Chapter 481: After Fifty Years Away from Home, I'm Finally Back!

Chapter 481: After Fifty Years Away from Home, I'm Finally Back!

One week later.

Deng Shirong and his two grandchildren, along with his elder brother Deng Shize's entire family, arrived safely in Shenzhen.

Although Taiwan had opened up to mainland China for family visits and tourism since 1987, there was no direct air service between the two regions in the 1980s and 1990s. It wasn't until January 26, 2003, at 8:52 AM, when a flight from Taiwan's China Airlines landed at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, that the long-standing interruption of normal air travel between the two regions since 1949 was finally broken.

In my previous life, the Xinmin Evening News featured the headline "First Taiwan Business Charter Flight Arrives in Shanghai Today."

It was the eagerness of Taiwanese businessmen to return home that led to this event.

Five years later, direct flights, ships, and mail services between the two regions were established, bypassing the need for third-party routes, marking a new era in cross-strait relations.

In this era, due to the lack of direct air service between Taiwan and the mainland since 1949, Deng Shirong and his group had to first fly from Taiwan to Hong Kong, then travel from Hong Kong to Shenzhen, which is just across the river, and finally take a bus from Shenzhen back to Bobai.

By the time they arrived in Shenzhen, it was already evening. Although there were buses running back to Bobai at night, Deng Shize's health was poor, and it was important for him to rest rather than rush and risk any health issues.

After all, as long as they returned to their hometown by New Year's Eve, everything else was secondary.

Therefore, they decided to stay in Shenzhen for the night and return to Bobai the next day after a good rest.

Upon arriving at a hotel in Shenzhen, Deng Shirong smiled and introduced, "Big Brother, Big Sister, Shenzhen was originally just a small fishing village. After the reform and opening-up, it was designated as a special economic zone, becoming a vanguard of the reform. In just a few decades, it has undergone a complete transformation."

A city full of skyscrapers, which was just a small fishing village a few decades ago?

Deng Shize was somewhat surprised and said, "Ninth Brother, the reform and opening-up really transformed a small fishing village into what it is today in just a few decades?"

Deng Shirong nodded and said, "Yes, this is the result of the reform and opening-up over the past few decades. Taiwan's economy has reached its peak and is likely to stagnate in the future. However, the development of our mainland is just beginning.

Therefore, if you, Yunfu and your siblings, want to achieve great things, you should shift your focus to the mainland. The government is offering many preferential policies to Taiwanese investors, and the mainland is truly a land of golden opportunities. Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Hearing Uncle Man's repeated emphasis, Deng Yunfu and his four siblings took the matter seriously.

Especially those who were already in business, such as Deng Yunfu, Deng Yunlu, and Deng Yunhua, were truly intrigued.

Deng Yunfu immediately expressed his intention, "Uncle Man, during this trip back to our hometown for the New Year, I will thoroughly investigate and see what business opportunities there are on the mainland."

Deng Yunlu added, "I will also look into the fruit wholesale business and see if it's feasible."

Deng Yunhua said, "I will also investigate the clothing business."

Deng Shirong smiled and said, "If you trust me, I can help you find some profitable businesses to consider."

Deng Yunfu's eyes lit up, and he said, "If Uncle Man is willing to guide us, we will have nothing to worry about!"

Deng Yunhua happily added, "That's right, Uncle Man, you are a true business tycoon. With your guidance, we truly have nothing to worry about."

The other siblings also expressed their agreement. Since learning that Uncle Man had led the entire clan to prosperity and founded the top-ranked private enterprise in the country, they, as his nieces and nephews, had the utmost respect for him.

Their achievements were nothing compared to Uncle Man's.

With such a business tycoon guiding them, how could they not make money?

...

The next morning.

Deng Shirong and his group enjoyed a delicious Cantonese breakfast and then boarded the bus back to Bobai.

It was the peak of the Spring Festival travel season, and the passenger volume on both trains and buses was overwhelming.

Under normal circumstances, it would be impossible for an ordinary person to buy over twenty tickets at once, but who was Deng Shirong? A single phone call, and a bus from his own transportation company was dispatched for his exclusive use.

On the way back to Bobai, Deng Shize asked with a hint of concern, "Ninth Brother, if we return to our hometown with such a large group, and the news spreads, will it affect Yunheng and Yunsong's work?"

Deng Shirong smiled and said, "Big Brother, if this were the 1960s or 1970s, returning home with such a large group would not only be risky, but even being known to have connections in Hong Kong or Taiwan could get us in trouble.

