Chapter 317: Moving to a New Home (×), Showing Off (✓)

Chapter 317: Moving to a New Home (×), Showing Off (✓)



  Noon.

  Sui Feng Restaurant.

  Deng Shirong didn't feel like drinking today, so he had the kitchen staff prepare a large pot of sweet potato soup for lunch, as shown in the picture below:

  This type of sweet potato is a common coarse grain in the rural areas of Bobai County. Although its cultivation scale is not as large as that of sweet potatoes, taro, or cassava, almost every household grows it. It comes in both white and purple varieties and is excellent for making sweet soups.

  When making the sweet soup, you can also add some glutinous rice to cook together, turning it into a sweet potato porridge, which is also delicious.

  After eating two large bowls of sweet potato soup, Deng Shirong felt satisfied and took his water pipe to the door to smoke.

  Actually, he could smoke inside the restaurant, as many customers did. In this era, most people in the county smoked water pipes, and the restaurant's spaciousness meant it wouldn't cause much of a problem.

  However, Deng Shirong was accustomed to taking his water pipe to the door to smoke.

  Just as he was stuffing the tobacco into the mouthpiece, his eldest daughter, Deng Yunzhen, walked over with a bowl of sweet potato soup, eating it while saying, "Dad, I forgot to tell you something yesterday."

  Deng Shirong took a match from the matchbox and asked, "What is it?"

  Deng Yunzhen took a sip of the sweet soup and said, "Junjie asked me about our wedding yesterday."

  Deng Shirong struck the match, lit the tobacco, and took a few puffs before asking, "His parents must have asked him to do so, right?"

  Deng Yunzhen nodded, "Yes, they are getting older, so it's natural for them to be anxious."

  Deng Shirong asked, "How did you respond?"

  Deng Yunzhen replied, "I told him that we would find a time to register after the New Year, and the date for the wedding banquet will be decided by you."

  Deng Shirong spoke calmly, "What do you think about the date for the wedding banquet?"

  Daughters eventually get married, and Deng Shirong had long been prepared for this. In his previous life, he had even experienced his daughters' weddings twice. If things had gone as they did in his previous life, his eldest daughter would have been married long ago and wouldn't have been delayed until now!

  Deng Yunzhen said, "I think we should write to Yunheng and ask when he can return next year. We can then set the date based on his availability."

  Deng Shirong said, "Alright, let's write to Yunheng first. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and it would be best if he could come back to attend your wedding as your brother."

  Deng Yunzhen finished the last piece of sweet potato and said, "Dad, I also told him that we would hold the wedding banquet at our restaurant. Is that okay?"

  Deng Shirong smiled, "Of course, I was planning to tell you about this as a surprise, but since we're on the topic, I'll tell you now. The Sui Feng Restaurant is your dowry. After you get married, the restaurant will be yours."

  Deng Yunzhen was taken aback and almost dropped her bowl.

  Although her father had indeed entrusted her with the management of the Sui Feng Restaurant recently, she had never thought that he would give it to her as a dowry.

  In Bobai County, the prevailing belief was that "a married daughter is like water spilled out of the house," meaning that a daughter had no claim to her natal family's assets. Whether it was houses, land, or businesses, everything was inherited by the sons, not the daughters.

  So, growing up in this environment, how could Deng Yunzhen have ever thought about inheriting her natal family's assets?

  Hearing her father's words, Deng Yunzhen asked in disbelief, "Dad, are you serious? You're giving me the Sui Feng Restaurant as a dowry?"

  "This is a decision I made long ago, and your older brother and sister-in-law already know about it. I just wanted to surprise you, so I didn't tell you earlier," Deng Shirong put the tobacco and matches in his pocket and smiled, "Not only the Sui Feng Restaurant, but also a floor in the Ye Deng residential complex is yours."

  After the initial shock, Deng Yunzhen quickly said, "Dad, the Ye Deng residential complex has seven floors. I can take one floor as my dowry, but I can't accept the Sui Feng Restaurant. Please leave it for my brothers!"

  Deng Shirong smiled, "Don't worry about that. I have made arrangements for your brothers, and they won't be left out."

  Deng Yunzhen asked, "What about Azhu?"

  Deng Shirong smiled even more, as any parent would be happy to see their children getting along well. Even ancient emperors were no exception. He was very satisfied with his eldest daughter's attitude: "I have also made arrangements for Azhu. Take what I've given you with peace of mind."

  Hearing this, Deng Yunzhen smiled and thanked him, "Thank you, Dad!"

  ...

  Not long after the Ye Deng residential complex was completed, another notable project in Bobai began its renovation.

