Chapter 278: Ancestral Grave on Fire, Spring Festival Travel Rush [Subscriptions Surge Again, Thanks

Chapter 278: Ancestral Grave on Fire, Spring Festival Travel Rush [Subscriptions Surge Again, Thanks to All the Subscribers]



Zhouwang Brigade.

Xiaojiang Village.

Chen David, whistling merrily, carried a huge turtle, bound with willow withes, which weighed at least twenty pounds, as he headed home.

Just as he reached the village entrance, someone asked in surprise, "David, where did you catch such a big turtle?"

Chen David smiled and replied, "Uncle Seventeen, I caught it by the small lake at Jiao River Bend."

Uncle Seventeen’s face lit up with envy. "I never thought that place would have such a big turtle. Your luck is incredible. This turtle must weigh at least twenty pounds. If you find a wealthy buyer, you could easily sell it for twenty to thirty dollars. That’s a month’s salary right there!"

Chen David shook his head. "I won’t sell it for any price. I have to give it to my brother-in-law; he loves eating turtle."

Uncle Seventeen said, "Your brother-in-law loves it, so you should definitely give it to him. Your brother-in-law is quite impressive. It’s a shame your sister didn’t have the good fortune to enjoy his success."

Chen David sighed, thinking of his late sister. "There’s nothing we can do; it’s all destiny."

Uncle Seventeen continued, "I heard your brother-in-law became the head of the Deng Clan and raised several million to start a passenger transport company. That’s amazing. You, as his brother-in-law, should visit him more often. With his success, he can easily help you and your brother live a better life."

Chen David smiled. "My brother-in-law has already taken good care of us. My two older children have been taken to the county to work!"

"That’s true. Being able to work in the county is a dream many people can’t even imagine!"

"Alright, Uncle Seventeen, I won’t chat with you anymore. This thing is pretty heavy, and I need to rest at home before I take it to my brother-in-law later."

"Okay, go ahead!"

...

After lunch at home, Chen David packed the turtle in a burlap bag and set off for his brother-in-law’s house.

In fact, with the current economic conditions of his family, buying a bicycle would be no problem. After all, his two children earned several dozen dollars a month, plus bonuses, and over the past year, they had saved over a thousand dollars.

Moreover, he had grown watermelons this year, earning another two thousand dollars.

Now, he had about three thousand five hundred dollars in cash, making it easy to buy a bicycle.

However, perhaps due to his frugal habits, he had never considered buying one.

Arriving at his brother-in-law’s house, he saw Deng Shirong under a wooden shed, changing the battery of a TV. Chen David called out, "Brother-in-law!"

Seeing his brother-in-law, Deng Shirong quickly finished the battery change and asked, "Have you eaten?"

"Already eaten. I had good luck today and caught a big turtle, so I brought it to you." Chen David untied the burlap bag and took out the large turtle.

"Great catch!" Deng Shirong couldn’t help but praise it. This kind of turtle was common in the future, but most were farmed, not wild.

Chen David smiled. "I knew you’d like it, Brother-in-law."

Deng Shirong grabbed the turtle by the willow withes, feeling its weight. "This will make a delicious and nourishing soup. Red-cooked turtle is also great. I’ll cook it and we can have a drink together later."

Chen David immediately said, "Brother-in-law, let me help you. I’ll start by slaughtering it."

Deng Shirong smiled. "No rush. It’s still early. Sit down and rest for a bit. Let’s smoke a pipe first."

After walking such a long distance with such a heavy load, Chen David’s nicotine craving was strong. He didn’t refuse and went to get a pipe to smoke.

Deng Shirong sat opposite him and said, "David, with the country’s reform and opening up, more and more people are going out to do business and making money. Focusing only on your small plot of land won’t make you rich. Have you considered going into business?"

Now that he had led the entire Deng Clan to prosperity, he couldn’t let his relatives fall behind.

Chen David, stuffing tobacco into his pipe, said, "To be honest, I do have an idea. Brother-in-law, could you give me some advice on whether it’s feasible?"

Deng Shirong nodded. "Sure, tell me more!"

Chen David took out a match. "With the Spring Festival coming up, people are buying more and more fireworks. I thought about building a fireworks factory in our village. What do you think, Brother-in-law?"

