Chapter 285: Director Zhu Is Stunned [Please Subscribe]

Chapter 285: Director Zhu Is Stunned [Please Subscribe]



---

The County Town.

By the Nanliu River.

Deng Yunzhen’s face was filled with pride as she spoke, and Zhu Junjie sincerely praised her, "Uncle, it’s truly rare to find someone like you. In our village, if a family is struggling, they usually only send their sons to school. It’s impossible for their daughters to get an education."

Deng Yunzhen replied, "There’s no way around it. Once a daughter is married off, she’s like water that’s been poured out. It’s the same in our Songshan commune and throughout the entire Bobai region."

Zhu Junjie nodded, then changed the subject, "Ah Yunzhen, I heard that your five younger siblings are still in school?"

Deng Yunzhen affirmed, "Yes, they are all still in school!"

Zhu Junjie asked, "The oldest one, how old is he? Shouldn’t he be in university by now?"

Deng Yunzhen replied, "My second brother is in his third year of university!"

Zhu Junjie’s face was filled with envy as he said, "A university student! I wanted to go to university too, but unfortunately, I didn’t pass the entrance exams. Which university is your second brother attending?"

At this, Deng Yunzhen’s pride was immeasurable, and she smiled broadly, "Peking University."

Zhu Junjie was taken aback, thinking he must have heard wrong. He asked again, "Which university?"

Deng Yunzhen smiled and repeated, "Peking University."

This time, Zhu Junjie was certain he hadn’t misunderstood. He was utterly stunned, his eyes wide open. He never imagined that the family of the woman he was meeting for a date not only had money but also a brother studying at Peking University. This family was truly extraordinary.

If the family only had money, he, as the deputy director of the Public Security Bureau, would still have some confidence when facing them. But with a promising Peking University student, the family had both wealth and background, far surpassing his own.

Seeing Zhu Junjie’s stunned expression, the considerate Deng Yunzhen cleverly shifted the topic, "Speaking of which, my second brother is also your alumnus. He also attended Songshan High School, in Class 34."

Zhu Junjie was even more surprised. He had attended Songshan High School and knew that the school’s teaching quality was, at best, average. For such a school to produce a Peking University student was truly astonishing.

After all, even ordinary universities rarely had more than three graduates each year.

And the gap between ordinary universities and Peking University was like the difference between heaven and earth.

Zhu Junjie exclaimed, "My goodness, your second brother is a genius! To get into Peking University from Songshan High School is simply unbelievable."

Deng Yunzhen smiled, "He is indeed a genius, but even we find it hard to believe he got into Peking University."

Zhu Junjie then asked, "What about your other siblings?"

Deng Yunzhen replied, "My third brother is in his first year at Bobai High School, my sister and fourth brother are in junior high school at home, and my youngest brother is in fifth grade at the village primary school."

Zhu Junjie was once again struck by surprise. While the others seemed normal, the third brother attending Bobai High School, the best high school in the county, was likely to become a university student in a couple of years.

After all, Bobai High School admitted the best students from each commune, and the chances of getting into university were much higher than at other high schools in the county.

Indeed, the matchmaker was right; this family was full of educated people!

---

The two of them faced the Nanliu River, chatting about everything under the sun. They didn’t have a specific topic, but they could talk about even the most mundane household matters with great interest.

If someone experienced in dating were to see this, they would know that these two were likely to end up together.

The chemistry between a man and a woman is the strangest thing. When two people have mutual feelings, they never run out of topics to talk about, and there’s no risk of awkward silences. Whatever one says, the other will listen with great interest and naturally provide witty responses.

But if there’s no mutual interest, or if it’s one-sided, the conversation becomes very awkward. No matter how hard you try to find topics, the other person will show little interest, and even polite responses will feel forced.

In such a case, no matter how much enthusiasm you have, it will gradually cool down.

Because the two of them were getting along so well, they chatted for over two hours without realizing it.

It wasn’t until their stomachs protested with hunger that they came back to their senses. They smiled at each other and walked back the way they came.

---

Afternoon.

Sui Feng Hotel.

After the matchmaker, Zhang Guoan, and the Zhu family of three left, everyone immediately asked Deng Yunzhen about the meeting.

Zhang Xiuping, her sister-in-law, asked first, "Ah Yunzhen, how did it go? Did you like him?"

In front of her family and relatives, Deng Yunzhen didn’t hide her feelings. She replied, "I felt it went well today, but I need to see how things develop."

Zhang Xiuping smiled, "That’s a good start!"

Deng Shirong said, "Since it felt good, you should keep seeing each other. There’s no rush to talk about marriage until you’ve thought it through."

