Back to 1979: Sending the Educated Youth’s Wife Back to the City

Chapter 196 Business is slow
Changchang's first birthday celebration went smoothly at noon. The children happily ate his birthday cake, and the adults sat at the table with smiles.

Changchang himself definitely can't eat cake yet. The rice cake he was given was colored by his mother using traditional ingredients. It was also cut into the shape of a cake, and the little guy ate it very happily.

As for business, all the fanfare today is just for our own amusement and to announce the opening. The business license states it's a privately owned inn run by an individual business owner. However, the prices are twice that of state-run inns.

Business was slow on opening day; the only three guests were referred by Wang Dexian. Two were overseas Chinese, and one was a foreign businessman. They all brought their entourages and each booked a suite. There was one master bedroom and one standard room next door, costing four yuan a day.

Mr. Fang arranged for them to live in three separate courtyards: the second and third courtyards, and a side courtyard on the left. The arrangement was based on a first-come, first-served basis.

All three groups were quite satisfied; it was very quiet. Moreover, it was close to Tiananmen Square and in such a traditional courtyard. It was equivalent to having the entire courtyard to themselves for four yuan a night.

Initially, it was because the Beijing Hotel and Friendship Hotel were full. They were doing this out of respect for the investment promotion office, and Comrade Wang assured them that the living conditions would be good and the place quiet and elegant. Now that we've settled in, we find it truly excellent, and the price is quite reasonable.

When checking in, Mr. Fang used a calligraphy brush to register the students. He had used a calligraphy brush when he was in private school. His family was relatively poor, and he only studied for two or three years before dropping out.

However, the old man had always admired scholars. Later, when Fang Mingche went to school, the school issued calligraphy tracing books. The two of them practiced together. Fang Mingche didn't stick with it. He could write passable characters with a pen and chalk, so he stopped practicing. But Fang's father persisted for more than ten years, treating calligraphy as a hobby.

So, Fang's father was quite good at writing. In the past, when the village needed something written, they would often call on him to do it. Even painting slogans earned work points, which was much more lucrative than simply working in the fields.

Well, another reason Fang Mingche attracted his father to Beijing is that the capital library is huge, and he has a library card. He can borrow all sorts of books for the old man to read. Also, once the senior university in the capital opens, he can enroll. The academic requirements aren't high.

After assigning rooms, Mr. Fang sent three retired soldiers with their men to the rooms, worried that the guests might not know how to open the bronze locks. The overseas Chinese were fine, but the foreign businessmen might not be able to.

After everyone had gone some distance, he said to Fang Mingche, "It seems we'll have to build up this popularity slowly. It'll be a long time before we break even!"

The initial investment for this so-called guesthouse was enormous. The cost of buying the house, renovations, furniture, and appliances totaled nearly 200,000 yuan. As for appliances, not every room had a color TV, but there was one in the courtyard. Each imported TV cost over 4,000 yuan, costing almost 20,000 yuan in foreign exchange certificates.

Adding to the money used at the Overseas Chinese Apartment, Fang Mingche and Lin Yan have used up all the foreign exchange certificates and travel agency vouchers they had on hand. The 70,000 yuan loan they took out earlier, converted into foreign exchange certificates, has almost all been spent!

(Yes, because the current funds are not very abundant, the plan to retain half of the profits from the three overseas stores has not yet been implemented. All the funds have been brought back! The next step is to proceed with the plan, since overseas property investment can be delayed a bit.)
We've only bought four semi-automatic washing machines so far, which means we have four older women working there. Labor costs are cheaper than appliances; fully automatic washing machines cost about twice as much as semi-automatic ones. We also offer laundry service, charged per item.

One woman is in charge of an entire courtyard! Her basic salary is 24 yuan, and she gets two meals a day. Cleaning and tidying up are her duties.

Three veterans were assigned to guard the courtyard house and its valuables. They were responsible for compensating for any lost items. Wang Dezhi acted as guarantor for the three of them.

