Chapter 279: Holy Cow, a Bus to Bobai? [Three Consecutive Updates, Hats Off to the Bigwigs]

Chapter 279: Holy Cow, a Bus to Bobai? [Three Consecutive Updates, Hats Off to the Bigwigs]



The next morning.

After breakfast, Li Zonghe shouldered his luggage and took a bus to the Yuexiu South Bus Terminal.

Last year, it was his first time taking a bus home for the New Year. Due to his inexperience, he had to hail a ride halfway, and when the bus got full, he had to stand all the way back to Wuzhou.

Standing for a few hours wasn't a big deal for a young man like Li Zonghe, but if there were seats available, who would choose to stand? Not only was it uncomfortable, but he also had to endure the curious gazes of others, as if he hadn't paid for his ride.

After that experience, Li Zonghe was prepared this time. He specifically took a bus to the terminal, hoping to avoid the same situation as last year.

The Yuexiu South Bus Terminal, established in 1950, is the oldest long-distance bus station in Guangzhou and the first provincial bus station in the city. It was Li Zonghe's first time visiting this station, and he couldn't help but marvel at its grandeur. "No wonder it's a Guangzhou station, it's truly impressive."

As Li Zonghe entered the station, Chen Guohui and Chen Guomei were also arriving by bus.

Other Bobai natives working in different factories in Guangzhou, who had been given time off, were also rushing to the station to catch their rides.

As Li Zonghe stepped into the station, he heard a familiar accent calling out, "Bobai, Bobai, any Bobai brothers or sisters here?"

Li Zonghe followed the voice and saw a young man holding a sign that read "Bobai" in large letters, occasionally shouting in the Hakka dialect.

Seeing those two familiar, heartwarming words, "Bobai," Li Zonghe felt a surge of excitement.

There was actually a bus to Bobai in Guangzhou!!! At that moment, Li Zonghe felt an overwhelming sense of joy, like a wandering guerrilla fighter finally finding his organization after years of drifting.

With his heart pounding, Li Zonghe quickly approached the young man and asked in a trembling voice, "Brother, when did we start having buses to Bobai from Guangzhou?"

The young man holding the sign was Deng Changliang from Naye Village. Seeing the excited passenger speaking in the Hakka dialect, he smiled and replied, "Brother, it's been running for over three months now."

Li Zonghe's face lit up with excitement. "That's great, really great! Finally, we don't have to transfer halfway anymore."

Deng Changliang had been working with the bus company since the route started. Over the past three months, he had a good understanding of the current situation and knew how difficult it was for people traveling long distances without a direct bus. Missing a transfer could easily delay them by a day.

"Exactly, from now on, all our Bobai brothers and sisters can take a direct bus home without the hassle of transfers!"

Li Zonghe asked with a smile, "Brother, when does the bus leave?"

Deng Changliang replied, "Normally, it leaves at 6 PM, but during the Spring Festival travel rush, there's no fixed time. It leaves once it's full."

Li Zonghe said, "I'll go buy a ticket right away."

Deng Changliang nodded. "Sure, go ahead. You can leave your luggage here, and I'll watch it for you."

Li Zonghe agreed and left his luggage, then joined the queue to buy a ticket. He wasn't worried about the man being a fraud; his luggage contained nothing valuable, just a blanket and some clothes. He kept his money in his inner pocket.

Besides, the man was speaking in the Bobai Hakka dialect, which was the main reason for his trust.

When you're far from home, you naturally trust someone from the same county speaking the same dialect.

As Li Zonghe joined the queue, Deng Changliang continued to call out in the Hakka dialect, worried that some fellow Bobai natives might assume there were no buses to Bobai and buy tickets to Wuzhou instead.

Soon, two young women quickly approached.

These two were none other than Chen Guohui and Chen Guomei. Seeing Deng Changliang holding the sign that read "Bobai," they were equally excited and asked the same questions as Li Zonghe.

"Brother, when did we start having buses to Bobai from Guangzhou?"

Deng Changliang smiled and replied, "It's been running for over three months now. From now on, all our Bobai brothers and sisters can take a direct bus home without the hassle of transfers."

Chen Guohui and Chen Guomei exchanged a glance, both seeing the joy in each other's eyes. This was truly a great piece of news for them. Not only would they avoid the discomfort of transfers, but they would also save time and money.

After a few more questions, the two women also left their luggage and hurriedly joined the queue to buy tickets.

