It's just that they have money.

After breakfast, Fang Chen brought out the rocking chair that his grandfather used to sit in and sat at the door to enjoy the breeze.

In the past, he didn't understand why his grandfather always sat at the door like that.

Now that his blood sugar has risen and he feels the gentle breeze, he understands.

No worries at all, it's great!

Not long after, Wu Zhichao came again.

This time he didn't come empty-handed. He carried a carton of milk in his left hand and two bottles of liquor in his right, a smile even more enthusiastic than yesterday. As soon as he entered, he called out, "Brother Chen! Uncle Fang! Aunt Fang!"

Fang Yuan was feeding the chickens in the yard when he heard the noise and came out. Seeing what Chaozi was holding, he frowned and asked, "Chaozi, what are you doing?"

"I've come to see you all," Wu Zhichao said, placing the milk and wine on the table in the main room and sitting down casually. "Brother Chen rarely comes back, so I have to show my appreciation, right?"

He glanced at the things on the table, said nothing, and sat down opposite Wu Zhichao.

"Speak, what is it?"

Wu Zhichao chuckled twice and rubbed his hands together: "Brother Chen, what are you saying? Can't I come over to catch up with you if there's nothing wrong?"

"Catching up is fine," Fang Chen leaned back in his chair, looking at him calmly. "Take your things."

Wu Zhichao's smile froze for a moment, but quickly returned: "Brother Chen, you're slapping me in the face! I came to see my uncle and aunt, what's wrong with bringing some things?"

"Take your things away," Fang Chen repeated, his tone unchanged. "Get to the point."

The atmosphere in the main room became somewhat tense for a moment.

Fang Yuan returned to the courtyard and didn't get involved, but he kept his ears perked up.

Xiang Pingping was picking vegetables in the kitchen, and her movements slowed down.

Wu Zhichao's smile finally crumbled.

He leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and his gaze toward Fang Chen changed.

"Alright, Brother Chen, you're a big shot now, your way of speaking is different." He paused, lowered his voice a bit, "Then I'll get straight to the point. Brother Chen, since you're so well-off, could you lend me 200,000? I have a project that's guaranteed to make money, I just need the start-up capital."

Fang Chen looked at him without saying a word.

"Really, Brother Chen, I'm not lying to you."

Wu Zhichao leaned forward, his voice carrying a deliberate sincerity, "A friend of mine owns a restaurant in Jiangcheng, and business is booming. Now he's opening a branch and wants me to invest. It's 200,000 yuan for a 10% stake. I'll break even in at least a year, and after that it's pure profit."

After listening, Fang Chen was silent for two seconds, then asked, "What's your friend's name?"

Wu Zhichao was taken aback for a moment: "You don't even know him."

"Tell me, I also live in Jiangcheng. What if I know someone there?"

"His surname is Liu, Liu Dawei. He runs a restaurant in Jiangcheng. Everyone in the industry knows him." Wu Zhichao's eyes darted around as he said this.

Fang Chen saw this and already knew what was going on.

He looked into Wu Zhichao's eyes.

"Chaozi, we grew up playing in the mud together, so I'll be frank with you."

"Go ahead," Wu Zhichao said, his expression turning wary.

"I don't know anything about your project, nor am I interested in it," Fang Chen said calmly. "Regarding the loan, I already said yesterday that I'm not lending money, and it has nothing to do with who it is."

Wu Zhichao's face darkened.

"Brother Chen, you can afford a car worth over a million, what's two hundred thousand to you? It's not even a drop in the ocean, right?" His voice was clearly filled with resentment. "If a brother is in trouble, what's wrong with lending a hand?"

"Chaozi, I have a question for you."

"you say."

"Two years ago during Chinese New Year, you told me you wanted to start an e-commerce business and asked to borrow 30,000 yuan from me, saying you'd pay it back in three months. I didn't have the money to lend you then, but what happened afterward?"

Wu Zhichao's expression changed, and he opened his mouth but couldn't say anything.

Last year during the Spring Festival, you said you wanted to start a transportation business and needed to borrow 20,000 yuan, promising to pay it back in six months.

