1990s: Spring Water Family

Chapter 180 The old courtyard house is being targeted, and another storm is brewing.
"Hahaha"

The surrounding crowd burst into laughter.

"Get up quickly, someone else is coming down."

A little child came down right behind them, and Li Liang quickly grabbed her and pulled her up.

"Ouch."

The little boy also couldn't stop in time and fell flat on his backside.

The onlookers watched the spectacle with amusement, no one caring whether the little guy's bottom hurt.

One after another, several more children slid down. Some managed to stand up, earning cheers, while others fell but didn't care. They quickly got up and continued rushing upwards.

"Xi Yu is coming down."

Lin Xiyu was too embarrassed to rush, and several children cut in line, leaving her far behind Wu Meng before she finally had a chance to slide down.

She had been playing on the slide since she was a child. She kept her balance with her legs flat on the slide and rushed down quickly without stopping.

Gu Bin instinctively stepped forward and, just before she hit the ground, scooped her up with both hands.

Lin Xiyu stood up and patted off non-existent dust from her pants.

"Look at Gu Bin, he's so considerate."

Wu Meng watched with envy and glared at Li Liang resentfully: "Having you as my boyfriend is like not having one at all. Even going down a slide makes me a laughing stock."

Didn't I pull you up?

Li Liang was innocently shot and was speechless.

"How can these be the same?"

Wu Meng grumbled unhappily, "That's hindsight. I had already fallen before you helped me up."

"Okay, okay, you can go skate again, I'll catch you."

Li Liang didn't want to argue with her, so he had no choice but to give in.

"Catch it securely! We can't afford to make a fool of ourselves this time."

Wu Meng was satisfied and happily climbed up again.

Lin Xiyu wasn't satisfied and wanted to skate again.

Gu Bin, of course, didn't hesitate. He was incredibly protective of his girlfriend, catching her every time she skated, never missing a beat, making sure she wouldn't fall to the ground.

Li Liang also learned his lesson and imitated his actions, which made Wu Meng very happy.

The two young couples were flirting and being all lovey-dovey, their sweetness almost sickening. Qu Peng, watching this, felt a mix of emotions and kept feeling envious.

"You guys have fun, I'm going back now."

Before long, he couldn't stand it anymore and took his leave.

"Leaving so soon?"

Wu Meng hadn't had enough fun and made an excuse for herself: "It costs fifteen yuan for a ticket, it would be a waste not to play a little longer."

Is it a matter of money?
The key is that it's heartbreaking!

If I stay any longer, I'll be tortured like a dog.

Qu Peng ignored her, waved his hand, and decisively turned and left.

-

"Any progress between Qu Peng and your cousin?"

Lin Xiyu glanced at Qu Peng's somewhat lonely figure and frowned with concern.

“I didn’t ask.”

Gu Bin secretly guessed, "Judging from this, there probably isn't one."

Lin Xiyu sighed softly, "It's so hard to get into a prestigious family."

"What are you thinking about now?"

Gu Bin flicked her nose: "Our family isn't a wealthy or powerful one."

"Isn't your family one?"

Lin Xiyu rolled her eyes so hard they almost reached the sky: "Who would believe that? Are you trying to fool a child?"

"If my family were truly a prominent and wealthy family, wouldn't you be incredibly powerful?"

Gu Bin chuckled and joked, "What do you think about being able to marry into a wealthy and powerful family? Don't you feel incredibly lucky, laughing in your dreams?"

"Come on."

Lin Xiyu feigned anger: "Ever since we got engaged, I haven't had a single peaceful night's sleep. I dream about how your mother doesn't like me and wants to break us up."

"My mom has been persuaded by my older brother and won't cause any more trouble."

Gu Bin pulled the man into his arms, trying to hold him close.

"Stop fooling around, so many people are watching."

Although Lin Xiyu was wearing a hat and scarf, covering half of her face, she was still recognized by sharp-eyed onlookers after staying outside for a while.

People whispered among themselves, craning their necks to peer at the two of them.

"Xi Yu, come quick!"

Wu Meng hadn't had enough fun and wanted to go down the slide again.

"coming."

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Lin Xiyu pushed the person aside and ran up to Beijige.

Gu Bin and Li Liang exchanged a glance and sighed resignedly.

The two unfortunate brothers could only endure the cold wind and continue waiting down there.

It's rare for me to come back for the Lunar New Year, and my two best friends had a blast. They played until it was almost dark before reluctantly leaving the park and heading home.

-

Wu Meng was having a great time outside when she was surprised to have an uninvited guest at her home.

After the promotional video for "Spring Water Village" was broadcast, the renovated Qushuiting Street area gradually became lively, attracting tourists from other places to come and explore the famous springs and admire the beautiful scenery of springs in every household and weeping willows by every door.

Some people saw a business opportunity and decided to rent old courtyard houses to make money by taking advantage of the tourism boom.

