Chapter 335: Relatives Were Astounded

Chapter 335: Relatives Were Astounded

Nanning.

A certain restaurant.

Song Yu and Deng Yunheng were having a meal while chatting about the recent developments of their fellow alumni from Peking University.

Song Yu took a sip of soup and sighed, "Zhao Changzheng is indeed quite remarkable. When he graduated, he chose to work in Tibet. We all thought that it would be very difficult to make a name for himself in such a place. But just three and a half years later, he has already become the vice-county magistrate of a certain county. He truly deserves to be the former president of our Guangxi alumni association."

Deng Yunheng smiled, "President Zhao is indeed impressive, but you, Sister Song, are equally impressive. You two are the only deputy division-level officials among our close group of Guangxi alumni. The value of your position as deputy district magistrate is no less than President Zhao's vice-county magistrate."

Song Yu shook her head and laughed, "It's different. The promotion difficulty is not the same. Being able to stand out in a place like Tibet, his future prospects will be much better than mine, who follows a more conventional path."

Deng Yunheng said, "There are indeed some differences, but in the system, besides one's work ability, it also depends on opportunities. Whether one can seize the opportunity is the key to promotion. It's hard to tell who among us will have a smoother career path in the future. We'll have to wait at least ten to twenty years to see."

"Anyway, as a woman, I don't have much ambition in my career. If it weren't for my father's insistence, I would have chosen to go into business after graduation."

"You really dare to think that. If you went into business, your Uncle Song would break your legs!"

"Not that extreme. It's just that my father has achieved a bit of success on this path, and I haven't let him down by getting into the best university. Of course, he has placed all his hopes on me, wanting to cultivate me to surpass him."

Song Yu sighed, "When I was promoted to deputy district magistrate three months ago, my father was so happy that he got drunk that night. My mother said that for several days afterward, he never stopped smiling, even when his subordinates made mistakes, he didn't lose his temper. After hearing that, I gave up the idea of going into business."

Deng Yunheng laughed, "When you surpass him, your Uncle Song will be even happier."

"Even if everything goes smoothly, that will be at least ten years from now!"

They continued to chat about the development of other alumni, but among their close group, only Zhao Changzheng and Song Yu had crossed the division-level threshold. The others had at most some changes in their positions, but they were still at the section level. To be promoted to deputy division-level, they still had to work hard.

After the meal, Deng Yunheng asked, "Sister Song, when are you on holiday?"

Song Yu replied, "We still have a few more days before we are on holiday!"

Deng Yunheng said, "Then we won't wait for you. We'll take the bus back tomorrow. My sister is getting married, you must come to the wedding!"

Song Yu said, "Yes, you go back first. I will definitely attend your sister's wedding."

...

The next morning, the Deng brothers boarded their family's bus company's coach. By the time they returned to Bobai, it was already past three in the afternoon.

"Second Uncle!"

"Third Uncle!"

Seeing Deng Yunheng and Deng Yunsong, Xiaodong'er and Dongzi were so happy that they jumped up and ran over immediately.

Deng Yunheng held Xiaodong'er, and Deng Yunsong held Dongzi.

Deng Yunheng smiled and asked, "Xiaodong'er, have you missed Second Uncle?"

"Missed Second Uncle!"

Xiaodong'er nodded her little head and asked, "Second Uncle, why did you take so long to come back on holiday?"

Deng Yunheng smiled and said, "Second Uncle is not a student anymore. Second Uncle has already started working, so there are fewer holidays now."

Xiaodong'er seemed to understand and asked, "Second Uncle, now that you're working, do you have money?"

Deng Yunheng laughed and said, "Yes, Second Uncle now has a salary!"

But then, Xiaodong'er's next words made him stop laughing: "Second Uncle, now that you have money, did you bring me a gift?"

Deng Yunheng coughed awkwardly and said, "Well, Xiaodong'er, Second Uncle didn't know what gift you liked, so I prepared a big red envelope for you. I'll give it to you during the New Year, and then you can buy whatever you want, okay?"

Xiaodong'er said, "Thank you, Second Uncle!"

Relieved to have gotten away with it, Deng Yunheng then greeted his father, elder brother and sister-in-law, his sister, and his younger siblings.

It was a rare family gathering, and Deng Shirong personally cooked a fragrant and spicy pot. In such cold weather, nothing could compare to a hot pot.

