The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 276 The Troubles of Growing Up
In January 1986, the US space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff and disintegrated in mid-air.

Ronald Reagan postponed his State of the Union address until February to mourn the seven astronauts who perished in the Challenger disaster.

This explosion appears to foreshadow a gradual decline in the economic recovery that began in 1982.

Throughout 1985, the GDP growth of the United States did not meet the expectations of 1984, and the United States was facing a huge challenge from emerging economies—Japan.

In September 1985, the United States, Japan, Germany, and several other countries signed the Plaza Accord at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. The agreement intervened in the currency market, and the dollar was to depreciate in an orderly manner in order to stimulate exports from the U.S. manufacturing sector.

In the early 80s, the US dollar had appreciated by about 40%, and a large number of Japanese goods, such as automobiles, electronic products, and daily necessities, flooded the US market, leading to the closure of American factories and businesses and unemployment among workers.

This led to the tragedy of ignorant white Americans mistaking Chinese Americans for Japanese and killing them. Cheap and affordable Japanese cars are rapidly taking over the American market, while traditional car manufacturing cities like Detroit are entering a period of decline.

Following the Plaza Accord, the US dollar depreciated rapidly, while Japan's capital purchasing power increased significantly. Starting in 1986, Japan entered the "Heisei Boom" period.

Japan's economy is booming, with all sectors experiencing rapid growth. Japanese capital has begun acquiring assets all over the world, even boasting that it will buy up the entire United States.

Gan Guoyang returned to San Francisco and took advantage of the break before the game to visit his father at Gan Family Restaurant. The family gathered together and talked about the recent housing prices in San Francisco.

Because of Gan Guoyang, Gan Family Restaurant has always been very successful, and a branch has been opened in Chinatown, which has been handed over to Gan Guohui for management.

Last year, Gan Guohui graduated from community college and was preparing to officially take over the family business. He got married, bought a house, and had another child. Gan Youtang and Gan Bingguang felt that they had completed their mission.

Now that I have a career and a marriage partner, having children is a natural progression, but housing has become a problem.

Gan Guoyang asked, "The money you've earned from the restaurant over the years should be enough to buy a house, right? If not, I'll lend you the money. There's no need to worry."

Gan Bingguang said, "Oh, Guoyang, how can I let you pay for it? That's definitely not an option. Actually, based on the previous housing prices, it would have been enough to buy a nice house. I had my eye on one in Pacific Heights. But this year, I don't know what happened, housing prices suddenly skyrocketed! The money that was enough for the full payment is now only enough for a down payment!"

Pacific Heights is a luxury residential area diagonally opposite the Tenderloin District. It is a dream home for many Chinese residents of San Francisco and a gathering place for San Francisco's wealthy.

The best mansions there are historic and cost millions of dollars, and even a regular apartment there is much more expensive than elsewhere.

Gan Youtang said, "I told you long ago, the sooner the better. Now look what's happened, prices have skyrocketed! It's all those Japanese's fault, buying up everything! If they're so capable, they should buy up all of San Francisco! If not, give them a down payment, and they can make the rest of the loan in monthly installments. With the restaurant's revenue, that's more than enough."

Sitting timidly at the corner of the table, Gan Guohui said, "Um... Lisa said she doesn't want to help pay the loan; she wants to pay in full..."

Gan Youtang slammed his hand on the table and said, "You don't want to endure any hardship, and you're already thinking about moving in with just your bags? We've already done you a favor by paying the down payment, and you don't even want to pay the monthly mortgage? Do you know where your grandfather and I lived when we first came to America, or where you and your mother lived when you first got married? The Pacific Heights, is that a place where ordinary people can live?"

Seeing this, Gan Youwei said, "If all else fails, then let Guoyang..."

Gan Bingguang interrupted Gan Youwei, saying, "This is absolutely unacceptable. Guohui must earn his own living. The restaurant has already benefited greatly from Guoyang's influence; we can't let this kind of thing hold him back. Besides, Guohui, I don't think this Lisa is a suitable woman for marriage, at least not a good match for you. Our whole family needs to think about this carefully again. You are still young, and I, your grandfather, am in good health and can wait."

As he spoke, Gan Bingguang turned his gaze to Gan Guoyang and said, "Guoyang, you're not young anymore, and your father is very worried about you."

