Chapter 265: Full of Dignity [6000 Words]

Chapter 265: Full of Dignity [6000 Words]



The Zhang family's trip to the county town didn’t last long.

The eldest brother and sister-in-law, along with the second brother and sister-in-law, stayed for only two days before hurrying back to their business. They had come up on the 18th of the first lunar month and planned to return on the 20th to catch the Longtan Market on the 21st.

Their shop usually didn’t see much business, but market days were always bustling. Closing for a day or two was fine, but they definitely needed to be open on market days to both earn more money and build a loyal customer base. After all, if a customer came specifically to their shop on market day and found it closed, it would be a wasted trip, leading to a poor shopping experience.

It might not matter much once or twice, but if it happened often, customers would likely stop coming altogether.

After the eldest and second brother and sister-in-law left, Zhang’s parents stayed with their grandchildren and the two younger sons for three more days before returning home.

...

People’s Cinema.

A movie had just ended, and the audience was walking out, still discussing the plot.

Suddenly, shouts of anger erupted from inside the cinema:

"Damn it!"

"Who dares to poke the star!"

"Fall down!"

"Get lost!"

"..."

Then, a group of young toughs burst out of the cinema, chasing and fighting each other. They were vicious, and the other moviegoers quickly scattered.

Spencer Deng and Xiuping Zhang, who were standing across the street, witnessed the entire scene.

They had seen such fights over a dozen times since last year.

Xiuping sighed, "No wonder Dad always tells us not to go out unless it’s necessary, and even then, never alone. The county town is really different from our village; it’s quite chaotic."

The countryside of Baise in the early 1980s was still relatively peaceful, but by the late 1980s and 1990s, it was much the same everywhere.

Spencer replied, "As long as we have Grandpa Zhang’s protection and we behave ourselves, we shouldn’t get into trouble. No matter how chaotic it gets, it won’t affect us."

As they spoke, the fight quickly moved to a different location. The outnumbered side retreated strategically, while the larger group pursued them, disappearing from sight.

If Shirong Deng had seen this, he would have thought that the end was near for these young toughs. The most severe and largest-scale crackdown on criminal activities that threatened public security since the founding of the People's Republic of China was about to begin.

Suddenly, Xiuping felt a wave of nausea and rushed into the nearby restroom.

Spencer was alarmed and followed her, asking anxiously, "Ping, what’s wrong? Where does it hurt?"

Xiuping gagged a few times but couldn’t bring anything up. Once she caught her breath, she said, "I don’t know, I just suddenly felt nauseous."

The commotion drew the attention of the restaurant staff, and Zhang Guangzong came over to ask, "Boss, are you feeling unwell? What’s the matter?"

Hearing her response, he laughed and said, "Boss, you’ve already had one child. How can you still be so inexperienced? From what I see, you’re probably pregnant again!"

Xiuping was taken aback. She thought about the date of her last menstrual cycle and realized it was already more than a week late. She might indeed be pregnant, and she couldn’t help but feel a mix of surprise and joy. "Things have been busy lately, and I didn’t think about this."

Spencer was delighted. "Let’s go to the hospital and get you checked."

It wasn’t mealtime, so Spencer gave some instructions and took his wife to the women’s and children’s health center.

...

Forty minutes later.

Spencer, with a broad smile, helped his wife out of the health center. He said, "Ping, from today on, you need to eat well. As Dad says, try to eat a variety of foods to ensure a balanced diet. This will help your baby be healthy."

Xiuping nodded and smiled, "I know. When I was pregnant with Xiaodong, Dad made so many delicious meals for me, and it really made a difference. Our Xiaodong is much stronger than the other children in the village."

"I’ll talk to the chef and have him prepare a nourishing soup for you every day."

"Okay!"

...

Usually, whether in the present or the future, people wouldn’t announce a pregnancy until the third month when the fetus was more stable. However, since they had gone to the hospital in front of everyone, it was impossible to keep it a secret. Plus, they needed the chef’s help with the soups and meals, so they decided to make it public. There was nothing wrong with that.

Upon learning that the boss was indeed pregnant, the restaurant staff all offered their congratulations.

After the other employees returned to work, Aihong Liu, Xiuping’s sister-in-law, whispered to her, "Ping, how was it when you were pregnant the first time?"

"It seems my period is also a few days late. I wonder if I’m pregnant too?"

Zhang Xiuping was taken aback. "Cousin-in-law, why didn't you say so earlier? We could have gone for a checkup together!"

