Chapter 408: The Strength of the Pei Family

Chapter 408: The Strength of the Pei Family

The capital city.

The old residence of the Pei family.

Hearing her daughter's response, Mother Pei had a number in her heart and asked, "Qinghua, you just said this bulla is a local specialty from Yulin, Guangxi, and that it was made by the father of your colleague. So, is your colleague from Guangxi?"

Qinghua Pei nodded and said, "Yes, he is from Guangxi."

Mother Pei and Father Pei exchanged a glance and continued, "Qinghua, how old is your colleague? What kind of background does his family have?"

"He is the same age as me, both of us are this year's graduates, and we both joined the company around the same time."

At this point, Qinghua Pei paused for a moment before continuing, "As for his background, his family seems to be from the countryside, so there shouldn't be much of a family background."

Mother Pei frowned slightly at this. Although she wasn't very strict about the aspect of matching backgrounds, she couldn't let a "poor child" from a remote rural area match her precious daughter.

Father Pei said, "If he could join your company, either he has a background or he is exceptionally talented. Since your colleague doesn't have much of a background, he must be very talented. Do you know which university he graduated from?"

Qinghua Pei replied, "He graduated from Tsinghua University."

Father Pei's expression turned to one of anticipation, said, "Graduating from Tsinghua University, indeed makes him a standout."

Elder Sister Pei added, "His academic background does match up to the little sister, but it's a pity he's from a rural background, which doesn't quite match."

Second Sister Pei nodded and said, "The family background is a bit lacking."

"Elder Sister, Second Sister, whatever you say about matching or not, we are now just colleagues."

At this point, Qinghua Pei changed the subject,,, "Moreover, even if he pursued me, I wouldn't care much about his family background. I believe that the foundation of a marriage is not heavily influenced by family backgrounds, but the compatibility of our personalities is the most important."

Mother Pei said, "Qinghua, what you say does make some sense, but if the family backgrounds are too different, many issues could arise. If these issues aren't resolved in the long term, they will naturally affect the relationship."

"So, I believe that for a couple to be together, they don't need to be absolutely from the same social class, but at least the family backgrounds shouldn't be too different, otherwise it's hard to maintain a long-term relationship."

Qinghua Pei looked at her father and asked, "Dad, do you think the same?"

Father Pei said, "If the man is just an ordinary person without much to offer, then your mother's point is correct. If the family backgrounds are too different, it's hard to have a happy life. However, if the man is exceptionally talented, then it's a different matter and needs to be analyzed on a case-by-case basis."

Qinghua Pei praised, "Dad, you are indeed a leader, and you see problems more comprehensively than Mom."

Mother Pei glanced at her precious daughter and said, "You shouldn't be too happy. Your father is saying that if the man is exceptionally talented, and your colleague is a Tsinghua graduate, he is indeed talented, but even talented and exceptionally talented can't be equated."

Qinghua Pei said, "Mom, you haven't seen him, so how do you know he isn't exceptionally talented?"

At this point, Pei Yuanba couldn't help but interject, "Little sister, you must be truly interested in your colleague, right?"

Qinghua Pei quickly denied, "No, this is just a conversation!"

Mother Pei said, "It's best not to, anyway, I don't see a future for the two of you."

Qinghua Pei didn't want to continue this topic and changed the subject, "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Since everyone is here, let's fry this gray water fish for lunch and let you all taste the specialty from Guangxi."

Pei Yuanlong, who had been watching the entire time, finally joined in with a smile, "Little sister, you are so picky about what tastes good, the taste must be good, we should have it for lunch!"

Qinghua Pei huffed, "Brother, how could you say that about my mouth?"

Mother Pei said, "Your brother is right, the pickiest eater in the family, and he's right about saying your mouth is picky."

"Mom, the sage Confucius said, 'one should not be too particular about food, and one should not be too detailed about meat.'"

Qinghua Pei reasonably said, "According to the Analects, Confucius said that the finer the grain, the better the food, and the finer the meat, the better the taste. Old grain can change the taste, and old fish and meat can lose freshness. Food of poor color and taste should not be eaten. Improper cooking should not be eaten. Vegetables not cut properly should not be eaten. Meat not cut properly should not be eaten. Condiments not added appropriately should not be eaten. Bought wine and cooked meat from the market should not be eaten."

