I have ten trillion licking dog gold

The rain wasn't heavy.

But it dripped intermittently all night.

They didn't stop until the next day.

The outside world is like a hazy, misty filter.

In this kind of weather, nothing is more pleasant than eating some congee and drinking some hot soy milk at home.

Especially since he was drunk last night.

Jiang Chen was woken up by Fang Weiguo, who had just returned from grocery shopping. Knowing that they had been drinking late into the night, Fang Weiguo had specially bought them a nutritious breakfast. If it were his own parents, Jiang Chen would definitely not have gotten up.

He had no choice but to get up, but Fang Qing ignored him and kept the bedroom door tightly closed, which relieved Jiang Chen.

I drank quite a bit last night, but not to the point of blacking out. I can vividly recall what happened.

After taking a sip of the hot soy milk, the tip of his tongue could still feel its warm, smooth texture. He lowered his gaze, not daring to look directly into Uncle Fang's eyes, thinking he should finish eating quickly and leave as soon as possible.

"What time did you guys get back from drinking last night?"

"Two o'clock."

"Is it raining?"

"Yes, it was already raining then."

Before, Jiang Chen felt quite at ease, comfortable, and unrestrained sitting here, just like he was at home. But after one night, he was a completely different person.

The overwhelming sense of guilt made him unable to lift his head, and he could only hide it by drinking porridge.

That's right,

It's all because of this rain.

None of this would have happened if they hadn't been trapped on the roadside.

However, it shouldn't be entirely attributed to the weather.

The effects of alcohol are equally significant.

correct.

And the feeling after just finishing a gathering.

can only say.

The confluence of favorable timing, location, and human factors led to the creation of the "secret that cannot be told."

There's a lyric in the song "Secret": "The most beautiful thing is not a rainy day, but the eaves where we once sheltered from the rain."

In an instant.

A sudden sense of inescapable, inescapable fate washed over me.

"I was worried you guys would get drunk."

He does not mean that.

Fang Weiguo was definitely just chatting casually, but Jiang Chen, who was feeling guilty, always felt that there was something more to Fang Weiguo's words.

"You should worry about yourself. Last time you were completely drunk, who carried you back?"

Pan Hui, who was mopping the floor, chimed in, "For some reason, even though the house isn't very big, it seems like there's always so much cleaning to do."

In Pan Hui's eyes, Jiang Chen, whom she had watched grow up, was undoubtedly very reliable, and there was no need to worry about this child.

I wonder what she would think if she knew what happened last night? Would she grab a mop and smash the head of this child she treats like her own?

At this point, Jiang Chen had a perfect opportunity to confess and seek leniency. He could have knelt down, kowtowed, and begged for forgiveness before the elderly couple knew anything.

But obviously.

Boss Jiang is not a coward, but he is definitely not a fearless player either.

At this moment, in this situation, he truly lacked sufficient courage.

"I'm just worried that if the kids get together, especially to celebrate Tie Jun's wedding, they might get a little too drunk. They definitely drank a lot last night, otherwise why hasn't the girl gotten up yet?"

Fang Weiguo said to his wife, "If you keep yelling, the soy milk will get cold."

"Uncle Fang, let Fang Qing sleep a little longer."

Jiang Chen quickly stopped him, saying, "It's not like the soy milk can't be heated up if it gets cold."

"Jiang Chen really knows how to care for people. What's wrong with the baby sleeping more?"

Pan Hui ignored her completely and dragged her aside.

Fang Weiguo, who had been criticized for no reason, shook his head. He had no choice but to vent his frustration on Jiang Chen.

"You're such a central air conditioner."

"..."

Jiang Chen took a bite of the fried dough stick and remained silent.

"When I was buying groceries just now, I heard that the Wushang Department Store near the overpass couldn't hold on and was planning to close down. Is the economy really that bad right now?"

"Whether the economy is good or bad, it doesn't really matter to Uncle Fang, right? He's retired anyway."

"I'm not working anymore, so I'm not considered retired. I need to receive a pension to be officially retired. But the retirement policy has been adjusted again, and I still have several years left."

"That's alright, Fang Qing will take care of me in my old age anyway."

Fang Weiguo laughed, "Let's keep things separate. As parents, it's always best not to add to the burden on our children. Besides, isn't the economic downturn having a significant impact on you?"

Jiang Chen felt the other person's care; some warmth cannot be replaced or created by material wealth.

