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

Chapter 224 Negotiations are Underway
Perhaps because of the boycott from all the part-time tour guides, and after witnessing Zhu Qiming's success in making money through harmony, Lin Yi finally gradually changed her work attitude.

A stable job is good, but it doesn't pay much. Earning a fixed salary of just over thirty yuan a month, he can't even afford a bicycle. Part-time work is much easier than getting promoted and receiving a raise in a factory. If he wants to earn money, he needs to have a better attitude.

Even Lin's father couldn't help but say to him, "Working for your sister and brother-in-law, you actually managed to get your colleagues to openly say they didn't want to work with you anymore after only a short time. I'm speechless!"
When Lin's mother heard this, she couldn't help but say, "But when he works in the factory, no one dislikes him like this."

It must have been upsetting for her to have her own son rejected! And Ah Yan, Ming Che, and Han Mei really didn't offer any help.

Lin's father said, "In the factory, whether you work a lot or a little, you get paid the same, and he doesn't affect other people's wages. But the travel agency has a low base salary, and the majority of the income comes from commissions. So everyone, including Han Mei, is very motivated. Your son, although he has a better work attitude than he does in the factory, is still basically the same old thing. He's affecting other people's wages, so how can they not be anxious? What's the point of going to work if not to earn a wage?"

Lin Yi was also somewhat embarrassed at the time. If it weren't for this incident, he really wouldn't have known that he was so disliked by his colleagues at work.

Moreover, according to his brother-in-law, a secure job might not last forever. He actually believed his brother-in-law's words to some extent.

The key issue is that the couple's children are far too dominant, making the son's dominance seem unbearable. Playing cards with his coworkers doesn't bring him much joy either; sometimes, when he loses too much, he easily gets angry.

He might as well go and earn more money. At least if he works hard, he'll get less nagging. Besides, his brother-in-law's description of the couple driving a minibus—him driving and Han Mei selling tickets—was too good to be true.

Yes, they saved up money first. Once he was finally able to take a leave of absence without pay, he applied to work for a travel agency. Even a regular driver could earn two or three hundred yuan a month.

Han Mei wasn't too happy about this. She was doing a perfectly good job as the office manager, why would she want to sell tickets?

Privately-owned mid-shift buses haven't officially started operating yet, but she'd seen black ones before. The drivers there were much nicer than bus drivers.

Furthermore, the service at privately owned restaurants is far better than that at state-owned restaurants. Boss Cui and his wife, and even his brother-in-law's brother and sister-in-law, are living examples.

As the office manager of the travel agency, she doesn't directly interact with travelers. She doesn't really need to fawn over people like that.

She said to Lin Yi, "Does my brother-in-law mean he doesn't want me to continue as the office manager? I'm a competent worker. It must be because you and your mother keep going to him and my sister asking them to manage this and that, which annoys him and makes him not want to use relatives anymore. You two are so annoying!"

Han Mei found an opportunity to ask Fang Mingche directly; they had been relatives for several years and were quite familiar with each other. Besides, this was official business!

Fang Mingche said, "I really don't like mixing business and personal matters. However, driving a minibus will be very profitable in a few years. You can keep all the money you earn. Also, with Lin Yi's character, he definitely won't be able to resist those temptations once he has money. I'm just saying, if you don't want to go then, it's up to you."

Since Lin Yi's work attitude had changed, Lin Yan asked Han Mei to schedule him for work. Initially, he was to be paired with Lao Cheng, who would definitely be more tolerant of him.

However, Lao Cheng and Fang Mingche have a pretty good relationship, and Lao Cheng isn't as afraid of offending Lin Yi as the other employees.

After some time, Fang Mingche asked again, and Lao Cheng nodded, "Yes, your brother-in-law's work attitude has improved a lot. He finally looks like he wants to make money!"

As June arrived, Qiu Yin, Wu Mingju, and the others who had been on rotation returned. Old Zhou and the other family members also returned without exception.

Apart from Lao Zhou, everyone else was participating in a group activity. Furthermore, staying in the country would cause their children to lose such a good job. Their wives and children remaining in China would also be affected.

As for Lao Zhou, Lingzi told him directly that if he didn't return on time, she would report him to the immigration office. Then not only Lao Zhou, but even Yingzi would be deported. To keep her job, she meant what she said!

Yingzi immediately replied, "Go back when it's time. If I stay outside, there's still hope of getting you out of trouble. If I'm also sent back, then our family's hope of getting out will be gone. Don't anger your sister; she's really capable of doing it."

Lingzi is currently dating a Chinese man, and they might have a chance to get married and obtain a green card. But if she gets fired, it's hard to say how things will develop.

