Chapter 261: Uncle Nine Becomes the Clan Chief

Chapter 261: Uncle Nine Becomes the Clan Chief

At the same time, in Naye Village.

Deng Shirong handed a heavy burlap sack to his nephew-in-law, saying, "Ahu, this bag contains pork, braised pork, squid, sandworms, vermicelli, black fungus, brown sugar, red dates, sunflower seeds, and sweets. They’re all packed separately. Take it home for the New Year."

Jiang Dehu took the sack with a beaming smile and thanked him, "Thank you, Uncle!"

Deng Shirong then pulled out a large red envelope from his pocket, which contained thirty crisp bills, and handed it to his niece, saying, "Dafang, you and Ahu have worked hard this year. This is your New Year’s red envelope from Uncle."

This year, his niece and her husband had diligently managed his orchard, leading to a bountiful harvest of lychees and watermelons, which sold for over six thousand yuan.

Initially, Deng Shirong had wanted to guide them towards a path that would allow them to earn more money and live a better life, but they had no ambitions and were content with the monthly salary they received from helping their uncle.

Since they were happy with their current situation, Deng Shirong didn’t force them and certainly wouldn’t neglect them.

Bu Dafang accepted the red envelope without hesitation, saying happily, "Thank you, Uncle!"

Deng Yuntao chimed in, "Sister, Brother-in-law, it’s quite a distance for you to walk back. Ahzhen and I will take you home."

"Alright, Uncle, we’ll head back then!"

"Okay!"

...

About forty minutes later, Bu Dafang and Jiang Dehu returned home.

As soon as they got off the bike, Bu Dafang called out, "Big Cousin, Little Cousin, come in and sit for a while."

Deng Yuntao smiled, "No need, Sister, we’re heading back."

Jiang Dehu also invited them, "You rarely come here, stay for dinner before you leave."

Deng Yunzhen also smiled, "Brother-in-law, don’t trouble yourselves. You haven’t been back in a while, and there’s a lot to do at home. We’ll just see the kids and go."

As they spoke, the people inside the house heard the commotion and came out.

Jiang’s father, mother, older brother, sister-in-law, younger sister, and Bu Dafang’s two children all came out.

Jiang Dehu quickly introduced them, "Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Sister-in-law, Younger Sister, these are Ahfang’s uncle’s nephew and niece. They rode their bikes to bring us back."

After the introductions, Jiang’s mother warmly invited them in, "Cousin, Cousin, come inside and warm up by the fire."

She had not been particularly fond of Bu Dafang, her second daughter-in-law, in the past. However, since Bu Dafang started helping her uncle manage the orchard and gave her younger daughter ten yuan every month to help with childcare, her opinion had gradually changed.

After all, whether in the present or the future, those who earn money naturally gain more say in the household.

She also knew a bit about the conditions of these cousins, so naturally, she wanted to treat them well since they rarely visited.

Deng Yuntao and Deng Yunzhen politely declined with smiles. After a bit of back-and-forth, the siblings left on their bikes.

Once the guests were gone, Jiang’s sister-in-law curiously asked, "Dafang, what’s in that big bag?"

Bu Dafang’s face was full of smiles as she replied, "This is some New Year’s goods my uncle prepared for me. I’ll take some over to you later."

"This is too much trouble!"

Jiang’s sister-in-law said this politely, but her eyes never left the burlap sack. She was eager to peek inside and see what her wealthy uncle had prepared, filling the entire bag.

Bu Dafang responded and then carried the bag to her room, saying to her sister-in-law, "Aifeng, come in for a moment. I need to talk to you."

Jiang Defeng agreed and followed her sister-in-law into the room.

As for the two children, their father had already taken them out to play.

Once inside, Bu Dafang casually placed the bag down and pulled out twenty yuan from her pocket, handing it to her sister-in-law, "Aifeng, take this money. Ten yuan is for childcare expenses, and the other ten is for the New Year."

Jiang Defeng felt a bit embarrassed and said, "Sister-in-law, ten yuan is enough."

Bu Dafang pushed the money into her sister-in-law’s hand, saying, "Take it. Don’t think I don’t know that most of the ten yuan I give you each month doesn’t actually end up in your hands. The extra ten yuan I’m giving you now, don’t tell Mom and Dad. Keep it secret and save it. You’re a grown girl now, and you need some money of your own."

In this family, only her sister-in-law was decent. The rest weren’t worth the effort, but as long as they got along on the surface, it was fine.

Seeing her sister-in-law speak so frankly, Jiang Defeng accepted the money and said, "Thank you, Sister-in-law."

