My wife and I are both time travelers.

Chapter 112 Lovers' Wall and Advice
Walking east from the International Hotel, past XZ Road, you'll find the famous Zhongbai Department Store, the most bustling place in Shanghai and a must-visit for people from all over the country.

I led them into Zhongbai Company, where the bustling crowds and dazzling array of goods dazzled the two girls.

They never imagined that such a large department store existed in the world. In their original impression, the supply and marketing cooperatives in the commune were already quite large, and the department stores in the county town were even more frighteningly large. But the Shanghai Zhongbai Department Store, with its several floors and the variety and quantity of goods inside, completely exceeded their imagination.

Lin Ying had walked around Zhongbai Department Store from top to bottom. Originally, she wanted to buy them some things, but the two girls kept shaking their heads and said that they didn't need to buy anything. They had clothes and shoes, and their second sister had already bought them some. They didn't need anything else at home, so there was no need to waste money.

Seeing this, Lin Ying smiled and didn't force her. After leaving Zhongbai Company, she continued eastward and arrived at Food Store No. 1. Without asking her two younger sisters for their opinions, she bought some candy and snacks. Then she saw fried pork chops and fried sparrows for sale next to her, so she bought three fried pork chops that were bigger than her face and a skewer of fried sparrows for each of them.

Holding pork chops in one hand and sparrow skewers in the other, Lin Wen and Lin Xi didn't stand on ceremony. They were already craving the aroma and started eating heartily, nodding and saying how delicious it was.

After eating nearby and washing their hands at a tap next to a shop, Lin Ying led them onward.

Seven Heavens, a fashion company, Xinhua Bookstore, a fruit shop, Shao Wansheng, Zhonghua Leather Shoes Store, and an electronics store that has just opened not long ago...

The short Nanjing Road encapsulates the essence of Shanghai, with towering buildings and shopping malls lining both sides, and countless neon signs lining the street – a feast for the eyes. This scene was a huge shock to Lin Wen and Lin Xi, who were visiting Nanjing Road for the first time, and they truly felt the prosperity and unique charm of this premier street in China.

Walk all the way to the eastern end of Nanjing Road, and you'll reach the Peace Hotel, formerly known as the Cathay Hotel. The hotel's name has now been changed back to Peace Hotel. The entrance isn't large; a doorman in a neat uniform stands at the central revolving door. Against the backdrop of the imposing building, it exudes understated luxury. From the outside, you can faintly see the lights and exquisite displays inside, but apart from a few people, most passersby subconsciously keep a slight distance, as if afraid their footsteps might disturb the atmosphere.

Since neither of the two girls planned to go into the International Hotel, let alone the seemingly more upscale Peace Hotel, Lin Ying led them past, introducing the building and the hotel's history. Lin Wen and Lin Xi could clearly see the curiosity and longing in their eyes as they looked in that direction. But that was alright, Lin Ying thought with a smile. Not going now didn't mean they couldn't go later. Once they were more familiar with everything and fully integrated into the city, it wouldn't be difficult for them to go in and enjoy themselves.

After passing the Peace Hotel, you'll reach the famous Bund. At the intersection, the view opens up dramatically, with the Huangpu River not far away. Boats of all sizes shuttle back and forth on the river. Along the flood control wall by the river, countless men and women gather in groups, gazing at the still murky river water. The air is filled with an unpleasant smell, but they don't seem to care at all, holding hands and chatting intimately.

"Why are there so many people? And they're all couples?"

Lin Wen couldn't help but ask Lin Ying, "Although there are many people in other places, they are not like this. Moreover, the other side of the flood control wall is full of young men and women, one couple after another. There are hardly any older people. Even ordinary passers-by only show meaningful smiles when they see this scene, but do not go up to disturb them."

"Silly girl, this is a lovers' wall."

"A lover's wall? What does that mean?" Lin Xi asked curiously from the side.

"It's a place for people to date." Lin Ying chuckled, touching her two thumbs together and giving them a knowing look. The two girls immediately understood, their faces turning red.

"Pah! How shameless! How can they flirt and date like this in broad daylight?" Lin Xi couldn't help but say.

These words immediately amused Lin Ying. Isn't dating all about flirting? What's the point of dating if you don't flirt? Besides, this "love wall" has a history. Society is still quite conservative these days. Even couples holding hands in the street isn't allowed. If you run into some serious people, they'll directly call you shameless for such behavior.

Moreover, the living conditions in Shanghai are poor, and most young people can't stay at home to date. They also have nowhere else to go except to places like the Xigong Workers' Cultural Palace. They can only go out shopping normally.

You absolutely cannot hold hands while shopping, and you certainly cannot whisper in the woods. If the joint defense team finds you, you will be caught and severely reprimanded, and your workplace may even be notified.

With this happening so often, young people in Shanghai came up with a desperate solution: to go directly to the flood control wall on the Bund to date.

