Chapter 543: Grand Conclusion (Part 1)

Chapter 543: Grand Conclusion (Part 1)



Because of the unwavering trust of his second son, many preparations were made to deal with the disaster. As a result, although the disaster of this lifetime happened as expected, the outcome was vastly different from the previous one, with both casualties and property losses significantly reduced.

The entire month of May was spent on disaster relief. The Deng Group, Yongjia Group, Lameizi Hotpot, Bianbian Milk Tea, and other companies transported a large amount of relief supplies to the disaster areas and donated a considerable amount of money for reconstruction, making significant contributions to the relief efforts.

After the disaster relief efforts reached a temporary conclusion, Deng Shirong received a phone call. His old friend, Zhang Guangzong, was seriously ill and hospitalized, with little time left.

Upon receiving the call, Deng Shirong immediately rushed to Bobai County.

Zhang Guangzong was a friend Deng Shirong had interacted with frequently since his rebirth. From the opening of Suifeng Restaurant in 1982 to the present, they had known each other for 26 years. In particular, in recent years, they often drank and chatted together, maintaining a very close relationship.

At the time, Zhang Guangzong was invited to the restaurant and treated well, with the purpose of using his reputation as the Third Grandpa of New Village to deter the local hooligans from causing trouble at the restaurant.

Naturally, the result was evident. Suifeng Restaurant, which had been operating for 26 years since its opening, had never experienced any disturbances, a rarity among large restaurants.

Of course, Zhang Guangzong played a significant role in the early stages of the restaurant's operation. However, once Deng Shirong decided to make Suifeng Restaurant part of his eldest daughter's dowry, it wasn't just his contribution. His son-in-law also played a crucial role.

After all, with his son-in-law's status, who in Bobai County would dare to cause trouble at his family's restaurant?

Upon arriving in the county, Deng Shirong went to the People's Hospital to visit Zhang Guangzong.

When he saw Zhang Guangzong, Deng Shirong almost didn't recognize him. His condition was truly dire, no wonder the caller said he didn't have much time left.

Deng Shirong asked, "Uncle Zhang, how are you feeling?"

Zhang Guangzong forced a weak smile, his face pale. "Boss, they say illness strikes like a mountain collapsing, and recovery is like pulling out silk. Time really does not spare anyone. When I wasn't sick, my body could still hold up, but now that I'm ill, other health issues have followed."

Deng Shirong could only offer comfort. "Uncle Zhang, take good care of yourself and you will get better."

Zhang Guangzong shook his head slightly. "Boss, there's no need to comfort me. I know my condition very well. I estimate that once I close my eyes, I won't open them again. But I've enjoyed a good life for the past twenty years, so I have no regrets if I leave now."

Deng Shirong, now in his seventies, had seen many partings and farewells in both his previous and current lives. Hearing Zhang Guangzong's words, he didn't say anything more comforting, but asked, "Uncle Zhang, is there anything I can help you with?"

Zhang Guangzong looked at a young man standing beside him and said in a weak voice, "Boss, if it's not too much trouble, could you arrange a decent job for my grandson? The boy is quite smart, but he wasn't serious about his studies. After graduating, he didn't want to work in Guangdong, and now he's just loafing around without a proper job. If this continues, he might not even find a wife."

Deng Shirong agreed without hesitation. "No problem, Uncle Zhang, you can rest assured. I'll take care of it."

Zhang Guangzong smiled and then said to the young man, "Along, thank Mr. Deng."

Along, who knew exactly who Mr. Deng was, quickly thanked him. "Thank you, Mr. Deng."

Deng Shirong waved his hand. "You're welcome."

They chatted a bit more, and seeing that Zhang Guangzong looked tired, Deng Shirong got up to leave. "Uncle Zhang, you rest well. I'll come back to see you tomorrow."

Zhang Guangzong shook his head slightly. "Boss, I'm content just to see you one last time. My place is full of bad luck, so don't come back."