  This project was none other than the Bobai Bus Station.

  The Bobai Bus Station was established in 1927 (the 16th year of the Republic of China). The original site was on Xinxing Street in the county town. The station had seven two-story brick and wood arch buildings and a foundation for about 20 rooms, but due to a lack of funds, it was never fully completed.

  At the time, a canopy was built in front of the buildings for parking vehicles, covering an area of over 1,000 square meters, with six buses.

  Unfortunately, the station was bombed by Japanese aircraft in 1928.

  In December of the same year, for the sake of the war effort, the Yubei Highway was destroyed, and bus services were suspended.

It wasn't until 1955 that the Bobai Bus Station was rebuilt and began operations again. In 1958, it moved to its current location, and the station now covers an area of 2,500 square meters with a building area of 400 square meters.

Originally, this area was sufficient, but with the establishment of the Tenglong Passenger Transport Company, ten large buses were added to the fleet that year, and fifteen more were added last year. Additionally, the Jin Yuanbao brothers and individual operators like Huang Qiang and Huang Qi added more large buses, making the station extremely crowded. Renovation was inevitable.

According to the renovation plan, the station will cover an area of 17,800 square meters and have a building area of 15,000 square meters after completion. The main structures will include two waiting halls, a hotel, a restaurant, and shops, providing comprehensive services for travelers.

The renovation will not affect the operations of the Tenglong Passenger Transport Company, so Deng Shirong did not pay much attention to it. He now had a rare period of leisure, spending his days drinking a little wine with Zhang Guangzong at the restaurant and playing with his grandson, leading a rather comfortable life.

As for his nephew, after receiving guidance from Uncle Deng Shirong, he promptly signed a lease agreement with the new property management department of Deng Real Estate, securing the largest storefront at the south gate of the Ye Deng residential complex. The storefront is currently being renovated.

...

Before long, it was mid-December. The Wuyue Square, which Deng Shirong had invested heavily in, was finally completed.

For this square, Deng Shirong spent 1.32 million yuan on the land and 3.68 million yuan on construction, totaling 5 million yuan.

In 1984 and 1985, spending 5 million yuan on land and construction was a massive investment, even for a company. For a private individual, it was likely the only such case in the country.

Now that the building was completed, the next step, renovation, would require another large sum of money.

For the time being, Deng Shirong could not come up with that much money.

Although he had made a huge profit of 3.83 million yuan in the summer, with a peak cash balance of over 5.58 million yuan, his expenses were also substantial. During his trip to Hainan, he spent 800,000 yuan to acquire 100 tons of huanghuali wood, which is currently stored in his system space and would not be worth much for at least another two to three decades.

For the Yongjia Supermarket, Deng Shirong provided 500,000 yuan to his eldest son, which would take at least a year to recoup.

For the Wuyue Square, he had already paid a progress payment, and the final settlement after completion added up to another 3.3 million yuan.

Suddenly, his cash balance of over 5.58 million yuan was down to less than 970,000 yuan.

To others, this amount would make them feel like millionaires, but for Deng Shirong, it was a bit tight.

The three ancient architecture designers from the Nanning Architectural Design Institute had already completed the renovation design for the seven-story building in the Ye Deng residential complex last month, and they had even provided a budget. According to their design, the total cost would be 2 million yuan, even if all the furniture and artworks were new. If antiques and famous paintings were used, the cost would be astronomical.

Deng Shirong was very satisfied with the design. Each of the seven styles had distinct era characteristics, which the designers had perfectly integrated into the building.

The Western style, which might symbolize luxury to people of this era, seemed ordinary to Deng Shirong, who had seen countless luxurious mansions in his previous life, both online and in real life. In fact, the so-called high-end renovations of the future could easily surpass the Western style of this era.

This was the difference in eras. What was considered top-notch in this era was nothing special in the future.

What truly captivated him was the classical beauty. This ancient elegance was truly exquisite.

Thus, Deng Shirong immediately signed the renovation contract with the design institute. He chose new furniture and artworks, as acquiring antiques or famous paintings would not only be expensive but also lack the cultural depth he needed to appreciate them. Moreover, showing off such items would be difficult without knowledgeable people to appreciate them, making it less interesting.

The renovation would cost 2 million yuan, and he would need to repay 800,000 yuan in bank loans next year. If he also wanted to renovate the Wuyue Square, it would add up to several million yuan more.

Therefore, the less than one million yuan he had left was just a small amount, only enough for next year's inventory purchases.

...

After taking over the Wuyue Square, Deng Shirong considered hiring a few security guards to manage the building.

