My wife and I are both time travelers.

Chapter 65 Guess
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This small building is located in the most bustling downtown area of ​​Shanghai, and the building itself is quite large. Ordinary people simply cannot live here. To put it bluntly, the people who can live here are either very rich or very powerful.

The problem is that small buildings like this should have changed owners long ago, or like Fang Manxia, ​​they were evicted because of their class background and could only move back later.

But compared to Fang Manxia's home, this place shows no signs of change. Both the exterior of the building and the interior furnishings are exactly as they were, and it has been there for many years.

And this Uncle Qian, judging from his appearance, seemed to be acting like a steward from a wealthy family, which made things even stranger.

What era are we living in? What kind of family still has such a grand display? Moreover, Fang Manxia said before she came that she was visiting an elder. In addition, Fang Manxia learned from her conversation with Uncle Qian that this elder was called Aunt Gui by Fang Manxia. Judging from the title, she should be an old lady. So what kind of old lady would Fang Manxia respect so much and make a special trip to visit her on the first day of the Lunar New Year?

Zhou Jiye couldn't understand it at all for a moment, but Lin Ying beside him seemed to be deep in thought. Moreover, Lin Ying's gaze was fixed on the old photos hanging on the wall, staring at them intently. As she looked, her expression gradually changed. Although she appeared calm on the surface, she couldn't suppress the utter astonishment and disbelief in her eyes.

After waiting downstairs for about half an hour, the sound of footsteps coming downstairs suddenly rang out, and soon Fang Manxia appeared at the bottom of the stairs.

Uncle Qian stood up to greet her. After Fang Manxia came downstairs, she nodded slightly to Uncle Qian and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Uncle Qian. I will come to see Aunt Gui again in a few days."

"It would be wonderful if you could come. Please come and visit whenever you have time. Miss Fang, let me see you off."

As they were talking, Uncle Qian led Fang Manxia outside. At this moment, Zhou Jiye and Lin Ying also got up. The three of them walked out of the small building and into the courtyard. Zhou Jiye went to push the cart.

Upon entering the courtyard, Fang Manxia looked up at a window upstairs, her expression a mixture of melancholy and something else entirely, as if she were reluctant to leave. Finally, she turned her head away, and in the sunlight, tears could be faintly seen glistening at the corners of her eyes.

“Let’s go…”

Fang Manxia said to Lin Ying beside her, then turned to Uncle Qian and said, "See you next time, Uncle Qian. I'm leaving now."

"Miss Fang, take care, see you next time..." Uncle Qian saw them off to the door. Only after Zhou Jiye pushed his bicycle and Fang Manxia away did he close the door. With a dull slam, the outside and inside became two different worlds.

After leaving, Lin Ying didn't ask any questions, and Fang Manxia didn't offer any explanation. The three of them then went to Jing'an Temple. At that time, Jing'an Temple was just an inconspicuous little temple, looking dilapidated and far from the magnificent and splendid appearance it would be decades later.

A few years ago, this place was practically deserted, with hardly anyone around, let alone incense offerings. But now it's gradually becoming more lively. Besides people coming to burn incense, there are also many vendors setting up stalls around the area. Along the way, you can also see quite a few beggars. All sorts of people, along with the surrounding buildings, create a peculiar scene.

After offering incense at Jing'an Temple and strolling around the area, they decided to have lunch nearby at a famous Shanghai restaurant: pan-fried buns and wontons. They didn't head back until late afternoon, arriving home close to 3 PM.

Exhausted after returning, Fang Manxia went upstairs to rest. Zhou Jiye and Lin Ying also went back to their rooms. Once inside, Zhou Jiye couldn't help but ask Lin Ying if she had guessed something because of her strange expression in the small building earlier.

"I don't know if my guess is right or wrong." Lin Ying hesitated, looking conflicted.

"Oh, just say whatever you guessed! You're making me really curious," Zhou Jiye urged, his heart brimming with curiosity.

"If it itches, scratch it yourself." Lin Ying rolled her eyes at him, leaving Zhou Jiye speechless. He could only smile and continue to press for an answer.

Lin Ying glanced towards the door to make sure Fang Manxia wasn't upstairs, then waved to Zhou Jiye.

Zhou Jiye leaned closer, and Lin Ying whispered something in his ear. Zhou Jiye's eyes widened instantly, his face full of surprise.

"This...this can't be, right? You're saying it's her? How is that possible? So many years have passed, is she still alive?"

“Nothing is impossible. I can’t think of anyone else the old lady would have met today but her,” Lin Ying sighed. “She lives on that street and rarely goes out. The old lady calls her Aunt Gui. Although I didn’t see her, I recognized one of the photos hanging in the living room. Considering Uncle Qian’s behavior, I think it could only be her. And as far as I know, she is indeed alive. She’s a legendary figure!”

"My God!" Zhou Jiye was stunned by Lin Ying's guess. He never expected that he would be so close to such a person today. Not only did he go to her house, but he also stayed in her living room for more than half an hour. If this were to get out, no one would believe it!
"So, the old lady...?"