Deng Shirong paused for a moment, then smiled freely. "Uncle Zhang, when you go down, don't walk too fast. I'll catch up with you later, and we can continue drinking."

Zhang Guangzong smiled again. "Alright, I'll walk slowly and wait for you to join me for a drink when you come down."

They both smiled at each other.

Then, Deng Shirong left the room without lingering.

At that moment, both of them knew it was likely their last meeting in this life.

...

Three days later.

Zhang Guangzong passed away at the age of eighty.

Given his reputation in New Village, his funeral was quite grand.

However, Deng Shirong did not attend the funeral. He had taken care of the favor Zhang Guangzong had asked of him the day after leaving the hospital.

Zhang Guangzong knew his grandson had secured a job at a bank and was very satisfied, passing away with a smile.

...

In the morning.

At the entrance of the Naye Deng Clan Hall, Deng Shirong was holding a clan meeting to award scholarships to outstanding students. All clan members who were not working outside the village had gathered.

Deng Shirong, sitting on the stage, delivered an important speech. "Fellow clansmen, this year's college entrance exam results are very encouraging. We have three students admitted to 985 Universities, five to 211 Universities, eleven to ordinary key universities, and thirty-four to other universities. It's a bountiful harvest.

However, remember that getting into university is not the time to relax.

University is different from primary and secondary school. In primary and secondary school, teachers constantly monitor your studies, giving you no chance to slack off.

But in university, learning is entirely up to your own initiative.

After all, university students are adults. Teachers won't chase you to study as they did in primary and secondary school. You must understand that learning is for your own benefit, not for others.

Attending university with great effort is to learn useful knowledge, not just for a diploma.

So, I hope that when you get to university, you can maintain the same enthusiasm for learning as you did in primary and secondary school. Don't indulge in laziness or depravity. If you spend your four years at university playing games or just eating, drinking, and having fun, then all your years of study will have been in vain.

You must understand this principle..."

Deng Shirong continued speaking for over ten minutes, emphasizing that today's university students are very different from those in the 1980s and 1990s.

Back then, most university students were diligent learners. Today, many students behave like wild horses once they get to campus. They spend their parents' money on food, drink, and entertainment, or they skip classes to go online. Some even rent rooms near the campus, using their parents' money to buy computers, and spend most of their time in these rented rooms, playing games day and night.

Since their parents are far away and unaware of what they are doing, and the teachers at these less reputable universities don't intervene much, it's easy for anyone to become a waste of time after three or four years of such behavior.

Deng Shirong did not want the students from his clan to lose their way like that.

The clan members nodded in agreement, especially those with children in university, who resolved to strengthen their supervision to prevent their children from wasting their four years.

After his speech, Deng Shirong began awarding scholarships. Each student admitted to a 985 University received 100,000 yuan, each to a 211 University received 60,000 yuan, each to an ordinary key university received 30,000 yuan, and the rest received 10,000 yuan.

He then awarded scholarships to students who had been admitted to key high schools and to those who had ranked high in their classes or grades on their final exams.

In short, the Naye Deng Clan was serious about education, and any student with good grades could expect significant financial rewards from the clan each year.

Soon, the six brothers—Deng Changmao, Deng Changding, Deng Changhai, Deng Changce, Deng Changquan, and Deng Changmou—also took the stage to receive their awards.

To date, Deng Shirong had seven grandsons, one granddaughter, and two grandsons from his daughter. The youngest grandson, Deng Changmou, was already eight years old, and after so many years, it was unlikely that his daughters-in-law would have more children.

Among the seven grandsons, only the eldest, Dongzi, had poor academic performance. The other six were all doing well.

After awarding the scholarships, the clan elders also spoke a few words, and Deng Shirong concluded the meeting with a few final remarks.

