Old Fang couldn't tell whether this was his rebellious son's reverse psychology or a sign of distrust. In the end, he halved the amount his son had asked for and decided to give him five hundred yuan first.
He expected his son to complain it was too little, but instead, Fang Muyang said, "I was just joking with you earlier. I'm an adult now and should be self-reliant. How could I take your money for no reason?"
This made Old Fang feel petty about his earlier hesitation. He said, "If you're truly in need, as your parents, we should support you."
"Speaking of living expenses just now reminded me," Fang Muyang said, taking out fifty yuan and handing it to Old Fang. "This is next month's food expenses for Fei Ni and me. I'm paying in advance."
Old Fang replied, "You don't need to pay for meals when you eat at home."
"Are you saying it's too little?" Fang Muyang and Fei Ni only ate two meals a day at home, and fifty yuan was more than enough for a month's food.
"Take it back quickly. How could I let you pay for meals when you're eating at home?"
"You should let us pay," Fang Muyang insisted. "I'm an adult now—how can I eat for free? From now on, I'll give you money for food every month."
Old Fang had no experience dealing with this kind of situation; he was more accustomed to refusing.
What Fang Muyang said next, however, fell squarely within his experience.
Fang Muyang asked his father matter-of-factly, "By the way, it's been quite a few days since your back wages were issued. When are you going to reimburse me for my food expenses before I came of age? Just the food expenses will do—I won't ask for other upbringing costs. Just give me the principal; no need for interest. After all, you didn't earn any interest on it either." He had only eaten at home until elementary school graduation, and even then, it was often a matter of feast or famine. His father owed him at least six years of middle school food expenses. Part of Old Fang's back pay technically belonged to Fang Muyang for his upbringing, and now that the wages had been issued, the food expenses should be reimbursed too.
Old Fang's emotions shifted repeatedly. There was a difference between voluntarily giving his rebellious son money and being asked for it—the latter made it seem as though he owed his son, which, in a way, he did. During those years, he had indeed failed in his duty to provide. To regain the upper hand, Old Fang thought of a barely adequate response after a moment of silence.
"Eat at home for the next six years, and your food expenses will be waived."
"Your back wages were issued in a lump sum, right?"
"How much do you want?"
"That depends on your standard for raising a child. Take a few days to think it over—I'm in no hurry." Fang Muyang tucked the fifty yuan back into his pocket. "Once you've calculated it, deduct fifty yuan from the total and give me the rest."
Fang Muyang returned to the bedroom, where Fei Ni was reading at the desk. Hearing the door, she asked, "What took so long?"
"My dad wants to reimburse me for my middle school food expenses."
"Middle school food expenses?" Fei Ni was surprised. "You're not actually taking it, are you?"
"Of course I am. Otherwise, my dad will feel guilty. I have to take it to set his mind at ease."
"Just take a symbolic amount, like one or two hundred," Fei Ni suggested. She felt her father-in-law's back pay was being spent too freely—first, he gave her two thousand, then he bought calligraphy, paintings, and rare books. Even if they were bargains, it added up to a significant sum. Now he wanted to hire a housekeeper.
Fang Muyang laughed. "Wouldn't that make the old man look like he mistreated me? Spending less than one percent of his monthly salary to raise his son?"Fei Ni stood on her tiptoes and lightly scraped her finger against Fang Muyang’s earlobe. "You always have an answer for everything."
Fang Muyang caught her finger and brought it to his lips. Fei Ni’s gaze darted toward the bedroom door.
"I locked it."
"Let’s skip it today. You’ve worked all day—aren’t you tired?" Fang Muyang worked at a restaurant during the day, and in the evenings, he either drew sequential pictures for pay or painted the kind of art he loved but cost him money. That morning, she had woken to find him not in the bedroom but in the small adjoining room, copying traditional Chinese landscapes using oil painting techniques.
"Are you doubting my stamina?"
"What are you thinking?" Fei Ni pinched his arm. "Be serious. If you’re too tired, quit your job as a waiter. Even with a strong body, you can’t keep this up forever."
Fang Muyang laughed. "If I quit, how will we live?"
"You have your royalties, don’t you? Besides, we have some savings. It’s not like you’ll be jobless forever."
"But I actually like being a waiter." Fang Muyang didn’t mind the work. The restaurant attracted all sorts of people, and whenever he spotted someone interesting, he’d quickly sketch them in his mind. If the impression lingered after he got home, he’d put it down on paper.
Working at the restaurant also meant he could order meals directly from the kitchen, ask the head chef to cook for him, and earn vouchers to buy things he needed.
"I bought an abalone can. I’ll make you noodles tomorrow." Fang Muyang rested his chin on Fei Ni’s shoulder. "What have I done to make you doubt my stamina?"
To dispel her doubts, Fang Muyang felt compelled to prove himself. Fei Ni had to admit he certainly had the energy for two jobs.
Old Fang hadn’t even used his connections before a job opportunity landed in his wayward son’s lap.
