Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

On the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, the day before the Lunar New Year, the Kowloon Pier in Hong Kong was filled with the salty sea breeze and the clamor of people. A merchant ship flying the Lin family flag slowly docked. Sha Zhu, holding his younger sister Yu Shui's hand, followed Xu Damao's family out of the cabin and onto this land they had only heard of before.

Except for Xu Damao, who looked eager to return home, the others involuntarily stopped and stared blankly at everything before them. Towering buildings, endless double-decker buses, colorful signs… Yu Shui unconsciously gripped her brother's clothes, her eyes filled with both amazement at the prosperity and a hint of barely perceptible fear. Sha Zhu straightened his back, trying to appear calm, but his wandering gaze betrayed the shock and bewilderment in his heart.

"Shazhu, Yushui, I'll take them back first!" Xu Damao greeted them with a smile, then led his family into the waiting car. In the blink of an eye, only Shazhu and his sister remained on the dock, like a forgotten island. Surrounded by incomprehensible Cantonese and unfamiliar crowds, a sense of unease and loneliness instantly washed over them, and the courage they had shown in leaving their hometown to venture out into the world now seemed to crumble.

"Zhu Zi, Yu Shui, over here!" Lin Gang's calm voice came just in time. He had arranged the luggage and quickly walked to their side. "The car is ready, let's go."

Once inside the car, the scenery outside the window kept changing. As Lin Gang drove, he gently described the street scenes along the way to the brother and sister, dispelling their anxiety.

"Zhu Zi," he glanced at the still somewhat nervous Sha Zhu through the rearview mirror, "the restaurant is still under preparation. You and Yu Shui can stay at home for now. The young master has made all the arrangements, so you can relax."

Sha Zhu stared at the neon lights rushing past the window, scratched his head憨厚ly, and his honest, straightforward manner returned: "Okay! I'll do whatever you say, Gangzi."

As the car pulled into the Deep Water Bay villa complex, Sha Zhu and Yu Shui got out and surveyed the magnificent mansion nestled against the mountain and overlooking the sea. They were at a loss for where to look. This house was a completely different world from the traditional courtyard houses they were familiar with—the meticulously manicured gardens, the fountain, and the dazzlingly white three-story main building in the sunlight all exuded an air of "nobility" and "distance."

Lin Gang led them through the courtyard and into the living room on the first floor. The brother and sister unconsciously slowed their steps, their travel-worn figures and slightly flustered expressions reflected in the floor tiles.

The living room was so spacious it rivaled half of their traditional courtyard house. On the sofa, a young man in a well-tailored dark suit, legs crossed, was leisurely reading a foreign magazine. Hearing footsteps, he put down the magazine and looked up.

At that moment, time seemed to freeze in the face of Sha Zhu and the rain.

They recognized the face; it was Lin Yan, the sickly, pale boy they had watched grow up in the courtyard. But the person before them had striking features and exuded a powerful aura they had never seen before. He was no longer the "Little Yan" who needed their occasional care, but rather a refined young nobleman born into this glamorous world.

Lin Yan looked at the brother and sister who were clearly stunned, a warm smile spreading across his face. He stood up, put down his crossed legs, and spoke in a familiar and friendly tone:

"Brother Zhu, long time no see. Welcome to Hong Kong with Rain!"

The familiar "Brother Zhu" jolted Sha Zhu out of his daze. He opened his mouth, but the "Xiao Yan" stuck in his throat wouldn't come out no matter what. In the end, he could only manage a helpless,憨厚 smile and unconsciously scratch his head.

Yu Shui lowered her head nervously, her fingers tightly twisting the hem of her clothes. The young Lin Yan before her was even more handsome than those in magazines, yet he also filled her with an unprecedented sense of unfamiliarity and awe. The blurry figure in the courtyard could never overlap with the extraordinary young master of a wealthy family before her.

Lin Yan straightened his cuffs and instructed Lin Gang, "Take Brother Zhu and Yushui to their rooms to settle in first, and let them have breakfast and rest well. Remember to drive them to the city this afternoon to buy some clothes and daily necessities. I have a tennis game with Jiaming, so I have to go now. You and Yuling, please take good care of them."

"Yes, young master." Lin Gang bowed and replied.

