swept across the entire country and lasted for several dozen days, bringing unprecedented shock. As a result, the state had to issue multiple documents, urging local areas to stabilize prices and ensure supply.

Fang Mingyuan found an excuse to send Fang Bin to buy groceries and then pulled Su Aijun to sit down by the roadside.

Su Aijun was a bit puzzled but could see that Fang Mingyuan seemed to have something to say.

"Uncle Su, how much is your family's monthly income? I mean, everything included! Do you have any savings each month?" Fang Mingyuan asked softly.

Su Aijun was slightly taken aback and laughed. "What's this about? Planning to sponsor me? I have no objections to that. You earn more in a month than I do in several years."

"Uncle Su, I'm not joking, this is serious!" Fang Mingyuan said seriously.

Su Aijun's smile faded, and he said in a low voice, "My wife and I together make about 600 yuan a month. We can save about 100 to 200 yuan each month. That's because my wife is good at managing the household. If it were just me, we probably wouldn't save anything."

"So Uncle Su is a 'moonlight clan' member." Fang Mingyuan chuckled. Su Aijun's answer didn't surprise him.

"Moonlight clan? What does that mean?" Su Aijun asked curiously, "Why do you keep coming up with new terms?"

"The moonlight clan refers to people who spend all their monthly income, leaving nothing left. They are also described as those who earn little and can only cover their basic monthly expenses. The moonlight clan is in contrast to those who try to save money. Their motto is to spend as much as they earn! Eat it all, use it all, stay healthy!" Fang Mingyuan chuckled.

Su Aijun couldn't help but laugh and playfully patted Fang Mingyuan's head. "You little rascal, always making fun of Uncle Su. Am I really that bad?"

"No, no, no, I didn't mean it that way. The moonlight clan makes significant contributions to the national economy. Their existence promotes market prosperity and accelerates currency circulation. They look forward to a fixed day each month, giving them clear goals and motivation in life. Within a fixed cycle—usually 30 days—they can deeply experience the transition from being wealthy to being penniless and then to being in debt, which greatly enhances their psychological resilience and adaptability to different living standards. They also have many creditors, making them socially well-connected. Therefore, the moonlight clan is the favorite consumer of merchants because they have a strong desire to spend and earn money. Rich for 30 days, poor for a month! This is their most vivid portrayal!" Fang Mingyuan said earnestly.

"Wait, there's one more important point!" Fang Mingyuan dodged Su Aijun's hand and shouted, "This lifestyle is extremely beneficial for maintaining family stability and unity. When a moonlight clan member passes away, there's no inheritance to fight over, preventing any property disputes!"

Su Aijun was both angry and amused. This kid, always coming up with such elaborate explanations. The words sounded plausible, but upon closer inspection, they were essentially a polite way of insulting someone. Without some savings, what would happen in case of a disaster? Borrowing a small amount or living expenses isn't hard, but if it's a large sum, you'd be in a dire situation.

After a moment of play, Su Aijun pulled Fang Mingyuan close and said seriously, "Mingyuan, what are you really trying to say?"

"Uncle Su, I hope you can pass this message to Grandpa Su. Price reform is an inevitable trend, but it's important to prevent market turmoil caused by the reform. Everyone is poor. They can barely save a few dozen yuan a month, and a few hundred yuan a year is considered a good household income. For families with poor income, who can't save a few dozen yuan a year, any slight price increase will have a direct impact on their lives. For example, for you, the rise in egg and pork prices might mean saving a few yuan less or eating a bit less, but for families who can't afford meat more than twice a month, this increase of a few cents might mean they can never afford meat again! Uncle Su, have you thought about how many such families there are in the country? And while they can save on meat, they can't save on essentials like grains, salt, vegetables, and cooking oil!" Fang Mingyuan said solemnly, "Have you considered what the public's reaction would be if the news of price liberalization were to spread?"

Su Aijun pondered for a moment, his expression changing. "Mingyuan, are you saying there might be a panic buying spree?"

"Not just a panic buying spree, but a run on the banks. People will withdraw their savings and convert them into goods. They believe this is the only way to protect their wealth from devaluation!" Fang Mingyuan said firmly.

Su Aijun's expression changed dramatically. A panic buying spree alone wasn't too serious, but a run on the banks would be a major issue, affecting the national financial order!

"Mingyuan, this is no time for jokes," Su Aijun said sternly, staring into Fang Mingyuan's eyes.

"Uncle Su, how could I joke about something like this?" Fang Mingyuan feigned a hurt expression. "Just think about it. If all household items increase by 10%, what would be the consequence for those moonlight clan families with children? I think you'll understand!"

Su Aijun immediately stood up and paced back and forth in front of Fang Mingyuan. Emotionally, he hoped Fang Mingyuan was exaggerating, but rationally, he felt Fang Mingyuan wasn't just making it up!

Fang Mingyuan didn't say much, just watching Su Aijun. This information would be extremely useful for Su Huandong. If he recognized the significant risk and submitted a report to the higher-ups, whether or not the panic buying and bank runs occurred, it would earn him enough political points. This would undoubtedly lay a solid foundation for Su Huandong's future advancement!