"Uncle Fang, everything has its cycles. Just like when you drove a truck, you couldn't always go uphill. It's undeniable that the economy is sluggish. Compared to before, our economic development has indeed stagnated. However, this is also a good opportunity to redistribute wealth, and this large-scale redistribution has already begun."

Despite his humble position, Fang Weiguo was intrigued. He knew that the person sitting in front of him was not just a junior, but an outstanding representative of China and an exceptional entrepreneur whose expertise lay in economics.

"Wealth distribution?"

Fang Weiguo's eyes were filled with curiosity, and the two men's status became equal without them realizing it, turning into a dialogue between men.

"Uncle Fang, do you know how our country's economy operates?"

Fang Weiguo shook his head as a matter of course.

Although they watch the news frequently, the content seen by a truck driver and an entrepreneur is vastly different.

“Our economy is primarily driven by debt. The advantage of this model is that it allows an economy to accumulate from zero to one in a short period of time, but the disadvantages are also very obvious: insufficient follow-up momentum. When the debt accumulates to its limit, the efficiency of the economic engine will naturally decrease, and eventually even leverage will be difficult to increase, just like it is now.”

"For example, buying a house with a loan?"

“It’s one aspect.”

Jiang Chen munched on fried dough sticks and drank congee. Outside, a light rain was falling. While others were discussing heroes over wine, he was discussing economics with his father-in-law while making soy milk. He was having a great time and even temporarily forgot about his moral guilt.

wrong.

Why is it my father-in-law?
"The fact that houses are not selling and incomes are low are just the result of the debt not being driven. The real reason is probably something that people are unwilling to accept."

"what reason?"

Fang Weiguo immediately asked out of curiosity.

"Most families have become wealthy."

Fang Weiguo asked in surprise, "Isn't this a good thing?"

"It's a good thing, but from another perspective, as more and more people become wealthy, it will inevitably lead to a sharp decline in the basic needs of the entire society."

"Basic requirements?"

Jiang Chen nodded, "For example, the houses Uncle Fang mentioned. Uncle Fang often watches the news, I wonder if he knows what the homeownership rate of urban residents has reached now?"

Without waiting for an answer, Jiang Chen continued, "96%, of which 31% of families own two homes. That means almost all urban families now own their own homes. Similar situations apply to cars, home appliances, and daily necessities. This also shows that the term 'basic need' has gradually become a thing of the past."

“You can’t say that. Many parents have houses and cars, but their children don’t…” Fang Weiguo subconsciously argued, knowing many such people around him. “Uncle Fang, if you say that, then you’re just being argumentative.”

Fang Weiguo was embarrassed. "You little rascal."

Jiang Chen smiled slightly and continued, "The basic unit considered in economic statistics has never been the individual, but the household. What I just mentioned is the homeownership rate of urban households."

"Okay, never mind."

Fang Weiguo was completely absorbed. The news was exaggerated and unrealistic, and ordinary people couldn't understand it at all. But this was an opportunity for him to broaden his horizons.

"When basic needs disappear, most production activities in society lose their meaning. It is logical to conclude that in this era, most people may not need to work, or rather, may be unable to work."

Fang Weiguo's eyes widened, speechless, unable to accept or understand it at all.

Jiang Chen spoke calmly and deliberately, “From the supply side, there are two main areas that can absorb employment: production and services. But we are a typical production-oriented society, which means that the more people employed, the more serious the overcapacity problem becomes, leading to a vicious cycle in the economy. The most direct and effective way to solve this problem is to reduce the supply side. We have done this before, but the difference is that back then, the overcapacity was only in certain industries, while now we are facing overcapacity at the societal level.”

With so many industries and so many businesses, it's difficult to get them all to reduce production simultaneously. Therefore, the slogan of "anti-involution" has emerged. Society has moved from a period of diverse competition to an era of fierce competition, where the operating costs and difficulties for businesses are artificially increased to eliminate those lacking competitiveness. Only in this way can production capacity decrease, inventory be digested, and the economy hopefully enter a new upward cycle. Of course, this process takes time, so a large-scale wave of bankruptcies will inevitably affect many people. This social pain, like scraping the bone to remove poison, is unavoidable.

Fang Weiguo was lost in thought when he realized for the first time that the world as seen by different people is different, perhaps even worlds apart.

