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

Chapter 201 Watching the Live Stream
Fang Mingche and his family spent a few days in New York. They visited Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Columbia University, New York Harbor, and other places.

Changchang was pushed in a stroller that Fang Mingche had just bought, and the family of four were dressed in family outfits of T-shirts and shorts.

This time, Lin Yan bought it at the Friendship Store, or perhaps she bought it on the spot. After all, her neighbors at the Overseas Chinese Apartment had given her a lesson on respecting originality. She couldn't just wear her knock-off version abroad.

Even though it's inconvenient for them to drive, and Reiko can't be their driver, public transportation in New York is indeed very convenient.

There are fewer people in America, so buses and subways aren't crowded. Lin Yan would never be willing to take a taxi. It's too expensive! That would cost a fortune.

The starting fare for taxis here is already expensive, and she always finds herself compelled to exchange rates. Even using the Bank of China's 1:1.7 exchange rate, it still hurts her heart. Then she thinks about the black market rate, which is almost double—she just can't bear to spend the money!

So, I used public transportation for everything. These days, it's inconvenient without a phone for navigation, so I just bought a New York map and started paying attention to the bus stop signs. It's actually quite a learning experience!

Yan Yan held her mother's hand the whole way, looking around curiously. She even scrutinized the advertising slogans on the mall's exterior walls, trying to recognize the words she remembered and attempting to translate and understand them.

For this family, language barriers weren't a major issue. Fang Mingche and Yan Yan were both very comfortable speaking English. Even if their grammar was off, locals could understand them from a few words. Asking for directions and finding restaurants was a piece of cake.

Lin Yan was a little surprised; this foreigner was actually quite easy to communicate with.

Fang Mingche said, "Foreigners sometimes speak Chinese fluently but they can understand us. It's the same when they hear us speak English."

He couldn't speak a word of Japanese when he went to Japan before. He even needed his daughter's help to listen to the subway announcements, worried that he might miss something if he only listened to the English version. But the two of them still managed to travel for two weeks and return safely. They didn't get on or off at the wrong stations on the subway or Shinkansen.

Lin Yan thought about the foreign tourists she had encountered at travel agencies and guesthouses, and it was indeed the case. So she gradually loosened up and boldly started to communicate with people, albeit haltingly. As she spoke more, she gradually became more fluent.

She felt that going abroad like this would probably boost her English grades dramatically.

Seeing this, Changchang also opened her little mouth, itching to try it.

Fang Mingche quickly said, "Shut up, don't say it! Unless it's a new word."

The brat currently only knows one word: 'shit,' which he picked up from a foreign guest at a guesthouse, and he loves to show it off. He also knows Japanese; he learned 'baka' from his grandfather, and he shows that off from time to time.

He learned it from his grandfather when he heard his granddaughter reciting Japanese and jokingly told his grandmother that he could speak Japanese too. After that, every time the brat started saying "Baka, Baka" there, the old man's face would turn black.

Changchang looked at her father and pouted. Then she listened attentively to what others were saying and tried to imitate their pronunciation.

In Times Square, Lin Yan asked softly, "Is this the most bustling place in the world?"

She felt like she was experiencing a bit of a country bumpkin visiting the Grand View Garden on this trip. Mingche comforted her, saying that country bumpkins behaved very well. Besides, after a few more visits, it would become second nature. Look how comfortable Yan Yan is!
"Pretty much. But in terms of visitor traffic, Tiananmen Square is no less crowded than here."

The number of visitors to Tiananmen Square is really increasing. Their stalls in Dashilan are also seeing a surge in business.

Of course, it's not a general price increase. For example, the handicraft cooperative's business has plummeted since they were allowed to set up stalls and sell intangible cultural heritage products. Craftsmen like Lao Song, who used to earn a lot of money, have also left the business, resulting in a significant drop in their income.

