Chapter 331: Zhu Junjie's Promotion

Chapter 331: Zhu Junjie's Promotion

It was noon.

Sui Feng Restaurant.

As Deng Shirong and Zhang Guangzong were drinking and chatting, a group of PLA soldiers in uniform marched into the restaurant in neat formation.

Deng Shirong did not go up to greet them. Instead, he waited for them to sit down and order their food before signaling a waiter to inform the kitchen to do their best and ensure the portions were ample, so the PLA soldiers could eat well and be fully satisfied.

Born in 1936, Deng Shirong had a special affection for the military. It was these brave and selfless people who drove away the monstrous invaders, allowing the Chinese nation to rise again after more than a century of backwardness.

As expected, the soldiers ate quickly. After the dishes were served, it took them only about fifteen minutes to finish their meal, and then they paid and left the restaurant.

When they were paying, the soldiers also thanked Deng Yuzhen.

After all, they were not fools. Seeing the generous portions, they knew the restaurant owner had quietly added extra food for them. The reason for this was clearly their military status. Even if they wanted to refuse, they couldn't, and so they accepted the kindness.

At the same time, their resolve grew stronger, determined to do their utmost to protect the land and the simple, kind people.

A few minutes after the soldiers left, there was a sudden cry from the old employee, Zhang Wenjuan.

Deng Shirong looked in her direction and saw Zhang Wenjuan running over with a handbag, handing it to him and saying, "Boss, take a look!"

Deng Shirong took the bag and found it neatly contained ten bundles of money. With his experience handling cash, he knew it was likely 10,000 yuan. There was also a 100,000 yuan check, which was undoubtedly a huge sum in those days.

Deng Shirong immediately asked, "Ajuan, where did you find this handbag?"

Zhang Wenjuan, whose heart was still racing from seeing so much money for the first time, replied, "Boss, I found it on the chair where those PLA soldiers were sitting."

At that moment, Deng Yuzhen also came over. Deng Shirong handed the handbag to her and instructed, "The PLA soldiers haven't gone far. Quickly ride your bicycle to catch up and return this handbag to them."

Deng Yuzhen responded affirmatively, took the handbag, and quickly left the restaurant, riding her bicycle to catch up with the soldiers.

Back in the restaurant, Deng Shirong praised Zhang Wenjuan, "Ajuan, your honesty in returning found items is commendable. From now on, you will be the head of the service staff, with a raise in your salary. I hope you work hard and assist Yuzhen in managing the restaurant well."

If someone were greedy, they would have hidden the money and kept it for themselves. Zhang Wenjuan, however, did not succumb to greed and immediately turned the handbag over to the boss. This showed her strong character, and Deng Shirong could trust her.

Hearing this, Zhang Wenjuan was delighted and replied, "Thank you, Boss. I will work hard and assist the young boss in managing the restaurant well."

...

Outside, the PLA soldiers had only been gone for a few minutes, and with Deng Yuzhen riding her bicycle, she quickly caught up to them.

From a distance, Deng Yuzhen shouted, "PLA comrades, please wait a moment!"

The soldier leading the group stopped upon hearing her, and the others followed suit, turning to look back.

By then, Deng Yuzhen had already caught up, still slightly out of breath from the fast ride, and said, "PLA comrades, you left this handbag at the restaurant. I've brought it back to you."

One of the soldiers recognized the handbag and his face changed instantly. He stepped forward and said, "Thank you, Boss, you've really helped us out!"

The leading soldier also quickly thanked her, "Thank you, Boss. If this money had been lost, we wouldn't know how to explain it to our superiors. You've really helped our XX Department. May I ask your name?"

Deng Yuzhen smiled and handed over the handbag, saying, "PLA comrades, no need to be so formal. My husband is also a soldier. Quickly check if anything is missing."

The leading soldier took the handbag and passed it to the soldier who had spoken first, smiling, "So you're the wife. May I ask which unit your husband is from?"

Deng Yuzhen reported Zhu Junjie's unit number and added, "He has already been transferred to work at our county public security bureau!"

Hearing the word "transferred," the soldiers were all surprised. Only officers had the qualification to be transferred, which meant that this young wife's husband was no ordinary soldier!

"The money and items are all here. Thank you so much, Sister!"

"You're welcome. I won't disturb you further. Goodbye!"

"Okay, Sister, goodbye!"

...

Deng Yuzhen returned to the restaurant in a good mood. She fully supported her father's decision to promote Zhang Wenjuan, who had shown such honesty, to the head of the service staff. An employee with such integrity was a valuable asset.