Next, Bu Dafang inquired about the two children.

The sisters-in-law chatted for about ten minutes before Bu Dafang opened the bag and took out some of the New Year’s goods to give to her sister-in-law to take back for her mother-in-law. She also took some to give to her sister-in-law.

Of course, she only gave a piece of pork and some vermicelli, black fungus, red dates, sunflower seeds, and sweets. She wouldn’t be foolish enough to give away the premium items like sandworms and squid, and she kept all the braised pork and brown sugar for herself.

Even so, these gifts were still impressive. Didn't you see how Jiang Daisao's lips kept curling upward when she received them? No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop smiling.

...

Before they knew it, it was New Year's Eve.

In the morning, every household in Naye Village began slaughtering chickens for the New Year.

In previous years, even on New Year's Eve, not every family could afford to kill a chicken for the celebration.

After all, if you killed a chicken for the New Year, would you kill another one to entertain your relatives on the second day of the New Year?

Most families only had a few chickens, and they were mostly hens that laid eggs. Killing one was already heart-wrenching, let alone two. Very few families could afford to do so.

Therefore, in those years, many families didn't kill chickens for the New Year. They would wait until their relatives came on the second day, so they could save face in front of their guests.

However, in the past two years, with the relaxation of policies, the number of chickens and ducks raised by each household had increased at least several times. Slaughtering a chicken on New Year's Eve was no longer a burden for most families in the village.

The Deng family no longer raised chickens or ducks, but Deng Shirong had warned the villagers in advance, ensuring that the oxen of the entire Bangjie Brigade were safe from harm. Many families also avoided planting sweet potatoes, thus averting significant economic losses.

Grateful to Deng Shirong, the villagers sent him a variety of local specialties, including chickens and ducks.

Therefore, even though the Deng family didn't raise chickens or ducks, they had more than enough to eat this year.

After paying respects to their ancestors, Deng Shirong took charge of the kitchen, with Deng Yunzhen assisting him. Deng YunTai and Deng Yunzhu put up the Spring Festival couplets, while Zhang Xiuping gave little Dong'er a bath. Deng YunSong, Deng YunHua, and Deng YunHeng were busy bathing and changing into new clothes.

Around one in the afternoon, the New Year's Eve dinner at the Deng family's home began.

Before the meal, as the head of the family, Deng Shirong naturally had a few words to say: "This year, everything has gone smoothly for us. We opened a large restaurant in the county, and business has been quite good. I believe it will only get better in the future.

In terms of studies, YunSong has consistently held the top spot in his grade. As long as he performs steadily on the high school entrance exam next year, he can attend any school, whether it's a vocational college or the best high school in the city.

YunHeng has also done well, maintaining a top position in his class.

This year is already set, and I hope you all continue to work hard so that our family can thrive even more."

Held by her mother, little Dong'er chimed in, "Thrive!"

Everyone burst into laughter, and the New Year's Eve dinner officially began amidst the joyous chatter.

In the future, no family would lack food or drink during the New Year, but what they would lack were drinking buddies to enjoy the festivities with.

Therefore, in the future, during the New Year's Eve dinner in Naye Village, it was common for people to visit each other's homes, drinking a few cups here and a few cups there. They would stay wherever the atmosphere was best and the drinks were flowing freely.

But in this era, it was impossible for anyone to visit during the New Year's Eve dinner. Although life had improved slightly for most families in recent years, the majority were still poor. Who would have the nerve to visit and drink at others' homes?

During the dinner, Deng YunTai, Zhang Xiuping, and Deng Yunzhen all drank quite a bit with their father.

As for Deng Yunzhu and the others, although they wanted to drink, they were still underage. Deng Shirong naturally wouldn't let them, so they had to settle for drinks instead.

After the New Year's Eve dinner, it was around three in the afternoon.

The family gathered around the fireplace again, and Deng Shirong gave each of them a red envelope. He then said, "Make sure you're all ready tonight. The Central Television will be broadcasting the Spring Festival Gala, a new program to accompany the nation during the New Year. It should be quite entertaining."

Deng Yunzhen asked, "Dad, what is this Spring Festival Gala?"

The other children and their spouses also looked puzzled. In the future, everyone knew what the Spring Festival Gala was, but in this era, the concept was still unknown, and they couldn't imagine what it would be like.

Deng Shirong smiled and explained, "It should be a mix of singing, dancing, skits, crosstalk, and drama. I'm not sure about the details, but we'll see tonight."

Hearing this, the children and their spouses all felt a sense of anticipation. Even if nothing else, the singing and dancing alone would be enough to draw them in.

