Chapter 269: A Web of Relationships and Reluctance to Leave [6000 Words]

Chapter 269: A Web of Relationships and Reluctance to Leave [6000 Words]



Deng Yunheng led his five roommates and three female classmates from the small dirt road at Tanlian Crossroads toward Shuangwang, walking home together.

Tang Mingjie, who had grown up in the capital, was experiencing his first trip to Guangxi, a place thousands of miles away. Everything he saw was new and fascinating.

For example, the unique mud-brick houses.

The numerous small, low mountains scattered everywhere.

The winding, twisting dirt roads.

Everything was new to him, something he had never seen in the capital.

At the same time, his roommates and the three female classmates were very curious about Deng Yunheng's home. From the surrounding environment and the winding dirt road, it was clear that Deng Yunheng was a genuine rural youth.

However, a rural youth with substantial financial resources, who spent money lavishly on campus, naturally piqued their curiosity. They all wondered what his parents did for a living.

As they walked and chatted, they didn't notice that nearly half an hour had passed.

Liu Xiaoman couldn't help but ask, "President, how much farther is it to your home?"

Deng Yunheng smiled and said, "About another half an hour or so."

Wang Limei remarked, "Another half an hour? Your village is really quite remote, President."

Deng Yunheng nodded. "It is quite remote. It takes at least two to three hours to walk from our village to the commune. I attended high school at the commune, and I usually only went home every two weeks. Even with only one and a half days off each week, most of the time was spent walking."

Tang Mingjie's eyes widened in surprise. "No way, you had to walk to high school? Even if you didn't take a bus, why didn't you ride a bicycle?"

Deng Yunheng smiled. "The bus schedule didn't match up, and we only bought a bicycle after I started high school at the commune. At first, I walked, but later, my sister would ride with me."

Everyone was quite moved by his story, as their high school experiences were much less arduous.

Hearing Deng Yunheng mention his sister, Liu Xiaoman asked, "President, I forgot to ask earlier, how many siblings do you have?"

Deng Yunheng replied, "I have seven siblings."

The others were a bit surprised but not overly so. After all, they were all born in the 1960s, and most families had several children.

"President, if it's not too much trouble, could you tell us about your family? It would be helpful to know when we meet them."

"Sure, I'll tell you about them..."

...

Around 3:30 PM, Deng Yunheng and his classmates arrived at Naye Village.

As soon as they entered the village, villagers kept greeting Deng Yunheng and asking about the group of people he brought back. The news that eight Peking University students were visiting Deng Yunheng's home quickly spread throughout the village.

These were Peking University students, each one a promising young talent. According to the village leader, Peking University graduates often started their careers at the same level as commune secretaries and could rise to positions higher than county magistrates after a decade or so of work.

Now, a group of such Peking University students had gathered at Deng Yunheng's home, and the villagers couldn't resist their curiosity. They all wanted to see the commotion and bring their children to catch a glimpse of these "scholar-stars," hoping that even if their children couldn't get into Peking University, they might at least get into a technical school, which would be enough to satisfy them.

As the villagers spread the news, Deng Yunheng and his classmates finally arrived home.

The connected green-tiled houses, the wooden pavilion under the longan tree, the walls, and the cement ground...

Seeing this scene, Tang Mingjie and the others nodded in approval. Given Deng Yunheng's financial resources, his home should look like this, not like the dilapidated mud-brick houses of other villagers, which would be too disappointing.

"Second Brother is back!"

Deng Shirong, who was lying under the wooden pavilion to cool off, sat up from his recliner at the sound of his youngest son's voice. He immediately saw his second son and the group of classmates, including three female students, which surprised him.

"Father, I'm back!" Deng Yunheng called out from a distance.

"Uncle, hello!" the classmates greeted him.

Deng Shirong smiled and welcomed them. "Hello, everyone. Welcome to our home."

The introductions and pleasantries were brief.

After the classmates put their luggage in the designated rooms, Deng Shirong said to his second son, "Yunheng, I'll start cooking now. Take your classmates to Litchi Mountain. I've left enough litchis and watermelons for you there."

Deng Yunheng agreed and waved to his classmates. "Let's go, I'll take you to the orchard to eat litchis."

At this, Tang Mingjie and the others became excited.

Even Liu Xiaoman and the other two girls, who had already eaten plenty of litchis, couldn't help but get excited.

