Chapter 496: Deputy Department Level? Not Even Qualified to Sit at the Main Table at My House!

Chapter 496: Deputy Department Level? Not Even Qualified to Sit at the Main Table at My House!

In 1996, Guangzhou had a must-visit attraction: the World Expo Park.

Located in Tianhe District, Guangzhou, the World Expo Park opened in October 1995, featuring architectural sculptures from over 100 countries, mostly reproduced at a 1:1 scale. It includes six major theaters: Times Square, the Paris Opera House, the Ancient Greek Theater, the Arab Theater, the British Theater, and the Japanese Theater, as well as four major entertainment zones: aircraft and ship performances, a comprehensive amusement park, a water sports venue, and American entertainment.

In terms of scale and grandeur, no park in Guangzhou could rival it.

Especially this year, the World Expo Park reached its peak, with monthly ticket sales reaching 20 to 30 million yuan, and an average monthly visitor count exceeding 100,000. It was one of the most influential attractions in Guangzhou during this era.

Deng Yunheng took a special day off today to invite Feng Yingying to visit the World Expo Park.

Yes, it was a genuine date for the two of them, without the third wheel of their old classmate.

They arrived at the World Expo Park just after 9:00 AM.

The date had been planned the night before, so both Deng Yunheng and Feng Yingying had taken the time to dress up.

Deng Yunheng had a medium-length hairstyle, paired with a classic T-shirt and jeans, giving him a sunny and approachable look.

Feng Yingying had a high bun, paired with a floral blouse and a knee-length skirt, making her look young, beautiful, and full of vitality.

Deng Yunheng asked, "Feng Yingying, which attraction do you want to see first?"

Feng Yingying replied, "I came here with my parents during the Spring Festival. We visited Times Square and the Paris Opera House and had a meal at the restaurant here. But I haven't seen the other attractions yet."

Deng Yunheng understood and suggested, "Then how about we visit the Ancient Greek Theater, the Arab Theater, and the British Theater today?"

Feng Yingying smiled, "Sure, I think the Paris Opera House was pretty good. I recommend you check it out."

"Any attraction selected by the World Expo Park must be excellent. If we don't finish today, we can come back another time."

With that, Deng Yunheng asked, "I wonder how the food at the restaurant here is. If it's good, we can have lunch here. If not, we can go elsewhere."

Feng Yingying said, "The food is pretty good, just a bit expensive."

Deng Yunheng smiled, "Then there's no problem. We'll have lunch here first, and then I'll take you to my second sister's hotpot restaurant for a delicious dinner."

Feng Yingying looked at him, somewhat hesitant, "Dinner at your second sister's hotpot restaurant?"

Deng Yunheng explained, "My second sister met you that day at the internet cafe and has been wanting to see you again."

Feng Yingying understood his plan. The last time at the internet cafe was an accidental encounter, and with her cousin there, he didn't confess through her cousin. She felt no pressure then, but if she agreed to dinner at his second sister's hotpot restaurant tonight, it would have a different meaning.

Therefore, hearing this, Feng Yingying was somewhat indecisive, unsure whether to agree.

Deng Yunheng, seeing her hesitation, added, "Feng Yingying, don't worry. She's just my second sister, not my mother. She just happened to meet you that night and wants to invite you for a meal to get to know you."

Feng Yingying thought it made sense. Meeting his parents would imply she had already agreed to be with him, and she wasn't ready for that yet. But meeting his siblings wouldn't require too much caution.

With that in mind, Feng Yingying nodded, "Alright, let's meet. It'll be a good opportunity to learn about business from your second sister."

Deng Yunheng smiled, "My second sister will be thrilled to hear that!"

Feng Yingying blinked, "Why is that?"

Deng Yunheng explained, "My second sister didn't do well in school and dropped out after elementary school. A few years later, my father convinced her to return to school, and she barely finished high school.

You, on the other hand, are a top university student, and your parents are business elites. If you ask her for business advice, she will be very happy."

Hearing this, Feng Yingying was somewhat surprised and said, "Deng Yunheng, your second sister didn't do well in school but has achieved so much in business. Doesn't that prove she has a talent for it?"

"My second sister's hotpot restaurant was initially set up by my father. With the help of her classmates and my second brother-in-law, it has developed to its current state."

Deng Yunheng then changed the subject, smiling, "Of course, after so many years of experience, her insight and capabilities are definitely not ordinary. If you plan to start a business, she might give you some valuable advice."

Feng Yingying asked, "Deng Yunheng, with your family background, your second brother-in-law must have a good family background too, right?"

Deng Yunheng replied, "My second brother-in-law's family background is average. His father is a retired deputy department-level official, and his family is government employees, but their ranks are not high.

However, my second brother-in-law himself is quite capable. He graduated from Nankai University and was working at the Guangzhou Customs when he met my second sister. He is a deputy section-level official, which is considered young and promising among his peers."

Feng Yingying nodded in understanding, "Your second brother-in-law is a top university graduate and has a decent family background. No wonder your second sister chose him. From what you said, it seems he has already left his job to help your second sister manage the business?"

