Chapter 307: A Sensational Appearance, Streets Deserted for the Occasion [Explosive Chapter, Seeking

Chapter 307: A Sensational Appearance, Streets Deserted for the Occasion [Explosive Chapter, Seeking Monthly Votes]



3:00 PM.

In the new village of Bobai Town, more than a thousand people gathered at the drying ground.

"Third Uncle, did someone from outside bully one of our villagers? We'll go and beat them up right now!"

"Third Uncle, for you to gather everyone, this must be a big deal. Just tell us who to go after."

"Anyone who dares to bully us from the new village is asking for death!"

"..."

Hearing the young men in the village shouting for a fight, Zhang Guangzong, standing on the stone ox, waved his hand and said, "No one has bullied our villagers. I gathered everyone today not to fight but to share some good news."

"Huh..."

The young men all widened their eyes. In the past, when Third Uncle gathered everyone, it was usually because someone from outside had bullied a villager, and the matter was often serious enough to require Third Uncle's intervention.

They thought this time would be the same, but they were wrong.

"Third Uncle, what good news do you have for us?"

"Third Uncle, is the village going to distribute wives? If so, I'll sign up for one!"

"Haha, Ergouzi, you must be crazy with longing for a wife!"

"..."

Zhang Guangzong laughed and said, "If you want a wife, earn more money. With money, you won't have to worry about finding a wife."

Ergouzi sighed, "Third Uncle, I want to earn more money and get a wife, but money isn't that easy to come by!"

Zhang Guangzong said, "I gathered everyone today because there's an opportunity to earn money. How much you can earn depends on your individual circumstances."

Ergouzi's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Third Uncle, what kind of opportunity is it?"

The other villagers also looked at Third Uncle in unison. Money was always the most enticing thing, whether in the past, present, or future. They all wanted to know what kind of earning opportunity the respected Third Uncle had brought them.

Zhang Guangzong said, "You all know that I spend my days at Sui Feng Restaurant."

At this, Ergouzi interjected, "We know. If anyone in the village is living well, no one can match you, Third Uncle. Eating and drinking at the largest restaurant in the county every day, that's a life to envy!"

Others also chimed in, "Yeah, Third Uncle, your life is so comfortable!"

"You don't need to envy me. I'm old and don't have many good years left."

Pausing, Zhang Guangzong cleared his throat and said, "Alright, don't interrupt me. Let me get to the main point."

"Okay, Third Uncle, go ahead. We're listening."

Zhang Guangzong said, "The owner of Sui Feng Restaurant is the clan head of the Naye Deng family from Bangjie Village in Songwang Township. They have bought 100 acres of land by the Yinma River and plan to build a residential complex there. They expect about a thousand people to come for construction, but they lack a place to stay.

"So, today the clan head discussed with me, and they plan to arrange for their people to stay in our village. The rent will be 10 yuan per room per month. Each family should see how many rooms they can spare, think it over, and come to me to report the number. I'll tally it up and hand it over to them tomorrow."

As soon as he said this, the crowd burst into a flurry of excitement!

In this era, 10 yuan per room per month was equivalent to 1000 yuan in the future, and the attraction for the villagers was undeniable.

The villagers eagerly asked for more details.

"Third Uncle, can our mud-brick house, which is a bit dilapidated, be used?"

"It can. They are all rural men and won't be too picky."

"Third Uncle, how long will the Naye Deng family stay?"

"The exact time is unclear. They might stay for a few months or even a year, depending on the construction speed of the buildings."

"Third Uncle, what do the rooms need?"

"The rooms should at least have a bed, a mat, and blankets. Other things can be arranged as needed!"

Zhang Guangzong then said with a serious expression, "The Naye Deng clan has over 3,000 members and is more united than our new village. They are well-off and have significant influence in various aspects. I have a very good relationship with their clan head.

"So, when the Naye Deng brothers come, we must treat them as good friends. Don't embarrass me, understand?"

"Sure, Third Uncle, we understand!"

"We will treat the Naye Deng brothers as our best friends."

"Being friends with such a united clan is something we are very willing to do."

"..."

Zhang Guangzong nodded in satisfaction and said, "Alright, as long as you understand. Now, quickly think about how many rooms your families can spare. Once you've decided, come and report to me. I'll record it for each of you. After I tally it up, I'll hand it over to them tomorrow. Your task is to clean the rooms tomorrow, and the Naye Deng brothers will move in the day after tomorrow."

