https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-47-Energetic-Young-Men-and-the-Desire-to-Marry/12849151/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-49-The-Ideal-Eldest-Daughter-in-Law/12849153/
Chapter 48: A Spark in the Eyes
Chapter 48: A Spark in the Eyes
It was the 27th of the seventh lunar month.
At eight in the morning, after breakfast, Deng Shirong let his youngest daughter sit on the crossbar in front of the bicycle. He then propelled the bike forward with his left foot, and as it moved, he lifted his right foot to swing over the back seat.
Meanwhile, his eldest daughter, Deng Yunzhen, quickly caught up and nimbly sat on the back seat.
With the three of them on the 28-inch bicycle, they set off at a leisurely pace toward Longtan Market.
From Naye Village to Longtan Market, they had to pass through Shuangwang Market and ride nearly ten kilometers of winding, bumpy mountain roads before reaching the main county road from Bobai to Longtan. After another ten kilometers, they would finally arrive at Longtan Market.
The county road from Bobai to Longtan was built in 1956.
Deng Xiaoping once said, "To get rich, build roads first." This was indeed a profound statement. Since the road from Bobai to Longtan was completed, Longtan's commerce has flourished, with more shops opening up and the market transforming dramatically in just a few years.
Originally, Longtan Market had only two main streets in a "T" shape. One ran east-west, about two meters wide, and the other ran north-south, also about two meters wide and less than 100 meters long. There were also two smaller streets with low houses and few shops.
Now, Longtan Market has widened and extended its original streets, forming a wedge-shaped main street with new additions. There are now eight streets in total, and each market day attracts over 25,000 people, a stark contrast to the fewer than 1,000 people who gather at Shuangwang Market. They are not in the same league.
When Deng Shirong and his daughters arrived at Longtan Market, it was just past nine, but the place was already teeming with people.
Fortunately, in this era, there were no cars in the countryside, and the number of trucks and buses was minimal. It was rare to see one pass by every half hour. There were no motorcycles or electric bikes either. Most people either walked or rode bicycles, so traffic jams were not a problem.
This was the first time for both Deng Yunzhen and Deng Yunzhu to visit Longtan Market.
Deng Yunzhen was a bit better off, as she had accompanied her younger brother, Deng Yunheng, to Songshan Market a few days earlier. Songshan Market was also on the main county road from Bobai to Longtan. Although it was not as bustling as Longtan Market, it still had over 8,000 people on market days, making it much larger than the tiny Shuangwang Market.
So, Deng Yunzhen had some experience and was not overly surprised by the more prosperous Longtan Market.
However, it was a different story for Deng Yunzhu. She had only been to Shuangwang Market a few times, and even that had seemed crowded to her, with people everywhere.
When she saw the bustling scene at Longtan Market, she was utterly amazed. It was only then that she realized how vastly different markets could be.
Seeing her youngest daughter's wide-eyed amazement, Deng Shirong felt both amused and a bit heartbroken. He reached out and patted her head, saying, "Among the nearby communes, Longtan is indeed quite prosperous, but it's still far from the big cities. If your older brother gets into college next year, I'll take all of you to the city to see the world when I send him to school."
Deng Yunzhu exclaimed, "Dad, are you serious?"
Deng Yunzhen's face also showed surprise. The idea of visiting a big city was something she had never dared to dream of. If they really got the chance to go, she could brag about it in the village for at least three years.
Deng Shirong smiled and said, "Of course it's true, but it depends on how hard your brother works. He needs to get into university first."
The sisters exchanged a glance and silently made a decision. When Yunheng (their older brother) returned, they would make sure he studied hard and never relaxed. If he got into university, they could follow him to the big city and see the world. If he didn't, all their hopes would be dashed.
"Alright, let's not talk about that anymore. I'll find a place to park the bike, and then we can go shopping together."
Deng Shirong pushed the bicycle to a noodle stand, greeted the owner, and then led his two daughters through the market. In those days, the villagers were very simple and honest. While petty theft wasn't unheard of, no one would dare to steal a valuable item like a bicycle, even if it was left unlocked on the side of the road.
Shopping was a natural pastime for girls, and since it was their first time in Longtan Market, Deng Yunzhen and Deng Yunzhu found everything fascinating. They explored every street, from start to finish, not missing a single corner.
Deng Shirong didn't rush them. As they walked, he observed the people around them. Most were dressed in patched clothes, but their spirits were high, and their eyes sparkled with hope for the future.
The market was bustling, and by the time the three of them had finished exploring all eight streets, an hour and a half had passed.
The weather was still quite warm, and Deng Shirong wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. "Yunzhen, Yunzhu, we've seen enough, let's go have a bowl of noodles. Then we can buy some fabric and some snacks, and head home."
It wasn't even 11 a.m. yet, but they had eaten breakfast early, and the light porridge they had consumed didn't keep them full for long. After an hour of cycling and an hour and a half of walking, they were all quite hungry.
Deng Yunzhu nodded and smiled. "Let's go eat noodles. I haven't had them in a while, and I'm really craving them."
Deng Yunzhen had eaten a hearty bowl of noodles a few days ago in Songshan Market, but noodles were always delicious, and she never got tired of them. After a few days without them, she was also craving a bowl.
So, the three of them returned to the noodle stand where they had parked the bicycle and ordered three bowls of noodles for twenty cents each.
In those days, a bowl of noodles for twenty cents was quite a treat. Most people only ate a five-cent bowl, and some even settled for a two- or three-cent bowl of plain noodles. Anyone who could afford a bowl for more than ten cents must have been doing well financially.
When the three bowls of noodles, each topped with generous portions of liver and lean meat, were brought to their table, the family dug in with their chopsticks.
As Deng Shirong was eating and sweating profusely, a pleasant female voice called out, "Boss, three bowls of noodles, please. Five cents each."
Deng Shirong looked up and saw three young women, all around eighteen or nineteen years old, standing at the noodle stand.
The one on the left was the tallest, standing about 1.63 meters, but her face was rather plain.
The one on the right was the shortest, around 1.58 meters, with a decent face. If she knew how to apply makeup like the girls of the future, she would probably turn heads.
But it was the one in the middle who caught Deng Shirong's eye immediately.
(End of Chapter)
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