During their visit to Columbia University, Fang Mingche, Lin Yan, and Yan Yan were all quite excited, except for the still-naive Changchang. It was a world-renowned university! It ranked much higher than Peking University and Tsinghua University. Who knows, maybe the old man or woman you bump into is a Nobel laureate.

Yan Yan didn't know all this, but her parents explained it to her; it's one of the best universities in the world.

Fang Mingche asked his daughter with a smile, "Do you want to study here in the future?"

The first TOEFL test will be held in China in five months, with test centers in only three cities: Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Those who wish to participate have already registered and paid the fees.

He didn't join the crowd. His TOEFL score was valid for two years, which would be perfect for his junior year. However, he had no immediate plans to study abroad. He ran a travel agency, and it was best to keep his base in China. Therefore, he planned to take the postgraduate entrance exam at his current university.

Anyway, going abroad isn't a difficult thing for him anymore. He can apply for self-funded study abroad whenever he wants. Hmm, there's still no reply regarding self-funded study abroad; he'll have to wait a few more years.

Yan Yan looked around and said, "A girl can't stay at home forever. I'll definitely study abroad in the future. But I don't know exactly where yet."

Upon hearing the saying "a daughter is not meant to stay at home forever," Fang Mingche couldn't help but feel a vein throbbing on his forehead. However, it was good that this child didn't seem intimidated by world-renowned universities.

Lin Yan was also taken aback for a moment, then laughed loudly, "Don't misunderstand. 'A girl grows up and doesn't stay at home' doesn't mean that girls won't study in China when they're older. Besides, studying in China doesn't count as studying abroad. Studying abroad, that's what studying abroad is."

Yan Yan realized she had made a fool of herself and lowered her head in embarrassment. She then noticed a mocking expression on her younger brother's face.

What are you laughing at?

Changchang turned his head away and laughed, thoroughly enjoying himself. He understood; his mother was teasing his sister.

It was already the evening of July 6th when Lin Yan returned from her walk and said, "Xiao Gang should be in the exam hall by now. I hope he passes this year. The pressure of reviewing again and again is really getting bigger and bigger."

Both husband and wife felt this way.

There's a 12-hour time difference, so it should indeed be before the first subject of the college entrance examination in China right now.

Fang Mingche hummed in agreement. He also felt that Xiao Gang should be fine this year, after all, Lao Wang had helped him find a lot of information, and Xiao Gang himself had really put in a lot of hard work. He didn't consider his cousin Ayan as a key student to cultivate at all; if he got into university, he would definitely go.

Fang Mingche returned to his rented apartment with an elevator and called his dad. He only needs to contact him every three days!

Fang's father informed him of the discussions published in the People's Daily over the past three days. As for Wang Dexian, there is no news yet.

The family of four quickly left New York and traveled along the interstate by long-distance bus. They would stop at one place and then explore the city at their leisure. Lin Yan carried her child's usual medications with her, and thankfully, Changchang showed no signs of acclimatization problems.

As for Yan Yan, she's a seasoned tourist. She's fine too.

On July 29, 1981, the family of four stayed at their hotel instead of going out to watch the global live broadcast of the Prince of Wales and Princess Diana's wedding. It is said that over 7 million people worldwide watched the live stream!

Perhaps that scene was just too beautiful, because Lin Yan and Yan Yan's eyes lit up when they saw it.

Lin Yan particularly enjoyed the scene of the newlyweds riding in a European-style carriage. She nudged Fang Mingche with her elbow, saying, "This is so much more luxurious than us riding in the back of a tractor."

Fang Mingche chuckled. "You really know how to make analogies." Then he thought of the beautiful, kind-hearted young princess on the television screen, who tragically died in a car accident in the autumn of 1997. And Ayan's car accident was also around that time.

He said, "The key is to look at the quality and duration of married life."

"You know they can't live a good life, right? The Queen of England and Prince Philip are living very well."

Fang Mingche pointed to a church guest appearing on the live stream screen, "Do you know who that woman is? Camilla, Prince Charles' mistress."

