Chapter 145: 1990: A Family by the Spring Chapter 145: Memories of the Old Street Alley Siheyuan, Frozen at This Moment

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

September 1st was the start of the school year; Chen Xiulan had originally been scheduled to work, but since there was a photo to be taken, she made time to bring her son along to accompany her maternal grandmother for a family portrait.

It was rare for the whole family to be together, and her maternal grandmother was very happy; she deliberately put on a qipao she usually couldn't bear to wear, one she had treasured for a long time and kept at the bottom of her trunk, pinned her hair up with a wooden hairpin, and dressed herself especially mature and elegant.

Lin Xiyu and her female cousin also put on pretty dresses, standing on either side of her maternal grandmother, affectionately linking arms with her, like a pair of clingy sister flowers.

The whole family came to stand under the grape vine; her maternal aunt held the baby, and Xu Yi squatted in front of her maternal grandmother, snatching the best spot.

"Everyone smile."

Guben held the latest model, fully automatic point-and-shoot camera to take a photo for the whole family.

The whole family cooperated very well facing the camera, showing the most perfect smiles.

"Click."

Guben pressed the shutter, capturing the beautiful moment.

"Xiao Bin, come over too, and take a photo with us."

Her maternal grandmother sat in the chair without moving, waving at Guben.

"Okay."

Guben did not refuse his maternal grandmother's kindness; he handed the camera to a tree-moving master to let him help take the photo, and he himself hurriedly ran over, standing beside his male cousin.

"You're taller than me; stand inside."

His male cousin smiled kindly at him, moved himself outward a bit, and made some space.

Guben was not affected; he went along with his cousin's intention and switched positions with him, just standing behind Lin Xiyu.

Lin Xiyu was pleasantly surprised; she turned back and smiled at him with a grin.

Guben pursed his lips and smiled, dotingly ruffling her head.

"Tsk."

His male cousin's teeth were a bit sour; he tsked once, unaccustomed.

Lin Xiyu's ear root turned red; she stood up straight, embarrassed.

"Everyone look at me, shout together, qiezi..."

The tree-moving master struck a pose, holding the camera, extremely exaggeratedly mobilizing his emotions, leading the way by grinning.

"Hahaha."

The whole family was amused by his exaggerated expression, laughing very happily.

"Click."

The camera's shutter was pressed once more; the memory of living in the old street alley siheyuan was finally frozen at this moment.

—

The whole family busied themselves packing, packing all the household items they could take into boxes, and loading them onto the pickup truck.

Although all the large furniture had been replaced with new ones, there were still many small pieces of luggage.

Clothes and bedding, pots and pans and basins all had to be taken; before leaving, Uncle wandered around the yard one more round and gathered quite a few things he thought were useful.

"Why keep these pieces of junk?"

His maternal aunt glared at him disdainfully: "They're things other people threw away and don't want; only you think they're precious."

"This saw isn't bad; sawing wood with it works quite well."

Uncle chuckled: "It should be something Wang Daye left behind and forgot to take; I'll keep it for him first. Nails are also somewhat useful; hanging things on the wall is convenient..."

"Look at your useless look."

His maternal aunt laughed in anger: "Almost like a scavenger."

"A broken home is worth ten thousand strings of cash."

Uncle had his own reasons: "Don't underestimate these things; if you really need them, they're hard to buy. Except at the hardware store, you can't buy them anywhere else. Also, there's the Telephone Booth; I'll go take another round so nothing is left behind."

"Uncle, don't busy yourself; I'll go."

Lin Xiyu saw her maternal aunt's complexion was not good, and she still wanted to spray at him; she volunteered to help him ease the embarrassment.

"I'll help you."

Guben held back a smile and went with her to the Telephone Booth.

—

The phone and lines inside the Telephone Booth had already been removed and relocated to a new area.

The booth was a mess inside, with only some miscellaneous items left.

Lin Xiyu pulled open the drawer, searching through them one by one to see if anything had been missed; unexpectedly, there really was a surprise.

"Wow, this is my favorite Weng Meiling sticker picture; I looked for it for a long time and couldn't find it. Turns out it was here."

"You still like this?"

Guben glanced at it and sniffed disdainfully.

"You don't understand..."

Lin Xiyu puffed her cheeks and unhappily retorted: "It's us girls' happiness."

In the early 80s, with the hot broadcast of The Legend of the Condor Heroes, Hong Kong and Taiwan Ming Dynasty star sticker pictures were popular, among which the most popular was undoubtedly Weng Meiling.

Lin Xiyu still remembered to this day the happiness of buying a sticker picture with pocket money she had saved for a long time.

Back then, not only was it her; as long as it was a little girl, there was none who didn't like star sticker pictures.

Whoever owned a postcard photographed by Weng Meiling that was especially beautiful and eye-catching was the happiest kid in the whole alley.

—

"What's so good about Weng Meiling? Not as good as Little Tigers."