However, the situation is different now. Having connections in Hong Kong, Taiwan, or overseas is not only harmless but beneficial. It will not affect their work, and if anything, it will have a positive impact."

Deng Shize sighed in relief, "That's good. I was afraid of causing trouble for you. I've been holding back for the past few years due to these concerns."

Deng Shirong said, "The situation in the 1960s and 1970s is unlikely to ever return. The country's focus now is on economic development. We have fallen behind for so many years, and it's time to catch up."

Deng Shize said, "I've only heard stories about what happened in the 1960s and 1970s. It's said that countless people were harmed, and society was in chaos. I wonder if it's true? Also, did our village change much back then?"

Deng Shirong nodded, "That era was indeed very chaotic. Fortunately, we had Zhou Gong, or the country might have been in a much worse state. Our village was also greatly affected, with some people acting like lunatics, using trivial matters as excuses to cause trouble.

I can't say much more, but at that time, everyone lived in fear, not even daring to voice a complaint."

Although his brother spoke vaguely, Deng Shize could sense the terror of that era and sighed, "Our country has indeed endured many hardships!"

Deng Shirong said, "All the hardships are in the past. The country will only continue to develop and prosper in the future."

The two brothers chatted casually about various topics, and before they knew it, the conversation turned to Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji.

Deng Shize said, "Li Longji was indeed very capable in his early years, ushering in the Kaiyuan Prosperous Age. If he had died twenty years earlier, he would have been a celebrated wise ruler in history."

Deng Shirong was surprised and said, "Big Brother, I didn't expect you to know history so well?"

Deng Shize shook his head and smiled, "I only have a basic understanding. I mainly read some historical books after retiring, just to pass the time. I can't say I truly understand history."

"That's still better than many people."

Deng Shirong praised him and then sighed, "Actually, that's human nature. Many people are brilliant and valiant during their early struggles. Take Li Longji, for example. He was indeed a rare wise ruler in his early years, ushering in the famous Kaiyuan Prosperous Age.

This period was truly glorious. During this time, the Tang Dynasty reached unprecedented heights in all aspects. The nation was incredibly powerful, the economy was booming, the population grew significantly, commerce flourished, domestic transportation was extensive, cities were prosperous, and foreign trade was very active, with merchants from Persia and the Arab world flocking in.

It's really difficult to maintain that initial fighting spirit after creating such a prosperous era.

So, it's not really Li Longji's fault that he indulged in pleasure in his later years. He worked hard for most of his life and achieved world-renowned success. It's only natural that he wanted to enjoy his later years."

Deng Shize nodded and said, "That is indeed human nature. If the government had remained stable during Li Longji's lifetime, there would be nothing to criticize. However, the An-Shi Rebellion occurred in his later years, which caused the Tang Dynasty to decline sharply from its peak. This is what makes people feel regretful."

As the two brothers discussed history, the other younger members of the family listened quietly.

Deng Yunfu and his four siblings were all highly educated. When they studied in Taiwan, Taiwanese history was still considered part of Chinese history, so their history books provided detailed introductions to various Chinese dynasties. They were familiar with the famous Kaiyuan Prosperous Age in Chinese ancient history.

Unlike in later times, when the Taiwanese authorities made great efforts to de-Chineseize the curriculum. In the new version of the history textbook, the first chapter "From the Shang and Zhou to the Sui and Tang Dynasties" only has four pages, totaling about 1,600 words.

In the section "From Tribal to Feudal," the concept of the Xia Dynasty is completely omitted, and the history from the Shang Dynasty to the Western Zhou is summed up in just 300 words.

The section "From Feudal to Imperial State" covers a thousand years of history from the Eastern Zhou to the end of the Han Dynasty in just 800 words.

The main text then jumps directly to the topics of Emperor Wu of Han's exclusive Confucianism, the Nine-rank system of the Wei and Jin Dynasties, and the imperial examination system of the Sui and Tang Dynasties.

Moreover, important historical events such as King Wu's conquest of the Shang, the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn period, the Seven Warring States, the Chu-Han Contention, and the Yellow Turban Rebellion have all been deleted. The periods of the Three Kingdoms and the Northern and Southern Dynasties are not mentioned at all, and key historical figures like Emperor Wu of Han are only briefly touched upon. Only Qin Shi Huang and the Legalists are slightly more detailed.

Furthermore, as a history textbook, it does not mention historical books like the "Records of the Grand Historian" or the "Book of Han."