Deng Shirong thought for a moment. "Your idea is good, and there shouldn’t be any problem with sales. However, running a fireworks factory comes with a significant risk. Have you considered it?"

Chen David lit the match and took a few puffs before asking, "What risk are you talking about, Brother-in-law?"

Deng Shirong simply said, "Safety!"

In his previous life, someone in their brigade had opened a fireworks factory, but due to a lack of safety awareness, an accident occurred. The factory’s materials were completely destroyed, and two employees lost their lives, while several others were severely burned. This incident brought the once-thriving factory to a complete halt, dooming it to eternal ruin.

So, running a fireworks factory is indeed profitable, but the risks are enormous. Any accident can lead to severe consequences. Unless it's a state-owned or collective enterprise, individual operators find it very difficult to recover from such incidents.

Chen Dacong clearly lacked this safety awareness. When his brother-in-law mentioned "safety," he didn't even react.

Deng Shirong had to explain, "Everything in a fireworks factory is flammable and explosive. If safety awareness is lacking, even a minor management error can lead to catastrophic results. If it's just a loss of materials, it's manageable. But when an accident happens, people can get burned or even die, which is the most critical issue."

Hearing this, Chen Dacong was taken aback and immediately abandoned the idea of starting a fireworks factory. He laughed bitterly, "I guess I really am not cut out for business. I didn't even realize the severe consequences of running a fireworks factory."

Deng Shirong said, "That's not entirely true. Just thinking about starting a fireworks factory shows you have more ambition than many. Ignoring the safety risks, it is indeed profitable. And with proper management and a serious approach to safety, those risks can be mitigated.

"However, there are plenty of profitable ventures that don't involve such risks. If you really want to go into business, I have a project that might suit you. It requires minimal investment, yields quick results, and has zero risk."

Chen Dacong's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Brother-in-law, what is it?"

Deng Shirong said, "A wooden clothespin factory."

Chen Dacong was surprised, "A wooden clothespin factory?"

"Exactly, a wooden clothespin factory," Deng Shirong nodded. "Wooden clothespins are everyday items with high demand both domestically and internationally. They can be made from short branches and twigs, which cost almost nothing.

"Moreover, the foreign trade department is always buying them. If you start a wooden clothespin factory, no matter how much you produce, it will be just a drop in the ocean for the vast international market.

"So, if you want to go into business, you might consider this."

Chen Dacong felt a surge of excitement and said, "Alright, I'll talk it over with Ah Ming and see if we can partner up on this."

"I'll just provide the idea. The specifics are up to you two to figure out. If you need equipment, check with the machinery factory."

"Got it!"

...

In the afternoon, Deng Shirong stewed a pot of turtle soup and made a dish of braised turtle, along with other side dishes, and had a good drink with his brother-in-law and his nephew's husband.

The saying "happiness comes from contentment" truly fit Jiang Dahu and Bu Dafang. The couple had no grand ambitions to strike it rich. They were content to help their uncle manage the orchard, live off his provisions, and enjoy a carefree life. They even decided against having a third child.

After all, they already had two sons, which was more than enough. A third child was unnecessary.

The drinking session lasted until around five in the afternoon.

Chen Dacong, flushed with drink, said, "Brother-in-law, I should head back now!"

Deng Shirong said, "It's almost dark. Why not stay another night?"

Chen Dacong laughed, "No, I'm eager to go back and discuss the wooden clothespin factory with Ah Ming."

Deng Shirong chuckled, "We have several bicycles. Take one to ride back."

Chen Dacong didn't refuse, picked out the second-hand bicycle Deng Shirong bought from the production team, and took the burlap bag with the turtle, heading home with a smile.

Watching his brother-in-law leave, Deng Shirong said to his niece, "Dafang, your eldest son, Dahu, will be starting school next year. Bring him to Naye Primary School. It will be more convenient for you to take care of him."

Bu Dafang, not being formal with her uncle, nodded and said, "Okay, I'll have him join the preschool class after the New Year, and then he can start first grade with his classmates."

In those days, even the commune didn't have kindergartens, only the county did. Rural children started with preschool classes.

Naye Primary School's preschool class didn't even have a classroom, let alone desks and chairs. They just set up a blackboard in the old Deng family shrine, and teachers from other grades would come to give lessons.

