Chapter 176: We Have Dad as Our Backer, What Are We Afraid Of?
As it turned out, the remedy for colds was indeed effective. Moreover, rural children of this era were tough. They spent their days running up and down mountains and playing chase games while swimming in rivers. Their physical fitness was far superior to that of children in later generations, who spent their days watching TV and playing with mobile phones.
Thus, just one day later, Deng Yunheng was back to his lively self.
In the following days, Deng Shirong began helping his second son prepare the things he needed for school—mainly small items like clothes, shoes, socks, towels, and toothbrushes. He also bought a suitcase and a watch for his second son.
As for other necessities, Deng Yunheng could buy them after arriving at school. As long as he had money, he could get good things. There was no need to carry everything from home, especially given the current transportation conditions, which would make the journey exhausting.
When everything was almost ready, Deng Shirong asked, "Yunheng, think again. Is there anything else you need?"
Deng Yunheng thought for a moment and said, "Dad, we've got almost everything. I'm just worried that the school might not have the porridge or pickled vegetables I like. How about you prepare some long-lasting pickled vegetables for me to take? That way, if I want to eat plain porridge, I'll have something to go with it."
Deng Shirong nodded, "That's easy. It just so happens that olives are in season now. I'll pickle some turmeric olives for you. With enough salt, they'll last a long time. Plus, they don't have a strong smell, unlike dried radish, which can fill the whole house with its aroma."
Deng Yunheng nodded repeatedly, "That sounds perfect. They'll go great with plain porridge."
After deciding on the pickled turmeric olives, Deng Shirong got to work.
The method for making this pickle was simple. Wash the freshly picked yellow olives and local mountain ginger, crush them with a piece of wood, add salt, mix well, and then seal them for storage.
This was a famous pickle in Bobai County, and it tasted fantastic with porridge!
After Deng Shirong finished these preparations, his eldest son, Deng Yuntai, received his monthly wages and announced his resignation from the jar and tile factory. Deng Changyuan took over as one of the new master jar makers.
This change caused a huge stir not only in the tile factory but also in Thatchfield Village when the news spread.
"Have you heard? Uncle Yuntai has retired from the tile factory and let Yuan take over as the new master jar maker."
"No way! Who told you that? How is that possible?"
"I heard it from Uncle Yungui himself. It can't be false."
"Oh my god, the master jar maker earns over 200 yuan a month at the factory. Why would Uncle Yuntai give that up?"
"I can't understand why Yuntai would quit the tile factory. The money we earn from a year of hard work isn't even close to what Uncle Yuntai makes in a month. Such a good job, and he just handed it to Yuan. I really don't know what Uncle Yuntai is thinking."
"I heard it was Uncle Jiu's idea. Maybe Uncle Jiu has other plans for Uncle Yuntai, right?"
"If that's what Uncle Jiu intended, then there must be a better job waiting for Uncle Yuntai. I just wonder what it is."
"That's hard to believe. In all of Double Prosperity, is there any job that pays more than being a master jar maker?"
"It's true that it's hard to find a job that pays more than being a master jar maker, but if you become a boss, that might change."
"Whatever the reason, Yuan has really hit the jackpot."
"Yeah, that kid Yuan is really lucky!"
"He and Uncle Yuntai have been close since they were kids, closer than brothers. If there's something good, Uncle Yuntai would naturally help him. It's something we can't envy."
"…"
Meanwhile, Deng Yuntai, who was the subject of the villagers' gossip, was leisurely taking a walk with his wife.
Deng Yuntai sighed, "Since I started working at the tile factory, it feels like there's endless work the moment I open my eyes every day. Even if I don't go to the factory for something, I'm always thinking about going back as soon as possible to catch up on orders. It's been a long time since I've had such a leisurely moment like this."
Zhang Xiuping covered her mouth and laughed, "Brother Tai, who told you not to study hard? If you had gotten into Peking University like Yunheng, you wouldn't have to work so hard. You'd be sitting in an office giving orders to your subordinates!"
Deng Yuntai sighed, "Forget about Peking University. If I had even gotten into a technical secondary school, I'd probably be eating commercial grain by now."
Zhang Xiuping blinked and said, "If you were eating commercial grain, we might not have been destined to be together!"
Deng Yuntai laughed, "So they say that misfortune can turn into a blessing. Even though I can't eat commercial grain, I still managed to marry such a good wife. I'm not losing out at all!"
Zhang Xiuping was delighted and said with a smile, "You're not doing so bad now. Next year, you'll be a big boss!"
Hearing his wife mention this, Deng Yuntai felt a bit uneasy and said, "Ah Ping, I've never done business before. Before, I just sold pots and tiles with Brother Yungui, but Brother Yungui handled the negotiations. I just tagged along to gain some experience. Now that we're opening such a big restaurant, do you think I can be a good boss?"
Zhang Xiuping comforted him, "Brother Tai, don't worry too much. Doing business isn't as hard as we think. My eldest brother and his wife had never sold even one egg before, but now they've opened that store and are doing quite well!"
Deng Yuntai smiled bitterly, "I understand that, but I'm mainly afraid of failing and disappointing Dad."
Zhang Xiuping glanced at him and said, "Dad knows this very well. He told us young people not to be afraid of failure. He said that the current era of reform and opening up is the best in history. We should be bold and go out to explore. If we fall, we should get up and keep going. Success will come eventually."
Hearing this, Deng Yuntai secretly encouraged himself. His two elder brothers, who hadn't even finished junior high, had managed to run a successful restaurant. He was a high school graduate and had seen a lot of the world in the past year. Could he not do better than his two elder brothers?
With this thought, Deng Yuntai's confidence soared. He said with high spirits, "Since Dad said so, let's go out together next year and try to run the restaurant successfully. We won't let Dad down."
Seeing her husband suddenly filled with confidence, Zhang Xiuping said happily, "Well, a man should have this kind of ambition. We have Dad as our backer, so what are we afraid of? If you really can't make it, you can always come back and continue being a master jar maker!"
At this, the couple couldn't help but smile at each other.
(End of this chapter)