...

Around five or six in the afternoon, the villagers who had nothing to do started bringing their stools over to secure spots for the TV viewing.

Among the first to arrive were the families of Ouguo Fang, Ouguo Hua, and Guan Yongying. Zhang Xiuping, having heard from her father-in-law about the Spring Festival Gala, had specifically gone to tell her friends to come early and secure spots.

Once the stools were in place, there was no need for the people to sit there continuously.

So, after the villagers arrived, they all gathered around the Deng family's fireplace to chat and warm themselves until the TV program started.

In the midst of casual conversation, someone asked, "Old Ninth, do you think the weather will warm up anytime soon?"

The others nodded in agreement, all of them eager to know when this strange weather would finally end.

Deng Shirong said, "I can't say exactly when it will end, but I think it will only start to warm up after spring arrives."

Deng Yunkun, looking a bit worried, added, "We ordered the lychee saplings from Lingshan County back in June and July. I hope they haven't been damaged or killed by the cold. And with this weather, planting them now would be disastrous. We'll have to wait until it warms up."

Both Deng Shirong and his son were well-known for their honesty in Naye Village. When Deng Shirong's family was developing their orchard, they had asked the father and two sons for help.

This year, everyone in the village had seen Uncle Jiu and Deng Yunqiang's lychee orchards yield a bountiful harvest, earning them a significant amount of money. Inspired by this, the entire village wanted to follow suit. Deng Yunkun, not wanting to fall behind, joined others in ordering enough lychee saplings from Lingshan County.

It's worth noting that while Captain Deng Yunjun and his group had acted earlier, they had spent several months clearing the land for their orchard. When they went to the credit union for a loan, some of the villagers who had initially been enthusiastic became hesitant.

After some discussion, they decided it wasn't worth rushing and opted to wait and see how Uncle Jiu and Deng Yunqiang's lychee trees performed before deciding whether to take out a loan for the saplings.

As a result, those who had initially wanted to follow the trend didn't plant the lychee trees right away.

This decision left them both regretful and relieved.

They regretted not planting the lychee trees when they had the chance, especially after seeing Uncle Jiu and Deng Yunqiang's orchards yield over a thousand yuan, which was a staggering amount. After all, planting a year earlier would have meant harvesting a year earlier.

However, the unusually cold weather this year brought them a sense of relief. If they had planted the lychee trees this year, the extreme cold could have damaged or killed the young saplings, leading to significant losses.

Those who had backed out couldn't help but boast about their foresight, feeling quite smug in front of their fellow villagers.

But now, in June and July, the entire village was no longer hesitant. They sent representatives to Lingshan County to order enough lychee saplings, planning to plant them in the spring of the following year.

However, with the current extreme weather, they were unsure if the saplings in Lingshan County had been affected.

Deng Shirong reassured them, "Don't worry. The XinGuang Farm has some very capable experts. Even if the weather there is as bad as it is here, they should be able to protect the lychee trees and nurture the saplings.

"When spring comes, you can send someone to talk to them and ask to delay the delivery of the saplings. I'm sure they will understand."

Deng Yunkun breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's good to hear. As long as the saplings are fine, we can bring them back and plant them when the weather warms up."

After discussing the lychee trees, the conversation shifted to the news of a neighboring commune where not only the oxen but also people had been frozen to death.

"I heard about this from my uncle a while ago. That family was already poor, with only a few thin blankets to keep them warm. They usually survived the winter by toughing it out, but this year was especially cold. The person was also sick, which only made things worse. They didn't make it through the night."

"Such tragedies were common twenty years ago. Back then, which village didn't have people dying from hunger or the cold? But in recent years, such incidents have become rare."

"Mainly because of the illness. If they hadn't been sick, they might have survived."

"This year's weather is truly bizarre..."

"..."

As they discussed the deaths caused by the cold, Deng Shirong wasn't surprised. While living conditions had improved compared to the past, many families were still struggling with poverty. The only bright spot was that they had enough to eat, unlike the difficult times when hunger was a constant threat.

But clothing, housing, and transportation were still major challenges.

For clothing, a local saying captured the situation well: "Three taels of rice, morning to night; three feet of cloth, a pair of pants and a shirt."

This meant that three taels of rice had to last a whole day, and three feet of cloth had to make a complete set of clothes. Without money for new clothes, it was common to wear garments until they were more patches than fabric.

For housing, most rural homes were made of mud bricks, with a few of the poorest families still living in thatched huts. The living conditions were far from ideal. Many families couldn't afford new straw mats and had to use newspapers as bedding. They only had a few thin blankets and had to sleep fully clothed to stay warm.