Ling Yi had been feeling down for days after the embarrassment she suffered in front of Fang Muyang and Fei Ni. Her father comforted her, "The way Mu Yang acted only proves what a rare, good person he is. He gave up a bright future for you when you were at your lowest, and even when your situation improved, he never asked for your help. Keeping his distance now that he’s married is the right thing—getting too close to you would be inappropriate." Ling Yi’s father admired Fang Muyang’s character. In times of change, marriages often fell apart, so he found it commendable that Fang Muyang kept his distance from Ling Yi and remained devoted to the wife he’d met in harder days.
Ling Yi’s mother also advised her, "You shouldn’t entertain any improper thoughts about Mu Yang now. It wouldn’t look good for your reputation, especially since it was his current wife who stood by him during his most difficult times."
"I only see him as a friend, just like before," she told her father. "Please find him a proper job soon. Uncle Fang and Auntie are too proud to arrange work for their youngest son, and his wife’s family doesn’t have the means. The job you found last time—it’s not his fault he turned it down. It didn’t even come with a permanent position. Doesn’t his talent deserve a job with proper status?"
Fang Muyang had helped their daughter, yet she had avoided him when he was in need. The Ling family felt deeply indebted to him.Ling Yi's mother privately said to her father, "Our Xiao Yi has liked Muyang since childhood. If it weren't for... they might still be happily together now."
"Who told her not to visit him even once during his difficult times? He gave up his university spot for her, and she acted like that—no wonder he felt hurt. If it were me, I'd feel the same. When Muyang was young, he often came to our house for meals. Last time he visited, he didn't eat a bite, refused money and ration coupons, and never came again. Because of her, I'm too embarrassed to even see our old leader."
"We can't entirely blame Yi Yi. We spoiled her too much back then, never taught her how to survive adversity. Later, our situation affected her too, causing her to fall to the bottom all at once. If the times hadn't tested them, they would have been a happy young couple. Muyang used to be so close to us, but now he's become much more distant."
After saying this, they fell silent, leaving only long sighs.
Out of guilt and recognition of Fang Muyang's talent, Old Ling decided to use his connections to find Fang Muyang a permanent job. Although his own benefits had been restored, he remained strict with himself and was very cautious in such matters, fearing any misstep. Fortunately, Fang Muyang had published works, had serialized pieces in newspapers, and had a past record of heroic rescues, making it reasonable for someone like him to work at a pictorial magazine. Coincidentally, when a leader invited Old Fang to dinner, it created the misconception that Old Fang was about to be reassigned to an important position, so the job matter was easily resolved.
After the job was settled, the Ling family decided to visit the Fang family. Ling Yi's parents had visited once before, but that time was rushed—they only briefly greeted their old leader and expressed gratitude to Fang Muyang. Because they implicitly acknowledged Fang Muyang giving up his university spot for Ling Yi, their thanks were vague. Old Fang, thinking his wayward son had merely helped Ling Yi with farm work in the countryside, said it was nothing, just a small effort. Old Fang's casual dismissal of such a life-altering matter made Ling Yi's parents feel even more guilty.
On Sunday, Fang Muyang was working overtime. Fei Ni was playing the piano in the living room. Originally, she had been reading books lent by her mother-in-law in the bedroom. At two o'clock, Teacher Mu knocked on her door to ask if she needed anything, then said, "The living room is yours now—you can go practice the piano."
Since the piano had been moved to the living room, Fei Ni hadn't touched it. Teacher Mu guessed she was afraid of disturbing others and felt too shy to play.
Fei Ni could only say thank you. She practiced alone in the living room while the housekeeper, Auntie Yang, dozed in the dining room. Hearing a knock at the door, Fei Ni went to answer it.
She saw Ling Yi and her mother again, along with another man who, unsurprisingly, was likely Ling Yi's father.When Ling Yi saw Fei Ni opening the door, she was also taken by surprise. Based on her understanding of Fang Muyang, he didn’t like living with his parents. But she quickly adjusted her expression and smiled at Fei Ni. She always felt a hint of fear toward Fei Ni, because Fei Ni was worldly-wise and shrewd, and she knew about Ling Yi’s less-than-glorious past. Ling Yi regarded her as someone not to be offended, always worrying that Fei Ni would spread her history around. But today, she came bearing good news, which gave her some confidence. Moreover, she had brought face cream, powder, shampoo, and conditioner for Aunt Fang and Fei Ni. Her uncle abroad had reestablished contact with them, and their family now had a considerable amount of exchange coupons. She believed Fei Ni wouldn’t refuse her goodwill. She didn’t ask for much—only that Fei Ni would give Fang Muyang some space so he could maintain their friendship.
She believed Fang Muyang had treated her so coldly last time because Fei Ni disapproved of her, and Fang Muyang was trying to appease Fei Ni. She didn’t want to put Fang Muyang in a difficult position; she felt he already had enough to deal with.
Fei Ni didn’t like Ling Yi, but since this wasn’t her own home, she had no choice but to politely welcome her.
Ling Yi’s mother had met Fei Ni once at the Friendship Store and was deeply impressed, because Fei Ni’s appearance was such that one needn’t feel sorry for Fang Muyang’s marriage prospects. From her daughter’s pity, she sensed something else—something that made her quite uneasy.
Fei Ni invited the Ling family inside, instructed the housekeeper, Aunt Yang, to make tea, and then went to the study to inform her father-in-law and her mother-in-law, who was reading in her bedroom.
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