Because there's a huge difference between buying fruit from a store and picking it straight from the tree.

Thus, the excited classmates from all over the country followed Deng Yunheng toward his family's orchard.

Along the way, they naturally greeted the villagers they encountered.

Ten minutes later, Deng Yunheng and his group arrived at the foot of the hill, surrounded by lush vegetation, as shown below:

Deng Yunheng led his classmates to a wooden gate, which was locked. He called out loudly, "Cousin, come down and open the door for me."

A voice from the hilltop responded, "I'm coming!"

While waiting, Tang Mingjie and the others took in the scenery of Deng Yunheng's lychee hill. It was a small, charming hill with a distinct local flavor, covered with lychee trees. Each tree was about the height of an adult's navel, with a canopy similar to an umbrella.

However, the lychee trees they could see were all bare, with no fruit visible.

Soon, Bu Dafang came down to open the gate. She had already heard from her uncle that her younger cousin was bringing his classmates back, and these must be his classmates from Peking University.

"This is my cousin," Deng Yunheng introduced them. "Cousin, these are my classmates."

"Hello, Cousin!"

"Hello, everyone!"

After exchanging greetings, Deng Yunheng led his eager classmates up the hill.

Soon, a vast expanse of bright red lychees and lush green watermelons appeared before Tang Mingjie and the others.

Liu Xiaoman exclaimed, "Wow, it's so beautiful!"

Tang Mingjie widened his eyes in amazement, "So this is what lychees look like."

Deng Yunheng laughed heartily, "Stop staring and start picking. Taste the lychees you've been dreaming about and see what they're really like."

With that, the classmates wasted no time and began picking lychees.

Once they tasted the fruit, everyone was full of praise.

In this vast world with so many people, no matter how delicious a food might be, it's impossible for everyone to like it. There are indeed people who don't enjoy lychees, but none of those people were in this group. Lychees are a fruit that, out of ten thousand people in the country, at least nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine would love.

Guimi, one of the finest varieties of lychees, was unquestionably delicious, and no one who tasted it had anything but praise.

After eating over a dozen lychees, Tang Mingjie sighed, "It was worth it. After all those days on the train, it's all worth it just to taste such delicious lychees!"

Deng Yunheng, still munching on lychees and spitting out the small pits, laughed, "We're just getting started. There are plenty more delicious fruits waiting for you!"

Tang Mingjie chuckled, "Looks like we really made the right choice coming here!"

Zheng Shifeng nodded eagerly, "Definitely the right choice. Just the lychees alone are a revelation. I wonder what other fruits are in store for us?"

Deng Yunheng said, "Today, we'll enjoy the lychees. On the way back, we'll pick some lychees and watermelons for dinner. Tomorrow, we'll go pick mulberries and eat jackfruit. The day after, we'll have yellow plums and star fruits. These are all fruits you can't find in the north."

Everyone was filled with anticipation.

As they ate and chatted, the lychees were delicious, but they also filled up quickly. Despite not feeling satisfied, their stomachs were already protesting.

Liu Xiaoman rubbed her belly, "I don't think I've eaten much, but my stomach already feels full!"

Wang Limei also rubbed her belly, "Same here. I feel like I just started eating, and my stomach is already full!"

Deng Yunheng laughed, "Take it easy. Dad left these lychees for us to enjoy when we return. We'll have plenty to eat every day, so no need to rush. We have a big meal waiting for us when we get back!"

Tang Mingjie laughed, "It's just that it's our first time eating lychees, and we're a bit excited!"

As they laughed and talked, once they had eaten their fill of lychees, Deng Yunheng had each of them pick a large bunch. The six men each carried a big watermelon, said goodbye to his cousin and her husband, and walked back home with his classmates, all feeling satisfied.

...

At six o'clock in the evening.

On the enormous table at Deng Shirong's house, over a dozen hearty and well-portioned dishes were laid out.

When Tang Mingjie and the others took their seats, they were astonished by the spread. Although they hadn't tasted the food yet, the dishes looked and smelled so appetizing that they knew the flavors would be excellent.

Liu Xiaoman exclaimed, "Oh my, Uncle, your cooking is amazing!"

The other classmates also praised his skills. They had heard from Deng Yunheng that his father was a good cook, but they had assumed it meant he was just a bit better than average. They never expected his skills to rival those of professional chefs.