We didn't buy air conditioning; in the dead of winter, we use underfloor heating, and in the sweltering summer, we provide ice basins. We're going for a classic, old-fashioned feel! Mainly, air conditioning is too expensive, so this is a more affordable alternative!

Wang Dexian came to check it out a couple of days ago and was quite surprised to find the conditions so good. In addition to all that, the bathroom even had a shower.

"The boiler has been installed?"

"Yes. If I don't do it properly, it feels like I'm letting down the money I spent on buying the house."

Fang Mingche had also considered the options. With two scrap yards, a vegetable stall, and wholesale vegetables to vendors, they could earn seven or eight thousand yuan a month. There was no need to keep money in the accounts to expand operations; they could distribute the profits directly.

Moreover, both of these business deals are on the rise and will soon exceed ten thousand. This money will be enough to pay off the remaining balance on the house during New Year's Day. Besides, there will be other income as well.

"You're being too generous! We can bring our investment promotion office's clients here later. The conditions are almost the same as those of a guesthouse catering to foreign guests."

Fang Mingche laughed and said, "That would be great!"

He also actively recommends the investment promotion office to foreign businessmen and overseas Chinese among the travel agency's customers, so it's a win-win situation for everyone.

方父拿着算盘拨打，七个员工的工资目前是204块一个月。包吃这里算上，就算一共300。他自己这里还有100。那就一共400。今天进账12块，赔钱赚吆喝。他还没算这房子花了18万呢！

Fang Mingche laughed, "Dad, we really need to factor in the cost of the house, furniture, and appliances. Even if all 28 rooms were occupied every day, we wouldn't be able to sell it for that much money in fifteen years. But we got such a nice courtyard house! Moreover, the 180,000 yuan I've spent so far is because I'm optimistic about the scarcity of this house and its future appreciation potential. As long as people live there and move around, the house won't easily decay. As long as we don't have to pay salaries out of pocket, we haven't lost money."

High occupancy rates will significantly increase workload. A raise is definitely necessary, and bonuses must also be paid.

And with inflation, it could take over fifteen years to break even! However, he didn't buy the property solely to make money from the guesthouse. No, wait, with inflation, room rates will definitely rise too.

Mr. Fang said, "I don't know why you two brothers both think that house prices are going to skyrocket."

One person is burdened with over 100,000 yuan in debt to buy a courtyard house, while another is responsible for 40,000 to 50,000 yuan to buy an apartment with an elevator. In the 32 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, when have housing prices ever risen so outrageously?
Fang Mingche also thought Mingfeng was quite impressive; he had actually predicted a surge in housing prices. Although Guangzhou's price increase wasn't as significant as Shenzhen's, it was still substantial.

He asked around, and Mingfeng said he heard it from a truck driver from Hong Kong: property prices in Europe, America, Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong had all skyrocketed. Since we're going to implement reform and opening up and learn from foreign experiences, real estate development is definitely necessary. So he set his sights on Guangzhou!

"A house is a fixed asset!"

Mr. Fang thought for a moment and said, “That makes sense. Look at the Forbidden City, it’s been 600 years and it’s still standing.”

If it could be passed down from generation to generation, that would be quite nice.

"Some sections of the Great Wall built by Qin Shi Huang are still preserved today."

Most of the existing Great Wall was reinforced in later periods, primarily during the Ming Dynasty. However, some sections from the Qin Dynasty still remain.

Fang Mingche thought for a moment and then said, "We can't leave the room empty; we can't let people stay there for free. The same goes for the TV!"

Mr. Fang nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ve told your mother that we’ll keep this guesthouse a secret from everyone back home.”

As for Xiaomin, Mingcheng, Hanping, and the others, since their hometown people still don't know that Mingche bought a three-courtyard house covering more than two acres, they're keeping their mouths shut. That way, they won't think there's a place to stay here and come seeking refuge.

