Chapter 441: The Second Grandson, the Entire Clan Divides Again

Chapter 441: The Second Grandson, the Entire Clan Divides Again

Nanning.

At the obstetrics and gynecology hospital, a group of people were waiting outside the delivery room.

This group was none other than Deng Shirong, Old Man Zhou, and others, while inside the delivery room was naturally Deng Yunzhu.

Compared to the calm demeanor of Deng Shirong and Old Man Zhou, who were the elders, Zhou Haidong, the first-time father, was visibly nervous, pacing back and forth and frequently peering into the delivery room.

Seeing this reaction from his son-in-law, Deng Shirong was quite satisfied. If his daughter were inside giving birth and his son-in-law were carefree, chatting idly outside, he would definitely be unhappy.

Deng Shirong said, "Haidong, don't be anxious. It usually takes quite a while for a woman to give birth to her first child. It's still early, and we have some time to wait."

Zhou Haidong sighed and said, "I know that giving birth to the first child takes time, but thinking about Yunzhu suffering inside makes it impossible for me to stay calm."

"Women have to endure pain during childbirth; it's a natural part of life. No matter what their status, they can't avoid it."

With that, Deng Shirong changed the subject and asked, "Haidong, with the recent talks by Comrade Deng during his southern tour, there's been a wave of enthusiasm for business. Many people in the government are also choosing to go into business. Are there any people in your unit who have chosen to do so?"

Zhou Haidong replied, "Yes, this year, four or five of my colleagues have chosen to go into business. Some are ordinary clerks, and some are department-level officials. I've heard from other colleagues that their businesses are doing quite well."

Old Man Zhou couldn't help but sigh, "The times have really changed. In the past, who would give up a stable job in a public institution to go into business?"

Deng Shirong said, "As the saying goes, when you are poor, you think of change. Without Comrade Deng's reform and opening up, our country would have continued to develop at the same slow pace, and who knows how long it would have taken to develop, possibly missing the best opportunities for development. In the worst-case scenario, we might have returned to the hundred years of humiliation. After all, Uncle Qiao said, 'Lagging behind means being beaten.' If our country's development doesn't keep up with the times, the history of humiliation will inevitably repeat itself."

Old Man Zhou nodded, "That's true. The economic gap between our country and Europe and America is too large. Now, with the reform and opening up, even if we can't catch up in the short term, at least we won't fall too far behind. If we continued at the previous pace, even if the others stopped to wait for us, we might not catch up in a hundred years."

Deng YunTai added, "I heard that the state has revised and abolished more than 400 documents that restricted business. In the past, private business was strictly prohibited, but now there are a series of policies to support private business. This is indeed a significant change."

Deng Shirong sighed, "Comrade Deng's great reform and opening up will be recorded in history. We can live such a good life today thanks to Comrade Deng. Without the reform and opening up, I would probably still be working hard in a kiln to earn a living!"

The Zhou family didn't feel as deeply about this as Deng Shirong, as they all worked in the public sector and no one in their family had gone into business. The impact of the reform and opening up on them was not as significant as it was on the Deng family.

However, the development of the country over the past few decades was evident to all, and they were staunch supporters of the reforms, praising them highly.

Old Man Zhou, who had worked in the public sector for decades, was one of those retired elders who, with no worries about food and drink and a good understanding of national policies, loved to discuss national affairs. With Deng Shirong, his son-in-law, who was well-informed, the conversation naturally flowed.

They chatted for a long time, forgetting the passage of time. Deng YunTai and Zhou Haidong occasionally chimed in with a few words.

As for Zhou's mother and Zhang Xiuping, they had little interest in such topics and did not join in the conversation, instead chatting about family and daily life.

After an unknown amount of time, the door to the delivery room finally opened.

The midwife, wearing a mask, smiled and said, "Congratulations to all. The mother has given birth to a son, and both mother and child are safe and sound."

"Great!"

"I have a son!"

"Thank you, doctor!"

Deng Shirong also smiled.

...

The next day.

At the luxury residence in Wuyue Square.

Deng Shirong asked, "Haidong, have you thought of a name for the child?"

Zhou Haidong smiled, "Dad, I had already thought of a name when Yunzhu first got pregnant. If it's a girl, we'll name her Zhou Wenyi. If it's a boy, we'll name him Zhou Wenbin."

"Zhou Wenbin!"

Deng Shirong nodded, "That's a good name. What about a nickname?"

Zhou Haidong looked at his wife and smiled, "Yunzhu, you can choose the nickname for our son."

Deng Yunzhu said, "When I was pregnant, I dreamed of a large stone. Let's call him 'Shi Tou' (Stone)."