Deng Shirong smiled, "Since all of you come from different places, I've made a dish from each of your hometowns. I wonder if you can recognize them?

Upon hearing this, Tang Mingjie and the others hurriedly examined the dishes on the table, and soon, exclamations of surprise echoed once more.

The first to exclaim was Zheng Shifeng from Heilongjiang, pointing at one of the dishes. "This is our local Guobaorou!"

Tang Mingjie quickly followed, pointing at another dish. "This is the Jingjiang Rousi from my place!"

Liu Xiaoman was equally astonished, pointing at yet another dish. "This must be the Taro Braised Pork from Guilin, right?"

"This should be the Braised Lamb from Henan."

"Is this the Spare Ribs and Lotus Root Soup from Hubei?"

"This Dongpo Pork is definitely a specialty from Zhejiang."

"I didn't expect Uncle to know how to make the Scallion Oil Fish from Wuzhou."

"Is this the Wild Mushroom Stewed Chicken from Baise?"

Initially, the classmates hadn’t paid much attention, but after Deng Shirong’s reminder, each of them identified their hometown dishes from the spread.

Seeing that they had all picked out their hometown specialties, Deng Shirong smiled and said, "Apart from your hometown dishes, the rest are local specialties. This is White-Cut Chicken, this is Steamed Mud Crab, this is Pan-Fried Shrimp, this is Fried Bee Larvae, this is Fried Squid, and this is Bao Bai Stir-Fry..."

After introducing all the dishes, Deng Shirong raised his glass. "Welcome again, everyone, to our home."

"Thank you, Uncle!"

"We’re sorry for the trouble we’ve caused!"

"Thank you, Uncle, for preparing so many dishes."

"..."

All the students who could drink poured themselves some wine, while those who couldn’t opted for drinks, and they all raised their glasses in a toast.

After taking a sip of wine, Deng Shirong urged them, "Don’t be shy, everyone. Let’s dig in!"

Even though the appearance and aroma of the dishes promised great taste, the actual flavors still managed to surprise and delight the students, as each dish was incredibly delicious.

This meal left Tang Mingjie and the others feeling thoroughly satisfied.

After the meal, Liu Xiaoman, Wang Limei, and Li Guiying rushed to help with the cleanup and washing of the dishes.

Bu Dafang had been handling these tasks recently, and although she insisted that she could manage, she couldn’t resist the enthusiasm of the three girls, so she let them help.

While the three girls were busy with the cleanup, Deng Yunheng looked at his five roommates and asked, "You all know how to swim, right?"

"Of course!"

"Who doesn’t know how to swim?"

"I started swimming with my brother at the river when I was seven or eight!"

"Alright, since you all can swim, grab your change of clothes and towels. I’ll take you to the river on the other side for a bath."

Tang Mingjie and the others lit up at the suggestion and eagerly agreed.

They returned to their rooms to fetch their change of clothes and towels. Deng Yunheng also brought along some soap for bathing and laundry. After bidding farewell to the three female classmates, they happily made their way to the river on the other side of the house.

Although they had all had some wine, bathing in the river seemed a bit inappropriate. However, everyone knew their limits, and it was their first visit, so they hadn’t overindulged. The wine didn’t affect them much.

By the time they returned from the river, it was already dark.

Liu Xiaoman and the other two female classmates had also washed their hair and taken a bath.

Everyone sat together with the villagers under the wooden shelter, watching TV.

Deng Yunheng, meanwhile, sat with his father at the door, chatting about his experiences at school over the past year.

After listening to his second son’s account, Deng Shirong pondered for a moment and said, "Yunheng, before you started university, we discussed the path you should take after choosing your major. Plans can change, and you’ve been studying in the capital for two years now, meeting many talented people. I believe your perspective has broadened.

"Now, I want to ask you again. After you graduate, do you want to pursue a career in politics or business?"

Originally, based on his second son’s past life, Deng Shirong thought his character wasn’t suited for politics, so he had been steering him towards business. However, a person’s character can change with their environment, and his second son’s personality had already shifted significantly from his past life. Forcing him to choose business might not be the best option.

Therefore, Deng Shirong wanted to hear his second son’s thoughts and let him choose based on his interests, whether it be politics or business, as both paths have their advantages and disadvantages.

Hearing this, Deng Yunheng took a deep breath and said, "Dad, I’ve been thinking about this for the past two years, but I still haven’t found an answer."

