Chapter 41: 41, The Unfamiliar Fang Family, Successfully Integrating
Surrounded by a large crowd, Fang Wen could only reduce the car’s speed to the lowest, slowly driving forward.
On the surface, he was the Fang Family Rice Business young master returning home, also bringing honor.
But in reality, he knew nothing about the situation here.
There was no situation here in the body’s memories, he had never been to Jiaxing in his previous life, nor did he know Jiaxing’s history, let alone matters about the Fang Family, neighbors, and relatives.
Fang Wen made up his mind to speak less and muddle through these few days.
He didn’t speak, but the people surrounding the car outside didn’t actively disturb him, while Shunzi sat in the back seat, talking to himself.
“Third Young Master, you’ve been out for several years, and the family members were all worried.”
“They say you’re devoted to serving the country, but the country is so big, it wouldn’t lack just you.”
“Last year your family letter, Old Master Fang often took it out to show his friends, saying you’re the only accomplished one in the Fang Family.”
“These years, Eldest Young Master and Second Young Master have been vying to manage the rice business. Last year they installed a Western glass display window, and this year they’re turning the rice business into a company. Right ahead is the rice business, Third Young Master, I knew you didn’t recognize it.”
Fang Wen turned his head to look; several rice businesses were lined up along the canal, others had just door panels, but Fang Ji had a glass display window blending Chinese and Western styles.
“Shunzi, it’s been some years since I went out, I was young then and didn’t have a good memory, I don’t quite remember the way home. You guide the way.”
“The changes these years are indeed big, it’s right ahead, keep driving straight.”
Just like that, under Shunzi’s guidance, the car crawled forward to the Fang Family courtyard house.
There, the Fang Family members who received the news were already waiting outside.
At the very front were two middle-aged men, standing one on the left and one on the right.
The one on the left wore a long robe and jacket, the one on the right a suit and civilized stick.
Fang Wen figured these were his two eldest and second brothers from the main and second branches.
Behind them there was also someone, a young girl in her teens, wearing a student skirt.
This was Second Brother’s family’s Sixth Sister.
In his mind, the relationships of all the Fang Family’s brothers and sisters emerged.
Eldest Brother’s family’s Eldest Young Master, Second Brother’s family’s Second Young Master, and the Second Brother’s family’s Third Sister who died young, his own full sister Fourth Sister, he himself was strictly speaking ranked fifth, and finally Sixth Sister.
But in address, he was still called Third Young Master by Shunzi.
Brushing aside his thoughts, it was time to get out of the car and face them.
Fang Wen smiled as he got out of the car, walked to the other side to open the door for Yue Jinping.
Shunzi in the car looked on eagerly, not knowing how to get out.
Fang Wen opened the back seat door and handed the handbag to Shunzi to carry.
Only then did he lead Yue Jinping toward the Fang Family courtyard.
The middle-aged man in long robe and jacket stepped forward actively, full of emotion.
“Old Five is finally back. Eldest Brother misses you every day, and this separation has been several years.”
So this was Eldest Brother Fang Wenyao, then the other one was Second Brother Fang Wen.
Fang Wen returned a smile, about to speak.
The suited middle-aged man beside him snorted coldly and said in a low voice, “You’re the only one in our family with thick skin. Acting like this when your own younger brother returns, disgusting.”
After speaking, he smiled broadly, opened his arms for a Western-style hug to Fang Wen.
But unexpectedly, his right hand was gripped by Fang Wen, turning the hug into a handshake.
“Eldest Brother, Second Brother, it’s been many years, let’s go inside and catch up. So many people are watching here.”
Fang Wen’s words made the two brothers who wanted to argue unable to act up further.
Then Eldest Brother Fang Wenyao clasped his fists toward the following neighbors and said, “Fellow villagers, my third brother has traveled a long way and is tired. He’ll first go home to see parents and rest, and another day we’ll surely hold a banquet to celebrate.”
Hearing his words, the people returned greetings and dispersed.
