Chapter 487: You Want to Meet My Cousin, Right? I'll Take You!

Chapter 487: You Want to Meet My Cousin, Right? I'll Take You!

Many people describe the Changkong Plank Path on Mount Hua as follows: "The brave walk as if they are treading the sky, feeling refreshed and elated; the timid tremble with fear, holding their breath and moving cautiously."

Deng Shirong, with his external aid, was undoubtedly the former, while Feng Yingying was clearly the latter.

During the climb up the Changkong Plank Path, without Deng Shirong's help, Feng Yingying would have definitely given up halfway, possibly even crying and turning back, too afraid to continue.

Fortunately, Uncle Deng gave Feng Yingying a great sense of security, which ultimately helped her reach the end.

On the way back, perhaps because of the experience gained from the trip up, Feng Yingying became a bit more composed. Although she still couldn't overcome her fear, her legs weren't as weak as before, and she safely returned to the safe area under Deng Shirong's protection.

As for Xiaodong and Dongzi, these young people were naturally brave and didn't know what fear was. Their performance on the Changkong Plank Path was much better than that of many adults.

Back in the safe area, Feng Yingying let out a sigh of relief and thanked Deng Shirong: "Uncle Deng, I really can't thank you enough. If it weren't for your help today, I would have been embarrassed."

Deng Shirong smiled and said, "Don't mention it. I didn't do much."

Although Feng Yingying was as timid as a mouse on the Changkong Plank Path, her courage instantly returned once she left it. She initiated a conversation: "Uncle Deng, where are you from?"

Deng Shirong replied, "I'm from Guangxi. What about you, Miss Feng?"

"We're almost from the same hometown. I'm from Guangdong."

With that, Feng Yingying invited him, "Uncle, why don't we form a group and continue touring together? I'll treat you all to a meal when we come down the mountain."

Deng Shirong smiled, "Sure, let's form a group then!"

Thus, Deng Shirong and his two grandchildren, along with Feng Yingying and Yang Xiaolian, formed a temporary team to explore the scenic spots of Mount Hua.

Yang Xiaolian, the local girl, naturally led the group, guiding Deng Shirong and the others to some of the most famous scenic spots on Mount Hua.

When the time was right, they took the cable car down the mountain.

After descending, Feng Yingying indeed treated Deng Shirong and his grandchildren to a meal before they parted ways.

Deng Shirong didn't rush to take his grandchildren back. Instead, they traveled to Xi'an and spent over a week there.

Xi'an, as a world-renowned ancient capital, has been the capital of 13 dynasties and is one of the most prominent ancient capitals in China.

The attractions here are countless, especially the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor and the Terracotta Army, which are truly extraordinary and are known as the eighth wonder of the world.

After touring the famous attractions in Xi'an, the three of them finally returned home.

---

In Guangzhou.

The Feng Family.

Feng Father, while drinking tea, asked, "Yingying, was your trip to Mount Hua fun?"

"Very fun. Mount Hua, as one of the Five Great Mountains, truly has breathtaking scenery!"

Feng Yingying praised it first and then complained, "But the Changkong Plank Path was really scary. It's hard to imagine how the ancients could have built such a terrifying path. My legs were shaking the entire time I was climbing it."

Feng Father, who had never been to Mount Hua, couldn't imagine how scary the Changkong Plank Path was. He just said, "If it's that scary, why did you go climbing it?"

Feng Yingying replied, "The Changkong Plank Path is the most representative attraction on Mount Hua. It was built during the Yuan Dynasty and has a history of seven hundred years. If you go to Mount Hua and don't experience the Changkong Plank Path, it's like you didn't go at all."

Feng Mother curiously asked, "What does the Changkong Plank Path look like?"

Feng Yingying, still feeling the aftershock, said, "It's a path carved into the cliff face. Most of the path is too narrow to walk on, and you can only move slowly while holding onto the iron chains, with a thousand-foot drop below. Just one look is enough to make your legs shake. It's really terrifying."

Feng Father frowned, "Yingying, how could you climb such a dangerous path?"

Feng Mother chimed in, "Yes, Yingying, you could just enjoy the scenery on Mount Hua. Why did you have to climb such a dangerous place?"

Seeing her parents worried, Feng Yingying quickly explained, "Dad, Mom, don't worry. The Changkong Plank Path looks scary, but it's actually very safe. Everyone wears a safety harness and holds onto the iron chains the whole time, so nothing bad will happen."

Feng Father said, "As the saying goes, a wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall. You, a top university student, don't need me to teach you this."

Feng Yingying smiled, "Dad, don't worry. I know my limits and won't take unnecessary risks."