As the morning progressed, more and more Bobai natives arrived at the station. By around 11 AM, the bus was full.

With the strict rule set by Uncle Jiu that the bus must not be overloaded, this bus stopped picking up passengers and left for Bobai, leaving the rest for the company's other bus.

Sitting in the brand-new bus, most of the passengers were Bobai natives who worked in Guangzhou. They chatted in their native dialect, making the ride a completely different and much more enjoyable experience compared to the usual journey to Wuzhou and then transferring.

And the ticket prices were reasonable too. A trip from Guangzhou to Bobai during the Spring Festival travel rush only cost 25 yuan, which was even cheaper than transferring in Wuzhou and then taking another bus to Bobai. The best part was that they didn't have to wait in Wuzhou; they could go straight back to Bobai. It was definitely worth the money.

...

This wasn't just the case in Guangzhou. Cities like Shenzhen, Dongguan, Foshan, Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Huizhou, and Jiangmen were experiencing similar scenarios. Unless their families wrote to them, most of these migrant workers didn't know that there were now direct buses to Bobai from their cities.

Those who had prepared for a long journey home were pleasantly surprised to see the Bobai buses at the stations. The joy they felt was indescribable.

Initially, out of the ten large buses the company had, only two were allocated to Guangzhou and Shenzhen, while the other cities received one each. During the off-season, Guangzhou and Shenzhen each had one bus per day, while the other cities had one every other day.

Now, with the Spring Festival travel rush, the company had to maximize profits without overloading the buses. They implemented a strategy where the buses ran continuously, with the drivers taking turns. Each bus had three drivers, including an experienced one and two who had been trained over the past three months. With three drivers per bus, they could run non-stop.

The ten large buses ran day and night, and with the increased ticket prices during the Spring Festival, the company was making at least 10,000 yuan in pure profit every day.

This was even without overloading the buses. If they were to overload like other companies, the profits would be even more substantial. However, Deng Shirong refused to engage in such practices and wouldn't allow his company to do so. Running the business ethically was already highly profitable, and there was no need to resort to shady tactics.

Seeing the company's success, Deng Changyu, the general manager, and the other management staff were overjoyed. After all, they all had shares in the company. The more the company earned, the more they would receive. They all hoped for the company's continued success.

Deng Shirong was also highly satisfied.

With the New Year approaching, it was time to go home.

Before closing the restaurant, he made sure to pay the employees their wages and bonuses. Last year, apart from Zhang Guangzong, who received an extra 100 yuan, all other employees received an extra month's salary as a bonus.

This year, the restaurant's pure profit was nearly 40,000 yuan. Deng Shirong generously instructed his eldest son to give the employees an extra two months' salary as a bonus and gave Zhang Guangzong a red envelope with 188 yuan.

The employees had expected the same bonus as last year, so the extra month's salary came as a pleasant surprise.

Seeing the employees' joyful faces, Deng Shirong added, "Everyone has worked hard this year. Go home and have a happy New Year with your families. When you return to work next year, we'll give you a raise."

The employees were so excited they almost shouted "Long live the boss!"

A raise, whether in this era or in the future, was always a cause for celebration.

...

On the 26th day of the 12th lunar month, Deng Shirong and his family returned to Naye Village, while his mother-in-law had already gone home earlier.

With the return of Deng Shirong's family, his niece and her husband were also going home for the New Year.

Deng Shirong took out 300 yuan and handed it to his niece, saying with a smile, "One hundred is your salary for this month, and the other two hundred is a New Year's red envelope from your uncle."

He had raised the salaries of his niece and her husband after selling watermelons this year.

"Thank you, Uncle!"

Bu Dafang, who had decided to work with her uncle, accepted the money happily.

Next, Deng Shirong brought out a bag of New Year's goods, most of which he had bought in the county, and said, "Take these home for the New Year. The bicycles are in the house; you can take one to ride back. Spend more time with your children at home. Don't come to me on the second day of the New Year. Wait until after the holiday and bring Dahu over to start school."

Bu Dafang nodded with a smile, "Okay, I understand. We'll go back now!"

Jiang Dahu also said goodbye to everyone and rode his bicycle home with his wife.

...

Over the next two days, Deng Shirong was busy helping his children and their spouses make glutinous rice cakes. In Bobai, you could be missing anything during the New Year, but not the glutinous rice cakes. They were essential for the holiday, and without them, the New Year wouldn't feel complete.