Hearing this, the villagers who had their spouses or children with them began to discuss with their families.

"Wife, let's offer two rooms, shall we?"

"Our house only has four rooms in total, and it's already packed as it is. It's a struggle to have one room available, let alone two. How would our large family manage if we had to give up two rooms?"

"You and your daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren can all stay in one room, and my son and I will take another. This way, we can make an extra 10 bucks a month by renting out the extra room. Where else can you find such a good deal?"

"This... It's fine for us to live like this, but for our son and daughter-in-law to live apart, it might be okay for a short while, but for several months or even a year, isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

"That's a good idea. Let's buy an extra bed so that our son and daughter-in-law can stay in one room with the child, and we'll share a room with our daughter."

"Hmm, that works."

Similar conversations were taking place in other rooms, and it wasn't uncommon for two out of four rooms to be given up, or even three out of four in some cases.

In short, the villagers were really going all out to earn an extra 10 yuan a month.

Even though the new village was close to the county town, and the villagers had more opportunities to make money than those in the countryside a hundred miles away, only a very small minority could actually earn an income.

Therefore, faced with this rare opportunity to make money, the villagers all wanted to earn a little more.

If you give up three rooms, that's 30 dollars a month. Just think about that!

Now, how many villagers would dare to say that they can earn 30 yuan a month?

Of course, only a small minority of families could afford to spare two or three rooms. Many families were already cramped, and it was a struggle to even find space for one extra room.

In the end, after the count, the entire village managed to squeeze out a total of 389 rooms.

……

Two days later.

Dragon Bus Company dispatched fifteen large buses, and it took two trips to transport the over one thousand people from the Na Ye Deng clan to the county town.

At this moment, over a thousand people stood on the third floor of the Suifeng Hotel. Most of them were young and strong, the main labor force, and there were also thirty to forty women who took care of logistics, like buying groceries and cooking.

After all, there were over a thousand people eating, and with fewer people, they simply couldn't handle the workload.

Deng Shirong addressed the clan members, instructing them, "Your accommodations have been arranged in Xin Village, which is the most renowned village in the county and one that no one dares to provoke. The third master of Xin Village is a well-known figure in the underworld, and I have a great relationship with him. The elderly gentleman I was drinking with earlier is him."

Last time our bus company was provoked by the three brothers from Chengdong Village, I warned them through his connections, and that's why those three brothers backed down.

So, when you go to live in the new village, you must get along well with the brothers there and not embarrass me, understand?"

He was unaware that Zhang Guanzong had also given the same instructions to the villagers.

After all, they had such a good relationship, and neither wanted their subordinates to clash over trivial matters, which would be a loss of face for them.

"Understood, Uncle Ninth. We won't let you down."

"Turns out it was the brothers from the new village who helped us last time. We should definitely get along well with them."

"Xincun's Third Master, I've heard of him before. He's quite a formidable figure in the county, I didn't expect Jiu Gong to have such a close relationship with him."

“……”

Deng Yunfeng, the village head of Naye, asked, "Uncle Jiu, how many rooms are there in the new village for us to stay in?"

Deng Shirong said, "There are a total of 389 rooms, and each room will accommodate about two to three people. You can decide among yourselves who will room together."

Deng Yunfeng nodded, "Alright, we understand."

Next, Deng Shirong instructed the finance department of the Deng Corporation to distribute 10 yuan to each clan member. This money was intended for them to purchase daily necessities and cover their living expenses for the next two to three days.

Take the money and make do for a few days. Once the temporary facilities like toilets and kitchens are set up, we can start cooking in large batches.

After distributing the money, Deng Shirong instructed the clan members to return to the village with the brothers from the new village, carrying their belongings, and settle in first.

……

The afternoon sun bathed the city in a warm glow.

Bai Bai Zhen First Primary School entrance.

Bu Zhongshi was waiting for his wife to finish her class, feeling on top of the world.

A few years ago, at his uncle's suggestion, he took out a bank loan. After the loan was approved, he added five more large trucks to his fleet, bringing his total to ten. He now owns the most private trucks in the entire county, without a doubt.

After the car was purchased, Bu Zhongshi immediately put it up for sale.

Under his uncle's care, he now specifically helps the Na Ye Deng family transport fire bricks, sand, stones, and wood to the county town.

These items alone would keep him occupied with transportation for a long time.

By the time the transportation of the Ye Deng family's goods is completed, their sugarcane will likely be ready for harvest. Even if there are gaps, Zhou Wangbai's side will have an endless stream of work, coupled with the markets he has developed over the past year.

