Chapter 259: Year-end
As the twelfth lunar month arrived, the weather grew increasingly colder. According to Deng Shirong's estimation, the temperature had likely dropped to around zero degrees Celsius.
While such temperatures might not be noteworthy in most parts of the country, for Bobai, this level of cold was rare and significant.
On this particular day, as Deng Shirong warmed himself by the fire at home, Zhang Qi, who had given birth to five daughters in a row, arrived carrying a cloth bag. She smiled and said, "Uncle Jiu, my parents gave me some peanuts. I thought I'd bring them over for you to enjoy with your wine."
Deng Shirong waved his hand and replied, "You're very thoughtful, but I have plenty at home. You should take these peanuts back for yourself."
Zhang Qi set the cloth bag on a stool nearby, sat down, and warmed herself by the fire. "Uncle Jiu, I know you have everything, but these peanuts make a great snack with wine. If I take them back, I'll just cook them to satisfy a craving. It's better to give them to you to enjoy with your wine."
Deng Shirong understood that she still remembered his kindness. When she had given birth to her fifth daughter, her mother-in-law had refused to cook for her. It was Deng Shirong who had prepared a nourishing bowl of brown sugar, longan, and egg syrup and sent it to her through his eldest daughter. He had also scolded her mother-in-law, which had somewhat improved the woman's attitude toward Zhang Qi.
Finally, three months ago, Zhang Qi had given birth to a son in her sixth pregnancy, and her status in her husband's family had improved significantly.
"Alright, I'll take them," Deng Shirong said, deciding not to refuse her gesture. He planned to give her something in return later.
Seeing that Uncle Jiu accepted the peanuts, Zhang Qi smiled warmly.
After some small talk, the two began discussing family matters. Deng Shirong asked, "Ah Zhang Qi, I heard you were taken for sterilization last month?"
Zhang Qi sighed. "Yes, after the procedure, I can't have any more children."
Deng Shirong comforted her, "We're actually quite fortunate here. In other places, they don't make distinctions between men and women. In your situation, you would've been sterilized long ago elsewhere. Here, they waited until you had a son, which is more humane."
Zhang Qi had been taken to the county hospital for the procedure. She nodded, understanding the broader context. "That's true. I should be content. Having one son is enough to carry on the family line."
Deng Shirong added, "It's enough to have descendants. With five daughters, I doubt many in the village will live as comfortably as you in the future."
Zhang Qi smiled faintly. "I don't dare to think that far ahead. Married daughters are like spilled water—once they're gone, they're gone. It's enough if they don't come back to take things from their parents' home."
Deng Shirong chuckled. "In this era, daughters can't do much for their parents, but who knows about the future? If even one of your daughters marries well, you won't have to worry about your later years."
Zhang Qi sighed. "If only that day would come."
Deng Shirong poked at the burning wood with a fire stick and asked, "By the way, how much more do you have to pay for the fines?"
Zhang Qi spread her hands. "If we had to pay, it would be several thousand yuan. But you know our family's situation, Uncle Jiu. Where would we get that kind of money? I told them plainly—we have no money, only our lives. If there's anything in the house they want, they can take it.
"Maybe it's because I've been sterilized, and there's nothing of value in the house, but they didn't push further. The matter just faded away."
Deng Shirong wasn't surprised. In this era, while other regions were strict, Bobai hadn't yet reached the most severe phase. The villagers here were tough, and pushing them too far could lead to unpredictable consequences.
After chatting for over ten minutes, Zhang Qi stood up. "Uncle Jiu, I should head back. The baby will need to eat when he wakes up."
"Wait a moment," Deng Shirong said. He picked up the bag of peanuts, went into the room, and poured them out. He then filled the bag with about a pound of brown sugar and a pound of dried longan. Returning, he handed it to her. "You look a bit weak. Take these back to nourish yourself."
Zhang Qi waved her hands. "Uncle Jiu, these are too valuable. I can't accept them."
Deng Shirong insisted. "They're not worth much. You know I don't lack these things. I've accepted your peanuts, so don't refuse what I'm giving you."
With that, he pressed the bag into her hands.
Zhang Qi held the bag tightly, her eyes welling up with gratitude. The few pounds of peanuts she had brought were nothing compared to the brown sugar and longan. She had only wanted to express her thanks, but Uncle Jiu's generosity moved her deeply.
"Thank you, Uncle Jiu!"