The preschool students had to bring their own chairs from home every day and take them back after school, which was quite a challenge for a young child.

The old shrine was also home to dozens of ancestral tablets. It's hard to imagine such a setting for a classroom in modern times.

...

As the lunar calendar neared the end of the eleventh month, the Gregorian calendar officially ushered in 1984.

1984 was destined to be a significant year in the annals of China's reform and opening up.

That year, the chief architect of the reform and opening up made his first southern tour, affirming the policy of establishing special economic zones as correct. This laid the foundation for further reform and opening up, charting the course for building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

On New Year's Day, Deng Shirong received a letter from his second son. In the letter, his son shared a monumental piece of news: he had been selected to participate in the 35th anniversary National Day military parade at Peking University, a rare honor for any student.

Deng Shirong was genuinely elated. This was the 1984 National Day parade!

The 1984 parade was legendary, hailed as the greatest parade on earth by both domestic and international observers.

Especially noteworthy were the unique three-stage bayonet movements, which exuded a terrifying aura that no other parade could match.

The reason for this was that many of the soldiers participating in the 1984 parade were combat heroes who had just returned from the front lines. Their combat experience and the trials of war gave them an aura of true ferocity, not just a show of strength.

For his second son to be part of this legendary parade, their family's ancestors must have been burning with pride.

That day, Deng Shirong drank a little more to celebrate. He wrote back to his son that night, urging him to participate with the best spirit and appearance, as this was an honor he would remember for the rest of his life.

...

The Spring Festival travel rush, or Chunyun, is a period of intense transportation pressure in China around the lunar New Year, lasting about 40 days from the 15th day of the twelfth lunar month to the 25th day of the first lunar month.

As the Chunyun period approached, Deng Shirong made a special trip to the county town to discuss safety issues with the general manager of the passenger transport company, Deng Changyu, and the other management staff.

Deng Shirong reminded them, "The Chunyun period is just around the corner. During this time, the number of passengers returning home for the New Year will surge, and our buses will likely be packed every day. As long as we operate normally, we can earn a substantial amount of money. However, while making money, we must always remember: safety first."

Deng Changyu and the other managers nodded in agreement, understanding that safety was paramount in the transportation business.

Deng Shirong continued, "These days, bus operators often disregard safety to maximize profits by overloading their vehicles. While this does increase earnings, it also poses significant safety risks. Our company must not follow this practice. No matter how much profit we stand to make, we must never overload our buses. This is a line we cannot cross."

Deng Changyu responded, "Grandpa, rest assured. I will pass this along to everyone."

Deng Shirong added, "Another critical point is to be vigilant about passengers carrying flammable or explosive materials. These items must be handled with care and stored in a safe place, not carelessly left near the engine. If the engine's heat ignites these materials, the consequences could be severe. We must be cautious and not take this lightly."

This warning was based on a tragic incident in 1990, when a private bus from Daba Township caught fire due to a passenger placing fireworks near the engine. The fire resulted in eight severe injuries, two deaths, and over ten minor injuries.

With such a grim example in mind, Deng Shirong wanted to issue a preemptive warning to prevent a similar disaster from befalling their company.

Deng Changyu and the others understood the gravity of the situation and nodded in agreement, expressing admiration for Deng Shirong's foresight.

Deng Shirong then listed several more safety precautions before concluding, "These are the main points I can think of. You are all the elite of our clan. Let's pool our ideas and identify any other areas that need attention to ensure the safe operation of our buses."

"Understood, Grandpa. Your points are very comprehensive. We'll discuss them further, and if there are no additional concerns, we'll pass them down."

"Good. This is our company's first Chunyun. You should collect data on passenger volumes. If the numbers are high, we can plan to increase our bus fleet before next year's Chunyun."

"Understood, Grandpa. We'll keep good records."

"That's all for now. Keep up the good work, and the clan is counting on you for good news!"

"Understood, Grandpa."

...

In the afternoon.

At a factory in Guangzhou.

After dinner, Li Zonghe returned to the dormitory with his coworkers to pack his bags. Once he was done, he sat on his bed, worrying about how he would make it home the next day.

