Chapter 264: The Scholarship Honor Roll is Going Crazy
It must be said that posting the scholarship honor roll in the ancestral hall proved highly enticing for clansmen with comfortable financial means.
Thus, on the second day after the clan meeting, people gradually sought out Deng Changqian, the donation coordinator, and cheerfully contributed their scholarship funds.
In later generations, Help and Correct Village (Brigade) became one of Double Prosperity Town's seven administrative villages, boasting over 1,600 households and a population nearing 7,000—of which around 4,300 bore the Deng surname, a testament to its prosperity.
Currently, the population hadn't yet reached those numbers, but the Deng clan within Help and Correct Brigade still exceeded 3,000 people.
The collective power of so many clansmen was formidable.
Especially with the quiet rivalry between villages! Though all were brothers of the same clan, everyone loved competing for such a prestigious opportunity to shine.
So, the day after the clan meeting, each village sprang into action. Within three days, over a hundred donors per village had contributed to the scholarship fund, with the minimum donation no less than 5 yuan—proof that this first wave of clansmen were relatively well off.
Following Clan Leader Deng Shirong's instructions, Deng Changqian recorded and tallied donations separately by village, then compiled two honor rolls: one for individual contributions and another for village totals.
In short, it was a personal ranking and a village ranking.
Those familiar with later eras understood the power of leaderboards. When QQ introduced its level ranking, users went wild grinding for higher tiers. The same frenzy applied to membership growth rankings, where people spent recklessly just to climb.
If mere QQ levels and membership perks could stir such fervor, let alone competitive game rankings—countless players obsessed over them.
The same logic applied here. Now that the clan had created donation honor rolls—not just for individuals but entire villages—who wouldn't want to compete? Which village would willingly sit at the bottom in front of their clansmen?
Thus, once the two lists were published, clansmen's enthusiasm for donations surged even further.
The quiet contest between villages intensified.
...
That afternoon.
Accompanied by several village youths, Deng Changbao arrived at the home of Deng Changqian, the donation coordinator. Cutting straight to the chase, he asked, "Brother Qian, who currently holds first place on the personal donation honor roll?"
Seeing the arrival of one of the clan's most prominent figures, Deng Changqian smiled. "The temporary leader is Uncle Yungui from our village, with a total donation of 388 yuan."
The youths behind Deng Changbao gasped. That sum was nearly enough to cover a wedding—truly staggering.
Deng Changbao wasn't surprised. Uncle Yungui and Uncle Jiu jointly operated the tile factory and had profited handsomely over the past two years. Uncle Yungui's personal earnings likely exceeded 160,000 to 170,000 yuan, so donating 388 yuan for clan education was hardly a burden.
Without rushing to comment, Deng Changbao pressed, "And which village leads the village donation rankings?"
Deng Changqian chuckled. "Right now, our Thatchfield Village still holds first place."
Deng Changbao nodded. "What's Feather Ridge's current rank?"
Deng Changqian answered instantly, having memorized the standings: "Feather Ridge is currently 12th."
That rank didn't sit well with Deng Changbao. As owner of a brick and tile factory, he'd earned far more than Uncle Yungui these past two years, making him Feather Ridge's undisputed wealthiest man. Supporting his village was non negotiable.
He pressed further, "Brother Qian, how much does Feather Ridge trail Thatchfield Village by in total donations?"
Deng Changqian replied, "Thatchfield's current total is 638 yuan, while Feather Ridge has donated 66 yuan."
Deng Changbao's lips twitched. The gap was massive. Even excluding Uncle Yungui's 388 yuan, Thatchfield's remaining sum dwarfed Feather Ridge's. After a moment's thought, he declared, "Brother Qian, mark me down for 688 yuan."
Deng Changqian's eyes widened. "You truly live up to your reputation as one of the Deng clan's foremost figures. Such generosity is remarkable! With leaders like you supporting our clan's education, the Deng family's future is bright!"
Flattered, Deng Changbao grinned as he pulled money from his pocket. "I'm just doing my part. If the Deng clan in Thatchfield thrives, others will respect us. That benefits everyone."
Deng Changqian nodded. "Well said."
After counting the money, Deng Changqian updated the ledger and adjusted both the village and personal rankings accordingly.
Once done, he announced cheerfully, "Congratulations, Boss Changbao! You now rank first on the individual donor honor roll, and Feather Ridge Village has jumped to first place in total contributions. I'll post the updated lists in the ancestral hall shortly for all clansmen to see."
Deng Changbao was pleased. For matters like this—where village prestige was at stake—the higher the profile, the better. His contribution would be remembered by the clan, strengthening his standing for any future needs.
After completing the donation, Deng Changbao left with his entourage.