Feng Father nodded, not pressing the matter further, and asked, "Yingying, now that you've graduated from university, what are your plans?"

Feng Mother, hearing this, said somewhat resentfully, "It's really unfair. In the past, even vocational school graduates were assigned jobs, but now that our Yingying has graduated, the state no longer guarantees job placement."

Since 1993, the state has proposed reforms to the employment system for graduates of higher education institutions, transitioning from a system of state-assigned jobs to one where most graduates "choose their own careers."

After a two- to three-year transition period, the system of guaranteed job placement for university graduates was officially abolished this year.

Feng Father laughed, "If the state doesn't guarantee job placement, so be it. With our family's conditions, whether Yingying wants to be a government official or a business owner, it's not a problem."

"That's true," Feng Mother agreed, smiling and looking at her beloved daughter. "Yingying, do you want to join the civil service, start your own business, or work in the family company?"

Feng Yingying pondered for a moment and said, "The civil service isn't suitable for me, so I can rule that out. I don't have any good ideas for starting a business right now, so I think I'll start by working in the family company and gain some work experience first."

Feng Father nodded, "That's a good idea. So, you'll join the family company."

---

In the afternoon.

At the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.

Deng Yunheng and a short-haired girl walked out of the hospital together. After they left the hospital, he stopped and asked, "Liling, do you want to have dinner together?"

Feng Xueling shook her head, "I have plans today!"

Deng Yunheng looked surprised, "You have plans today?"

"Feng Yunheng, what's that look for?"

Feng Xueling couldn't help but hit him lightly, then explained, "My cousin came back yesterday and invited me to have dinner with her today."

Deng Yunheng suddenly understood, "Is this the cousin you told me about, the one who attends Xi'an Jiaotong University and is very beautiful?"

Feng Xueling smiled, "Yes, that's the one. So, do you really have something in mind for my cousin?"

Deng Yunheng asked with a serious expression, "Liling, do you think we are the best of friends?"

Feng Xueling blinked her eyes and hesitantly replied, "Maybe... should... perhaps... we are!"

Deng Yunheng dramatically clutched his chest, looking pained. "We've been classmates for six years, always sharing good times and bad. Your words really hurt me!"

Feng Xueling giggled, "Alright, alright, you're really overacting. You just want to meet my cousin, right? I'll take you!"

Deng Yunheng's face immediately brightened, and he grinned, "Good buddy!"

Feng Xueling couldn't help but remind him, "Brother Heng, don't say I didn't warn you. With your looks, I doubt my cousin will be interested in you. So, while I can introduce you, don't get your hopes up, or I won't be able to help you if you get hurt."

Deng Yunheng laughed, unfazed, "Got it. I just heard so much about your cousin that I'm curious to meet her. No other intentions."

"That's not me exaggerating. My cousin is really excellent. You'll see for yourself when you meet her."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

...

Half an hour later.

At a seafood porridge restaurant.

"Yingying, let me introduce you. This is my university classmate, Deng Yunheng. We're both in the same graduate program under the same mentor. He's my best friend."

Feng Xueling smiled as she introduced them, "Brother Heng, this is my cousin, Feng Yingying, who just graduated from Xi'an Jiaotong University."

"Hello, Feng Yingying!"

Deng Yunheng greeted her while inwardly marveling at her appearance. His old classmate hadn't been lying; she really was very attractive.

"Hello, Deng Yunheng!"

Feng Yingying greeted him, wondering why her sister had brought this classmate to their sisters' dinner. Could this be her sister's date?

After the introductions, they all sat down and ordered their meal.

Ordering at a seafood porridge restaurant is simple: a pot of seafood porridge, some seasonal vegetables, and a few side dishes are enough.

After placing their order, Feng Xueling asked, "Yingying, are you planning to continue your graduate studies?"

Feng Yingying shook her head. "No, I plan to start working."

Feng Xueling said, "That's fine too. You've studied for so many years, it must be tiring. Do you want to work for a public institution or return to our family company?"

Feng Yingying replied, "I'll start at our family company for now, gain some work experience, and then decide what to do next."

"That's a good plan."

Feng Xueling nodded, then shifted the topic to avoid making her old classmate feel left out. They began discussing the recently concluded Atlanta Olympics.

This Olympics was a centennial celebration, and our national Olympic delegation's overall competitiveness had significantly improved. They successfully entered the second tier, ranking fourth in both the gold medal and overall medal counts, trailing only the United States, Russia, and Germany. This achievement has sparked even more interest in the Olympics among our citizens.

As they chatted about the achievements and highlights of our sports delegation at this Olympics, Feng Yingying remarked, "Wang Junxia is truly amazing. She fought through the encirclement of many foreign athletes and won the gold medal by a margin of over twenty meters. She is a true role model for women!"

