Chapter 269: Network of Relationships, Happy and Not Missing Home
On the small dirt road from Temple Lotus Intersection toward Double Prosperity, Deng Yunheng walked home with his five roommates and three female fellow villagers.
For Tang Mingjie, this was his first time leaving the capital and traveling thousands of miles to Guangxi. Everything along the way felt fresh and unfamiliar.
The distinct local architecture—homes built of mud bricks.
The rolling hills that seemed to stretch endlessly.
The winding dirt paths with countless twists and turns.
All of it was new to him, sights he had never encountered back in the capital.
At the same time, his roommates and the three female villagers were deeply curious about Deng Yunheng's family. Judging by the rural surroundings and the long, meandering path ahead, it was clear that Deng Yunheng truly came from the countryside—yet his financial situation seemed far from lacking.
On campus, he spent money freely, never hesitating to be generous. This contradiction naturally piqued their interest. What exactly did Deng Yunheng's parents do?
As they walked and chatted, nearly half an hour slipped by unnoticed.
Liu Xiaoman couldn't help but ask, "President, how much farther is it to your home?"
Deng Yunheng smiled. "About another half hour."
Wang Limei remarked, "That's quite a walk. Your village really is remote."
Deng Yunheng nodded. "It is. Just getting from our village to the commune takes at least two or three hours on foot. When I was in high school there, I only went home once every two weeks. With just a day and a half off each week, most of that time was wasted just walking."
Tang Mingjie's eyes widened. "Seriously? You walked to high school? No bus? Not even a bicycle?"
Deng Yunheng chuckled. "The bus schedule never lined up. As for the bicycle—my family only got one after I started high school. At first, I walked alone. Later, my sister would ride me there."
Everyone sighed at that. None of them had faced such difficulties during their own school days.
Hearing him mention his sister, Liu Xiaoman asked, "President, I just realized—how many siblings do you have?"
Deng Yunheng replied, "Seven brothers and sisters."
Though slightly surprised, no one was shocked. Born in the 1960s, large families were the norm.
"President, if it's alright, could you tell us a bit about your family? That way, we'll know how to greet them properly when we meet."
"Sure, let me introduce them…"
…
Around 3:30 in the afternoon, Deng Yunheng finally arrived at Thatchfield Village with his classmates.
From the moment they entered, villagers kept calling out greetings to Deng Yunheng. Seeing him return with such a large group, they couldn't resist asking questions.
Soon, word spread through Thatchfield Village: Eight Peking University classmates had come to visit Deng Yunheng's home!
These were Peking University students—every one of them destined for greatness. According to the brigade secretary, graduates from Peking University could start their careers at the level of a commune secretary. After a decade or so, they might even surpass a county magistrate in rank.
Now, a whole group of them had gathered at Deng Yunheng's house. The villagers, unable to contain their curiosity, flocked over to witness the spectacle, bringing their children along in hopes that some of that scholarly aura might rub off. They didn't expect their kids to get into a top-tier university like Peking University—just getting into a technical school would be enough.
As the villagers buzzed with excitement, Deng Yunheng finally led his classmates home.
The large, interconnected blue-brick house with tiled roofing. The wooden shed beneath the longan tree. The sturdy walls and cement flooring…
Taking it all in, Tang Mingjie and the others nodded to themselves. Given how freely Deng Yunheng spent money at school, this was exactly the kind of home they'd imagined—not some run-down mud-brick hut like the others in the village. That would've been too…
"Second Brother's back!"
Deng Shirong, who had been lounging under the wooden shed to escape the heat, sat up at his youngest son's shout. Spotting his second son and his classmates—including, to his surprise, three girls—he stood.
"Dad, I'm home!" Deng Yunheng called out from a distance.
"Hello, Uncle!" the classmates chorused.
Deng Shirong smiled warmly. "Hello, classmates! Welcome to our home."
After introductions and pleasantries, Deng Shirong turned to his son. "Yunheng, I'll start cooking now. Take your classmates to Lychee Mountain—there are plenty of lychees and watermelons left for you up there."