As for Yingzi, she was determined to wait for the amnesty decree so that the United States would issue her a green card.

Her great-uncle's health was deteriorating. But as long as Teacher Fang's shop remained open, she could at least maintain a temporary position as a staff member. Therefore, she was also very worried that her father would go bankrupt and end up ruining her and her sister's lives.

As the return date approached, Wang Dexian also came.

If Lao Zhou doesn't go back, it will affect the travel agency's business. He and Xiao Fang will definitely make things difficult for his family.

As for other family members and tourists traveling abroad with tour groups, it's the same! They just had to be much more tactful with these people. Old Zhou genuinely didn't want to go back.

Upon seeing him, Lingzi quickly said, "Brother Wang, I've already bought plane tickets for my dad."

Wang Dexian nodded, "Next year, Aunt Zhou will come, right? Your third son is still a minor, so he definitely can't come by himself."

If it were the third son of the Zhou family, they definitely wouldn't let him pass.

If the Zhou couple were to take the plunge and send their three children abroad while they themselves stayed in China, then there would truly be nothing left to threaten them.

Lingzi nodded, "Yes, it's my mother coming. Thank you so much, Teacher Fang and Brother Wang, for the opportunity to visit. We won't repay kindness with enmity."

Wang Dexian looked at Yingzi and asked, "Is it really that good to be a second-class citizen abroad?"

This girl used to have a pretty good relationship with Qin Hua; he watched her grow up.

Yingzi wasn't afraid of him, after all, they used to live in the same alley.

She said, "You are the grandson of the high-ranking official, and your sister will receive all sorts of preferential treatment because of your connection. Of course, she doesn't need to do this. But for our family, this is the only way to cross social classes."

Hmph, if she were like Qin Hua, going to Tokyo or New York whenever she wanted, would she be acting like this? Do you really think she enjoys taking care of elderly people and patients who are on their deathbeds?

June was another month of intense exams. After the exams, Fang Mingche's family of four, along with his parents, went to a state-run restaurant on July 1st to attend Qiu Yin's wedding banquet. Qiu Yin had returned to China with her Chinese fiancé, whom she had been dating for over a year.

Her fiancé has already secured a job at a university in the capital.

She's back this time as the acting president of the Capital Travel Agency, and if things go smoothly, she'll be officially appointed before the National Day holiday. Fang Mingche's red envelope definitely won't be small.

Besides, Yan Yan and Chang Chang are actually learning English and Japanese with Teacher Qiu. Fang Mingche has never paid a single penny for their tuition.

Grandma Qiu and Fang's mother said, "Three years ago, we never dared to imagine such a good life. Speaking of which, our family really owes a lot to your Mingche."

"Without Teacher Qiu and Qiu Yin, the international travel agency wouldn't have been able to operate so smoothly from the start. It's all about mutual support!"

Qin Hua and his family of three, along with Wang Defang, also arrived. Wang Defang was talking to Fang Mingche, while Qin Hua was talking to Yan Yan.

"Sister Qin Hua, did you get into your target school?" "I don't know yet, the results of the high school entrance exam haven't come out yet. I hope it goes well! My brother said either he'll give me the money to pay the high price, or he'll send me on a trip to America."

Wang Dexian's club is making money. With the current poor security situation, many people want to improve their self-defense capabilities. Besides teaching martial arts, they're now also providing bodyguards for wealthy individuals.

However, he told Qin Hua that you can't have your cake and eat it too!

Yan Yan said, "Then I wish you all your dreams come true."

Qin Hua asked, "Where are you going this summer vacation?"

Yan Yan said, "My dad has to study during the summer vacation. We can only go to Shanghai once, and then to Guangzhou and Hong Kong. This time, Grandpa and Grandma will go with us too."

The main purpose of my trip to Shanghai was to check on how the guesthouses were doing, while in Guangzhou I was visiting newly opened travel agencies and specialty stores. Also, a specialty store in Hong Kong opened last month. Aunt Minghui is currently in Hong Kong.

Yes, my fourth uncle and aunt took my older sister Tongtong and Xiaowu to Hong Kong a few days ago.

However, by the time they arrived, Uncle Si and his family had already returned. This was because the rented premises for the store in Hong Kong were too small to accommodate so many people.

My fourth uncle's family plans to stay in Guangzhou for the summer vacation; their house has been renovated and left to air out for three months. My older sister, Tongtong, will start school in Guangzhou in September.

Qin Hua clicked her tongue in astonishment, "Is your dad planning to keep learning until he's old?"

"My dad isn't old at all."