"You're welcome. Go take care of the children."
"Yes!"
Zhang Qi left, clutching the bag, and vowed to remember Uncle Jiu's kindness.
...
Beijing
In a corner of the Peking University cafeteria, members of the Guangxi Hometown Association gathered for a meal.
Every year before the winter break, the association would organize a meal for its members. Those planning to return home for the New Year would coordinate their travel plans, while those staying in Beijing would make arrangements to celebrate together.
This year, Deng Yunheng, Song Yu, Zhao Changzheng, Chong Feilong, Sun Baoguo, Lin Jianjun, and a few others had decided to stay in Beijing for the New Year. A handful of other Guangxi students had also chosen to remain, bringing the total to over ten people.
Out of the 27 Guangxi students at Peking University, about half had chosen to return home, while the other half would stay in Beijing.
Those returning home sat together, discussing travel plans, while those staying behind talked about how to celebrate the New Year.
Among the group staying in Beijing, there were three girls: Song Yu from Bobai, Liu Xiaoman from Guilin, and Ding Qiulan from Liuzhou.
Song Yu, with her strong family background and social skills, was the most outgoing of the three. Liu Xiaoman, a freshman, had the best figure and looks, while Ding Qiulan, though ordinary in appearance and background, was the most hardworking.
When the topic of celebrating the New Year in Beijing came up, Deng Yunheng turned to Song Yu. "Sister Song, you've been here the longest and have the most experience. Why don't you share your ideas first?"
Song Yu, never one to shy away from the spotlight, said confidently, "As the great leader said, 'He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man.' Some of us have been there during the summer, but I've heard the snow-covered Great Wall is a sight to behold. I'd like to go see it this year. What do you all think?"
Liu Xiaoman's eyes lit up. "Sister Song, that's a fantastic idea! Seeing the Great Wall in the snow sounds so romantic. Count me in!"
Ding Qiulan, though yearning for such an experience, remained silent, worried about the cost.
The boys, not wanting to spoil the girls' enthusiasm, quickly agreed.
Chong Feilong praised, "Sister Song, your idea is brilliant. Seeing the Great Wall in the snow sounds amazing. I'm in."
Lin Jianjun added, "I've always wanted to visit the Great Wall. Sister Song's suggestion is perfect. Count me in."
Sun Baoguo smiled. "Such an exciting plan? I wouldn't miss it for the world."
Other fellow villagers also expressed their support.
In the end, only Ding Qiulan, Zhao Changzheng, and Deng Yunheng did not share their opinions.
Zhao Changzheng, as the president of the Guangxi Hometown Association, is a well-rounded social expert with keen observational skills. Knowing that Ding Qiulan's family situation was not ideal, he quickly guessed why she remained silent.
Over the past year and a half, Deng Yunheng, guided by his father, had been actively building connections and honing his social skills. His ability to read situations was on par with Zhao Changzheng's, and he too noticed the underlying issue.
The two exchanged a glance and reached a silent understanding.
Zhao Changzheng then spoke up, "Fellow villagers, don't worry. Going to the Great Wall to see the snow isn't as simple as it sounds. From what I know, the Badaling Great Wall is dozens of kilometers away from our school. Whether it's during heavy snowfall or after, buses won't be running. By the time we can go, the beautiful snowscape might already be gone.
So, if we really want to see the snow on the Great Wall, we'll need to stay near Badaling in advance and sort out food and accommodation first.
Give me some time to consult with local classmates. Once I've arranged everything, I'll let everyone know."
Deng Yunheng chimed in, "President, go ahead and make the inquiries. The boys will cover the cost of food and accommodation. The three female students just need to bring themselves."
Lin Jianjun immediately agreed, "I'm on board with that. Please, let me contribute as well."
Unless they were truly struggling or naturally stingy, male students tended to be generous in front of female classmates. So, after Deng Yunheng's proposal, everyone quickly agreed.
Song Yu, catching on, added, "Alright, then I won't stand on ceremony. Thank you all for your generosity."
Liu Xiaoman also smiled and expressed her gratitude.
Ding Qiulan, being thoughtful, sensed that the president and Deng Yunheng were subtly accommodating her. With the other two female students having already thanked them, she felt it would be out of place not to say anything.
So, Ding Qiulan also thanked them sincerely.
Seeing this, Zhao Changzheng and Deng Yunheng exchanged another glance, pleased with the outcome.
...
"Aunt!"