Liu Aihong blushed. "I don't really know much about these things. At first, I didn't even think about pregnancy. It wasn't until you went to the hospital that I remembered my mother mentioning it on the second day of the New Year. She said if my period was suddenly late, I might be pregnant and should pay more attention."

Zhang Xiuping nodded. "You should tell your husband and have him take you to the maternal and child health center for a checkup."

Liu Aihong glanced at the time and shook her head. "The lunch rush is coming soon. Let's wait until after the rush, and I’ll go for a checkup in the afternoon."

Zhang Xiuping thought for a moment. "That’s fine. I’ll let the others know. You can help with serving tea and drinks, but don’t do anything else for now."

Liu Aihong replied, "No need to tell them. I’m feeling fine, and doing these tasks won’t be a problem."

Zhang Xiuping cautioned, "Cousin-in-law, you shouldn’t be careless. I’ve heard that the fetus is unstable during the early stages of pregnancy. It’s better to be careful."

"We villagers aren’t that delicate. Plenty of women in the village work with big bellies, and some even work in the fields right up until they give birth. I’ll be fine. Besides, we’re not even sure yet, so there’s no need to make a fuss."

"That’s true. Just take care of yourself!"

"I will. Thank you."

...

In the afternoon, Liu Aihong’s checkup confirmed that she was indeed pregnant. Suddenly, the restaurant had two pregnant women, which made things quite lively.

Zhang Xiuping smiled. "Cousin-in-law, from now on, I’ll take care of your meals. A pregnant woman needs a varied diet to ensure the baby gets balanced nutrition and grows strong."

When Zhang Xiuping was pregnant, Bu Dashan was learning cooking from her uncle. He knew that her uncle would prepare nourishing soups every day and change the dishes frequently. Hearing his sister-in-law’s words, he chuckled, "Aihong, you’re in for a treat!"

At the time, Liu Aihong didn’t fully understand what her husband meant, but a few days later, she did.

The restaurant’s staff meals were already quite good, with meat in every dish, far better than the food she had at her parents' house. However, after she started eating the special meals for pregnant women, she realized just how much of a difference there could be.

In her village, whether a woman was pregnant or not, the food was the same. Only after giving birth could they eat a few chickens, and even that was a recent development. In the past, being able to eat one chicken after giving birth was considered a luxury.

But after Zhang Xiuping’s pregnancy, every day included a nourishing soup and a variety of dishes, from mountain delicacies to seafood and poultry. The quality of the food was so high that even a wealthy landlord from the old days couldn’t have matched it. It was truly astonishing.

Eating with her sister-in-law, Liu Aihong felt a bit embarrassed.

Was she, a simple village girl, really worthy of such treatment? If she told her family about this, they would be utterly shocked.

...

In Naye Village.

Sitting under his wooden shack, Deng Shirong smoked his water pipe while the accountant, Deng Changqian, reported, "Ninth Uncle, after a month of donations, the list of donors for the scholarship fund has stabilized, both for individuals and the village. What should we do next?"

Deng Shirong stuffed tobacco into his pipe and asked, "Who are the top ten donors now?"

"The top donor is still Deng Changbao from Jimaoling. He initially donated 688 yuan and later added 200 yuan, making it a total of 888 yuan. Second is Deng Changxiong from Bangba Village, who donated 688 yuan. Tied for third are Uncle Yun Gui, Uncle Yun Fa from Yangdipo Village, and Deng Changshou, all donating 388 yuan."

Deng Changqian knew the list by heart and continued, "Fourth is Uncle Yun Fei from Ma Village, who donated 288 yuan. Fifth is Deng Changming from Daozhang Village, who donated 268 yuan. Sixth is Deng Changji from Guanchong Village, who donated 228 yuan. Seventh is Uncle Yun Tian from Longjing Village, who donated 188 yuan. Eighth is Deng Changqing from Shanggaohang Village, who donated 168 yuan. Ninth is Deng Changli from Meitian Village, who donated 138 yuan. Tenth is Deng Changnian from Zhadu Village, who donated 100 yuan."

Deng Shirong nodded in approval. The top ten donors were all from the Deng family in Naye Village, either engaged in business or receiving a steady income from their jobs. Their donations were all over 100 yuan.

"How much have we collected in total?"

"6,632 yuan."

Deng Shirong nodded. "That’s a substantial amount. We’ll stop collecting donations for this year. We can do another round during the Spring Festival next year. Add 1,000 yuan from me and make a statement. If the funds are sufficient for this year’s scholarships, that’s fine. If not, I’ll cover the shortfall."

