Chapter 292: The National Day Parade in Fengshen

Chapter 292: The National Day Parade in Fengshen

Noon.

In a girls' dormitory at Songshan High School, Deng Yunzhu quickly packed all her belongings.

Seeing this, her dorm mates were not surprised, as many of them were doing the same thing.

After all, it was Saturday today, Sunday tomorrow, and Monday was National Day, so they had a two-and-a-half-day holiday. It was perfectly normal for students to take their luggage home during such a break.

Despite Deng Shirong's generous spending of tens or even hundreds of thousands of yuan, it would be a mistake to think that everyone in this era was wealthy. In reality, it was only 1984, and the majority of families in the countryside were still struggling.

Many students' families lacked quilts, mats, and clothes. If they didn't bring these items home during the holiday, they would have nothing extra to use. Therefore, they always packed these items when they went home.

Everyone assumed that Deng Yunzhu was also taking her luggage home, never guessing that she was moving her belongings to the teachers' dormitory to live with her English teacher, Li Mei.

Soon, Deng Yunzhu picked up her packed luggage and left the dormitory without any hesitation, where she had stayed for nearly a month.

At the teachers' dormitory building, Teacher Li Mei was waiting downstairs.

After greeting each other, Teacher Li Mei led Deng Yunzhu to her room on the second floor. The room was quite simple, containing only a bunk bed, a desk, a dining table, a wooden box, and two stools.

Li Mei pointed to the top bunk, which was already tidied up, and said, "Deng Yunzhu, you can sleep on the top bunk!"

Deng Yunzhu nodded and placed her luggage on the top bunk, saying, "Teacher Li, I'll just leave the things here for now and organize them when I return from the holiday."

Li Mei smiled and said, "You can leave them here. I'll have some time to help you set up the bed."

Deng Yunzhu quickly replied, "Teacher Li, I can't let you do that. I'll set it up myself when I come back!"

Li Mei said, "Don't be so formal. Setting up a bed only takes a few minutes."

Deng Yunzhu thought about bringing some snacks for her teacher when she returned and decided not to argue further. She said, "Thank you, Teacher Li. My neighbors are waiting for me to go home, so I'll be leaving now!"

Li Mei smiled and said, "Okay, I'll get another key made tomorrow. You can have it when you return to school next week."

"Thank you, Teacher Li. Goodbye!"

"Goodbye!"

...

Leaving the teachers' dormitory building, Deng Yunzhu went to the bicycle shed where her village mates were already waiting for her.

"Second Auntie."

Greeting Deng Yunzhu were two boys. One was Deng Sibao from Shanghang Village, a sophomore this year. The other was Deng Sida from Meitian Village, a freshman.

Every time she heard this title, Deng Yunzhu wanted to dig a hole and hide in it. Being of a higher generation wasn't always a good thing. Being called an aunt was manageable, but being called "Second Auntie" was a different story.

Deng Yunzhu said with a helpless look, "Can't you just call me by my name?"

Deng Sibao chuckled and said, "Second Auntie, you'll just have to bear with it. We can't call you by your name. If my father heard, he'd break my legs."

Deng Sida nodded and said, "That's right, Second Auntie. Don't make it hard for us. My father calls you Aunt, so if I call you by your name, I'd be asking for a beating."

Deng Yunzhu knew it would be difficult to change their habits, so she unlocked her bicycle and waved her hand. "Forget it. You can call me whatever you want back in the village. Just don't do it at school. I'm hungry, so let's go get some noodles first."

Deng Sibao and Deng Sida agreed, and the three of them rode their bicycles out of the school gate, had a bowl of noodles at a street stall, and then rode back to their village together.

...

Afternoon.

Naye Village.

Seeing that his children were back for the holiday, Deng Shirong decided to prepare a classic dish, stir-fried chicken with garlic white.

In Bobai County, there are roughly three common ways to cook chicken: poached chicken, salt-baked chicken, and stir-fried chicken with garlic white.

Poached chicken doesn't need much introduction; it is a must-have dish at every festival and banquet in Bobai.

Salt-baked chicken is one of the three famous traditional dishes in Guangdong, evolving from the "salt-wrapped salted chicken" that the Hakka people brought during their migration. It has a history of over a thousand years.

Salt-baked chicken is made from free-range chickens from the Hakka mountainous areas, processed through more than a dozen steps, and is known for its "fresh, salty, and rich" flavor. It is a traditional culinary brand of the Hakka people and a living fossil of Hakka history and culture.

Compared to the fame of the first two dishes, stir-fried chicken with garlic white is relatively unknown. However, the taste is just as good, especially in rural areas where chickens are usually cooked either poached or stir-fried with garlic white, with no other common methods.

