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Today, Zhang Wanyou hosted their neighbors, setting up four tables for lunch. By midday, guests started arriving one after another to enjoy the meal. Zhang Lan, her sister, and Geng Lianhua had prepared various home-cooked dishes, opting not to hire a professional chef. However, they added a few meat dishes to the menu to cater to the larger crowd.
“Uncle, you’re truly fortunate. Who would have thought at your age you’d be living in such a nice house. Now, your children and grandchildren have a place to stay when they visit. Even if Zhou Ping shouted her lungs out, I doubt you’d hear her. It’s really great,” a neighbor remarked with a chuckle, earning laughter from the group.
While envious, the neighbors were genuinely happy for the old man. They admired his daughter’s filial piety, which led to their comfortable living arrangements. Some even considered building similar spacious houses in the future for themselves, recognizing the comfort and contentment such a home could bring.
With a contented smile on his weathered face, Zhang Wanyou expressed, “I owe it to all of you for your help. Without your assistance, I wouldn’t have moved in so quickly. Now, I no longer have to endure my daughter-in-law’s scolding. It feels so peaceful. My daughter is truly remarkable, and I’ve benefitted from it. Feel free to visit anytime. I’ve moved quite far from you all now. It’s not like before when we could chat over the wall.”
Someone in the group spoke up, “Old man, be content. If you ever feel like visiting, it’s just a few steps away. If we have guests and run out of space, we’ll send them to your place.”
The crowd burst into laughter at the remark, “If you’re bold enough, go build one yourself!”
After showing the neighbors around the yard, they set up the tables and began serving the food. Since the weather was pleasant, they arranged the tables in the courtyard, allowing everyone to chat freely.
As it was common knowledge that the Wang family funded the construction of the house, Wang Zhenhe, as the homeowner, went around toasting everyone. After Zhang Lan and her sister prepared the delicious meal, the family sat down at a separate table to enjoy their food.
“Auntie, you should build a house too. Qu Kai is getting older, and you should prepare a house for your son,” Wang Qian suggested.
The mention of building a house made Zhang Hua cringe. It would indeed cost a significant amount of money, and their current home, with five large rooms, was sufficient for now. Once the elderly couple passed away, the house would be hers. Building a new house wasn’t a priority at the moment.
“Wang Qian, Auntie doesn’t need to rush into building a house. Let’s wait until your cousin finds a wife. The current house is big enough for the family,” Wang Zhenhe intervened, understanding Zhang Hua’s reluctance to spend a hefty sum on construction.
Knowing Zhang Hua’s financial concerns, Wang Qian didn’t press the issue further. They could revisit the idea in a few years, as they were in no rush to build a house. It was a decision influenced by circumstances; they couldn’t always be around her grandmother, especially given Zhou Ping’s outspoken nature. It was better to let the elderly enjoy their time and live a peaceful life.
Eighteen-year-old Qu Wan had blossomed into a young woman, bearing a striking resemblance to her mother, albeit with a slight lean frame. Watching her niece happily serving her food, Zhang Lan couldn’t help but think of her eldest daughter in the capital and wondered if she was enjoying a good meal.
“Wan’er, eat more. Why do you never seem to gain weight?” Zhang Lan encouraged her niece.
Qu Wan, now an adult, spoke softly, “Auntie, no matter how much I eat, I just don’t seem to put on weight. It’s something I worry about too.”
In rural areas, being too thin was often perceived as a sign of poor health, causing concern among the older generation. Zhang Hua also fretted over her daughter’s slender frame, despite ensuring she had a good diet that didn’t seem to have much effect.
Aware that her niece was naturally slim, Zhang Lan reassured her, “It’s alright, Wan’er. You’re beautiful just the way you are. You won’t have trouble finding a good match. Sister, has anyone mentioned potential suitors for Wan’er?”
Discussing her daughter’s marriage prospects, Zhang Hua couldn’t help but smile, “There have been a few proposals, but my husband and I feel she’s still young. We’ll wait a couple more years before considering. Getting married too early means she won’t have the same carefree time she enjoyed as a single woman, waiting on the elderly and the young at her in-laws’ house. Let’s delay a bit and let her enjoy life for a few more days.”
Zhang Hua genuinely cared for her daughter, and Zhang Lan understood her sister’s sentiments. If it were her daughter, she would also struggle with the decision, wanting to cherish every moment with her child. The idea of allowing sons to explore the world while pampering daughters at home was a common belief.
Mingyuan chimed in, “Auntie, aren’t you worried that all the good young men will be taken away?”
Confident in her daughter’s appearance, Zhang Hua felt assured that although her children might not match up to her sister’s two daughters, they were still highly regarded in the village. She expressed, “No worries, there are plenty of good young men around. We’ll take our time and choose carefully.”