Deng Yunzhen nodded and said, "Dad, I understand."

...

Due to the profound lessons from his previous life, this time around, Deng Shirong placed great importance on his children's marriages. Even though he knew that veterans from the military would undoubtedly have impeccable morals, he still felt the need to thoroughly investigate other aspects to set his mind at ease.

The next day, Deng Shirong took a bus to Songshan Commune, then rushed to Changpo Village in Shanxin Township. He visited seven or eight households to gather information about the Zhu family.

First, he inquired about Zhu Junjie's parents, who had a good reputation in the village. The couple never took advantage of others and had never been involved in any disputes. They were known for living a simple and honest life.

Zhu Junjie's elder brother inherited his parents' traits and was a straightforward and reliable person. His wife was a hardworking and capable woman, but she was a bit petty, always counting pennies and making sure she never lost out to anyone.

With the second brother and his wife, the situation was reversed. The second brother was somewhat petty and calculative, to the point where even the neighbors could hear his constant scheming. However, his wife was more generous and open-minded.

As for Zhu Junjie himself, the villagers remembered him as a mischievous child, but one who was very loyal and had a strong sense of justice. He was quite influential among his peers and was considered the leader of the younger generation.

Moreover, he had inherited his parents' quality of never taking advantage of others, never taking anything that didn't belong to him, and had a good character.

After gathering all this information, Deng Shirong finally felt at ease.

Although Zhu Junjie's elder sister-in-law and second brother were not the easiest people to get along with, they had already separated from the main household. In the future, even if they became in-laws, they would only meet during holidays, and there would be minimal interaction otherwise, which wouldn't cause any significant issues.

With his purpose achieved, Deng Shirong left Changpo Village satisfied.

...

After the Spring Equinox.

The entire Bo Bai region began a large-scale ancestral worship ceremony.

As the clan leader, Deng Shirong had to decide whether to clear the graves or perform the ancestral worship ceremony.

In Naye Deng Clan, clearing the graves and performing the ancestral worship ceremony were entirely different processes.

Clearing the graves was a simpler affair, similar to maintaining a family grave, and could be completed in less than half an hour.

However, the ancestral worship ceremony was a more elaborate and complex event. It involved a procession with drums and gongs, carrying clan flags with the Deng surname, and bringing a large fat pig, a whole sheep, and various poultry as offerings.

It's important to note that the Bo Bai region was mountainous, and people were often buried on the mountains. Some of these mountains were so remote that there were no paths leading to them, making it a challenging task to carry a large pig up the mountain.

Upon reaching the grave, the initial steps were similar to clearing the graves, involving the cleaning of the surrounding area. However, once the area was cleared, a respected elder would recite the memorial text, and designated individuals would perform the rituals. The clan members would follow instructions to perform the three kneels and nine bows.

Those who had the privilege to kneel in the front row were the clan's prominent figures—either wealthy, influential, or highly respected.

In summary, the ancestral worship ceremony required significant human and material resources.

Moreover, once the ceremony began, it had to be performed for three consecutive years.

In recent years, due to well-known reasons, the Naye Deng Clan had not performed the ancestral worship ceremony for over a decade. This year, some clan members suggested starting it again, so the prominent figures gathered to discuss the matter.

Deng Yun Tian said, "Uncle Nine, under your leadership, our lives have improved significantly. The current situation is not as tense as before, so we can consider starting the ancestral worship ceremony."

Deng Yun Fa added, "The Naye Deng Clan hasn't performed the ancestral worship ceremony for over a decade. It's indeed time to consider it."

Deng Yun Gui said, "We can consider starting the ancestral worship ceremony, but I don't think we should rush into it. Although the situation has relaxed, it hasn't fully normalized. If someone were to make an issue of it, it could still cause problems. I suggest we wait and see."

Deng Chang Bao said, "I also think we should wait and see. Regardless of the current situation, the passenger transport company hasn't started distributing dividends yet. Holding such a grand ceremony without financial stability doesn't feel right. We can consider it next year after the company starts paying dividends."

Deng Chang Xiong said, "I agree with Bao. We can have a grand ancestral worship ceremony next year after the company starts paying dividends."

Deng Shi An looked at Deng Shirong and asked, "Old Nine, what do you think?"

Deng Shirong said, "The purpose of the ancestral worship ceremony is not only to honor our ancestors but also to symbolize the continuation of life and the promotion of clan culture, enhancing the clan's cohesion. This is something we must do. However, everyone's money is currently invested in the passenger transport company, and it wouldn't be appropriate to hold the ceremony now.

