Traveling back to 1966, starting by living in a cowshed.

Chapter 192 Lin Zhou's Curiosity

Lin Zhou put the documents aside, held Su Wanqing's hand, and said comfortingly:

"I know you're anxious, and so am I. But I haven't finished taking care of things since I came back to Beijing. The Zhonghua Building is about to be completed, and I'm preparing to hold a celebration banquet here."

"Let's wait a little longer. After the celebration banquet this Sunday, we'll head back to Hong Kong next Monday, okay?"

Su Wanqing nodded, her anxiety easing slightly.

"That's all we can do. I just don't know if the work over there can be delayed for another week, in case anything goes wrong."

"Don't worry, Secretary Chen has been with me for so many years. She is reliable and steady. She will handle everything that can be handled first. If something really needs our signature, she will put it aside for the time being. There won't be any problems."

Lin Zhou comforted him, "Besides, we can finish processing these documents by working overtime when we get back."

"Don't be too anxious. It's a rare trip back to Beijing, so spend more time with the kids. Also, call your cousin out so you can all go shopping together."

"Zhao Jianjun and the other six should be back from visiting their families. We'll have them come with us. These days, the educated youth returning to the city don't have many jobs, so I'll feel at ease with them protecting us. As for work, we'll talk about that when we get back."

Su Wanqing smiled and leaned on Lin Zhou's shoulder: "That's right. It's rare for me to come back, so I should spend some time with my cousin."

The two sat together and chatted for a while about everyday things, creating a warm and peaceful atmosphere.

The next day.

After breakfast, Lin Zhou felt a bit bored and decided to go out for a walk. Su Wanqing was going to take her son to find Su Wanrong to go shopping together.

We were just talking about Zhao Jianjun yesterday, and he came back early this morning. Lin Zhou then asked him to protect Su Wanqing and Lin Xiaofeng.

Then he went out alone. Pedestrians came and went on the street, creating a lively and peaceful scene. Lin Zhou walked slowly along the street, looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar street scene, feeling a mix of emotions.

The changes in Beijing will become increasingly significant in the future. Many high-rise buildings will rise from the ground, and the streets will become wider and cleaner. However, many of the old hutongs and old houses will be demolished, and only a small portion will be preserved. This is undoubtedly a trend of development.

Lin Zhou wandered aimlessly, and before he knew it, he had arrived near the courtyard house at No. 95.

As Lin Zhou was walking, he suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure not far away, leading two children. The figure was wearing a fashionable long dress and had her hair styled in large waves; it was Lou Xiao'e.

The two children beside her, the girl was playful and cute, and the boy was quiet and composed, both very adorable.

Lin Zhou was somewhat surprised; he hadn't expected to run into Lou Xiao'e here. He remembered that he and Lou Xiao'e had arrived in Beijing by plane on the same day, and more than a week had passed since then.

He thought that as soon as Lou Xiao'e returned, she would go to the courtyard house in Nanluoguxiang to find Xu Damao. After all, Xu Damao had not had children for so many years, while Lou Xiao'e had both a son and a daughter. Given her personality, she might go and show off.

Unexpectedly, she is only now heading towards the courtyard house at No. 95.

Lin Zhou was a little puzzled. What had Lou Xiao'e been busy with in Beijing all these days? Had something else delayed her?

Unable to figure it out, he simply stopped guessing and chased after them.

"Sister Lou!" Lin Zhou called out to Lou Xiao'e's retreating figure.

Lou Xiao'e stopped when she heard the voice, turned around, and saw Lin Zhou. A look of surprise appeared on her face, which quickly turned into a smile: "Lin Zhou? What are you doing here?"

The two children beside her also stopped and looked at Lin Zhou with curiosity.

Lou Xiao'e patted the two children's heads and said to them, "Quickly, Jiaming and Qiqi, say hello to your Uncle Lin."

The two children shouted in unison to Lin Zhou:

"Hello, Uncle Lin!"

Lin Zhou smiled and nodded, then reached into his pocket as a cover and pulled out two small pendants that merchants had given him when he promoted others on the platform in his previous life.

He handed two artifacts from later generations to the two children and said:

"Hello, you're all so good. Here, Uncle will give each of you a small gift. Do you like it?"

Chen Jiaming and Chen Jiaqi glanced at Lou Xiao'e, and only after she nodded in acknowledgment did they accept the gift. Then, the two whispered to each other:

"I love it! Thank you, Uncle Lin!" Then he took it in his hand and couldn't wait to play with it.

Looking at the children, Lou Xiao'e smiled gently and turned to Lin Zhou, saying:

"I didn't expect to run into you here. Is your house nearby too?"

"Yes," Lin Zhou nodded, his gaze falling on the courtyard behind her.

"Sister Lou, are you going to courtyard house number 95? I see you're heading that way."

Lou Xiao'e was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said:

"You have a sharp eye. That's right, we're going to No. 95 Courtyard."

Unable to contain his deepest curiosity, Lin Zhou could only ask directly:

"Sister Lou, I remember we came back from Hong Kong on the same day, it's been over a week, why are you only coming here today?"

"I thought you'd go see your ex-husband Xu Damao as soon as you got back. He still doesn't have any children after all these years. If you bring two such adorable kids back, he'll be incredibly envious."

Upon hearing Xu Damao's name, Lou Xiao'e's smile faded slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.

She sighed and said, "I didn't come back to show off to Xu Damao."

She paused, looking at the two children beside her, her eyes gentle yet firm.

"I came back mainly to get our old house back. We left in a hurry back then, and the house has been used by the government ever since."

When I came back this time, I went to see my two older brothers and asked if they were coming back. They said they weren't, and that they didn't want anything here anymore, saying they were giving it to me and I could do whatever I wanted with it.

Lin Zhou was somewhat surprised: "I see. So you've been busy with this for the past two weeks?"

"Yes," Lou Xiao'e nodded, "The house has been used for so many years, it's time to replace everything inside."

"I first went through a lot of procedures to confirm the property rights of the house, and then I found someone to clean and renovate it. I was so busy that I didn't have time to rest until today. Only now have I had time to go to the courtyard house to see my former neighbors."

Her gaze drifted into the distance, tinged with a hint of reminiscence: "Speaking of which, although we've had our share of ups and downs in the past, I still miss those old neighbors in the courtyard house quite a bit after all these years."

"Especially Sha Zhu, he's our family's benefactor. If it weren't for him back then, my father might not have survived. This time when we're back, we absolutely have to thank him properly."

Looking at Lou Xiao'e, Lin Zhou couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion.

He recalled what happened back then. On that night in 1966, Lou Linzhou originally planned to go to the black market to find someone to buy a way to escape to Hong Kong.

Unexpectedly, they ran into Lou Bancheng right at Lou's doorstep. Lou Bancheng was also on his way to Hong Kong. To be on the safe side, Lou Bancheng had no choice but to take Lin Zhou with him.

But before leaving, Lou Xiao'e insisted on going to say goodbye to Sha Zhu, and even wanted to repay Sha Zhu's kindness with her body.

Lin Zhou strongly stopped her, saying that going to see Sha Zhu might not be a good thing, because it was someone from their own courtyard who reported their family, and going there might be like walking into a trap.

Looking back now, I'm glad I stopped her back then, otherwise Lou Xiao'e might not be with Chen Jiaming and Chen Jiaqi now, but with He Xiao instead.