Deng Yunheng agreed, then waved to his classmates. "Come on, I'll take you to the orchard for fresh lychees."
At that, Tang Mingjie and the five others perked up instantly.
Even Liu Xiaoman and the other two girls, who had eaten lychees before, couldn't help but feel excited.
After all, there's a world of difference between buying fruit and picking it straight from the tree.
So, the group of students from across the country eagerly followed Deng Yunheng toward his orchard.
Along the way, they exchanged greetings with every villager they passed.
Ten minutes later, Deng Yunheng and his group reached the foot of the mountain, where the scenery unfolded like a painting.
Arriving at a wooden gate secured with a lock, Deng Yunheng called out, "Cousin, come down and open up!"
Bu Dafang's voice echoed from the hillside: "Coming!"
While they waited, Tang Mingjie and the others studied Deng Yunheng's Lychee Mountain—a small, locally characteristic hill covered in lychee trees. Each tree stood about waist-high, its canopy spreading like an umbrella.
But the trees they could see were bare, not a single lychee in sight.
Soon, Bu Dafang came down to unlock the gate. Her uncle had mentioned that her second cousin was bringing classmates home—these must be his Peking University friends.
"This is my cousin," Deng Yunheng introduced.
Then, to Bu Dafang: "Cousin, these are all my classmates."
"Hello, Cousin!"
"Hello, classmates!"
After exchanging greetings, Deng Yunheng led his eager classmates up the mountain.
Before long, Tang Mingjie and the others were met with a breathtaking sight—clusters of red lychees and green watermelons stretching across the hillside.
Liu Xiaoman gasped. "Wow, it's beautiful!"
Tang Mingjie's eyes widened in amazement. "So this is what lychees look like on the tree!"
Deng Yunheng laughed. "Don't just stare—pick some and taste them! See if they live up to what you imagined."
At this invitation, the students stopped holding back and began plucking lychees eagerly.
The first bites drew unanimous praise.
In this vast world with countless tastes, no food pleases everyone—but lychees come close. While exceptions exist, you'd be hard-pressed to find them. Out of ten thousand people nationwide, nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine would surely adore lychees.
As the crown jewel among lychee varieties, Cinnamon Flavor's exquisite taste and fragrance were beyond dispute. Every student sampling them sang their praises.
After devouring over a dozen in quick succession, Tang Mingjie sighed contentedly. "Worth every minute of that train ride! To taste lychees this divine—I'd travel twice as long without complaint!"
Spitting out a small pit, Deng Yunheng grinned. "This is just the opener. Plenty more delicious fruits await you!"
Tang Mingjie chuckled. "Seems we hit the jackpot coming here!"
Zheng Shifeng nodded vigorously. "Absolutely! These lychees alone are spectacular. I can't imagine what other fruits you've got in store."
Deng Yunheng counted off: "Today we feast on lychees and take some watermelons back for tonight. Tomorrow I'll take you mulberry picking and jackfruit tasting. The day after—yellow peel and starfruit. These are flavors you northerners rarely encounter."
Anticipation lit up every face.
As they chatted and ate, a curious phenomenon emerged: though lychees were delicious, they filled the stomach surprisingly fast. Several students found their appetites defeated long before their cravings.
Liu Xiaoman rubbed her belly ruefully. "I barely started eating, yet I'm already full!"
Wang Limei echoed the sentiment. "Same here! My mouth wants more, but my stomach's waving a white flag."
Deng Yunheng smiled. "No rush—these lychees were left specially for us. We'll have them daily. Save room though—a proper banquet awaits at home tonight!"
Tang Mingjie admitted sheepishly, "First-time lychee excitement got the better of me!"
Amid laughter, when the lychee feast tapered off, Deng Yunheng had each person pick a cluster to take. The six young men then hoisted watermelons—one each—bid farewell to his cousin and cousin-in-law, and trekked homeward with their sweet bounty.
