Chapter 68

  Experience more fun reading functions

  Chapter 24: The Cost

  After dinner, Fang Mo Nan and the others returned to the hotel. It was a big summer day and they had eaten hot pot, sweating profusely like they had just been pulled out of water. They felt refreshed and rejuvenated after detoxing. After washing up, Fang's mother and Hong Ye went to take a nap. Fang Mo Nan and Liang Zi continued their conversation from that morning which was interrupted by Ye Lao Si.

  He said that a truly private restaurant must have unique dishes. The environment, style and atmosphere should be quiet and secluded, with special dishes. Compared to other restaurants, the most distinctive feature of a private restaurant is its "home-like" quality. After sitting down, the peaceful and serene atmosphere is the best. In addition to mystery, deliciousness, and intimacy, customers choose private restaurants for their historical and cultural significance. The goal of eating at a private restaurant is to experience something unique. Signature dishes don't have to be rare or expensive ingredients; ordinary home-cooked dishes with unique flavors can also become signature dishes. A private restaurant can attract many regular customers just by serving a simple dish like stir-fried meat and vegetables.

  Private dishes are the favorite of successful business people, having a business dinner in a quiet and comfortable restaurant, forgetting the occasion is like having a family banquet with friends and relatives at home, or rushing to attend a family gathering, not only forgetting the fierce competition in the business world but also bringing the distance between people closer.

  Liang Zi nodded, "Now some restaurants are too noisy, having a quiet place is good, not everyone likes the hustle and bustle."

  "Fang Mo Nan scribbled on the paper, saying that the house didn't need to be renovated, it was already perfect as it was. The key was just decoration. There was a desk in the room, a piano on the desk, a stove next to the piano, and incense burning inside, brewing a cup of fragrant tea. Just thinking about it made one feel nostalgic. And for decorations, you didn't need precious items, high-quality replicas would do."

  "This needs to be found by a professional, I'm not good at this." Liang Zi said. "However, Zhi Qian is fond of playing with antiques, calligraphy and paintings, art pieces, maybe ask him if he can help."

  "That's not necessary, we don't need the real thing. Find some high-quality imitation porcelain, jade, cups, bowls, plates, antique furniture, and so on. From incense burners to ceramic vases, from calligraphy to embroidered screens. That's all for now." Fang Mo Nan handed him a list he had drawn up.

  "There are so many, twenty or thirty kinds." Liangzi frowned and said "Where can I find them?"

  "Ask Ye Si Ge, with his easy-going personality, he might know someone and can introduce you to them," said Fang Mo Nan.

  "Alright, I'll give it a try." Liang Zi put away the paper, and in no time at all, he dared to ask someone for help like that.

  "There is also personnel training, can't be too enthusiastic, must have the subtlety of traditional Eastern women, specifically being elegant and refined, smiling without showing teeth, walking like a willow tree swaying in the wind, with a voice as soft as an oriole's call." Fang Monan continued.

  "Now that you mention it, are we looking for a waiter or a beauty?" Liangzi said with his eyes wide open and tongue out.

  "This is what makes him stand out from the crowd." Fang Mernan said with an air of authority.

  "Come home early tonight."

  "The train at more than 7 o'clock in the evening." Fang Mo Nan patted his shoulder and said "It's all up to you here."

  The 7 o'clock train in the evening, Fang Mo and her mother took a soft sleeper, slept for a while, just arrived home.

  Finally, Dad and Uncle came to pick us up in person.

  "Ah, Brother-in-law can drive now." Fang Mo Nan said as he sat in the car, Santana, a car that would be everywhere in the future, should be very expensive at this time.

  "Yes, there is one that's convenient." Qi Qiu Shi said.

  "Isn't this dazzling? The words are jumping off the page." Fang Mo Nan said.

  "It's not uncommon, there are still many people driving this car in the county town, even Da Chengzi bought two." Qi Qiushi said while driving.

  The car is so fast, it took only twenty minutes to get home.

  After getting off the bus, "Ah, Grandma also opened a small restaurant." The sign read 'Mo Shifu' Restaurant. Grandma's house, the west room facing the street, opened the door and started business after some repairs.

  "My South is back." Grandma rushed out of the house and hugged Fang Mo Nan excitedly.

  "Alright, mom will be at home for another two months," said the old mother. "This big sun is shining brightly, let's go in quickly."

  "Come on in, come on in!" Grandma pulled Fang Mo Nan from the gate, chattering excitedly. She had lost weight but grown taller, definitely because the food abroad wasn't good to eat. Now that she's back home, she must make sure to nourish herself well." Apparently, she forgot about Fang Mo Nan's space.