Li Zonghe was from Baise, Guangxi, and had come to Guangzhou to work in March of the previous year. His experience of going home for the Spring Festival was a tale of hardship. Since there were no direct buses from Baise to Guangdong, he had to take a bus from Guangzhou to Wuzhou, then another from Wuzhou to Baise, and finally another to his hometown.

It sounded simple enough, just two transfers.

On a regular day, it wouldn’t be too much of a hassle, just a bit more time-consuming.

But during the peak of the Spring Festival travel rush, those two transfers were a nightmare.

Back then, he hadn’t bought a ticket at the station; instead, he had flagged down a bus on the road. The bus was overloaded, and he had to stand for several hours. By the time he reached Wuzhou, the bus to Baise had already left.

Throughout the 1980s, there was only one bus a day from Wuzhou to Baise. Once it left, you had to wait until the next day.

Li Zonghe didn’t want to spend money on a hotel, and he was afraid of missing the bus the next day, so he spent the night at the cold bus station. By the time he made it to Baise the next day, he felt like he had lost half his life.

To make matters worse, he missed the bus home from Baise and had to spend another night there.

Li Zonghe was a tough man and spent another night at the Baise bus station before finally catching the bus home the next day.

When he finally got home, exhausted and weary, he ate a quick meal, didn’t even have time to shower, and collapsed into bed.

After that ordeal, Li Zonghe was both eager and afraid to go home for the Spring Festival.

At that moment, his coworkers in the dormitory had also finished packing their bags. Seeing Li Zonghe’s worried expression, one of them asked, "Li Zonghe, what’s wrong? The factory is closing for the holidays tomorrow, and you can go home for the Spring Festival. Shouldn’t you be happy? Why are you so worried?"

Li Zonghe sighed and said, "Of course, it’s great to go home for the Spring Festival, but I’m worried about how I’ll get there. It’s really hard to find a seat on the bus during the holidays."

The coworker fell silent for a moment, then agreed, "You’re right. I don’t even know if I’ll be able to get a train ticket tomorrow!"

Li Zonghe replied, "You guys have it easier. At least there are direct trains or buses to your places. I have to transfer twice to get home. Last year, it took me three days to get there, and I felt like I had lost half my life."

The coworker sympathized, "You do have it worse than us."

Li Zonghe sighed again. "Let’s not talk about it. I need to get some rest tonight to prepare for the difficulties ahead."

...

Meanwhile, in another factory, Chen Guohui and Chen Guomei, two girls from Baise, were discussing their plans to go home for the Spring Festival.

Factories in Guangdong generally took their holidays around the 23rd or 24th of the lunar month, and workers returned to work on the 6th or 8th of the first lunar month.

Chen Guohui and Chen Guomei had been working in Guangzhou for two years. They knew all too well how difficult it was to go home for the Spring Festival, but at least they had each other for company, which made the journey a bit easier compared to someone like Li Zonghe, who traveled alone.

They had both packed their bags.

Chen Guohui said gloomily, "Just thinking about the bus ride gives me a headache. We don’t have many days off, and half of them are wasted on the journey."

Chen Guomei sighed. "There’s nothing we can do. Guangzhou doesn’t have direct buses to Baise. If it did, we could save a lot of time and effort."

Chen Guohui nodded. "Yes, if there were direct buses to Baise, I’d take them even if they were more expensive. Transferring halfway is such a hassle, and missing a bus means waiting another day. Just thinking about it gives me a headache."

Chen Guomei sighed again. "Let’s not dwell on the negative. After the Spring Festival, the factory will be hiring. We can check if the girls in our village want to come work here. If they do, we can bring a few more girls, and it’ll be nice to have company at the factory."

Chen Guohui agreed. "Yes, we should bring more girls. Being in a strange place, it’s lonely with just the two of us."

...

Similar scenes were playing out in other factories in Guangzhou.

And it wasn’t just Guangzhou; similar scenes were happening in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Foshan, and other places. All the workers in the factories were preparing to go home for the Spring Festival, worrying about the journey.

It was early 1984, and the number of people from Baise working in Guangdong wasn’t as high as it would be in later years, but there were still quite a few. They worked long hours in the factories, often over eleven hours a day, and some even worked thirteen or fourteen hours.

With such busy schedules, they didn’t have time to explore their cities, and they didn’t know that Baise buses had quietly started operating in their areas.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end