Xigengdao Street has a good location, near Qifeng Bridge, and is adjacent to Wangfu Pond and Qushuiting Street.

As a result, they were targeted.

Even during the Lunar New Year, they wouldn't let people have a peaceful time. They came to our door to persuade us to vacate our houses and turn them into restaurants with local characteristics.

No. 1 Xigengdao Street is not home to just one family. Besides Wu Meng's family, there are two other families living in public housing, where the property rights are not in their own hands.

In principle, public housing cannot be rented out, but the businessmen offered high prices, so the other two families were tempted.

Wu's mother makes clothes based on word of mouth and repeat customers; most of the people who come to her to make clothes are her neighbors.

If you move and live far away, and don't keep in touch often, the relationships will gradually fade. Even if you do your best, people will think it's too far and don't want to go through the trouble of traveling a long way, which will greatly affect your business.

Wu's mother firmly disagreed with renting the property, which led to a conflict with the businessman, and she eventually kicked him out.

The other two families, seeing that the lease had fallen through, were also dissatisfied with Wu's mother.

The two got into an argument, and in a fit of anger, Wu's mother locked the door and went back to her hometown in the countryside with Wu's father.

Wu Meng knew nothing about this. When she got home, she found the front door locked and no one in the house, and she panicked.

Fortunately, Xigengdao Street was very close to Wangfu Pond. Lin Xiyu went with Gu Bin to his maternal grandfather's house for a meal, and Li Liang took her home with him.

With someone by her side, she wasn't too frightened. After calming down, she contacted her parents and learned the truth. She was also furious about the people who came to harass her.

"What are these people thinking? Just because they have a little money, they can't even let people have a peaceful New Year."

"This kind of thing will happen all the time."

Li Liang sighed and rubbed his forehead: "The old town is going to be in turmoil again. Under the lure of profit, many people will definitely be tempted. Those who don't want to leave are mostly the elderly. They have lived here all their lives and have developed feelings for it. They want to protect their old houses. The young people don't care about any of that. They will rent to whoever offers the most money. As for whether the old houses will be damaged or the spring water will be polluted, they don't care at all."

"This kind of thing is very likely to happen."

Gu Bin nodded, then changed the subject, saying, "Unless there are strict regulations from above prohibiting the disruption of the overall planning of the old city, even if you open a restaurant, you cannot demolish old houses and rebuild them privately, thus changing the original layout."

"It's finally been renovated, painted gray with a white ceiling and white walls, isn't it beautiful?"

Wu Meng was annoyed: "These people really can't stand to see others doing well. The matter of banning swimming in the Prince's Mansion Pool had just calmed down not long ago, and now they're starting to make trouble again. Can't they even let people breathe comfortably?"

"The neighborhood committee will definitely step in to coordinate."

Li Liang patted Wu Meng on the shoulder to comfort her: "Don't think too much about it. Pack some clothes and come home with me for a few days. We'll talk about it when your parents come back from their hometown."

"Ugh."

Wu Meng sighed, "That's all we can do. I wanted to spend more time with my mom during the New Year, but these people have made such a fuss that I don't even want to stay at home anymore."

"Take your time packing, we're leaving now." Gu Bin glanced at the time, guessing that his grandfather's family would be having dinner soon, and said goodbye to Li Liang, intending to leave.

"Row."

Li Liang readily agreed: "Let's get together again sometime later."

"Before the start of the school term."

Gu Bin said with a smile, "Let's find a place to eat lamb skewers, it's on me."

"it is good."

Li Liang smiled knowingly, saw them off at the gate, and only turned back after they were completely out of sight.

-

Wangfuchizi West Street.

As night fell, the people who had come to pay their respects for the New Year left, and the eldest uncle also took his three daughters back to Guangdong, leaving the courtyard noticeably quiet.

Grandma Gu was cooking dinner in the kitchen when she saw Gu Bin bring Lin Xiyu in together, and she couldn't help but launch into another round of complaints.

"You came back for dinner without telling me in advance. I didn't prepare anything and was just thinking of making a bowl of noodles to have a meal."

"Noodles are fine, we're not outsiders."

Gu Bin gave Lin Xiyu a wink, signaling her to go into the kitchen to help.

"Grandma, I'll make you some sauce."

Lin Xiyu understood immediately and went into the kitchen with a smile.

"Don't get your hands involved, it'll be finished cutting soon."

Grandma is cutting meat on the cutting board to make a sauce.

What kind of braising liquid is this?

Lin Xiyu noticed the tomatoes placed nearby and looked on with curiosity.

"Tomato and soybean paste noodles".

Grandma raised her eyebrows proudly: "Never tried it before? I figured it out myself. I used tomatoes to make the sauce, and it tastes even better than eggplant noodles."

"Really?"

Lin Xiyu smiled and deliberately tried to make the old lady happy: "Then I'm in luck this time, I can taste your own cooking."