  "It should be me who gives you a good scolding." Fang Mo Nan said to himself.

  Fang Mo Nan and his grandma went into the kitchen and took out two big watermelons from the space.

  "Nonsense, it's not as good as it used to be. This watermelon isn't even as tasty as the ones we have now." Old Man Lin said with a mouthful of watermelon.

  "Yes, this meal is not delicious, the water is not sweet, and even the tea leaves have a hint of bitterness." Dad echoed.

  "Never mind all that, how are Nannan, Beibei and your little aunt?" Grandma asked anxiously.

  "They're very good. I have photos here, you take a look." Fang Mo Nan took out the photo album from his backpack and handed it to them.

  Luckily there are enough albums for everyone, one per person, no need to fight over them, just swap after finishing.

  "Looks like life is treating you well. You look energetic and spirited." Grandma said, holding the photo album and gently stroking the people in it, giving her honest evaluation.

  "Grandma, get up and turn the west room into a restaurant." Fang Mo Nan continued to say, isn't this tiring?

  "I'm not tired, I don't do much except watch them now. I've hired a few more people to check the accounts. Oh, and I've become your Grandpa Lin's student, I've even learned how to keep accounts!" Grandma said with excitement, her face beaming with pride. "You all won't let us old folks idle around, so we started this restaurant to pass the time. We only serve a fixed number of dishes at limited times and quantities." Grandma chuckled as she spoke, "Who knew business would be booming like this? Many familiar faces can't even get a table, begging me to extend hours. I thought, since they're all acquaintances, why not give them some leeway?"

  "I didn't expect your grandfather to disagree, thinking of eating early." Grandma said with a smile, "I didn't expect it to be limited, the money earned in one month can top up three months' worth of mantou (steamed buns) money."

  "We have big and small yamen lined up on this street, business is booming." Old Master Lin said.

  "People's minds have a 'rare is precious' mentality, where the harder it is to get something, the more they want it. Limited sales take advantage of this 'reverse psychology' for advertising, making consumers' needs have strong emotional colors, increasing their curiosity and temptation towards goods." Fang Wen Nan said. The catering industry has high profits, generally over 50%.

  "It's almost the same as what your grandfather and I said, really our family's Nannan understands a lot." Grandma smiled happily.

  Dad ate half a watermelon and left, he took an hour off and continued to supervise in the industrial park.

  Qiu Xiushu flipped through her aunt's photo album to alleviate her homesickness.

  Mr. Lin and his wife chattered on about the things that had happened at home, and asked in detail about Fang Mo Nan and the other two's experiences in America.

  "Actually you can also come and see us"

  "Grandma Zhang, I don't know how to speak English, and when I get there, I'll become mute. This won't do, this really won't do, I've only gone on a trip with you all once in my life. As for going abroad, I don't even dare think about it." She also said: "Besides, business is booming now, I'm not willing to give it up, and you're not like you can't come back. At most, it'll take two or three years."

  Although Grandma said she disagreed, Fang Mo Nan had already made up his mind. He would first let Grandma learn English. If she could learn to keep accounts and check accounts, then with motivation, nothing was a problem.

  At noon, Fang Mengnan made a sumptuous meal in the space, and everyone ate their fill. "Nan Nan, I think you'd better not go, stay here, when can we eat like this if you leave?" Dad said with a reluctant face while eating, this daughter is not at home, not only do the old people not eat well, he is the same.

  "Go south, south is where you go to school." His mother said, pushing his arm.

  "Ah, Dai Yan, I'm just expressing my reluctance to part with her and praising how delicious her cooking is. It's not like I can hold back our daughter's future." Old Dad said hastily.

  Fang Mo Nan smiled and said, "If I let my family know that I didn't attend school for a whole day in Philadelphia, my mom would jump up in anger." Haha.

  "For the remaining two months, the kitchen is my territory and I'm in charge." Fang Mo'nan had a domineering look on his face.

  "Alright then, let's have Nannan take a rest." Grandma said. "I think Nannan is also tired, hurry up and take a nap for a while, who knows what other things there might be."

  Mom put away the bowls and chopsticks, and like Dad, she held a book to study. Mom attended correspondence school, and after listening to Uncle's opinion, Dad also went to correspondence school to learn about cadre knowledge and youth. Now he always carries a book with him. The couple made progress together.