At this moment, Wang Yuling came out from the inner room, holding a Patek Philippe watch in her hand: "Young Master, today is the Little New Year. We have prepared a welcome dinner for Zhuzi and the others tonight. Please remember to come back for dinner."

Lin Yan took the watch and put it on deftly. He glanced at the bright sunshine outside the window and said, "Got it." He picked up the car keys from the coffee table and walked out briskly. For some reason, Sha Zhu felt a sense of relief until Lin Yan's figure disappeared outside the door.

"Brother Zhu, Sister Yushui, come with me. Young Master is just being considerate of you. He was afraid you'd feel uncomfortable, so he deliberately made up an excuse to go out." Lin Yuling broke the brief silence with a friendly smile. She led Yushui to a spacious guest room on the first floor.

Pushing open the door, He Yushui couldn't help but let out a soft "wow." The room was bright and clean, with a soft carpet and exquisite furniture. What surprised her most was that the room even had its own bathroom with a snow-white bathtub.

"Sister Cuihua, this room... is so beautiful, so big!" She walked to the window, looking at the neatly trimmed, lush garden outside, her voice full of amazement. "You can even see the garden behind from the window, it's so beautiful."

Wang Yuling smiled at her childlike reaction: "Hehe, this is nothing. You haven't seen the young master's manor in California, USA. It's so big that horses can run in it!"

Raindrops' eyes widened in disbelief, her little mouth slightly agape, looking utterly adorable.

Meanwhile, Lin Gang led Sha Zhu upstairs and arranged for him to have a room next to his own bedroom. The room was equally clean and comfortable, with a wide view.

"Zhu Zi," Lin Gang walked briskly into the en-suite bathroom, running hot water as he turned back to Sha Zhu with a friendly, teasing tone, "I've prepared your bath water first. You need to wash yourself properly to get rid of the dust from your journey. I still need to accompany you to buy some new clothes this afternoon, so you need to be clean and refreshed to look presentable."

Sha Zhu sniffed himself and realized he still smelled of the ship's cabin and the journey. He chuckled a little sheepishly and nodded obediently, "Okay, whatever you say!"

The warm water gurgled and the steam began to fill the bathroom, washing away the fatigue of the journey.

In the afternoon, Lin Gang drove Wang Yuling and her brother and sister towards Central. As the bustling street scene came into view, Sha Zhu and Yu Shui pressed their faces against the car window, staring intently at the skyscrapers and shops flashing by.

"This is...so lively!" Rain exclaimed softly, her eyes sparkling.

Wang Yuling patted her hand with a smile: "We've only just begun. I'll show you around properly later."

The car stopped in front of a boutique. Wang Yuling nimbly led the two out of the car and gestured for Lin Gang to park. She expertly pushed open the store door, and a sales assistant immediately greeted them warmly.

"Pick a few suitable outfits for this young lady," Wang Yuling instructed in Cantonese, skillfully moving among the clothes racks. She selected several elegantly tailored dresses for Yushui, along with two high-quality wool coats.

Yu Shui was ushered into the fitting room, and when she came out, she was wearing a white coat paired with a burgundy dress. The well-tailored clothes immediately made her look more upright, but her two unfashionable braids still hung down her shoulders, looking out of place.

"It looks great!" Wang Yuling nodded in satisfaction. At that moment, Lin Gang also parked his car and came over.

"Gangzi, take Brother Zhu to the men's clothing section," Wang Yuling instructed. Turning her head, she saw Yushui's new look and suddenly became interested. "Come on, let me take you somewhere."

She dragged Yu Shui straight to the cosmetics counter and carefully selected a whole set of skincare and makeup products. Yu Shui's eyes widened as she looked at the exquisite bottles and jars.

Finally, Wang Yuling led her into a stylishly decorated hair salon. Two hours later, when they reappeared in the mall, Yu Shui had completely transformed—she had a fashionable perm, her bangs elegantly curled across her forehead, and her light makeup made her already delicate features even more striking. Having shed her old cotton-padded coat for a brand-new one, she looked every bit the modern urban woman.

Even Sha Zhu, who had come looking for them, was stunned. His mouth gaped open, and after a long pause, he managed to stammer, "This...this is my sister?"

Raindrops lowered her head shyly, but couldn't help but smile. Wang Yuling looked at her "work" with satisfaction and said with a smile, "This is more worthy of our future college students!"