“It’s not just you, it’s the same for other employees. If anyone brings in acquaintances to settle in without permission, they will be fired immediately. I’ve made this a rule to them.”

The next day, Mr. Fang asked when the photos that Mr. He had taken a few days earlier could be made into a catalog or advertising poster and sent back.
He's eager to use this to attract customers at the train station and airport. And the Beijing Hotel and the Friendship Hotel—they're supposed to have a good relationship, right? They're fully booked, so asking for recommendations should be possible, right? It'd be good if they could get some business from these two overflow locations.

The number of foreign friends, overseas Chinese, and people of Chinese descent visiting China is on the rise. These two places are indeed frequently full. He heard Mingchao and Xiao Wang talking about this yesterday.

As for the airport and train station, let the veterans drive their small trucks there. If there are passengers, they can just pick them up and bring them back. This way, the utilization efficiency of the small trucks can be improved.

The poster has a photo of the business license. It's much better than a year and a half ago, when Teacher Qiu had to show her work ID and Fang Mingche's student ID to gain people's trust.

Fang Mingche said, "If the photos were developed, Master He brought them over yesterday."

Two years have passed, and Mr. He is still taking photos for tourists from other places in Tiananmen Square and then mailing them to them.

He told Fang Mingche that originally, business was no longer allowed in the square, and all the vendors were forced to move to Dashilan. Even individual business owners like Fang Mingche couldn't get a stall.

He was initially relieved that the job he found didn't require a stall and still allowed him to work in the square. However, in the past two years, he has been completely stuck in the same place. Although he can earn several hundred yuan a month, and over a thousand during peak season, he is nowhere near Fang Mingche's level.

That's why Lao Tzu said that misfortune may be a blessing in disguise, and a blessing may be a misfortune in disguise!
As for producing posters and brochures, the investment promotion office has its own external studio. They deal with foreign businesses, and all their equipment is state-of-the-art. That's expensive, so they use it externally to recoup some costs.

A year and a half ago, when the travel agency opened, Fang Mingche had a print ad shot by a foreign student, which was then used to create promotional posters. He and Teacher Qiu then took these posters to the Capital International Airport and attracted their first group of tourists.

I never expected the old man to be so enthusiastic about his work these days!

Mr. Fang said, "If I don't do anything, it'll seem like I'm just here to freeload off your 100 yuan monthly salary. Besides, you have to at least earn the 400 yuan monthly salary for the eight of us."

Well, if we pay him a monthly salary of 100, he can support his three grandchildren's education on his own. Then the eldest son and his wife can contribute 300 a year. This is better than having their uncle pay for it.

This is the eldest son and his wife's plan to farm at home. If they also come to Beijing, they can make a living selling snacks, and then they can support themselves on their own.

"Well, I heard those three groups will stay for at least ten days to half a month. They can still earn 400 a month. Okay, you decide. Let's do it this way: the rent for these two courtyards and two side courtyards will be 6000 a year. 500 per month, so the cost is currently 900. If there's a profit, I'll give you a 5% commission."

Mr. Fang thought for a moment, "Let's include the 36000 for the color TV, washing machine, and furniture in that. Let's spread it out over 60 months, 600 per month."

The profits aren't just for him; his seven employees also get a share. They certainly can't be let off so easily. The wages they're paid these days aren't low, given the light workload.

My mother-in-law is right; Mingche's wages for the workers are too high. Oh, no, it's his bonuses that are too high. I heard Han Mei's base salary isn't high either; her higher commissions come from the three overseas stores.

However, this approach did work, and the staff became extremely dedicated to the business. Profits from the guesthouse could be shared, but only after costs were factored in.

Fang Mingche said, "1500 a month, Dad, you're being a bit too harsh! That's about enough for a full house every day."

Mr. Fang said, "You've given too much; disrupting the market could have consequences."