Deng Changqian acted swiftly. Within half an hour, a large red poster appeared at the ancestral hall entrance, titled:
Honor Roll of the Thatchfield Deng Clan's Scholarship Donations
On the left was the individual donor ranking; on the right, the village totals.
The village rankings were listed exhaustively, but with numerous individual donors, only the top 50 made this interim honor roll.
The Deng ancestral hall stood beside Help and Correct Brigade's station—the heart of the community. Aside from distant hamlets, villagers often gathered here to socialize.
When Deng Changqian posted the honor roll at the ancestral hall, it immediately drew crowds of onlookers.
Within an hour, news of the rankings had spread—as if on wings—to every Deng clan village.
Though most rural families in this era struggled financially, nearly every village had at least one relatively prosperous household. Thatchfield Village had Deng Shirong and Deng Yungui; Feather Ridge Village had Deng Changbao—all prominent figures.
Other villages had their own tycoons too.
Take Yang's Hillside Village: Deng Yunfa and Deng Changshou, who jointly operated a bowl factory, had amassed considerable wealth in recent years.
Truth be told, during the early years of China's economic reforms, nearly all entrepreneurs turned profits—at first.
But after that golden era of easy money passed, most fell behind, unable to adapt to market shifts. Only those who evolved with the times emerged as true magnates.
In their previous lives, Deng Yunfa, Deng Changshou, and even Deng Yungui and Deng Shirong had eventually been edged out by market changes.
Yet at this moment, Deng Yunfa and Deng Changshou remained flush with success—Yang's Hillside Village's sole millionaires.
Now, they stood with fellow villagers at the village entrance, discussing the newly posted scholarship honor roll.
Initially, only economically comfortable clansmen had donated, with most village bosses (except Deng Yungui) holding back.
But after Feather Ridge's Deng Changbao seized the top individual spot and propelled his village to first place, the game changed.
Hearing this, Deng Yunfa and Deng Changshou could no longer stay idle.
"How much should we donate, Uncle Yunfa?" Deng Changshou asked.
Deng Yunfa pondered. "I'll match Yungui's 388 yuan. If you do the same, our individual ranks might not lead, but combined, we'll push Yang's Hillside Village to the top."
Deng Changshou slapped his thigh. "Done! Let's claim first place for our village!"
The surrounding villagers erupted in cheers. Though they hadn't contributed, collective pride swelled in their chests.
Similar scenes unfolded across villages. Bosses who'd planned to wait now scrambled to act, spurred by the public rankings.
In the following days, village positions seesawed violently: Thatchfield Village, Feather Ridge, Yang's Hillside, Ma Village, even Dam Brace Village all took turns at the summit.
No village held the top spot for long.
Yet Deng Changbao's individual lead remained unshaken.
As clan leader and architect of the honor roll, Deng Shirong bided his time. He'd make his move once the dust settled.
Meanwhile, he finalized detailed scholarship regulations. After consulting respected elders, they approved his original reward tiers (previously shared with his children).
The grant system, initially meant to support only impoverished high-achievers, was expanded to all academically gifted clan children after discussions.
Now, students ranking top three in finals would have tuition fully reimbursed plus cash prizes:
[1st place: 10 yuan
2nd/3rd place: 5 yuan
4th–10th place: tuition reimbursement only]
When announced, these measures caused an even greater sensation than the scholarship fund itself.
Yes, the scholarship sums were staggering—especially the 1,000 yuan reward for Tsinghua/Peking University admissions (enough for two dowries!). But most clansmen viewed those prizes as pipe dreams, particularly in villages yet to produce a single college graduate.
The grants, however, were attainable. Even cracking the top ten meant free schooling—an unprecedented incentive.
That school year, clansmen monitored their children's studies with unprecedented rigor. Gone were the days of lax supervision where learning depended solely on a child's initiative.
Now, with nearly every parent enforcing study hours, any child sneaking out to play found deserted streets—their peers all indoors, grinding through homework.
No more playtime until assignments were done.
Though academic improvements weren't yet visible, sustained discipline promised brighter futures.
...
Bobai County.
A group of travelers—young and old—emerged from the bus station lugging their belongings. These were none other than Zhang Zhenfa's family from New Dock Village.
With the exception of Mrs. Zhang, this marked everyone's first visit to the county seat. They gaped like typical country folk, marveling at the distant "skyscrapers" and the steady stream of vehicles before them.
Having spent half a month here previously, Mrs. Zhang now played tour guide with local pride: "This is Nanjie Road—not even the busy part of town. The real commercial hubs are Main Street Road, Culture Road, and Prosperity Road."