Furthermore, his father-in-law was the head of the Bobai Forest Farm, which could bring him a significant amount of business.

Anyway, even if ten large trucks worked together, his schedule for this year was already full.

Ten large trucks were constantly transporting goods, and the money was pouring into his pockets.

Now, Bu Zhongshi was incredibly grateful that his uncle had given him several options, and he had chosen the path of freight transportation despite the risks. Today, he didn't even need to drive the trucks himself; he just needed to direct his subordinates.

If he had chosen another path back then, would he have the success he enjoys today?

Liang Yuqing walked out of the school and saw her husband laughing to himself. She couldn't help but approach him and ask, "Husband, you're smiling so much that your eyes are almost squinting. Did you think of something that made you happy?"

Bu Zhongshi, seeing his wife, smiled and replied, "I was just rejoicing over the choices I made back then."

Liang Yuqing, puzzled, asked, "Rejoicing over the choices you made back then?"

Bu Zhongshi, taking her hand and walking forward, explained, "When I first started working, my uncle gave me several options.

The first option was to do farming at home.

The second option was to grow sugarcane, which my parents and younger siblings are doing, also at my uncle's suggestion.

The third option was to help at Sui Feng Restaurant, like my brother. For us villagers, this would be a very good job.

The fourth option was to get into transportation, whether passenger or freight. According to my uncle, both could be very profitable, but they also carried the highest risks.

At that time, my uncle suggested I choose the safer option of freight transportation. That's why I have what I have today."

Liang Yuqing was amazed, "Your uncle really has a keen eye!"

She then asked, "Because of the high risks in passenger transportation, did your uncle later lead the whole clan into that business?"

Bu Zhongshi nodded, "Yes, my uncle's insight is unquestionable. Passenger transportation isn't something just anyone can handle. You know what happened at the station recently. If it were an ordinary person, they would have been bullied to death by the locals."

Liang Yuqing agreed, "That's true. The locals can call in dozens of people at any time, and ordinary outsiders can't stand up to that. Only with the whole clan working together in passenger transportation, with as many people as needed, can they face any challenge without fear."

Bu Zhongshi added, "Now, my uncle is raising funds within the clan to build a residential complex in the county town. Once this complex is built, no one will dare to target Tenglong Passenger Company again."

Liang Yuqing praised, "Your uncle is truly far-sighted and well-prepared."

The couple continued chatting as they walked to Sui Feng Restaurant. Whenever Bu Zhongshi was in town, he would definitely take his wife to his uncle's restaurant for a free meal.

At first, Liang Yuqing felt a bit embarrassed, but after a few visits, she noticed that her cousin's fiance also came regularly for free meals, and she gradually got used to it.

After all, since marrying Bu Zhongshi, she knew how close her husband and his siblings were to their uncle.

...

In this era, the county architectural design office didn't have many projects, so when they received the project for the Naye Deng clan's residential complex, they threw themselves into it wholeheartedly. They completed the design plan in less than ten days.

This speed was largely due to Deng Shirong's efforts.

If the county architectural design office had to design a residential complex from scratch, it would have taken months.

However, Deng Shirong had spent hours discussing his requirements and the overall layout of the complex with the design experts, effectively providing a detailed outline. With this outline, the experts could focus on filling in the details.

This convenience saved them a lot of time, allowing them to complete the design plan so quickly.

Once the design plan was finalized, the Naye residential complex chose an auspicious day to start construction.

With over a thousand people leveling the ground and digging the foundation, this activity naturally drew the attention of the county residents. The more curious ones went directly to the workers to ask questions.

"Hey, are you building a school here?"

"No."

"Then what are you building?"

"A residential complex."

"What's a residential complex?"

"Simply put, it's like the residential areas of government units, but much larger."

"Whose unit is this?"

"It's not for any unit. It's for the Naye Deng clan."

"The Naye Deng clan?"

"The Naye Deng clan from Bangjie Village in Songwang Township."

"Wait, I don't understand. Why are you from Songwang Township building a residential area in the county town?"

"Nothing special. Our company is based in the county town, so it's normal for us to build a place to live."

"Oh, I see. What kind of company does your Naye Deng clan run?"

"Tenglong Passenger Company. Auntie, you know it, right?"

"The one with many Guangdong buses, right?"

"Yes, that's our company."

"I see!"

"..."