Fang Mingche thought for a moment, "Then let's divide it over 120 months, 24000 will do. After all, the furniture and appliances will belong to us after depreciation. The furniture is all made of good wood, it won't be a problem to use it for decades. The Japanese-made TV will be fine to watch for ten years. Otherwise, we would only give a bonus if we were close to full capacity, and people would definitely not be motivated enough."

Japanese televisions are truly of excellent quality. They can last for ten years without needing replacement, a fact proven by later generations.

Mr. Fang said, “Okay, the cost will be 1100 per month. The rest will be commission. A full house is 1680, and 5% of 580 is 29. Hmm, and Chef Zhao will also cook for them, which will earn him some money. It should be a bit challenging, that way there will be pressure to attract customers.”

Fang Mingche calculated that the daily occupancy rate would have to be 70%. It's only because imported color TVs are too expensive that such a high occupancy rate is necessary! However, throughout the 1980s, domestically produced color TVs couldn't compete with imported ones.

Since he had said that the guesthouse would be managed by the old man, Fang Mingche didn't interfere too much.

After the promotional posters and brochures were made, Fang's father indeed arranged for veterans to deliver them to the Beijing Hotel and the Friendship Hotel. He instructed Fang Min to consult with Han Mei on how to communicate appropriately by phone, and then make the calls to contact them.

Gradually, business started to pick up. Although it couldn't reach 70% immediately, it was around 30% to 40%. On good days, it could even reach 50%.

Faced with this situation, Mr. Fang said, "We can only take it slowly."

The guesthouse and the travel agency each subscribed to a newspaper, which was delivered by the postman every morning. Mr. Fang would read the People's Daily diligently every day.

Besides arranging for people to go out and try to attract customers, he is currently in charge of check-in and check-out.

Foreign guests and overseas Chinese (those traveling on international flights) are exempt from the introduction letter requirement. Domestic travelers, however, need to provide an introduction letter before checking in.

Checking the letter of introduction is mainly for security. We don't want any transient criminals moving in later. Foreigners are exempt from inspection. Traveling thousands of miles by plane to commit a crime? That's highly unlikely.

So when he has nothing to do, Mr. Fang can sit at his desk and read books or newspapers. He might also make himself a cup of tea. Oh, and he's also responsible for answering the phone.

When Fang Minghua called and learned of the situation, he couldn't help but say, "Dad, you're getting old, and you're living the life of a cadre. You make yourself a cup of tea at work and sit at your desk reading books and newspapers."

Moreover, 100 yuan a month was much more than what a commune cadre earned.

"Well, what can I do? I'm the boss's father. Besides, it's not like I'm doing nothing else. I'm responsible for cleaning our own little courtyard. Sometimes I go out with him to solicit customers. Your brother said we can't just sit there all day."

"Then what does my mom do?"

“While Xiaomin is doing laundry or other chores, your mom is in charge of following Changchang around. He wants to go everywhere except where the guests are staying. He's always running around with his little legs. In the past two weeks, I've seen him walk more and more steadily! In addition, we're going to take him to places like Tiananmen Square, the Summer Palace, and Beihai Park.”

He checked out in the morning and then had nothing else to do. The others didn't have much work either, so this workstation was manageable. It wouldn't be a problem if he left.

Mr. Fang told his eldest son about how many people in the capital were selling snacks from carts.

"Yes, these things are allowed in our small town now. But people's spending power is not high."

“Salaries are higher in the capital, and many dual-income families are willing to spend money. Since the autumn harvest is here, why don’t you two come to Beijing for a visit? We’ll provide you with a place to stay; the main expense will be the travel costs.”

On May 29th, the People's Daily published an investigative report titled "A Debate About Contracting Fishponds" on its front page, second page. Mr. Fang was engrossed in reading the newspaper.

The newspaper reported that a farmer named Chen Zhixiong started contracting fishponds in February 1979. He paid 60 yuan per mu (approximately 2 acres) of fishpond per year to the production team, and he contracted 50 mu. By the time the fish were harvested, after deducting all costs, he made a profit of 3100 yuan. That year, the fishponds were taken care of by Chen's family.