She was the woman who later truly rose to the top of the British social hierarchy! However, she was still young then and quite attractive. The difference between her and Diana wasn't as significant as it is in middle age.

Lin Yan had heard that while aristocratic marriages abroad were also monogamous, many aristocratic couples had their own affairs, each with mistresses and lovers. Suddenly, the beautiful wedding scene before her no longer seemed so appealing!

Both of them kept their voices low so as not to disturb Yan Yan, who was watching intently.

Today, Yan Yan witnessed a real-life 'prince and princess' wedding on television. It was a fairytale come true!
Well, Diana wasn't a princess. But she wasn't exactly a commoner princess either; she was the daughter of the Duke of Spencer. However, in foreign royal families, it's usually a marriage between royal families. Fang Mingche maliciously thought: I guess no European princess would be willing to marry Charles.

Diana's two daughters-in-law, Kate and Meghan, were the real commoners. They came from middle-class families.

After the wedding, Yan Yan gave her opinion: "The bride is very beautiful and elegant. The groom is a bit ugly."

She felt they were not a good match!

Fang Mingche said, "He didn't inherit the good genes. His father was an extremely handsome man when he was young, and his mother was also very dignified. I don't know how he ended up with this combination."

If Charles had grown up to look like his father, Prince Philip, in his youth, he and Diana would have been a more suitable match. That would have been a true picture of a prince and princess.

When Lin Yan heard him mention an unparalleled handsome man, she couldn't help but glance at him curiously.

"Have you ever seen what that old man looked like when he was young? Those foreigners really don't have much of a youthful bloom." Prince Philip also appeared on camera just now, and it's hard to tell that he was once such a stunningly handsome man.

"Yes, mainly because I've gone bald," Fang Mingche nodded.

Seeing that the mother and daughter were still immersed in the atmosphere of the royal wedding, Fang Mingche glanced at Changchang, who was sprawled out on the crib in the inner room, fast asleep. For the past twenty days or so, the family of four had basically been traveling along the east coast, ostensibly to explore tourist routes.

However, Fang Mingche paid for everything himself, so there was no need for him to take advantage of the Wang family.

After more than twenty days of traveling, Fang Mingche figured he must be a bit tired. So he arranged to rest at the hotel today. He called over a waiter and asked him to play a videotape of "Roman Holiday" for them. Watching it now would probably be more moving.

This movie was shown at the Overseas Chinese Apartment when the staff were learning English. However, Ayan was pregnant with Changchang at the time and didn't participate. Yan Yan also said she couldn't understand it and didn't go.

Now, both mother and daughter are very interested in looking at it again.

Yan Yan is almost six years old now, and her comprehension skills are much better than they were a year or two ago. She also understands that the position of princess represents not only glory but also responsibility.

Fang Mingche told Lin Yan, "This princess is based on Prince Charles's aunt who is getting married today. She herself has more elegance than Audrey Hepburn."

On Margaret's 18th birthday, King George VI proudly said, "She has the face of an angel, the figure of a beauty, and the temperament of a star."

When this princess was young, she certainly deserved the praise her father had given her.

Lin Yan frowned. "I saw Princess Margaret, whom you mentioned, on the wedding live stream. But she doesn't seem to be like you described."

"I was referring to her when she was young. She later became a heavy smoker and drinker, at the height of her addiction she would smoke as many as 60 cigarettes a day. Even the most naturally beautiful woman can't withstand such abuse. So while she was more beautiful than her sister, the Queen, when she was young, she didn't have the same queenly aura in middle age."

Lin Yan nodded, "Your appearance at 35 is a gift from your parents; after 35, it's something you cultivate yourself."

Thinking about the wedding livestream she had just watched and "Roman Holiday," she exclaimed, "Being a princess isn't easy!"

They only visited the East Coast on this trip, and finally went to Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Yan Yan watched a lot of Disney cartoons to learn English. She seems to be having a great time here.