Back at the villa, Deng Shirong looked at his grandsons and smiled. "You all did well this semester. The opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics will be on August 8th. If anyone wants to go, sign up. It will be a reward for your hard work."

"Grandpa, I'll sign up. I want to go."

"Grandpa, I want to go too."

"Grandpa, me too."

"..."

As soon as Deng Shirong finished speaking, Deng Changmao and the others immediately expressed their desire to go to Beijing for the Olympics.

Actually, the ones most interested in the opening ceremony were Deng Changmao, Zhou Wenbin, and Deng Changding, the older ones. The younger ones were less enthusiastic about the Olympics, but they enjoyed following the excitement and didn't want to be left behind.

Deng Shirong smiled and said, "Alright, you can all go. This is our country's first time hosting the Olympics, and I believe this opening ceremony will be the most spectacular and unforgettable. It's a rare experience to witness it in person."

He wasn't just saying this; the opening ceremony of the Olympics in his previous life was considered the most classic and unparalleled, with no other opening ceremony able to compete for the top spot.

In his previous life, Deng Shirong, like most people, watched the opening ceremony on television. This time, he planned to lead his family to the Bird's Nest in Beijing to watch it live.

Deng Changmao added, "Grandpa, my mom might be interested too. Can she come?"

"Actually, I've already bought tickets for everyone except your father, Uncle Three, Aunt Three, and your eldest uncle. I'll call them one by one, and we'll all go to Beijing for the opening ceremony."

Deng Shirong then looked at the younger grandsons and said, "If you want to go to Beijing, finish your summer homework as soon as possible, understood?"

"Understood, Grandpa."

Deng Changhai, Deng Changce, Deng Changquan, and Deng Changmou all agreed readily.

For children, few enjoy doing homework, but with an incentive, it's a different story. The thought of finishing their summer homework and then going to Beijing to play was enough to boost their enthusiasm.

...

August 8, 2008.

In Beijing, after dinner, Deng Shirong and his family headed to the Bird's Nest to watch the long-awaited opening ceremony of the Olympics.

Upon entering the Bird's Nest, the stadium was a dazzling display of lights and colors. The 90,000-seat stadium was packed, and the audience was filled with excitement. This Olympics had been a long time coming for our country.

At 7:50 PM, to the sound of joyful music, the leaders and Olympic Committee officials walked onto the stage, waving to the audience.

The stadium erupted in thunderous applause. A brilliant light descended, activating the ancient sundial. The sundial, the source of all things in heaven and earth, cast a beam of light that illuminated the Bird's Nest and the rectangular array of 2,008 ancient Chinese percussion instruments, known as "fou."

In the center of the stadium, with each powerful strike, the 2,008 fou instruments produced a stirring sound. The white lights on the fou instruments flashed in sequence, forming the countdown numbers.

The 2008 musicians chanted loudly the famous Confucian saying, "Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar?" The powerful and majestic sound, accompanied by the deafening rhythm, echoed through the sky as the countdown began: 5, 4, 3... 1. Amidst the high-pitched cheers, the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics was officially underway.

The welcoming fireworks and the magical Olympic flame, traversing the historical and spatial continuum, burst forth with tremendous energy on the ancient Eastern land, tightly linking the old and the new, the West and the East. The waves of time pushed through layer upon layer.

As time passed, a world-renowned and magnificent moment was about to arrive.

What followed was a series of heart-stirring scenes that left both the on-site audience and those watching on television in awe. The director had seamlessly integrated China's 5,000 years of culture into the opening ceremony, creating a grand and spectacular event that none of the domestic or international audiences had ever seen before.

China used just four hours to shock the entire world.

Even Deng Shirong, who had already seen this opening ceremony on television in his previous life, was still deeply moved by the live performance. The experience of watching it on a screen was vastly different from being there in person, a fact that anyone who had attended a live concert would understand.

After the opening ceremony, they returned to the siheyuan, which was already late at night.

However, everyone, including Deng Shirong, was extremely excited.

