Chapter 414: Ten Years in a Snap, Reuniting Us Again

Chapter 414: Ten Years in a Snap, Reuniting Us Again

Nanning.

Luxury residence in Wuyue Square.

Deng Shirong received a call from his third son.

After exchanging pleasantries, Deng Yunsong said, “Dad, I have some good news. I've won over that female colleague of mine. She's now my girlfriend, and I even met her parents yesterday.”

Thinking of the girl whose figure and appearance rivaled his two daughters-in-law, Deng Shirong said with delight, “Not bad, well done. I heard her family background should be quite good. What do her parents do?”

Deng Yunsong sighed and said, “Dad, speaking of this, I still find it unbelievable. Her father's rank is even higher than my second brother's father-in law, he's practically a genuine high-ranking official, it's simply beyond belief.”

Hearing this, Deng Shirong was surprised and asked, “Her father is such a high-ranking official, he didn't look down on you?”

Deng Yunsong replied, “On the contrary, Uncle Pei is quite down-to-earth and open-minded. After a talk with him, I think he appreciates me quite a bit.”

Deng Shirong said, “Since that's the case, you must treat Little Pei well. She's both beautiful and talented, with such a good family background, yet she doesn't look down on you and is willing to be your girlfriend. You must value her and not let her down, understand?”

Deng Yunsong replied, “Understood, Dad, I will treat her well.”

Deng Shirong asked, “Little Pei likes to eat niuba, right? Should I make more next time, does she prefer the original flavor or the spicy one?”

Deng Yunsong replied, “She likes the spicy flavor.”

Deng Shirong said, “Alright, I'll make more of the spicy flavor and some other canned goods to send you.”

Deng Yunsong smiled and said, “Thanks, Dad.”

The father and son then chatted for another ten minutes before hanging up.

This call from his third son made Deng Shirong understand the importance of education in changing one's fate even more deeply. In his previous life, neither his second nor third son had passed the college entrance examination. As a result, one became a professional gambler, and the other, though made it to the department level, remained just at that level.

In this life, his second son was admitted to Peking University and soared in his career. His third son, having just started working, had already won over the daughter of a high-ranking official as his girlfriend. Even if the third son had no other advantages, his current status alone would ensure his promotion to the provincial level, and even the ministerial level was within reach.

The same person, in his previous and this life, had taken completely different paths, once again proving the importance of education.

...

Meanwhile,

Guangzhou.

After dinner, Zhou Haidong and Deng Yunzhu were taking a walk to digest their food.

They chatted casually. When they passed a flower shop, Zhou Haidong bought a rose and, gathering his courage, said to Deng Yunzhu, “Azhu, we’ve known each other for so long, and your uncle seems to approve of me. I… I wanto officially be your boyfriend. Do you agree?”

Deng Yunzhu looked at the rose he offered, didn’t take it right away, but said, “Haidong, let me remind you, if you want to be my boyfriend, once we get married, you’ll have to listen to me in everything. You’ll probably be bullied by me for the rest of your life. Are you sure you want to be my boyfriend?”

Zhou Haidong smiled and said, “Azhu, We also need to be reasonable. In business, you know more than I do, so you should be listened to. But in other aspects, you might not know as much as I do. We should listen to whoever is more reasonable, right?”

Deng Yunzhu said assertively, “When it comes to making decisions, the final say must always be mine.”

Zhou Haidong, seeing her unreasonable yet inexplicably cute demeanor, smiled and said, “Alright, if the final say is yours, I’ll listen to you.”

Deng Yunzhu then took the rose, but not without warning, “Remember what you just said. Don’t regret it later, or I’ll have my brothers deal with you.”

Zhou Haidong laughed and said, “I won’t regret it, you can rest assured!”

Deng Yunzhu gave him a meaningful smile, wondering If he knew about her second brother’s deputy hall-level position, would he still respond so readily?

...

Three days later.

Sui Feng Restaurant.

Zhu Shiba returned from school in the afternoon and, seeing Deng Shirong, happily ran over, “Grandpa.”

Deng Shirong held him and asked with a smile, “Shiba, did you bully other children in kindergarten today?”

zhu Shiba quickly said, “Grandpa, I didn’t bully other children. He pushed me first, and then I hit him.”

Deng Shirong couldn’t help but laugh and cry, saying, “It seems you fought with other children again?”