The other waitstaff all showed envious expressions, wishing they had been the ones to clean and find the handbag.

However, despite their envy, no one felt jealous.

After all, Zhang Wenjuan had been a senior employee since the restaurant opened. Even without this incident, the boss's decision to promote her to head of the service staff was well-deserved in their eyes.

This was just a small episode, a bit of gossip for their breaks. Deng Yuzhen also thought she would never see these PLA soldiers again, so she quickly forgot about the incident.

...

In the afternoon, during a meal, Zhu Junjie asked, "Uncle Deng, are you familiar with Shuangwang Baiping?"

Although he and Deng Yuzhen had gotten their marriage certificate, they hadn't held a wedding banquet yet, so he hadn't started calling Deng Shirong "Dad."

Deng Shirong replied, "Of course, I'm familiar. Why do you ask?"

Zhu Junjie explained, "The county has been building the Longtan Hydropower Station. During the construction, the station command followed the party's policies and regulations, compensating the farmland in the reservoir area with either annual payments or a one-time settlement. This was a fair and reasonable solution to the farmers' losses.

Once the hydropower station is completed, it will greatly alleviate the electricity shortage in the southern part of the county, boost industrial and agricultural development, and promote the construction of both material and spiritual civilization. The people wholeheartedly support it.

However, recently, some people with ulterior motives have been continuously disrupting and sabotaging the construction. They have driven away the construction teams and burned down the worker's sheds, causing significant damage to the project.

Now, our Public Security Bureau has gathered solid evidence after thorough investigations and has obtained approval from the county People's Procuratorate to arrest the criminals who planned and carried out the arson at the station command. We plan to take action early tomorrow morning.

So, I wanted to ask if you are familiar with the natural villages in Baiping, such as Pitousha, Changtian, Jiuding, and Dayongshu. What is the local sentiment like? Will there be any trouble when we deploy our police officers?"

Upon hearing this, Deng Shirong recalled a major incident that had taken place in Baiping in his previous life, when the police went to arrest someone there.

It had been quite a sensational event. The outcome was predictable—opposing the state was like looking for a fight in a toilet with a lantern—asking for trouble!

Deng Shirong said, "The locals there are quite fierce. If the villains incite them, the less rational villagers might try to seize your weapons and equipment. If you really need to take action, it's best to send a large force to suppress them. A small number won't do."

Zhu Junjie took this very seriously and asked again, "Uncle Deng, how many people do you think we should send to have a deterrent effect?"

Deng Shirong thought for a moment and replied, "At the very least, you should send a hundred to two hundred people, fully armed, and be prepared to fire warning shots when necessary."

Zhu Junjie was taken aback. "That many?"

Deng Shirong nodded. "A smaller number won't be intimidating enough. You can't really point your guns at the crowd, so you need to send more people. You should also have influential leaders accompany you. This shows that there are still unresolved issues among the people, otherwise, the troublemakers wouldn't be able to incite them."

Zhu Junjie agreed, putting down his chopsticks. "Uncle Deng, your advice is very important. I need to report back to the leadership and discuss this matter to avoid being caught off guard due to insufficient preparation."

"It won't hurt to take a bit more time. Finish your meal first; your plan is to act tomorrow morning anyway."

"I'm almost done. You all continue eating. I'll go report to the leadership."

"Alright, go ahead!"

Seeing Zhu Junjie get up to leave, Deng Yuzhen couldn't help but ask, "Are you leading the team tomorrow?"

Zhu Junjie replied, "Originally, one of my subordinates was to lead the team, but since Uncle Deng emphasized the seriousness of the situation, I think I should personally lead the team tomorrow."

Deng Yuzhen warned, "Be careful. Follow Dad's advice and bring more people. Don't go with just a dozen or so."

Zhu Junjie nodded. "I understand. I'll make sure to be well-prepared. Don't worry."

With that, Zhu Junjie greeted Zhang Lao, Deng Yunte, Zhang Xiuping, and the others one by one before quickly leaving the restaurant to go to the government compound to discuss the matter with the leadership.

Deng Yunte sighed, "I don't understand what those people are thinking. Opposing the government is just asking for trouble."

Deng Shirong said, "No matter the era, there are always such fools."

Zhang Guangzong added, "It's like how Long Sanba, the notorious bandit, killed people in Songwang Village. He only had a few followers, while the villagers numbered 56. If they had fled, at most a few would have been killed. If they had fought back, who would have died and who would have survived would have been uncertain.

But Long Sanba said that as long as they didn't run and tied themselves up obediently, he wouldn't kill them.