So, let's wait until next year when the company starts paying dividends, and then we can have a joyful ancestral worship ceremony."

Deng Shi An nodded and said, "Alright, let's wait until next year. After all, we've waited this long, so one more year won't make a difference."

The other clan members also agreed, and the matter was settled.

...

It was the 29th of the second lunar month, a Saturday.

At 9 AM, the Deng Shirong family set out with offerings and tools to clear the mountains.

The ancestors were extremely particular about feng shui, and many of them even consulted feng shui masters to choose their burial sites while they were still alive. As a result, the ancestral graves were scattered across different mountains, and each year, the family had to trek through hills and valleys, spending most of their time on the journey.

In recent decades, however, people no longer buried their loved ones far away. They mostly chose the mountain opposite their village, which resulted in an increasing number of graves. By the time of the future, that mountain was densely packed with at least a few dozen graves, making it feel eerie even in broad daylight.

This mountain, called Dawodong, had become a true graveyard.

Of course, that was in the future. Currently, Dawodong only had a few graves, no different from any other hill.

The Deng Shirong family’s schedule for clearing the graves was to do the grandfather's graves in the morning and the parents' and deceased wife's graves in the afternoon.

The graves of the grandfather's generation were farther away, so Deng Shirong left his eldest daughter-in-law at home to take care of Xiaodong and Dongzi. In the afternoon, when they went to Dawodong to clear the graves of his parents and deceased wife, the entire family joined in.

The distance from Deng Shirong's home to Dawodong was only a few hundred meters, separated by a river.

In the summer, the young men of the village swam and bathed in this river, and the women washed clothes there year-round.

As Deng Shirong crossed the wooden bridge, he looked at the clear water and recalled how the river had been polluted to the point of stenching in the future. A sense of responsibility filled his heart. Even if he couldn't keep the water as clear as it was now, he was determined to prevent it from becoming as polluted as it had been in the future.

However, there was no immediate urgency. The river remained very clear until the mid-1990s, and it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that many people would drink directly from the river when they were thirsty.

Once the bus company made a fortune, he planned to invest part of the profits in building riverbanks and planting scenic trees, turning the river into the village’s most beautiful landscape. He would then call for everyone to protect the environment and prevent the river from being polluted. He believed this would be effective.

Of course, preventing river pollution wasn’t something the Deng clan could achieve alone. They would need to collaborate with other brigades upstream; otherwise, even if they did their best downstream, it would be futile if the upstream area was not careful.

Thus, the task was quite challenging.

Fortunately, there was no immediate rush. In a few years, when he had gained some influence in the neighboring brigades and even other communes, leading such an initiative would be less difficult.

...

In this era, with trucks being scarce, freight transportation was almost as good as picking up money. It was incredibly profitable.

Bu Zhongshi was truly reaping the benefits, especially after establishing a relationship with Zhouwang Brigade's mine. He had a constant stream of cargo to transport.

The Zhouwang Brigade's mine, known as the 541 Mine, was discovered by the Guangdong 704 Geological team in June 1965 and transferred to the Guangxi Sixth Geological Team in 1969 for further exploration. It was a medium-sized niobium-tantalum deposit within a granite pegmatite, with recoverable minerals including cassiterite, potassium feldspar, and kaolin.

The potassium feldspar in the mine, located 5-15 meters below the surface, had weathered into kaolin and was mined as white clay. The product was sold to over 20 ceramic factories inside and outside the region for industrial and daily use, ensuring a constant demand for white clay.

Over the past year, Bu Zhongshi had been raking in profits.

Seeing how lucrative it was, Bu Zhongshi decided to buy another truck.

However, before making the decision, he visited his uncle to seek his opinion. If his uncle agreed, he would proceed with confidence; if his uncle had reservations, he would hold off.

Under the wooden shelter, after listening to his nephew, Deng Shirong didn’t give a direct answer but asked, "How many people have you trained to drive?"

Bu Zhongshi replied, "Four have their driver's licenses, but only Dajun can handle it independently."

Deng Shirong said, "You need to train more drivers who can handle it independently. Adding trucks one by one is too slow. There’s always a surplus of white clay to transport, and by September or October, your sugarcane will be ready to harvest, providing even more cargo.

"I think you can take a bigger step and buy two more trucks. One can be driven by Dajun with a team, and the other by a hired driver. With three trucks running non-stop, your income will increase rapidly."

Seeing his uncle’s support, the ambitious Bu Zhongshi had no more reservations and immediately agreed, "Alright, I’ll go to the bank tomorrow to apply for a loan. Once the money comes in, I’ll buy two more trucks."