Deng Yunzhen, Headaching, said, “Dad, this boy is like someone else. Even in the small class, he’s like a little demon, fighting with one or another every day. Whenever I ask, he always says the other one started it.”

zhu Shiba said angrily, “Mom, I’m telling the truth. He pushed me first, and then I hit him.”

Deng Shirong stroked his little head and educated him, “Shiba, grandpa tells you, we can’t let others bully us in kindergarten. No matter who bullies us, we must stand up for ourselves. If anyone dares to bully you, you should hit them.”

"But we can't go around bullying others, understand?"

Zhu Shiba nodded and said, "Grandpa, I didn't bully anyone. They always want to bully me first, and then I hit them."

Deng Shirong smiled and said, "Mm, you did the right thing. If anyone wants to bully you, you should hit them."

Hearing this, Zhu Shiba said happily, "Grandpa is the best. Whenever I fight, Mom always scolds me."

Deng Yunzhen glared at him, "So you have a reason for fighting, huh?"

Zhu Shiba shrank his neck, then remembered that Grandpa was by his side, and he boldly said, "Grandpa said that if anyone wants to bully me, I'll fight them."

Deng Yunzhen looked at her father and said, "Dad, if you teach him like this, he'll become more and more unruly."

Deng Shirong smiled and said, "Don't worry. As long as we have the right reasons, it's okay to fight. Boys will fight. If we raise him to be a timid person who doesn't dare to speak up when bullied, what use will he be in the future?"

Deng Yunzhen thought about it and found it reasonable. She then looked at her son and said, "Shiba, remember what Grandpa said. If anyone bullies you in kindergarten, you can hit them, but you must never bully others first. If I find out, I'll deal with you when we get home."

Zhu Shiba nodded excitedly, "Mom, I understand. I promise I won't bully others."

...

Deng Shirong came back to Bobai to make niuba and other canned goods.

The last time, it was the first attempt at making such canned goods, so the quantity was not large. This time, with experience, Deng Shirong made 1,000 cans of niuba. To make these 1,000 cans, he even bought six yellow cattle to slaughter!

In addition to the niuba cans, Deng Shirong also made canned beef brisket.

Beef brisket was quite famous in Bobai, especially when used to make beef brisket noodles, which tasted as good as niuba noodles.

Since it was the first time making canned beef brisket, Deng Shirong didn't make too many, only 200 cans as a trial. If the taste was good, he would make more next time.

Besides, Deng Shirong also tried making spicy crab and canned it, also making 200 cans.

After finishing, Deng Shirong left 100 cans of niuba for his eldest daughter, 50 cans of beef brisket, and 50 cans of spicy crab. The rest were stored in the system space.

Summer vacation was approaching, and Xiaodong'er's academic performance had consistently been at the top of her grade. If nothing unexpected happened, she would be the top student in the grade again at the end-of-term exam. Since he had promised to take her on a trip, he couldn't break his word.

I wonder where Xiaodong'er wants to go this summer?

...

Midday.

A factory in Bao'an, Shenzhen.

After having lunch at the factory, Zhu Chenglong (one of Deng Yunheng's best high school classmates) met his wife, Li Xiaoyan, and they took a walk near the factory, chatting.

After a few heartfelt words, Zhu Chenglong said, "Wife, I want to quit my job and go back to our hometown to develop."

Li Xiaoyan was surprised, "Husband, why would you have such an idea? Together, we can earn over 500 yuan a month, and the factory provides food and accommodation, so we can save most of the money. It's absolutely impossible to find such a high-paying job back in our hometown."

Zhu Chenglong said, "Of course, we won't earn as much if we go back to work. But I'm thinking of starting a small business. Over the years, we've saved more than 20,000 yuan, which is enough to start a small business."

Li Xiaoyan frowned, "Husband, but neither of us has ever done business before. What if we lose money?"

Zhu Chenglong said, "Wife, working in the factory is good in terms of income, but we have almost no free time except for work. We've been here for several years, but we've hardly been anywhere outside the factory area.

Most importantly, we live separately, and it's extremely difficult to have a normal married life. I'm tired of this life.

Moreover, our children are left in our hometown, and we only see them during the New Year. When they were younger, it didn't matter much, but now that they're older, they don't feel close to us at all. If we keep this up, they might not even want to call us 'Mom' and 'Dad' anymore.

So, we can't continue like this. Even if we earn less, we need to go back to our hometown and develop. What do you think, wife?"