The following year, Chen Zhixiong expanded his operation. He contracted another 50 mu (approximately 3.3 hectares) of fishponds in a neighboring village. Feeding the fish required cutting grass for fodder, and at its peak, Chen had over 30 day laborers helping with the grass cutting, each paid 2 yuan per day. He also had seven long-term laborers at one point, earning 50 yuan per month. That year, the net income from the 100 mu of fishponds reached 7250 yuan. Last year, a farmer in Guangdong earned a maximum of 1000 yuan from farming in a year.

Mr. Fang first calculated that the gross income of farmers in Guangdong was higher than that in Sichuan. Then he wanted to see the conclusion, having become accustomed to the conclusions given by the People's Daily as infallible.

Surprisingly, no conclusion was reached this time.

When Fang Mingche came home from school, he quickly showed his son the newspaper and asked, "What do you think this article means?"

Fang Mingche's biggest business is his travel agency. The agency's offices are currently located in the first courtyard, while his parents and youngest son live in a side courtyard at the back. He definitely comes here after school.

Lin Yan, on the other hand, would occasionally ride her bike back to the small side courtyard for a stroll. In the morning, the tractor would bring back vegetables, and a corner of this area would be set aside for wholesale vegetable vendors who came to buy them.

This is all very early, before Master Lei and his team started construction. Because people buy groceries early in the morning!
Fang Mingche glanced at the newspaper and knew in his heart that what was bound to happen had finally arrived.

He said, "This is meant to allow for public discussion. If you have any opinions, you can write a letter to the newspaper."

Mr. Fang was somewhat puzzled. "Isn't it always the higher-ups who decide what to do? How can the whole nation discuss it and then agree with what the higher-ups say?"

"Let's put aside whether we acknowledge it or not for now and see what the public thinks about this matter. Keep an eye on this column; there should be related debates published soon."

Mr. Fang nodded, then asked, "Are you going to offer your opinions?"

Fang Mingche shook his head, "Let's see what other people think first."

This matter isn't settled in one fell swoop; it'll take three months to resolve, and he doesn't have the time to be involved throughout the entire process. Even after three months, his assessment will likely be one of uncertainty.

Mr. Fang said, "This is the People's Daily! Why don't you take it seriously?"

Fang Mingche said, "I heard some news from my classmate from Wuhu, Anhui these past few days: Nian Guangjiu, the 'Fool's Melon Seeds' farmer, has rented land and built a factory there. He has already hired more than a hundred workers!"

Today, "Silly Melon Seeds" has become quite famous and can be considered a representative figure of reform. In 1980, he was personally mentioned by the chief architect of reform and was directly included in "Deng Xiaoping Theory".

Mr. Fang gasped, "How could he be so bold?" More than a hundred people!
"I only need to keep an eye on this one person. You can tell what the higher-ups really think from him."

Mr. Fang said, "You mean he'll be fine?"

"The higher-ups said we can't touch him. If something really happens to him, I'll just leave immediately."

After the reform and opening up, he was not convicted of speculation and profiteering!

Mr. Fang said, "You mean he's already been to jail once for speculation and profiteering?"

"Yes, but it's been 18 years since then. But last year, in 1980, the chief architect learned that Nian Guangjiu had made a fortune of millions by selling melon seeds, and he highly praised the development of the individual and private economy. At the same time, he also made two instructions, namely 'put it on hold' and 'take a look.' Reform and opening up requires determination and courage. If we touch him, people will feel that the policy has changed, and it will be easy to shake our direction. This is what Chief Wang told me."

Mr. Fang said, "Then what's the point of discussing it?"

Wow, he made a million selling sunflower seeds? His perspective on money has been turned upside down. These days, so many things are priced in cents!