After attending the wedding banquet, Fang Mingche took his wife, children, and elderly relatives to Shanghai and Hong Kong. They only stayed in Shanghai for two days to check on the business operations. They spent more time in Hong Kong, since they already had a rented apartment and cooking for themselves wouldn't be too expensive.

Fang Mingche needed to rush back to study, and he planned to return on the 7th.

“Mom and Dad, if you’re comfortable here, you can stay longer. Ayan is planning to stay longer with the two kids.”

Mr. Fang shook his head. "We're not used to it. We won't understand what people are saying when we go out. We'll go back to the capital with you."

They don't understand Cantonese or English. Their daughter-in-law is already struggling enough taking care of two children alone; Yan Yan, no matter how sensible, is only under seven years old. Chang Chang is even younger, just two years and two months old. They should probably give her some peace of mind.

Fang Mingche took them back to Guangzhou first, where they also checked on the business's operations. Then they visited Fang Mingfeng's home.

Fang Mingfeng's scrap metal collection station wasn't sold; it's still being managed. He can just fly around and inspect it regularly. The travel agency being able to help with the ticket purchase is really convenient.

That scrap yard only makes money for one day at a time! Living in the capital is not easy. But actually, it's not easy for a family to live in Guangzhou either.

Fang Mingche didn't care. If the Henan gang came in the future, it would be good to have Brother Mingfeng to watch out for and help him.

After returning to Beijing, he went straight to the self-study rooms at Peking University to review his lessons every day, leaving early and returning late. Sometimes he even ate lunch there.

Peking University is so big, there are still places to eat without using cafeteria tickets. At the very least, there are small private restaurants in the faculty dormitory area.

It was July 18th. He was having lunch when he overheard two male students next to him discussing as they ate, "The Falklands War is over today! Britain won."

Fang Mingche paused, his chopsticks still. So, Margaret Thatcher was about to visit China. Choosing this moment, she obviously wanted to use the victory in the Falklands War to coerce China.

She really doesn't understand the chief designer! That's the 'steel company' that Chairman Mao personally approved.

One was the Iron Lady, the other a steel company. The story concludes with the Iron Lady's dramatic fall at the entrance of the Great Hall of the People.

Well, it should be said that the British high command didn't understand the Chinese very well. In March 1979, when the Governor of Hong Kong visited China, he even wanted to renew Hong Kong's lease.

This was naturally met with a firm rejection! Back then, the Qing government was forced to sign cession and lease treaties only after losing battles. Today, China has been waiting for a very, very long time to wash away this century of national humiliation.

How could we possibly agree to any unequal treaty?
When he finished his self-study for the day and returned home, Lin Yan also came back with the two children.

Lin Yan told him, "Hong Kong's property market is quite sluggish, with a huge drop in prices!"

Fang Mingche said, "Once the negotiations are completed and the joint statement is issued, things will start to improve."

Lin Yan raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Then should we take advantage of the cheap prices and buy a few office buildings and apartments in Hong Kong?"

There are office buildings overseas and in Hong Kong, where the price per square meter is almost twice that of real estate. These are buildings they need, so they can buy them when prices are low.

Fang Mingche said, "Let's wait a bit longer and save some money first. Otherwise, we'll have to mortgage everything to the bank."

Now, if you mortgage the old Western-style houses in Shanghai, you can actually buy them in Hong Kong.

But it's only 1982, still early. The fall in 1983 was even worse!
The Sino-British negotiations lasted two years and involved 22 rounds. The Sino-British Joint Declaration was not issued until 1984. Only then did Hong Kong property prices begin to soar. Trying to buy at the bottom now would mean buying halfway down the mountain.

Lin Yan thought about her family's debt ratio and nodded, "Okay! By the way, I heard Qin Hua has already gone to America?"

"They went, and she was put on the back of the train. That saved her brother a lot of money. Right now, Old Wang and his wife are taking her out for a ride. But they didn't dare to do what we did last year, going on and playing all the way."

Firstly, time didn't allow it, and secondly, their wallets weren't quite up to par. Even if Old Wang took his money to the US, he'd still be poor. However, the couple lived much better than the other government-sponsored employees who went with them.

Lin Yan said, "Hong Kong has such a wide variety of goods, and there are no tariffs! Can we import goods from Hong Kong and sell them here?"

Fang Mingche shook his head, "We don't have the import license. Forget it, we can't make all the money in the world!"

He picked up Fang Chang and weighed him in his arms. "You ate so much good food in Hong Kong, your face is all round now. And Yan Yan, your dance teacher must be terrified when she sees you."

Yan Yan looked distressed. "I'm starting my diet today."

(End of this chapter)