Chapter 303: A Good Woman Brings Prosperity for Three Generations, a Tyrannical Woman Ruins a Clan

Chapter 303: A Good Woman Brings Prosperity for Three Generations, a Tyrannical Woman Ruins a Clan

Sui Feng Restaurant.

Deng Yunheng, savoring the long-missed flavor of Bobai cuisine, finished three large bowls of rice before he put down his bowl with a contented sigh: "No matter where I eat, nothing beats the taste of home!"

Deng Yunsong, who had finished his meal earlier, smiled and said: "Second Brother, there should be plenty of delicious food in the capital, but you haven't had the local flavors for a long time, so you feel this way. After you eat a few more meals at home, you'll probably start missing the food in the capital again!"

"That's true. No matter how delicious the food, if you eat it too often, it won't taste as good. So, it's important to change the menu regularly."

With that, Deng Yunheng took a sip of tea and looked at his sister: "Sister, since it's still early, can you call out my future brother-in-law so I can meet him?"

Having been engaged for some time, the mention of her future husband no longer made Deng Yunzhen blush. She replied calmly: "He's leading a team on a rural inspection today, so he probably hasn't returned yet."

Deng Yunheng said with a hint of disappointment: "That's a bit unfortunate."

Deng Yuntai then said: "If you want to meet Director Zhu, you can see him tomorrow. Yunheng, why don't you tell us about your experience in the National Day parade?"

Deng Yunsong added: "Yeah, Second Brother, you looked so cool that day!"

Deng Shirong was also curious about his second son's experience, as such an opportunity was truly rare. Participating in such a historic event was something many people would boast about for a lifetime.

The other relatives, including Grandfather Zhang Guangzong, were equally curious about Deng Yunheng's experience.

Thus, Deng Yunheng began to recount the details of his participation in the parade and the origin of the banner that greeted Deng Xiaoping, captivating everyone with his story.

After finishing the topic of National Day, Deng Yunheng looked at his father: "Dad, I'm now the vice president of the student council."

Deng Shirong's eyes lit up. If it were a mediocre university, being the president of the student council wouldn't be a big deal, let alone a vice president. However, being the vice president of the student council at Peking University was no small feat, both in this era and in the future.

"Yunheng, you will graduate and start working next year. You've been in the student council for over a year now. Have you thought about your career plans after graduation? Do you want to go into politics or business?"

Everyone else turned to look at Deng Yunheng.

Over the past year, Deng Yunheng had thought this through and answered firmly: "Dad, I've made up my mind. After graduation, I plan to go into politics. I find more interest in being an official than in business."

This choice was what Deng Shirong had hoped for.

To be honest, in this lifetime, his family was destined to be financially secure. If his second son chose business, he would only increase the family's wealth, but after achieving financial freedom, additional wealth was just a number, with little meaning.

However, if his second son chose politics, there was a good chance the family would produce a high-ranking official. In China, the concept of "officials first" has been deeply rooted since ancient times. The social status of an official is always higher than that of a wealthy person (comparing a billionaire to a village chief is meaningless), so having a high-ranking official in the family meant having both wealth and power, which was naturally better than just being wealthy.

Moreover, his third son was likely to continue in politics in this lifetime. Having both brothers support each other was better than one fighting alone.

However, while Deng Shirong hoped his second son would choose politics, he was also a bit conflicted. The risks of politics were far greater than those of business. If you did business honestly, without resorting to illegal means, even if you failed, you could always start over. There was nothing too serious about it.

But politics was different. It could be described as "full of danger and suspense" without exaggeration.

Of course, if you didn't aspire to rise and just wanted to be a small leader at the lower level, living on a fixed salary, you wouldn't face various risks.

"Politics is not an easy path. You will face all kinds of difficulties and dangers. Are you sure you've thought this through?"

"I'm sure I have."

Deng Shirong nodded: "Since you've thought it through, follow your heart. I have only one requirement for you: be a good official, a dedicated official who works for the people's happiness."

Deng Yunheng responded solemnly: "Dad, rest assured, I won't let you down!" His father was the clan leader, leading the entire clan to prosperity. He naturally aimed to align with his father. Once he became an official, he would also lead the people under his jurisdiction to a path of prosperity.

Deng Yuntai asked: "Yunheng, I heard that graduates from Peking University who enter the workforce usually start at least at the level of a township chief. Is that true?"