Over the past few years, under Deng Shirong's influence, everyone in the family except Xiaodong'er and Dongzi could handle medium spiciness, which was quite impressive in Bobai.

When they started eating, Deng Shirong asked, "Yunheng, Xiaosong, it's the peak of the Spring Festival travel rush. Was it difficult to buy tickets to come back?"

When the topic came up, Deng Yunsong couldn't help but get excited and said, "Dad, you probably don't know, but my second brother and I didn't take the train back; we took a plane."

Deng Yunhua was the first to exclaim, "Third Brother, you and Second Brother took a plane to come back?"

The others also showed expressions of surprise. In this era, for a rural person to take a plane was no less shocking than someone in the future flying a private jet home. After all, in those days, you couldn't just buy a plane ticket with money; you needed an introduction letter from a unit at the department level or above.

Deng Yunsong nodded with a smile, "Yes, Second Brother's unit provided the introduction letter, and I got to experience the feeling of flying. It's really a hundred times more comfortable than taking the train. From Beijing to Nanning, it only takes a few hours, unlike the train which takes several days and nights. It's really too slow."

Deng Yunzhu asked curiously, "When we used to see planes flying in the sky, they were always higher than the clouds. Did you and Little Song fly through the clouds when you were on the plane?"

Deng Yunsong shook his head and smiled, "No, the plane flies much higher than the clouds. When I looked out the window, I saw the clouds below the plane, and they looked very beautiful."

Deng Yuntao sighed, "We haven't even taken a train yet, and you guys are already taking planes."

Zhang Xiuping said, "Didn't you hear Dad? Taking the train is like suffering. The carriages are full of unpleasant smells, and it's crowded. Even going to the toilet is inconvenient. The train is also slow. If you have to go to Beijing like Uncle Yunheng and Uncle Yunsong, you have to sit for days and nights. Just hearing about it makes me not want to take the train."

Deng Shirong added, "Six years ago, I told Ahzhen and Ahzhu that when Yunheng gets into university, I would take everyone out to see the world. But when Yunheng went to university, Sister Ping was already several months pregnant and couldn't travel far, so I didn't mention it. At the time, I thought I would wait until the next time to take everyone out, but after taking the train once, I completely gave up the idea. Taking the train is really too much of a hardship."

Deng Yunsong nodded in agreement, "Dad is right. When Dad took me to school, I was really afraid of the train ride!"

Deng Yunzhen said, "The transportation now is already much better. In ancient times, traveling was truly a hardship. From Bobai to Beijing for the imperial exams, it would take at least two or three months, and not only would you have to endure the elements, but you might even encounter bandits and lose your life."

Deng Yunheng laughed, "Sister, you're right. We complain about the train now, but if we were in ancient times, we would be happy to endure a few days and nights to get there. Even if we had to spend the whole journey lying in the toilet, we would be willing."

Deng Shirong said, "Technology is advancing, and the times are changing. Just because the trains are slow now doesn't mean they will always be. I think the country is already researching how to speed up the trains. In another twenty to thirty years, you might not need to take a plane; a train ride of ten to twelve hours could get you to Beijing."

The daughters and daughters-in-law all smiled and didn't take it to heart, much like how many people found it hard to believe that video calls would allow people to see each other face-to-face over long distances before they actually existed.

Similarly, if Deng Shirong hadn't witnessed this miracle himself, he wouldn't have believed that trains would undergo such a revolutionary change in just twenty to thirty years.

After discussing transportation, Deng Yunheng asked, "Dad, have you sent the invitation to Uncle Song for my sister's wedding?"

Deng Shirong nodded, "Yes, I sent invitations to a few familiar leaders at the county government, including the father of your classmate Song Yu, County Chief Song. Your brother-in-law also sent invitations to all the leaders."

Deng Yunheng said, "That's fine. My classmate Song Yu is quite remarkable. She was promoted to deputy district magistrate of Nanning's new district this year."

Deng Yuntao was surprised, "Deputy district magistrate of Nanning's new district? That must be a deputy division-level position, right?"

He originally had limited knowledge of the levels in the government, but with his brothers entering the political arena and his brother-in-law being involved as well, he started to pay attention to these matters. He might not understand the details, but he was aware of the general hierarchy.

Deng Yunheng nodded, "Yes, it's a deputy division-level position."

Deng Yunzhen's eyes widened, "That classmate of yours is so impressive. She's only one year older than me and the same age as my sister-in-law, and she's already such a high-ranking official?"

