Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

He Daqing responded with an "Yes," and followed He Damin into the living room. His gaze couldn't help but sweep over the villa; the spacious living room, the exquisite furniture, the landscape paintings on the walls, and the unparalleled sea view outside the window all left him somewhat overwhelmed. Finally, his eyes settled on the sea outside the window, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "Damin, your house... it's truly wonderful. Standing here looking at the sea makes my heart feel so open and bright."

"It's alright, as long as it's comfortable," He Damin said casually, gesturing for them to sit down, then asked, "How's business at the restaurant? How's it been lately?"

"Great! Excellent!" Mentioning the restaurant, He Daqing's face immediately lit up with a genuine smile, and his tone became excited. "Thanks to you, we made a lot of money last year. Zhu Zi and I are discussing opening another branch in Tsim Sha Tsui this year; we've already found a location. Zhu Zi's cooking skills are truly amazing now, even better than when I was at my peak. Many customers come specifically for him!"

He Yuzhu just came out of the kitchen, carrying a plate of freshly cut fruit. Hearing He Daqing praise him, he scratched his head shyly and chuckled twice, "Dad, don't keep praising me. I'm still far from good enough."

"What's wrong with praising you? You deserve praise for doing well!" He Daqing glared at him, but his tone was full of pride. "This is a skill you earned yourself!"

Qin Huairu smiled, picked up He Yuliang, and helped him sit on the sofa, handing him a piece of apple. The little guy couldn't sit still; he took a couple of bites of the apple, then slid off the sofa, wobbled over to He Yushui, reached out his little hand to tug at her clothes, and called out in a childish voice, "Sister, sister."

He Yushui was telling Chen Xueru about funny things at school when she saw He Yuliang coming over. She immediately stopped talking, squatted down, and pinched his chubby little face. "Yuliang, did you miss your sister? Your sister brought you some candy." As she spoke, she took out a fruit candy from her pocket, unwrapped it, and handed it to He Yuliang's mouth.

He Yuliang opened his small mouth, put the candy in his mouth, squinted his eyes contentedly, and answered indistinctly, "Yes!" which made everyone laugh.

He Damin stood to the side, watching the lively scene in the room, listening to the children's laughter, his wife's gentle words, and his elder brother and nephew's slightly awkward but sincere conversation. Suddenly, he felt a tight spot in his heart relax and soften. This feeling was unfamiliar, yet exceptionally warm.

Dinner was eaten at home. He Yuzhu volunteered to show off his cooking skills and plunged into the kitchen, bustling about with activity. Chen Xueru wanted to help, but he laughed and pushed her away, saying, "Sister-in-law, you rest. I can handle this by myself. I promise you'll get to taste my cooking!"

Sure enough, before long, a series of delicious-looking dishes were served. The braised pork belly was glistening with oil, its color a rich reddish-brown, fatty yet not greasy; the steamed sea bass had clear, bright eyes and snow-white flesh, topped with vibrant green scallions and bright red chili threads, making it look incredibly appetizing; the sweet and sour pork ribs were perfectly balanced between sweet and sour, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside; there were also stir-fried seasonal vegetables, garlic broccoli, and a steaming bowl of hot and sour soup… all home-style dishes, but each one was prepared with exquisite care and an irresistible aroma. It must be said that He Yuzhu's culinary skills were indeed improving, and he was beginning to show the flair of a master chef.

He Daqing sat down next to He Damin, picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of braised pork, put it in his mouth, chewed slowly, closed his eyes to savor it, and then nodded in satisfaction: "Hmm, not bad, the cooking time is just right! The fat isn't greasy, the lean meat isn't dry, it's even more fragrant than what you get in restaurants!"

He Yuzhu was just bringing up the last soup when he heard this. He grinned from ear to ear and chuckled, "That's right! I practice every day at the restaurant; I could cook it with my eyes closed!"

He Yushui placed a piece of deboned fish on He Yuliang's plate. The little guy scooped it up with a spoon, getting soup all over his face and mouth, looking like a little kitten. Qin Huairu stood beside him, patiently wiping his mouth with a wet wipe, her eyes full of affection. Chen Xueru sat on the other side of He Damin, serving him a bowl of winter melon and pork rib soup, and said softly, "Everyone's happy today, so drink some soup to cleanse your palate."

He Damin took the soup bowl; the warm soup slid down his throat, light and refreshing, truly comforting. He put down the bowl and glanced at He Daqing sitting opposite him. He Daqing was holding a wine glass, sipping his wine, a satisfied blush on his face. He Damin suddenly spoke, his voice soft, yet clearly reaching everyone's ears:

"Brother, I don't blame you for what happened back then."

The noise at the dinner table seemed to have been paused, instantly falling silent. Even He Yuliang, who was eating, seemed to sense the change in atmosphere, stopping his spoon and looking at the adults curiously.