"We need to guide public opinion. Reform and opening up is about feeling our way across the river, so of course everyone can voice their opinions. Truth becomes clearer through debate! The People's Daily has provided a platform for people to express their views. Just pay attention to what they say in the newspaper."

On June 1st, Yan Yan had a holiday to celebrate Children's Day. She was going to the zoo to be a tour guide for the children of some foreign diplomats stationed in Beijing.

Before setting off, Yan Yan slung her water bottle over her shoulder and asked, "Dad, am I going to help out at home?"

"Yes, Yan Yan is amazing. And it's not just you. There's also the young man from the family of a diplomat from our country."

To put it more bluntly, Yan Yan was there to assist this diplomat's grandson. They had all met at a Ministry of Foreign Affairs reception.

From the beginning, Lin's mother felt that this was making Yan Yan serve the children of foreign diplomats at such a young age.

Later, she heard that the grandson of a diplomat from our country was also going, and that he had truly been contributing to the country since he was a child. She stopped saying anything. If the grandson of a ministry official could go, why couldn't her granddaughter go? She could even say that the child was taking Yan Yan to broaden her horizons, and that her foreign language speaking skills would also be improved.

Lin Yan even went to the Friendship Store to buy Yan Yan an authentic dress. After moving to the Overseas Chinese Apartment, she heard from her neighbors that foreigners value copyright. It wouldn't be appropriate for Yan Yan to wear a 'knock-off' dress that she had made for her.

Fang Mingche drove Yan Yan, who was filled with a sense of honor for serving her family and country, to meet him at the entrance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs compound. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had arranged a special car.

"Yan Yan, just follow Brother Wei all the way."

"Don't worry, Xiao Fang. I've already told Wei Ran that I'll take good care of the little girl. It's amazing that she speaks both English and Japanese."

Fang Mingche said, "Old Wei, she's got the advantage of being close to the source. She's been learning from our travel agency's consultant for the past year and a half. She even went to Tokyo once before."

Old Wei himself is an official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and his son works at the embassy in Tokyo. Fang Mingche had helped him carry things before, and that's how they started interacting.

"Oh, this is a great opportunity to learn a language. I heard your next shop is opening in New York? That's good. We should export more of our ancestors' traditional crafts to earn foreign exchange."

"Yes, the employees going to the United States are leaving this afternoon."

Not only Lingzi, but all four members of her family also successfully obtained their visas. One employee, Lingzi, was sent first, receiving a basic salary of $500. Once the preparations were complete, another employee would be sent.

While waiting for her interview, Lingzi was on tenterhooks, terrified that she would be rejected because of Yingzi. Thankfully, the fact that it was a company under the Ministry of Culture probably gave her an edge.

In addition, Americans are indeed quite interested in my country's intangible cultural heritage products. Cultural exchange is also an important component of the current honeymoon period between the two countries.

As for the two elders, he and Lin Yan were taking care of the two younger children, so they couldn't look after the two elders. They wouldn't take them on their first trip back. They'd wait until they were more familiar with each other.
Fang's mother said, "If you really take me there, I'm a little hesitant to go."

She had spent the first half of her life confined to a small area. Now, thanks to her youngest son, she had moved to the capital. This was already a meteoric rise, and she didn't want any more changes for the time being.

Fang Mingche entrusted Yan Yan to ten-year-old Wei Ran, and then drove back to the courtyard house.

Fang's mother said, "It's Children's Day, aren't you going to take Changchang out to play?"

Children in the village school have to perform on Children's Day, so they get a holiday.

"When hasn't he gone out to play? It's crowded everywhere today, don't go joining the crowds. Or I can drive you to the Badaling Great Wall later?"

Tourism development there is still inadequate, so it's not crowded.

Mr. Fang nodded, saying with interest, "The Great Wall, huh? That's impressive. The Great Wall stretches for ten thousand miles, but where is Qin Shi Huang now? But Yan Yan is so young, won't something happen to her?"