During this time, many clan members came to inquire about the bus company. Deng Shirong didn't disclose the exact profits but mentioned that the buses from Guangdong were always full before he returned.

This news quickly spread throughout the clan. Everyone knew the bus company was making money, but no one knew exactly how much.

Soon, it was the 29th day of the 12th lunar month, and Deng Shirong held the annual scholarship meeting at the ancestral hall.

After everyone had gathered, Deng Shirong stepped up to the podium and addressed the crowd, "During the summer break, our clan held a scholarship and assistance program. Many of our talented young clan members received financial aid and scholarships. Now that the fall semester has ended and the final exam results are out, it's time to reward them again.

"Next, please have the students bring their report cards to Teacher Changhua for registration. Once the registration is complete, we will distribute the scholarships."

Since this had been announced in advance, the students were well-prepared and quickly lined up to register their report cards with Teacher Changhua. With the help of other clan members, the entire process was completed in less than half an hour.

During the spring semester, 136 students from our clan had ranked in the top ten of their classes, with 22 of them placing second or third, and 9 placing first. The total scholarship expenditure was 1,447 yuan.

This fall, 148 students from our clan ranked in the top ten, with 28 placing second or third, and 10 placing first. According to our scholarship standards, the total expenditure will be 1,600 yuan.

The remaining scholarship fund from the previous donations was 4,135 yuan. After deducting the 1,600 yuan, we have a balance of 2,535 yuan.

After distributing the scholarships and seeing the smiles on the faces of the students who received their rewards, Deng Shirong stepped up to the podium again, "Compared to the spring semester, we have 12 more students ranking in the top ten of their classes this fall. I hope that next spring, you will continue to work hard and achieve even better results."

Then, the elderly clan leader, Deng Shian, also took the stage to give a few encouraging words to the students.

With that, the scholarship and assistance program came to an end.

However, since the clan members rarely gathered, Deng Shirong took the opportunity to discuss the operations of the passenger transport company. Although the company had only been running for three and a half months, it was still too early for dividends. However, informing the clan members about the company's success would help them enjoy the New Year more.

"Brothers and nephews, I know you are all very concerned about the operations of the passenger transport company," Deng Shirong said, looking at the crowd below. "Since I returned from the county, I've been asked about the company every day. I told them that our buses from Guangdong are always full, but that only tells you that the company is making money. It doesn't give you a clear idea of how much."

"Now that everyone is here, I'll share the estimated figures with you."

Deng Changbao, the second-largest shareholder, was the most concerned about the company's performance. He immediately asked, "Grandpa Jiu, after this Spring Festival travel rush, can the company make between 100,000 and 150,000 yuan?"

The farmers in the crowd were taken aback by the mention of such a large sum. Could money really be that easy to earn?

However, the business-minded clan members like Deng Yun Gui, Deng Yun Fa, and Deng Changxiong were not surprised, as they had already speculated about similar figures.

Deng Shirong smiled, "I think your estimate could be even bolder."

Deng Changbao's eyes lit up, and he eagerly asked, "Grandpa Jiu, please tell us, how much will the company make after this Spring Festival travel rush?"

Deng Shirong didn't keep them in suspense any longer. "According to our estimates and projections, with the buses always full, the company makes over 10,000 yuan in pure profit per day. After this Spring Festival travel rush, we expect to make around 400,000 yuan."

This statement was like pouring a bowl of water into a scorching oil pan, causing immediate uproar.

"My goodness, 400,000 yuan from one Spring Festival travel rush?"

"That's terrifying! Is money really that easy to earn these days?"

"It's not that money is easy to earn, it's that Grandpa Jiu is too talented. He led the establishment of the passenger transport company and invested so much money. It would be strange if it didn't make a profit!"

"We missed out! If we had known the passenger transport company would be so profitable, I would have sold everything I owned to invest more!"

"I did sell everything I owned, but I was still too conservative. I should have taken a loan from the credit union."

"Indeed, while I thought the passenger transport company had potential, I never imagined it would be this profitable!"

"Who's good at math? Quickly, calculate how much each share would earn if the company makes 400,000 yuan."

"I'm pretty good at math. Let me do the calculations for you. When the passenger transport company was established, the clan raised a total of 2,630,000 yuan, with each share costing 1,000 yuan, for a total of 2,630 shares. Dividing 400,000 yuan by 2,630 shares, each share would earn around 150 yuan!"

