Chapter 259: Year-End Bonus [6000 Words]

Chapter 259: Year-End Bonus [6000 Words]



As the twelfth month of the lunar calendar approached, the weather turned increasingly cold. According to Deng Shirong's estimate, the lowest temperature could easily drop to zero degrees Celsius.

In most parts of the country, such a low temperature was not a big deal, but in Baise, such cold weather was quite rare.

One day, while Deng Shirong was warming himself by the fire at home, A-Zhang-Qi, who had given birth to five daughters in a row, came over with a cloth bag, smiling and said, "Grandpa Jiu, my mother gave me some peanuts. I thought I'd bring them over for you to enjoy with your drinks."

Deng Shirong waved his hand and said, "That’s thoughtful of you, but I have everything I need at home. You should take these peanuts back and enjoy them yourself."

A-Zhang-Qi placed the cloth bag on a nearby stool and sat down, warming herself by the fire. "Grandpa Jiu, I know you don’t lack anything, but peanuts are a great snack to have with drinks. If I take them back, I’ll just cook them for a quick snack. It’s better to bring them to you."

Deng Shirong knew she still remembered his kindness. When she had given birth to her fifth daughter, her mother-in-law hadn’t even cooked her a proper meal. It was Deng Shirong who had cooked a large bowl of nourishing red sugar and egg soup for her, which his eldest daughter had delivered. He had also scolded her mother-in-law, which had somewhat improved her treatment.

Three months ago, she finally gave birth to a son, significantly raising her status in the family.

"Alright, I’ll take them," Deng Shirong said without further ado. He knew he could give her something in return when she left.

Seeing that Grandpa Jiu was willing to accept the peanuts, A-Zhang-Qi’s face lit up with a smile.

They began to chat about everyday matters. Deng Shirong asked, "A-Zhang-Qi, I heard you were taken to the hospital for sterilization last month?"

A-Zhang-Qi sighed, "Yes, I was sterilized. Now, I can’t even hope to have another son."

Deng Shirong comforted her, "We’re lucky here. In other places, they don’t care about gender and would have sterilized you long ago. Here, they at least waited until you had a son before taking you in. That’s showing some consideration."

A-Zhang-Qi, who had been taken to the county hospital for sterilization, understood the situation and nodded. "You’re right. One should be content. Having one son is better than none."

Deng Shirong said, "Having an heir is what matters. With five daughters, your life will likely be better than most in the village."

A-Zhang-Qi laughed, "I wouldn’t dare to think so highly. Once a daughter marries, she’s like water spilled on the ground. If they don’t bring anything back home, that’s already a good thing."

Deng Shirong replied, "In this era, daughters can’t take care of their parents, but in the future, who knows? If one of your daughters marries well, your life in your old age will be secure."

A-Zhang-Qi sighed, "If only that day would come."

Deng Shirong poked the glowing logs with a fire poker and asked, "By the way, how many children did you have over the limit, and how much are you being fined?"

A-Zhang-Qi shrugged and said, "If they really fined me, it would be at least several thousand. But you know our situation, Grandpa Jiu. Where would we get that kind of money? I told them, ‘No money, but I have a life. Take whatever you want from my home.’”

"Maybe because I was sterilized, and we really don’t have anything valuable, they didn’t do much. The matter was dropped."

Deng Shirong wasn’t surprised. In other parts of the country, the enforcement was much stricter, but here, for various reasons, things weren’t as severe. They were all neighbors, and people generally didn’t go to extremes.

After all, Baise was known for its fierce and proud people. If pushed too far, they could do anything.

After chatting for about ten minutes, A-Zhang-Qi got up. "Grandpa Jiu, I need to go back. The children will wake up and need to eat soon!"

"Wait a moment."

Deng Shirong picked up the bag of peanuts from the stool, went to his room, and poured out the peanuts. He then added about a pound of red sugar and a pound of longan meat to the bag. He walked out and handed it to her, saying, "I noticed you look a bit weak. Here’s some red sugar and longan meat. Take them to nourish your body."

A-Zhang-Qi waved her hands, "Grandpa Jiu, that’s too valuable. I can’t accept it."

Deng Shirong said, "It’s not worth much. You know I don’t lack these things. I took the peanuts you brought, so you should take what I’m giving you."

As he spoke, he pushed the bag into A-Zhang-Qi’s hands.

Holding the bag, A-Zhang-Qi was almost moved to tears. The few pounds of peanuts she had brought couldn’t compare to the red sugar and longan meat. She had come to thank Grandpa Jiu, but instead, she had received a much more valuable gift.