Then, those villagers really foolishly believed his lies, using the towels hanging around their necks to tie themselves up, and they died most unjustly."

Deng Yunte sighed, "Those villagers were truly terrified by Long Sanba, the big bandit. Once they lost their courage, it didn't matter if there were dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of them. When I was in school, our history teacher once mentioned that in ancient times, there was a fierce man who chased and killed thousands of people. I don't remember the details, but if this story is true, those thousands of people being chased must have been terrified."

"Otherwise, just spitting on them would have drowned them. How could such a bizarre thing happen?"

Deng Shirong nodded and said, "Long Sanba could be considered the biggest bandit to come out of Shuangwang. From the north to Yulin and the south to Hepu Bai Sha, spanning hundreds of miles, anyone who mentioned his name in the early Republic of China era would have been afraid. It's normal that the villagers in Hengkeng were terrified by him."

Zhang Xiuping added, "I heard that Long Sanba's family had a feng shui spot. They said that digging three feet deep would produce a king, and digging three feet shallow would produce a bandit. I wonder if this is true?"

Deng Shirong replied, "There is indeed such a saying. It is said that during a storm, when they were digging the grave, they encountered hard rocks, and the people didn't really believe this feng shui theory, so they stopped digging. As a result, Long Sanba, the big bandit, was born."

With that, the conversation turned to Long Sanba, the big bandit. He was killed by his own subordinate in 1926, and it had only been 60 years since then. His deeds were still remembered by the people of Bobai, even in later generations.

After all, this bandit had committed countless atrocities and caused immense harm.

...

At the Yeyu Deng Community.

Today was the big day for Deng Yunqiang's family to move into their new home, and they naturally invited relatives and friends over for a meal to celebrate.

Deng Yunqiang's family had ordered three apartments, but only one was currently renovated. The other two would be renovated slowly over time.

Among the guests, Guan Yongying's family was also invited.

After all, when they initially bought the apartments, Deng Yunqiang didn't have enough money and had to borrow a significant amount from his in-laws to secure the three apartments. Now that they were moving into their new home, it was only natural to invite his in-laws to celebrate.

Additionally, Deng Shirong was also invited.

During the meal, Guan Dewei kept toasting Deng Shirong, expressing his deep gratitude to the matchmaker for his eldest daughter.

A few years ago, their family's living conditions were still vivid in Guan Dewei's mind. Back then, they could hardly afford meat once a month and were considered one of the most ordinary families in the village.

After Uncle Jiu came to arrange the marriage for his eldest daughter, who then married into Naye Village, everything slowly began to change. They started growing lychees with their daughter and son-in-law, then moved on to growing watermelons, and finally, with the help of their in-laws, they secured four shares in the Naye Deng Clan's passenger transport company.

These series of moves made Guan Dewei the undisputed wealthiest man in Shenshuitian Village, with a lifestyle that made the entire village envious.

And all of this was thanks to Uncle Jiu, which Guan Dewei understood in his heart.

After the meal, as other relatives gradually left, Guan Dewei finally spoke up, "Uncle Jiu, there's one more thing I need to trouble you with."

Deng Shirong said, "Family, what's the matter? Speak up."

Guan Dewei replied, "Uncle Jiu, it's like this. My youngest daughter is 20 years old this year, and it's time to find her a husband. I would like to ask you to help find a suitable match. Your skills as a matchmaker are the best, and I trust you the most."

He had four children: his eldest daughter Guan Yongying, his eldest son Guan Yongcong, his youngest daughter Guan Yongmei, and his youngest son Guan Yongming.

His eldest daughter and eldest son were already married, leaving only the two youngest unmarried.

Deng Shirong didn't refuse and smiled, "Of course, no problem. We have many young men in the Naye Deng Clan. Do you have anyone in mind?"

Guan Dewei smiled and shook his head, "Uncle Jiu, I don't know many of the young men in your clan. You know them better. If there's anyone suitable, please help arrange a match."

Deng Shirong nodded and said, "Of course, I can do that. What's your youngest daughter's personality like? How much education does she have?"

Guan Dewei replied, "Uncle Jiu, I'll be honest with you. My youngest daughter's personality is a bit fierce, not as gentle and kind as Yongying. She hasn't had much education and only knows a few simple characters."

Deng Shirong was quite surprised, "Why is that? Yongying graduated from primary school, so why does her sister only know a few simple characters?"

