Big Brother 04

Watching Fang's Mother leave clutching the hundred yuan, Fang Zhiyi flashed a villainous smile.

"Host, I don’t get it," Little Hei asked.

Fang Zhiyi explained, "This whole family is a bunch of bloodsuckers, but vampires have one trait—selfishness. That point was overlooked before. They’ve all been feeding off the original host, living happily, but if you brainwash just one of them into realizing how unfair it is, the balance will naturally break."

"Host, are you sure you didn’t use necromancy?"

"How could I, huh? This world doesn’t even allow that," Fang Zhiyi said, pulling out the remaining two hundred yuan—the money from selling the donkey cart. "Sigh, gotta tighten my belt this month."

Fang Zhiyi threw himself into work. After clocking out, he’d eat with the technicians and generously treat them to drinks. Within days, he was calling them brothers. In just over ten days, he’d leveraged his social skills to become a familiar face around the factory, earning a solid reputation.

Everyone liked this young man—enthusiastic, sharp, and trouble-free—so when Fang Zhiyi asked for some scrap parts to tinker with, no one objected.

It was the '90s now, not like the old days. Raw materials were scarce but not in short supply, leading to piles of discarded parts in the factory. Usually, they’d be sold to scrap collectors every now and then, so no one batted an eye when Fang Zhiyi took some to experiment with.

A month later, Fang's Mother returned, her face as dark as ever. But this time, Fang Zhiyi didn’t let her speak—he dragged her straight to the canteen. The cook, hearing she was Fang Zhiyi’s mother, prepared a proper meal. After eating her fill of good food, Fang's Mother’s expression softened.

Fang Zhiyi stood up and borrowed a hundred yuan from a colleague in the technical department. The colleague was puzzled—hadn’t they just gotten paid? But seeing Fang Zhiyi’s face, he handed over the cash. Watching him borrow money for her, Fang's Mother felt deeply satisfied.

"Mom, I’m broke now. I just started here—had to pay for lodging and uniforms. I’ll make it up to you next paycheck," Fang Zhiyi said.

Fang's Mother nodded approvingly.

"Remember what I told you last time?"

She paused, then nodded. On her way home, she’d mulled it over—the more she thought, the more Fang Zhiyi’s words made sense. Why was she bending over backward for them? She was the one coming to ask for money, the one managing the household. Before Fang Zhiyi pointed it out, she hadn’t noticed, but after observing carefully, she realized her husband was a useless lump, and the second son was downright unfilial—he’d even talked back when she told him to cut grass! Only the youngest was obedient, though still too small.

"Keep the money safe, Mom. Next time, I’ll give you an extra fifty. Tell them you had to fight for it, then stash the hundred for Mingrui’s wedding."

Fang's Mother nodded, studying her son closely. Why hadn’t she noticed how filial he was before? Sigh, she ought to treat him better from now on.

After seeing her off, Fang Zhiyi was questioned by coworkers. He poured out his family’s situation, and hearing how unfairly his parents treated him, they were indignant. Later, Fang Zhiyi quietly returned the hundred to the colleague who’d lent it.

"Without this act, I wouldn’t even save enough for meals," Fang Zhiyi said with a bitter smile. The colleague nodded in understanding.

That afternoon, someone invited him to eat—Lin Xiaowei.

Seeing this destined figure, Fang Zhiyi declined her kindness. The original host already owed her; he wouldn’t ruin her life.

Fang Zhiyi occasionally suggested improvements to the factory’s electrical appliances. Two of his technical tweaks saved the factory significant costs. The tech team was decent—no one tried to steal credit—so the factory decided to award him a bonus after a meeting.

Holding the 2,000 yuan, Fang Zhiyi still sighed.

Soon, someone came looking for him. Outside the factory gates stood his youngest brother, Fang Mingrui, who was studying in the county town.

Fang Mingrui slung his bag over one shoulder, showing no respect as he thrust out his hand. "Give me money."

Fang Zhiyi blinked. "What money?"

"Mom said if I’m short, I come to you! Hurry up! Or I’ll tell her!"

Fang Zhiyi frowned slightly, then smiled. "Money? No problem. You rarely visit—let me take you out first."

Fang Mingrui was stunned. His big brother was offering to hang out? At home, they barely spoke.

Fang Zhiyi slung an arm around Fang Mingrui’s shoulders, asking a passing coworker to cover for him before heading out. The gatekeeper, witnessing it all, shook his head—Fang Zhiyi was a fool, and his family was rotten.

Entertainment in the county was limited—pool tables outside shops and video parlors. Fang Zhiyi splurged, fresh off his bonus. They played pool, then caught a movie, parting ways only after dark.

Before leaving, Fang Zhiyi sighed. "Wish I’d gotten paid—could’ve given you more." He handed Fang Mingrui ten yuan, urging him to head home.

Watching Fang Zhiyi leave, Fang Mingrui reconsidered his brother. Maybe he wasn’t so bad? Glancing at the money, he turned back toward the video parlor, where a newly hung sign with a risqué image made his face flush.

From a distance, Fang Zhiyi watched Fang Mingrui slip back inside, then scoffed and swaggered back to the factory.

The next time Fang's Mother visited, Fang Zhiyi borrowed a bike from his supervisor, taking her to the county market. He accompanied her shopping, buying her clothes. The vibrant fabrics dazzled her. After a restaurant meal, they returned to the factory gates, where Fang Zhiyi slipped her 150 yuan with a wink.

Fang's Mother understood—tucking fifty in her bag, hiding the hundred close to her skin.

"Oh, Mom, Mingrui came by. I took time off to show him around, gave him ten yuan to go home. The leave docked my pay, so this month’s tight. Next month, I’ll get you some supplements."

Fang's Mother’s face darkened. "That brat! Ignore him next time. I’ll handle his money. Don’t take leave—it’s a waste!" She’d already claimed Fang Zhiyi’s salary as her own.

Fang's Mother was growing fonder of her eldest—generous with money, treating her to meals. Compared to the rest, especially Mingrui, who’d been acting up lately, coming home late...

Fang Zhiyi returned to his dorm, tinkering with his gadgets, oblivious to Lin Jianguo’s arrival until the man coughed behind him.

"Director Lin."

"Hmm. What’s got you so focused?"

Fang Zhiyi held up a small device. "A generator."

Looking at the little thing, Lin Jianguo laughed, "This thing? Generate electricity?"