Deng Yunheng nodded and said, "Although he has a high position at work, my second brother-in-law doesn't have much background, so his prospects for advancement in the organization are limited. Plus, he has to follow a strict schedule with no freedom. How can that compare to being your own boss? My second sister persuaded him to quit his job and come back to help manage the business, and he agreed without much hesitation."

Feng Yingying agreed, "That makes sense. After Deng Xiaoping's southern tour a few years ago, many people chose to leave their government jobs to start businesses, including some department-level officials. If there's no significant future in the government, it's indeed a wise move to come back and help manage the business."

Deng Yunheng asked, "Feng Yingying, I heard from your cousin that your brother is also working in the government?"

Feng Yingying replied, "Yes, he is now a deputy captain in the criminal investigation team."

Deng Yunheng, curious, asked, "What level is that?"

Feng Yingying said, "The same as your second brother-in-law, a full section-level official."

Deng Yunheng responded with an "Oh." Ignoring his brother-in-law's identity, a full section-level official was not someone he would pay much attention to. After all, his second brother was already a full provincial-level official, and his third brother was a full department-level official. A mere full section-level official, to put it bluntly, wouldn't even qualify to sit at the main table at his house.

As they chatted, they walked towards the Ancient Greek Theater.

Next, they happily visited the Ancient Greek Theater and the Arab Theater. They explored each place in detail, not just skimming through. By the time they finished visiting these two major theaters, it was already noon.

They had lunch as planned at the restaurant inside the park.

After lunch, they rested for half an hour and then continued to the British Theater.

Each country has its unique architectural techniques, and these major theaters are among the iconic buildings of countries like Britain. As Deng Yunheng and Feng Yingying toured these places, they couldn't help but marvel at the distinct architectural styles.

By the time they finished visiting the British Theater, it was already 3:30 PM.

After such a long day of touring, Deng Yunheng and Feng Yingying were a bit tired.

So, they rested for about ten minutes, then left the World Expo Park and took a car to La Meizi Hotpot.

As a chain hotpot restaurant, La Meizi Hotpot naturally has more than one branch in a major city like Guangzhou. In fact, it has a total of six branches. Deng Yunheng and Feng Yingying were going to just one of these branches.

When they arrived at the hotpot restaurant, it was almost 5:00 PM.

This particular branch of La Meizi Hotpot covers an area of about 300 square meters and is elegantly decorated, creating a very comfortable environment.

It was dinner time, and customers were entering the restaurant in groups. Deng Yunheng and Feng Yingying roughly estimated that nearly half of the tables were already occupied. Some customers were ordering food, some were waiting for their hotpot bases and side dishes, and others were already enjoying their meals.

The scene was lively, and with a steady stream of new customers arriving, it was evident how popular the restaurant was.

Seeing this, Feng Yingying was somewhat amazed, "Deng Yunheng, your second sister's hotpot restaurant is doing really well."

Deng Yunheng smiled, "Yes, the business is quite good."

As they spoke, a waitress at the restaurant spotted them and quickly approached, respectfully saying, "Young Master Heng, you've arrived. The boss is already waiting for you in the private room. Please follow me, I'll take you there."

Deng Yunheng nodded, "Thank you for your trouble!"

Although she knew she was only meeting Deng Yunheng's sister and not his parents, and they had already met once before, Feng Yingying was still a bit nervous. Her palms were sweating as she followed the waitress to the private room.

Deng Yunheng seemed to sense her nervousness and whispered, "Don't be nervous, my second sister is very easy to talk to. Just consider it a friendly dinner, don't overthink it."

Feng Yingying nodded, took a few deep breaths, and then followed the waitress and Deng Yunheng into the private room.

Inside the private room, Deng Yunzhu was sitting alone, sipping tea and reading a martial arts novel.

"Second Sister."

Deng Yunheng greeted her immediately.

Deng Yunzhu put down her novel, stood up, and smiled warmly at Feng Yingying, saying, "Yingying, it's great to see you again!"

Feng Yingying greeted her politely, "Second Sister."

"Come over and sit down."

Deng Yunzhu welcomed her future sister-in-law and instructed the waitress, "Go tell the kitchen to start preparing the dishes."

"Sure, boss."

The waitress responded and left the private room.

Deng Yunzhu invited Feng Yingying to sit down, then poured her a cup of tea, saying, "This tea is made from Grandpa's Eye Vine. Do you like it?"

Feng Yingying smiled, "Yes, I do. The tea made from Grandpa's Eye Vine is quite sweet, and my father often drinks it too."

Deng Yunzhu said, "That's good. Did you enjoy your visit to the World Expo Park today?"

Feng Yingying nodded, "Yes, it was quite nice. The attractions are all 1:1 replicas, so it feels like you're seeing iconic buildings from all over the world without leaving the country. The tickets are expensive, but the place is always crowded, and it's lively inside."

Deng Yunzhu said, "I should visit it sometime. I haven't been to the World Expo Park since it opened!"

Feng Yingying said, "Yes, it's definitely worth a visit."