"Don't ask anymore. Maybe the old lady will tell us one day. Since she won't tell us, there's no need for us to inquire. Sometimes it's better to pretend we don't know than to know," Lin Ying said calmly. Zhou Jiye thought for a moment and nodded. Lin Ying's words made sense. Besides, no matter what the old lady's past was, what did it have to do with her now? Wouldn't it be better if everything remained the same?
Two days of the Spring Festival passed in the blink of an eye. On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Zhou Jiye and Lin Ying specially brought gifts to visit Lao Wen and Xu Guoqing's home.

According to Shanghai customs, the first day of the Lunar New Year is for visiting elders, the second day is for visiting relatives, and there's also a tradition of married daughters bringing their husbands back to their parents' home. The third day is for visiting friends; this custom differs slightly from other places, but is largely the same.

In the morning, we first went to the nearest house, Old Wen's. Old Wen was very happy to see them. Old Wen's family consisted of three people: his wife, a very virtuous woman who worked in a textile factory, and his two children, a boy and a girl. The boy was in the second grade of elementary school, and the girl was still in kindergarten and would not start elementary school until the summer. Old Wen introduced his wife to Zhou Jiye and Lin Ying with a smile. They warmly called her "sister-in-law." The two children were also very well-behaved, and they greeted them as "uncle" and "aunt." Zhou Jiye was so happy that he quickly took out a red envelope and gave one to each of them.

They originally planned to stay for a while and then leave, but when they learned that they were going to Xu Guoqing's place, Lao Wen insisted on having lunch with them before leaving. He even said that he would come and sit with them too, since he had nothing else to do, and could treat it as visiting relatives.

And so, they had a hearty lunch at Lao Wen's house, and since they had things to do in the afternoon, they didn't drink any alcohol. After lunch, seeing that it was almost time, the three of them set off together. Zhou Jiye rode his bicycle with Lin Ying on the back, while Lao Wen rode his own bicycle, heading towards Xu Guoqing's house.

Xu Guoqing's home wasn't too far from here. It took about ten minutes to ride east. Once inside the alley, his home was the middle building of the third row of shikumen houses.

Xu Guoqing's family has modest living conditions. He, his parents, and his younger brother and sister squeeze into a room on the third floor. None of them are married yet. According to Xu Guoqing, they can still manage to squeeze in now, but once they get married, the house will be uninhabitable. The small house has a movable partition in the middle, with his parents and sister sleeping on either side. There is also a small loft above, which is where Xu Guoqing and his brother usually sleep.

Lao Wen and Xu Guoqing were relatives; Lao Wen's mother and Xu Guoqing's mother were sisters, so he was naturally very familiar with the Xu family.

After bringing Zhou Jiye and the others to Xu Guoqing's house, Lao Wen, who had parked the car, carried the gifts inside and started calling out at the top of his lungs as he went upstairs: "Auntie! Uncle! Aqing! Anitou! Amei!"

"Hey, Zhiqiang's here! Come on, come on up!"

Xu Guoqing's mother was busy at work. When she heard the noise, she peeked out and saw that it was Lao Wen. She greeted him with a smile.

Happy New Year, Auntie!

"Happy New Year, Auntie..." Zhou Jiye and Lin Ying followed her upstairs and warmly greeted Xu's mother for the New Year.

When Xu's mother met Zhou Jiye and Lin Ying, she was a little curious as it was her first time meeting them. Old Wen then introduced Zhou Jiye and Lin Ying, and Xu's mother suddenly realized, nodding with a smile, "I know, I know! My Qing has mentioned them, right? Come in, come in!" As she spoke, she turned and called out to them. Just then, Xu Guoqing came out from inside, saw them, and immediately smiled.

"Why are you here together?"

"What? Not welcome?" Old Wen joked, shoving the things in his hand toward him: "Happy New Year! It's the first time Xiao Ling and Lin Meimei have come, so as their brother, I should show them the way, right? Besides, you won't lose out by coming, there are even gifts here, aren't there?"

Xu Guoqing was immediately delighted and quickly invited them in to sit down. Once inside, Lao Wen looked around and noticed that Xu Guoqing's father, who was also his uncle, as well as his younger brother and sister, were not there. He couldn't help but ask where they were. Xu Guoqing smiled and said that his father was working overtime today because the factory was starting operations tomorrow, and as a technician, he had to go to the factory in advance to make preparations.

As for my younger brother and sister, they were nowhere to be seen early this morning. They probably went out to play with their friends or classmates. Anyway, they're both grown men and women, so they won't get lost. Let them go out and do whatever they want.

As soon as everyone sat down, Mrs. Xu brought out melon seeds and peanuts for them to eat, and also brewed tea for them.

Lin Ying quickly said there was no need to be so polite. Xu's mother was very hospitable, saying that this was nothing to be polite about, and that's how we always treat guests. She suggested that since they were here, they should make themselves at home and relax. She also invited them to stay for dinner, saying that the aunt's cooking was quite good and to try their food.

Zhou Jiye and the others quickly declined, but they couldn't resist the persistent invitation from Xu's mother. Moreover, Lao Wen and Xu Guoqing were also smiling and inviting them to stay for dinner before leaving, saying that it was a lively time during the New Year and they could have a few drinks together.

Reluctantly, they had no choice but to agree. Xu's mother chatted with them for a while before getting up to go and get busy. After the elders left, only the four of them remained in the room, and they talked much more easily.

(End of this chapter)