At Suifeng Restaurant, Little Dong'er waved her tiny hands and toddled toward her aunt, Deng Yunzhen.
At one year and two months old, Little Dong'er had already learned to walk and talk. However, bundled up in thick winter clothes, she wobbled unsteadily as she moved.
Deng Yunzhen opened her arms, scooped up the little one, and asked with a smile, "Little Dong'er, we'll be going home for the New Year soon. Do you miss Grandpa?"
Little Dong'er didn't quite understand what going home for the New Year meant, but she clearly grasped the latter part of the question. In her adorable voice, she replied, "I miss Grandpa!"
Deng Yunzhen laughed. "It seems your grandpa has really won your heart."
Children between one and three years old are at their most delightful stage, and Little Dong'er was no exception. She was the little joy of the restaurant, and everyone loved playing with her during their breaks.
After spending some time with her niece, Deng Yunzhen carried her over to her eldest brother and sister-in-law and asked, "Brother, sister-in-law, the students are on vacation now, and the New Year is just over ten days away. When should we close the restaurant and head home for the celebrations?"
Deng Yuntai hesitated for a moment before replying, "With the New Year approaching, everyone's busy, and fewer people are coming to the restaurant. I don't think we need to wait any longer. Let's close tomorrow and go home. What do you think, Ah Ping?"
Zhang Xiuping nodded. "Alright, I'll tally up everyone's salaries and year-end bonuses. We'll also need to set the reopening date for next year."
Deng Yunzhen added, "During the New Year, everyone's busy visiting relatives, so there won't be many customers. Opening early won't bring in much business. Why don't we wait until the 15th to reopen?"
Zhang Xiuping chuckled. "Ah Zhen, most people go back to work on the fourth or sixth day of the New Year. If we wait until the 15th, won't people say we're being lazy?"
At that moment, Deng Yuntai was busy playing with his daughter, so Deng Yunzhen handed Little Dong'er over to him and said, "Sister-in-law, it's not about being lazy. It's just that there's no point in opening early when there's no business. Everyone's eating plenty of meat and fish during the New Year, so few will choose to dine out at the start of the year.
By waiting until the 15th, we can spend more time with family and reopen when business is likely to pick up."
Zhang Xiuping nodded. "That makes sense. Let's reopen on the 16th of the first lunar month. Brother Tai, does that work for you?"
Deng Yuntai, holding his daughter, replied, "Sounds good to me. You can finalize the date."
Zhang Xiuping agreed. "Alright, it's settled then. Ah Zhen, go inform everyone. I'll handle the calculations and distribute the salaries and year-end bonuses before we close today."
Deng Yunzhen went off to share the news with the employees.
Hearing about the holiday, the staff were thrilled. Whether now or in the future, time off is always a cause for celebration.
Of course, this era was slightly different. People were generally willing to work until New Year's Eve, as more work meant more earnings.
In the afternoon, Zhang Xiuping began distributing salaries and year-end bonuses.
The salaries were fixed, but the year-end bonuses were discretionary, decided by the bosses.
After discussing with Deng Yuntai and Deng Yunzhen, Zhang Xiuping decided to give everyone an extra month's salary as a bonus.
However, there was one exception: Mr. Zhang Guangzong. His year-end bonus was set at one hundred yuan, the highest among all employees.
After handing out the payments, Zhang Xiuping smiled and said, "Thank you all for your hard work over the past six months. Go home and enjoy the New Year. We'll reopen on the 16th day of the first lunar month."
The employees were surprised by the reopening date, especially Zhang Guofu, who had previously worked in a state-owned restaurant. He asked, "Madam Boss, did you say the 16th? Not the 6th?"
Zhang Xiuping confirmed, "Yes, the 16th, not the 6th. There won't be much business at the start of the year, so we're giving everyone a longer break and reopening after the 15th."
Zhang Guofu beamed. "That's wonderful! When I worked at the state-owned restaurant, we had to rush back to work in the first few days of the New Year. It was so stressful, and I never got to enjoy the festivities. Now, I can finally relax and celebrate properly!"
Others, without similar work experience, didn't share his sentiment, but they were still happy to have an extended holiday and return to work after the 15th.
After paying the employees their salaries and year-end bonuses, they shared a staff meal, cleaned up the dishes, and tidied the restaurant before officially closing for the holiday.