Deng Changqian’s spirits lifted at the news. Everyone in the clan had been expecting Jiu Gong’s donation to top the list. After all, according to most estimates, Jiu Gong was likely the wealthiest member of the Deng clan in Naye, and he was the new clan head who had initiated the donation drive for education. Therefore, it was only natural for his donation to be the largest.

However, what Deng Changqian hadn’t anticipated was that Jiu Gong not only topped the list but also made a commitment to cover any shortfall. In modern terms, this instantly elevated the prestige of the initiative.

While the donations this year were substantial, the likelihood of needing Jiu Gong to cover a shortfall was low. Nevertheless, having that assurance made a significant difference.

Deng Changqian nodded and said, “Alright, Jiu Gong. I’ll go back and finalize the list, then post it at the entrance of the ancestral hall.”

Deng Shirong instructed, “In addition to the list posted at the ancestral hall, make another copy for the clan’s archives. This is proof of our unity and commitment to development, and it might come in handy someday.”

Deng Changqian quickly responded, “Jiu Gong, I’ll prepare three copies of the list. One for the ancestral hall, one for the clan’s archives, and one for myself, just in case it gets lost.”

Deng Shirong hummed in agreement, set his pipe aside, and then went to his room to fetch a thousand yuan for Deng Changqian.

After receiving the money and chatting a bit more with Jiu Gong, Deng Changqian returned to finalize the donation list.

---

The next day.

The complete list of educational donations was posted at the entrance of the Naye Deng clan’s ancestral hall, immediately drawing a crowd of curious clan members.

The list, spread across four large red sheets, began with an introduction explaining that the donation drive was initiated by Clan Head Deng Shirong. The purpose was to encourage the clan’s younger generation to study hard and become valuable contributors to the nation, while also supporting the development of the Deng clan.

Following the introduction were the village and individual donation rankings. Unsurprisingly, Naye Village topped the village ranking, followed by Bangba Village in second, Jimao Ridge Village in third, Yangdipu Village in fourth, Mabu Village in fifth, Zhangcun Village in sixth, Guanchong Village in seventh, Shanggaohang Village in eighth, Meitian Village in ninth, and Zhadu Village in tenth.

The villages that made it into the top ten were mostly supported by wealthy individuals from their communities.

In the individual donation ranking, Deng Shirong naturally took the top spot with a donation of 1,000 yuan. The top ten list followed the order Deng Changqian had previously reported, with each name shifted down by one position.

At the bottom of the list, Jiu Gong’s commitment to cover any shortfall was emphasized, earning the admiration and respect of all the villagers.

The Naye Deng clan’s educational donation drive had generated significant attention, not just among the Deng clan members but also among villagers of other surnames in the Bangjie Brigade and even in other brigades.

The final list, with a total donation amount exceeding 7,000 yuan, left everyone who had been following it in awe.

Naturally, the Deng clan members felt a great sense of pride in their clan’s achievement.

When others discussed the donation drive, they expressed envy. They wished their own clans could organize such an initiative, but in those times, it was difficult without a respected and capable clan head leading the effort.

Even if they managed to organize it, few clan members would be willing to donate.

As the Naye Deng clan’s educational donation list continued to dominate local conversations, the Qingming Festival was approaching. The annual mountain-clearing and ancestral worship activities were once again in full swing in Bobai.

Bobai had a strong sense of clan identity, and the mountain-clearing and ancestral worship activities were taken more seriously here than in many other places.

As mentioned earlier, it was common for people in Bobai to not return home for the Spring Festival, but when it came to the Qingming mountain-clearing, those working away from home would almost always come back unless they were unable to take leave.

Even students would skip classes to participate in the ancestral worship, with over half the class often absent, and teachers wouldn’t say much about it. They would usually allow the remaining students to have free time, essentially turning it into an unofficial holiday.

In this atmosphere, Deng Yuntao and Zhang Xiuping naturally returned for the mountain-clearing.

---

“Great, this is wonderful!”

Upon learning that his eldest daughter-in-law was pregnant again, Deng Shirong beamed with joy.

Born during the Republic of China era, he placed great importance on continuing the family lineage, regardless of whether it was boys or girls. His primary concern was that his five sons would ensure the continuation of the family line.

As long as there were descendants to carry on the family name, that was enough!

Seeing her father-in-law’s happiness, Zhang Xiuping smiled and said, “Dad, and there’s more. My sister-in-law is also pregnant, and her due date is around the same time as mine.”

Deng Shirong was naturally delighted to hear this. His younger sister had already become a grandmother, but grandchildren were always dearer than great-nieces or great-nephews. If his sister-in-law could have a son, his younger sister would be over the moon.

