Chapter 399: Picking a Match for His Youngest Daughter

Chapter 399: Picking a Match for His Youngest Daughter

7:00 PM.

Tao Tao Ju.

"Father, the crispy roasted suckling pig is really delicious, you should try it."

"Hmm, it's crispy but not hard, the texture is just right. It's no wonder it's a signature dish; the chef really has skills."

"Father, the roast goose is absolutely amazing too!"

"The goose skin is crispy, and the fat underneath has seeped into the meat, making it incredibly tender without feeling greasy. Even the bones have a fragrant aroma. Truly, this century-old restaurant in Guangzhou lives up to its reputation. The chefs here are truly skilled."

Deng Shirong and his son enjoyed the signature dishes of the century-old restaurant, offering their comments as they ate.

The meal left both of them very satisfied.

After the meal, Deng Shirong bought a beeper for his youngest son and then sent him back to school.

Before leaving, Deng Shirong reminded him, "Xiao Heng, from now on, focus on your studies. The world is a bit chaotic right now, but you don't have to worry about it in school. However, once you step out of the school, you must be very, very careful.

"And if anything happens, such as being bullied or extorted, do not try to handle it yourself. Call me immediately, understand?"

Deng Yunheng nodded, "I understand!"

"Also, when you're out, be sure to keep a low profile and avoid showing off your wealth."

"Okay, I'll be careful."

"Alright, go back to your dormitory. I'm leaving!"

"Father, be careful on your way back."

"Don't worry, I'm an old hand at this. I'll be fine! Bye!"

"Okay!"

...

That night.

Deng Shirong checked into a high-end hotel.

The next morning, Deng Shirong got up early to enjoy the traditional Guangdong morning tea culture.

Morning tea culture is most prominent in Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces, with Guangdong morning tea being the most famous.

Guangdong morning tea has been popular since the Qing Dynasty's Emperor Xianfeng period. During the Thirteen Factories period in Guangzhou, merchants and celebrities needed a place to entertain their business partners, leading to the establishment of the first modern teahouse, "Sanyuan Lou."

Later, more teahouses emerged, and during the Republican era, many high-end teahouses in Guangzhou competed to offer "Weekly Specialties," becoming a trend in the catering industry.

At that time, teahouses were like "mini societies," where people would conduct business, arrange marriages, and gather, with all kinds of social interactions and human emotions condensed in the act of "drinking tea."

In later times, Guangdong morning tea became very popular in Guangxi, with almost every county offering it, let alone the cities.

Therefore, Deng Shirong, who lived in later times, had enjoyed morning tea many times, though he had never had it in Guangzhou, the birthplace of Guangdong morning tea.

The restaurant downstairs from his hotel served morning tea.

Deng Shirong got up early, but when he arrived at the restaurant, he saw several tables of guests. These guests were clearly well-off elderly people, gathered in groups, enjoying various exquisite dim sum and tea, chatting about family matters or national affairs, looking very relaxed.

Deng Shirong was the only one drinking morning tea alone.

He ordered a pot of tea and several signature dim sum dishes, including shrimp dumplings, honey-glazed char siu buns, braised ox tripe, and chicken feet. He savored them while listening to the local elderly people chatting in authentic Cantonese.

Dialects are truly fascinating. For example, Cantonese is as difficult for northerners to learn as English. However, for those who speak Hakka, learning Cantonese is much easier, and they can master it quickly if they put their mind to it.

Therefore, although Deng Shirong had never studied Cantonese, his exposure to numerous Cantonese TV dramas and songs in his previous life allowed him to understand more than 80% of what he heard.

At that moment, Deng Shirong overheard two elderly men, who looked to be around his age, discussing international affairs.

Hearing this, Deng Shirong couldn't help but interject, "We treat them as our older brother, but they are not content with that role. They want to be the absolute ruler, demanding a compliant son, not a younger brother who dares to oppose them."

The old man on the right chuckled, "That's a colorful way to describe it. Indeed, they're quick to tighten the noose if we don't fall in line. Thankfully, our leader's wisdom has averted crisis after crisis."