Deng Yunheng smiled and said, "If I choose to work at the grassroots level, the starting position will indeed not be lower than that of a township chief."

Zhang Guangzong listened with a face full of emotion: "When it comes to being an official, it really has to be someone with cultural knowledge!"

Deng Yunzhen deeply agreed with Grandpa Zhang's words. Her fiance, Zhu Junjie, had risked his life on the battlefield and earned a second-class merit. He also had a high school education and had performed exceptionally well, earning the appreciation of his superiors. Despite all these factors, he only became a deputy chief of the Public Security Bureau after his military service, which was the same level as a township chief.

And her brother, right after graduating from university, would start at this level.

The value of a Peking University degree was truly astonishing.

After getting confirmation from his brother, Deng Yuntai also felt deeply moved and sincerely happy for his brother. He laughed heartily and said, "Yunheng, when you start working next year, I'll have a township chief as a brother! That's something to be proud of!"

Everyone couldn't help but laugh at this.

After a while, Deng Yunheng asked, "Dad, generally, when we graduate and start working, our superiors will also consult our opinions. Do you think it's better for me to join the central ministries, provincial government agencies, or major city units, or to go directly to the grassroots level?"

Only the best students from Peking University in this era would dare to say such things.

Although Deng Shirong was just an ordinary citizen, his third son in his previous life was a section-level official, so he had some knowledge in this area. Hearing his second son's question, he replied based on his understanding: "Joining a ministry or agency has the advantage of faster promotions and less arduous work compared to the grassroots level. The downside is the lack of grassroots experience, making it difficult to reach higher positions.

On the other hand, working at the grassroots level has the advantage of a larger stage and more opportunities. This is the essential path for officials to develop.

As the saying goes, 'practice makes perfect, and experience produces talent.' Only by working at the grassroots level, deeply understanding the people's hardships, and improving the ability to handle practical problems, can one become a qualified official.

The downside is that grassroots work is more challenging, and the path from the grassroots to higher levels is extremely difficult.

Therefore, my suggestion is to start in a ministry and then move to the grassroots level after a promotion. This way, you can start at the county level, which might be better.

Of course, this is just my personal opinion. I don't know much about the political arena, so you can only use it as a reference. You can also consult your mentor or classmates whose families have officials, gather more information, and make a choice based on your actual situation."

Deng Yunheng nodded repeatedly. His father was just an ordinary citizen, but to have such insight was impressive. He said, "Alright, I understand!"

Deng Shirong then warned, "If you choose to work at the grassroots level, don't choose your hometown. Remember this."

Deng Yunheng was surprised and asked, "Dad, why not?"

Deng Shirong explained, "It's not easy to work in Bobai, especially in family planning. If you come back and work in this area, it will be difficult to achieve anything. So, you can choose to work anywhere, but not in Bobai."

Zhang Guangzong couldn't help but interject, "You should really listen to your father. The clan concept is strong in Bobai, and the preference for sons is well-known. Working in family planning here is not only difficult to achieve anything but also very unpopular. It's not worth coming back to Bobai to work."

Deng Yunheng thought about the village's customs and agreed, "That makes sense. If I go to the grassroots level, I won't return to Bobai!"

...

The next noon.

Deng Yunheng finally met his future brother-in-law.

Looking at the handsome Director Zhu, Deng Yunheng was quite satisfied. No wonder he had been recognized by his sister and father. At a young age, he was already a deputy chief of the Public Security Bureau and looked good; indeed, he was an excellent match.

After exchanging greetings, Zhu Junjie said with a smile, "I've heard about you from your sister. We're actually alumni. I was in Class 17 at Songshan High School."

Deng Yunheng smiled and said, "That's quite a coincidence. But since we were in the same commune and attended the same high school, it's not surprising."

Zhu Junjie nodded, "It's not surprising, but I really admire you. To get into Peking University from Songshan High School is quite an achievement. When your sister told me, I was completely stunned and couldn't believe it was true."

Deng Yunheng understood his surprise. Before him, no student from Songshan High School had ever been admitted to a key university, let alone the top-tier Peking University. This was a historic achievement that would be recorded in the school's history.

Both being genuine alumni and both wanting to get closer, they quickly became familiar with each other.

After Zhu Junjie left for work, Deng Yunheng said to his sister, "Sister, from what I've seen, Director Zhu is indeed a good match for you."