Guan Dewei sighed, "Ah, it's our fault for not paying enough attention. When Yongying and her sisters were in school, everything was fine. But when it came to our youngest daughter Yongmei and her classmates, for some reason, the female students from Bangbang Village and Bangliang Village ganged up to bully the female students from Shenshuitian Village, beating them so badly that they were afraid to go to school."

"So, in our village, not only my daughter Yongmei, but all her peers and those younger than her, cannot read a single word."

Deng Shirong was taken aback and asked, "There is actually such a thing? Is it still like this now?"

Naye Primary School was the only primary school in Bangjie Village.

However, Bangjie Village, as an administrative village, was quite large, encompassing dozens of natural villages. These natural villages were at varying distances from Naye Primary School. For those closer, it was not a problem, but for those further away, it could be several kilometers, making it very inconvenient for children to attend school.

Therefore, in addition to Naye Primary School, some primary schools were established in other natural villages based on their locations. These schools could accommodate students up to third grade, after which they would transfer to Naye Primary School for fourth grade and beyond.

Bangba, Bangliang, and Shenshuitian were connected natural villages, so a primary school was established in Bangba Village, and children from these villages attended school there.

Shenshuitian Village had a small population, and the children had to travel to another village to attend school. It was quite normal for young children to be bullied and lose interest in going to school.

Moreover, the preference for boys over girls in Bobai was severe. It was already a significant achievement to provide education for daughters, and if they did not want to go to school, parents would not force them or even inquire about the reasons. This led to the majority of girls in the village being illiterate.

Guan Dewei said, "I'm not sure if this is still happening now, as the girls in the village haven't been going to school for so many years, and over time, everyone has become accustomed to it."

Deng Shirong frowned and said, "Not going to school is unacceptable. I will pay attention to this issue and ensure it doesn't happen again. When you return, encourage the eligible girls in your village to go to school. In this era, it's not about how much education they receive, but at least they should complete primary school. Otherwise, they will be limited to farming and nothing else."

Guan Dewei nodded and said, "Yes, I will talk to the villagers and try to send the children to school."

Deng Shirong said, "Family, your current financial situation is quite good. It's not ideal that Yongmei is illiterate. I suggest you teach her yourself or hire a private tutor to teach her. Try to make her learn to read and do some basic arithmetic. Otherwise, she won't be able to travel far on her own, and even if she has a business, she won't be able to handle money, which will make her life in her in-laws' home very difficult."

Guan Dewei knew that Uncle Jiu was the most education-focused person in Shuangwang. Hearing this, he found it reasonable and nodded. "Uncle Jiu, I will follow your advice. When I return, I will have her brother or younger brother teach her."

Deng Shirong nodded and said, "Given your current financial situation, if Yongmei can read and do basic arithmetic, you can find her a suitable match. Her future life will naturally be better. Besides, at 20 years old, there's no rush to marry. My eldest daughter is 24 and is only now preparing to get married."

"Uncle Jiu is right. We'll wait a little longer. I will definitely make sure she learns basic arithmetic and can read simple Chinese characters."

"Good, I will help you find her a good match when the time comes."

...

On the way back to the county from Baiping Village, the county leader praised Zhu Junjie, "Director Zhu, it's fortunate that you reported this important situation to the county party committee and government last night and adjusted the deployment in time. This allowed us to resolve the issue smoothly today. Otherwise, if the crowd had been incited, serious consequences could have ensued. You deserve the most credit for this."

Zhu Junjie was happy inside but maintained a composed demeanor, saying, "Leaders, you flatter me. Without your timely resolution of the people's difficulties, we wouldn't have been able to apprehend those criminals so smoothly."

The county leader said approvingly, "Director Zhu, you have been working since your transfer for more than two years, right?"

Zhu Junjie nodded, "Yes, it has been two and a half years."

The county leader said, "After two and a half years of training, I believe you have the ability to manage the overall situation. I will be giving you more responsibilities, so you need to be mentally prepared."

Hearing this, Zhu Junjie was delighted and said excitedly, "Thank you, leaders, for your cultivation. I will not let you down."

He was a deputy regimental officer, equivalent to a deputy department level, when he transferred. However, when transferring to local government, he was usually demoted by half a level or a full level and could not hold a primary position, which is why he became a deputy director. Now, hearing the leader's words, he understood that he was finally going to be promoted to director, which was a cause for celebration.

It's worth noting that the county public security bureau director in this era, unlike in later times where it was often held by a vice-county magistrate, was simply the director, overseen by a vice-county magistrate, and held the rank of a full section level.

The county leader in front of Zhu Junjie was the vice-county magistrate in charge of the public security bureau, judicial bureau, family planning commission, and dispute resolution office.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end