  Fang Mennan left, but Han Zhikui still didn't forget to send various newspapers and magazines every month. The information on TV nowadays can't compare with the explosive era of later generations.

  Waking up from a dream, Fang Mo Nan stretched his waist and opened his eyes. After a moment of daze, his vision became clearer, and he looked around at the familiar decorations, "Oh, it's home after all. The kang is still the most comfortable place to sleep."

  "Nannan woke up and got out of bed to wash her face." Her grandma said when she saw her wake up.

  Fang Mosou got up, shook his head, and the sunset outside the window shone into the room, red. "What time is it?" Fang Mosou asked.

  "It's already past six o'clock, you can really sleep." Grandma said with a smile, "Your mom has left, seeing that you're sleeping soundly, didn't disturb you."

  "Hmm" Fang Mo Nan shook his head and immediately stood up. "I'll go cook dinner."

  "Alright, let's go with me." Grandma followed Fang Mo Nan into the kitchen, and soon dinner was served. My dad also watched the 7 o'clock news, feeling that national policies were now a daily necessity at home.

  Dinner was ordinary, millet porridge, pickled cucumber, cold mixed tofu skin, Longjing shrimp, bitter melon fried egg, five-spice peanuts, and roasted eggplant.

  Qiu Shi also rushed over, just in time for lunch, and washed her hands.

  "The dishes are very rich." Dad looked at the table full of dishes and smiled.

  "Yes, it has everything: color, fragrance and flavor. It's a great summer product." Old Master Lin said.

  "Mom, I'm planning to go to the US in a few days and visit Xiaoyan and the others." Qi Qiushi gulped down half a bowl of rice porridge, it was really comfortable, she was dying of thirst.

  "That's good, really, Little Swallow doesn't understand things, running so far away, it's also hard for you." Grandma muttered to herself. She thought of her little daughter who was far away in America and felt a face full of regret, saying that it would be better if she stayed in the country, why did she have to go abroad and suffer, ending up separated by distance.

  "It's okay, the company is on the rise, I'm busy every day and can't even touch my feet to the ground. Even if Xiaoyan was at home, it would be hard to see each other. Take advantage of being young and work hard." Qi Qiushi said with a silly smile.

  "Is your uncle going to America?" Fang Mo asked, changing the subject.

  "This is Allen's business, about the technical issues of fluorine-free compressors." Qi Qiu Shi finished the remaining soup in one gulp, got up and filled another bowl, saying "Now our country still hasn't solved the problem of electric refrigerator compressors, let alone fluorine-free ones. Our factory is also tackling this technology, if we can make it domestically, the prospects are good, and won't let foreigners strangle us."

  "Alright, you can go now," said Old Man Lin. "Everything has been arranged at the factory."

  "With Xiaohai around, nothing to worry about." Qi Qiushi said with relief. The person introduced by Cheng Shigui was indeed a talent, and the management of the factory benefited greatly from his help, saving a lot of trouble and improving efficiency.

  "Xiang Hai was quite stubborn, and all of us wanted to dig him out. In the end, we negotiated with him. Xiang Hai gave us these 'muddy legs' a common 'enlightenment' on modern management science." Qi Qiu Shi said.

  "I admire your humility." Fang Mo Nan bowed his hands and said.

  "Hehe, since someone has skills, of course they won't be ashamed to ask. Our ancestors taught us well, not to skip characters." Qi Qiu Shi said with a smile.

  "We can't just listen to Fang Mernan's words, we need to take the essence and discard the dross. Long Xianghai's management ideas are inevitably colored by American culture, and if we bring them back to China, they may not be applicable at all. In America, you won't encounter officials who are difficult to deal with or who make things hard to do, nor will you encounter bribery and corruption. There are many other things that just don't apply here, and if we blindly adopt his management experience in our country, it may not work well."

  "Uh-huh, I understand. His management experience is only within the factory, and with his straightforward personality, he's doomed outside of it." Qi Qiushi said very clearly.

  "Hmm" Fang Mengnan has a deep understanding of these experiences, this is Chinese characteristics, foreigners come in and become Chinese, and beautify the name as entering the countryside and following customs.

  "Cough cough", Old Dad saw them criticizing these public officials right in front of them, and awkwardly cleared his throat.

  "Hehe, Dad, don't mind us, we're not talking about you." Fang Mo Nan said with a smile.

  "Most people are still good." Dad hesitated for a long time before saying this sentence, obviously lacking confidence.