“She’s very bold. It started at a party when she gave directions to the child of a Japanese diplomat, and that’s how we got to know each other. Also, she had staff from our Ministry of Foreign Affairs with her to take care of her. I gave her some small gifts, so I won’t mistreat Yan Yan.”

The Great Wall was open and windy, so Lin Yan put a thinner hat on Changchang. The key was to protect her fontanelle.

Fang's mother couldn't help but say, "My goodness, how were these bluestone slabs carried up here? There were no cranes back then."

Mr. Fang said, "I saw Jianwa's textbooks; dozens of people carried them up by hand. They tied them with very thick ropes and carried them by sheer manpower." After saying that, he turned to look at Fang Mingche, "This is also a tourist attraction, why isn't it being used?"

"Let's take it one step at a time. The tourism bureau is just about to be established."

Changchang was being held by Fang Mingche, looking around with a curious expression. She even tried to push her hat off several times.

"It's not blocking you, just wear it properly."

Mr. Fang walked for a while with his hands behind his back, but then felt the path was a bit steep and took his hands out to maintain his balance.

He asked, "Mingche, can I learn to drive your car?"

Having a car is so convenient; I can go wherever I want. It's a completely different story from when he was young and traveled the world on foot.

"Sure. You can drive a small car, and you're either 18 or under 70 years old."

He remembered that the Queen and her husband, even at their advanced age, were still driving themselves.

A smile appeared on Fang's father's face. "Then I'll have that retired truck driver teach me later."

"You should go back to the old elementary school playground to learn. And you'll have to pass the theory test before you can get your driver's license."

Mr. Fang was clearly not prepared to get a driver's license; who in the countryside needs a driver's license to drive?
He frowned and asked, "Is the theory difficult?"

"It's not difficult, it's just traffic rules. I'll have someone tutor you. Dad, this is the capital. If you get caught driving without a license, it'll be a big problem."

Although we haven't caught many yet, it's better to be cautious. Besides, it will be necessary sooner or later.

When they reached the beacon tower, Changchang played hide-and-seek with his mother, Minjie, and grandma. He hid behind a pillar and then poked his head out to tease everyone.

Fang Mingche laughed and said, "You've improved! You're much better than before when you covered your face and we had to cooperate with you."

After visiting the Great Wall, Yan Yan was brought back by a car sent by the Wei family. Wei Ran also called Fang Mingche to say that Yan Yan had behaved very well today and had been a great help to him.

"It's all thanks to you guiding her."

However, Yan Yan's expression was not very pleasant.

Lin Yan asked her, "What's wrong? Did you get bullied? If so, you should make an excuse to decline next time."

Yan Yan said, "Foreign children say that China is very backward and doesn't even have an amusement park."

She hadn't initially thought of it that way, but she didn't let it get her down either. But after thinking about it carefully, she remembered that when her father took her to the amusement park in Tokyo, he specifically mentioned that the amusement park had a history of over a hundred years.

"Dad, are we really that backward?"

Fang Mingche nodded, "Currently, yes. But for a long time, China was the world's number one power. It was only during the Qing Dynasty, with its closed-door policy and lack of technological development, that we fell behind. We endured a century of humiliation before standing up and becoming masters of our own destiny under the leadership of our Party. But we are indeed still very poor and backward!"

"then what should we do?"

"That's why we need to reform and open up now, and learn from the advanced experiences of foreign countries. We should select the essence and discard the dross. The Chinese people are very hardworking. Now we are no longer closed off from the world, and foreign countries no longer impose blockades or embargoes on us. We will definitely seize the opportunity to become rich. However, this requires the joint efforts of your generation and your generation. A child doesn't despise their mother for being ugly! Let's work hard so that foreign children will say that China is really great!"

On Children's Day, foreign children complained that there were no playground facilities to play on. That's understandable, really.

Yan Yan nodded. "What can I do now?"

"Listen to the Chairman's words, study hard, and make progress every day!"

(End of this chapter)