Seeing that his second sister and Feng Yingying were chatting comfortably, Deng Yunheng breathed a sigh of relief. He then sat quietly, sipping tea and listening to their conversation.

Soon, the double-flavor hotpot and a variety of side dishes were brought to the table.

This was a meal for the boss, so the speed of service was naturally unmatched by regular customers.

Hotpot is the most widely loved cuisine in the country, without a doubt.

Seeing the rich aroma of the pot base and the variety of fresh side dishes, their appetites were instantly whetted.

Next, the three of them began to chat while eating.

After praising the delicious taste of the hotpot, Feng Yingying remembered the novel her second sister was reading when they entered and took the initiative to start a conversation: "Second Sister, you like reading martial arts novels?"

Deng Yunzhu smiled and nodded, "Yes, I do. When I have free time, I often read martial arts novels to pass the time."

Feng Yingying smiled, "I also enjoy reading martial arts novels. Second Sister, which master's works do you like?"

Deng Yunzhu, surprised that Feng Yingying also liked martial arts novels, became more interested and said, "I like the works of Jin yong and wu ji, the two masters. I was just reading Master Wu Ji's 'Shenzhou Chuanqi,' and I found it quite interesting."

For the novel enthusiasts of the future, Jin Yong is a household name, but Wu Ji is probably not well-known to many.

However, in the 1990s, comparing Wu Ji to Jin Yong was not an exaggeration at all.

Especially in Guangdong, Jin Yong and Wu Ji were almost synonymous, with Wu Ji being called the "Mainland Jin Yong" and enjoying tremendous popularity among the 70s, 80s, and 90s generations of novel enthusiasts. Even those who hadn't read Wu Ji's legendary series would definitely know his name, or they wouldn't qualify as true novel enthusiasts.

This elderly man, who started writing novels in his early sixties, created a significant miracle. His works were so popular that any magazine that published his stories saw a surge in sales, leading to the "Wu Ji craze."

Even after his works were published in magazines, their subsequent book releases still sold very well, making the publishers very profitable.

Wu Ji's works all had four-character titles, with the last two characters, "Chuanqi" (legend), remaining constant, such as 'Wulin Chuanqi,' 'Jianghu Chuanqi,' 'Shenzhou Chuanqi,' 'Qixia Chuanqi,' 'Heiying Chuanqi,' 'Heibao Chuanqi,' 'Yinxia Chuanqi,' and 'Shennu Chuanqi.'

During the peak of Wu Ji's popularity in the 1990s, unscrupulous publishers would use his name and the "XX Chuanqi" format to sell fake books, which still sold very well despite the content being of poor quality.

This demonstrates just how popular Wu Ji's works were.

Even on the radio, Jin Yong's 'Shediao Yinxiong Zhuan' was the most popular, but the only one that could rival it was Wu Ji's debut work, 'Wulin Chuanqi.' This shows that the title "Mainland Jin Yong" was well-deserved.

Of course, in terms of the depth of his works, global recognition, and influence, Jin Yong was still the superior, which is undeniable.

Feng Yingying was surprised, "That's quite a coincidence. I also enjoy the works of Jin Yong and Wu Ji. Even more coincidentally, 'Shenzhou Chuanqi' was my introductory novel (this is also the author's introductory novel, I wonder which one was yours, dear readers?). I became a martial arts novel enthusiast because of 'Shenzhou Chuanqi.'"

Deng Yunzhu was also surprised and said, "That is indeed a coincidence..."

Next, the two novel enthusiasts, who shared a common interest, chatted and ate, leaving Deng Yunheng with little to say.

This proved the importance of shared interests. Deng Yunheng had already decided to find time to read all the works of Jin Yong and Wu Ji so that he wouldn't be at a loss for words when discussing novels with Feng Yingying next time.

The meal lasted over two hours.

Mainly, it was because Deng Yunzhu and Feng Yingying got along very well. They not only shared a love for martial arts novels but also had similar tastes in fashion.

In short, the two hours were very enjoyable for both of them.

At the end of the meal, Deng Yunzhu took Feng Yingying's hand and smiled, "Yingying, I really feel a strong connection with you. I hope we can become a real family someday."

Feng Yingying smiled but didn't respond. Although she did feel a strong connection with her second sister, she wasn't ready to commit to that yet and wanted to spend more time together.

Deng Yunheng interjected, "Second Sister, we'll be going now!"

Deng Yunzhu asked, "It's still early. I plan to visit the internet cafe. Would you like to go there and surf the internet? I can have someone drive you back later."

Deng Yunheng looked at Feng Yingying and asked, "Yingying, what do you think?"

Feng Yingying replied, "Sure, we can go to the internet cafe and surf the internet before heading back."

So, the three of them took Deng Yunzhu's car to the Zhujiang Internet Cafe.

They surfed the internet for about two hours and, around 10 PM, Deng Yunheng had Feng Yingying driven back home by his second sister's car.

Deng Yunheng felt that this date was quite successful. He could sense that Feng Yingying's attitude towards him was a bit warmer than before.

Although it was still early to confirm their relationship, if she agreed to go on a few more dates with him, he believed he would eventually win her over.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end