"Thank you, Grandpa Jiu!"

"You’re welcome. Go back and take care of the children."

"Okay!"

A-Zhang-Qi didn’t say anything more. She clutched the bag tightly, deeply grateful for Grandpa Jiu’s kindness.

Capital City

In a corner of a cafeteria at a prestigious university in Beijing, members of the Guangxi Alumni Association gathered for a meal.

Every year, just before the school break, the Guangxi Alumni Association would organize a dinner to catch up and exchange information about their plans to return home. Those who needed to go back for the New Year would travel together, providing mutual support along the way.

For those who didn't plan to return home, they would gather and celebrate the New Year at school, ensuring no one felt lonely.

Deng Yunheng, along with Song Yu, Zhao Changzheng, Chong Feilong, Sun Baoguo, and Lin Jianjun, had already decided to stay in Beijing for the New Year. Several other Guangxi alumni also expressed their intention to stay, bringing the total to over ten people.

Currently, there were 27 Guangxi alumni at the university, with roughly half planning to return home and the other half staying in Beijing for the New Year.

Those who planned to return home sat together, discussing their travel arrangements. Those staying in Beijing also gathered to plan how they would spend the holiday.

Among the dozen or so people, there were only three girls: Song Yu from Bobai, Liu Xiaoman from Guilin, and Ding Qiulan from Liuzhou.

Song Yu, the best-off among the three girls, was known for her strong social skills and could easily blend in with the boys.

Liu Xiaoman, a freshman at the university, was the most attractive and well-figured of the three.

Ding Qiulan, with an ordinary appearance and family background, was the most hardworking of the three.

When the topic turned to how they would spend the New Year in Beijing, Deng Yunheng looked at Song Yu and said, "Sister Song, you're a girl and have been at school the longest. Why don't you share your thoughts first? It would be a great reference for everyone."

Song Yu, unfazed, spoke confidently, "As the great leader once said, 'He who does not reach the Great Wall is not a true man.' A few of us have been to the Great Wall during the summer, but I've heard that the snow scenery there is a rare and beautiful sight. I'd like to go see the snow this year. What do you think?"

Liu Xiaoman's eyes lit up, and she said, "Sister Song, that's a great idea! Visiting the Great Wall in the snow sounds so romantic. Count me in."

Ding Qiulan, naturally drawn to such romance, couldn't afford to join and could only sigh silently to herself.

Seeing that the two girls were interested, the boys naturally didn't want to spoil the mood and one by one voiced their support.

Chong Feilong praised, "Sister Song, your idea is brilliant! Visiting the Great Wall in the snow sounds like a lot of fun. Count me in."

Lin Jianjun added, "I've always wanted to visit the Great Wall. Sister Song's suggestion is right up my alley. I'm in, too."

Sun Baoguo laughed, "How could I miss out on such a fun event?"

The other alumni also showed their support.

In the end, only Ding Qiulan, Zhao Changzheng, and Deng Yunheng had not spoken.

As the president of the Guangxi Alumni Association, Zhao Changzheng was a skilled socialite with keen observational skills. He knew that Ding Qiulan came from a modest background, so when he saw her remain silent, he guessed the reason.

Deng Yunheng, guided by his father, had been actively building his social network over the past year and a half, honing his social and observational skills. He also noticed the situation.

The two exchanged a glance and reached a silent agreement.

Zhao Changzheng then said, "Everyone, hold on a moment. Visiting the Great Wall in the snow isn't easy. As far as I know, the Badaling section of the Great Wall is several dozen kilometers from our school. Whether it's snowing heavily or just after a snowfall, the buses won't run. By the time they do, we might miss the beautiful snow scenery.

"So, if we really want to see the snow at the Great Wall, we need to arrive early and wait nearby. That means we need to figure out where to eat and stay first.

"Give me some time to ask local classmates for recommendations. Once I have the details, I'll let you know."

Deng Yunheng added, "President, go ahead and ask. The boys will cover the costs for food and lodging. The three girls only need to bring their appetites."

Lin Jianjun immediately chimed in, "Agreed. Please do us the honor, girls."

Unless someone was truly struggling or naturally stingy, boys would generally be generous in front of girls.

Thus, everyone quickly echoed their support.

Song Yu, quick on her feet, understood the key point and cooperated, "Alright, I won't be shy. Thank you, all you generous boys."

Liu Xiaoman also thanked them with a smile.