While the family conversed and enjoyed their meal, at the other tables, Wang Zhenhe, Qu Cungen, and the grandfather kept the guests company. Everyone was neighbors, so if something was lacking, they could simply head to the kitchen and help themselves.
After finishing the meal, the family had to leave as Zhang Lan needed to return home for lessons with the children.
The convening of the 11th Plenum of the 3rd Central Committee in December marked a significant turning point in the era, establishing the ideological line of emancipating thoughts and seeking truth from facts. It also rejected the erroneous policy of the “two whatevers” and decisively halted the use of the slogan “class struggle as the key link.”
Upon hearing this news, Wang Qian couldn’t contain her joy. With the economic development set to enter a new phase, she looked forward to the future.
As the winter break approached, Wang Qian asked her desk mate Zhu Ling, whose mother worked at the railway bureau, to purchase two sleeper tickets heading south. While not as daunting as the spring rush, getting train tickets during this period was still challenging.
Once they were ready, father and daughter boarded the southbound train. Wang Qian’s goal was clear: to explore the electronic market in the south. With the establishment of a special economic zone after the New Year, Shenzhen, currently a small fishing village, was on the brink of a monumental transformation.
“Dad, Guangzhou is near Hong Kong, and there’s a lot of smuggled goods coming in. I want to explore if I can bring in some electronic watches, recorders, and sell them. This way, my profits could potentially double,” Wang Qian explained her strategic plan to her father.
Before departing, Wang Zhenhe researched about Guangzhou and inquired with Yang Mingxuan to gather information about the south. The situation was quite similar to what his daughter had shared. While he was eager to make money, the unfamiliarity of the new area left him feeling a bit nervous and anxious.
“Wan’er, your idea is good. However, we don’t know where to sell in that area, and the success of the merchandise isn’t guaranteed. We need to understand the market better. Once we arrive, we’ll inquire and see how others are doing before deciding whether to make a purchase,” Wang Zhenhe advised his daughter.
Wang Qian understood the risks, acknowledging that counterfeits were currently limited but could increase in the future. Seizing the opportunity to source goods now was crucial. “Dad, if it’s good, we should stock up. Instead of going back to the production team, we can directly sell these products in our other house. I’m confident the sales will be successful,” she suggested.
While unsure, Wang Zhenhe was intrigued by his daughter’s proposal and silently agreed. As the father and daughter whispered to each other, the other passengers on the train minded their own business, either reading or resting in their berths.
The train journey to Guangzhou wasn’t short, allowing the passengers in the same carriage to get acquainted. Wang Zhenhe’s gesture of sharing fruits won over the passengers, as trust wasn’t in short supply at that moment. Wang Qian gleaned some information about Guangzhou from the fellow travelers, including the presence of a university student whose family sold electronic products nearby.
This information eased Wang Zhenhe’s concerns. Hearing positive reviews about the products and learning that many out-of-towners bought from there brought a sense of relief. Upon reaching Guangzhou, instead of heading to a hotel, the father and daughter followed the student to his neighborhood. After finding a market for electronic goods, Wang Zhenhe was amazed by the variety, expanding his horizons and experiencing a world beyond the city limits for the first time.
“Let’s walk around, observe, and inquire more. We’ll decide where to source from based on the best prices,” Wang Zhenhe listened to his daughter’s instructions and began exploring the different stalls with Wang Qian. As they neared the last stall, Wang Qian unexpectedly spotted a woman who had been out of touch for several years—Xiu Li, sitting elegantly at the last stall.
Xiu Li had transformed significantly, with her wavy hair and fashionable attire, exuding an aura of prosperity with a faint smile on her fair face.
“Is that Aunt Xiu Li? Dad, do you think that’s her?” Wang Qian asked cautiously, tugging at Wang Zhenhe. She was uncertain; mistaking someone for Xiu Li could lead to an embarrassing situation.
Startled by his daughter’s pull, Wang Zhenhe focused on the woman in the distance, carefully observing her. Confirming her identity, he replied, “Wan’er, you’re right. That’s Xiu Li. She hasn’t changed much over these years. Should we go and say hello?”
Concerned about potentially embarrassing Xiu Li, Wang Zhenhe hesitated. He feared that their sudden appearance might make her uncomfortable, especially considering their unknown past in this new place.
However, Wang Qian saw things differently. Recognizing someone made things easier. She wasn’t burdened by the same worries as her father. Considering the circumstances and the possibility that Xiu Li might be involved in smuggling, she felt optimistic.
“Auntie, do you recognize me?” Wang Qian hurried over to Xiu Li with a smile.
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