  "I, Electric Tiger and Water Dragon King, are two wolves in the business and tax world, and the police is a big hooligan." Fang Mernan joked, "This is indeed the most popular tongue twister among the common people, the eyes of the people are bright and clear." And another sentence added later: As soon as the urban management comes out, who dares to compete with them.

  "Where did you learn to talk like that, with such a glib tongue?" Old Master Lin said. He furrowed his brow and continued, "But think about it carefully, and there's some truth to it. When we were poor and white, our city couldn't even guarantee the most basic water and electricity supplies. We used to have limited power supply and limited water supply; the two departments in charge of these could easily decide the quality of life for a city dweller."

  Later, after the reform and opening up of the market, more people started doing business, and transactions increased. At the same time, various problems and loopholes in market management emerged. The two departments of Industry and Commerce, and Taxation, which had no experience at all, suddenly became important.

  As the marketization deepens, people start to move on a large scale, where they can make money, they go there, and public security problems, household registration problems follow one after another, the police system faces unprecedented challenges and pressure." He patted his old father's shoulder, silent.

  "Hehe, Grandpa is awesome!" Fang Mo stood up straight and gave a thumbs up, "Right, old dad?"

  "Don't go spreading these words around." Her old man affectionately rubbed her head.

  "Hmm" Fang Mo nodded silently.

  But Fang Mengnan and Old Man Lin's words fell heavily on Father's heart.

  After dinner, Mom and Dad went to study, Fang Mo Nan was taken by Grandpa to the room for questioning.

  The old man nodded in satisfaction with the examination results, "Hasn't forgotten his roots, learned well. Has Teacher Mo taught Beibei Chinese yet? Doesn't skip characters."

  "Of course, no matter where you go, you can't forget your roots and only speak English after studying abroad, forgetting Chinese." Fang Monan said with his head raised, as if it was a matter of course.

  "That's good." Old Man Lin nodded in relief.

  After finishing the exam, Fang Moer also went to sleep. She and her grandma slept in the south bedroom, while her dad and mom slept in the north bedroom. Her uncle slept in Leonard's room, and her grandma said that because of work, he usually came back very late.

  Fang Mo Nan slept a lot and then flashed into the space, first writing a plan book for Ye Lao Si. All of these need to be thought out, organizing language, progress is slow, anyway, it's abundant.

  By the way, I'm thinking about the difficult problem Liang Zi gave me. She's not a serious architectural designer anyway. Providing some inspiration is okay, but designing is really not her thing. There are many of them, let's think slowly.

  Then he jumped into the sea to find gifts for the little ones in Hongye's belly. If it was a girl, there were plenty of pearls in the sea, and one big and one small would be sent every year. When they grew up, they would make necklaces and bracelets.

  For boys, there is a kind of dark-colored and heavy wood here that is more expensive than gold and jewelry - agarwood. The fragrance is elegant, the deeper you use it, the more fragrant it becomes, refreshing your mind, opening up your wisdom, and increasing your concentration. Carved into a Guanyin shape, it seems she needs to find a good carver.

  With things settled, all that's left is to meditate and cultivate internal energy, delve deeper into studying medicine and martial arts.

  The next morning, Fang Mengnan opened the door and saw Old Man Lin standing on the steps waiting for her.

  "So early, good morning, Grandpa." Fang Mo Nan said, and then heard the sound of the door opening, "Wow, Dad, you're also up so early."

  "Alas, you're no longer as good as before with Zhengping accompanying you to exercise. You two are not as calm and cool as before." Old Master Lin said, "Let's go."

  Jogging two kilometers, standing in the backyard vegetable garden, Dad accompanied Grandpa to play Tai Chi push hands several times. "Wow, Dad is also starting to practice this now." Fang Mengnan looked at them in surprise.

  "I'll teach you your dad's moves, and it just so happens I need a sparring partner," said Old Man Lin.

  Tai Chi Push Hands, also known as Striking Hands, Rubbing Hands, and Grasping Hands, is a two-person unarmed combat practice of Tai Chi Chuan. It has a complementary relationship with the Tai Chi form, mutually reinforcing each other to achieve greater understanding. With over 300 years of history.

  "In the Qing dynasty's traditional boxing manual, there is a poem called 'Fighting Hand Song' which goes like this:

  Parry, brush, squeeze, press, and grab with care,

  Upper and lower movements follow each other closely, making it hard for opponents to advance.

  Let him use his great strength to attack me,

  I'll use four ounces of force to counter a thousand pounds.

  Lead the incoming force into emptiness and immediately counterattack,

  Stick, connect, and follow without losing the top position."

