Chapter 370: A Thousand Miles of Fate Tied by a Single Thread

Chapter 370: A Thousand Miles of Fate Tied by a Single Thread

At a restaurant in Fuqing County.

Gu Caiwei couldn't help but ask, "County Magistrate Deng, how did you recognize us?"

Deng Yunheng stood up and walked over to their table, sitting down with a smile. "Last year, when you were eating hot pot at my sister's restaurant, she secretly took some photos of you and sent them to me. That's how I was able to recognize you right away."

Actually, he really wanted to say it was because of a deep connection, but that would sound a bit too smooth. Since it was their first meeting and her mother was also present, it was better not to use such flippant words.

So, Deng Yunheng chose to speak the truth, aiming for sincerity.

Hearing this, Gu's mother and daughter were enlightened and not at all offended. It was quite normal for his sister to help by taking a few photos.

Gu's mother immediately smiled and said, "It seems that County Magistrate Deng is really interested in our Weiwei. You could recognize us just from a few photos."

Gu Caiwei's face turned red as she drawled, "Mooom~~~"

Deng Yunheng laughed and praised, "A young lady as beautiful and graceful as Miss Gu, any man would remember her deeply."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but marvel at his father's discerning eye. The girl before him looked even more beautiful than in the photos, a young lady whose appearance and figure were on par with his sister-in-law, and whose grace surpassed her.

Especially her shy demeanor, which truly made his heart flutter.

Gu Caiwei glanced at him and said with some embarrassment, "You're exaggerating. I'm just an ordinary-looking girl."

She was also quietly observing him. His appearance wasn't particularly handsome, but perhaps because he had graduated from a top university like Peking University and had achieved so much at such a young age, he had a unique aura that set him apart.

His eyes were very profound, as if they could see through a person's soul.

When their gazes met, his eyes seemed to send a current through her, making her heart tingle.

At the same time, Gu's mother was also observing Deng Yunheng. His appearance was better than she had expected, and his unique aura made him stand out, even in a crowd. He seemed very confident, as if nothing in the world could stand in his way.

As they say, a mother-in-law's satisfaction with her son-in-law grows with each look, and Gu's mother was feeling that way now.

Deng Yunheng continued to sweet-talk, "I'm just speaking the truth. If you were just an ordinary girl, then who in this world would deserve to be called beautiful?"

These words made Gu Caiwei's heart bloom with joy.

Since the Gu family mother and daughter had come to observe Deng Yunheng, they had chosen a more secluded spot in the restaurant. If they spoke in low voices, no one else would hear them in the noisy environment.

As they were talking, the owner herself brought over a tray with a pot of good tea, a plate of vegetables, a plate of fried peanuts, and a bowl of white porridge. She placed everything down and smiled broadly, "County Magistrate Deng and the two esteemed guests, please enjoy your meal slowly."

Once the owner had left, Gu's mother said, "County Magistrate Deng, do you often eat out?"

Deng Yunheng nodded. "Yes, I usually have breakfast and lunch out. If I have time in the evening, I cook for myself. If not, I eat out or have instant noodles."

Gu's mother said, "While the food here is good, it's not good to eat out every day. It lacks the taste of home."

Deng Yunheng, as he poured tea for the mother and daughter, sighed, "There's no choice when working away from home."

Gu's mother said meaningfully, "Once you start a family, things will be better. After work, you can come home and have a warm meal. That's the taste of home."

Hearing this, Deng Yunheng looked at Gu Caiwei and chuckled, "I'd like to have that warm meal sooner, but I don't know if the other party is willing."

Gu Caiwei's face turned bright red from his straightforward words. She was embarrassed and said, "Why do you keep looking at me while you talk?"

As she spoke, her heart was beating much faster than usual.

She wasn't stupid; Deng Yunheng's words and gaze had made his intentions clear. She was both happy and flustered, her heart in a tumult.

Without a doubt, she had a good impression of Deng Yunheng. They had already exchanged over a dozen letters, and in recent letters, both had subtly expressed their feelings, just one layer of the window paper left unbroken.

Now that they were meeting in person, Deng Yunheng's appearance and aura were even better than she had imagined. To say she wasn't moved would be a lie.

After all, those dozen heartfelt letters weren't written in vain.

Especially when their gazes met, that electric reaction made Gu Caiwei realize that the man before her was the one she had always been looking for.