"Compared to the sage Confucius, how could my mouth be too picky?"

Mother Pei was speechless, shook her head, and sighed, "Alright, I know you read a lot, I can't argue with you. Let's just fry this gray water fish and eat it as it is."

Pei Qinghua said with a smile, "First, cut the gray water fish into pieces, each about one centimeter thick. Then, heat some oil in the pan and use low heat to slowly fry them until they become fluffy. Finally, sprinkle some salt on them and they are ready to eat."

"If you prefer a sweet taste, you can melt some sugar and coat the gray water fish with it."

Pei Mother said, "Let's fry some and see how they taste."

Pei's eldest sister-in-law quickly offered, "Mom, let me do it!"

Pei's second sister-in-law also volunteered, "Eldest sister-in-law, I'll help you."

Pei Qinghua said, "I'll help too."

With that, the three of them took a gray water fish and went into the kitchen to start preparing it.

Seeing her daughter enter the kitchen, Pei Mother looked at Pei Father and said, "Old Pei, do you think there's something going on between our daughter and her colleague?"

Pei Father nodded, "There does seem to be something, but they're not together yet. They just have feelings for each other."

Pei Mother frowned, "What should we do? He graduated from Tsinghua University, and he is quite talented, but his rural background is a major issue. He's a bit too different from us. If Qinghua gets involved with him, it might become a laughingstock."

Pei Father said, "I don't think it will come to that. He's a top graduate from Tsinghua University and has joined the Ministry of Finance. His future prospects are still good."

Pei Yuanlong said, "Dad, without family background to support him, even a Tsinghua graduate might struggle to reach high positions. At best, he might become a department-level official, and at worst, he might only reach the division level."

Pei Yuanba said, "Even if he only reaches the division level, that's still quite good. Besides, if he becomes our son-in-law, you could give him a hand at critical times to help him reach the department level. After all, he is a Tsinghua graduate!"

Pei Mother, worried, said, "I'll have to ask Qinghua in detail. This is a major decision and shouldn't be made rashly. I don't insist on a perfect match, but at the very least, he should come from a wealthy family or have family members at the department level. Don't you agree, Old Pei?"

Pei Father laughed, "It would be great if she could find someone from a good family, but we shouldn't force it. As long as Qinghua likes him and he is talented, that's enough."

Pei Mother glared at him, "You, a high-ranking minister, if your in-laws are just ordinary farmers, sitting at the same table would probably make both sides uncomfortable. I'm not looking down on farmers, but you can't deny the difference."

Pei Father said, "There is a difference, but as I said, love shouldn't be forced. It should be allowed to develop naturally."

Pei Mother huffed, "Fine, if you, the high-ranking minister, don't care, why should I worry about it?"

Pei Father chuckled, "I do care, but now that the country opposes arranged marriages and promotes free love, we should set an example and let our daughter choose her own partner. We just need to provide appropriate guidance."

"I'm just trying to provide that guidance," Pei Mother said, "Our Qinghua is well-educated, has a great figure, and is very beautiful. To be honest, there are many men in the capital who want to marry her, and they all come from good families."

"With so many better options available, why should she choose someone with a poor background?"

Hearing this, Pei Father couldn't help but smile. His daughter was indeed outstanding in every way and was highly sought after in the capital. If she wanted to, she could easily marry into a family even better than theirs.

However, Pei Father had only one precious daughter and didn't want to force her to marry someone she didn't like. He preferred to let her make her own choice.

Thinking this, Pei Father said, "You have a point. If she can find someone with better conditions, I would be happy. But we can't force her to marry someone she doesn't like. Her happiness should be the priority."

"I understand that. I'm not that materialistic. I'll talk to her and see if I can change her mind."

With that, Pei Mother picked up the jar of bulla and examined it, saying, "The color of this bulla looks very appetizing, but I wonder if it tastes as good as Qinghua said."

Pei Yuanba laughed, "Mom, you can doubt other things about Little Sister, but not her taste in food. If she says it's good, it definitely is."

Pei Yuanlong nodded in agreement, "That's true. Any food that Little Sister approves of is trustworthy."

Pei Mother chuckled, "That's true. She has such a discerning palate that there aren't many foods she praises. It seems her colleague's father is quite skilled at making bulla."

Before long, Pei's eldest sister-in-law and the others came out of the kitchen with four plates of fried gray water fish.