"Heaven! That means, if I invested in 4 shares, I would earn at least 600 yuan from this Spring Festival travel rush?"

"Yes!"

"..."

The more the clan members discussed, the more excited they became. The company's earning speed far exceeded their expectations.

Deng Changbao, as the second-largest shareholder, was particularly elated. He had invested all the funds he could spare into the passenger transport company, securing 24 shares. With each share earning 150 yuan, he would make 3,600 yuan.

And this was just the beginning. Once the company grows and expands to dozens or even hundreds of buses, the profits will far surpass those from his brick factory. At that point, he could easily become a millionaire without breaking a sweat!

Apart from Deng Changbao, other clan members like Deng YunGui, Deng Changxiong, and Deng Yunfa, who had invested "huge sums" into the company, were also too excited to express their emotions. Most of them had their own businesses, and they were quite profitable, which is why they could become ten-thousand-yuan households in this era.

However, their small businesses paled in comparison to the promising future of the passenger transport company. This grand business venture was initiated by the clan leader, and they all held him in the highest regard for leading them to prosperity.

Once the clan members, including Deng Shirong, had calmed down a bit, he said, "This company belongs to the entire clan. Now that it's generating profits, I have a proposal. Instead of individual donations, the company will directly fund scholarships for outstanding clan members.

Additionally, once the company makes substantial profits, we can use the funds for our clan's ancestral worship, building the ancestral hall, constructing schools, roads, and river embankments. What do you all think?"

Deng Shian, the village secretary, was the first to respond, "This is a great idea. These are all major clan affairs that affect every member. It's only fitting that the company should take care of them."

Deng Changbao also nodded, "That's only right. I agree."

Other clan members echoed their support. No one had any objections to this plan. The clan leader, being the largest shareholder, was the one who would bear the most financial burden. If he had no objections, why should the smaller shareholders?

With this matter settled, the clan meeting drew to a close. They chatted casually for a while before dispersing.

...

This year, the entire Naye Deng clan was filled with laughter and joy.

Although most clan members were still financially strained, having invested most of their savings and profits from selling watermelons into the passenger transport company, which hadn't yet reached the dividend stage, they were all looking forward to the upcoming profits. They knew that after the Spring Festival travel rush, the company would earn around 300,000 to 400,000 yuan, and as shareholders, they were naturally thrilled.

On New Year's Eve, during the family dinner, Deng Shirong gave a summary and outlook for the future, and the family enjoyed a warm and joyful evening.

Later that night, more people gathered at Deng Shirong's house to watch the Spring Festival Gala than the previous year. Last year, after watching the gala, everyone had discussed its highlights, and those who hadn't come to watch it regretted it deeply.

Having missed the gala last year, they were determined not to miss it this year.

So, long before the gala began, Deng Shirong's wooden pavilion was packed with people, and more kept arriving. By 7 PM, at least a thousand people had gathered to watch the gala. Considering that the entire Naye Deng clan numbered only about 3,000 people, this meant that more than a third of the clan had come to Deng Shirong's house, an unprecedented and likely unmatched event.

At 8 PM, the Spring Festival Gala began on schedule.

Following the success of last year's gala, this year's event was even better. It combined mainstream and popular culture, featuring Hong Kong and Taiwan celebrities to promote cultural integration between the mainland and the regions. The performances were indeed spectacular, and Deng Shirong was thoroughly entertained.

According to Guangxi's New Year traditions, fireworks and firecrackers were set off at midnight.

As midnight approached, some clan members, though reluctant, had to leave to set off fireworks. However, several hundred stayed to watch the gala until the end.

The gala concluded with the theme song "Unforgettable Tonight," which became a staple of future galas.

After the gala, the clan members returned home. Deng Shirong's family prepared offerings for their ancestors and then had a late-night snack.

While having the snack, Deng Shirong said to his eldest son, "Yuntai, this year, while managing the restaurant, pay attention to various manufacturers of goods, whether it's food, daily necessities, textiles, tobacco and alcohol, electronics, or hardware. Try to get their contact information."

With the reforms and opening up gaining momentum following the Southern Tour of the Chief Designer, the time was ripe to plan for a chain of supermarkets.

This wasn't something that could be accomplished overnight. Deng Shirong's plan was for his eldest son to start preparing after the New Year and open the first supermarket around 1986.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end