Knowing she was shy, Deng Yunheng didn't continue to tease her. He just laughed and changed the subject, saying to Gu's mother, "Aunt Chen, let's eat and chat at the same time!"

Gu's mother smiled and said, "Alright, let's eat and chat."

Soon, they finished their lunch.

Deng Yunheng quickly paid the bill and said, "Aunt Chen, I still have work to do, so I'll take my leave first. I've already asked the owner to prepare some good dishes for this afternoon. Let's have dinner here again at five. What do you think?"

Gu's mother smiled and said, "Sure, you go ahead and work. See you this afternoon."

Deng Yunheng nodded, then greeted Gu Caiwei before returning to the county government to work.

After Deng Yunheng left, Gu's mother and daughter also left the restaurant and returned to their guesthouse.

The two security personnel arranged by Gu's father did not appear in front of them but were protecting them discreetly.

Back at the guesthouse, Gu's mother got straight to the point, "Weiwei, you've met him. I think this County Magistrate Deng is really a good man. What do you think?"

In front of her mother, Gu Caiwei didn't hide her thoughts and nodded, "He is good."

Gu's mother smiled and said, "Since you also think he's good, let's be more open with him this afternoon. From what he said just now, you should have understood that both he and his father are satisfied with you."

Gu Caiwei couldn't help but ask, "Mom, isn't this too fast? We just met, and you want to confirm our relationship already?"

Gu's mother said, "Although you just met, haven't you been corresponding for a few months? In ancient times, men and women only met formally on their wedding night. You've been writing to each other for a few months, so you already have a foundation. Now that you've met and are both satisfied, why wait?"

Gu Caiwei hesitated, "But we don't even know what his family does or who they are!"

Gu's mother replied, "What does that matter? You're interested in him as a person. Besides, you've met his father and sister. His father is just an ordinary farmer, but his sister can run such a large hot pot restaurant in Nanning, so their family's economic situation should be good."

Gu's mother continued, "If you want to know more, you can ask him during dinner this afternoon."

Gu Caiwei nodded, "Then I'll ask him during dinner. We should at least know what his family is like and if they are easy to get along with."

Gu's mother said, "That's a good idea, but those details aren't as important. His job means he'll be away most of the time, only coming back during holidays. He won't have much time with his parents or siblings, so whether his family is easy to get along with won't affect you much."

Gu Caiwei thought about it and found it reasonable, so she stopped worrying about it.

...

After traveling for two or three months, Deng Shirong returned to Nanning.

By now, his spatial storage was filled with enough ginkgo trees. He just needed to find the right opportunity to transplant them along the village road.

A few hundred trees couldn't be transplanted all at once. He planned to do it in several dozen or even a hundred batches, depending on the situation. If the timing was right, he could plant more, and if not, just a few. This way, it wouldn't attract attention.

After all, spreading it out over three to five years was fine, and it was better than planting saplings.

"Grandpa!"

Seeing Deng Shirong, Little Dong'er ran over quickly.

Deng Shirong squatted down, opened his arms, and picked her up, laughing, "Little Dong'er, haven't seen you in so long. Did you miss Grandpa?"

Little Dong'er nodded vigorously, "Yes, where did you go, Grandpa? Why did you take so long to come back?"

Deng Shirong laughed, "Grandpa went on a trip."

Little Dong'er blinked and asked, "What's a trip, Grandpa?"

Deng Shirong laughed and said, "It means going out to play."

Little Dong'er pouted, unhappy, "You didn't take me with you to play."

Deng Shirong smiled, "Grandpa wants to take you, but it's a very long trip, and there's no place to sleep on the bus. It's very tiring. When there's a place to sleep on the bus, I'll take you out to play, okay?"

Little Dong'er held out her hand, "Pinkie promise."

Deng Shirong held her with one hand and pinkie promised with the other, saying, "Don't worry, Grandpa won't lie to you. When we can buy sleeper tickets, I'll take you out to play during your holidays."

"Father!"

"Father!"

Zhang Xiuping, Deng Yunzhu, and Deng Yunhua all greeted their father.

Deng Shirong hummed and asked, "Where's Yun Tai?"

Zhang Xiuping answered, "Tai went to Liuzhou. The Yongjia supermarket there is opening, and he needs to stay there for a while until everything is running smoothly."