The elderly man on the left sighed, "Although we have resolved crisis after crisis, our strength is still far behind theirs. After breaking ties with the older brother, we have suffered significant economic losses.

"Now that the older brother is finally about to fall, we have removed a major enemy, which is certainly a great benefit for us."

Deng Shirong said, "The fall of the older brother could be both beneficial and detrimental for us."

The elderly man on the right greeted him, "Brother, what should we call you? Why don't you join us and chat?"

Deng Shirong didn't refuse. Drinking morning tea alone was rather dull, and it was more enjoyable to chat with a few people. So, he moved his dim sum and tea to their table and replied, "I'm surnamed Deng, my nickname is Uncle Jiu. How about you two?"

The elderly man on the right said, "I'm surnamed Zhou, just call me Old Zhou."

The elderly man on the left added, "I'm surnamed Huang, Big Belly Huang. Just call me Old Huang."

After moving his dim sum and tea over, Old Huang eagerly said, "Uncle Jiu, let's continue our previous discussion. I believe the fall of the older brother will only bring benefits and no harm.

"Without going into the distant past, for many years, we have deployed a large number of troops in the north to guard against this ill-intentioned older brother, which has been a significant drain on our resources.

"Once the older brother falls, we will be rid of a powerful and threatening enemy, and we won't have to waste resources on defense. We can focus on economic development, which is a tremendous benefit.

"And you mentioned that the fall of the older brother could be both beneficial and detrimental. I only see the benefits. What are the downsides?"

Deng Shirong took a sip of tea and said, "The threat from the older brother is indeed real, but we have already weathered the most difficult times. Now, our relationship with the older brother has eased considerably, and diplomatic relations have normalized.

"Most importantly, we are in the same camp as the older brother. As long as the older brother is around, any major issues will be handled by the taller one.

"But once the older brother falls, we will become the tallest one.

"To put it bluntly, the US and the USSR are like a bear and a tiger fighting, while we are merely a hungry wolf.

"When the bear and the tiger are locked in a fierce battle, our hungry wolf can do whatever it wants. Even if the bear and the tiger hate us, they can only intimidate us and won't really turn to bite us, as that would expose their backs to a powerful opponent. They won't commit such suicidal acts.

"But once the tiger uses various techniques to kill the bear and remains unharmed, do you think it will let our hungry wolf continue to roam freely in front of it?

"So, if the older brother falls, it will be detrimental to us, placing us on the front lines. We will inevitably have to face this terrifying tiger.

"Luckily, even if the bear falls due to severe injuries, it still has a son who inherits most of its strength.

"Even though this son is much smaller than the bear at its peak, the bear is still a bear and poses a greater threat than our hungry wolf. Therefore, the tiger's attention will likely remain on the bear's son for the short term, giving our hungry wolf some time to grow."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Lao and Huang Lao were both greatly surprised.

They came from well-off families and often paid attention to national affairs, so they easily understood Deng Shirong's analogy. Because they understood it, they were even more surprised, not expecting to encounter such a knowledgeable person while having morning tea.

Huang Lao said, "Uncle Jiu, what you said makes a lot of sense. I was thinking too simply. I only remembered the good relations we had with the US over the past decade and forgot that the US has always been our enemy.

"Initially, they were friendly with us to use us to counter the older brother. Under the immense pressure from the older brother, we had no choice but to temporarily ally with the US. But now that the older brother is weakening, the US, with its nature, will eventually turn against us."

Zhou Lao nodded, "That's true. It seems that the fall of the older brother isn't a good thing after all!"

Deng Shirong smiled, "I already said that this situation has both advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantage is that we will eventually be forced to face off against the US. The advantage is that, besides the relief from the threat allowing us to focus on development, there is another benefit: the bear's son is not as strong as its father. To counter the tiger, he will have to cooperate with us, which will help us quickly strengthen ourselves.

"Additionally, once the big tree falls, those who took things from us will have to return them. This is a concrete benefit."

Zhou Lao was moved and pointed to the ground, saying, "Uncle Jiu, do you mean this?"