Lin Yan and Fang Mingche grew up watching Shanghai Film Studio's ink-wash animation films such as "Havoc in Heaven," "Nezha Conquers the Dragon King," and "The Legend of the Heavenly Book." They were just here to accompany their child and take a look around.

Changchang was just laughing along with his sister. He was pulling a Mickey Mouse helium balloon, grinning from ear to ear the whole way. Lin Yan was afraid he'd lose his grip and the balloon would float away, so she kept it tied to his stroller.

Fang Mingche was in charge of taking photos of the siblings. He felt that his Seagull camera had become somewhat outdated after being used in the US, and he wanted to get a better one.

Lin Yan said, "If it can still be used, then keep using it. It's only been a short time since we bought it."

Her eyes widened when she learned that Lingzi's large color TV and desktop computer were salvaged from the ground.

The sheer audacity of the people in the overseas Chinese apartment building to discard their belongings had already astonished her. She hadn't expected Americans to immediately discard older appliances just because a new model came out, even though they'd only been used for a short time.

Compared to that, her purchase of a complete set of imported home appliances really wasn't extravagant! Her parents even scolded her, saying that only Mingche could spoil her!
"Okay, okay, keep using it."

Fang Mingche was too lazy to argue over such an unimportant matter, so he went along with her. This would indeed be considered a high-end item back in China. However, he could later use the pretext of purchasing it for a travel agency to buy a better one. This one would be better suited for the travel agency.

Before leaving, Lao He asked him to bring back a camera lens with a long lens and short telephoto lens. He went to the counter to pick one out, and then bought one for himself as well.

Besides calling his own father every three days, Fang Mingche also calls Grandpa Wang from time to time.

The old man told him that if anything changed, he shouldn't go back. Otherwise, it would definitely implicate Old Master Wang. He would call back from time to time to tell him what he had seen and heard, and also to inquire about the situation.

It wouldn't be good if he acted too nonchalantly!

Grandpa Wang himself has never been to the United States. But last year, when Leader Liu and Minister Geng led a delegation to the US, many of his old comrades-in-arms visited. He's heard them talk about it quite a bit after they went back.

He said, "Bring me your photos when you get them developed."

"okay."

"Is business in the US back on track?"

Fang Mingche said, "Yes, the storefront has already been rented. The comrades from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were very helpful. Our products appeared in large numbers at the reception, which really brought in a lot of business. The store will officially open on Army Day, and another employee from China has already flown over."

Grandpa Wang laughed heartily, "Our ancestors' culture is ancient, profound, and brilliant. Exporting it to earn foreign exchange is perfect!" Anyway, as long as it's not selling resources, it's all OK!

"Was this trip expensive for you?"

Fang Mingche knew the old man wasn't asking about how much of the travel agency's money he'd spent. It was just his personal plane ticket that was paid for with public funds. He was simply asking out of curiosity, so he gave him a reimbursement.

Grandpa Wang clicked his tongue twice, "So expensive! We were saying the other day, you really have that American spending mentality. Spend now, pay later!"

"That's because I have complete confidence in the future of the travel agency."

"Aren't you really afraid of being made an example of and labeled a capitalist?"

Fang Mingche said, "Silly Melon Seeds hired 103 people and they're not afraid, so why should I be afraid? Besides, our travel agency is a foreign exchange earning enterprise."

There was another sentence left unsaid: "If you're not afraid, why should I be?"

"Yes, you're right. There's really no need to panic because of the newspaper reports. It's just a discussion, mainly about guiding public opinion."

Fang Mingche called back and told his old man what he had said.

Mr. Fang said, "We've been discussing this for another month, and it seems like it's just been a discussion. By the way, Ayan's cousin's total score is above the undergraduate admission line."

Xiao Gang took two days off after finishing his college entrance exam and, like Wei You, started working part-time. The scores came out, and the news quickly spread from the first group to the third.