Deng Yunzhen smiled, "I'm just benefiting from Dad and you, my brother. Otherwise, I wouldn't be worthy of him."

Deng Yunheng said, "Sister, don't say that. Others might not know how good you are, but as your brother, I certainly do. For Director Zhu to marry you, it's definitely the greatest fortune for the Zhu family, spanning generations."

He wasn't just saying this; in Deng Yunheng's eyes, his sister was the epitome of a virtuous wife and mother. Any man who married her would be blessed.

Deng Yunzhen smiled but didn't respond. In her family's eyes, she was naturally the best. However, she knew herself. She had no impressive academic credentials and no striking looks. Without the support of her parents and brothers, how could she compare to the young and capable Director Zhu?

She didn't realize that her character as a virtuous wife and mother was the most precious trait. A good woman brings prosperity for three generations, while a tyrannical woman ruins a clan. This saying was not just a casual statement.

If a man married a woman with a bad temper who didn't give him face in any situation and constantly caused chaos at home, it would be extremely difficult for him to achieve success in his career, if not impossible.

The importance of having a virtuous wife is something that anyone who has been through life understands.

...

December 24th.

Deng Shirong and others were riding in Bu Zhongshi's large truck to return home for the New Year.

In this era, there were fewer vehicles, and traffic regulations were not as strict as in later times, which was the main reason for the rampant overloading of large buses.

For trucks like Bu Zhongshi's, as long as there was no mixing of people and cargo, it was fine to have a full load of people, and they could drive anywhere without interference from the traffic police.

During the journey home, Deng Shirong felt it was time to get a family car!

After arriving home and resting for a few minutes, Bu Dashen, Liu Aihong, Zhang Xiuping, and Deng Yunzhen started preparing the fire and cooking.

Liang Yuqing, who was visiting for the first time, also wanted to help in the kitchen, but Deng Shirong stopped her, saying, "Teacher Liang, let them handle it. Since it's your first time visiting, let Ahzhu show you around."

Deng Yunzhu smiled and said, "Second Cousin-in-law, let me give you a tour!"

Liang Yuqing nodded with a smile, "Alright!"

Thus, Liang Yuqing, led by Deng Yunzhu, began to tour the house.

Although it was already 1985, brick and tile houses were not as unique as they had been a few years earlier. However, a cluster of such houses was still extremely rare in rural areas.

Moreover, each house was fully furnished and had its own independent bathroom, a layout that even impressed Liang Yuqing, who had grown up in a county town.

After the tour, Liang Yuqing asked, "Ahzhu, I heard from your cousin that you're currently studying at Songshan High School. How are your grades?"

Deng Yunzhu said sheepishly, "Second Cousin-in-law, my grades are just average. I rank in the lower middle of my class. It's already good that I can finish high school."

Liang Yuqing smiled, "For us girls, having a high school education is already something to be proud of!"

Deng Yunzhu nodded, "That's true. In our village, many girls don't even finish primary school, and those who make it to middle school are few. As for high school, it's even rarer. I also stopped after primary school, but my father kept persuading me, and I eventually went back to school."

Liang Yuqing, surprised by this, said, "It's a good thing your uncle had foresight. It's fortunate that you listened to him and went back to school. The difference between finishing primary school and finishing high school is significant!"

Deng Yunzhu smiled, "I know. I didn't understand back then. All the girls in the village would drop out after a few years, and since my grades were always average, I followed them. Looking back, it was pretty silly."

Liang Yuqing asked, "Now that you're in high school, everything is different. What are your plans after graduation?"

Deng Yunzhu shook her head, "I haven't thought about it yet. I'll just follow whatever my father arranges."

Liang Yuqing suggested, "If you can get into a vocational school, college, or university, that would be best. If you can't, I suggest you consider our county's teacher training school for two years. After graduation, you can become a probationary elementary school teacher, and after a year of probation, you can become a full-time teacher. It's a good option."

Deng Yunzhu laughed, "Second Cousin-in-law, I'm not good at studying. How could I become a teacher?"

Liang Yuqing smiled, "You can't say that. Many of our current teachers have lower educational backgrounds than you. Our county's teacher training school admits students from various backgrounds, including junior high graduates, high school graduates, and even private teachers.

Since you are a high school graduate, you already have a higher educational background compared to many of them. I also went to the teacher training school after high school."

