Chapter 338: Holy Cow!

Chapter 338: Holy Cow!

Sui Feng Restaurant.

As the banquet began, the restaurant's waitstaff, along with temporary helpers, started serving dishes in an orderly manner.

Initially, they served the essential local dishes, such as bamboo shoot noodles, sweet lotus root, stir-fried pork, meatballs, and egg rolls. After all the common local dishes were served, they began to bring out the seafood.

Pan-fried large shrimp, hand-torn squid, stir-fried flower crab, steamed mudworms, and garlic and vermicelli steamed scallops...

Each dish was fresh and fragrant, making even the county leaders' eyes widen, not to mention the other relatives and friends who were amazed.

Moreover, the taste was truly unforgettable, and the guests praised the dishes while eating, their mouths dripping with grease.

"My goodness, today's banquet has really opened my eyes. There are so many dishes, and they all taste amazing!"

"I regret eating too quickly at the beginning. Now, these seafood dishes are one better than the other, and I'm already full after just a few bites. What should I do?"

"This banquet is really too lavish. The taste of the steamed mudworms is really addictive the more you eat!"

"..."

As the guests praised the food and drinks, the newlyweds began to toast each table, accompanied by their parents.

Naturally, they couldn't wear the previous white wedding dress for toasting, as it would be too inconvenient. So, Deng Yunzhen took a moment to change into a different outfit, as shown in the image below:

This outfit was not only beautiful but also convenient for toasting, without any hindrance.

Typically, in Bobai, the newlyweds would start toasting the table of the bridesmaids first, showing respect to the bride. However, this wedding was a joint effort by both families, and Sui Feng Restaurant was the bride's main venue, so the rules were a bit different.

Therefore, they started toasting from the VIP guests in Room One.

When the group entered the room, they found the atmosphere lively! After all, they were all county leaders who, despite any significant political differences, maintained a surface harmony in private. This is a characteristic of our system, where only the lowest-level officials would openly display their disagreements. Generally, at the county level and above, people wouldn't be so rash.

Toasting naturally started with the county magistrate and then proceeded according to the seating order, rather than by rank, which would be too disrespectful.

Each leader was toasted with a few brief words, and it took quite some time to complete the round.

After toasting Room One, they moved on to Room Two, Room Three, and so on, until they toasted all the guests in the main hall.

Only after toasting all the guests did everyone finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Of course, it wasn't time to relax yet. After sitting down and eating a few bites, the guests who had eaten and drunk their fill began to leave one by one. The newlyweds had to stand up again to see them off. From morning until the wedding was over, the newlyweds had no chance to rest properly.

This is why many couples who have experienced a wedding banquet in later times recall the day as nothing but tiring.

It wasn't until 2 PM, when the last table of guests dispersed, that the wedding was officially over.

After seeing off the leaders and friends, Zhu Junjie and his wife, along with their parents and relatives, returned to the new house in Naye Deng Family Compound.

The news that the bride's dowry included a house in Naye Deng Family Compound and Sui Feng Restaurant had already spread among the Zhu family and their relatives, causing a great deal of shock, which has been mentioned enough and doesn't need to be repeated.

Actually, the bride's side didn't publicize this, unlike in later times where the dowry would be listed on a sign for all relatives and friends to see.

However, the groom's side actively publicized it.

Therefore, everyone who attended the wedding knew about the bride's astonishing dowry and felt a sense of disbelief.

Since the gifts from the Zhu family and their relatives were in the car, everyone took the large bus to Naye Deng Family Compound.

As the bus entered Naye Deng Family Compound, everyone except for Old Man Zhu and Old Lady Zhu exclaimed in admiration, as the compound was indeed as beautiful as rumored.

Soon, the bus stopped in front of Building 9, Unit 1. Everyone got off the bus, carrying their gifts, and followed Deng Yunzhen upstairs.

When they reached the second floor and Deng Yunzhen opened the door, the Zhu family and their relatives, including Old Man Zhu and Old Lady Zhu, were stunned!

Zhu's eldest sister-in-law was so shocked that her jaw almost dropped. The incredibly spacious and luxuriously decorated house was actually the bride's dowry?

In other words, this house would belong to their younger brother-in-law in the future?

Old Lady Zhu's heart was also long in settling. She was already shocked when she learned that her younger daughter-in-law's dowry included Sui Feng Restaurant and a house in Naye Deng Family Compound, and now she was shocked again. This house was simply too impressive!