The Naye clan members working on the construction site were asked questions almost every day by curious onlookers. They didn't hide anything and answered truthfully.

Before long, the whole county knew about the Naye Deng clan's project.

Knowing that a residential complex was being built here, the county residents, apart from marveling at the wealth of Tenglong Passenger Company, did not pay much more attention. After all, there were quite a few residential complexes for various units in the county. Even though this one was slightly larger, it wasn't particularly strange.

However, it was unclear what the county residents would think once the Naye Residential Complex was completed.

While the Naye Residential Complex began its construction, the second and third floors of Sui Feng Restaurant also started renovations.

Initially, Deng Shirong had planned to turn both the second and third floors into supermarkets. However, upon further consideration, he realized it wasn't necessary. Each floor was over a thousand square meters, which, by modern standards, would be a medium-sized supermarket. Having one such supermarket in a county town would be more than sufficient, especially in this era.

Therefore, Deng Shirong decided to revise his plan, using the second floor for the supermarket and the third floor for other purposes. He was a bit hesitant about what to do with the third floor.

If it was about making money, the best choice would be to open the "Four Halls and One Bar." This refers to a dance hall, video hall, game hall, billiard hall, and internet cafe!

Among these, the internet cafe was the best choice, but it was not yet the right time to open one, as it would be at least another ten years before they became popular.

The dance hall was also a good option, but after some thought, Deng Shirong ruled it out. He had no intention of getting into this business. Whether it was the current dance halls or the soon-to-be-popular nightclubs, these places were often havens for illegal activities. Operating them honestly and without engaging in other dubious activities would make it difficult to compete. Deng Shirong had many ways to earn money and didn't need to enter such a morally questionable industry.

As for the video hall, anyone who had experienced it knew that it primarily showed adult films, so it wasn't an option.

That left the game hall and billiard hall.

The game hall was definitely a very profitable business, but it was largely harmful to young people, especially students. While Deng Shirong couldn't stop others from making money this way, he could choose not to do it himself.

Although internet cafes weren't great for students either, they were fundamentally different from game halls. Game halls were entirely negative, leading students to waste their time and lose their way. Internet cafes, on the other hand, could be used for both good and bad purposes. It all depended on how they were used.

Thus, despite the poor reputation of internet cafes, Deng Shirong had no psychological burden about having his son open one in the future.

With the other options ruled out, the only one left was the billiard hall.

While billiard halls were also listed among the "Four Halls and One Bar" and had a questionable reputation, Deng Shirong, who had experienced the modern era, knew that billiards was a very good recreational sport. Therefore, opening a billiard hall was actually a good idea. This was especially true given that this was the time when billiards were starting to become popular. Opening a billiard hall on the third floor would definitely be profitable.

Deng Shirong hesitated mainly because once he opened a billiard hall, it would inevitably become a gambling venue. Gambling while playing billiards was common, both in this era and in the future. If he didn't allow gambling, he would drive away customers, which would be bad for business.

This was the reason for his hesitation.

Ultimately, after much deliberation, Deng Shirong decided to open the billiard hall. The people who gambled while playing billiards were a minority, usually those who had honed their skills and felt confident enough to bet. Since billiards were not yet available in Bobai County, Deng Shirong would likely be the first to introduce them. Initially, the patrons would be beginners, and gambling would not be an immediate issue.

Moreover, gambling could vary in scale. As the saying goes, small gambling is for fun, big gambling is harmful, and excessive gambling can ruin lives. Even if there was gambling in the billiard hall, the stakes would likely be small.

Small gambling was generally harmless, similar to playing mahjong in the modern era. If the stakes were low, the police might not even bother to intervene.

Billiard halls, even in the modern era, rarely faced police raids for gambling.

Therefore, Deng Shirong felt it wasn't necessary to be too strict. As long as his clan members didn't participate in gambling, he could allow other customers to engage in small stakes gambling.

While the renovations were underway on the second and third floors of Sui Feng Restaurant, the Hong Kong TV series "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," jointly funded by 50 domestic TV stations for 1.1 million yuan, officially began airing. This groundbreaking series caused a sensation nationwide, with streets deserted as people gathered to watch.

Deng Shirong's children and their spouses were all captivated by the show.

Originally, Sui Feng Restaurant would close between 7:00 PM and 7:30 PM. However, since "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" began airing, the restaurant extended its operating hours to accommodate those who wanted to stay and watch the show.