Currently, the building only had the main structure completed, with no internal or external renovations, and even the doors were not installed. While it didn't matter much whether someone was watching over it, Deng Shirong thought it was best to hire a few people to keep watch day and night to prevent homeless people or beggars from occupying it.

While temporarily allowing them to shelter from the rain wasn't a bad idea, the risk of them defecating or urinating inside was too unsanitary. The worst-case scenario would be if one of them died of hunger or illness inside, which would be very inauspicious.

Moreover, he was concerned that some criminals might use the place as a temporary base for illegal activities.

In short, Deng Shirong felt it was necessary to hire a few people to manage the building and the square around the clock.

When it comes to hiring security personnel, whether in the present or in the future, veterans are usually given priority. This is a testament to the trust the Chinese people have in their military, which is not just lip service. Due to the positive image of the military in the public eye, veterans are naturally more trusted than others.

Deng Shirong was no exception. When he thought about hiring people to manage Wuyue Square, his first thought was to hire veterans.

...

In Bobai County.

The Ye Deng residential complex.

It has been over a month since the housing allocation, and many clan members have already completed the simplest renovations of their homes.

The reason for the speed is that these clan members opted for the most basic renovations.

The walls and ceilings were simply painted white, the floors were not covered with marble or terrazzo but were directly paved with cement, and the wiring was not concealed but openly laid. This method of renovation is naturally very fast.

The Ye Deng clan has over 3,000 members, each with different tastes. Many clan members, who lived in mud-brick houses in their hometowns, found that the simple renovations of the new homes, complete with iron bed frames and wardrobes, were already very "high-end, grand, and upscale" in their eyes.

After completing the renovations, these clan members were eager to show off their new homes!

Moving into a new home, whether in the present or in the future, always involves setting up a few tables to invite relatives and friends to celebrate.

At this moment, in apartment 303, unit 1, building 7, the Changwen family from Hengmen Village had gathered.

A few years ago, Hengmen Village was one of the poorest villages in the Ye Deng clan's area, and the Changwen family was one of the poorest households in Hengmen Village.

At that time, the Changwen family lived in two dilapidated mud-brick houses. Changwen's wife, her two daughters, and her four sons each occupied one room.

Due to the lack of proper housing, her four sons could not find wives.

Especially her eldest son, Deng Silong, who was in his late twenties, became the oldest bachelor in the village. Given the family's situation at the time, it was likely that her eldest son would remain a bachelor for life.

To be honest, Changwen's wife felt very desperate at that time, with no end in sight to their impoverished life.

Just when Changwen's wife was living a numb life, this desolate family suddenly saw a glimmer of hope.

The clan leader selected her three sons to learn driving and become drivers in the county, and the family also joined the clan leader in growing watermelons. Within less than a year, their lives underwent a dramatic transformation.

After earning money, things started to improve.

Last year, her eldest son, Deng Silong, who was 29, married a wife seven years younger than him. Her second son, Deng Sihu, recently found a girlfriend and is expected to get married next year. Changwen's wife is also making arrangements for the marriages of her third son and two daughters.

Now that the two apartments in the complex are fully renovated, Changwen's wife, who has suffered for most of her life, decided to set up a few tables to invite relatives and friends to celebrate and show them how well her family is doing.

Changwen's wife looked at her eldest daughter-in-law and said, "Ailiu, in a few days, you should go back to your parents' house and invite your parents and siblings to come for a meal to celebrate our move to the new home."

Cai Liuliu nodded happily and replied, "Okay, Mom. I'll go back and tell my parents about this and bring them up."

For a married woman, the better her in-laws' conditions, the more face she saves when she goes back to her parents' house. Now that the two apartments are fully renovated, even if her mother-in-law didn't mention it, she would want to find an opportunity to invite her parents and siblings to see the new homes.

Since her mother-in-law had the same idea, she naturally agreed wholeheartedly.

Changwen's wife then looked at her eldest daughter and said, "Ah Feng, you should go back with your sister-in-law and inform your maternal uncles at your grandmother's house."

Deng Sifeng smiled and nodded, "Mom, I understand."

Changwen's wife added, "Also, inform your aunts and uncles on your father's side and your maternal uncles and aunts. You must notify everyone."

Deng Sifeng replied, "Okay, I'll inform all the relatives and bring them up."

Changwen's wife then instructed her three sons who were drivers, "Ailong, Aihu, Aibao, remember to adjust your schedules."

The three brothers naturally nodded in agreement.

Seeing their mother's radiant appearance, the three brothers were very happy. For so many years, their family had suffered. It was time for their mother to show off and feel proud in front of their relatives and friends.

...

At the same time.