Zhou's mother immediately smiled and said to the baby in her arms, "Shi Tou, did you hear that? From now on, you will be called Shi Tou."

Zhou Lao Tou also praised, "That's a good nickname."

Deng Shirong also smiled, "I hope our little Stone grows up to live up to his name, being as steady as a rock in everything he does."

Zhou Lao Tou asked, "Uncle Jiu, do you have any specific customs for the full moon celebration of the child?"

Deng Shirong smiled and said, "Old Zhou, you don't need to worry about our customs. Little Stone is a descendant of the Zhou family, so it's only right to follow your customs. You can handle the full moon celebration as you usually do."

Zhou Lao Tou nodded, "Alright, then we'll follow our customs."

...

Lin Zhongjun, a top-notch manager, demonstrated excellent execution skills. Within a month of acquiring Li Quan Beer in Guilin, he successfully took over Zhujiang Beer in Guangzhou. He then integrated the brewing masters from both breweries to develop a new beer variety.

As the old saying goes, "Three cobblers together can match Zhuge Liang," meaning that while it's very difficult for one brewing master to create a new and unique beer, multiple masters working together can generate a lot of creative ideas, making the task much easier.

By the end of 1992, the Deng Family Beer Company finally developed a new beer with an excellent taste.

Meanwhile, Deng Shirong sent people to negotiate with CCTV, securing the advertising sponsorship for the TV series "The Legend of the White Snake." The airing date for this popular drama was set for February 1, 1993, the tenth day of the first lunar month.

Believing that the show's explosive ratings would boost sales, Deng Shirong ensured that the Li Quan Beer and Zhujiang Beer factories increased production of the new beer variety. Before "The Legend of the White Snake" aired, he used Master Kang's extensive distribution network to roll out the product nationwide.

The goal was to make the beer available in every town and village, ensuring that the advertising would translate into significant sales and boost the brand's national recognition.

With Deng Shirong's plans in place, there were only a few days left before the Spring Festival.

...

Beijing.

A traditional three-courtyard compound.

Deng Yun Song and his wife, as well as Deng Chang Fu and his wife, were having dinner.

Guanyong Ying followed Jiu Gong's advice and prepared at least eight dishes for each meal, though the portions were small. The variety ensured that Pei Qinghua, who was pregnant, received a balanced diet to provide all necessary nutrients to the fetus.

After dinner, Deng Yun Song accompanied his wife for a walk around the compound to aid digestion.

Pei Qinghua said as they walked, "Song Ge, there are only a few days left until the Spring Festival. This is our first Spring Festival as a married couple, and I think we should go back to our hometown for the holiday. What do you think?"

Deng Yun Song said, "According to our customs, we should indeed return to our hometown in the first year of marriage. However, you are pregnant, and I don't want you to go through the trouble of traveling back and forth. How about we stay in Beijing for the holiday this year, and we can go back next year?"

Pei Qinghua smiled, "I'll be fine. The pregnancy is stable now, and flying back to Nanning only takes a few hours. We can rest in Nanning for a night and then take a car back to our hometown the next day. It won't be too tiring."

Deng Yun Song hesitated, "But we don't have many days off, and the travel would be unnecessary."

Pei Qinghua said, "We can take a few more days off. Being newlyweds, I'm sure our leaders will understand. Besides, if we don't go, Chang Fu and Yong Ying will have to stay in Beijing with us, which would be awkward for them."

Deng Yun Song thought about it and nodded, "Alright, I'll call Dad and tell him we're going back for the holiday."

...

Fujian.

During dinner, Deng Yun Heng smiled and said, "Wei Wei, I'll finish arranging my work in a couple of days, and then we can go back to our hometown for the holiday."

Gu Caiwei's eyes lit up, and she asked, "How many days off do we have?"

Deng Yun Heng smiled, "We can stay in our hometown for about ten days."

"Great!"

Gu Caiwei looked at Deng Damei with excitement and said, "Damei, since you've been helping with A Mao, you haven't been back to our hometown. This year, we can finally go back for the holiday."

Deng Damei was also very happy. In those days, the festive atmosphere in rural areas was very strong, and everyone who worked or studied away from home looked forward to going back for the holiday. She was no exception.

Unfortunately, this festive atmosphere declined significantly after the turn of the century. Even in the most festive rural areas, the only noticeable change during the Spring Festival was an increase in the number of people.

Deng Changmao, however, was not paying attention to the adults' conversation. His focus was on the food in front of him, and he was using a small spoon to feed himself.

Despite being only 22 months old, his parents had started training him to eat by himself when he was 18 months old. After four months of training, although his hands were still somewhat uncoordinated and he occasionally spilled food on the table, he was already more capable than many three-year-olds in the future.

