Chapter 17: Dad and Mom Arrive (Part 2)

  That night, Fang Mengnan was sleeping soundly when he was startled awake by the loud crying. He opened his eyes, scowling and furrowing his brow. "What's wrong with Grandma?" he asked in a hoarse voice, as there was no moonlight outside the window and the room was pitch black without any lights on.

  "It's okay, I woke you up, little Bei is awake, probably hungry and can't see her mom, so..." Grandma said softly. "Go back to sleep! I'll coax her for a bit."

  "Come on! Follow me in! I'm starving, and if we don't eat our fill, it'll be a disaster!" Fang Mo Nan said, suddenly pulling both of them into the space.

  "Your aunt..." Grandma asked hastily.

  "It's okay, I had cast a spell before coming here, so I won't wake up. Is the door locked?" Fang Mo Nan asked.

  "It's in." Grandma hugged Beibei and patted her back, "Huh? The child has stopped crying. Hmm! This is your little sister."

  "I know, attracted by new things, what's the point of crying." Fang Mo Nan naturally knew who she was now. Her eyes were washed clean with tears and sparkled even more brightly as she looked around in all directions, her eyes wide with wonder. She casually handed a banana to Grandma and let her peel it for her to eat.

  Fang Mo Nan's sister, Fang Mo Bei, was born at a time when the family planning policy was strict. The family had to pay a fine of 200 yuan for having her. It could have been worse; some people even lost their jobs over this. Her mother even underwent sterilization because of it. People say that their generation is much more fortunate than their parents'.

  Who would have thought that Fang Mernan and his generation had it so tough? When we were in elementary school, university was free; when we wanted to go to university, elementary school wasn't free anymore. Before we could work, jobs were assigned to us; when we could work, we struggled to find a job that wouldn't starve us to death. When we couldn't earn money, housing was allocated; when we could earn money, houses became unaffordable. When we weren't in the stock market, fools were making money; when we rushed in, we became the fools. When we were underage, riding a bike was enough to get married; when we reached marriage age, no house and car meant no wife. When we didn't have a partner, girls were kind-hearted; when we looked for one, they cared about money. When we didn't have a job, even elementary school students could be leaders; when we looked for work, university graduates could only clean toilets. When we didn't have kids, others could have many; when we wanted to have kids, nobody was allowed to have more than one. Blood and tears!

  Fang Mo Nan's younger sister, from a young age, would repeat what adults said to her, but she could never get it all out. When she started elementary school, she was always the last one in class, struggling to learn, and although she worked very hard, unfortunately, her grades didn't improve.

  The teacher looked at her struggling and felt anxious for her, because she was honest and obedient, the teacher wanted to persuade her to give up but had no reason to do so, and could only follow along. After nine years of compulsory education, she didn't continue studying. Later, she went out to work, with a low level of education, got married and had children early, and lived a poor life with her husband. After the divorce, she lived with her child and parents. It wasn't until later that they discovered her talent for music and painting, thinking that it was inherited from her late grandfather who was good at painting. Unfortunately, Xiaobei was already old and didn't have the energy to pursue it, so she had to give up.

  Let's start again, Fang Mo Nan will certainly make a great effort to dig up his talent in the artistic aspect of Mo Bei.

  。

  Fang Mo Nan watched her eating a banana, with a layer of mud on her body. After washing her hair, although it's unclear whether she can become a genius or not, at least there's no harm in trying to improve some logical thinking and strengthen artistic and graphic creativity.

  Fang Mo Be was contentedly eating the banana that his grandma had peeled for him.

  "Nan Nan, it's okay to bring her in like this, right?" Grandma asked hesitantly.

  "It's okay, he's still young, can't remember." Fang Mo Nan waved his hand and took Grandma to the hot spring, letting her give Beibei a good bath. He himself went to the kitchen to make some children's meals.

  Fang Mo Nan made some easily digestible chicken noodle soup and Grandma fed it to Xiao Bei.

  Fang Mo Nan was eating his well-cooked meal. "Right, Grandma will definitely think that the flour Mom brought is not enough."

  Grandma also furrowed her brow, apparently she hadn't expected the increase in quantity to make things a bit difficult for her. "If we buy high-priced flour, it's clearly not worth it."