Ding Qiulan, a thoughtful girl, guessed that the president and Deng Yunheng were looking out for her. With the other two girls already thanking the boys, she knew she had to speak up to avoid being left out.

So, Ding Qiulan thanked them sincerely.

Seeing this, Zhao Changzheng and Deng Yunheng exchanged another glance, both pleased with the outcome.

...

“Auntie!”

At Shufeng Restaurant, Xiaodong'er waved her little hands and wobbled over to her aunt, Deng Yunzhen.

Xiaodong'er was already one year and two months old, and she had long since learned to walk and talk. However, the cold weather meant she was bundled up tightly from head to toe, making her waddle unsteadily.

Deng Yunzhen opened her arms and picked up the little girl, smiling as she asked, "Xiaodong'er, we’ll be going home for the New Year soon. Do you miss Grandpa?"

Xiaodong'er didn’t quite understand what “going home for the New Year” meant, but she clearly understood the last part. She replied in her cute little voice, "Miss Grandpa!"

Deng Yunzhen laughed heartily. "Looks like Grandpa hasn’t spoiled you for nothing."

The best age for children is between one and three, and Xiaodong'er was right in the middle of her cutest phase. She was the restaurant’s little joy, and everyone loved to play with her when they had free time.

After playing with her niece for a while, Deng Yunzhen carried her over to her brother and sister-in-law and asked, "Brother, Sister-in-law, the students are on break now, and the New Year is just over ten days away. When are we closing the restaurant to go home for the New Year?"

Deng Yuntai pondered for a moment and said, "With the New Year approaching, everyone is busy, and fewer people are coming to the restaurant. I don’t think it’s necessary to stay open. How about we close tomorrow and go home for the New Year? What do you think, Ping?"

Zhang Xiuping nodded. "That’s fine. I’ll do the calculations and distribute everyone’s salaries and year-end bonuses. We should also set a date for when we’ll start working again next year."

Deng Yunzhen added, "During the New Year, everyone will be visiting relatives, so no one will come to the restaurant. It’s better to wait until after the fifteenth to reopen."

Zhang Xiuping laughed. "Ahzhen, most people go back to work on the fourth day of the New Year, or the sixth or eighth at the latest. If we wait until after the fifteenth, won’t people think we’re too lazy?"

At that moment, Deng Yuntai was playing with his daughter, so Deng Yunzhen handed Xiaodong'er over to him and said, "Sister-in-law, we’re not being lazy. We’re just not doing something that would be twice the effort for half the result. During the New Year, everyone eats a lot of meat and fish. Except for a few, most people won’t want to eat at a restaurant.

"So, opening early won’t bring much business. It’s better to wait until after the fifteenth, so we can spend more time together as a family."

Zhang Xiuping nodded. "That makes sense. Let’s reopen on the sixteenth of the first month. Brother, is that okay with you?"

Deng Yuntai, holding his daughter, replied, "Sure, whatever you decide is fine."

Zhang Xiuping agreed. "Alright, it’s settled. Ahzhen, go tell everyone. I’ll do the calculations and distribute the salaries and year-end bonuses by the end of today."

Deng Yunzhen nodded and went to inform the employees.

Learning they were getting a break made everyone happy. Whether in the present or the future, taking a break is always a joyous occasion.

Of course, things were a bit different in this era compared to the future. For instance, they didn’t take breaks as early, working right up until New Year’s Eve. But everyone was willing to do so because the longer they worked, the more they earned.

By the afternoon, Zhang Xiuping began distributing the salaries and year-end bonuses.

Salaries were fixed, so there was no issue there.

The year-end bonuses, however, were variable and decided by the bosses.

After discussing with Zhang Xiuping, Deng Yuntai, and Deng Yunzhen, they decided to give everyone an extra month’s salary as a year-end bonus.

However, there was one exception: Old Mr. Zhang Guangzong. His year-end bonus was one hundred yuan, the highest among all employees.

After distributing the salaries and bonuses, Zhang Xiuping smiled and said, "Thank you all for your hard work over the past half-year. Go home and have a happy New Year. We’ll see you back at work on the sixteenth of the first month."

Hearing the return date, the employees were surprised, especially Zhang Guofu, who had worked at a state-owned restaurant before. He asked, surprised, "Boss, did you say the sixteenth? Not the sixth?"

Zhang Xiuping laughed. "That’s right, the sixteenth, not the sixth. The restaurant won’t have much business during the New Year, so we’re giving a longer break. We’ll reopen after the fifteenth."