Li Xiaoyan was convinced and nodded, "Husband, you're right. Let's go back to our hometown and develop. If the business fails, we can always come back to Shenzhen to work."

Zhu Chenglong said, "Wife, don't worry. This year marks the 10th anniversary of my high school graduation. Ten years ago, my classmates and I made a promise to gather back in our hometown no matter where we were. I can quit my job and go back to attend the reunion, and then I can ask my good old friends for advice."

Li Xiaoyan said, "You mean the classmate who got into Peking University?"

Zhu Chenglong smiled, "Who else? He was my best classmate back then. With his Peking University graduate's insight, any advice he gives me on starting a business will likely help me make money. This is my biggest confidence in quitting my job and starting a business."

Guangxi, Cangwu County, Wuzhou City.

Agricultural Mechanization Administration Compound.

Chen Wenfeng finished stir-frying the last dish of greens, took off his apron, and called out to the room, "Wife, it's time to eat!"

"Coming!"

Pang Xueling responded and then came out of the room with their son.

While the family of three were having dinner, Chen Wenfeng said, "Wife, I need to go back to our hometown in a couple of days."

Pang Xueling asked, "It's not a holiday or anything, why are you going back now? Did your parents ask you to come home for something?"

Chen Wenfeng shook his head and said, "No, I'm going back to attend my high school graduation ten-year reunion. On the night of our graduation ten years ago, our whole class sat on the grass and talked all night. We made a promise then that no matter where we were, we would come back for the reunion after ten years. I can't break that promise."

Pang Xueling laughed and said, "Those were just words we said in our youth. How many people actually keep such promises after ten years?"

Chen Wenfeng replied, "I don't know about others, but I can do it, so I can't break my word!"

Pang Xueling said, "Husband, you're now the director of the Agricultural Mechanization Administration, a promising official at the department level. You and your old classmates are in completely different worlds now. Is it really worth it for you to take time off work to go back for a class reunion?"

Chen Wenfeng said, "Wife, it's fine if other classmates don't attend, but as the class president, if I don't go, the reunion won't be complete."

He then changed the subject, "Besides, one of our classmates from back then got into Peking University, and I want to see how well he's doing now."

Pang Xueling was surprised, "Husband, one of your classmates got into Peking University? Why didn't you tell me before?"

Chen Wenfeng sighed, "In our graduating class, only three students got into college. The other two and I only got into ordinary universities, but one of our classmates got into the prestigious Peking University. The gap was too large, so I didn't have the face to mention it to you."

Pang Xueling marveled, "That's impressive. From that rundown high school, to have a Peking University graduate is truly unbelievable."

Chen Wenfeng said with a complex tone, "Who would have thought? In the first semester of high school, his grades were far worse than mine, which is why I was the class president and not him. But in the second semester, it was like he had unlocked his full potential in a martial arts novel, and he suddenly became very strong. He eventually got into Peking University and made history for our school."

Pang Xueling said, "Your classmate is indeed impressive, but you're not bad either. You graduated from university and were promoted by my father. Even if your classmate graduated from Peking University, he might not be doing better than you in his career."

Chen Wenfeng couldn't help but smile. His biggest gain after graduating from university was marrying a wife with a good background.

His father-in-law was the county magistrate of Cangwu County, and the current county magistrate was nearing retirement. If everything went as planned, his father-in-law would take over next year, and his position as the son-in-law would naturally rise.

A Peking University graduate like Deng Yunheng might not have such good conditions.

Thinking about this, Chen Wenfeng said confidently, "You're right. In the political arena, education is important, but connections are even more important. I had the good luck to marry you, but my classmate might not have such good luck. I'll see what level he's at when I go back for the reunion."

Pang Xueling smiled, "Okay, go to the reunion. Tell me how your Peking University classmate is doing when you come back."

...

Meanwhile.

A household in Guangzhou was having dinner.

Liu Liming, a woman in her thirties who was somewhat short, was serving her husband his favorite dishes and said, "Husband, in a few days, it's my high school graduation ten-year reunion. I want to go back to my hometown and attend the reunion. Is that okay?"

The man put down his chopsticks, took out his wallet from his pocket, and pulled out 1,000 yuan in cash, handing it to her, "Here, buy some gifts for your parents and treat your high school classmates to a meal. Let them know how well you're doing."

