Returning To 1980 To Enjoy Prosperity Chapter 177: Heading to the Capital - Novel Cool

Chapter 177: Heading to the Capital

Chapter 177: Heading to the Capital

Before they knew it, summer vacation had come to an end.

Elementary and middle school students returned to their campuses, and Deng Yunheng, the soon-to-be college student, was about to report to his university.

On this day, after having breakfast at home, Deng Yunheng prepared to leave for the capital, BJ, under his father’s watchful eye.

Zhang Xiuping pulled out a red envelope and handed it to her brother-in-law, saying, "Yunheng, this is a little pocket money from your aunt. Make sure to study hard when you get to school."

Being family, Deng Yunheng didn’t hesitate and smiled as he accepted the envelope, "Understood, thank you, Auntie!"

Deng Yuntai patted his brother’s shoulder and said, "Yunheng, you’re the first college student from our village. Everyone looks up to you as a role model. Don’t slack off in college. Keep up the same intensity you had during the college entrance exams and aim to be a top student at Peking University."

Deng Yunheng responded with a confident grin, "Big Brother, just watch. Even among the geniuses at Peking University, I’ll stand out and be the brightest star."

Deng Yuntai praised him, "Ambitious! That’s the spirit!"

Deng Yunzhen reminded him, "Yunheng, if you need clothes or socks when you get to school, write back, and I’ll send them to you."

Deng Yunheng nodded, "Got it, Sister!"

Deng Yunzhu added, "Second Brother, remember to send us some photos when you get to BJ."

Deng Yunheng laughed, "Sure, I’ll remember."

Deng Yunsong, full of determination, said, "Second Brother, you go ahead and pave the way at Peking University. I’ll follow in your footsteps."

Deng Yunheng patted his shoulder, "Good kid, you’ve got the spirit of your second brother. I’ll be waiting for you at Peking University."

Deng Yunhua blinked and said, "Second Brother, if you come back for the New Year, bring us some goodies."

Deng Yunheng’s younger brother, Deng Yunheng, quickly chimed in, "Preferably something we can’t get here, so we can show it off to our friends and make them jealous."

Deng Yunheng chuckled, "Alright, if I come back for the New Year, I’ll bring you all some treats."

Uncle Budaifang, Jiang Dehu, and Uncle Budashi also offered their best wishes.

Seeing that everyone had said their goodbyes, Deng Shirong said, "Alright, it’s getting late. Let’s get going!"

Deng Yunheng responded and picked up the new suitcase his father had bought for him, which was filled with clothes and socks. He also slung over his shoulder a bundle of new winter clothes, while his father carried a large mesh bag containing other miscellaneous items.

To get to BJ, they first needed to take a bus to Nanning from Tanlian Intersection and then catch a train to BJ.

The distance from their home to Tanlian Intersection was over ten kilometers, and walking was out of the question. The two bicycles at home would come in handy.

So, Deng Yuntai rode one bicycle with Deng Yunheng, and Deng Shirong rode the other with Deng Yunzhen. The four of them set off for Tanlian Intersection together.

...

An hour and a half later, Deng Shirong and his son boarded the bus to Nanning.

Even with modern transportation, the journey from Tanlian Intersection to Nanning took over three hours, and in those days, it was even longer. By the time they arrived in Nanning, it was already past four in the afternoon.

In his previous life, Deng Shirong was no stranger to Nanning. His third son had worked in the county for about twenty years before being transferred to Nanning, where he worked until retirement.

When his third son first settled in Nanning, he had invited Deng Shirong to stay for a few months. During that time, with nothing much to do, Deng Shirong spent his days exploring the city. With his senior citizen pass, he could ride the bus for free, and over the months, he became quite familiar with the entire city.

Now, revisiting the place, he found that the Nanning of this era paled in comparison to the bustling metropolis he remembered.

Nanning wasn't always so modest. During the Ming Dynasty, it developed into a commercial hub for the Left and Right Rivers, earning the nickname "Little Nanjing."

On the 17th of November, 1906, during the reign of Emperor Guangxu, Nanning was opened as a treaty port. Foreign industrial goods began flooding into the inland regions through Nanning, while local agricultural products and specialties were exported abroad. The city's commerce rapidly expanded, with shops lining the streets and merchants from all over converging, creating a bustling and prosperous scene.

At that time, Nanning was already a thriving metropolis. People from all over the country established their own guilds in Nanning, including the Cantonese Guild, the Xin Hui Guild, the Jiangxi Guild, the Yuzhang Guild, the Fujian Guild, and the Yulin Five Prefectures Guild.

Nanning was thus known as "The Great Metropolis of the South."

Unfortunately, the Japanese invasion during World War II devastated Nanning, and it has never fully recovered since.

However, for Deng Yunheng, Nanning was already a very bustling place. He looked around curiously and asked, "Dad, are we going straight to the train station to catch the train to Beijing?"

Deng Shirong rubbed his belly and said, "After such a long journey, I'm already hungry. Let's find a place to eat first. Once we're full, we'll check the train schedule to Beijing and decide whether we need to stay at a guesthouse overnight."

Hearing this, Deng Yunheng's stomach growled in agreement. He nodded and said, "I'm hungry too. Let's find a place that serves noodles and get a bowl to fill our bellies!"

"Sure, today I'll take you to try Nanning's most famous dish: Laoyou Noodles."

"Laoyou Noodles? That's a funny name. Is it different from the noodles we have back home?"

"Of course it's different. Laoyou Noodles are made with bamboo shoots, fermented black beans, pickled chili peppers, ginger, garlic, and pork. The flavor is sour and spicy, and it's incredibly appetizing. You'll see once you try it."

"You're making me even hungrier. Let's go eat!"

...

Half an hour later.

Deng Yunheng couldn't resist the bowl of Laoyou Noodles in front of him, which was a feast for the eyes, nose, and taste buds. He eagerly took a bite, and the unique flavor instantly won him over. He couldn't care less about the heat, quickly blowing on the noodles before shoving them into his mouth, looking as eager as Zhu Bajie eating a ginseng fruit.

Deng Shirong hadn't had Laoyou Noodles in a long time and was equally hungry. Although he wasn't as rushed as his second son, he ate the noodles at a rapid pace.

In less than five minutes, the father and son had finished their two large bowls of Laoyou Noodles, sweating profusely and feeling incredibly satisfied.

The human stomach is a curious thing. Being full doesn't always mean being comfortable. For example, people in the south are used to eating rice and rice noodles. If they suddenly switch to bread or steamed buns, they can still feel full, but their stomachs won't feel quite right.

It's different with rice and rice noodles, which provide a solid, comfortable feeling.

Deng Shirong took out two towels from his net bag and handed one to his second son, saying, "Wipe your sweat quickly. Don't catch a cold from the dampness."

Deng Yunheng wiped his sweat and sighed, "I never thought there could be such delicious noodles. This is really eye-opening!"

Deng Shirong smiled, "Our country has thousands of years of culinary tradition, and there are many delicious rice noodles. Just in Guangxi alone, there are over a dozen different flavors, and Laoyou Noodles are just one of them."

Deng Yunheng said with anticipation, "In the future, I want to try all of them."

(End of Chapter)

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