Zhang Guofu was delighted. "That’s great! When I worked at the state-owned restaurant, I had to rush back to work just a few days after the New Year. It was always so rushed and stressful, and I never really got to enjoy the New Year. Now, I can finally relax and enjoy the holiday at home!"

The others, who didn’t have similar work experiences, didn’t have the same sentiment, but they were all happy to have such a long break and enjoy the New Year at home.

After paying the employees their wages and year-end bonuses, and sharing a meal together, the restaurant officially closed for the holidays. The few remaining ingredients were divided among Zhang Guangzong, Zhang Guofu, Zhang Wenjuan, and Zhang Wenying as a gesture of appreciation.

---

The next day.

Deng Yuntai, Zhang Xiuping, Deng Yunzhen, Xiaodong'er, and relatives like Bu Dashen and Liu Aihong boarded the bus back to their hometown.

In the afternoon, as they neared Shuangwang, Deng Yuntai asked, "Cousins, are you going straight home or stopping by our place first?"

Bu Dashen thought for a moment and replied, "Let's visit Uncle first. I have to return to my in-laws' on the second day of the New Year, so I won't be able to come and pay my respects then."

Deng Yuntai nodded and then turned to the relatives on his mother's side, asking, "Cousins, what about you?"

Chen Bangguo said, "Brother, we'll go home first and visit Uncle on the second day of the New Year."

"Alright, then you three be careful on the way back. See you on the second day!"

"We will, thanks."

---

Nayevillage.

Deng Shirong was sitting by the fire with his four children: Deng Yunzhu, Deng Yunsong, Deng Yunhua, and Deng Yunheng.

School was already on break, and the final exam results were out. Overall, Deng Shirong was very pleased. His third son, who he had the highest hopes for, had consistently ranked first in his grade. If he performed well in next year's high school entrance exam, he would have his pick of any high school or vocational school.

His youngest son was also doing well. Though he hadn't managed to top the class, he consistently ranked among the top few, ensuring he would continue his education.

As for his youngest daughter and fourth son, they were the academic underachievers. Deng Shirong's greatest wish was for them to complete high school, and he didn't have many other expectations.

At that moment, the family was discussing Xiaodong'er.

Deng Yunzhu asked, "Dad, when are Big Brother and Big Sister coming back? It's been so long since I saw Xiaodong'er. She should be able to walk and talk by now, right? I wonder if she still remembers me."

Deng Shirong smiled, "They should be back in a few days. Xiaodong'er hasn't seen you in a whole semester. She was so little back then; she probably doesn't remember you at all."

Deng Yunzhu said, "When she gets back, I'll spend more time with her so she doesn't forget me."

Deng Yunheng immediately chimed in, "Sis, don't you dare try to steal Xiaodong'er from me. When she comes back, I'll catch some fighting beetles for her. She'll love it."

Deng Yunzhu rolled her eyes at her younger brother, "That's something boys like to play with. Girls don't enjoy that, especially not a little girl like Xiaodong'er. She's too young to understand fighting beetles. You're just being silly."

Deng Yunhua laughed, "Xiaodong'er is too young to understand fighting beetles. It would be better to play with a slingshot or show her how to skip stones on the water!"

Deng Shirong quickly interjected, "You can play with her, but don't take her to the riverside or the pond. She's too young and doesn't understand the dangers. Got it?"

"Got it... Hey, Xiaodong'er is back!"

"It's really Big Brother and Big Sister!"

"..."

The siblings rushed out of the house, eager to greet their brother and sister-in-law, and more importantly, their little niece.

"Father!"

"Father!"

"Uncle!"

Deng Yuntai and the others greeted their father (uncle) as they entered the house.

Deng Shirong smiled, "I expected you back these days. Dashen, Liu Mei, you can stay with Uncle tonight and go home tomorrow. I've been saving some honeycomb from the village kids who brought it over a few days ago. I haven't eaten it yet!"

"Great, we'll have a treat!"

Bu Dashen said to his wife, "Liu Mei, you don't know how good Uncle's fried bee larvae are. We're in for a treat."

Liu Aihong beamed, "That's wonderful!"

Deng Shirong said, "Alright, it's cold outside. Put your bags down and come sit by the fire. I'll prepare some good dishes, and we'll have a drink tonight."

Deng Yunzhen offered, "Father, I'll help you."

Bu Dashen added, "Uncle, you can fry the bee larvae, but let me handle the rest."

Deng Shirong waved them off, "No need. You just got back and must be tired from the journey. Sit by the fire and wait for your meal."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end