Zhang Xiuping also looked shocked. Such an achievement from a peer was a significant impact on her.

Only Deng Shirong wasn't surprised. While he wasn't very knowledgeable about the political hierarchy, he understood that for someone from Peking University, as long as they had decent emotional intelligence and a bit of luck, reaching the division level wasn't difficult. The only difference was whether it happened a bit earlier or a bit later.

Even for higher levels, it wouldn't be too difficult for Peking University's elite. They could advance with a bit of perseverance. The only real bottleneck for these Peking University elites would be at the provincial level or above. At that level, it's not just about academic credentials and work ability. Unless one's work ability is extraordinarily outstanding, making significant achievements in any position, it would be extremely difficult to cross this threshold without opportunities or the support of a superior leader.

Deng Shirong said, "It seems that in a few years, your senior classmate will catch up to her father, and given her academic credentials, surpassing her father is just a matter of time."

Deng Yunheng nodded, "Uncle Song is already over fifty. Even if he can smoothly become a county chief, without other opportunities, it will be very difficult for him to advance further after his term as county chief. On the other hand, Song Yu is so young and already a deputy district magistrate. She has many more opportunities for advancement, so surpassing her father is inevitable."

Deng Shirong asked, "What departments does this senior classmate of yours oversee?"

Deng Yunheng replied, "I didn't ask in detail, but I know she oversees the Water and Electricity Bureau, the Agricultural Machinery Bureau, the District Planning Office, and the Relocation Office."

Zhang Xiuping couldn't help but ask, "Yunheng, your senior classmate is the same age as me, and she's already quite old. Is she still single?"

Deng Yunheng nodded, "Yes, she's still single. At her current position, finding a suitable partner isn't easy."

Deng Shirong said, "Indeed, it's not easy. Your senior classmate isn't particularly outstanding in appearance. Those who are not as good as her, she might not be interested in, and those who are as good as her or even better might not be interested in her. This is a common dilemma, and it gets worse as time goes on."

Deng Yunheng said, "This is something for Uncle Song to worry about!"

...

At the Government Compound.

Deng Yunheng was right. At that moment, Song Yu's parents were indeed worried about their eldest daughter's marriage.

Song Yu was 26 by the traditional Chinese age system, and she would be 27 by the lunar new year. In the modern era, this age wouldn't be a cause for concern, as many women marry in their late twenties or early thirties. By the Gregorian calendar, Song Yu was only 25.

However, it was the 1980s, and although women didn't marry as early as in ancient times, they typically got married around the age of 20, and this was calculated by the traditional age system.

For a woman who was about to turn 27 by the traditional age system and still didn't have a partner, her parents would be very worried.

Earlier, Song Yu's father and mother were discussing the upcoming wedding banquet at Shufeng Restaurant.

However, the conversation turned to Song Yu's marriage, and Song's mother sighed, "Xiao Yu is almost 27. Her career is going smoothly, and she's already better than her father, but at this age, she still doesn't have a partner. I can't even enjoy my meal."

Song's father also felt troubled and said, "It's indeed a headache. I've considered all the sons of well-known figures in the county and society, but I can't find anyone who matches our Xiao Yu. It's a problem when your daughter is too outstanding!"

Song's mother said, "What if we lower our standards and only consider the man's character, regardless of his family background or personal abilities? This would broaden our search range and make it easier to find someone."

Song's father shook his head, "That's not an option. Our Xiao Yu is already a deputy district magistrate, and it's not impossible for her to become a district chief in a few years. That would be equivalent to a county chief. How can we find someone with nothing to offer?"

Song's mother said, "It's not about finding someone with nothing. We're just looking for someone with good character!"

Song's father said, "What good is just having good character? To match our Xiao Yu, he needs to have either a good family background or outstanding personal abilities."

Song's mother sighed, "On top of good character, having a good family background or being personally outstanding would be ideal, but can you find such a person in Bobai?"

Song's father sighed again, "Finding such a person in Bobai is indeed very difficult. The only one who matches our Xiao Yu is her Peking University junior, but unfortunately, Xiao Yu is three years older than him, and it doesn't seem like they have any romantic interest in each other. It's truly a shame!"

Mentioning this, Song's mother also felt deeply regretful. Among all the young men in Bobai, Deng Yunheng was the one they respected the most. He had a good family background and was also very capable. Unfortunately, their Xiao Yu was three years older than him.