...
6:00 PM.
Deng Shirong's oversized dining table groaned under the weight of a dozen sumptuous dishes, each portioned generously.
When Tang Mingjie and the others took their seats, the spread left them awestruck. Though yet to taste, the aromas alone promised excellence—every dish looked as tantalizing as it smelled.
Liu Xiaoman gasped. "Heavens, Uncle! Your cooking skills are incredible!"
Choruses of agreement followed. While Deng Yunheng had praised his father's culinary prowess, they'd assumed it meant "better than average"—not this professional-chef-level mastery.
Deng Shirong smiled modestly. "Since you hail from different regions, I prepared one hometown dish for each of you. See if you can spot yours?"
Eagerly, the students scrutinized the table. Soon, exclamations erupted:
Zheng Shifeng (Heilongjiang) pointed first. "That's our Crispy Sweet and Sour Pork—crispy sweet-and-sour pork!"
Tang Mingjie (Beijing) identified another. "Beijing-Style Sauced Shredded Pork—shredded pork in sweet bean sauce!"
Liu Xiaoman (Guangxi) recognized a stew. "Our Guilin taro-braised pork belly!"
One after another, they found their regional specialties:
"Henan's mutton hot pot!"
"Hubei's lotus root and pork rib soup!"
"Zhejiang's Dongpo braised pork!"
"Wuzhou's scallion-steamed fish!"
"Baise's wild mushroom chicken stew!"
Initially overwhelmed, Deng Shirong's hint helped them pinpoint their hometown flavors among the spread.
Pleased, Deng Shirong continued the tour: "The remaining dishes are our local specialties: poached chicken with ginger-scallion dip, steamed razor clams, pan-seared prawns, stir-fried bee pupae, crispy squid, Bobai-style mixed stir-fry..."
After the culinary roll call, he raised his glass. "Students, a toast—to your visit!"
Glasses (and juice cups) lifted amid grateful replies:
"Thank you, Uncle!"
"So much effort for us—we're touched!"
"Uncle, your cooking must've taken all day!"
The students who could drink were all poured wine, and those who could not drink were replaced by beverages, and they all raised their glasses to drink together
After taking a sip of wine, Deng Shirong announced cheerfully, "Don't stand on ceremony, everyone—dig in!"
Though the dishes' aromas and appearances had already promised excellence, the first bites still astonished the students. Every single dish surpassed expectations in flavor.
The meal left Tang Mingjie and his classmates utterly satisfied.
After dinner, Liu Xiaoman, Wang Limei, and Li Guiying immediately volunteered for cleanup duty—washing dishes and tidying up.
These tasks normally fell to Bu Dafang, but she couldn't refuse the girls' enthusiastic insistence. Reluctantly, she surrendered the chore.
As the three girls busied themselves with cleanup, Deng Yunheng turned to his five roommates. "You all know how to swim, right?"
"Of course!"
"Who doesn't swim these days?"
"I've been swimming in rivers since I was seven or eight!"
"Good," Deng Yunheng nodded. "Grab your clothes and towels then—I'll take you to bathe in the creek across the way."
Their eyes lit up at the prospect, and soon they'd gathered their supplies. Deng Yunheng added bath soap and laundry detergent to the haul. After informing their female classmates, the group set off happily toward the little river.
Though they'd drunk some wine—traditionally a poor prelude to swimming—they'd been moderate in their celebration. Visiting a classmate's home for the first time, none had overindulged. The small amount consumed posed no danger.
They returned from their river bath at dusk to find Liu Xiaoman and the other girls had already washed their hair and bathed.
The entire group now gathered under the wooden shed with villagers, watching television.
Deng Yunheng sat by the doorway, updating his father on his university experiences over the past year.
After listening, Deng Shirong pondered before speaking carefully. "Yunheng, before university, we discussed your future path given your major choice. But plans evolve. Two years in Beijing, surrounded by elites, must have broadened your perspective."