At this time, Sixth Sister shyly walked over and called out crisply, “Fifth Brother.”
Fang Wen showed a smile: “Sixth Sister has also grown up. Oh right, this time I brought a friend, her name is Yue Jinping, she works in the National Government. Sixth Sister, can you help me host her?”
Sixth Sister nodded, Yue Jinping generously walked over, the two whispered, and it seemed they would get along quickly.
Then, all the current Fang Family children had met, and they turned to enter the Fang Family courtyard.
The Fang Family was a two-courtyard house, with front courtyard and back courtyard each having a courtyard well.
The main hall was where Old Master Fang lived, the back courtyard was half for Eldest Brother and half for Second Brother.
The front courtyard was for the third branch, servants, warehouse, kitchen, water room, etc.
But since Fourth Sister of the third branch married out, and Fang Wen was not home, Mother also lived in the main hall.
These situations, Fang Wen heard the two brothers explain clearly while walking.
He stuck to the principle of speaking less and listening more, thus learned more, and also made people think he had become steady after many years away.
The group arrived at the main hall, where the Fang Family’s elderly were waiting outside their ancestral hall.
Four elderly people, respectively Old Master Fang, Main Branch, Second Branch, Third Madam.
With one glance, Fang Wen recognized his body’s blood-related mother; that feeling was like some mysterious connection.
In his heart, a sentence emerged. “I’ll fulfill this filial duty for you.”
Then, he properly knelt before Mother.
“Son is back.”
This kneel made Mother Fang tear up, involuntarily wiping with her sleeve.
She stood up from the stool, helped Fang Wen up, and said softly.
“And your father.”
For Old Master Fang, Fang Wen was not very willing, but walked over and made a gesture to kneel.
“Father, I’m back.”
When Old Master Fang rose to help, he smoothly stood up.
Old Master Fang was a bit awkward but didn’t mind, and spoke out.
“Alright, now except for Old Four, the whole family is here. Fang Wen, go settle down, and your friend can stay with Old Six. In a bit, go to the back courtyard for dinner.”
An hour later, Fang Wen came out from the front courtyard residence, went straight through the main hall to the back courtyard.
There, four large tables were set in the courtyard well.
One was the main table, with Old Master Fang, Third Madam, and several children.
One was the secondary table, with Eldest Young Master’s wife, Second Young Master’s wife, children, and Yue Jinping.
The remaining two were for the family’s servants, manager, accountant, employees.
Not long after the meal started, the rule of no talking while eating was broken.
Eldest Young Master eagerly asked, “Fifth Brother, tell us how you’ve been these years outside.”
Father Fang not only didn’t scold, but looked at Fang Wen with great interest. Not just him, people at all four tables stopped eating and turned their attention to Fang Wen.
This wasn’t difficult.
Fang Wen skipped the part about leaving home as a youth to study alone in Beiping, starting directly from graduation from school.
All the way to this year’s January 28th Incident.
Second Young Master exclaimed, “So Old Five, you’re a flight commissioner at China Airlines. That’s a great job; I heard one trip from Nanjing to Shanghai is ten silver dollars.”
Fang Wen nodded.
The courtyard filled with low murmurs; most people couldn’t understand if it was necessary to spend so much on an airplane.
Father Fang was even more puzzled: “Do that many people really spend money to ride airplanes?”
Seeing the family’s uncomprehending expressions, Fang Wen explained:
“Seventy percent of China Airlines airplane passengers are foreigners. Nowadays China is weak, the wealth gap is very large, and the gap between countrymen and foreign businessmen is even greater. Those speculative businessmen coming to China make huge profits selling each commodity; how would they care about that bit of airplane ticket money.”
Sixth Sister interjected, “In class, the instructor said, to make the country rich and people strong, we must be self-reliant. We need our own national industry and commerce.”
Fang Wen looked at Sixth Sister in surprise; he didn’t expect this family to have someone sensible.
But Sixth Sister’s words, others didn’t take in at all, instead asking about the war.