For the stir-fried chicken with garlic white, Deng Shirong chose a large castrated rooster that had been raised for about a year and used the garlic white part of locally grown garlic, discarding the leaves.

First, the chicken was boiled to remove the blood and impurities, which improved the taste when stir-fried.

Sitting by the stove, tending to the fire, was the youngest daughter, Deng Yunzhu. At eighteen, she was a true young woman. She watched her father cook while tending to the fire.

Seeing her interest, Deng Shirong said as he poured oil into the heated wok, "Ahzhu, this dish is the most common in the countryside. It's very simple to learn, but some people can't make it taste good. Do you know why?"

Deng Yunzhu shook her head. "Why? Is there a trick to stir-frying chicken?"

Deng Shirong smiled. "There is indeed a trick. The reason some people can't make it taste good is either because they dry out the chicken or they don't extract the chicken fat properly. If you do it the way I do, it will taste delicious. Watch closely."

As he spoke, the oil was already hot. Deng Shirong seasoned the wok, poured out the hot oil, and added cool oil to reheat it before tossing in the chopped chicken pieces to stir-fry.

While stir-frying, Deng Shirong explained, "The first step is to extract the chicken fat. Stir-fry for a few minutes until some of the fat is released, then add an appropriate amount of soy sauce to color the chicken. After that, add some water and a little sugar to enhance the flavor."

He then covered the wok. "Turn the heat down a bit and let it simmer for about fifteen to twenty minutes."

Deng Yunzhu nodded and turned down the heat. She then said, "Dad, it does look quite simple. Simmer for fifteen to twenty minutes, then add some salt and the sliced garlic white, and finally, cook on high heat to reduce the sauce. Is that it?"

Deng Shirong smiled. "Pretty much. You can also add a little oyster sauce if you like."

Deng Yunzhu said, "I think I can do it after watching you once!"

Deng Shirong replied, "It's not difficult, but you need to pay attention to the amount of water. Too much, and it becomes boiled chicken; too little, and it can dry out. You need to get the balance right to make it taste good."

Deng Yunzhu nodded. While waiting, she told her father about changing her dorm room at school. She finished by saying, "Now, I'm staying in the teachers' dormitory with my English teacher."

Deng Shirong was surprised by his youngest daughter's boldness and wit, using her older brother's influence at school to achieve her goal. He praised her, "Well done. It's smart to use available resources to improve your life."

Encouraged by her father's praise, Deng Yunzhu asked, "Dad, should I bring some gifts to Director Dai and Teacher Li when I return to school?"

Deng Shirong smiled. "That's a good idea. When you go back, bring a pack of tea and a bag of fresh fruit for Director Dai. For Teacher Li, bring a pack of longan meat and a bag of fresh fruit."

Deng Yunzhu nodded. "Okay, I understand!"

Deng Shirong added, "Since you'll be living with Teacher Li for the rest of your high school years, bring her some fruit or something similar each time you return. It doesn't have to be expensive; the thought is what counts."

Deng Yunzhu nodded repeatedly.

Seeing that the time was right, Deng Shirong opened the wok lid. By now, about eighty percent of the chicken fat had been extracted, and most of the water had evaporated. He added an appropriate amount of oyster sauce and salt, then poured in the sliced garlic white and instructed, "Now, you can turn up the heat!"

Deng Yunzhu added a handful of dried grass to the stove, which ignited quickly, providing a lot of heat.

Deng Shirong continued to stir-fry for about twenty seconds before the dish was ready.

The golden chicken in the dish and the enticing aroma made Deng Yunzhu's mouth water.

Soon, Deng Shirong cooked a side of vegetables and announced it was time to eat.

"This chicken is so delicious, Dad. You really know how to cook."

"It's been a long time since I've had such good food. The meals at school are just a joke."

"Not only are they a joke, but they're also not clean. I often find bugs in the vegetables, which is really disgusting!"

"..."

During the meal, Deng Yunzhu, Deng Yunhua, and Deng Yunheng praised their father's cooking while complaining about the school food.

Deng Yunzhu was at Songshan High School, while Deng Yunhua and Deng Yunheng were at Shuangwang Junior High School. They all returned home once a week, spending most of their time eating at school. The school food was often criticized by students, even more so in this era.

Deng Shirong was aware of the poor quality of the school food. After some thought, he said, "Since the school food isn't good, you might as well eat out. I won't skimp on your meal allowance."

The three siblings' eyes lit up.

Deng Yunzhu was a bit more mature, being a high school student and an adult.

As an adult daughter, Deng Shirong wouldn't skimp on her finances. He gave her 20 yuan for living expenses each month, which was quite generous for a high school student. She could easily cover her meals and still have money left for snacks.