The employees seemed much more at ease now, no longer affected by the news in the newspapers.

Fang Jian and his two companions had also arrived in the capital and were standing to the side, waiting to say a few words to their uncle and his family. Remembering his youngest son's comment that phone calls abroad weren't expensive, Fang's father handed them the receiver.

Finally, Yan Yan took the microphone and chatted with them for a few minutes, saying, "I brought gifts for all of you."

Kang Kang asked, "Second Sister, is it delicious?"

"There's food and fun to do."

The three siblings now live with their grandparents in the courtyard house. Kang Kang spends all his time pushing Yan Yan's mini bicycle around the yard practicing riding it.

Fang Jian and Fang Fang helped with chores as much as they could. Following Fang Mingche's advice, their father sent all three of them to Wang Dexian's club to learn martial arts.

Fang Jian took this very seriously; he still harbored a dream of becoming a chivalrous hero.

On July 31st, Fang Mingche and his family of four flew back to New York. The new store opened on August 1st. There was a 2% discount that day, and business was quite good.

Fang Mingche observed for three days. Seeing that everything was on track, he and Lin Yan went to take their driving tests, even though they hadn't passed, and then applied for international driving permits. This way, they could drive freely in France and the UK.

Lingzi rented a three-bedroom apartment, and used one of the rooms as a storage room, which was more cost-effective. The storefront was a bit small and expensive.

The direct flight from New York to London only takes a little over eight hours. It's basically just a matter of taking a long nap. Even Changchang completed the flight with ease this time.

By late August, after traveling like this, Changchang flew back to Beijing from Paris and his speech was full of English. He could even say a few short French words.

Lin Yan listened to his babbling, "It's true that starting from a young age is the fastest way to learn a language."

"Once he can speak fluently, he will go to Teacher Qiu's class with Yan Yan."

Lin Yan said with amusement, "Did you pay the tuition? And you're trying to squeeze another one in?"

"Tuition fees? That's no problem. We'll give Qiu Yin a big red envelope when she gets married. Besides, I heard that Teacher Qiu also bought a courtyard house. We'll give her a big red envelope when she registers her marriage."

The Qiu family can afford the cost of around 30,000 yuan. Qiu Yin has been in the UK for 15 months and still has commissions from two stores. In addition, the father and son have earned a considerable amount from their salaries and commissions over the past six months.

"Well, that's enough for them. Actually, if it's just for living, the first floor is easier to clean."

After playing outside for 50 days, everyone in the family except Changchang was eager to go home. Changchang had no concept of home at all; with his father, mother, and sister all around him, he could easily call the world his home. He looked completely unfamiliar with his grandparents who had come to pick him up.

Fang's mother said, "You've forgotten everything! Forget it, let's go back and rebuild our relationship."

Although she knew her grandson had definitely forgotten about her, she still excitedly rode in the old man's car with him.

Yes, Mr. Fang drove today. He got his driver's license and drove quite steadily.

In response to Lin Yan's compliment, Mr. Fang said happily, "When I was young, I didn't have the opportunity. You needed connections to drive a tractor. Otherwise, I would definitely have been a tractor driver back then."

Fang Jian and his two siblings also came. On the return trip, the three of them and Yan Yan were in the back carriage with their luggage.

Fang Mingche and his group had almost doubled their luggage compared to when they left, having bought quite a lot of things. They even sent some items back along the way to ensure they wouldn't exceed the weight limit on the plane.

Well, Changchang was also clamoring to go to the back and join his older brothers and sisters. Lin Yan could only entrust him to Fang Jian, saying, "Jianwa, keep an eye on him."

Fang Jian nodded, "Auntie, don't worry, leave it to me."

As a result, Changchang refused to be encircled by him and insisted on staying close to Yan Yan. Fang Jian had no choice but to stand next to him with Fang Fang on either side to prevent him from bumping into anything.