After his initial joy, Deng Shirong reminded her, “Xiu Ping, this is your second pregnancy. You should know what to do. Eat well, rest well, and avoid overworking yourself. Follow the same routine you did before. Understand?”

Zhang Xiuping nodded with a smile, "Got it, Dad."

Deng Yunzhen smiled at Xiaodong'er and said, "Xiaodong'er, you're going to have a little brother soon. Are you happy?"

Xiaodong'er replied in her baby voice, "Happy!"

Zhang Xiuping added with a smile, "Then Xiaodong'er will have to take care of your little brother, okay?"

Xiaodong'er, only one year and four months old, clearly didn't understand what "take care" meant. She blinked her big eyes and asked, "Mom, where's my little brother?"

Zhang Xiuping smiled warmly and said, "Your little brother is still in Mommy's tummy!"

Hearing this, Xiaodong'er walked over and reached out to touch her mother's belly, calling out, "Little brother, little brother!"

Everyone couldn't help but laugh at the sight.

...

The next day.

After the family prepared everything, they took their tools and offerings to clear the mountains.

Deng Shirong, as usual, didn't allow his eldest daughter-in-law to go, leaving her at home to take care of Xiaodong'er.

Since Deng Shirong had a high status in the family, his family's ancestral mountains were fewer than those of other families in the village. They managed to clear the distant mountains in just a morning.

In the afternoon, they cleared the graves of Deng Shirong's parents and his late wife, which were right across from their home. The whole family, including the pregnant eldest daughter-in-law and Xiaodong'er, went together.

Deng Shirong's parents were not buried together, but their two earthen graves were side by side. They cleared the graves together and even shared the offerings.

After clearing the weeds from the graves, Deng Shirong squatted in front of his father's grave and said, "Dad, Mom, we've come to see you again. I have two pieces of good news to share. Your eldest grandson's wife is pregnant again, and we're going to have another addition to our family this year.

"Also, Dashi got married last year. I arranged the match for him. His wife is from the Qing Team's Taipingpo Village, a very nice girl. She's also pregnant now, so Third Sister will be a grandmother this year.

"Please bless them and watch over them so they can have a safe and smooth delivery..."

After a few minutes of talking to his parents and updating them on the family's changes over the past year, Deng Shirong called his children and daughter-in-law to say a few words.

Finally, after bowing three times, Deng Shirong and his children tidied up the offerings and moved to his late wife's grave nearby, repeating the same process.

Deng Yuntao also shared the good news about his father becoming the clan head with his mother. Although the clan head wasn't an official position, in a rural setting like this, the clan head's influence over the clan members was much stronger than that of the team leader. Being the clan head was a clear sign of success in the village.

After paying respects to his late wife, the family packed up the offerings and returned home.

...

The next day.

Deng Yuntao and Zhang Xiuping took the bus to Bobai, accompanied by Deng Yunzhen and Xiaodong'er.

With the arrival of the Qingming Festival, the cold weather that had lasted for several months finally started to warm up. Since his sister-in-law was also pregnant, Deng Yunzhen decided to bring her niece along in case she needed help.

...

On the 25th day of the second lunar month, a significant day for the entire Naye Village.

In the afternoon, a convoy of twenty trucks drove into Naye Village, including the truck of Deng Shirong's second nephew, Bu Zhongshi.

These twenty trucks brought 36,000 lychee tree saplings to Naye Village, all of the Guiwei variety.

This massive purchase by Naye Village had practically emptied the XinGuang Farm of all its Guiwei lychee tree saplings. It would take at least two to three years for the farm to recover and start selling lychee tree saplings again.

These lychee tree saplings were grown from cuttings taken from mature lychee trees, which were the best main branches. Cutting too many would severely impact the lychee tree's yield, so a recovery period was necessary.

Once the lychee tree saplings were delivered, each household in the village mobilized to transport their share to the lychee orchards they had prepared last year.

The next morning, the entire village started planting the Guiwei lychee trees.

Such a large-scale effort naturally caused a huge stir in the surrounding areas.

Not just the villages of other surnames, but even the other Deng villages, except for Naye Village, had only just started or were in the process of preparing their orchards. They had no saplings to plant even if they wanted to.

They could only watch as the Naye Village brothers planted their trees.

Of course, they couldn't catch up with the lychee trees, but they could still plant watermelons.

Thus, while the people of Naye Village were busy planting lychee trees, the other villages that had prepared their orchards started planting watermelons.

In short, influenced by Deng Shirong, every household in the Bangjie Team planted watermelons this year.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end