The 3,600 years of history from the Shang and Zhou to the late Qing Dynasty are covered in just 60 pages and six chapters, with each chapter consisting of only 1,500 words to cover 600 years. This is truly absurd.

When the two brothers finished their discussion, Deng Changzuo asked, "Man Gong, how long does it take to travel from Shenzhen to Bobai?"

Deng Shirong replied, "About twelve hours."

Deng Changzuo was surprised and said, "Heaven, it takes more than ten hours? How far is Shenzhen from Bobai?"

Deng Shirong smiled and said, "Shenzhen is more than 500 kilometers from Bobai, and the roads are not very good, so it takes a long time."

Deng Yunshou couldn't help but sigh, "No wonder it's the mainland. Distances of hundreds of kilometers are common. In Taiwan, the longest distance from north to south is only 380 kilometers, and anything over 100 kilometers is considered very far."

Deng Shirong couldn't help but laugh, "This is quite normal. Taiwan's area is less than 36,000 square kilometers, while Guangxi's area is nearly 240,000 square kilometers, six to seven times larger. Guangxi is just one of the 28 provinces and autonomous regions on the mainland, not to mention the four municipalities!"

The others were also amazed. They knew the mainland was vast, but few had truly understood just how vast it was. Now, hearing Deng Shirong's explanation, they realized how small Taiwan was in comparison to the mainland.

Deng Changzuo and the others were filled with curiosity about the mainland. They grew up in Taiwan and only knew the mainland through stories from their elders. None of them had ever been to the mainland, and this trip back for the New Year was their first time.

Therefore, they asked all sorts of questions, like curious children.

...

Bobai.

The Naye Deng Clan Community.

Deng YunTai and his wife, Deng YunZhen's family of three, Deng YunHeng's family of three, Deng YunZhu's family of three, Deng YunSong's family of three, Deng YunHua and his wife, and Deng YunHeng—all seven siblings and their families—were present without exception.

Additionally, Deng ShiLan and her husband, along with their numerous children and grandchildren, were also all present.

They were all here because Deng Shirong had called his sister and children before returning.

When Deng YunTai and his siblings received their father's call, they were all shocked. They never expected that their father's trip to Taiwan with Xiaodong and Dongzi would result in unexpectedly reuniting with their missing uncle, who had been gone for several decades. This was so unbelievable that even a TV drama wouldn't dare to write such a plot.

Their uncle had been missing for over fifty years, and if their father had specifically gone to search for him, finding him would still have been unbelievable. But the key was that their father had only gone on a holiday with Xiaodong and Dongzi.

To still run into their uncle by chance was a stroke of luck that left them speechless.

At that moment, everyone was sitting in the living room, and the conversation naturally centered around Deng Shize.

Deng YunHua said with a puzzled look, "It's really strange. Many Taiwanese compatriots have been returning to the mainland to visit relatives in recent years. If Uncle is still alive, why hasn't he come back?"

Deng YunTai shook his head and said, "We don't know. Dad didn't say much about it, but I'm sure there must be a reason."

Deng YunHeng added, "Uncle was a soldier. If he went to Taiwan, it was likely in 1949. However, Dad has always told us that Uncle joined our military camp. His sudden move to Taiwan must have some unknown secret behind it."

Deng YunSong said, "We will only know the specific reason when Dad and Uncle return."

Deng Yunheng asked curiously, "Third Aunt, after so many years, do you still remember what Uncle looks like?"

Deng Shilan shook her head and said, "How could I remember? When Uncle left, I was only seven or eight years old. It's been over fifty years, and those memories have long faded. Even if we met face to face, I wouldn't recognize him. I wonder how Dad managed to recognize Uncle, considering he was only four or five years old back then."

Bu Dashi chimed in, "I'm also curious about how Uncle and Grand Uncle met and recognized each other."

"Once Dad and Uncle return, we'll know!"

Deng YunTai then turned to his youngest sister and asked, "Ahzhen, have you arranged everything at the restaurant?"

Deng Yunzhen replied, "Everything is ready. Once Uncle and the others return, they can enjoy the local delicacies right away."

...

It was nine o'clock in the evening.

On a normal day, Shuifeng Restaurant would have been closed by this time. However, today, the restaurant not only remained open but also had dozens of people waiting inside.

In the kitchen, the chefs were busy with the preliminary preparations, such as blanching, deep-frying, and marinating. By getting these tasks done in advance, they could quickly serve the dishes once everything was ready.

Soon, a large bus pulled up in front of Shuifeng Restaurant.

Deng YunTai and the others perked up and went out to greet the arrivals.