Feng Xueling nodded. "She is indeed amazing. Track and field have always been our country's weak points, but in the women's 5000 meters, Wang Junxia truly brought honor to our country."

Deng Yunheng added, "Wang Junxia is amazing, but I think the veteran shooter Wang Yifu is even more impressive. He participated in this year's Olympics despite being ill and was leading the second-place competitor by 3.8 points before the final shot. If he hadn't been weakened by his illness, winning the gold would have been a sure thing. It's truly a pity."

Feng Yingying agreed, "That's true. Wang Yifu fainted right after his final shot. It's clear he was relying on sheer willpower to keep going. He managed to stay in the lead for so long, which is truly impressive."

Feng Xueling said, "Bringing honor to the country is something deeply ingrained in every Chinese person. Standing on the Olympic stage represents not just an individual but the entire nation. This spirit gives people boundless strength and helps them create miracles."

The three of them happily discussed the Olympics, and by the time the server brought their seafood porridge and side dishes, the initial awkwardness between Deng Yunheng and Feng Yingying had dissipated.

As they ate and chatted, the conversation shifted from the progress of the Chinese sports delegation to the tremendous development of China over the nearly twenty years since the start of the reform and opening-up policy.

All three were of the same age, top university students, and from relatively privileged backgrounds, so their perspectives were far more broad than those of ordinary people. The entire conversation was very pleasant.

The meal lasted nearly two hours before it concluded.

Deng Yunheng insisted on paying the bill. Knowing the sisters were heading home, he said to Feng Yingying, "Feng Yingying, I won't disturb you and your sister. I'll see you later. If there's another chance, I'll treat you to a meal again."

Feng Yingying had a good impression of him and nodded with a smile, "Sure, Deng Yunheng, let's meet again if we have the chance."

Deng Yunheng said goodbye to his old classmate and left.

Feng Yingying blinked her eyes and asked with a smile, "Sis, you have to tell me, are you and Deng Yunheng dating?"

Feng Xueling was taken aback and laughed, "Does it look like it?"

Feng Yingying thought about it and finally shook her head. "It doesn't seem like it. But if you're not dating, why did you bring him to our sisters' dinner?"

Feng Xueling couldn't help but laugh. "When I was leaving work, he invited me to have dinner together. I told him I had plans with you, and he was curious about you, so he wanted to meet you."

"Ah?"

Feng Yingying was surprised. "Sis, you've talked about me to him?"

Feng Xueling chuckled, "We've been classmates for years, and he has a good personality. We talk about everything, and I did mention you."

Feng Yingying asked, "What did you tell him about me?"

"What else? I said you're beautiful and talented, of course!"

Feng Xueling sighed with a bit of regret. "It's a pity he's a bit ordinary in appearance. If he were a bit more handsome, I would have considered introducing you two."

Feng Yingying"..."

...

At 10 AM.

At the entrance of the Deng Clan's Ancestral Hall, a scholarship ceremony was being Held.

Many people describe the Changkong Plank Path on Mount Hua as follows: "The brave walk as if they are treading the sky, feeling refreshed and elated; the timid tremble with fear, holding their breath and moving cautiously."

Deng Shirong, with his external aid, was undoubtedly the former, while Feng Yingying was clearly the latter.

During the climb up the Changkong Plank Path, without Deng Shirong's help, Feng Yingying would have definitely given up halfway, possibly even crying and turning back, too afraid to continue.

Fortunately, Uncle Deng gave Feng Yingying a great sense of security, which ultimately helped her reach the end.

On the way back, perhaps because of the experience gained from the trip up, Feng Yingying became a bit more composed. Although she still couldn't overcome her fear, her legs weren't as weak as before, and she safely returned to the safe area under Deng Shirong's protection.

As for Xiaodong and Dongzi, these young people were naturally brave and didn't know what fear was. Their performance on the Changkong Plank Path was much better than that of many adults.

Back in the safe area, Feng Yingying let out a sigh of relief and thanked Deng Shirong: "Uncle Deng, I really can't thank you enough. If it weren't for your help today, I would have been embarrassed."

Deng Shirong smiled and said, "Don't mention it. I didn't do much."

Although Feng Yingying was as timid as a mouse on the Changkong Plank Path, her courage instantly returned once she left it. She initiated a conversation: "Uncle Deng, where are you from?"

Deng Shirong replied, "I'm from Guangxi. What about you, Miss Feng?"

"We're almost from the same hometown. I'm from Guangdong."

With that, Feng Yingying invited him, "Uncle, why don't we form a group and continue touring together? I'll treat you all to a meal when we come down the mountain."