  She nodded, "How about this, Grandma? Let's take some wheat seeds from outside and plant them here. That should be enough."

  "Is this all right?" Grandma asked hesitantly.

  "There's nothing that can't be done, if it weren't for the conditions not allowing it, I've long wanted to clear out the excess things in the space prairies, forests, seas and waters. These things are too much for us to eat alone." Fang Mo Nan thought that the current reality was really too backward.

  Grandma thought about the scene of last visit, "Well! This way the cost is reduced and life can be improved better." She said very reasonably.

  The three of them finished eating and saw Mo Bei yawning, so they all left the space to continue sleeping. It's just past twelve o'clock now, what can you do if you don't sleep?

  The next morning at 5 o'clock, Fang Mo Nan got up quietly without waking anyone. She walked out of the room, and it was still dark outside! Taking a deep breath of cold air, she felt refreshed as she exhaled a mouthful of stale air. Rubbing her hands together, after a while, the light in the north house also came on, and after waiting for a moment, Old Man Lin also walked out of the room, and the two of them went jogging together.

  Half an hour later, they returned to the backyard, where Grandpa Lin taught her authentic Chen-style Tai Chi. The first time she saw the old man practicing boxing, Fang Mo'nan's mouth was wide open as if she could swallow an egg. This old man had no fewer secrets than she did.

  As soon as it was daylight, after Old Master left, Fang Mo Nan began to water and fertilize her precious vegetables, and pick off the insects. After finishing these tasks, she looked up at the sky and saw that it was time to make breakfast.

  She went back to the front yard, at this time grandma had gotten up, they went into the kitchen together to prepare breakfast for everyone.

  Breakfast consists of tofu fa and soy milk. A dish of pickled cucumber, spicy canned fish, and sour white cabbage. Steamed buns and small steamer buns.

  The old folks also got up one after another, finished breakfast, and after the baptism of yesterday, Dad and Mom were no longer surprised.

  After finishing eating, Xiao Yi covered her stomach and shouted loudly, "I'm so full! If I keep eating like this, won't I become a big fatty?"

  "This is simple, starting tomorrow get up and run with us"

  Fang Mo Nan looked at her and said.

  Auntie just said it casually, don't take it seriously.

  "Hmm! This idea is not bad, let's start tomorrow!" Old Master Lin said, and Auntie didn't dare to disobey. She hung her head in despair, as if she had known all along that she wouldn't be able to complain, and she would have to bid farewell to the warm quilt.

  Today is Sunday, Little Aunt took Fang Mo Nan and Mo Bei together to Lin Lao Ye Zi's North House to read books and study.

  Grandma and grandma picked up bowls and chopsticks, went to the well in the yard together. Dad moved the tables, chairs, boards and stools in the house to the wall and also came to the well to help.

  "Mom, I brought back coal, a cart of powdered coal for making coal balls, used for cooking and heating in winter. A cart is a lump of coal with high heat value to burn kiln bricks. It's just right that he will be back soon, nothing wrong, and the house at the back can be built." said the old mother while washing dishes.

  "No need, I don't plan to build a house in the backyard anymore, I'll plant all vegetables there." Grandma said her plan, "You also know our family's recent situation, it's just right for Zhengping to build me a kitchen, add two stoves, and steam buns. Oh, let him push a cart to the local sundry store to buy me two largest steamer pots. Oh, here is the money." Grandma generously took out 50 yuan from her pocket, with an air of wealth and extravagance.

  "No need, we have money." Mom said without taking the money.

  "Take it, elder sister! Mom is doing business now and she's keeping track of the accounts, this will be included in the costs. Besides, mom isn't short on money now, let her have the feeling of being a rich person." Little aunt came out from the house, jokingly said, went to the bathroom and then returned to the house. With elder sister and brother-in-law helping out, she can focus on studying.

  Dad stood beside, saw Mom nodding, took over the money, pushed the small cart and left.

  "Does Xiao Bei still not speak?" Grandma asked.

  "Yes, mom? He's already over two years old and still can't speak. What to do? Nannan was speaking before he turned two, this is really worrying." The old mother frowned, looking worried.