Deng Yunzhen held her mother-in-law's hand and led her to one of the master bedrooms, saying, "Mom, this will be your and Dad's room from now on."

Granny Zhu looked at the beautifully decorated room and shook her head. "Ah Zhen, we can stay in the police department's family housing. You and Xiao Jie stay here. We don't need to come and add to the commotion."

Deng Yunzhen smiled. "Mom, you can stay wherever you like. This room is reserved for you and Dad."

Granny Zhu waved her hand. "No need, no need. Such a nice room, you and Xiao Jie should stay here. If you want to leave a room, just give us any simple one, no need for such a beautiful one."

Deng Yunzhen led her mother-in-law to her and Zhu Junjie's master bedroom and smiled. "Mom, you and Dad can stay in that room with peace of mind. Look, this is where I and Brother Jie will stay. It's no less impressive than the one you saw."

Granny Zhu admired the room, adorned with vibrant red lanterns and a prominent 'Double Happiness' sign, and agreed wholeheartedly. "It's absolutely stunning. This house is a sight to behold. Xiao Jie is truly blessed to have you as a daughter-in-law; it's a gift from the heavens!"

Deng Yunzhen smiled. "Being able to marry Brother Jie is also my good fortune."

At that moment, Granny Zhu was extremely satisfied with this young daughter-in-law. To see her youngest son marry such a good wife in her lifetime, she felt truly content and without regrets.

On the other side, the other Zhu family members and relatives began to tour the house, which was so beautiful it defied description. They were more and more amazed, as all kinds of luxurious appliances and furniture were present, making the Zhu family members and relatives feel a bit overwhelmed.

Such a beautiful house was something they could only dream of.

After the tour, everyone sat on the soft leather sofa in the living room. Zhu's eldest sister-in-law asked curiously, "Ah Zhen, I heard from the sister who married into the Naye Deng family that the houses in your neighborhood are all 160 square meters. Why is your house so much bigger? How many square meters is it?"

The others also looked at Deng Yunzhen curiously, wanting to know the answer.

Deng Yunzhen smiled. "This house is actually made up of four units, totaling 640 square meters."

Zhu's eldest sister-in-law exclaimed, "No wonder the house is so big. It's made up of four units!"

Zhu's third aunt's face changed slightly. "If each unit costs 5000 yuan, then these four units would be worth 20,000 yuan, right?"

Zhu's fourth aunt added, "20,000 yuan is just the cost of the construction. This house is so beautifully decorated, it must have cost a lot more."

Deng Yunzhen said vaguely, "Dad had it decorated. I don't know the exact cost, but I know the decoration was more expensive than the house itself."

The others were not too surprised, as the decoration was indeed very high-end. There were air conditioners, washing machines, televisions, and record players, and not just one or two of each. The beds, wardrobes, and sofas were also top-notch.

In short, just from what they could see, they estimated that the cost was far more than 20,000 yuan.

At that moment, the Zhu family members and relatives clearly felt the terrifying wealth of Deng Yunzhen's family.

The house alone was worth tens of thousands of yuan, and the restaurant's value was incalculable. Just for a daughter's wedding, they had spent so much money, and the bride still had many brothers. It was hard to believe that the family had no money left.

Granny Zhu sat on the sofa for a while and then said, "Xiao Jie, Ah Zhen, get ready. Remember to thank the matchmaker later."

Zhu Junjie and Deng Yunzhen nodded together. "We know, Mom."

...

Sui Feng Restaurant.

After the guests left, the waitstaff began to clear the leftover dishes.

The dishes at today's wedding banquet, both in quantity and portion size, were unquestionably the best among all the wedding feasts the guests had attended. Even though the guests had eaten to their hearts' content, there were still a large number of leftovers.

Of course, these dishes would not be wasted. Many of the relatives and friends from both sides had not yet returned home, including the restaurant staff. These leftovers would be enough for an extra meal today and another tomorrow.

The waitstaff collected the leftovers, combining similar dishes together.

With the cold weather, the food would not spoil easily.

After the waitstaff finished clearing the leftovers, Deng Shirong instructed his sons to move the thank-you gifts for the matchmaker, which had been prepared in advance, to the cash register. They would give them to the newlyweds to deliver to the matchmaker.

According to the wedding customs in Bobai, the groom's and bride's families should thank the matchmaker separately. Generally, the bride's family would thank the matchmaker the day before the wedding, and the groom's family would do so after the wedding banquet.