Deng Shirong smiled, "Sure, let's form a group then!"

Thus, Deng Shirong and his two grandchildren, along with Feng Yingying and Yang Xiaolian, formed a temporary team to explore the scenic spots of Mount Hua.

Yang Xiaolian, the local girl, naturally led the group, guiding Deng Shirong and the others to some of the most famous scenic spots on Mount Hua.

When the time was right, they took the cable car down the mountain.

After descending, Feng Yingying indeed treated Deng Shirong and his grandchildren to a meal before they parted ways.

Deng Shirong didn't rush to take his grandchildren back. Instead, they traveled to Xi'an and spent over a week there.

Xi'an, as a world-renowned ancient capital, has been the capital of 13 dynasties and is one of the most prominent ancient capitals in China.

The attractions here are countless, especially the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor and the Terracotta Army, which are truly extraordinary and are known as the eighth wonder of the world.

After touring the famous attractions in Xi'an, the three of them finally returned home.

---

In Guangzhou.

The Feng Family.

Feng Father, while drinking tea, asked, "Yingying, was your trip to Mount Hua fun?"

"Very fun. Mount Hua, as one of the Five Great Mountains, truly has breathtaking scenery!"

Feng Yingying praised it first and then complained, "But the Changkong Plank Path was really scary. It's hard to imagine how the ancients could have built such a terrifying path. My legs were shaking the entire time I was climbing it."

Feng Father, who had never been to Mount Hua, couldn't imagine how scary the Changkong Plank Path was. He just said, "If it's that scary, why did you go climbing it?"

Feng Yingying replied, "The Changkong Plank Path is the most representative attraction on Mount Hua. It was built during the Yuan Dynasty and has a history of seven hundred years. If you go to Mount Hua and don't experience the Changkong Plank Path, it's like you didn't go at all."

Feng Mother curiously asked, "What does the Changkong Plank Path look like?"

Feng Yingying, still feeling the aftershock, said, "It's a path carved into the cliff face. Most of the path is too narrow to walk on, and you can only move slowly while holding onto the iron chains, with a thousand-foot drop below. Just one look is enough to make your legs shake. It's really terrifying."

Feng Father frowned, "Yingying, how could you climb such a dangerous path?"

Feng Mother chimed in, "Yes, Yingying, you could just enjoy the scenery on Mount Hua. Why did you have to climb such a dangerous place?"

Seeing her parents worried, Feng Yingying quickly explained, "Dad, Mom, don't worry. The Changkong Plank Path looks scary, but it's actually very safe. Everyone wears a safety harness and holds onto the iron chains the whole time, so nothing bad will happen."

Feng Father said, "As the saying goes, a wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall. You, a top university student, don't need me to teach you this."

Feng Yingying smiled, "Dad, don't worry. I know my limits and won't take unnecessary risks."

Feng Father nodded, not pressing the matter further, and asked, "Yingying, now that you've graduated from university, what are your plans?"

Feng Mother, hearing this, said somewhat resentfully, "It's really unfair. In the past, even vocational school graduates were assigned jobs, but now that our Yingying has graduated, the state no longer guarantees job placement."

Since 1993, the state has proposed reforms to the employment system for graduates of higher education institutions, transitioning from a system of state-assigned jobs to one where most graduates "choose their own careers."

After a two- to three-year transition period, the system of guaranteed job placement for university graduates was officially abolished this year.

Feng Father laughed, "If the state doesn't guarantee job placement, so be it. With our family's conditions, whether Yingying wants to be a government official or a business owner, it's not a problem."

"That's true," Feng Mother agreed, smiling and looking at her beloved daughter. "Yingying, do you want to join the civil service, start your own business, or work in the family company?"

Feng Yingying pondered for a moment and said, "The civil service isn't suitable for me, so I can rule that out. I don't have any good ideas for starting a business right now, so I think I'll start by working in the family company and gain some work experience first."

Feng Father nodded, "That's a good idea. So, you'll join the family company."

---

In the afternoon.

At the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.

Deng Yunheng and a short-haired girl walked out of the hospital together. After they left the hospital, he stopped and asked, "Liling, do you want to have dinner together?"

Feng Xueling shook her head, "I have plans today!"

Deng Yunheng looked surprised, "You have plans today?"

"Feng Yunheng, what's that look for?"

Feng Xueling couldn't help but hit him lightly, then explained, "My cousin came back yesterday and invited me to have dinner with her today."

Deng Yunheng suddenly understood, "Is this the cousin you told me about, the one who attends Xi'an Jiaotong University and is very beautiful?"

Feng Xueling smiled, "Yes, that's the one. So, do you really have something in mind for my cousin?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end