For the next half month, the entire country was immersed in the Olympic frenzy. Leveraging the home-field advantage, China won its first place in the gold medal tally, enhancing national prestige.

...

October 3rd.

A restaurant in Shanghai.

Tomorrow was Shen Xianglan's wedding day, and all of the Shen family's relatives and friends had gathered.

Shen Fu had four siblings: an elder sister and two younger brothers.

It was evident that not everyone was suited to the saying, "When one person attains the Way, even the chickens and dogs ascend to heaven." Even among siblings from the same mother, their fates could differ so much that the gap between them could be unimaginable.

For example, one person might be a billionaire, while his own brother might still be farming back home, living no differently from the other villagers.

Some might hold high positions, while their own brothers might be just ordinary workers in their units.

Shen's elder sister and two younger brothers were quite content. After all, their brother had genuinely given them opportunities, but they simply lacked the ability to seize them, so they couldn't blame him.

At the restaurant, the Shen family and their relatives and friends were waiting for the wedding procession to arrive while chatting about Shen Xianglan's wedding.

The groom's family background was already known to the relatives and friends, who were both amazed and felt it was only natural. After all, in their eyes, Shen Xianglan's conditions were excellent, and it was normal for her to marry into such a good family.

Around 11:30 AM, the groom's wedding team finally arrived at the restaurant.

On the groom's side, besides Dongzi, the groom, there were eight people in total, led by his sister, Xiaodong'er.

After greeting each other, they sat down to eat.

After the meal, they returned to the Shen family's home, had some tea, and then Xiaodong'er looked at Shen Fu and Shen Mu, smiling and asked, "Uncle, Aunt, is there anything else you need to say? If not, we can set off directly?"

Shen Fu said, "Everything is arranged, so let's set off!"

...

At 4:00 PM, a passenger plane landed at Naye Airport.

Naye Airport was built and put into use last year. Thanks to the development of Naye Film City, Naye Village now has a highway, an airport, and even a railway in the planning stages. In a few years, people will be able to travel by high-speed train.

That night, the Shen family and the wedding guests were all accommodated in a five-star hotel at Naye Film City.

During this time, the Shen family and their guests were constantly amazed. Naye Film City had transformed significantly, with a wide variety of attractions, making it a large and impressive scenic area.

Moreover, many film crews were shooting in the film city, and there were many related film industry workers and extras, making the film city no longer as desolate as it was in the beginning.

Over the past decade, Naye Film City had attracted tens of thousands of people, and its prosperity had surpassed that of Bobai County, rivaling some cities.

The next day.

A grand wedding took place at the commercial square in Naye Village.

As the eldest grandson of the third generation of the Deng family, Dongzi's wedding was taken very seriously. Even Deng Yunheng and Deng Yunsong, who were extremely busy, made time to return for the wedding, much to the delight of Shen Fu and Shen Mu.

During the speeches by both sets of parents, Shen Fu delivered a heartfelt speech:

"Respected guests, ladies, and gentlemen, good day! Today is the joyous occasion of my daughter Shen Xianglan's marriage to my esteemed son-in-law, Deng Changdong. On behalf of my wife and family, I would like to express our sincere gratitude for your presence!

Daughter, you have always been a good daughter, a loving and caring daughter to your parents.

However, our family is just the cradle of your growth, the playground of your childhood and youth. Your new home is where you will find your true destiny, the stage of your life.

From now on, you must treat your husband's parents as your own, his relatives as your own, and be a good daughter-in-law, a good wife, and in the future, a good mother.

Outside, do not speak ill of your husband; give him face, and he will return your love and happiness. At home, respect your in-laws, support your husband, and raise your children, upholding the virtues of Chinese working women. This is how you repay us for raising you.

Son-in-law, you are a passionate man. You must have the breadth and tolerance of a man. You must prioritize your career and value your family. The two women you must cherish in your life are your mother and your wife. Respecting your parents, being tolerant, and loving your wife is your responsibility. My daughter's happiness is my lifelong wish.