He tamped tobacco into his pipe. "So I'll ask again—after graduation, do you see yourself in government service or business?"
Originally, recalling his second son's temperament in their previous lives, Deng Shirong had assumed politics wouldn't suit him, steering him toward commerce instead. But times changed, and personalities with them. This life's version of his son had developed quite differently. Forcing him into business might not serve him best.
Deng Yunheng drew a deep breath. "Dad, I've wrestled with that question these two years without reaching an answer."
Deng Shirong nodded understandingly. As the saying went: "Men fear choosing the wrong profession; women fear marrying the wrong man." Such life-altering decisions deserved careful consideration—no shame in remaining undecided.
"Since you haven't settled yet," he advised, "begin preparing for both paths."
Eyes brightening with curiosity, Deng Yunheng asked, "What preparations should I make?"
"Business needs little explanation—your economics major covers that." Deng Shirong lit his pipe. "For government work, start now: apply for Party membership, gain experience in student government or the Youth League Committee. These will prove invaluable if you choose politics later."
Two years at Peking University had indeed sharpened Deng Yunheng's vision beyond his provincial origins. He grasped his father's meaning immediately. "Understood. Next term, I'll join the Student Union or Youth League Committee to test my interest in public service."
Exhaling tobacco smoke, Deng Shirong mused, "With China's reform and opening-up, both government and business crave talent. Your generation stands atop the wave of national progress."
"If you choose business, the world will be your stage."
"If politics, the cadre rejuvenation policy favors university graduates like you. Your starting point may be others' lifelong unreachable pinnacle—an advantage beyond envy."
Deng Yunheng nodded thoughtfully. "After a year in student organizations, I should know my path."
"Whichever you choose," Deng Shirong added, tapping his pipe, "nurture your network diligently. Bringing classmates home like this—excellent strategy. Deepening these bonds will serve you well."
"Understood, Father."
...
Next morning.
After breakfast, Deng Yunheng and his classmates gathered around the massive thirty-kilogram jackfruit, knife in hand.
Before cutting, he offered context: "Jackfruits are the world's largest tree fruits—typically over ten kilograms, sometimes nearing a hundred. Hence their nickname: 'King of Fruits.'"
"Nearly a hundred kilos? Incredible!"
"Well-named indeed—truly regal!"
"This one's already the biggest fruit I've ever seen!"
The students erupted in awed exclamations.
Deng Yunheng continued his tutorial: "Locally, we categorize jackfruits as 'dry,' 'wet,' or 'oil' types—though scientifically, more varieties exist."
Tang Mingjie frowned. "What distinguishes these types?"
"The dry variety," Deng Yunheng explained, "has bright yellow, crisp flesh—very sweet, considered premium. Wet types are softer, juicier. Oil varieties have dark yellow flesh—glossy, crisp, with balanced sweetness."
Liu Xiaoman pointed at their specimen. "Which type is this one?"
"The best—dry variety, of course."
With practiced strokes, he split the fruit open, revealing golden segments oozing white sap. After wiping the sticky residue with oiled paper, he quartered it methodically.
Finally, he removed the core and separated sixteen portions. "Dig in," he invited, wiping his hands. "Jackfruit divides people—devotees adore it, others find it peculiar. See which camp you join."
The students needed no further encouragement. Six of the eight immediately became converts, nibbling blissfully. Only Zheng Shifeng and Chu Zhenyu made faces at the unfamiliar flavor.
Post-jackfruit, Deng Yunheng distributed straw hats for their next adventure: berry-picking in the hills.
In subsequent days, he orchestrated a rural immersion for his Peking University guests—biking to Old Tiger Head Reservoir for fishing and swimming, foraging wild fruits in the mountains, collecting river snails, roasting sweet potatoes and taro in field ovens...
In short, Deng Yunheng treated them to every classic countryside experience.
Well-fed, comfortably housed, and thoroughly entertained, Tang Mingjie and his classmates found themselves growing genuinely reluctant to leave.
(End of Chapter)