The first to get off the bus were Deng Shirong and his two grandchildren, followed by Deng Changzuo, the eldest grandson, helping his grandfather down, and then the others.

Deng Shilan, seeing the elderly man with a cane who somewhat resembled her father, called out excitedly, "Big Brother!"

Deng Shize turned at the sound of her voice, his emotions slightly stirred. "Third Sister, is that you?"

Deng Shilan walked up to her brother, who was now white-haired and thin, and said with red-rimmed eyes, "Big Brother, it's me. How are you? Why are you so thin?"

"I'm fine."

As he spoke, Deng Shize looked at Bu Erzhu, who was standing quietly beside him, and asked, "Who are you?"

Bu Erzhu smiled and greeted him, "Big Brother, I'm Erzhu, Alan's husband."

Seeing his brother-in-law, Deng Shize nodded in satisfaction. "You're a good man. It's a blessing for my third sister to have you as her husband."

Deng Shirong then stepped forward to introduce everyone.

The three siblings had large families, and it took some time to introduce everyone.

Once the introductions were complete and everyone had greeted each other, Deng Yunzhen said with a smile, "Big Brother, Big Sister-in-law, after such a long journey, you must be hungry. I've had the chefs prepare our hometown specialties. Come inside and try them."

Deng Shize smiled. "Good, I haven't tasted the flavors of our hometown in over fifty years. I'll definitely enjoy them today."

Thus, under the welcoming greetings of the siblings and their families, Deng Shize and his family entered Shuifeng Restaurant.

With so many people, one table was definitely not enough. Before Deng Shize and his family arrived, Deng Yunzhen had the servers combine several tables, which could easily accommodate dozens of people.

As soon as everyone was seated, the servers began bringing out tea and dishes.

The first dishes served were the classic Bo Bai white cuts, including white-cut chicken, duck, goose, pig's trotters, and pig's stomach.

Seeing these familiar yet unfamiliar white cuts, Deng Shize couldn't help but feel his appetite stir. He recalled, "I remember when we were poor, we only had the chance to eat chicken or duck during the New Year or other festivals. Back then, Mother would first cook the chicken or duck to offer to Grandfather or Uncle, then cut them into small pieces and dip them in sauce.

The sauce was made by dissolving bean sauce paste in the broth from cooking the chicken or duck. Simple, yet it was a rare delicacy."

Deng Shilan, reminiscing about those impoverished days, sighed, "Back then, we could only eat meat a few times a year. Even just a bit of salt made the meat taste delicious, let alone the bean sauce paste sauce."

Deng Shirong laughed. "Those hard times are long gone. Our lives will only get better. Big Brother, Big Sister-in-law, and everyone else, please try these dishes. The white cuts are our hometown's most famous specialties!"

Hearing this, Deng Shize and his family didn't hesitate and started eating.

"Hmm, this white-cut chicken is really good. It has a fragrant sand ginger aroma, and the meat gets more delicious the more you chew."

"This white-cut pig's stomach is also delicious, with a crisp and refreshing texture."

"I think the white-cut pig's trotters are the best. Although we have this dish in Taiwan, it doesn't taste as good as this."

"..."

Deng Shize's grandchildren, who had grown up in comfortable conditions and had tasted many delicacies, couldn't help but praise the Bo Bai white cuts, finding them truly excellent.

Soon, other dishes, all famous in Bo Bai, were brought to the table.

Among them, the bamboo shoot vermicelli, a must-have dish for New Year's and banquets, was the most characteristic of Bo Bai. The authentic flavor made Deng Shize almost shed tears.

After being away from home for fifty years, tasting the authentic flavors of his hometown again, only those who have experienced it can truly understand the feeling.

Hu Laotai and her grandchildren also praised the bamboo shoot vermicelli after tasting it.

This dish might look simple, and almost everyone who cooks at home in Bo Bai can make it, but making it well is not easy.

The key is selecting the best bamboo shoots and vermicelli. If these ingredients are of poor quality, even the best chef can't make a good bamboo shoot vermicelli.

This meal, due to the late hour and the need to consider Deng Shize's health, didn't last long. They only took a few sips of wine and finished the meal around 9:40 PM.

Deng Shirong wiped his mouth with a napkin and said, "Big Brother, Big Sister-in-law, the servers will take care of the cleanup. I'll take you to your place to rest and take a shower. We'll have breakfast tomorrow and then head back home."

"Okay, follow your arrangements."

...

PS: I originally just wanted to write a casual chat between brothers, but someone overreacted. I'll delete it to avoid trouble.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end