Deng Shirong nodded, "Yes, the bear took a lot from us. Given their strength, we had to endure it. But once the bear falls and splits, the affiliated countries won't have the qualifications to compete with us.

"If they are sensible, they will return some things to us."

Huang Lao nodded repeatedly, "That makes sense. Once the older brother falls, the other countries won't be a concern. They will have to return what they took, whether a little or a lot."

Deng Shirong, while enjoying the delicious tea and dim sum, chatted with Zhou Lao and Huang Lao. He had lived through the age of internet information explosion in his previous life. Apart from eating and sleeping, he spent most of his time reading novels and watching short videos to pass the time.

These novels and short videos had provided him with a lot of knowledge, allowing him to show off in front of the two old men.

His insightful comments indeed made Zhou Lao and Huang Lao look at Deng Shirong with new respect.

All three were bored people. Since they got along so well, they chatted from morning until noon, then ordered more food and continued chatting.

Their conversation was no longer limited to domestic and international affairs but covered a wide range of topics. Zhou Lao and Huang Lao were clearly not ordinary people and knew a lot about various subjects.

As for Deng Shirong, with his combined experience of nearly a century and having lived through the information explosion era, he knew far more than Zhou Lao and Huang Lao. He could easily join in any conversation, which left them both amazed and even more eager to chat.

By around three in the afternoon, Zhou Lao sighed, "Uncle Jiu, chatting with you is really enjoyable. Do you live nearby? If so, why don't we come here for morning tea every day?"

Deng Shirong shook his head and smiled, "Old Zhou, I came to Guangzhou to send my youngest son to school. I plan to return to Guangxi tomorrow."

Zhou Lao regretfully said, "Ah, then it will be hard to sit and chat over tea in the future!"

Huang Lao asked, "Uncle Jiu, where is your youngest son studying in Guangzhou?"

Deng Shirong smiled, "Sun Yat-sen Medical University."

Zhou Lao was surprised, "What a coincidence! My son-in-law is a professor at Sun Yat-sen Medical University!"

Deng Shirong hadn't expected such a coincidence and laughed, "Which professor? Please help me take care of my son."

Zhou Lao smiled, "No problem. My son-in-law's name is Li Guangfa. What's your son's name? I'll give him a call and ask him to take care of your son."

Deng Shirong said, "My son's name is Deng Yunheng, and he is studying clinical medicine."

Huang Lao said, "This is truly a coincidence. The admission score for Sun Yat-sen Medical University is very high. It's really impressive that your youngest son got in. My kids are not good at studying; none of them could get into university, which really frustrates me."

Deng Shirong said, "Reading does require a bit of talent. Those with a knack for it can see significant improvement with just a little effort. But if someone lacks that talent, no matter how hard they try, they won't see much progress, and they will naturally become lax over time."

Zhou Lao nodded and said, "Uncle Jiu, what you said makes sense. I have five children, and my eldest, second, and youngest don’t have the talent for studying. No matter how hard they try, it’s not much use. My third and fourth children are different. They don’t even study as hard as their older siblings, yet their academic performance is better."

Huang Lao added, "Uncle Jiu, Zhou Lao’s third daughter and fourth son are both high-achieving graduates from prestigious universities. His daughter works at the Education Bureau, and her father-in-law is the professor at Sun Yat-sen Medical University that Zhou Lao mentioned earlier. His fourth son works at the Guangzhou Customs, which I envy so much."

Deng Shirong praised, "That’s really impressive. Both the Education Bureau and Customs are promising places to work."

Zhou Lao humbly responded and then asked, "Uncle Jiu, how many children do you have?"

Deng Shirong replied, "I have seven children, five sons, and two daughters."

Zhou Lao and Huang Lao both praised, "Uncle Jiu, you are truly blessed!"

They were from the generation that believed in the power of numbers. The more children a family had, the more influential they were, a belief deeply ingrained in their culture.

Deng Shirong smiled and said, "This blessing is something we all have. In our generation, which family doesn’t have five or seven children?"

Huang Lao laughed and said, "That’s true. Uncle Jiu, your youngest son is in college. Are your other children all married?"