Although there is a saying that "a woman three years older is like holding a golden brick," in reality, unless the woman is significantly more outstanding or the man prefers older women, a three-year age gap is often a deterrent.

Song's mother said, "Finding a suitable partner in Bobai is almost impossible. When Xiao Yu comes back, we should urge her to find someone in Nanning. As the capital city, it has many more outstanding men."

Song Yu's father said with a helpless look, "We have no choice but to do this. However, with her current position, it's not very realistic for her to find someone on her own. It would be better to find a reliable person to help introduce her, which would increase the success rate."

Song Yu's mother said, "There are plenty of matchmakers in Bobai, but we don't know any in Nanning."

Song Yu's father pondered for a moment and said, "My old leader works in Nanning and is about to retire. After a few days, after drinking to the health of Director Zhu and Mr. Deng's daughter, I will go to Nanning to visit my old leader and ask his wife to help find a suitable match for Xiao Yu."

Song Yu's mother frowned and shook her head, "I don't suggest you do that. If his wife introduces someone to Xiao Yu and Xiao Yu doesn't like them, won't that embarrass his wife?"

Song Yu's father replied, "I think you're overthinking it. I will only ask his wife to help introduce someone. Whether it works out or not is up to the individuals involved. Our country now advocates free love and opposes arranged marriages. As officials, we should set an example. Even if it doesn't work out, we will appreciate the effort, and his wife should understand."

Song Yu's mother thought for a moment and nodded, "Alright, but when you ask his wife to help, make sure to clarify that it's up to Xiao Yu to decide. We don't want this to cause any bad feelings towards our Xiao Yu."

Song Yu's father nodded, "Don't worry, I understand."

...

Before they knew it, it was the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month.

Tomorrow was the big day for Deng Yunzhen's wedding, and today, all the relatives and friends from the hometown arrived in the county town.

In the afternoon, the chefs at Shufeng Restaurant began preparing for the next day's banquet. They were all fully focused, determined to make the banquet a success.

Although they had worked at Shufeng Restaurant and organized dozens of banquets, with ample experience to handle any event effortlessly, this one was different. This was their boss's daughter's wedding, and many leaders would be attending. If the banquet didn't go well, they would have no face left to continue working as chefs.

In his previous life, when his eldest daughter got married, the groom's family only set up three tables, and the food was very meager, with only a few meat dishes and one dish of steamed pork. (Due to local customs, Deng Shirong did not attend his daughter's wedding in his previous life, so these details were only relayed by his children who attended.)



In this life, Deng Shirong wanted to make up for the shortcomings of his previous life and ensure that the wedding was grand and impressive, especially the food. Not only would there be a variety of chicken, duck, fish, and meat dishes, but he would also bring out some of the extremely delicious seafood stored in the system space, such as flower crabs, large shrimp, and mud snails.

In short, the food at tomorrow's banquet must leave all the guests praising it.

After dinner, Deng Shirong and his family took the relatives to the Nayi Deng Clan Compound, where they would be staying for the night.

"Uncle Nine!"

"Grandpa Nine!"

"Clan Head!"

The Nayi Deng Clan Compound had been distributed to the clan members over a year ago, and many had already moved in after renovating their units. Seeing Deng Shirong, they all greeted him warmly.

Soon, the group arrived at Building 9, Unit 1. Since Building 9 was inside the compound, the ground floor was not used for shops but was an open public area with several ping-pong tables.

At that moment, a group of children were playing ping-pong.

The landscaping and layout of the entire compound amazed the relatives, who had only heard about it but never seen it in person. Now, seeing it with their own eyes, they understood why people praised it so much—it was indeed more beautiful than they had imagined.

As they walked up the stairs, the relatives were again surprised.

Deng Shirong had used colorful patterned ceramic tiles to cover the stairs, making them both stylish and much wider than the typical stairs of that era.

In those days, stairs were usually built very narrow to save space, making it difficult to move items and uncomfortable to walk up and down. Of course, people were used to such stairs, so they didn't feel too bothered.

Now, seeing such a wide and well-designed staircase, the relatives were naturally taken aback.

Soon, the group followed Deng Shirong up to the second floor.

When Deng Shirong opened the door, the relatives entered with curiosity. Upon seeing the extravagantly luxurious interior and the spacious rooms that were beyond their imagination, every single one of them was left speechless and wide-eyed.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end