Now, although the number of televisions in the countryside of Bobai County is still very limited, there are quite a few televisions in the county town, covering the majority of the county's population.

During the airing time of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," almost no one was walking around the county town. Whether intellectuals or migrant workers, they all stayed in places with televisions, watching the TV series with great enthusiasm, considering it as spiritual nourishment.

The classic theme song "Iron Blood and Red Heart" directly mesmerized the audience.

The awesome settings of the Eastern Villain, Western Toxin, Southern Emperor, Northern Beggar, and the Central Sage, along with the powerful skills like One Yang Finger, Snap Finger Skill, and Eighteen Dragon subductions, just by hearing their names, felt incredibly impressive. The grand and prestigious Huashan Debate, and the beloved couple Guo Jing and Huang Rong, made "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" an unparalleled attractive TV series.

In the previous life, Deng Shirong not only watched "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" but also read the original novel. Now, revisiting this work with his children and their spouses, still found it extremely engaging. It must be said that classics are classics and will forever remain so.

Especially, many extras in the show have gained high recognition in the future.

For example, the big shot playing an unnamed extra Song Yi Bing, as shown in the following picture:

For example, the big shot playing Beggar Peng Elder, as shown in the following picture:

For example, the one playing a maid, as shown in the following picture:

And the one playing a gatekeeper, as shown in the following picture:

And there are others who won't be listed one by one.

In summary, not only did the main cast become a sensation, but these extras also stood out, becoming future superstars, film emperors and empresses, and celebrity giants, all gathered here due to fate.

Therefore, when netizens in the future discussed this TV series, they all marveled at the star-studded cast, unparalleled in its star power.

This series also became the peak of martial arts dramas, and no future martial arts drama could surpass it.

Every day, after finishing "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," his children, their spouses, and relatives all discussed the plot. To avoid spoilers, Deng Shirong never participated in the discussions.

Until today, "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" reached its grand finale, and seeing his children, their spouses, and relatives with their disappointed looks after finishing the series, Deng Shirong smiled and said, "What, you're still not tired of watching and want to continue?"

Deng Yunzhen nodded and said, "Of course, we want to watch more. This 'Legend of the Condor Heroes' is truly too exciting. The more we watch, the more we want to. It's a pity it has ended!"

Zhang Xiuping echoed, "Yes, we've never seen such an engaging TV series. Guo Jing and Huang Rong are really a perfect match. We really want to see them get married and continue their adventures in the martial world."

Deng Shirong laughed and said, "Actually, their subsequent plot does exist. They get married and soon have a daughter, who is indeed very beautiful. Unfortunately, she is raised to be spoiled and williamful, and her intelligence is far less than her mother Huang Rong."

Deng Yunzhen, with a face full of surprise, asked, "Dad, isn't this your first time watching this TV series? How do you know what happens next?"

Others also looked at Deng Shirong with surprise.

Deng Shirong said, "Although this is my first time watching this TV series, it is adapted from a novel, which I have read. Of course, I know the subsequent plot!"

Deng Yunzhen and others suddenly understood. At this moment, "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" had just finished its grand finale, and they were all engrossed by the plot. Seeing that their father really knew the subsequent plot, they surrounded him with questions.

Deng Shirong, seeing their high interest, briefly mentioned the plot of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" regarding Guo Jing and Huang Rong's family and then laughed, "That's enough for now. If I tell you more, you won't have any suspense whether you read the novel or watch the TV series in the future. The fun would be much less, and that's why I didn't tell you before."

Deng Yunzhen said, "I can't wait anymore. I wonder if Xinhua Bookstore has 'The Return of the Condor Heroes' novel for sale. If so, I'll buy it tomorrow."

Deng Shirong laughed and said, "The official novel is definitely not available. I'm not sure if there are any pirated prints."

Bu Dashi, curious, asked, "Uncle, what are official and pirated prints?"

Deng Shirong explained, "A novel published with the author's authorization is the official novel. Pirated prints are unauthorized publications."

In this era, copyright awareness is weak, and there is no concept of official and pirated prints.

Even in the future, despite repeated bans, pirated online novels still persist, causing significant economic losses to creators.

Those at the top don't mind, as subscription revenue is only a small part of their vast income.

But for mid to lower-tier authors, subscriptions are their only income, and other copyright revenues are non-existent. If top readers don't support, the authors' lives will be quite difficult.

"Alright, it's getting late. Let's go back and take a shower and rest. We have work to do tomorrow!"

"Okay!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end