Deng Shirong said, "My eldest son, eldest daughter, and second son are all married. My youngest daughter and three sons are still unmarried."

Huang Lao asked, "Is your youngest daughter older than those three sons?"

Deng Shirong nodded and said, "Yes, she is older than those three sons."

Huang Lao said, "She must be quite old then. It’s time for her to get married."

Deng Shirong sighed and said, "She is indeed old. She’s 25 this year, and it’s time for her to get married. But I haven’t found a suitable match, which has been a source of great worry for me."

Zhou Lao sympathetically said, "Speaking of finding matches for children, I’m also very worried. My fourth son is 26 this year, and he hasn’t found a suitable match either."

Deng Shirong, hearing this, was moved and asked, "Your fourth son has a good job and is a high-achieving graduate from a prestigious university. Finding a match should be easy. Has he just not met the right person?"

Zhou Lao said, "After he graduated and was assigned to work at the Customs, my wife and I started looking for a match for him. We found a few candidates from good families, but he either thought their education was too low, or their temper was bad, or they didn’t have a decent job. In the end, nothing came of it. I don’t know what kind of person he’s looking for."

Deng Shirong said, "Matters of the heart can’t be forced. We are in a new era where it’s about mutual affection, not arranged marriages. So, we must respect our children’s opinions. After all, a forced marriage won’t be sweet."

Zhou Lao sighed and said, "I understand that. So, every time we found a suitable match, I let him make the choice. Unfortunately, he hasn’t found anyone he’s satisfied with, and I, as a father, am very worried."

Huang Lao interjected, "Zhou Lao, Uncle Jiu, you are worried about your son’s marriage, and Uncle Jiu is worried about his daughter’s marriage. I think their ages are quite compatible. Why don’t you try to match them? It might work out!"

Deng Shirong laughed and said, "I have no objection to that, but my youngest daughter only has a high school education. I’m not sure if Zhou Lao’s fourth son will be satisfied with that."

Zhou Lao quickly said, "Uncle Jiu, you are being too modest. In this era, having a high school education is already quite good."

Huang Lao agreed, "That’s true. A girl who finishes high school is indeed quite impressive."

Zhou Lao, clearly impressed by Deng Shirong’s knowledge, asked, "Uncle Jiu, what does your youngest daughter do now?"

Deng Shirong said, "She is a self-employed business owner, running a hotpot restaurant."

Zhou Lao’s spirits lifted, and he said, "That’s great! Where are the hotpot restaurants located?"

Deng Shirong said, "In Nanning and Liuzhou, Guangxi."

Zhou Lao’s eyes widened, "More than one restaurant?"

Deng Shirong smiled and said, "Indeed, more than one. The hotpot restaurants in Nanning and Liuzhou are both in operation, and a third one is being planned. It should open around National Day."

Huang Lao was shocked, "Uncle Jiu, your youngest daughter is really impressive. At 25, she already owns two or three hotpot restaurants. That’s amazing!"

Zhou Lao was equally amazed. It was the 1990s, and in Guangzhou, a city at the forefront of the reform and opening up, hotpot restaurants were everywhere. He had a nephew who ran a hotpot restaurant and made several ten thousand a year. If Deng Shirong’s youngest daughter owned two or three hotpot restaurants, she could easily make over a hundred thousand a year.

Such an outstanding young woman would definitely be a good match for his fourth son.

Thinking this, Zhou Lao was really interested and said, "Uncle Jiu, I’ll call my fourth son right now and ask him to come for dinner after work. You can meet him. If you think he’s suitable, we can try to match them. If not, we’ll just let it go.. What do you think?"

Deng Shirong didn’t expect that a casual morning tea would lead to finding a match for his youngest daughter. However, the man’s conditions were good, and it was worth meeting him. He nodded and said, "Sure, if it’s not too much trouble, let’s have dinner together!"

Zhou Lao smiled and said, "No trouble at all. Old Huang, you stay with Uncle Jiu for a bit, I’ll make the call and be right back."

"Go ahead!"

...

PS: Thank you all for the support and votes!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end