The remaining ingredients in the restaurant were distributed to Zhang Guangzong, Zhang Guofu, Zhang Wenjuan, and Zhang Wenying as part of the restaurant's welfare.
...
The next day, Deng Yuntai, Zhang Xiuping, Deng Yunzhen, Little Dong'er, Bu Dashi, Liu Aihong, and other relatives boarded the bus back to their hometown.
In the afternoon, as they neared Double Prosperity, Deng Yuntai asked, "Cousin, are you heading straight home, or will you come to our house first?"
Bu Dashi thought for a moment and said, "Let's visit Uncle first. I'll be going back to my parents' home with your cousin on the second day of the New Year, so I won't be able to come by to pay my respects then."
Deng Yuntai nodded, then turned to his mother's relatives and asked, "Cousin, what about you?"
Chen Bangguo replied, "Cousin, we'll head home first and come to pay New Year's greetings to Uncle on the second day of the New Year."
"Alright, then you three brothers and sisters be careful on your way back. We'll see you on the second day of the New Year!"
"Got it, we'll be careful."
...
Thatchfield Village.
Deng Shirong was at home, keeping warm with his four children: Deng Yunzhu, Deng Yunsong, Deng Yunhua, and Deng Yunheng.
The school was now on vacation, and the final exam results were out. Overall, Deng Shirong was very satisfied. His third son, whom he had the highest hopes for, had consistently ranked first in his grade. If he performed well in the high school entrance exam next year, he could choose between a technical secondary school or the best high school.
His youngest son was also doing well. Although he had never ranked first in his class, he had consistently been among the top few, showing promise in his studies. As for his youngest daughter and fourth son, they were not strong academically, but Deng Shirong's main wish was for them to finish high school. He didn't expect much beyond that.
At the moment, the father and children were chatting about Little Dong'er.
Deng Yunzhu asked, "Dad, when will my eldest brother and sister-in-law be back? I haven't seen Little Dong'er in so long. She should be walking and talking by now. I wonder if she'll still recognize me."
Deng Shirong smiled and said, "They should be back in the next few days. Little Dong'er hasn't seen you in a semester. She was so young back then; she probably won't remember you."
Deng Yunzhu said, "When she comes back, I'll spend more time with her. I can't let her forget me, her aunt."
Deng Yunheng chimed in, "Second sister, you can't hog Little Dong'er. When she comes back, I want to catch a cannon tiger (a small insect that builds nests in lily leaves. It's only the size of a soybean but is very aggressive. Local children love finding them and pitting them against each other, like fighting crickets). She'll definitely like it."
Deng Yunzhu rolled her eyes at her younger brother and said, "That's something boys like to play with. Girls don't enjoy that, and Little Dong'er is still so young. She won't understand watching cannon tigers fight. You're just being silly."
Deng Yunhua laughed and said, "Xiaoheng, Little Dong'er is too young to understand cannon tiger fights. It's better to bring out a slingshot or play with water for her to watch!"
Deng Shirong quickly interjected, "You can play with her, but don't take her near the river or pond. She's too young and doesn't understand the dangers. Got it?"
"I know... Hey, Little Dong'er is back!"
"It's really my eldest brother and his wife!"
"..."
The siblings stopped warming themselves by the fire and rushed out to greet their eldest brother and his wife—or more accurately, to see their little niece.
"Dad!"
"Dad!"
"Uncle!"
Deng Yuntai and the others entered the house and greeted their father (uncle) as soon as they arrived.
Deng Shirong smiled and said, "I thought you'd be back around this time. Dashi, Liumei, you should stay at your uncle's place today and go home tomorrow. It just so happens that a few days ago, some of the younger folks in the village roasted some bee nests for me, and I haven't eaten them yet!"
"Great, then we'll have a treat!"
At this, Bu Dashi turned to his wife and said, "Aihong, you don't know this, but Uncle's fried bee pupae are uniquely delicious. We're in for a treat."
Liu Aihong smiled and said, "Then I'm really lucky!"
Deng Shirong chuckled and said, "Alright, it's cold outside. Put your luggage away first, then sit by the fire and warm up. I'll go prepare some good dishes, and we'll have a drink tonight."
Deng Yunzhen said, "Dad, let me help you."
Bu Dashi added, "Uncle, you handle the bee pupae, and I'll take care of anything else that needs to be done."
Deng Shirong waved his hand and said, "No need. You've just returned and must be tired from the journey. Just sit by the fire and wait for the meal."
(End of this chapter)