For transportation, bicycles were still a luxury. Only a few well-off families could afford them, and most people still walked everywhere.

In his previous life, up until the 1990s, many families in Naye Village still faced significant hardships.

However, in this life, thanks to Deng Shirong's influence, the situation is expected to change dramatically. Without a doubt, once the entire village plants the Guiwei lychee trees next year, the income from the orchards alone should be enough to lift them out of poverty.

Soon, more and more people gathered to watch the television.

It was New Year's Eve, and Deng Shirong didn't wait until 6:30 PM to turn on the TV. He switched it on early and tuned it to the Central Television channel, so the villagers could start watching.

Remarkably, the Party Secretary of Bangjie Brigade, Deng Shian, also came to Deng Shirong's house to watch the TV tonight.

In the current Bangjie Brigade, in terms of personal prestige, Deng Shian, the Brigade Secretary, was the only one who could be mentioned in the same breath as Deng Shirong.

The two were of the same generation, but Deng Shian was already over sixty, more than a decade older than Deng Shirong. Having served as the Brigade Secretary for many years and being the head of the Naye Deng clan (which is what the clan leader is called locally), his prestige was unparalleled.

In his previous life, Deng Shirong's prestige in Bangjie Brigade couldn't compare to this old man. It was only in this life, after Deng Shirong's rebirth and his achievements far surpassing those of his previous life, and after he issued early warnings to minimize everyone's losses this year, that his personal prestige caught up with Deng Shian's, and even began to surpass it.

"Secretary!"

"Happy New Year, Secretary!"

"Secretary, there's a seat here, come sit down."

"..."

Seeing the Brigade Secretary arrive, everyone greeted him warmly.

Deng Shian nodded to each of them and said, "You all keep watching, I'll warm myself by the fire for a bit and join you later."

The fire in Deng Shirong's house was lit inside the room. If this were a modern building, the ceiling would be blackened by smoke. But his house had a tiled roof, so it was not affected by the smoke. The fire burned safely indoors, protected from the wind, ensuring that everyone stayed warm without the discomfort of being hot in front and cold in the back.

At the moment, everyone was engrossed in the TV, and Deng Shirong was the only one by the fire.

When Deng Shian sat down, they exchanged a few pleasantries before the Brigade Secretary asked a question that left Deng Shirong very surprised: "Old Nine, have you ever thought about becoming the Brigade Secretary?"

Deng Shirong was taken aback and asked, "Secretary, why would you ask that? You're doing a fine job as the Secretary."

Deng Shian sighed, "I'm over sixty, and my health is declining day by day. I might not wake up one day. If there's no suitable successor, I'll have to keep the position for a couple more years. But now that we have you as a suitable candidate, if you're willing to take the role, I'll speak with the commune leaders and pass the position to you."

Deng Shirong waved his hands, "Secretary, thank you for your trust, but I'm really not cut out for the role of Brigade Secretary. You should continue for a few more years."

Deng Shian said, "Why do you think you're not suitable? You have high prestige in the brigade and the trust of the people. You're generous and willing to lead everyone out of poverty. No one in the entire Bangjie Brigade is more suitable for the role than you."

Deng Shirong replied, "The main issue is that becoming the Brigade Secretary means becoming a government official, which comes with many restrictions. I wouldn't be able to do things as freely as I do now. So, I really don't want to take on that role."

Seeing that Deng Shirong was genuinely not interested, Deng Shian sighed, "Alright, if you don't want the role, then so be it. But you can't refuse to be the head of our Naye Deng clan."

"This..."

Deng Shian interrupted, "Old Nine, don't be so hesitant. Who else in our Naye Deng clan has the qualifications to be the head?"

Deng Shirong said helplessly, "Secretary, you're really putting me in a difficult position!"

Deng Shian laughed, "There's no other way. You're the most suitable candidate. If I push someone else into the role, they wouldn't have the authority to lead the clan."

That was true. Anyone who became the clan head was usually chosen from the most respected members of the clan. If someone with insufficient prestige were to take the position, they would only be laughed at and not taken seriously.

With the matter put this way, Deng Shirong couldn't refuse any longer. Being the clan head was mostly a nominal position, and there weren't many real responsibilities. He nodded and said, "Alright, I'll take it."

Deng Shian was delighted, "With you leading our Naye Deng clan, I believe we will only get better. After the New Year, I'll find a time to gather the clan members to discuss this. Given your prestige, everyone will be happy to have you as the clan head, and no one will oppose it."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end