Moreover, Deng Yunzhu had her private savings, such as the hundreds of yuan she received as a red envelope during the Spring Festival and the scholarship awarded by the clan when she was admitted to high school. This made her the wealthiest student at Songshan High School, without a doubt.

As for Deng Yunhua and Deng Yunheng, these two brothers actually had plenty of pocket money, but they were big shots at school and often treated the younger students who followed them, which naturally increased their expenses compared to their sister. Additionally, their living expenses were less than their sister's, so they naturally had tighter finances.

Now, hearing their father's intention to increase their monthly living expenses, they were naturally delighted.

After discussing their children's education, Deng Shirong turned to his niece and said, "Dafang, the sugarcane your parents planted is almost ready to be harvested, right?"

Bu Dafang nodded and said, "Zhongshi mentioned a few days ago that they would start harvesting the sugarcane in about half a month."

Deng Shirong asked, "How is the sugarcane growing?"

Bu Dafang replied, "I went to check last month, and the sugarcane is growing very well. A yield of 3 tons per acre should be no problem."

Deng Shirong smiled and said, "Then your parents will make a lot of money this year. When it's time to harvest the sugarcane, remind them not to do everything themselves. They should know when to ask for help. The cost of hiring workers is negligible compared to the overall income."

Jiang Dehu added, "Dad and Mom are used to being frugal. If we don't remind them, they might really do it themselves."

"I'll talk to them about it."

With that, Deng Shirong turned to his niece again and said, "Next Saturday, Ahzhen will probably visit her prospective in-laws. You should go with her!"

Bu Dafang was both surprised and delighted. She didn't know about this and quickly asked, "Uncle, where is Ahzhen's fiance from, and what does he do?"

Deng Yunzhu, Deng Yunhua, and Deng Yunheng also heard this news for the first time and were equally surprised.

Deng Shirong said, "The man is from Shanxin. He just returned from the military this year and is currently a deputy director at the county police department."

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked again.

Getting a job at the police department was already impressive, let alone being a deputy director, which sounded even more impressive.

Bu Dafang smiled and said, "Ahzhen has found a good match!"

Deng Yunzhu asked, "Dad, is Sister going to get married?"

Deng Shirong said, "It's just a visit to the in-laws. She won't be getting married so soon. According to her, she plans to marry next year or the year after."

Hearing this, Deng Yunzhu breathed a sigh of relief. She was genuinely afraid that her sister would get married a month or two after visiting the in-laws.

Women and men are different. Men bring their wives home, while women leave their homes to marry.

Once a woman marries, she becomes part of another family. Deng Yunzhu naturally hoped her sister would stay with the family for another year or two.

Deng Yunhua and Deng Yunheng had similar thoughts and didn't want their older sister to get married so soon.

"Dad, if it's next Saturday, I'll go with them. After all, our school isn't far from Shanxin," Deng Yunzhu said.

Deng Shirong nodded and said, "Sure, if you want to go, you can."

Deng Yunhua and Deng Yunheng exchanged glances and said in unison, "Dad, we want to go too."

Deng Shirong looked at them and said, "Your sister, your cousin, and your older brother and sister-in-law will go. You don't need to join the crowd."

"Okay!"

...

National Day.

After Deng Shirong returned and mentioned it, the entire Bangjie village knew that the country was going to hold a grand military parade to celebrate the 35th anniversary of its founding.

Therefore, after having breakfast, the villagers came to Deng Shirong's house with small stools to secure their spots and prepare to watch the parade on TV, which they had never seen before.

Deng Shirong also turned on the TV early and tuned to the central channel.

Before 9:00 AM, the village elders and other prominent clan members had arrived.

The parade hadn't started yet, so they gathered around Deng Shirong to discuss the passenger transport company. They were all long-time businesspeople in the village and naturally knew less about the company's operations than Deng Shirong, who was often in the county.

In response to their inquiries, Deng Shirong explained the company's development: "Although it's the off-season, the passenger transport company is still very profitable. On average, we make about 40,000 to 50,000 yuan a month. The company is preparing to take out a loan to purchase ten more large buses before the Spring Festival rush."

Deng YunGui couldn't help but say, "Uncle, the company doesn't need a loan. We made a lot of money last Spring Festival, and we've made a lot this year. Combined, it's almost a million yuan. If we need more money to buy ten large buses, we can raise funds proportionally."

Deng Shirong shook his head and said, "Last year's fundraising drained everyone's cash. This year, we finally recovered from growing watermelons, and many clan members are busy building houses or getting married. If we raise funds again, everyone's finances will be tight. So, taking out a loan is better."

Deng Changbao said, "If we need to take out a loan, so be it. This will indeed make everyone's finances a bit more relaxed. With the company's earning power, we don't have to worry about repaying the loan."