Liu Liming smiled and said, "Thank you, husband."

...

As the college entrance exams approached, the graduates of Songshan High School Class 34, scattered across various places, remembered the promise they made ten years ago. Except for a few who couldn't spare the time, most of them planned to return to their alma mater for the reunion.

Even Deng Yunheng, who was far away in Fujian, had arranged all his work in advance and made time to return for this class reunion.

After all, the ten-year reunion that was proposed back then was suggested by Deng Yunheng himself. If the proposer didn't attend, the reunion would lose its meaning.

...

Songshan High School.

On the night of the college entrance exam, the graduates were celebrating in their own ways.

And Li Hongjun, the former homeroom teacher of Class 34 and now the vice principal, was eagerly looking forward to the next day.

Because the next day was the ten-year reunion for Class 34, and his star student, Deng Yunheng, would be returning to attend. Li Hongjun was naturally very excited about it.

Seeing his father's excited demeanor, Li Huaxin couldn't help but sigh inwardly. He also wanted to follow in the footsteps of his senior, Deng Yunheng, and get into a top university like Peking University, but studying wasn't something you could achieve just by wanting to. He felt he had worked hard enough, and his grades were among the best in the class.

But compared to Senior Deng Yunheng, he still fell short by a long distance!

"Father, besides Senior Deng Yunheng, do you know how another senior who also got into university is doing now?"

Li Hongjun said, "I only know that he was assigned to work in Wuzhou after graduation, but I don't know the specifics. I'm not sure if he will come to the reunion tomorrow."

Li Huaxin said, "If he works in the county, he might come, but working in Wuzhou, which is quite far, and with the busy schedule, he might not be able to make it."

Li Hongjun said, "That's not necessarily true. Your senior, Deng Yunheng, is working in Fujian, and he said he would come back for the reunion. Compared to Fujian, Wuzhou isn't that far."

Li Huaxin said, "Songshan High School has been around for many years, and many students graduate each year, but I've never heard of any graduates holding a class reunion. The seniors and juniors of Class 34 are setting a precedent."

Li Hongjun said, "We'll have to see how many classmates show up. If only a few come, it won't really be a class reunion. At least half of the class needs to attend for it to be considered a reunion."

Li Huaxin said, "That depends on how much cohesion the seniors and juniors of Class 34 have."

Li Hongjun said, "The ten-year reunion was proposed by Deng Yunheng. I hope the number of people attending won't disappoint him."

...

The next day.

Songshan High School had a banner hung up early in the morning. The banner read:

"Ten Years in a Snap, Reuniting Us Again"

Below the large text, in smaller letters, it read: "Songshan High School Class 34 Graduation Ten-Year Reunion."

The banner was arranged by Li Hongjun. As the homeroom teacher, he was the most enthusiastic about this ten-year reunion. After all, it was the peak of his teaching career, and this graduating class was his pride. He naturally wanted to be actively involved in the reunion.

By nine o'clock in the morning, two classmates who lived in town arrived at the school together.

"Teacher Li."

Upon seeing Li Hongjun, the two classmates greeted him.

Living in the same town, they saw each other often. After exchanging greetings, they sat down to chat and wait for the other classmates to arrive.

By half past nine, other classmates began to arrive. These classmates mostly lived in the villages under Songwang Town, so they weren't far from the school. Although the number wasn't large, there were still over a dozen people.

Among them were Zhu Chenglong from Shenzhen and Liu Liming from Guangzhou.

Even though these classmates had arrived early, they didn't all live in the same village. After graduation, they went their separate ways, some working out of town and others staying at home, so it was rare for them to meet.

In fact, for most of them, this was their first time seeing each other since graduation.

Ten years is a long time, and even a city can change significantly, let alone a person.

The appearance of these dozen or so classmates had changed considerably. Some looked like completely different people, and if they hadn't introduced themselves, others might not have recognized them.

After ten years apart, the classmates had a lot to talk about, and one of the main topics was catching up on each other's lives.

"Zhu Chenglong, you look so well-fed. Where have you been making money recently?"

"Liu Liming, I heard you got married in Guangzhou?"

"Bude Shang, you've changed so much in ten years. I almost didn't recognize you."

"..."

...

PS: Holy crap, 1.55 million words, and the subscriptions have hit a new record. You guys are amazing, thank you for your support. I'll keep writing to the best of my ability and not let you down.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end