He Daqing's chopsticks, which were about to pick up food, froze in mid-air. He slowly turned his head, looking at He Damin in disbelief, his lips trembling as he tried to say something, but couldn't utter a single word. His eyes gradually reddened, and tears welled up in them.

"Damin...I..." His voice was terribly hoarse, filled with a deep sob.

"Let bygones be bygones," He Damin interrupted him, picking up his wine glass. "Come on, let's drink."

He Daqing's hands were still trembling slightly. He picked up his wine glass with shaky hands, the rim almost touching his nose. He looked at He Damin, his eyes filled with complex emotions—guilt, gratitude, and many other unspoken feelings. The two glasses clinked lightly together. He Daqing tilted his head back and downed the liquor in one gulp. The pungent liquid burned his throat and stimulated his tear ducts. Finally, he couldn't hold back the tears, which streamed down his cheeks. He quickly wiped them away with the back of his hand and whispered, "I'm sorry to you, I'm sorry to Zhuzi, and I'm even more sorry to Yushui's mother… I'm not a good father, and I'm not a good brother."

He Yuzhu kept his head down, his chopsticks unconsciously poking at the rice in his bowl. Hearing this, his shoulders twitched slightly, and his eyes reddened. Over the years, he had harbored resentment, but more than anything, he felt a complex mix of emotions towards his father.

He Yushui glanced at He Daqing, whose eyes were red-rimmed, then at the silent He Yuzhu, and finally fixed her gaze on He Damin. She whispered, "Uncle, Dad has had a really tough time these past few years. He's been so good to me and my brother, giving us the best of everything."

Hearing his daughter's words, He Daqing trembled slightly, and tears flowed even more fiercely. He nodded vigorously, choking back sobs and unable to speak.

He Damin didn't look at him again, but simply picked up a piece of steamed sea bass, removed the bones, and put it in Chen Xueru's bowl. "Let's eat, the food is getting cold."

He Daqing took a deep breath and wiped his face hard, as if trying to erase all his emotions. He picked up his chopsticks again, took a bite of food, and chewed slowly. Although his face was still streaked with tears, his expression was as if he had unloaded a heavy burden and felt much more relaxed.

Dinner continued in a slightly somber yet comforting atmosphere. He Daqing was quieter, but his smile was much more genuine. He Yuzhu also relaxed a bit, starting to tell He Damin about the interesting things that happened at the restaurant—which customers were particularly picky, which dishes were the most popular. He Yushui, meanwhile, was pulling Qin Huairu along, chattering away incessantly. He Yuliang, having finished eating, toddled around the living room, occasionally letting out a giggle.

After dinner, Qin Huairu took the tired He Yuliang to the guest room to sleep. He Daqing and He Yuzhu sat on the sofa in the living room, brewed a pot of tea, and chatted casually about the restaurant's expansion plans. He Daqing asked detailed questions, and He Yuzhu answered earnestly. He Yushui, like a little tail, stuck to Chen Xueru, telling her all sorts of trivial things that happened at school.

He Damin didn't join their conversation and went out onto the balcony alone. Night had completely fallen, and Victoria Harbour was ablaze with lights. The colorful neon lights outlined the harbor's contours, reflecting a kaleidoscope of colors onto the sea. On the sea, several cargo ships, their navigation lights on, glided slowly into the distance like moving stars, their long whistles occasionally echoing through the night sky.

Chen Xueru quietly walked over, gently leaning on his shoulder, feeling the warmth emanating from him. "What are you thinking about? You look so preoccupied."

He Damin turned his head to look at her gentle profile, and took her hand in his. Her hand was always warm. "It's nothing, I was just thinking that if it weren't for all those messy things back then, my brother might not have turned out the way he did. Our family might be able to sit together and eat like this sooner."

Chen Xueru was silent for a moment, then sighed softly and said gently, "Maybe. But life doesn't offer 'what ifs.' If those things hadn't happened, you wouldn't have left Beijing, wouldn't have come to Hong Kong, we wouldn't have met, and we wouldn't have the life we ​​have now." She looked up into He Damin's eyes, her gaze clear and firm. "Damin, no matter what happened in the past, what matters is now. Isn't it good enough that the family can sit together, safe and happy?"

Looking into her bright eyes, He Damin's lingering sense of loss gradually dissipated. He lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead, a slight smile playing on his lips. "You're right, things are fine as they are."

He pulled her into his arms, and the two nestled quietly on the balcony, gazing at the distant lights of countless homes and listening to the faint sounds of laughter coming from the living room. He Daqing's laughter was full of energy, tinged with a hint of alcohol; He Yushui was loudly refuting something, her voice clear and crisp; He Yuzhu was smilingly trying to mediate. These sounds intertwined, creating a warm and real scene.