  "At first your dad was really badly hurt, always falling to the ground." Mom said. "Looking at them now they're a bit better, stumbling a few steps without falling to the ground."

  Tai Chi Push Hands is an exercise that uses the upper limbs and torso as the attacking parts, employing techniques such as "ward-off, roll-back, squeeze, press, pluck, split, elbow, and shoulder" to achieve borrowing force and issuing force, causing the opponent's body to lose balance. It is a sport with confrontational, entertaining, fitness, and traditional characteristics. Its skills are renowned for their ability to use four ounces of force to deflect a thousand pounds, send people flying like cotton balls, and knock them down with a single flick of the wrist, all while making minimal movements.

  "It really happened that I wasn't there for a lot of things." Fang Mo Nan rubbed his nose and said, "In the past, I was too short, I just wanted to be a sparring partner but it didn't work out, unexpectedly my old man liked it."

  "Your dad was forced to do it at first. When you were around, he had you guys to accompany him to exercise, but after you left, grandma kept urging him and he couldn't help but practice. At the beginning, he even wanted to give up halfway, but then he got scolded by grandpa and now he's gotten used to it and even likes it." The old mom remembered that period of 'struggle' between her and her mother-in-law and smiled, still not telling her daughter, otherwise it would damage his image in her daughter's heart.

  Fang Mo Nan saw that his dad had also started exercising and took the opportunity to give him a set of internal skill exercises for strengthening the body.

  After finishing breakfast, Dad pedaled his bicycle and left. "Dad will be back this Sunday." Fang Mengnan watched as he disappeared into the distance.

  "Hmm, he's become a big shot official, busy every day, no rest days, and now he's going to the industrial park to check on progress." Mom complained that it wasn't like this before, guessing that the few factories that had settled in would soon be put into production, there were many things to do. "But it's also good that he's too busy to have idle thoughts."

  "Hasn't anyone been in touch over there? It's been two years since I've been back home, and you all have changed jobs, yet no one has even asked about me." Fang Mo Nan said incredulously.

  "There's nothing anyway," Mother sighed. "It's better this way, to see reality early on and cut off that little bit of thought."

  While the mother and daughter were sighing with emotion, in fact, they had already cut off contact with their father a long time ago, but hadn't told anyone at home, after all, it wasn't something to be proud of.

  Dacheng's car stopped at the gate.

  "Auntie, Auntie I'm here. Where's Nannan?" He hadn't even arrived yet, but his loud voice was already ringing out, not at all like the usual demeanor of the factory director.

  "Ah, Uncle, over here!" Fang Mo Nan and his mother came down the steps to greet him.

  Dachengzi carried big and small bags and put them on the steps. "They are all homemade eggs and pork, smelling good"

  "Come and take a look, hasn't changed much, grown taller and more beautiful." Da Chengzi took a few steps back and nodded.

  "What can I change into?" Fang Mo Nan joked.

  "I thought it would curl up like a perm," said Da Chengzi, still holding up his index finger.

  "Hehe" Fang Mo Nan and his mom were both amused by his appearance. "Don't be so exaggerated."

  "Are there foreigners in our Autumn Factory too? I've seen them," said Da Chengzi, "Still our Eastern Dolls."

  "Nan Nan, let's go," said Da Chengzi. Fang Mo Nan was confused, "Where to?"

  "Of course I'm going back home," he said. "Today I've come with a task from my father, if not, I'll be punished when I get back."

  He saw Fang Mo Nan hesitating, pulled him out and shouted loudly to Da Yan Jie (actually he was only a few days younger than his mother), and also told Da Yi, "I'm taking Nan Nan away, I'll send her back later."

  Like this, Fang Mo Nan got on the car and quickly drove away as if he was afraid someone would chase after him.

  "Big uncle, you don't have to be like this, just say it clearly that I'm going with you." Back in his hometown, Fang Mo Nan's words also took on a local flavor.

  "Nan Nan, you don't know how fast the feed factory has developed in these two years, it's beyond my imagination, let me tell you." Da Chengzi said with emotion. "Sales outlets are now all over four provinces, except for our province, there are also three neighboring provinces."

  "Oh, it's all thanks to you guys." Fang Mo Nan said. (If you like this work, welcome to subscribe and reward on Qidian Network, your support is my greatest motivation.)

  It is by

  Recommendation

  All texts and pictures are uploaded by book friends or come from the Internet, hoping you like them

  Rebirth of a Carefree Life

  。