Fang Chen's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear: "I really didn't have any money before, so I didn't lend it to you. But what if I had lent it to you? Where are those projects you mentioned?"

The main room was so quiet that you could hear the chickens crowing in the courtyard.

Wu Zhichao's face flushed red and then paled. His lips moved, but he finally managed to squeeze out, "Wasn't that something from the past? Don't I have a legitimate project now?"

"Which of your projects is illegitimate?" Fang Chen retorted, his tone still calm. "Chaozi, I'm not trying to bring up the past, nor am I stingy with this little bit of money. I just want to tell you that borrowing money won't solve your problems. What you lack isn't start-up capital, but a legitimate business to do."

Wu Zhichao fell silent.

He looked down at the tips of his shoes, his fingers unconsciously tapping on his knees.

After a long while, he finally raised his head, his expression a complex mix of emotions.

"Then tell me, what should I do?"

"Find a job first, and work hard for a year," Fang Chen said. "Once you have a stable income and know what you can and cannot do, if you still want to start your own business, I can help you look at some projects."

Wu Zhichao opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he just nodded.

"I won't take the things. You're busy, Brother Chen. I'll be going now."

"Take your things away." Fang Chen stood up, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Wu Zhichao glanced at him, then finally picked up his things. As he walked to the door, he turned back and asked, "Brother Chen, do you stand by what you said earlier?"

"What did you say?"

"So... after I work diligently for a year, will you still be willing to help me?"

Fang Chen looked at him and suddenly smiled: "We'll see when the time comes."

Wu Zhichao is gone.

Fang Yuan walked into the courtyard, glanced at Wu Zhichao's departing figure, and sighed: "That child, he was quite clever when he was young, how did he turn out like this?"

Fang Chen sat down again. "It's just that I'm too eager to take shortcuts."

"If you can lend him a hand, then do so," Fang Yuan said, sitting down opposite him. "After all, we've watched him grow up."

Fang Chen nodded but did not reply.

The most he can do is give you a chance.

Whether Wu Zhichao can catch him or not is his own business.

Fang Chen has no obligation to get him involved in projects.

In the afternoon, Fang Chen drove to the town.

He was going to find someone.

Huang Zi'ang.

Huang Ziang was Fang Chen's classmate from elementary school to high school. Although they went to different parts of the country for university, their relationship never broke down.

Whenever Fang Chen returned to his hometown, the two of them would meet up, have a drink, and chat about their recent situations.

Fang Chen felt very comfortable being with Huang Ziang.

Fang Chen parked his car next to a row of greenhouses, opened the car door, and was hit by a wave of heat.

A slightly worn pickup truck was parked outside the greenhouse, its body covered in mud.

"Zi'ang!" Fang Chen called out.

The plastic curtain of the greenhouse was lifted, and a young man wearing a straw hat, rubber shoes, and with tanned skin peeked out.

Huang Ziang was stunned for a moment when he saw Fang Chen, then grinned.

"Holy crap, what are you doing here?"

"Just came to see you." Fang Chen walked over and looked him up and down. "Did you just crawl out of the mud?"

Huang Zi'ang looked down at his mud-covered body and laughed twice. "I just finished cleaning the floor and haven't had time to change yet. Come on, let's go inside and talk."

He led Fang Chen into a simple prefabricated house next to the greenhouse. Inside, there was a cot, a folding table, a few plastic stools, and several bags of fertilizer and a pile of farm tools in the corner.

"The conditions are simple, please don't mind." Huang Zi'ang pulled a bottle of mineral water from under the table and handed it to him. "Why did you suddenly come back? Weren't you working?"

"I resigned." Fang Chen took the water, unscrewed the cap, and took a sip.

"You resigned?" Huang Ziang was stunned for a moment, then laughed. "Well, you've finally come to your senses? I told you long ago that your job was no good. It was 8 to 6, and the salary wasn't high. What's the point of doing that?"

"And what about you?" Fang Chen looked at him. "How are you doing as a new-age farmer?"

Huang Zi'ang's smile faded slightly.

He sat down on the cot, took off his straw hat, revealing a face that was red from the sun.

"To be honest, it's not very good."