After finishing dinner, Deng Yun Heng called his father.

...

The 28th day of the 12th lunar month.

2:30 PM.

Three Santana cars slowly drove into Naye Village and parked in front of Deng Shirong's house.

Soon, Deng Shirong's family, Deng Chang Fu and his wife, and Deng Damei all got out of the cars.

After getting out of the car, Deng Shirong took out the New Year's goods he had prepared and handed them to Deng Chang Fu and Guanyong Ying, saying, "Chang Fu, A Ying, you've worked hard these past few months. The children probably miss you a lot, so go home quickly!"

Deng Chang Fu and his wife didn't hesitate to accept the New Year's goods and thanked Deng Shirong before rushing home.

Deng Shirong then took out another large bag of New Year's goods and handed it to Deng Damei, saying, "Damei, you've worked hard these past one or two years!"

Deng Damei took the New Year's goods with a smile and said, "Uncle Jiu, I'm not tired. I'll go home first and come back later to take Uncle A Mao."

Deng Shirong smiled and said, "You rarely come back, so spend some time with your parents and siblings. Let Uncle A Mao play with the other village children."

Deng Damei, who had been away from home for the longest time in her life, indeed missed her parents and siblings, so she nodded and said, "Alright, I'll be available whenever you need me. Just send someone to call me if you need help."

With that, she took the New Year's goods and walked briskly toward her home.

Soon, Deng Damei arrived home.

"Big Sister, you're back!"

"Big Sister, is it fun in Fujian?"

"Big Sister, I heard you went to the capital and even took a plane?"

"Big Sister..."

Seeing Deng Damei return, her younger sisters immediately gathered around her, eagerly asking questions.

Deng Damei didn't rush to answer their questions. Instead, she went into the house, put the New Year's goods on the table, and greeted her parents, "Dad, Mom, I'm back!"

Zhang Qi, her mother, looked at her with a beaming smile and said, "Damei, you've changed a lot in the past one or two years."

Deng Chang Chun, her father, also observed his eldest daughter and agreed with his wife. She had indeed changed, but he couldn't quite put his finger on exactly how. She was just different.

Deng Damei took out a thick stack of hundred-yuan bills and handed them to her mother, saying, "Mom, this is my salary, a total of 8,600 yuan."

Deng Chang Chun asked in surprise, "Isn't your salary only 300 yuan a month? How did you end up with so much money?"

Deng Damei smiled and explained, "My salary is 300 yuan a month, but last Spring Festival and this year, Grandmother gave me extra bonuses. Also, since I was taking care of Uncle A Mao, I didn't have to spend money on food, clothing, or accommodation, so I saved all of it."

Zhang Qi took the money and said with a sigh, "Uncle Jiu's family is truly amazing. I'll keep this money for you and prepare a proper dowry when you get married."

"Big Sister, tell us about your experiences over the past one or two years."

It was Deng Ermei who spoke. She had also been chosen by Uncle Jiu and was currently learning nursing under his arrangements. She would go to the capital in a few months to take care of one of Uncle Jiu's other grandchildren, so she was naturally curious about her sister's experiences.

Deng Damei smiled and began to share her experiences with her parents and siblings, leaving them speechless.

Her family had already heard about her trips to Guangzhou and the capital by plane, so they weren't surprised by that. What shocked them was that in Fuzhou, whenever she took Uncle A Mao out, she had an endless supply of fruits and snacks, all given to her by the wealthy ladies.

They weren't foolish and knew that these gifts were due to Uncle Yun Heng's influence, but it was still impressive, giving her a sense of being a high-ranking official's relative.

...

While Deng Damei was sharing her experiences with her family, Deng Chang Fu and his wife were discussing their investments in the capital with their parents and siblings.

"Mom, Dad, Uncle Jiu pointed us in the direction of buying property in the capital to wait for appreciation."

Deng Chang Fu said with admiration, "Uncle Jiu's insight is truly remarkable. When Uncle Yun Heng was admitted to Peking University, Uncle Jiu accompanied him to the school and noticed the potential in the capital's real estate. He later took out a loan from the credit union and bought a property there.

According to Uncle Jiu, he bought a traditional three-courtyard compound for about 45,000 yuan back then. Now, after ten years, the price of that compound has risen to around 500,000 yuan. The appreciation speed is astounding."

Guanyong Ying added, "Uncle Jiu believes that the capital's property prices will continue to rise. In another ten or twenty years, the prices might increase by several times. He suggested we invest all our money in property, buying as much as we can. When the property values appreciate, we can make a substantial profit. Even if we don't live in the properties, renting them out will still provide a significant income."