However, today's banquet was a joint effort by both families, so the thank-you process could not follow the usual customs. Instead, the newlyweds would personally deliver the thank-you gifts to the matchmaker, which was also appropriate.

Soon, Zhu Junjie and Deng Yunzhen arrived at the restaurant.

"Father!"

"Father!"

The two of them greeted Deng Shirong together.

Deng Shirong nodded and pointed towards the cash register, saying, "The thank-you gifts for the matchmaker are all there. Go and deliver them quickly!"

"Alright!"

The two of them replied, then carried the large basket full of thank-you gifts onto the bus and headed to Zhang Guoan's house.

As he watched his daughter and son-in-law leave, Deng Shirong turned to his second and third sons and asked, "Did you gain anything from interacting with these leaders today?"

Deng Yunheng nodded and said, "Indeed, I gained quite a bit. It seems I can't stay at the Planning Commission for too long. After I get promoted, I'll try to be transferred to work in a county, where the working environment is much more challenging and can help me grow."

Deng Shirong said, "I don't know much about the political world, but I understand that grassroots experience is very helpful for future development. Once you reach the deputy department level, you can be transferred to work in a county, starting as a vice-county magistrate. That's a good path forward.

Since you lack grassroots experience, even if you get promoted to the full department level at the Planning Commission, you won't be given a key position like county magistrate or county head when transferred to a county. You'll have to start as a deputy to gain some experience.

Given that, it's better to be transferred early and accumulate more grassroots experience."

Deng Yunheng agreed, saying, "Yes, if everything goes as planned, I should be promoted to the deputy department level next year. After a few months at the Planning Commission, I'll try to transfer to a county."

Deng Yunsong asked, "Second Brother, do you have a specific county in mind for the transfer?"

Deng Yunheng shook his head and said, "How could I have a specific county in mind? I'll go to whichever county has an open position when the time comes."

Hearing this, Deng Shirong suddenly thought of a certain high-ranking official.

This official was currently working in XX Province and would continue to work there for a long time. Although his second son was far below this official in rank, if he were transferred to work in a county in XX Province, with a solid work ethic, outstanding performance, and consistent political views, he might catch the official's attention, which would greatly boost his future prospects.

Thinking about this, Deng Shirong said, "Yunheng, if you want to be transferred to a county, I have a suggestion."

Deng Yunheng asked, "Father, what suggestion?"

Deng Shirong said, "You must choose to be transferred to a county in XX Province."

Deng Yunheng asked, puzzled, "Father, why is that? Is there something special about XX Province?"

Deng Yunsong was also puzzled and looked at his father, waiting for an explanation.

Deng Shirong said cryptically, "There's nothing special about XX Province, but there is a very special person in this province. I want you to work there and do your best. If you catch his attention and become one of his trusted subordinates, your future will be very promising."

Deng Yunheng was surprised and asked, "Father, who is this person?"

Deng Shirong mentioned a name and gave a brief introduction of his background, then said, "Of course, this is just an opportunity. Whether you can seize it depends on your own abilities. My only advice is to use only legitimate means to earn his favor. Don't resort to underhanded tactics. Understand?"

He wanted to give his second son an opportunity, but whether he could seize it would depend on his work performance. Only by achieving real results could he gain the official's favor. If he lacked the ability and tried to use other means to approach or join the official, it would be better to give up the idea early, to avoid not only failing to build a relationship but also incurring the official's displeasure, which would be a serious mistake.

Deng Yunheng took a deep breath and asked, "Father, you have such high hopes for this official's future?"

Deng Shirong nodded and said, "Just follow my advice. Pay attention to your actions. If you can get closer to him, that's great. If not, don't force it. Go with the flow."

Deng Yunheng nodded and said, "Alright, I understand. I'll try to get transferred to XX Province once I'm promoted."

Deng Shirong wasn't sure if this was the right move, but he had come to terms with it. Since his second and third sons had chosen the political path, they would inevitably face various struggles unless they decided to do nothing and not advance. Instead of worrying unnecessarily, it was better to provide them with opportunities to make their paths smoother.

After chatting for a while, Deng Yunheng remembered he needed to bring some huishuihe (a type of rice cake) to the leaders, so he said, "Father, when we go back to our hometown for the New Year tomorrow, can you make a few good huishuihe for me? I need to bring them to the capital to give to the leaders."

Deng Shirong said, "No problem, you can send these local specialties. After all, they’re not expensive. If they were high-value items, then it wouldn’t be appropriate to send them."