Pei Yuanba praised, "The color looks so appetizing!"

Pei Yuanlong asked, "It looks good. Little Sister, which one is better, the sweet or the salty?"

Pei Qinghua smiled and said, "Both are delicious, but the salty one might suit Brother Yuanlong's taste better. I'll go and brew a pot of tea for you all. Having a bite and then a sip of tea is the perfect combination."

Soon, the family gathered around, sipping tea and enjoying the specialty from the distant Guangxi.

Indeed, after being vouched for by Pei Qinghua, everyone in the family loved the food.

The salty one had a special aroma that became more addictive with each bite. The sweet one was like a pastry, soft, sticky, and sweet, making you want more with each taste.

Father Pei took a sip of tea and looked at his eldest son, saying, "Yuanlong, how is your job? Have you encountered any difficulties?"

Father Pei continued, "Muli County is located in a high-altitude mountainous area with harsh natural conditions and poor transportation. When I assigned you to work there, I didn't expect you to change the face of this impoverished county. I just wanted you to experience the hardships of the people and learn the ways of governance.

Once you have been tempered, I will transfer you to a better platform where you can fully utilize your talents."

Pei Yuanlong nodded and said, "Dad, I understand. However, seeing the hardships of the people in Muli County makes me feel uneasy. I want to help them find a way out, but it's very difficult. This isn't something a county official can achieve alone. It would require significant support from the state. Otherwise, it's really too hard to change this backward place."

Father Pei sighed and said, "Our country has been poor for so many years, and there are too many cities in need of development. It's impossible to develop all of them at once. That's why Deng Xiaoping proposed allowing some people and regions to get rich first, then lead the majority to achieve common prosperity.

Currently, the state's resources naturally lean towards cities that can develop quickly. As for Muli County, which is a very difficult place to develop, we can only wait for other cities to develop first and then gradually help it grow."

Pei Yuanlong said, "I understand. As the saying goes, 'An official should benefit the people he governs.' I will do my best to help the people of Muli County."

Father Pei, pleased, said, "I'm glad to hear that. Do your best and don't hesitate to act. I support you."

Pei Yuanlong smiled and said, "Thank you, Dad."

Father Pei then turned to his second son and asked, "Yuanba, how is everything in the military?"

Pei Yuanba said, "Dad, everything is going well. My superiors value me a lot."

Father Pei nodded and said, "That's good. Work hard and aim to become a general."

Pei Yuanba said with enthusiasm, "I will do my best."

Father Pei then looked at his youngest daughter and asked, "Qinghua, you just started working this year. How do you feel? Are you adapting well?"

Pei Qinghua said, "I feel pretty good. The leaders and colleagues at my workplace are all easy to get along with. I haven't encountered any of the dirty politics yet."

Father Pei said, "Just be more cautious. If you encounter anything you can't figure out, come to me. Understand?"

"Understood, Dad!"

Father Pei had been in the political arena for decades, and his experience far exceeded that of his daughter, who was just starting out.

Mother Pei listened as her husband inquired about the development of their children, feeling quite satisfied. Although their children's positions were not yet high, Father Pei was not retired yet, and he could still help them advance.

By the time Father Pei retired, she believed their children's positions would be respectable enough.

Whether they could continue to advance after that would depend on their own abilities.

...

At the entrance of the Ye Deng Clan Hall.

Today was the day of the clan meeting, and the clan members gathered as agreed.

Once everyone had arrived, Deng Shirong stepped onto the stage and said, "Everyone, today's clan meeting has three main points:

First, to award scholarships to outstanding students in the clan.

Second, to share the achievements of the Deng Clan Group and discuss the plans for next year.

Third, to distribute the annual dividends from the group.

Let's start with the first point. The students whose names are called are asked to come up to receive their scholarships. We hope you will continue to work hard and achieve even better results in the next semester."

After Deng Shirong, the clan head, finished speaking, the clan member responsible for the scholarships began to call out names, and dedicated personnel distributed the awards.

The Ye Deng Clan had been doing this for several years and was quite experienced.

Since the scholarships were now directly sponsored by the Deng Clan Group, the reward amounts had significantly increased. Even clan members who were not short of money could not ignore such a reward, and more importantly, it was a matter of face.

In the Ye Deng Clan, the competition was no longer about wealth but about whose children had better academic performance.