"Follow this straight to the intersection ahead. Take a left onto West City Road—that's where Xiuping's father-in-law's restaurant is. You'll spot the People's Cinema when you turn, and the restaurant sits right across from it."
Zhang Zhenfa watched bicycles swarm past while occasional motor vehicles rumbled by, sighing: "The county seat's scale puts Dragon Lake Street to shame. I wonder if our shop would fare better here..."
Zhang Shoumin nodded. "Likely. Our edge isn't pricing but superior service. Establishing that here could outperform Dragon Lake's business."
"Dad, are you considering relocating?" Zhang Shouguo interjected.
Both daughters-in-law tensed. Their current shop reliably brought in hundreds monthly—a comfortable sum. Starting anew here meant uncertainty, possibly even regression from their stable earnings.
Zhang Zhenfa waved dismissively. "Just thinking aloud. Our shop's steady now—no sense gambling on relocation unless business sours."
Mrs. Zhang clapped briskly. "Enough shop talk! Let's move!"
...
Ten minutes later, the Zhangs stood before Suifeng Restaurant's entrance, awestruck by the three-story edifice.
Though mentally prepared—knowing the in-laws' restaurant spanned over 1,000 square meters—the physical sight still stunned them.
From her vantage point at the entrance-side cashier counter, Zhang Xiuping spotted her family first. She tugged her husband along to greet them.
"Dad! Mom! Brothers! Sisters-in-law! Xiaojun! Xiaoshan!"
"Yuntai! Ah Ping!"
"Sis! Brother-in-law!"
After warm exchanges, the couple ushered everyone inside.
The exterior's grandeur paled against the interior's cavernous space—if this restaurant were a basketball, Dragon Lake's state-run eatery would barely qualify as a ping-pong ball.
Zhang Xiuping guided them to a private dining room, its refined decor eliciting fresh rounds of amazement.
Once seated, Deng Yuntai offered menus: "Mom, Dad, everyone—order whatever you'd like. Our chefs will prepare it specially."
Mrs. Zhang demurred: "No need for fuss, Yuntai. Have the kitchen decide."
He insisted: "This rare visit deserves proper hospitality. Please, choose freely."
Yet embarrassment kept the Zhangs from selecting.
With a laugh, Zhang Xiuping intervened: "Tai-ge, don't put them on the spot. I'll arrange it."
Waitresses Zhang Wenying and Zhang Wenjuan served tea and tableware.
Within minutes, the first dishes arrived—predictably, Bobai's signature white-cut meats.
Pre-cooked and simply reheated in broth before slicing, these cold platters with dipping sauces reached tables swiftly.
(Bobai white-cut comes two ways: sauce-dipped or dressed salad-style—both exquisite.)
As serving commenced, Zhang Xiuping nudged her husband: "Tai-ge, handle the register. I'll host my family."
Deng Yuntai nodded. "Everyone, enjoy your meal. I must attend to other guests."
Once he left, the elder daughter-in-law—seated nearest Zhang Xiuping—leaned in: "Ah Ping, this restaurant must generate serious income monthly, yes?"
Zhang Xiuping's amiable nature—and her past childcare help for her nieces/nephews—had forged warm bonds with both sisters-in-law. Her advantageous marriage only strengthened this rapport, making such personal queries acceptable.
The entire Zhang clan leaned forward curiously.
Zhang Xiuping smiled. "Business is decent—roughly a thousand monthly profit."
Stunned silence followed. Not at the amount's excess, but its seeming inadequacy.
Their Dragon Lake shop—purchased for under a thousand, footprint negligible compared to this—yielded three to four hundred monthly. How could this 300,000-yuan investment only double that?
The elder daughter-in-law fretted: "Xiuping, if 'decent' means mere hundreds monthly, recouping 300,000 would take decades! Is this sustainable?"
Zhang Zhenfa frowned. "Our tiny shop nets three to four hundred on pennies of investment. For this colossus to barely clear a thousand? Even at twenty thousand annually, recouping would take fifteen years! This seems..."
The daughters-in-law exchanged uneasy glances.
Zhang Xiuping laughed. "Mom, Dad—what notions! We're hardly losing money. This is just the beginning—monthly profits could reach two to five thousand soon!"
"Moreover, the investment isn't vanished. This three-story building and land hold intrinsic value. Even if operations failed, selling would recover costs."
Mrs. Zhang brightened. "Ah Ping's right! The capital's preserved. Excluding that, over a thousand monthly is splendid!"
The younger daughter-in-law added: "True—our shop's three to four hundred requires six to seven laborers. On average, each person does not make much. Here, just Ah Ping and her brother-in-law earn over a thousand—far superior per-capita."
The Zhang parents and brothers did the math, shoulders relaxing with relieved sighs.
(End of chapter)