Deng Yunheng smiled and said, "Dad, you’ve said this many times. I won’t make a mistake on this."

"You know that’s good. Don’t rush to make them when you go back tomorrow. I’ll start a couple of days before you leave, so the taste will be even better."

At this point, Deng Shirong immediately thought of the packaging issue and pondered, "For the huishuihe, in our hometown, they are usually stored in bamboo shells. But if you’re going to give them to leaders, using bamboo shells won’t be suitable. It looks unprofessional and is inconvenient to carry. We should contact a food company and ask them to help with the packaging."

In the future, the huishuihe from Naye Deng Family had gained a good reputation, with annual sales being very high. The most suitable container for huishuihe was a mooncake box, which was practically tailor-made for it.

Deng Yunsong said, "We need to contact them early, otherwise they might already be on holiday."

Deng Shirong said, "I don’t have anything else to do right now. I’ll go to the food company and check it out."

...

"Mom, Dad, on the second day of the first lunar month, my eldest sister will be visiting her in-laws, so we won’t go to Poxin Village on the second day. We’ll go on the fourth day," Zhang Xiuping said as she walked with her parents and siblings.

Zhang’s father nodded and said, "That’s appropriate. Your eldest sister has helped you a lot."

Zhang’s mother couldn’t help but sigh, "Your eldest sister’s wedding today was truly grand. All the county leaders came to attend. Your father-in-law and your eldest sister’s husband have a lot of face!"

Zhang Xiuping said proudly, "It’s not just talk that 'all professions are lowly, except for scholarship.' No matter whose family can produce a graduate from Tsinghua or Peking University, the county leaders will give them due respect. Plus, my eldest sister’s husband is the actual County Public Security Bureau Chief, so it’s natural that the leaders are willing to come and celebrate."

Zhang’s eldest sister-in-law said, "Piaomei, you’re really impressive now. I was so nervous when I saw so many leaders that I couldn’t even speak properly, but you handled it so well, not showing any signs of nervousness."

Zhang’s second sister-in-law also nodded in agreement, "I was the same. I couldn’t help but feel nervous when I saw so many leaders."

Zhang’s eldest brother added, "Not just you, even I, a grown man, felt uneasy when I saw so many leaders."

Zhang Xiuping smiled and said, "Before the restaurant was handed over to my eldest sister, I was the one managing it. Almost all the county leaders have eaten there, so after dealing with so many leaders, I naturally don’t feel nervous anymore."

These leaders were all big shots that Zhang’s father couldn’t reach, so he wasn’t interested in such topics. Instead, he asked, "Xiuping, when will you start renovating your house?"

"I’m not sure. It’s up to my father-in-law. Whenever he decides, that’s when we’ll start."

Zhang Xiuping then smiled and asked, "Dad, don’t you want to make your house as big and beautiful as ours?"

Zhang’s father shook his head, "Building such a house costs too much money."

Zhang Xiuping said, "As my father-in-law said, earning money is to make life more comfortable. Dad, don’t be stingy with money. The cotton cloth factory is doing well, and you make a good profit every year. If you really want a house like that, it’s not that hard. Just make it a bit smaller."

Zhang’s father said, "Let’s talk about it later. Our house is already new. Why would we demolish it and rebuild? That would be a waste!"

Zhang Xiuping said, "Dad, I’m not suggesting you demolish your house and rebuild it. If you really want a new house, buy a plot of land in Longtan Street and build it there. Use the ground floor as a shop and the upper floors for living. Wouldn’t that be great?"

Zhang’s mother was somewhat moved by this idea and said, "Xiuping, your idea is not bad. Your sister-in-law’s business is doing well, but the shop is a bit small. If we build our own house, we can make the shop larger. Plus, living upstairs and working downstairs would mean we don’t have to commute every day, which is very convenient."

Zhang’s father was naturally moved by this but hesitated when he thought about the cost, saying, "Let’s talk about it when we have more money."

Zhang Xiuping reminded him, "Dad, you can take your time to decide about building a house, but I suggest you buy land in Longtan Street as soon as possible. It’s best to buy several plots in different locations. That way, you can choose which plot to build on later. If you wait too long, the good plots might be taken."

Now that her daughter had achieved so much, Zhang’s father was willing to listen to her advice. He nodded and said, "Alright, after the New Year, I’ll check the market. If the prices are reasonable, I’ll buy a few plots."

Seeing this, Zhang Xiuping didn’t say more and led them to the People’s Park.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end