Chapter 173: Even in Peking University, Where There Are So Many Geniuses, I Want to Be the Most Outstanding One
Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.
During these seven days, the open space in front of Deng Shirong's house was packed with people every day. Even the surrounding walls were crowded with onlookers, all eager to watch the show.
For these seven days, most families in the Help and Correct Brigade set aside their less important tasks, prepared their meals early in the morning, and then rushed over to watch the performance. When the actors took breaks at noon and in the afternoon, everyone would go home to eat, only to return quickly to secure their seats.
It's no wonder everyone was so enthusiastic. Entertainment was scarce in this era, and live performances like dramas were a rare treat, often only available once a year. Missing this opportunity meant not knowing when the next chance to watch such a show would come.
Moreover, this time, the troupe performed the classic folk love story The Legend of White Snake, which held an undeniable appeal for the villagers.
The 1992 adaptation of The Legend of the New White Snake, starring Zhao Yazhi, Ye Tong, and Chen Meiqi, later became a sensation across Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland China. In 2004, when CCTV-1 and CCTV-8 rebroadcast the series, it won the annual ratings championship for both channels.
This shows just how influential this drama was.
During these seven days, the villagers were so captivated by the performance that they lost their appetite, often only eating two bowls of porridge in the morning before rushing to secure their spots. Their enthusiasm was comparable to that of mahjong players in later generations.
Today, the Legend of White Snake, which had enthralled the villagers, finally came to an end.
After the troupe members finished their performance and left the stage, the villagers reluctantly dispersed in small groups.
"Uncle Jiu!"
After the audience had left, Director Zhou approached with the troupe members to bid farewell to the host. He said sincerely, "We'll be leaving now. This rural performance has been one of the most enjoyable in my career. The food and accommodation here have been excellent, and the audience's enthusiasm has been unmatched. I hope we'll have the chance to perform here again in the future."
Deng Shirong laughed and said, "Captain Zhou, your troupe's performance was truly outstanding. You captured the essence of The Legend of White Snake perfectly. Both you and our audience enjoyed it immensely. There's no need to wait for the future. I'd like to invite you to perform again in November."
Captain Zhou's earlier remark about hoping to perform again had been a polite gesture. In truth, he hadn't expected such an opportunity to arise again. But now, hearing Uncle Jiu's direct invitation, he was momentarily unsure whether the offer was genuine.
"Uncle Jiu, are you serious?"
Deng Shirong nodded and smiled, "Captain Zhou, as you can see, my eldest daughter-in-law has been pregnant for several months. I originally planned to invite the projection team to show a movie to celebrate once my grandchild is born.
But after watching your troupe's wonderful performances these past few days, I discussed it with my eldest daughter-in-law, and we decided to forgo the movie. Instead, we'd like to invite you to perform another play. The duration will still be seven days, and you can choose the play. Does that work for you?"
Seeing that the offer was genuine, Captain Zhou replied happily, "Of course! Thank you, Uncle Jiu, for your trust. We'll be in touch to discuss the details."
Deng Shirong said, "Alright, I'm just giving you a heads-up for now. We'll talk specifics later."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Director Zhou left with the troupe members, delighted.
…
After the drama ended, Mrs. Zhang, who had enjoyed a few days of comfort, also prepared to return home.
Zhang Xiuping tried to persuade her to stay, "Mom, there's nothing urgent at home. Why don't you stay a few more days?"
Of course, Mrs. Zhang wanted to stay. Life at her in-laws' was comfortable, with good food and accommodations. But having already stayed for seven or eight days, she felt it would be impolite to extend her visit further.
So, Mrs. Zhang made an excuse, saying, "Xiuping, there's still a lot to do at home. Your eldest brother and his wife are busy with the business. I need to go back to help with cooking and feeding the chickens and ducks. When you're ready to give birth, I'll come to help and stay longer then."
Seeing that she couldn't persuade her mother to stay, Zhang Xiuping said, "Well, my eldest and second sisters-in-law are busy with the store now, so they really are swamped. Besides, I'm pregnant, so it's not convenient for me to go back to visit you and Dad. Anyway, come see me whenever you have time!"
"Alright, I will. I'll come visit when I can!"
…
Following the seven days of dramatic performances, the news of Deng Yunheng's admission to Peking University spread throughout Double Prosperity.
While countless parents were envious, they all held Deng Yunheng up as an example for their children, making him the quintessential "ideal child".
…
After seven days of bustling activity, Deng Shirong's home returned to its usual peace.
With their second brother as a role model, Deng Yunsong and Deng Yunheng studied even harder than before.
Previously, their motivation to study hard had been primarily to earn the cash rewards their father offered.
But ever since the admission letter from Peking University arrived, the two brothers had seen how glorious their second brother had become. Now, they studied hard not just for the rewards but also to gain admission to Peking University like their second brother and experience the honor of having the clan celebrate their achievements.
Compared to these two brothers, Deng Yunhua, whose academic performance hadn't improved, could only "sigh in despair." In truth, he had worked hard during the period when his father first set the reward standards.
But as the saying goes, academic success often depends more on talent than effort, and hard work doesn't always yield results.
If hard work guaranteed noticeable improvement, many students would be motivated to study. After all, who wouldn't want to be a top student?
But the key issue was that despite their efforts, the results were minimal, and they felt no significant improvement in their performance. Over time, their motivation waned, and it was only natural for them to give up.
As for Deng Yunzhu, the underachiever, there's no need to say more. She had already resigned herself to her fate. As long as she could finish junior high and high school smoothly, that would be enough.
There was no point in dreaming about anything else, as it was futile.
Among the current students, Deng Yunzhen and her sister-in-law Zhang Xiuping, who were studying at home, were working harder than ever.
Although they didn't have to take exams and had never considered attending college, their father had said that they needed to at least master high school-level knowledge to establish themselves in society.
Of course, there was also Deng Yunheng, who had been admitted to Peking University. He didn't slack off just because he had been accepted to the best university in the country, nor did he lose himself in the flattery of his clansmen. He continued to hold himself to high standards, constantly reviewing and consolidating his high school knowledge to prepare for the challenges of university life.
As his father had said, getting into Peking University was just the starting point. The next step was to compete with outstanding students from across the country. Only those who stood out from the crowd would be the true chosen ones, with limitless future prospects.
Deng Yunheng kept his father's words firmly in mind.
He secretly vowed that even in Peking University, a place teeming with geniuses, he would be the most outstanding one.
(End of this chapter)