Kang Kang felt that with his little cousin now, he wasn't his grandparents' most beloved grandson anymore. They had been watching his little cousin the whole time, constantly commenting on how he'd gotten a tan. He felt a little disappointed.

Yan Yan laughed heartily, "That's how it is when you're a child. We've all been through this."

Fang Jian and Fang Fang also stared at Kang Kang and smiled, "You're already the second brother now, so you have to take good care of your younger brother from now on."

Mr. Fang drove straight back to the small courtyard; they had moved there. It was summer vacation, so the guesthouse business was quite good. Later, more and more guests moved into their courtyard.

The place is all fixed now, so we decided to move here. We'll let their family come over and have a look. We can have a meal together, and then go back to the Overseas Chinese Apartment to rest.

The small courtyard is indeed finished. It's almost a complete traditional courtyard house, only the rooms are a bit small. It looks much more upscale now.

Yan Yan walked through the area and almost didn't recognize it anymore. Was this the place she had lived in for more than two years?
Everyone had heard about the time difference, and it seemed the Fang family wasn't doing too well. So, aside from exchanging greetings, only the Zhou family of three, Teacher Qiu, and Grandma Qiu stayed a little longer. They wanted to ask about their children.

Fang Mingche gave a brief explanation of each point.

"Oh, individuals can't bring foreign currency back to China directly, so the money they give you is all remitted back. Once the remittance slip arrives, you can go directly to the Bank of China to collect the foreign exchange certificates."

Teacher Qiu nodded, indicating that Qiu Yin would definitely have to pay the lion's share of the cost of buying the house.

Old Zhou asked with some surprise, "We have it too?"

Since Yingzi hadn't sent a single penny back after going abroad, they assumed she hadn't. After all, even if Lingzi was willing to give her money, she herself had only just arrived.

Fang Mingche nodded, "Yes, a thousand dollars, Lingzi a hundred dollars, Yingzi nine hundred dollars. I told you not to just keep saving money! Money is earned, not saved. Qiu Yin said something similar, telling Grandma Qiu and Teacher Qiu to be willing to spend money at home. If they run out of money, just call her."

Teacher Qiu said, "Apart from buying a house, there's no need for that."

He was very satisfied with the restoration of the Fang family's small courtyard. It was just a pity that Yangshi Lei wouldn't take on small projects of 400 square meters. Their business was gradually picking up again, and they were simply too busy to handle everything.

He could only try other people. The Fang family acted quickly, securing the first deal for the man's comeback, and even managed to make the small courtyard look quite presentable.

Fang Mingche said, "Master Lei didn't charge any wages for this little courtyard, only a small fee for materials. So, I can't really introduce it to you."

Teacher Qiu nodded, "I know."

We had lunch at Boss Cui's place at noon. The first thing he asked Fang Mingche was, "I heard that the Zhou family's two daughters sent money back home?"

"Yes, but it's impossible to exchange the knife for you. Nowadays, foreign exchange can't even leave the bank; it's all converted into foreign exchange certificates."

Boss Cui said, "Alright, foreign exchange certificates will do. I can't go abroad anyway, so they'll be usable domestically. Do you want them?"

I wonder if Lao Zhou calculated it using the 1.5 exchange rate or the current 1.7 rate? Anyway, we can't let him lose out! Besides, the bank gives gifts when exchanging foreign currency.

"If you want it, I'll take it."

Mr. Cui nodded, "That's good. Otherwise, it would seem like I'm being petty! The main problem is that foreign exchange is hard to come by; some places only accept foreign currency. Even some restaurants only accept foreign currency."

After lunch, Mr. Fang drove the family of four back to the Overseas Chinese Apartment to rest. Just like when Lin Yan first learned to drive, he really enjoyed being behind the wheel.

Xiaomin had washed all the bedding and curtains. So, after a quick shower and changing into her pajamas, she could go straight to bed.