Deng Yunzhu knew that her cousin-in-law was offering good advice, even though she wasn't particularly interested. She didn't reject it outright but nodded, "Alright, I'll remember that. If my father doesn't have other plans for me after graduation, I'll consider going to the teacher training school."

Liang Yuqing smiled and said, "Actually, being a teacher is pretty good too. Teaching primary school students isn’t stressful, and there are so many holidays, a summer vacation and a winter vacation, that many people envy it."

Deng Yunzhu said, "Teachers do have the most holidays."

While the two of them chatted, Deng Yunheng also started chatting with the villagers.

The National Day parade that the villagers had watched on TV, the act of Deng Yunheng and his classmates holding banners had earned him precious footage. This experience was not only a source of pride for him but also for the entire village and clan.

Boasting about such an event didn't necessarily require him to be outstanding; if the people around him, including relatives and friends, were outstanding, they could also boast about it.

Now the villagers were asking Deng Yunheng about the details of his participation in the National Day parade, so they could boast about it later.

Soon, Bu Dashang and his family finished preparing the meal. At this point, the villagers, still feeling unsatisfied, left.

After enjoying a hearty meal, Bu Dashang's family of three, along with Bu Dashang and his wife, took the New Year goods given by his uncle and sat in his brother Bu Zhongshi's large truck to leave.

...

On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month, at noon.

In Bangba Village.

Deng Changxiong's family was eating fried cassava buns.

In Shuangwang Township, over the past century, the diet had been a combination of thin porridge with taro, sweet potatoes, cassava, and other coarse grains. Generally, they would have thin porridge in the morning and evening and coarse grains at noon.

Today, with the improvement in living standards, many families now had their most important meal in the evening, but the habit of eating thin porridge in the morning and coarse grains at noon persisted until the late 1990s, and then gradually changed.

But the habit of eating coarse grains at noon and thin porridge in the morning had already taken root.

"Father, the clan head sent a messenger to say that today’s clan meeting, besides the scholarship award, had very important matters to discuss. What do you think it is? Is it about the Tenglong Transportation Company’s dividends?" The question came from Deng Changxiong's eldest son, Deng Siji, who had just turned eighteen.

His mother, upon hearing this, immediately perked up.

Their family had invested a lot of money in the Tenglong Transportation Company and owned shares second only to the clan head and Deng Changbao of Jimaoling Village. Naturally, they were quite concerned about the company’s dividends, after all, it was a significant amount of money!

During last year’s Spring Festival travel rush, the company made over 400,000 yuan, averaging about 150 yuan per share. They owned 22 shares, making 3,300 yuan.

Of course, the earnings from last year's and this year's Spring Festival travel rush they had reinvested in buying more vehicles.

The company even took a loan from the bank.

However, the company now owned 1.5 times more large buses than the previous year, with daily revenue during the Spring Festival travel rush estimated at over 20,000 yuan, making a profit of about one million yuan, which was not a small sum.

On average, they could earn about 380 yuan per share, making 8,000 yuan for their 22 shares.

Such a large sum of money naturally concerned her.

Deng Changxiong shook his head and said, "The issue of dividends in the company, the clan head will certainly discuss, but this important matter to be discussed at the clan meeting must be something else."

Mother Siji asked, "Do you think after this Spring Festival travel, the company will pay dividends?"

Deng Changxiong said uncertainly, "It should pay dividends, right? This depends on whether the clan head has other plans!"

Deng Siji continued, "It’s also possible they will retain the funds to continue buying vehicles!"

Deng Changxiong said, "The specific situation will be known at the clan meeting. You can also go and listen if you have nothing to do."

...

The entire village, after lunch, the clansmen gathered and headed to the Deng family temple.

On the way, everyone was speculating about the important matters the clan head mentioned, guessing what it could be.

Apart from speculating about this, the topic that everyone discussed the most was the Tenglong Transportation Company.

After the Spring Festival travel rush, with the surge in passengers, there were already clansmen returning to say that the company’s daily profit would not be less than 25,000 yuan. This substantial profit made the clansmen who heard it very happy.

The literate clansmen had long since calculated that if the income from the Spring Festival travel rush were used to calculate, even if one initially invested in 1 share, one day would bring in about 10 yuan.

Ten yuan a day might seem little, but knowing that it was 1985, many employees in public institutions earned less than 50 yuan a month, this comparison showed how high the income was.

Moreover, apart from a few families, who in the company did not own two or three shares?

This much money, on anyone, would be enough to make them happy for half a day.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end