"For example, buying a house through a loan?"

"That’s one aspect."

Jiang Chen was munching on a fried dough stick and sipping on plain porridge. The rain outside continued to drizzle down. While others might discuss heroes over a pot of wine, he discussed economics with his father-in-law over soybean milk. It was utterly delightful, enough to make him temporarily forget about any moral guilt.

No, that’s not right.

Why call him his father-in-law?

"Houses aren’t selling, and incomes are low. This is merely the result of the debt-driven growth stopping. The real reason is one that people might not want to accept."

"What reason?"

Fang Weiguo immediately asked with curiosity.

"Most families have already become wealthy."

Fang Weiguo seemed puzzled, "Isn’t that a good thing?"

"It is a good thing, but from another perspective, as more people become affluent, it’s inevitable that the basic demands of society sharply decline."

"Basic demands?"

Jiang Chen nodded, "For example, as Uncle Fang mentioned, housing. Uncle Fang often watches the news. I wonder if you know what the homeownership rate is among urban families in our country now?"

Without waiting for a response, Jiang Chen continued, "96%, with 31% of families owning two homes. You could say that almost every urban family has their own house. Similar situations include cars, home appliances, and daily necessities. This indicates that the term ’basic need’ is gradually becoming a thing of the past."

"You can’t say that. Many parents have houses and cars, but their children don’t..." Fang Weiguo instinctively retorted, knowing many people like this.

"Uncle Fang, if you say that, you’re just being contrary."

Fang Weiguo felt awkward, "You cheeky kid."

Jiang Chen smiled slightly and continued, "Economic statistics consider families, not individuals, as basic units. What I mentioned was the homeownership rate among urban families."

"Alright, forget I said anything."

Fully focused, Fang Weiguo seized this opportunity to gain insight, as the news was so vague that ordinary folks could hardly understand.

"When basic needs disappear, most production activities in society lose their significance. It logically follows that, in this era, most people may not need to work or cannot work."

Fang Weiguo’s eyes widened in disbelief. He couldn’t accept or understand it.

Jiang Chen steadily continued, "In terms of supply, two main directions can absorb employment: production and services. But we are a production-oriented society, meaning the more jobs there are, the more serious overproduction becomes, leading the economy into a vicious cycle. The most direct and effective way to solve this problem is to reduce supply. We’ve done this before. But unlike in the past, when overproduction was limited to specific industries, we’re now facing overproduction across society.

With so many industries and enterprises, it’s hard to reduce production simultaneously. Hence, the slogan ’anti-involution’ was born. Society has moved from a period of a hundred schools of thought contending to an era of survival of the fittest. Business costs and difficulties are artificially increased to eliminate uncompetitive companies. This reduces overproduction, digests stock, and gives the economy a chance to rise again. Of course, this process takes time. In the wave of large-scale bankruptcies, many people will be affected. These social pains are inevitable, akin to a grueling treatment."

Fang Weiguo spaced out, feeling for the first time that the world in one person’s eyes could be vastly different in another’s.

"In your generation, Uncle Fang, the production-rights approach prevailed, believing that not engaging in production work was worthless to society. But now, it’s not like that. Those in good physical condition can engage in the service industry, eloquent people in sales, and those good at singing and dancing can enter the entertainment industry, but they shouldn’t blindly dive into production. Back in your day, opening a restaurant was profitable, but now, nine out of ten would shut down within months. Regardless of the era, it’s not about who’s hardworking or lazy but about who can adapt."

Fang Weiguo exhaled slowly.

"No wonder you’re so successful."

Jiang Chen, neither proud nor anxious, said jokingly, "Uncle Fang can tell friends and relatives that under the current circumstances, lying flat isn’t a disgrace. In an elimination race, not being eliminated is a victory."

Fang Weiguo smiled and nodded with mixed emotions.

"Qing Qing seems to have a bit of a fever."

Pan Hui suddenly walked over.

"What’s going on?"

Fang Weiguo asked immediately.

"I just went in to mop the floor and saw her complexion wasn’t right. I touched her forehead; it was a bit warm. I asked her about it, and she said she was fine."

"It might be from getting rained on a bit last night."

Jiang Chen quickly responded, "Is there fever medicine at home?"

"Yes. I’ll go get it."

Pan Hui found the medicine, brought a cup of hot water, and took it to her daughter. Shortly after, she came back out, looking helpless.

"She won’t take it?"

"Mm. She said she’ll just sleep it off."

Fang Weiguo felt a headache coming on.

It wasn’t just Mr. and Mrs. Fang; even Jiang Chen knew that the seemingly perfect Fang Qing had one flaw.

She didn’t like taking medicine.

She resisted it since she was a child.

Perhaps it started because she thought the medicine was bitter, and over time, it became a habitual resistance.

"Can you give it a try?"

Fang Weiguo’s gaze fell on Jiang Chen.

With a daughter this grown, as a father, it wasn’t quite appropriate for him to enter the room casually.

But while it wasn’t appropriate for him as her father, was it appropriate for an outsider like him?

"Right, Jiang, you go and persuade her."

Pan Hui handed him the medicine and water, not knowing the meaning of having a healthy skepticism.

Facing Mr. and Mrs. Fang’s unconditional trust, Jiang Chen found it hard to refuse, especially since Fang Qing got rained on last night, and he was partly to blame.

Thus, he could only take the cup and fever medicine, encouraged by her parents, and step towards her room.

It could be said he did it openly.

With just her parents at home, there was no need for the door to be locked, so the handle turned easily.

The curtains were drawn, letting only a faint light squeeze through the cracks, significantly blocking out the sound of the rain.

Qing Gege planned to have a good sleep.

There was one small detail.

After entering, Jiang Chen deliberately left the door ajar.

Details reveal character.

Mr. and Mrs. Fang had one less worry, but of course, they certainly wouldn’t peek.

"I won’t take it."

With those words, Qing Gege turned over, her face towards the inside, back to Jiang Chen, likely thinking her mother had come in.

Even the most rational people have their whims.

"Tie Jun’s wedding is coming up. If you fall ill at this critical time, won’t you ruin their lifelong happiness?"

The quilt lay still.

Then Fang Qing opened her eyes and suddenly sat up.

"How did you get in here?"

A woman just waking up is undoubtedly at her least presentable, but Jiang Chen didn’t mind in the slightest.

He’s seen it too many times.

"I walked in."

Jiang Chen stood firm by the bed, not allowing any argument.

"Take the medicine."

No need to feel her; judging by her slightly flushed face and dry lips, she probably had a bit of a fever.

"I won’t take it."

Though Jiang Chen appeared calm on the surface, he was just putting on a front, eager to complete this difficult task quickly.

"Uncle Fang and Aunt Pan are both outside. If you don’t take it, I can’t answer to them. Just be kind and help me out."

Fang Qing sat on the bed, hair in disarray, silently gazing at him, making him even more uneasy.

"It’s not bitter at all, really..."

"Feed me."

The sudden request stopped Jiang Chen’s words abruptly. He paused, then lowered his voice.

"Are you kidding me? Uncle Fang and the others are outside..."

"Feed me."

Fang Qing repeated.

Jiang Chen was stunned, a twitch at the corner of his eye, "Are you crazy?"

"I’m not crazy. I’m not drunk either."

Hmm.

With only one person without memory loss, it’s not a problem. If it’s two people, then there’s real trouble.