We believe that the two of you will respect and understand each other, and with your hard work, you will cultivate a beautiful and fulfilling life together.

With that, I would like to extend my special gratitude to my in-laws. You have raised a fine son and educated a good son-in-law, and I feel at ease entrusting my daughter to you. At the same time, I sincerely ask you to treat, tolerate, and care for my daughter as if she were your own. Please educate her, support her, and cherish her in the future, so she can feel the warmth and comfort of this family.

Finally, I wish my daughter and son-in-law a happy and long-lasting marriage! I also wish all the guests good health, prosperity in your families, and success in your businesses. Thank you all!"

These words naturally drew thunderous applause.

As the father of the groom, Deng Yuntai also took the stage to deliver a speech. His speech, written by his daughter, the accomplished scholar, naturally also received enthusiastic applause.

Because so many people had come to attend the wedding, once the banquet began, the newlyweds had to start toasting guests at each table without delay.

Of course, apart from the most important tables where they toasted individually, they toasted the other tables one by one, very quickly.

Even so, it took an hour and a half to toast all the guests.

After toasting, they sat down to eat quickly, and then started seeing off the guests.

It was inappropriate for the Shen family and their relatives and friends to stay overnight at the groom's home on the wedding night, so they soon bid farewell after the banquet ended.

Although Shen Xianglan was extremely happy to marry into the Deng family, when her parents and relatives came to say goodbye and prepare to leave, she inevitably felt a little sad. This emotional reaction is common among all brides.

After all, from now on, when she returned home, it would mean going back to her husband's home. Returning to her natal home would be like visiting relatives, and this transition would definitely take some adjustment.

...

Time flies.

Before they knew it, another fifteen years had passed.

In the morning, on the Ginkgo Avenue in Naye Village.

The weather had turned colder, and the ginkgo leaves had turned golden yellow, the most beautiful time for the ginkgo trees. Every year at this time, Ginkgo Avenue would welcome batches of tourists who came to admire the scenery.

That morning, after having breakfast, Deng Shirong came to Ginkgo Avenue for a walk.

"Play is play, and teasing is teasing, but don't take a little attention for granted. Attention doesn't lead you astray, the streamer will take you home."

"Those who have money support with money, those who don't support with their presence, those who have free time support with their time, those who like support with their affection, and most importantly, give you a laugh!"

"Ten years of cultivation bring people to the same boat, everyone click follow. A hundred years of cultivation bring people to share the same pillow, don't bother with feathers. Click follow, don't get lost, the streamer will take you home, the streamer will take you to meet your father-in-law. Three parts of liking, click follow, seven parts of liking, send gifts, deep feelings open protection. Small protection, cooler, IT times can withstand. More fans, don't be jealous, civil comments, compete with gifts. Brush a little, live to eighty-eight; gifts walking, live to ninety-nine! You fall, I don't fall, I'll be with you until old age. Brother, eating irregularly, first of all, thank you all for your support!"

"Welcome, everyone, to my live stream. This is the most famous scenic spot, Ginkgo Avenue, in Naye Film City. Every year at this time, the ginkgo leaves turn golden, and this is the most beautiful time for Ginkgo Avenue. Ginkgo trees can be found in many places, but why is Ginkgo Avenue in Naye Film City the most famous in the country? That's because the ginkgo trees here are not only numerous but also similar in size and shape, making the overall view truly breathtaking. beauty. Please follow my camera, and I'll show you just how beautiful Ginkgo Avenue is..."

"Everyone..."

"..."

Seeing that Ginkgo Avenue was filled with streamers broadcasting, Deng Shirong couldn't help but smile with satisfaction. When he had developed Ginkgo Avenue, he had envisioned turning it into a popular tourist spot, and now he had achieved his goal.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end