Listening to these voices and feeling the warmth of his embrace, He Damin felt an unprecedented sense of peace and contentment. He thought that perhaps, at this moment, this family had finally become whole again. The cracks of the past, though they could not be completely erased, had at least been soothed by warmth and understanding for this moment.

The next morning, sunlight streamed into the room through the gaps in the curtains. When He Damin woke up, Chen Xueru was no longer beside him, and he could faintly hear voices and children's laughter coming from downstairs.

After he got up and washed up, he went downstairs and saw He Daqing's family having breakfast. He Yuliang was holding a small spoon, struggling to scoop up some porridge, while He Yushui patiently taught him. Qin Huairu and Chen Xueru were busy in the kitchen, while He Daqing and He Yuzhu sat at the table, talking quietly.

Seeing He Damin come down, He Daqing quickly stood up: "Damin, you're awake? Come and have breakfast. Xueru made porridge, it smells so good."

He Damin went over and sat down, and Chen Xueru served him a bowl of porridge. "Why don't you sleep a little longer?"

"I'm used to it, I can't sleep." He Damin smiled, picked up a steamed bun and took a bite.

After breakfast, He Daqing's family was about to leave. He Yuzhu had to go back to the restaurant to prepare for opening, and He Yuliang was a little shy and started to cry after staying for a while.

He Damin saw them to the door. He Yuliang, held in Qin Huairu's arms, saw He Yushui standing motionless at the door and reached out his little hands for a hug. He Yushui hugged him and kissed him on the cheek: "Be good, Yuliang. I'll come see you when I have time." The little guy nodded as if he understood, nestled on Qin Huairu's shoulder, and waved goodbye to He Yushui with reluctance.

He Yuzhu patted He Damin on the shoulder: "Uncle, we'll be going now. The restaurant can't be left unattended."

"Okay, be careful on the road." He Damin nodded, then turned to He Daqing, "Brother, come often."

He Daqing's eyes reddened again, and he nodded vigorously: "Okay, okay. Take care of yourself too." He paused, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just sighed, turned around and followed He Yuzhu into the car.

The car slowly drove away. He Yushui stood at the door, watching the car disappear at the end of the road, her eyes red-rimmed. He Damin patted her on the back: "It's alright, it's not like we'll never see each other again. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future."

He Yushui sniffed and nodded.

After they all left, He Damin turned and went back to his study. John was already waiting there, holding a telegram.

"Mr. He, according to the news we received last night, the Ocean One and Ocean Two have successfully passed through the Strait of Malacca and are expected to arrive in Hong Kong in eight days," John reported.

He Damin nodded and walked behind his desk to sit down. "Any new information from Mr. Ma regarding the talent pool?"

"Yes," John said, taking out another document. "Mr. Ma said that the procedures for the first batch of twelve experts went smoothly and they will definitely arrive next month. In addition, he has contacted several cultural relics experts and is compiling a list of antiques and calligraphy and paintings. He said there are quite a few good items, and they will send them to us once they are ready."

"Alright." He Damin tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "Once the grain arrives at the port, store it all in the warehouse and have people guard it 24 hours a day to ensure everything is safe. Then immediately notify Mr. Ma that we can begin exchanging the items according to the list."

John quickly jotted down notes in his notebook, then hesitated for a moment before finally asking, "Mr. He, this batch of grain is quite large. Are you really going to use it all to exchange for people and those... antiques and paintings? Why not consider selling some of it first to recoup some funds? After all, the shipping company's operations and land purchases require a lot of capital."

He Damin raised his head, looking at John with a calm yet firm gaze. "John, you've been with me for several months, you should know that while I pursue profit in business, it's not just about making money. Some things are more important than money." He paused, gazing out the window, "Those talented people are the cornerstone of our future development. Those antique paintings and calligraphy are the roots and soul of our nation. In this special period, being able to rescue them is more meaningful than making any amount of money."

John paused for a moment, looking at He Damin's resolute profile, and seemed to understand something. He nodded solemnly: "I understand, Mr. He. I will do as you instruct."

He Damin walked up to him and patted him on the shoulder. "Thank you for your hard work. Keep a close eye on the shipping company. Let me know as soon as the grain arrives at the port."

"Yes, Mr. He." John took the documents and turned to leave the study.

Silence returned to the study. He Damin walked to the window and looked at the distant sea. The sun shone brightly, the sea sparkled, and several cargo ships were busily entering and leaving the port. He knew that the Ocean One and Ocean Two were sailing day and night in the South China Sea, carrying not only food, but also hope and the future.

Those grains will be transformed into wise hands, exquisite buildings, precious calligraphy and paintings, and dazzling jade pieces. And he, He Damin, is carefully protecting and bringing back those treasures that rightfully belong to this land and this nation, bit by bit, in his own way.