Chapter 177: Arriving in Beijing
In the blink of an eye, summer vacation came to an end.
Elementary and middle school students returned to campus one after another, and Deng Yunheng, a prospective college student, also prepared to report to school.
On this day, after having breakfast at home, Deng Yunheng set off for Beijing under the escort of his father.
Zhang Xiuping took out a red envelope and handed it to her brother-in-law, saying, "Yunheng, this is the pocket money your sister-in-law is giving you. Study hard when you get to school."
Since they were all family, Deng Yunheng didn't stand on ceremony. He accepted the red envelope with a smile and said, "Got it. Thank you, sister-in-law!"
Deng Yuntai patted his brother on the shoulder and said, "Yunheng, you're the first college student in our village. The whole village sees you as a role model. Don't slack off when you get to college. Keep up the same enthusiasm for studying as you had during the college entrance exams, and strive to be a top student at Peking University."
Deng Yunheng smiled confidently and replied, "Just wait and see, big brother. Even at Peking University, where geniuses gather, I'll stand out and become the most dazzling one."
Deng Yuntai praised, "You've got great ambition!"
Deng Yunzhen reminded him, "Yunheng, when you get to school, if you need clothes or socks, just write back, and I'll make them for you and send them over."
Deng Yunheng nodded and said, "I understand, sister!"
Deng Yunzhu added, "Second brother, when you get to Beijing, remember to take some photos and send them back."
Deng Yunheng smiled and replied, "Okay, I'll remember to."
Deng Yunsong said energetically, "Second brother, you go to Peking University first and pave the way. I'll follow you later."
Deng Yunheng reached out and patted his shoulder, praising him, "Good boy, you've got the same spirit as your second brother. I'll wait for you at Peking University."
Deng Yunhua blinked and said, "Second brother, if you come back for the New Year, you have to bring us some delicious food."
Deng Yunheng immediately responded, "It would be best if it's something we don't have here. Then we can show it off to our friends and make them jealous."
Deng Yunheng laughed and said, "Okay, if I come back for the New Year, I'll bring you some tasty treats."
Cousins like Bu Dafang, Jiang Dehu, and Bu Dashi also offered their well-wishes.
Seeing that everyone had said their goodbyes, Deng Shirong said, "Alright, it's getting late. We should set off!"
Deng Yunheng responded and picked up the brand-new suitcase his father had bought for him, which was filled with clothes, socks, and other essentials. He then slung a cloth-wrapped package over his back, containing a new cotton-padded jacket and trousers. Other miscellaneous items were placed in a large net bag, which his father helped carry.
To get to Beijing from here, they first had to go to Temple Lotus Intersection to catch a bus to Nanning, and then take a train from Nanning to Beijing.
The distance from here to Temple Lotus Intersection was over ten kilometers, too far to walk. The two bicycles at home weren't just for show.
So, Deng Yuntai rode his bike to take Deng Yunheng, while Deng Shirong rode his bike to take Deng Yunzhen. The four of them headed to Temple Lotus Intersection together.
…
An hour and a half later, Deng Shirong and his son boarded the bus to Nanning.
The bus ride from Temple Lotus Intersection to Nanning took over three hours. Even with modern transportation, the journey would be lengthy, let alone in this era. By the time they arrived in Nanning, it was already past four in the afternoon.
Deng Shirong was familiar with Nanning from his previous life. His third son had worked in the county town for over 20 years before being transferred to Nanning, where he worked until retirement.
When the third son first settled in Nanning, he brought Deng Shirong to live with him for a few months. During that time, Deng Shirong had nothing to do and spent his days exploring the city. With an old-age card that allowed him to ride the bus for free, he became well-acquainted with the entire city in just a few months.
Now, revisiting the place, Deng Shirong noticed that Nanning in this era was far from the bustling city it would become in later years.
Originally, Nanning wasn't so underdeveloped. During the Ming Dynasty, it had grown into a commodity distribution center for the Zuojiang and Youjiang regions and was known as "Little Nanjing."
On November 17, 1906, during the 32nd year of Emperor Guangxu's reign, Nanning was opened as a port. Foreign industrial products flowed into the inland through this port, while agricultural products and local specialties from the inland were exported abroad. The city's commerce flourished, with shops everywhere and merchants gathering, creating a scene of prosperity across all industries.
Nanning was already very prosperous at that time. People from all over the country established hometown associations in Nanning, including the Guangdong East Guild Hall, Xinhui Guild Hall, Jiangxi Guild Hall, Yuzhang Guild Hall, Fujian Guild Hall, and Yulin Five Guild Hall, among others.
Nanning was thus known as "a metropolis in the south of China."
Unfortunately, the war destroyed the prosperous Nanning, and it had yet to recover fully.
Of course, for Deng Yunheng, Nanning at this time was already a bustling place. He looked around and asked, "Dad, are we going straight to the train station to catch the train now?"
Deng Shirong rubbed his stomach and said, "We've been sitting on the bus for so long, I'm hungry. Let's find a place to eat first. After we're full, we'll go to the train station to check the departure time for the train to Beijing. Then we can decide whether to stay at a guesthouse for the night."
As if on cue, Deng Yunheng's stomach growled. He nodded and said, "I'm hungry too. Let's find a place to get some noodles. A bowl of noodles should fill me up!"
"Alright, today I'll take you to try Nanning's most famous Ol' buddy rice noodles."
"Ol' buddy rice noodles? That's a strange name. Are they different from the boiled noodles we have?"
"Of course they're different. Ol' buddy rice noodles are made with pickled bamboo shoots, fermented black beans, pickled chili peppers, shredded ginger, minced garlic, pork, and more. They have a sour and spicy flavor that's really appetizing. The taste is unique. You'll understand once you try it."
"That makes me even hungrier. Let's go eat!"
…
Half an hour later.
When Deng Yunheng saw the bowl of delicious Ol' buddy rice noodles in front of him, he couldn't resist. He took a bite and was instantly won over by the unique flavor. He didn't even mind the heat, picking up the noodles, blowing on them, and shoveling them into his mouth. His eagerness was comparable to Zhu Bajie eating the ginseng fruit.
Deng Shirong hadn't eaten this kind of noodles in a long time and was also craving them. Though not as impatient as his second son, he ate quickly as well.
In less than five minutes, the father and son finished two large bowls of Ol' buddy rice noodles. They were sweating profusely, but their stomachs felt incredibly satisfied.
The human stomach is a curious thing. It doesn't always feel comfortable when full. For example, people in the South are used to eating rice and rice noodles. If they suddenly switch to bread or steamed buns, they might feel full, but their stomachs often feel a bit off afterward.
But with rice and rice noodles, the feeling of fullness is just right.
Deng Shirong took out two towels from his net bag, handed one to his second son, and said, "Wipe off your sweat quickly, or you'll catch a cold."
Deng Yunheng took the towel and wiped his sweat while sighing, "I never knew there were such delicious noodles in the world. It's really an eye-opener!"
Deng Shirong smiled and said, "Our country has thousands of years of culinary culture, and there are countless delicious rice noodles. In Guangxi alone, there are more than a dozen types of rice noodles with completely different flavors. Ol' buddy rice noodles are just one of them."
Deng Yunheng said eagerly, "If I get the chance in the future, I'll definitely try all of them."
(End of this chapter)