Changchang didn't even recognize Sister Min anymore and refused to let her sleep with him. He ran to Yan Yan's room instead. Lately, either the whole family of four slept together under the same blanket, or he slept with his sister. He was used to it!

Lin Yan said to Fang Min, "You'll just have to rebuild your relationship with him. He won't forget you when he's older."

I had originally wanted to ask Fang Min about her trip home, but now that I've relaxed, I'm feeling exhausted. I'll have to wait until I'm jet-lagged to ask her.

Over the past six months, Fang Min has provided tangible help to Lin Yan. Therefore, she still cares quite a bit about this distant niece.

After everyone had gone to sleep, Fang Min unpacked the clothes she had brought back and put them in the automatic washing machine. It was quiet and located on the balcony, far away from the noise.

Then they moved all the gifts Yan Yan brought back into the room that they used as a storeroom.

Besides the gifts she had just given to Fang Jian and his siblings, as well as Niu Niu and Song Chi, she brought everything back. She also brought gifts for Fang Tong and her sister, Wang's brother, Nie's brother, and some of her friends from the zoo trip. She had the most gifts among the whole family.

Right now, in the small courtyard, Kang Kang was eating the foreign snacks his second sister had brought him. Then, seeing his older brother getting ready to leave on his mini bicycle, he quickly ran a few steps and asked, "Big brother, where are you going?"

Fangfang can ride Yan Yan's bike even without the wheels. We're currently in the stage of removing the wheels, and even Kang Kang has learned to ride it. However, the two training wheels are folded in perfectly. In a couple of years, we can put them back on so Changchang can ride it too.

As for Fang Jianqi, he'll need to raise the seat a bit. He just used a wrench to raise it himself, preparing to ride out.

Yan Yan had just returned and was still jet-lagged, so she didn't mention bringing the bike back. He just rode it for now.

Just then, seeing her younger brother catching up, she said, "Uncle just gave me a few rolls of used film and half a lens that Master He brought along. He told me to take them to Master He to have them developed. You stay home and play, I'll be back soon."

He then walked right past Kang Kang and kicked off.

Seeing that he still wanted to chase after her, Fang Fang quickly came out and pressed her younger brother's shoulder down, saying, "Don't run around, or you'll get hit by a car."

Kang Kang simply shrugged his shoulder and knocked his sister's hand away. He wanted to go to Tiananmen Square too.

Fang Fang said, "Don't go out and scare people. Uncle said this morning that if you don't listen, I can hit you. Uncle is the boss at home now, and Grandpa and Grandma aren't home yet."

Grandpa is working at the courtyard house right now, and Grandma has gone out to buy soybeans. My uncle mentioned earlier that he missed her homemade tofu pudding while he was abroad.

Grandma was overjoyed and excitedly went to the vegetable stalls to see if they still had soybeans for sale. The state-run vegetable market had probably closed long ago, but the vegetable vendors' stalls were probably still open.

Soybeans need to be soaked for eight hours before cooking. She bought them first, and then soaked them before going to bed the next day if she wanted to eat them. Fangfang heard that when she went out, she told every neighbor she met that her youngest son had flown thousands of kilometers, but he still missed the food she made.

Kang Kang felt that his older sister seemed a little different from when they lived in the countryside. Afraid that she might actually hit him, he didn't dare to think about running away again.

"I want to watch TV."

The black-and-white TV has been moved back here. If Mr. Fang wants to watch it over there, he can go and turn on the color TV. The rule against watching TV in his spare time doesn't apply to him.

Fang Fang said, "Sit further away, or you'll turn into a four-eyed monster."

"Ah."

"Also, eat less snacks. Save them and eat them slowly. I won't give you mine. I probably won't give you yours either. Everyone eats their own!"

Her uncle told her that very few families in the capital city were so blatantly sexist. He wanted her to live more comfortably, just like Yan Yan did at home. He would try to persuade her grandparents. She should take it slow!
(End of this chapter)