Deng Shirong nodded and asked, "Has Yun Heng called?"

Deng Yunzhu replied, "A few days ago, when I called my sister, she said Yun Heng called her a few days back to ask about something from you."

Deng Shirong checked the time and said, "Your second brother is probably having a meal around this time. I'll give him a call back in the afternoon when he's at work."

Deng Yunzhu nodded and asked, "Dad, what would you like to eat? I can ask the chef to prepare it for you."

"Then have the chef make a few of his best Sichuan dishes!"

"Alright, I'll arrange it right away."

...

At two in the afternoon, Deng Shirong called his second son.

After exchanging pleasantries, Deng Shirong asked, "I heard you called a few days ago and wanted to ask me something?"

Deng Yunheng replied, "Dad, you have a good eye for things. I want to boost the economic development in Fuqing County. What industry do you think would be the best to start with?"

Without hesitation, Deng Shirong said, "You can directly create a feed industry chain."

Deng Yunheng was surprised, "A feed industry chain?"

"This feed industry chain includes raw material suppliers, feed producers, farmers, livestock and poultry product processors, and consumers."

Deng Shirong explained in detail, "The raw material suppliers are the starting point of the feed industry chain, mainly growing crops like soybeans, corn, and wheat, which can increase farmers' income.

The feed producers are the core of the feed industry chain. With the rapid rise of domestic livestock and poultry farming, the demand for feed is growing, so building a feed factory will definitely not lack business.

Farmers are the direct users of feed. I don't need to elaborate on this. Promoting the development of farming, with proper management, can quickly boost the local economy.

The downstream of this industry chain is the processing of livestock and poultry products, such as meat and egg products, which can create many job opportunities."

Deng Yunheng said, "We already have a feed factory in our county, and there are many farmers, but they are mostly small-scale. Farming is risky. For example, when I promoted shrimp farming, we had to send experts to manage it constantly, as any disease could lead to significant losses."

Deng Shirong said, "Farming indeed comes with various risks, but we can't let that stop us. Once a large-scale farm is established and managed properly, it can be very profitable. As a county official, you don't need to get directly involved; just provide policy support.

As for the existing feed factory, you can inspect it. If it shows potential, you can support its growth.

In short, agriculture and farming are always the pillars of local economic development. If you focus on these two areas, expand the scale of farming and planting, and solve the key issue of sales, the economy of Fuqing County will naturally develop.

Of course, the industrial sector cannot be ignored. You can operate based on the actual situation. I'm just providing some suggestions for your reference."

"Alright, I understand. I'll think about how to implement this."

At this point, Deng Yunheng's tone changed, and he chuckled, "Dad, guess who I met at lunch today?"

Deng Shirong asked, "Who did you meet?"

Deng Yunheng said, "I met Gu Caiwei and her mother."

Deng Shirong's face showed surprise, and he asked happily, "Did they come specifically to see you?"

Deng Yunheng laughed, "Yes, they came specifically to see me. Otherwise, they wouldn't be in this small county."

Deng Shirong couldn't stop smiling, "How is Gu Caiwei? Is she as beautiful and graceful as you described?"

Deng Yunheng nodded, "Dad, your judgment is spot on."

Deng Shirong said, "Since they came specifically to see you, it means they are interested in you. You must treat them well and take the opportunity to make things clear."

Deng Yunheng said, "I understand. I'm inviting them to dinner this afternoon, and I'll take the chance to make things clear. I'll call you later tonight."

Deng Shirong said, "Alright, I'll wait for your call."

The father and son chatted for a few more minutes before hanging up.

...

At five in the afternoon.

At the same restaurant.

Deng Yunheng and the Gu family mother and daughter were sitting at the same table, with a few local specialties on the table.

After eating a few bites, Gu's mother asked, "County Magistrate Deng, we've only met your father and sister. How many people are there in your family?"

Deng Yunheng answered, "I have seven siblings. I have an older brother and an older sister, and three younger brothers and a younger sister. My older brother is already married and has two children, and my older sister is also married. As for my mother, she passed away over a decade ago."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know about your mother..."

"Aunt Chen, it's alright. It's been over a decade."

Knowing that Deng Yunheng had lost his mother at a young age, the Gu family mother and daughter felt a bit more sympathy for him.