On this side of the flood control wall, people gathered in groups, openly sharing their feelings. This way, the law wouldn't punish everyone; they couldn't arrest everyone, could they? And over time, it gradually became a unique scene. Everyone, from top to bottom, tacitly approved of this unspoken rule that wouldn't work elsewhere, but was allowed here. Thus, this place became known as the "Lovers' Wall." In this era, young people of marriageable age with dating experience, or those currently in relationships, including older people who had long been married, who hadn't braved wind and rain to meet at the Lovers' Wall and chat for a whole day about their sweet memories? After laughing for a while, Lin Ying didn't explain further. Anyway, they would naturally find out about the Lovers' Wall later. This scene lasted for a long time, gradually disappearing only in the late 1990s. Perhaps in the future, her two younger sisters would also come here and become one of these young people.

After walking around the Bund, Lin Ying took them by car to the City God Temple, which was even more lively.

The City God Temple in the old town is different from Nanjing Road, offering a different kind of scenery and a more lively atmosphere. Lin Ying treated her two younger sisters to a meal at an old restaurant there. The old chefs at the restaurant are still there, and their skills are exceptional. The Eight Treasure Spicy Sauce and the Sea Cucumber with Shrimp Roe were absolutely delicious. It's a pity that the braised pork belly wasn't available yet; it's a summer dish, and it's a shame we couldn't try it today.

After finishing our meal, we went inside for a stroll. We looked around at the pavilion in the middle of the lake, but didn't drink tea, mainly because my two younger sisters don't have that habit. After crossing the Nine-Bend Bridge, we saw some Nanxiang steamed buns and bought some. After eating, we walked from the back. After leaving the City God Temple, we walked southwest for a while until we saw Xiaoyao Pond at the intersection, which was the junction with Xiafei Road.

They then walked back along this road, which was equally bustling and prosperous, but compared to Nanjing Road and the City God Temple, the prosperity here was a different scene.

If the prosperity of Nanjing Road is the prosperity of commerce and the flow of people, then the prosperity of the City God Temple is the characteristic of the old city plus the atmosphere of everyday life, but the prosperity of Xiafei Road reveals a unique petit-bourgeois sentiment unique to Shanghai. The shops here are not large in scale and the storefronts are not as spacious as those on Nanjing Road, but the elegance and different atmosphere here are full of Shanghai characteristics.

In addition, this street also has many distinctive shops, such as the famous Women's Products Store, June 1st Children's Products Store, Red Star Leather Shoes Store, Golden Dragon Silk and Cloth Store, Dafang Silk and Cloth Store, Red Star Glasses Store, Shanghai Watch Store (Hengdeli), Gujin, Guotai, etc.

These shops, one after another, were all very unique. One of them, a secondhand bookstore, was particularly famous. Lin Ying took them in for a look when they passed by, and they picked out two nice secondhand books. After they came out, they went to the nearby Erbin Food Store and queued up to buy a few pounds of cookies and apricot slices. As for the chestnut cake from Kaisiling, they didn't go because of today's route, and they'll have to go another time.

They walked all day to complete this round trip. Luckily, they don't have cell phones or WeChat now, otherwise their WeChat step count would definitely be in the top three in their WeChat Moments.

It was already evening when they got home. Although they were exhausted from walking all day, Lin Wen and Lin Xi were still full of energy, as if the short distance was nothing to them. Their minds were still filled with the shock of what they had seen and heard that day, and they couldn't help but discuss everything they had experienced.

Seeing their expressions, Lin Ying didn't stop them. Isn't that how young girls are? Besides, it's fine for them to be more relaxed at home. And besides, wasn't the point of taking them out today to broaden their horizons? Just let them be happy and have fun.

After dinner, Lin Ying told her two younger sisters to go back to their rooms to rest. She tidied up the dishes, took the snacks she had bought that day, went upstairs to the second floor, knocked on Fang Manxia's door, and handed the snacks to Fang Manxia with a smile.

"You actually brought it for me? How thoughtful of you!" Fang Manxia smiled happily and accepted it generously.

"How could I forget? I promised to bring it, I'll bring it for you next time." Lin Ying said with a smile, and then gathered up the dishes and chopsticks that Fang Manxia had finished eating, preparing to take them down to wash.

"Wait a minute before you leave, sit down and chat for a bit." Just then, Fang Manxia called out to Lin Ying.

Lin Ying was taken aback, stopped what she was doing, and sat down on the chair next to Fang Manxia.

"You took your two younger sisters out today, is there something you're planning?" Fang Manxia asked as soon as Lin Ying sat down.

"How did you guess?" Lin Ying asked, somewhat surprised. She hadn't expected Fang Manxia to have guessed her thoughts.

Fang Manxia smiled and said, "Isn't that easy? Lin Xi has been doing better these past few days, but Lin Wen has been a bit distracted. Yesterday, I saw you two talking in the garden from upstairs. Although I didn't hear what you were saying, I still saw the girl's expression afterwards. Combined with the fact that you suddenly wanted to take them out shopping, this old woman is thinking that you never do anything useless, so you must have some plans or arrangements."

"You have such keen eyes!" Lin Ying exclaimed admiringly. She smiled and told Fang Manxia what her two younger sisters had said to her the day before. She also said that since they wanted to find something to do, she, as the older sister, couldn't stop them. However, she knew her sisters' personalities well, and although they hadn't been here long, they didn't know much about Shanghai. So, she suggested taking them out to explore the city and get to know it better. At the same time, she would also think about how to best arrange things for them.

(End of this chapter)