This speech left Deng Yunqiang and his wife deeply moved. Uncle Jiu's foresight was truly remarkable. The house they bought over ten years ago has now appreciated by more than ten times, which means that the investment has doubled every year. This is indeed a very profitable business.

If their son and daughter-in-law took several hundred thousand yuan to the capital and bought property, and if the house prices continued to rise at this rate, wouldn't that mean they could earn several hundred thousand more every year without doing anything?

If that were the case, their family would become incredibly wealthy.

Thinking about this, Deng Yunqiang reminded his wife, "A Ying, this time Uncle Jiu's advice could make you earn millions. You must take good care of Aunt Yun Song."

Guanyong Ying nodded and said, "Dad, I understand."

...

The next day.

The 29th of the 12th lunar month.

The clan members gathered at the ancestral hall for the clan meeting.

First, they awarded scholarships to the clan's outstanding students. The standout among them was still Xiaodong'er, who consistently held the top spot in her grade, receiving the highest reward.

At this moment, Zhang Xiuping, Gu Caiwei, and Pei Qinghua, the three sisters-in-law, were sitting together.

Seeing Xiaodong'er go on stage to receive her award, Gu Caiwei praised her, "Xiaodong'er is truly amazing at her studies. No one has been able to challenge her for the top spot in her grade."

Pei Qinghua also praised her, "Indeed, I heard from her third uncle that the primary school Xiaodong'er and Dongzi attend is one of the best in the city. Xiaodong'er has been the top student in her grade for several consecutive years, so there's no doubt about the quality of her achievements. As long as she stays focused in middle school and high school, she can choose any top university in the country."

Zhang Xiuping said with a bright smile, "I hope she can maintain this performance when she enters middle school. If she can get into Tsinghua or Peking University like her second and third uncles, my husband and I will have no regrets in life."

The other clan members also couldn't help but praise her.

Soon, the scholarship awards were completed, and Deng Shirong took the stage to give an encouraging speech. Next came the part everyone looked forward to—the dividend distribution.

The dividend amount remained the same, 2000 yuan per share. The clan members whose names were called went up happily to collect their money.

Such a dividend distribution scene was nothing new to Zhang Xiuping.

Gu Caiwei had also seen it once, but this was the first time for Pei Qinghua.

At first, the dividends were in the tens of thousands, but as the distribution progressed, the amounts grew larger. When the dividends reached over 100,000 yuan, even Pei Qinghua, who was mentally prepared, couldn't help but exclaim, "Our clan, the Dengs, is truly wealthy!"

Zhang Xiuping and Gu Caiwei, the sisters-in-law, exchanged a smile. "We haven't even gotten to the best part yet," they thought.

Soon, the dividend amounts reached several hundred thousand yuan. When Pei Qinghua saw her father-in-law receive a dividend of four million yuan, she couldn't help but gasp in shock, her eyes widening in amazement.

After marrying into the Deng family, her husband had told her about their financial situation, but he hadn't given specifics, only saying that their family wasn't short of money.

After seeing the Wuyue Square in Nanning, Pei Qinghua had a good idea of her husband's family's wealth.

However, it seemed she had underestimated it.

She never imagined that her father-in-law's annual dividend from the clan would be as high as four million yuan. This level of wealth was truly terrifying.

After the dividend distribution was over, Deng Shirong said, "Clan members, there is one more thing to announce. Our newly established brewery has produced a new type of beer with a unique taste. I've tasted it, and it's indeed excellent. We have already started distributing it nationwide. This beer is called Li Quan Beer, and it has our Deng Group's logo on it.

In the future, those who enjoy beer should support our own brand."

"Ha-ha, of course, we must support our own beer."

"Right, from now on, we will only drink Li Quan Beer, and I will encourage my relatives and friends to do the same."

"Clan Head, can we buy Li Quan Beer in Shuangwang now?"

"..."

Those who enjoyed beer spoke up one after another, all very excited about supporting their family's product.

Deng Shirong smiled and said, "Bo Bai is our base, so we will definitely distribute the beer there first. You can definitely buy Li Quan Beer in Shuangwang now."

"That's great, I'll go to Shuangwang and buy a lot of beer."

"Let's go together. Clan Head said the beer tastes good, so it must be excellent. I'll buy ten cases to enjoy during the New Year."

"Damn, if we all buy like this, we might empty the store's stock. How will others buy it?"

"..."

Deng Shirong laughed and said, "Alright, the meeting is over. Those who want to buy beer, go ahead and buy it!"

...

PS: Thank you to all the relatives who voted for the monthly ticket.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end