Gan Guoyang thought to himself, "Why is a gun being pointed at me all of a sudden? I have a stable job and a stable relationship, why would I get married for no reason?"
I shouldn't have come back. I really shouldn't have come back. Next time Dad asks me to go back to the hotel, I'll have to think twice.

But Gan Guoyang had to deal with the situation right now. He hesitated for a moment and said, "Uh... Fuxi is still in college and hasn't graduated yet. You know how girls are these days, they all want to pursue their careers, they want jobs, they want freedom, they're not in a hurry to get married, at least not until they're 30."

"30 years old? By 30, your dad's already buried up to his eyebrows!"

“Dad, how can you curse yourself like that? Being buried in the yellow earth means you’re dead.”

"Anyway, your great-grandfather is right. After Fuxi graduates, you two will start planning your wedding. Do you have any other thoughts? No, no, my mind is all on work and playing basketball right now. You know what? I won the All-Star MVP! Did you see it on TV?"

Gan Youwei shook his head. Although he supported his son's basketball dream, he wasn't really interested in basketball and didn't understand it.

"You spend all day running around, jumping and hitting with a bunch of dark, lumpy balls of coal, just trying to put that ball in the basket, getting all sweaty and smelly. I worry about you all the time. What if you get injured, break your leg, or something goes wrong? How long can you play like this? I've heard that many players earn a lot while they're playing, but it's a short-lived career, and they go bankrupt after retirement, penniless."

Back then, NBA player salaries weren't high enough, and many players went bankrupt or fell back into poverty after retiring.

Even though player salaries later skyrocketed and many star players became billionaires, they were still penniless after retirement.

"Dad, I'm not like those players. I won't do that. Don't worry."

"If you want me to rest assured, firstly, learn the recipes from the Gan family cookbook; secondly, get married and have children as soon as possible so you'll have someone to rely on when you're old."

Although Gan Guoyang was impatient and felt a deep sense of estrangement from his father, upon reflection he was moved by Gan Youwei's paternal love, which showed that "parents' love is far-reaching and considerate."

Every year, he teaches Gan Guoyang the Gan family recipes so that his son will have a skill, so that no matter what happens in the future, he will always have something to eat.

As for marriage, having children, and raising children to provide for one's old age, these are traditional Chinese concepts that he can't change in his lifetime.

Gan Youtang then spoke up, saying, "Brother Youwei, you really have no idea what your son's market value is in America. Let me put it this way: he can just casually find a company, knock on the door and say, 'Give me 100,000 yuan, and I'll do an ad for you,' and they'll immediately give him 200,000 US dollars. Then your son can just take a picture, and in a day, he'll have the money. And that's underestimating the situation."

Gan Youtang was not exaggerating, but Gan Youwei remained unmoved, his desire for his son to get married and have children still strong.

Finally, Gan Guoyang agreed that once Wang Fuxi graduated, he would definitely bring her to San Francisco to discuss things properly.

Regarding Gan Guohui's situation, Gan Guoyang offered a suggestion: "How about this, I can buy that house in Pacific Heights outright, and it will be mine. If you get married, you can live there first. Once you've saved enough money, I'll sell it back to you at the price I paid, with just a little tax. If you don't get married, I'll also buy some property in San Francisco to prepare for my father's and my future. We can't let the Japanese buy up all the houses, can we?"

Gan Guoyang's suggestion was approved by the whole family, but Gan Guohui did not show much joy on his face.

After having dinner together in the evening, Gan Guohui and Gan Guoyang cleaned up the dishes together. At home, Gan Guoyang didn't have any of the airs of a star athlete.

Gan Guohui suddenly said to Gan Guoyang, "Brother Guoyang, can I work for you?"

Gan Guoyang was taken aback and said, "What, you want to play basketball?"

"No! I... I want to be your agent, or a bodyguard, or even a secretary, a handyman, or a janitor!"

Gan Guoyang laughed and said, "I'm not a leader, why would I need a servant?"

However, Gan Guoyang noticed that Gan Guohui had a somber expression throughout the family gathering.

Even after Gan Guoyang suggested that they could buy the house first, he was still unhappy.

Everyone has grown up, but the passion and joy of youth seem to have disappeared.

After tidying up the table, Gan Guoyang pulled up a chair and sat down, saying, "Tell me what you're thinking, and I'll think about it carefully. I'll help you, but first you need to have your own ideas, not try to escape something. People who run away can't do things well, and I don't need people who can't do things well around me."

(End of this chapter)