"Make a small cross-shaped cut on the tomato with a knife, then blanch it with boiling water."

Grandma Gu was particular about her food; she would peel the tomatoes.

"okay."

Lin Xiyu did as instructed, and sure enough, the skin and flesh of the scalded tomato separated easily.

Grandma diced the tomatoes, stir-fried them with minced meat and soy sauce, and added a little sugar and sweet bean sauce before serving. A pot of delicious tomato sauce was ready.

Lin Xiyu boiled water, cooked noodles, and went into the living room with her grandmother, carrying bowls and chopsticks.

-

The living room was filled with gifts, mostly cigarettes, alcohol, and tea. During the Spring Festival, many people came to visit, from the first to the third day of the Lunar New Year, with a constant stream of visitors throughout the day. It was a bustling and lively place.

Grandma was busy cooking and hadn't tidied up yet, so the living room looked a bit messy.

When Gu Bin saw the two of them come in, he casually moved the gifts on the ground to the corner of the wall and set up the large round table for dining.

"Dinner's ready! Try my tomato and minced meat noodles."

Grandma Gu proudly boasted, "Bring some more authentic Shanxi aged vinegar, the taste is absolutely amazing."

"My favorite food is my grandma's tomato and soybean paste noodles."

Gu Bin flattered, "When I went to Shanghai, I didn't want to think about anything but the taste of Grandma's homemade food."

"Eat more if you like."

Grandma Gu was delighted to hear this and personally scooped a large spoonful of sauce into his bowl.

"You're being way too biased."

Grandpa smacked his lips a few times to express his dissatisfaction: "He got all the braised meat by himself, what are we going to eat?"

"Isn't there still some in the bowl?"

Grandma glared at him with displeasure: "At your age, you're still arguing with the kids. When have you ever gone hungry? It's embarrassing."

"Cough cough."

Grandpa blushed and muttered under his breath, pretending to complain, "Since you came back, my status at home has plummeted. Before, when we ate chicken, I could at least get a chicken neck, but now I don't even get the chicken butt."

"Alright, alright, stop nagging."

Grandma laughed in exasperation, then scooped another spoonful of sauce into his bowl: "Even eating can't shut you up."

"Xiaobin, hand me the vinegar."

With the braised meat in hand, Grandpa felt relieved and smiled.

"I'll pour it."

Gu Bin very attentively and dutifully uncorked the bottle and poured vinegar for the old man.

"More."

Grandpa thoroughly enjoyed his grandson's filial piety and proudly raised his eyebrows at Grandma.

"Showing off."

Grandma didn't want to talk to him and looked away with disgust.

"Grandma, you've worked so hard."

Gu Bin, ever the perceptive one, added a little vinegar to his grandmother's bowl.

"Don't bother, just eat by yourself."

Grandma looked at her with loving eyes: "It would be embarrassing if you didn't eat noodles soon."

"okay."

Gu Bin smiled, poured vinegar into Lin Xiyu's and his own bowls, and picked up his chopsticks to start mixing the noodles.

The tomato sauce is sweet and sour, the noodles are smooth and chewy, and with a touch of aged vinegar to enhance the flavor, the taste is simply indescribable.

Lin Xiyu picked up a strand of noodles, took a bite, and her eyes lit up.

"Is it tasty?"

Grandma looked at her with a beaming smile, her face full of longing for praise.

"good to eat."

Lin Xiyu showed her great support.

"Eat more if it's delicious!"

Grandma was satisfied, and her smile was exceptionally kind and gentle.

"tsk"

Grandpa smacked his lips a few times, about to tease Grandma, "It's just a bowl of noodles, is it really that big of a deal?" but Grandma glared at him and shut him up.

"hehe."

Gu Bin was already used to the way the two elders got along, and he let out a teasing laugh.

-

After finishing her noodles in a few bites, Lin Xiyu, still having plenty of time, didn't immediately say goodbye and left. Instead, she followed Gu Bin to his bedroom with great interest.

Gu Bin lived in a room facing the sun. It wasn't small, about twenty square meters, and it was fully furnished. Besides the bed, there was a recliner by the window, and the desk and bookshelves were filled with books of all kinds, from historical documents to scientific research.

At the top of the bookshelf are several trophies, some provincial and municipal, others national awards.

What kinds of books do you like to read?

Lin Xiyu looked away from the trophy, picked up a computer application book from her desk, flipped through a few pages, and her eyelids twitched involuntarily as she looked at the dense annotations on it.

"Any book will do."

Gu Bin leaned back in the recliner, stretched out his long legs, and comfortably closed his eyes.

"You usually just lie here and read?"

Seeing how comfortable he was, Lin Xiyu also felt the urge to try it out herself.

"Come here, let me hold you."

Gu Bin saw through her little scheme and chuckled, patting his thigh.