"In your generation, Uncle Fang, the prevailing ideology was production-oriented. If you didn't engage in productive work, you were worthless to society. But that's not the case now. If you're strong and healthy, you can work in the service industry; if you're articulate, you can work in sales; if you can sing and dance, you can enter the entertainment industry. But you can't blindly throw yourself into production. In Uncle Fang's time, you could easily make money by opening a restaurant, but now, nine out of ten restaurants won't last more than a few months. Actually, no matter what era you're in, it's not about who's diligent or lazy, but about who can adapt to the times."

Fang Weiguo slowly let out a breath.

"No wonder you're so successful."

Jiang Chen remained calm and composed, jokingly saying, "Uncle Fang can tell his relatives and friends that in the current situation, lying down is not a disgrace. In an elimination tournament, not being eliminated is a victory."

Fang Weiguo smiled and nodded, overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

"Qingqing seems to have a fever."

Pan Hui suddenly walked over.

"what happened?"

Fang Weiguo immediately asked.

"I went in and mopped the floor just now. I noticed her complexion wasn't right, so I touched her forehead and it felt a little hot. I asked her what was wrong. She said she was fine."

"It's probably because I got caught in the rain last night."

Jiang Chen quickly asked, "Do you have any fever reducers at home?"

Yes. I'll go find it.

Pan Hui found the medicine, brought a cup of hot water, and took it inside for her daughter. She came out again a short while later, her face full of helplessness.

"She's not drinking?"

"Yes. She said she'd be fine after a good night's sleep."

Fang Weiguo had a headache.

In fact, not only the Fang couple, but even Jiang Chen knew that Fang Qing, who seemed perfect, had a flaw.

That means they don't like taking medicine.

I've resisted it since I was a child.

When I was a child, I probably found medicine bitter, and over time, it became a habitual resistance.

"Are you going to try it?"

Fang Weiguo's gaze fell on Jiang Chen.

With a daughter this age, it's no longer appropriate for her father to casually enter her room.

But he's not a suitable father. How can someone else, an outsider, be a suitable father?

"Yes, Xiao Jiang, go and try to persuade him."

Pan Hui handed over the medicine and water, completely unaware of the saying "one should always be wary of others."

Faced with the Fang couple's complete trust, Jiang Chen found it difficult to refuse, and he was also partly to blame for Fang Qing getting caught in the rain last night.

So, the person could only accept the water glass and the medicine with a refund, and with encouragement from the other person's parents, he stepped towards the bedroom.

It can be described as perfectly aboveboard.

Since only my parents were home, there was no need to lock the door; the doorknob was easily turned open.

The curtains were drawn, allowing only a faint ray of light to filter through the gaps, which also largely blocked the noise of the rain.

Princess Qing is planning to get a good night's sleep.

There is a small detail.

After Jiang Chen went inside, he deliberately didn't close the door.

Details reveal a person's character.

The Fang couple no longer needed to worry, and of course, they certainly wouldn't peek.

"I will not eat."

As she spoke, Qinggege turned over, turning her face inward and away from Jiang Chen, or rather, she must have thought that it was her mother who had come in.

Even the most rational person can be willful at times.

"Tie Jun is getting married soon. If he gets sick at this crucial moment, wouldn't you be ruining his life's happiness?"

The bedding remained still.

Then Fang Qing opened her eyes and sat up abruptly.

"How did you get in?"

A woman is undoubtedly at her "ugliest" right after waking up, but Jiang Chen didn't care at all.

I've seen it too many times.

"Walked in."

Without allowing any further explanation, Jiang Chen stood by the bedside.

"Take medicine."

Without even touching her, you could tell from her slightly flushed face and dry lips that she probably had a fever.

"I will not eat."

Don't be fooled by Jiang Chen's calm demeanor; he's just putting on an act and wants to complete this arduous task as quickly as possible.

"Uncle Fang and Aunt Pan are both outside. If you don't eat, I won't be able to explain myself. Please, out of compassion, help me out."

Fang Qing sat on the bed, her hair disheveled, silently watching him, which made him even more uneasy.

"It's not bitter at all, really..."

"feed me."

The sudden words brought Jiang Chen to an abrupt halt. He paused for a moment, then immediately lowered his voice.

"What are you talking about? Uncle Fang and the others are right outside..."

"feed me."

Fang Qing repeated.

Jiang Chen was stunned, his eye twitching. "Are you crazy?"

"I'm not crazy. I'm not drunk either."

Ok.

If only one person isn't experiencing any problems, it's fine. But if there are two, then it's a much bigger problem. (End of Chapter)