Guben found it funny and pinched her puffed-up cheeks.

"Eh?!"

Lin Xiyu, rarely surprised, said: "You like Little Tigers too?"

"What do you mean 'too'?"

Guben smiled and asked back: "Does that mean I can't have any interests or hobbies, or songs I like to listen to?"

"I thought only girls would like Little Tigers."

Lin Xiyu's big eyes blinked, not hiding her love for Little Tigers at all: "They're all idol singers, they're handsome, and they sing well..."

"Hmph."

Guben deliberately teased her: "I didn't expect my girlfriend to be a star-chaser. Is Little Tigers better looking than me?"

"Uh."

Lin Xiyu stopped smiling, feeling a bit conflicted.

"Think it through before answering."

Guben narrowed his eyes, the threat obvious: "Are they better looking, or am I?"

"Of course, they are..."

Lin Xiyu smiled mischievously, took him by surprise, pushed him away with one shove, and rushed out of the telephone booth.

"Hmph, you sure run fast..."

Guben laughed in anger, but since the pickup truck was parked right at the door and the whole family was there, he gave up the idea of chasing after her.

—

The newly developed buildings on Qinglong Back Street were an open residential compound, six stories high, with red roofs and gray walls, arranged in order.

Building Number Ten, transferred by Wang Fan to Chen Xiulan, was right next to Qinglong Street Primary School.

Walking east from the school's main gate led to Lishan Road. Walking west for less than two hundred meters brought you to the moat, and Daming Lake was only a ten-odd minutes' walk away.

Qinglong Primary School was on the south side of the road, and directly opposite to the north was the Small Commodity Wholesale Market, soon to be completed.

Judging by the living environment, although this street wasn't wide, it was well-connected in all directions, with a very superior location.

—

The pickup truck stopped at the entrance of Unit One, Building Number Ten, Qinglong Hou Street. Grandpa Fu sat in the passenger seat and, through the window, glanced at the new home they were about to move into.

"The old lady is quite blessed; from the demolition she can live in such a nice new building."

The driver was Da Yifu's colleague. Seeing that the others hadn't arrived by bicycle yet, he lit a cigarette and chatted cheerfully with Grandpa Fu.

"It's all thanks to my daughter."

Grandpa Fu couldn't stand the smell of smoke, pushed open the car door, and got out on her own.

"This house isn't cheap; buying one must cost tens of thousands, right?"

The driver was fairly tactful; after getting out, he stood a bit farther away from Grandpa Fu.

"I don't know the exact price."

Grandpa Fu didn't say it directly: "I'm old now, I don't worry about that anymore."

"Heh heh."

The driver saw through Grandpa Fu's perfunctoriness, gave an embarrassed laugh twice, and didn't ask further.

"Ding ling ling."

Lin Xiyu and the others rode their bicycles over afterward.

Cousin rode the fastest. Seeing the pickup truck, he pedaled hard a few times, rushed ahead of everyone, and made a sudden stop in front of Grandpa Fu.

"Ride slowly..."

Grandpa Fu was startled by him, smiling and scolding: "You're about to get married, so hot-headed, and still so immature."

"Brother, what's the use of riding so fast?"

Female Cousin followed closely behind, smiling and teasing him: "The keys are with me; even if you come earlier, you can't get in."

"Stop the nonsense."

Cousin's ears turned red, and he used Grandpa Fu as an excuse: "Hurry up and open the door. Don't you see Grandpa Fu waiting at the doorway?"

Female Cousin jumped off her bicycle. Under everyone's expectant gazes, she hummed a little tune and opened the door with great ceremony.

"Welcome, relatives, to Grandpa Fu's new home. Please come in."

—

"Wow, the renovation is so beautiful. It's paved with floor tiles, the doors and windows are trimmed, and the home appliances and furniture are all new."

"A 26-inch color TV, and a refrigerator too. If only we could install an air conditioner."

"Stop dreaming. Imported air conditioners cost ten or twenty thousand each. Who can afford that?"

"Didn't Gree come out with a domestic brand? Maybe the price will drop a lot in the future, and we common folks can also live the good life of staying home under a quilt with the air conditioner on in summer."

"Staying home under a quilt with the air conditioner on? That's too damn luxurious."

"The first floor is cool. In summer, we don't need an air conditioner. Grandpa Fu's house never had one, and we've still made it through year after year."

"That's a siheyuan. A building is different; it's not as ventilated as the old house..."

"This house is also quite good. It's well-ventilated north and south, with two balconies. The north balcony has a stove for cooking, and the south balcony is for drying clothes. We can also raise a few pots of flowers..."

"The small courtyard isn't bad either. The area is quite large, probably seven or eight square meters. Planting a pomegranate tree is more than enough, and we could even build a small house to store miscellaneous items."

"It's a pity to store miscellaneous items. This courtyard faces the street and is next to the primary school. If we build it and open a back door to sell snacks and stationery, we're sure to make money."