Deng Changxiong added, "Last year, ten large buses made over 400,000 yuan during the Spring Festival rush. If we add ten more this year, we could make 700,000 to 800,000 yuan during the next Spring Festival rush."

Hearing this, the others all wore excited expressions. If they could indeed earn 700,000 to 800,000 yuan, the profit per share would be about 200 to 300 yuan. For families holding three or four shares, they could easily earn over a thousand yuan during the Spring Festival rush. The feeling of earning money without much effort was truly fantastic.

Deng Shirong smiled and said, "That's about right. More and more people from Bobai are going to work in Guangdong these days. Earning 700,000 to 800,000 yuan during the Spring Festival rush isn't uncommon, and in a few years, it will likely be even more."

The clan members were all filled with excitement and regret. They regretted being too conservative when they contributed to the company last year. If they had known the company would be so profitable, they would have invested all their savings, or even taken out bank loans, to buy more shares. Even if they couldn't match Uncle Jiu's hundreds of shares, having a few dozen shares would still bring in significant profits.

Soon, the parade was about to start, and everyone's attention returned to the TV.

The screen showed a sea of people on the viewing stands and the square, creating a very impressive scene.

At 9:40 AM, Deng Xiaoping and other leaders, along with representatives from all sectors of the nation and foreign guests, ascended the Tiananmen Gate in thunderous applause.

At 10:00 AM, the leader announced, "The ceremony marking the 35th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China begins!"

The ceremony opened with the majestic "March of the Volunteers" national anthem and 28 rounds of artillery fire.

At 10:02:26 AM, Deng Xiaoping's black open-top Red Flag inspection vehicle started, drove out of Tiananmen, crossed the Jinshui Bridge, and began the inspection of the troops.

A few minutes later, the inspection ended, and Deng Xiaoping delivered an important speech.

Throughout the process, the Naye Deng clan members watched with rapt attention, occasionally exclaiming in amazement.

After Deng Xiaoping delivered his inspiring speech, the highlight of the ceremony, the parade formations, began. When the infantry formation, with its perfectly synchronized movements—forming straight lines horizontally, vertically, and diagonally—appeared on the screen, all the Deng clan members were stunned.

The highlight of the parade was the soldiers' three-part rifle salute, which made its debut at the ceremony.

As the command to salute was given, the soldiers raised their rifles with a crisp three-part movement—ka, ka, ka. The movements were fluid and powerful.

As they passed the reviewing stand, the soldiers performed the goose-step while holding their rifles, maintaining the goose-step posture while performing the rifle salute. The rifle butts were held at the hip and shoulder, with the bayonets tilted forward at about a 45-degree angle, just 12 centimeters away from the front row of soldiers. The entire sequence was smooth and seamless, combined with the soldiers' determined expressions and sharp movements, instantly electrifying the atmosphere.

In front of the TV, the Naye Deng clan members were both amazed and profane in their expressions of awe. There was no other way for country folk to express their shock except through profanity, much like how people in the future might exclaim "Wocao!"

Deng Shirong was also filled with excitement. No wonder the 1984 National Day parade was hailed as a legend in the future. This scene was truly amazing, even stirring the heart of a man in his nineties. How much more would it excite the young and passionate?

Soon, these scenes passed, and it was time for the parade formations to begin.

Deng Shirong reminded the clan members, "Among the parade formations is a group from Peking University. My son Yunheng is in that group. Keep your eyes open and see if you can spot him."

Hearing this, the clan members were all excited.

"Uncle Jiu, why didn't you tell us about this earlier?"

"Uncle Yunheng actually made it to the parade site. That's incredible!"

"Good heavens, Uncle Yunheng must have seen Deng Xiaoping!"

"Everyone, keep your eyes open and see if you can spot Yunheng in the crowd."

"..."

Jiang Dehu, Bu Dafang, Deng Yunzhu, Deng Yunhua, and Deng Yunheng had already known about this and were also watching the TV intently.

Soon, the parade formations began to pass by. After the science and technology formation came the education formation, led by Peking University.

Deng Shian reminded everyone, "Pay attention, Peking University is here!"

Just as Deng Shian finished speaking, an exciting and inspiring moment occurred. As the Peking University formation reached the eastern Huabiao near the Jinshui Bridge, a banner made from a bedsheet suddenly unfurled, with the words "Hello, Xiaoping" written in large green letters.

Since everyone was watching intently, they quickly spotted Deng Yunheng. He was in a very prominent position, one of the people holding the banner.

The camera initially only showed this scene briefly, but as the crowd erupted in thunderous applause, the camera returned to focus on the unexpected banner, making Deng Yunheng's figure even clearer.

At this moment, the clan members watching the TV were all thrilled and cheered loudly.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end