Deng Shirong understood. As the saying goes, "Men fear choosing the wrong career, and women fear marrying the wrong man." Choosing a future path is a serious matter, and it’s normal for his second son to still be unsure.

After a moment's thought, Deng Shirong said, "Since you haven't made a final decision yet, you should start preparing in advance."

Deng Yunheng had always admired his father. Hearing this, he asked, "Dad, what kind of preparation do I need to make?"

"Going into business is straightforward since you're already studying economics," Deng Shirong said, picking up the tobacco pipe beside him. "The main thing is to prepare for a career in politics. For example, you could apply to join the Party, or get involved in student government or the youth league. These experiences will be very helpful if you choose a political path."

Deng Yunheng had been at Peking University for two years, and his perspective was far broader than that of the rural youth he once was. He understood what his father meant.

"Alright, then next semester, I'll try to join the student government or the youth league to see if I have a real interest in politics."

Deng Shirong stuffed tobacco into his pipe and said, "The country is now undergoing reform and opening up, and both the political and business worlds need a lot of talent. Your generation of college students is truly standing on the shoulders of progress.

If you choose business, you'll have a vast field to apply your knowledge.

If you choose politics, the government is promoting the youthification of officials. As a college graduate of your generation, you'll have an incredible advantage. Starting where others strive for a lifetime is something others can only envy."

Deng Yunheng nodded. "I understand, Dad. After a year in the student government or the youth league, I should have a better idea of which path to take."

Deng Shirong lit his pipe and took a few puffs before saying, "Whether you ultimately choose politics or business, having a strong network of connections will greatly benefit your career. So, you must focus on building and maintaining these relationships. For example, inviting your classmates to visit our home is an excellent idea. It can deepen your bonds, and you'll find it useful in the future."

"Right, I understand."

...

The next day.

After breakfast, Deng Yunheng, surrounded by his classmates, began preparing to cut into the massive thirty-pound jackfruit in front of him.

Before he started, Deng Yunheng explained, "The jackfruit is the largest fruit in the world, typically weighing over ten pounds, and some can even reach nearly a hundred pounds. It's often called the 'King of Fruits.'"

"Good heavens, a hundred pounds?!"

"They say there's no such thing as a wrong nickname, and the 'King of Fruits' is certainly no exception!"

"This is the largest fruit I've ever seen, and to think there are even bigger ones. It's simply unbelievable!"

The classmates couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

Deng Yunheng smiled and continued, "Jackfruits come in dry, wet, and oily varieties. These are just how we categorize them in our village. In reality, there are more types."

Tang Mingjie, looking puzzled, asked, "What do you mean by dry, wet, and oily?"

Deng Yunheng explained, "The dry variety has bright yellow, crisp flesh with a very sweet taste and is considered the best quality. The wet variety has yellow flesh with more juice and a soft, honey-sweet texture. The oily variety has deep yellow flesh with a rich, oily juice, a bright, soft, and sweet taste, and is also of high quality."

Liu Xiaoman, curious, asked, "What type is this jackfruit?"

"Of course, the best—dry variety."

With that, Deng Yunheng made the first cut, revealing the bright yellow flesh and a bit of white juice inside.

He used oil paper to clean the sticky white juice from his hands, then cut the fruit in half, repeating the process.

Once the jackfruit was cut into sixteen pieces and the white core removed, Deng Yunheng wiped away the white juice and said with a smile, "Alright, now you can start eating. Those who like it will really enjoy it, while others might find the taste strange. Give it a try and see if you like it."

The classmates didn't hesitate, each taking a piece and digging into the fruit.

Out of the eight, six of them loved the taste and couldn't stop eating, while only Zheng Shifeng and Chu Zhenyu found it a bit odd.

After enjoying the jackfruit, Deng Yunheng gave each of them a straw hat and led them up the mountain to pick wild berries.

Over the next few days, Deng Yunheng took his Peking University classmates on various adventures. They rode bicycles to the Tiger Head Reservoir for fishing, picked wild fruits on the mountain, collected snails from the fields and rivers, and roasted sweet potatoes and taro in the fields.

In short, Deng Yunheng let them experience all the fun activities that rural children enjoy.

The good food, comfortable lodging, and enjoyable activities made Tang Mingjie and the others reluctant to leave.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end