In the Ye Deng Clan, the parents of children who excel in their studies are greatly respected. This emphasis on academic achievement was initiated by the clan head, Deng Shirong.

Everyone in the entire Ye Deng Clan envies the seven outstanding children of the clan head, especially his second son, Deng Yunheng, who has already been promoted to deputy department level. His Peking University degree is highly valued by the clan members, who all dream of their own children attending such prestigious universities.

Deng Shirong is pleased to see this kind of competition. Compared to the competition over wealth, academic competition is the true path to strengthening the clan.

"Deng Changli, top of the grade in the final exams, awarded 1000 yuan."

Upon hearing this, Xiaodong'er happily stepped onto the stage to receive her award, while Dongzi looked on with envy.

Deng Yuntao and Zhang Xiuping beamed with pride; their daughter's academic performance was a great source of pride for them.

"Grandpa Jiugong is truly amazing. Not only has he raised three key university graduates, Yunheng, Yunsong, and Yunheng, but his granddaughter is also so brilliant, ranking first in the entire grade. It's impossible not to admire him!"

"Indeed, it's truly impressive. Remember, this is a school in the capital city of Nanning, where the competition is much fiercer than in our local elementary school. There are many talented students there, and for Xiaodong'er to rank first in such an environment, she is definitely a candidate for Tsinghua or Peking University."

"If another Tsinghua or Peking University graduate comes from Grandpa Jiugong's family, it's hard to imagine what that would mean."

"Truly enviable. If my family could produce just one university graduate, I would wake up laughing in my dreams."

"Who wouldn't agree? We don't even require a key university; even a regular university would be fine."

"..."

As Xiaodong'er received her award on stage, the clan members below chatted excitedly, their voices filled with envy.

Soon, Xiaodong'er returned to her parents with the 1000 yuan. Dongzi looked at the money in his sister's hand and pleaded, "Sister, you have so much money. Can you give me some?"

Xiaodong'er glanced at him and asked, "We have plenty of food and clothes, and the supermarket has everything we need. What do you need money for?"

Dongzi was taken aback, "That's true, I don't really need money."

Xiaodong'er said, "You don't really need money, so I won't give you any. I don't want you to lose it by accident."

Dongzi nodded, "Alright, I don't want it then!"

Zhang Xiuping couldn't help but shake her head; her son's intelligence was truly a concern.

The scholarship awards were quickly completed.

Deng Shirong returned to the stage and said, "Next, I will give an update on the development of the Deng Clan Group this year. First, our Kangshifu instant noodles. According to surveys, our factory's instant noodles now occupy at least 80% of the national market. Apart from a few brands that still have some sales in certain regions, most other instant noodle brands are struggling to stay afloat.

Currently, the Kangshifu instant noodle factory is the most profitable product of the group.

Second, our Eight Treasure Porridge..."

On stage, Deng Shirong briefly summarized the group's development for the year, highlighting the most profitable products and the products being actively promoted, giving a general overview to the clan members.

"Next, I will discuss the main development plans for next year."

Deng Shirong continued, "Next year, other projects will proceed as planned. The Deng Clan Real Estate will also start developing residential complexes in Guangzhou. Those who are interested in buying a house in Guangzhou can keep an eye on the progress of our projects."

Only a few clan members, those planning to do business in Guangzhou or who have relatives there, showed interest. Most of the others were not particularly interested in buying a house in Guangzhou.

After all, in this era, people considered the practicality of a house and had no concept of buying for investment.

Now, every family in the Ye Deng Clan in the county has at least one house, with some owning several. In their hometown, a cluster of villas is being built, with each family getting a beautiful villa. With so many houses, the clan members already have more than enough.

Why would they go all the way to Guangzhou to buy a house?

Deng Shirong was not in a hurry to remind them. If necessary, they could always create another Ye Deng Clan neighborhood in Guangzhou.

After discussing the development of the Deng Clan Group, the next part was the annual dividend distribution, which everyone looked forward to.

Although the entire Ye Deng Clan is not short of money, Deng Shirong still plans to continue the annual dividend distribution.

With the current size of the Deng Clan Group, distributing a few tens of millions of yuan in dividends is a small matter and has no impact on the group's development.

...

PS: Thank you to everyone for the generous donations and monthly votes. Your support is deeply appreciated, and I am truly grateful to all of you!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end