Chapter 204: Blessings from the Previous Life
Thatchfield Village.
As the second month of the lunar calendar arrived, the straight-growing lychee trees and the Cinnamon Flavor lychees planted behind the homes of Deng Shirong and Deng Changfu began to bloom.
At this time, Deng Changfu and his family stood on their lychee-covered mountain, gazing at the sea of lychee flowers and inhaling the sweet fragrance wafting through the air. Smiles spread across their faces.
Before the lychee trees bloomed, the family had gone up the mountain to prune the branches and leaves. When they had purchased the saplings, experts had advised them that in the first year of planting, it was best to control the growth of branches and leaves to prevent the trees from bearing too much fruit, which could hinder their development.
Deng Changfu's family had followed this advice, as had Deng Shirong's niece and nephew-in-law. Now, with the lychee trees in full bloom, everything was under control.
Deng Changfu stood in front of a lychee tree and asked, "Dad, look how beautiful the flowers are. How many fruits do you think this tree will produce?"
Deng Yunqiang pondered for a moment before replying, "If there are no pests or diseases and the fruit develops normally, each tree should produce about three kilograms of fruit."
Deng Changfu did a quick calculation and said happily, "That's not bad. Our family has planted a thousand trees. If each tree yields three kilograms, that's three thousand kilograms of fruit. If we sell it to the supply and marketing cooperative at thirty or forty cents per kilogram, we could make over a thousand yuan!"
Changfu's mother's eyes lit up at this. "If we can make more than a thousand yuan, we'll have earned back all the money we invested. And as the trees grow bigger each year, we'll make even more!"
Guan Yongying smiled and said, "Mom, the more we earn, the better. Uncle Jiu told us all this before we even started planting."
Changfu's mother nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, Uncle Jiu has been so good to our family. If anyone else had such a way to make money, they'd keep it a secret. But Uncle Jiu shared everything with us before he even made any money himself."
Deng Changfu laughed. "Uncle Jiu's vision is far beyond anyone else's in the village. I doubt he even sees the small profits from growing lychees as significant."
Guan Yongying agreed. "That's right. Just look at Uncle Yuntai. As a master craftsman at the vat factory, he earns over 200 yuan a month—at least 2,500 yuan a year. But even with that income, Uncle Jiu had him quit to pursue other opportunities. You can imagine how high Uncle Jiu's ambitions are."
Deng Changfu said, "Under Uncle Jiu's guidance, our family has already taken the lead. As long as we take good care of these lychee trees, we'll be wealthy in a few years!"
Changfu's mother added, "When we make some money from selling lychees this year, we'll treat Yongying to a good meal. Our family has been living frugally all year. Even when Yongying gave birth to twins, we didn't celebrate properly. I feel really bad about that."
Guan Yongying quickly replied, "Mom, don't say that. My family has treated me well. When I was in confinement last year, I ate almost ten chickens. That's better treatment than many women in the village get."
Changfu's mother sighed. "Yongying, my Ah Fu is so lucky to have married you."
She was extremely satisfied with her daughter-in-law. Guan Yongying was hardworking and unspoiled, capable of handling any task after marriage. When the family was in financial difficulty, she even contributed her dowry money. And she had given birth to twin grandsons for the family. What mother-in-law wouldn't love a daughter-in-law like that?
Guan Yongying smiled. "Mom, I'm the lucky one to have married Brother Fu and to have elders like you in my life."
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law exchanged praises, and the family was filled with joy. Such harmonious family relationships couldn't be bought with any amount of money.
...
After signing the contract with the county construction company, Deng Shirong bought three more bunk beds. Last time, he had only bought four beds, leaving one room empty. Since he planned to have his nephew and his late wife's nephews and nieces come to work, he needed to arrange accommodations for them.
There were four rooms upstairs. Two had wardrobes—one for the eldest son and daughter-in-law, and one for the eldest daughter. The other two rooms each had two beds, perfect for the four nephews and their families. The room downstairs was reserved for Deng Shirong, though he wouldn't stay in the county town for long. It was there for his occasional visits.
Once the beds were set up, Deng Shirong boarded the bus home.
Upon returning home, the children greeted him warmly.
Deng Yunzhen asked, "Dad, why were you in the county town for so long this time?"
Deng Shirong smiled. "I wasn't in the county town the whole time. I also went to the capital to see Yunheng."
Deng Yunzhen's eyes widened. "So you went to Beijing! No wonder you were gone for over a month."
Deng Yuntai asked, "Dad, is Yunheng adjusting well to school?"
Deng Shirong nodded. "Why wouldn't he be? In just half a year, he's already made a lot of friends."
As they spoke, Zhang Xiuping handed her father-in-law a cigarette pipe.
Deng Shirong took a few puffs before getting down to business. "The restaurant in the county has started construction. It's located diagonally across from the People's Cinema, next to the Sugar and Tobacco Company. Do you remember the area?"
Deng Yuntai, who had scoured every corner of the county last year in search of a store, was the first to recall. "I remember. West City Road leads west to Water Chime Commune and east to Prosperity Road, right?"
Deng Shirong smiled. "That's the place. There's a large vacant lot diagonally across from the People's Cinema. That's where our family's restaurant will be."
Deng Yunzhen and Zhang Xiuping also had a vague memory of the location.
Deng Yunzhen asked, "Dad, how long will it take to build the restaurant?"
Deng Shirong replied, "It'll be completed within three months. After you spend May Day at home, you can go upstairs to prepare for the opening."
Zhang Xiuping asked, "Dad, have you thought of a name for the restaurant?"
Deng Shirong nodded. "I've decided to call it Suifeng (With the Wind). What do you think of the name?"
Zhang Xiuping's eyes lit up. "Dad, that's a great name!"
Deng Yuntai also praised it. "The name sounds elegant and classy."
Deng Yunzhen nodded in agreement. Everyone thought the name was well chosen.
Deng Shirong, of course, didn't mention that he had borrowed the name from a famous restaurant that had opened in the county in the 1990s. That restaurant, also located on West City Road, had left a deep impression on him when his third son had taken him there for a meal.
(End of this chapter)