Deng Shirong reminded him, "If you’re going to borrow, borrow more. When you want to buy more trucks later, you won’t have to worry about not having enough money. It’s easier to get loans now, but that doesn’t mean it will always be this easy."

Buzhongshi nodded. "Alright, I'll see how much I can borrow."

"Make sure to quickly form your team of drivers. Find reliable young men from the village, train them, and once they're ready, you can increase the number of trucks you have. In this era, as long as you have the vehicles, you won't even need to look for cargo. The owners will come to you."

"Got it, I'll take care of it."

...

County Town.

Public Security Bureau.

After finishing his work, Zhu Junjie didn’t even go home to change his clothes. He rushed out of the police station.

As he stepped out, he saw Deng Yunzhen already waiting for him. Zhu Junjie quickly said, "Sorry, I’m late!"

Deng Yunzhen smiled. "No problem, work comes first."

"Shall we grab a bowl of noodles first and then take a walk in the park?"

"Sure, follow me. I know a place that makes delicious noodles."

So, the two of them headed to the eastern market, where they enjoyed a bowl of authentic raw meat noodles at a local stall before walking to the People's Park.

The People's Park of Baise County is located on the north side of the county town. It was formerly known as Zhongshan Park and was renamed the People's Park in 1956. The park covers an area of 18,432 square meters.

This wasn’t their first date. Since their initial matchmaking meeting, where they left a good impression on each other, Zhu Junjie had often invited Deng Yunzhen out for walks, movies, or conversations in scenic spots.

After a few outings, their relationship had warmed considerably, and it felt like they were truly dating.

The People's Park of Baise County wasn’t as well-equipped as it would be in the future, but it was a beautiful place, especially with the blooming flowers.

As they strolled along the forest paths, Zhu Junjie asked a question that had been on his mind. "Yunzhen, in the village, most people our age are already married and have children. Why do you want to wait a couple more years before getting married?"

Deng Yunzhen smiled. "No particular reason, I just enjoy the comfort of home. I want to enjoy these peaceful days a bit longer before getting married and enduring the hardships."

Zhu Junjie chuckled. "Who told you that marriage means hardship?"

Deng Yunzhen replied, "It’s not an absolute, of course. My sister-in-law, for example, has been very happy since she married into our family. But many girls who marry into our village suffer. They have to do everything, and they might even have to deal with their mother-in-law’s attitude. If they don’t have a son, it’s even worse.

In short, seeing their lives, I think it’s better not to get married too early. I’d rather enjoy a few more years of comfort at my parents' house."

Zhu Junjie said, "Yunzhen, you’re being too pessimistic about marriage. Since your sister-in-law can have such a good life after marrying into your family, you also have a chance to have a good life!"

Deng Yunzhen looked at him with a half-smile, her words carrying a deeper meaning. "I’m not being pessimistic. As the saying goes, men fear choosing the wrong profession, and women fear marrying the wrong man. Marriage is a matter that affects a lifetime of happiness, so it can’t be decided rashly. It must be thoroughly observed."

Zhu Junjie naturally picked up on the underlying message and laughed awkwardly. "You’re right, it should be thoroughly observed. If it’s not satisfactory, one shouldn’t marry."

"Exactly."

Deng Yunzhen smiled, then asked, "I have a question for you, too."

Zhu Junjie said, "Go ahead, I’ll answer honestly."

Deng Yunzhen’s expression turned serious. "I know that in Baise, there’s a strong preference for boys over girls. My father is one of the few who treats all children equally. I’m curious, how severe are your parents’ views on this? If you get married, will you insist that your wife keep having children until she gives birth to a son?"

Hearing this question, Zhu Junjie knew it was a test. If his answer didn’t satisfy her, the consequences could be serious.

He was well aware that his parents had a preference for boys.

After a moment’s thought, Zhu Junjie replied, "Yunzhen, you’ve hit the nail on the head. I won’t hide anything from you. My parents definitely have a preference for boys, as you can understand from their generation.

As for whether I would insist on having a son, according to my parents, the answer would be yes. But my views are more open-minded. I can accept either a boy or a girl and won’t be fixated on having a son."

Deng Yunzhen asked, "You won’t be fixated on having a son, but your parents will insist. How would you handle that situation?"

She wasn’t trying to be difficult; she just wanted to be prepared. She had seen how Zhang Qi from the village suffered after having five daughters in a row. She didn’t want to endure that kind of hardship.

Regardless of the gender of the children, she planned to have only three, no more.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end