Gu's mother didn't bring up his mother again and asked, "County Magistrate Deng, your sister runs such a large hot pot restaurant in Nanning, which you said was with your father's help. What does your father do?"

Deng Yunheng smiled and said, "Since the country started encouraging individual businesses, my father partnered with others to take over the village kiln for operation. He then took a bank loan to open a large restaurant in the county. After he was elected as the clan leader, he raised funds from the clan to start a passenger transport company and a food company. Both of these companies are doing quite well now."

Gu's mother's eyes gleamed with surprise as she praised, "They say a son is a reflection of his father. No wonder you are so outstanding, County Magistrate Deng. Your father is also very capable."

Gu Caiwei was equally surprised. She had not expected the seemingly ordinary Uncle Deng she met on the train to have such talents.

Deng Yunheng smiled and said, "Aunt Chen, you flatter me."

Gu's mother continued, "Your sister has such a large hot pot restaurant. What do your brother and the others do?"

Deng Yunheng replied, "My older brother and his wife are currently running a chain of supermarkets."

Hearing this, Gu Caiwei interjected, "What is a chain of supermarkets?"

Deng Yunheng explained, "A supermarket is a self-service mall. A chain of supermarkets means they operate more than one self-service mall, with multiple branches."

Gu Caiwei nodded in understanding, "So it's a self-service mall. Your older brother and sister-in-law must be pretty capable too!"

Deng Yunheng smiled, "They are doing well. You already know about my sister who runs the hot pot restaurant. My third brother is still in university."

Hearing this, Gu's mother's eyes flashed with surprise again.

In this era, university students were not as common as they are now. Anyone who could get into university was considered a prodigy, and mentioning it always brought prestige.

Gu Caiwei asked, "Which university is your third brother attending?"

Deng Yunheng smiled and said, "Tsinghua University."

Upon hearing this, Gu's mother and daughter's eyes widened in shock.

Initially, the fact that both brothers were university students was already surprising. But the news that one was at Tsinghua and the other at Peking University was almost too much to process, especially for those who understood the value of these prestigious institutions.

Gu's mother exclaimed, "County Magistrate Deng, you and your brother are truly remarkable!"

Gu Caiwei also expressed her admiration, "I found it very difficult to get into a less prestigious key university. Tsinghua and Peking University are beyond my reach. I never imagined that your brothers would attend such prestigious institutions. That's truly impressive."

Deng Yunheng smiled, "Thank you for the praise!"

Gu's mother continued, "Do your other two brothers also study?"

Deng Yunheng replied, "My fourth brother didn't get into university, so he started his own business. He runs an appliance city, specializing in selling household appliances. My youngest brother is currently in high school."

Gu's mother sighed, "County Magistrate Deng, all seven of your siblings are truly exceptional!"

Deng Yunheng humbly responded and then asked, "Aunt Chen, how about you? How many children do you have?"

Gu's mother sighed, "I don't have the same good fortune as your father. I only have two daughters. Weiwei's older sister got married a few years ago, and once Weiwei gets married, my husband and I will be alone."

Deng Yunheng smiled and said, "Aunt Chen, they say a son-in-law is half a son. You won't be alone; you'll have an extra son."

Gu Caiwei glanced at him, surprised by his smooth talk.

Gu's mother laughed, feeling comforted, "County Magistrate Deng, you are right. It's a good thing to have an extra son!"

With the conversation at this point, Deng Yunheng decided to make his intentions clear, "Aunt Chen, I would like to become your half-son. Do I have that chance?"

This sudden declaration made Gu Caiwei's heart race, and she almost dropped her chopsticks, her face flushing red.

Gu's mother was also taken aback by the suddenness of it but managed to maintain her composure, smiling as she replied, "Having you as my son would be a great pleasure, but it ultimately depends on Weiwei's agreement."

Deng Yunheng looked at Gu Caiwei with a smile and asked, "Weiwei, do you agree?"

Gu Caiwei rolled her eyes, trying to hide her embarrassment, "How can you ask me like that? How am I supposed to answer?"

Deng Yunheng, already confident of her feelings, winked at her, "You don't have to answer. Not objecting means you agree."

Gu Caiwei bit her lip, feeling her face burn, "You... That's just being unreasonable!"

"Silence means consent. I'll take it that you agree!"

"Ugh, I'm not talking to you anymore!"

Gu's mother watched the two of them banter and realized that the match was likely made.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end