Other clan members who had completed the simplest renovations of their homes had similar thoughts. They were discussing how to invite all their relatives and friends to the county to celebrate, essentially to show off their new homes.

After all, as the ancients said, "If you become wealthy but do not return to your hometown, it is like wearing fine clothes at night."

With such beautiful homes in the county, if they did not show off a bit in front of their relatives and friends, enjoy their envious looks, and hear their flattering words, it would feel like something was missing.

……

Nanning.

Wuyue Square.

Deng Shirong looked at the three veterans recommended to him by the labor department and said, "The Wuyue Square building has only completed its main structure. Neither the interior nor the exterior has been renovated, and the doors have not been installed. Your job is to watch over this building, making sure that no unauthorized people stay here for long periods, whether during the day or night. Understand?"

The three veterans were somewhat surprised. Such a simple job, and they would earn 30 yuan a month?

The oldest of the three, named Li Weixiong, asked, "Boss, besides preventing unauthorized people from lingering in the building, do we need to do anything else?"

Deng Shirong smiled and said, "This is your current job. If you do well and earn my recognition, when the mall is up and running, you can continue working here, and your salaries will be higher."

"Boss, rest assured, we will do our best to do a good job," Li Weixiong and the others said in unison.

In this era, veterans had certain advantages in employment, as the state provided some support. However, with many veterans and limited job openings, various units and companies could not accommodate all of them.

Therefore, veterans faced some employment difficulties unless they were transferred from military to civilian positions, in which case the state did not guarantee job placement.

Now, to do such a simple job and receive a decent salary of 30 yuan a month was indeed a good opportunity for Li Weixiong and his companions.

Moreover, the boss indicated that this job was a test. If they passed, better opportunities would await them. With such a promising future, they naturally wanted to seize the opportunity, work diligently, and earn the boss's trust.

"Alright, you can decide the shift schedule yourselves, but ensure that someone is always watching over the building day and night," Deng Shirong said. He then added with a smile, "Of course, you don't need to be here 24/7. It's fine to leave occasionally, as long as you manage it well. You are all veterans, and I trust you to handle this job responsibly."

"Thank you for your trust, Boss."

……

December 31, Tuesday.

Shuangwang Region, Bitian Village.

After eating congee, Mother Cai packed the steamed rice cakes and popcorn into a basket. These were essential items for congratulating someone on moving into a new home.

After packing everything, Mother Cai asked her daughter, "Sixth Sister, do we really not need to buy firecrackers?"

Sixth Sister Cai shook her head and said, "Mom, we really don't need to. The neighborhood isn't suitable for setting off firecrackers. You'll see when we get there."

Father Cai said, "Alright, it's getting late. Let's get going. If we miss the bus, it will be troublesome."

Mother Cai nodded and said, "Let's go then!"

So, the whole family, carrying the rice cakes and popcorn, set off for Shuangwang Market.

Bitian Village was relatively remote, with poor transportation. To get to the county, they had to walk to Shuangwang Market, which took at least an hour.

Fortunately, the Cai family left early and managed to catch the early bus from Shabi to the county.

By the time the Cai family arrived in the county, it was nearly half past eleven.

After getting off the bus, Sixth Sister Cai pointed to the tallest buildings in the county and said proudly, "Mom, Dad, Big Brother, Big Sister, Second Brother, Second Sister, do you see those tall buildings? That's our Ye Deng residential complex."

The Cai family looked over and were amazed.

They were rural people who had never traveled far. Apart from Father Cai, who had been to Longtan many years ago, the others had mostly stayed within the Shuangwang region. The tallest building they had seen was a three-story house. The eight-story buildings naturally gave them a significant visual impact.

However, their amazement was just beginning.

When Sixth Sister Cai led them through the east gate of the complex and they saw the intricate layout and greenery, every member of the Cai family was stunned.

Big Sister Cai's eyes nearly popped out as she exclaimed, "My goodness, this is too beautiful!"

Second Sister Cai was equally amazed, looking around in awe, much like Liu Laolao entering the Grand View Garden.

Mother Cai was also shocked, saying, "It's truly beautiful. Even the houses of the old landlords couldn't compare to this!"

Father Cai, Big Brother Cai, and Second Brother Cai were equally amazed. The Ye Deng residential complex would even impress city dwellers, let alone rural folk like them!

Seeing her family's reactions, Sixth Sister Cai felt a great sense of satisfaction. She pointed to one of the buildings and said, "Our home is in Unit 1, Building 7, on the 303rd and 502nd floors. Let's go upstairs first and take a look."

The Cai family agreed and followed Sixth Sister Cai upstairs.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end