「Selling stationery won't work; right next door is the Small Commodity Wholesale Market, stationery can't fetch a price, so I can only sell some ice cream, snacks... 」

「Why not apply for another public phone? There are quite a few people in the residential area, so the demand for phone calls must be high. 」

「Without a telephone booth, applying for a home phone costs too much money; it's not worth it. 」

「Public phones aside, let's first build the small house and open a small shop; Auntie can stay home with the children and earn some income too. 」

——

The whole family entered the door, all stunned by the new house with floor tiles laid and bright windows and clean desks, chattering happily without stopping.

「The house is good, but it's a pity the toilet has no window, it's a bit small, standing inside feels a bit stifling, not as spacious as the kind with a bathtub on TV. 」

「Be content; being able to bathe is already good, at least we don't have to squeeze into the public bathhouse anymore. 」

「How about the fourth floor? Have you gone up to look? Is the layout the same as the first floor? 」

「Not the same; the fourth floor only has two rooms, not as large an area as the first floor. 」

「Come, let's go take a look, and on the way move some of Second Maternal Aunt's things up first. 」

——

Cousin had good stamina and was full of energy; while speaking, he impatiently rushed out the door, carrying things up to the fourth floor, Sister opened the door for him and followed him up.

Lin Xiyu did not go upstairs, waiting alone outside the unit door; Guben was responsible for transplanting trees and arrived a bit later.

When the truck arrived downstairs, the family had already neatly made the beds and arranged pots, pans, bowls, and basins and other miscellaneous items tidily; the rooms were clean and fresh, looking especially pleasing to the eye.

——

「Tired? Have some water. 」

Lin Xiyu saw Guben and the two masters had finished planting the trees, brewed a pot of new tea, carried it on a tray to the yard, and served each of the three a cup.

「Not tired. 」

Guben wiped the sweat from his face, took the teacup, and drank it dry in one breath.

「You've worked hard; come eat at home together at noon. 」

Lin Xiyu, thoughtful and gentle: 「There's a place selling Maju Shaobing not far away; I'll go buy some shaobing and make some soup... 」

「No need. 」

Guben had his own plans: 「Later we still need to go back and move the other tree and the grape vine together; after we're done, I'll treat the two masters to a meal outside... 」

「Alright. 」

Lin Xiyu smiled understandingly: 「You handle it as you see fit. 」

「Once the Pomegranate Tree is moved over, it will truly become a tree of longing. 」

Guben's eyes and brows were gentle, and he smiled and teased her: 「From now on our two families will be far apart and can't see each other often; when you miss me, you'll only be able to gaze at this tree and think of the person. 」

「Go do your work. 」

Lin Xiyu saw him speaking without restraint in front of outsiders; her ear root turned red, and she pushed and shooed him: 「Stop talking nonsense here; Grandfather and Grandmother are still waiting for you to go home and plant trees. 」

「Come to my house tonight. 」

Guben was reluctant to part with her, and smiled again: 「After dinner it's just time to go to Wu Meng's house and take a look, to see if the qipao is done. 」

「How could it be that fast. 」

Lin Xiyu hesitated a bit: 「Wu Meng said her mother needs at least about a week before it can be done. 」

Guben continued to coax her: 「Don't you want to see what the grape trellis and Pomegranate Tree look like after being moved and planted at my house? 」

Lin Xiyu was a bit tempted: 「You're moving the grape trellis too? 」

「Of course... 」

Guben took it as a matter of course: 「Otherwise where would the grape vine hang? My family doesn't have that much bamboo to build a trellis for it. 」

「Why not just forget it... 」

Lin Xiyu was still a bit conflicted.

Today moving into the new home, the whole family rarely gathered together; maybe they would all stay, eat together at night, and celebrate.

「Xiao Bin, come eat at home tonight. 」

She was just thinking about it when Da Yifu came out of the room laughing heartily: 「This afternoon I'll go to the Vegetable Market to buy some fresh meat and vegetables, and buy some bean sprouts, warm up a pot for the old lady, and we'll have a couple of drinks... 」

It is an old Jinan custom that when moving into a new home, relatives and friends come to celebrate, called warming the pot.

Warming the pot requires eating bean sprouts, symbolizing taking root and sprouting.

「Alright. 」

Guben was just looking for an excuse to stay, and without thinking agreed.

「Drinking alcohol? 」

Lin Xiyu thought of her family's drinking capacity and worried for him.

Da Yifu, once at the wine table, seemed like a different person, not stopping until he got people drunk.

Guben tonight probably couldn't avoid getting drunk even if he wanted to.

「It's fine; if you get drunk, there's you. 」

Guben saw her worry and smiled indifferently: 「What do I have to fear at your house? Even if someone wants to take advantage, I won't suffer a loss... 」

This tofu is not that tofu!

Lin Xiyu didn't know why, but instantly understood his meaning, her cheeks flushed red.

「You go, go quickly; my temple is small and can't hold a great Buddha like you. 」