  "Don't worry too much, some people speak early, some speak late. Isn't it said that a noble person's words are slow?!" Grandma comforted her and then changed the subject to some gossip about the Li family, which finally made her frown relax.

  Grandma and mother finished washing, went into the house, started adding baking soda to the dough, then kneaded it, put it in a basin, continued to ferment until afternoon, steamed, two pots came down together, just right to sell, still hot!

  After Dad bought the pot back, he handed over the remaining money to Grandma. Fang Mo Nan came out and took a look at that steamer pot, it was really big! Dad sat in it without any problem, there were 7 or 8 layers of steamers! With this one pot, we can steam more than 100 pieces! Now the quantity has clearly increased.

  Dad took the large ceramic teapot from Mom and poured half a pot of water, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Mom, when did we start adding roofs to the kitchen and stove?"

  "This, let's discuss it together at noon and then say. Grandma saw them nodding, "You and Dayan go to Lin Laoye's house, they are all there, I will be out for a while."

  After Grandma finished her chores, she saw them enter the old man's house and went out to find the neighbors, asking them to come and help, with pay.

  Before long, two middle-aged women were invited. One was Mrs. Liang from the backyard, and the other was Ah Po Li from the southern neighbor. Both are clean and efficient, and good at steaming buns.

  Dad and mom entered the house, saw Old Man Lin teaching Xiaoyan her lessons, Xiaoyan listened attentively nodding non-stop. Their two precious daughters, one standing on a small stool writing and drawing, the other holding a pen drawing randomly. Old Man Lin and Little Auntie nodded to them as they came in, continuing their lesson.

  Fang Mo Nan saw her parents come in and stand by the table. She looked at Xiao Bei, thinking of last night's events, "Dad, do you have any matches?"

  "What's this for!" Although Dad had doubts, he still took it out and handed it over to her.

  Fang Mo Nan took the pen from Mo Bei's hand. Earlier, he had let her hold the pen and draw randomly because he was afraid she would make trouble. Now Fang Mo Nan wanted to verify whether Mo Bei had a special understanding of graphics.

  "Xiao Bei, let's play something new." Fang Mo Nan opened the matchbox and took out a match. Xiao Bei, who had been about to cry after being deprived of his pen, regained a curious and playful expression.

  Her father and mother also looked at them curiously, wondering what they were doing.

  Fang Mo Nan arranged the matches on the table into a triangle, a square and a simple house shape. She handed the matches to Mo Bei, "Little North, come, you try too." She pointed at the shapes she had made on the table and then at the matches in Mo Bei's hand.

  Mengbei looked at the match in her hand, then glanced at the shape on the table, hesitating. They held their breath and stared at Mengbei, their small hands holding matches awkwardly as they tried to replicate the same shape as the one on the table.

  Dad and Mom stared at each other with wide eyes, this was too unbelievable.

  Fang Mo Nan watched her finish, excitedly rushed over to hug her, and kissed her on the cheek. "Xiao Bei, you did a great job! You know what? You might be a genius."

  Fang Mo Bei foolishly smiled at everyone, apparently able to understand the good and bad words of others. When she received praise, she was also very happy.

  In the early 1980s, IQ tests only focused on knowledge, in short, they only focused on the development of the left brain. In the 21st century, we all know how important it is to develop the right brain, the left brain is logical reasoning and textual knowledge; the right brain is emotion, art and graphic creativity.

  Later, as Fang Mo Bei grew up, they found that Mo Bei was the kind of person who had difficulty remembering pure text no matter how many times it was taught, but could remember graphics at a glance. This type of person is rare, but is recognized as a genius.

  Fang Mo Nan's shout attracted both Old Master Lin and Little Auntie over, and Father excitedly recounted the events that had just transpired to them.

  "Hmm! Maybe it's true." Old Master Lin, who had seen a lot and knew a lot, nodded and said to my dad and mom: "Raise them well, they're two talented kids."

  "Is that so!" Father said, "Da Yan and I must work harder to earn more money, send the kids to a better school."

  "Hmm!" Apparently Fang Mo Nan's move dispelled a lot of the old lady's doubts, and for a moment she had suspected that her little daughter might be an idiot, which really worried her to death.

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