kingnovel Chapter 456 Tu Nan and Wan Shu Enter the Capital
Chapter 456 Tu Nan and Wan Shu Enter the Capital
In the following days, except for mealtimes, Zhuang Chaoying stayed in her dormitory almost every day, devoting herself entirely to her creative work.
He is currently writing a short story of only 80,000 words called "Past Events Like Smoke," using words to record those bits and pieces of the past.
As for Yu Hua, he's been leaving early in the morning and not returning until late at night these past few days. He must be busy spending time with his crush, immersed in the sweetness of budding romance.
Time flies, and it's already the 11th.
A voice called out from outside the door. "Zhuang Anhe, someone is looking for you."
Upon hearing the sound, Zhuang Chaoying stopped writing, capped the pen, and closed the manuscript.
He got up, put on a short-sleeved shirt, and responded while straightening his clothes.
"coming!"
He hurried down the stairs and had just reached the dormitory entrance when he saw Tu Nan and Wan Shu standing there.
Zhuang Chaoying exclaimed in surprise, "Tu Nan, Wan Shu!"
"dad."
"Hey Wanshu, Tunan, you must be tired from the train journey."
Looking at his father's current appearance, Zhuang Tunan couldn't help but say, "Dad! Your beard is so long, it's practically a full beard."
Zhuang Chaoying smiled and stroked his beard. Seeing his son and daughter-in-law carrying luggage bags, he immediately understood that they hadn't found a place to stay yet.
"Hey! Without your mom watching over me, I wouldn't even bother shaving. You guys haven't found a place to stay yet, have you?"
Tu Nan and his group stood by the gate and placed their bags on the steps.
“Dad, Wanshu and I came straight here after we got off the train. Teacher Zhang was supposed to come with us, but there were some problems with the project at the design institute, so he didn’t come.”
Zhang Wanshu continued, "Dad, Tu Nan and I won an award for our design. We've come here to receive it."
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Chaoying immediately smiled proudly and patted Tu Nan on the shoulder.
"Good, good! I knew you were all great. Dad's treating you all today, I'll take you to Quanjude in Kyoto for a meal, their ducks are famous. By the way, how are your mom and dad?"
Zhuang Tunan replied, "Mom, little sister, Grandpa and Grandma are both doing well, there's nothing wrong at home."
"That's good, that's good. You two wait for me a moment, I'll pack my things and then take you to your accommodation."
As Zhuang Chaoying spoke, she turned and walked upstairs.
......
Zhuang Chaoying, pulling her suitcase and carrying a duffel bag, hailed a taxi with Tu Nan and Wan Shu and headed towards Nanluoguxiang.
A short while later, the car stopped at the entrance of a courtyard.
Tu Nan and Wan Shu stood at the door, watching their father unlock the door with a key. They exchanged a glance. "Dad, is this the apartment you rented?"
"bought."
The two stared blankly at the spacious courtyard before them.
Zhuang Chaoying smiled and urged, "What are you looking at? These two silly children. This is our yard, come in."
Tu Nan then came to his senses, hurriedly picked up his suitcase and bag, stepped over the high threshold, and entered the courtyard.
He stood in the middle of the yard, eyes wide with disbelief. "Dad, you bought another house? We have so many houses, we can't possibly live in them all."
“If you can’t fit them all in, just leave them; they’ll come in handy someday. You two stay in this room, and I’ll stay in this one,” Zhuang Chaoying said as she assigned them rooms.
Tu Nan and Wan Shu were assigned to the east wing, while Zhuang Chaoying lived in the main room.
The bedding in the room was all new, with a faint cotton smell.
After putting their luggage away, the three of them couldn't wait to head straight to Quanjude at the front gate.
If you were to ask what the most famous foods in Kyoto are, Peking duck and hot pot would definitely be on the list.
Step into Quanjude.
They found a seat, ordered a duck, a plate of deep-fried pork tenderloin, a plate of mushroom and bamboo shoot slices, a pound of lotus leaf pancakes, two bottles of Arctic Ocean soda, and a bottle of Moutai.
Before long, dishes were placed on the table.
The roast duck has a reddish-brown color, crispy skin, and tender meat.
When it came time to pay the bill, Zhuang Chaoying was still slightly surprised.
This meal cost a whopping 89 yuan, which is equivalent to half a month's wages for an ordinary worker. It's at least double the price when he and Ah Ling ate there last time. This stuff is really ripping people off these days.
But seeing his son and daughter-in-law patting their bellies with satisfaction, he felt it was all worth it.
After everyone had gone for a walk to digest their food, they returned to the yard.
Wanshu and Tunan lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) in the east wing that night. It was their first time sleeping on a kang, and they felt a sense of novelty.
Zhang Wanshu felt a slight discomfort on her back, so she sat up, lifted the mattress, and reached out to press the surface of the kang (heated brick bed) underneath.
"Tunan, this really is made of mud, just like in the book. This is the first time I've ever seen one in real life."
Tu Nan lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), looking at the faded carvings on the roof beams.
"Therefore, those of us who study architecture should travel around the country more often to understand the differences in living customs between the north and south. Only in this way can we combine design theory to create design works that conform to people's lives and sentiments."
Zhang Wanshu nestled against Tu Nan's chest and whispered, "Tu Nan, just how rich is your family? How come Dad can just throw around a house like that?"
Tu Nan put his arm around her back and said with a smile, "I'm not too sure about the exact amount, but Dad has written and published a lot of books, so we don't have to worry about money at home."
"Tu Nan, what do you think about using the money we have to buy a house back in Shanghai? There are residential properties being developed one after another, and our design institute has taken on quite a few related projects."
“If you want to buy it, we’re graduating next July, and I don’t want to share a dorm room with six other people again. You’re in charge of the money, so you get to decide.”
"it is good!"
They usually lived in their own dorm rooms at school, and this was the first time in a month that they had moved out alone. Long-suppressed emotions erupted instantly; Tu Nan, who had been impatient, blushed and looked at Zhang Wanshu with loving eyes, and pounced on her.
……
Wan Shu wrapped herself tightly in the blanket. "No, I have to get up early tomorrow."
"Just once, I'll control the time."
Seeing that Wan Shu neither spoke nor refused, and turned her back, he immediately understood what she meant and quickly got up to get something from his bag.
"Wanshu, I'm here."
.....
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Zhuang Chaoying got up early.
After a quick wash, he went out to buy breakfast.
After the family sat down to eat, Zhuang Chaoying originally thought he could go to the event with his two children, but he didn't have an invitation and couldn't get into the event hall, so he had to give up the idea.
He saw Tu Nan and Wan Shu into a taxi, and watched the car drive away before turning around and walking slowly towards the antique market in Liulichang, Xuanwumen, with his hands behind his back.
Since I have nothing to do at home anyway, I might as well go to the antique market and maybe I'll find something unexpected.
He boarded the bus and arrived at his destination in less than half an hour.
After getting out of the car, he walked towards the Liulichang antique market.
Although this street is less than two miles long, it is very lively.
Along the streets, there are state-run bookstores, antique shops, calligraphy and painting shops, as well as the famous time-honored brand Rongbaozhai, and of course, some privately owned small shops.
The market was bustling with people of all ages and genders, including quite a few foreigners.