r18novel Chapter 186 Reunion
Chapter 186 Reunion
After a half-hour drive, the black Crown sedan smoothly entered the gate of the machinery factory's residential compound.
This residential compound is a typical supporting building for a large state-owned factory, consisting entirely of red brick buildings, the exterior walls of which are somewhat mottled and aged from being soaked by rainwater.
Several clusters of roses grew at the base of the wall, and several stone tables and benches were placed in the open space under the old locust tree next to it. Groups of elderly people sat there chatting and enjoying the cool air, while children chased and played in the shade of the surrounding trees.
Inside the guardhouse at the entrance, there is a small rest room. The person on duty now is an old man. When he saw that it was an imported car he had never seen before, he quickly poked his head out, his eyes full of vigilance, and raised his hand to signal the car to stop.
Lin Zhou slowly stepped on the brake and rolled down the window. Su Guohua leaned over, smiling as he handed over the information he had inquired about beforehand, explaining that he was there to visit Su Wanrong, and then cooperated by registering his name and purpose.
The gatekeeper scribbled a few lines in the register, glanced at the impressive sedan several times, then waved his hand, raised the barrier, and muttered under his breath:
"These days, it's amazing that Wang Jianjun's family knows such important people. It seems we'll have to be more polite to them in the future."
The car slowly drove into the residential compound. Lin Zhou slowed down, his eyes scanning the numbers on the buildings. Following the address given by Su Guohua, he finally parked the car in an open space in front of a three-story tenement building.
The space here isn't very spacious, and several old-fashioned bicycles are parked around it, with vegetable baskets hanging on the handlebars, creating a stark contrast with the gleaming Crown sedan. As soon as it came to a stop, it attracted the attention of many passing residents.
Lin Zhou pulled the handbrake, turned off the engine, opened the car door, and got out first.
The scorching sun felt like it was burning him. He jogged around to the trunk, pressed the switch, and pulled out all the gifts that were piled high on the trunk.
The new clothes Su Wanqing had prepared were neatly folded, the nutritional supplements she brought back from Hong Kong were exquisitely packaged, and the brightly colored toys stood out among the other items.
Su Guohua also got out of the car and went forward to help. Lin Zhou handed the clothes and several boxes of nutritional supplements to his father-in-law, while he picked up the remaining gifts and toys. It was his first time visiting his father-in-law's family, and he was carrying so many gifts, which made his feelings for his father-in-law seem all the more sincere.
"Xiaofeng, walk slowly, don't run around." Su Wanqing gently reminded Lin Xiaofeng as they got out of the car, holding his little hand.
The little guy looked around curiously, his eyes darting around. He pointed at the graffiti at the entrance of the building and kept asking questions. But he also obediently held his mother's hand and followed behind Lin Zhou and Su Guohua, walking step by step towards the tenement building.
The stairwells of the tenement building were narrow and dark, the walls were blackened by cooking fumes, and a few old newspapers were pasted on the walls. The stair railings had been rubbed by people for a long time, and their surfaces had been worn shiny.
The stairwell was filled with the smells of cooked food, cooking fumes, and a slightly damp atmosphere, a stark contrast to Lin Zhou's usual environment, yet it was the most authentic glimpse into everyday life.
Lin Xiaofeng rarely saw such a place, so he couldn't help but hold his mother's hand tightly, his little face showing a mixture of curiosity and timidity.
The group climbed the steps slowly to avoid disturbing the surrounding residents.
The doors of several houses on the second floor were open, and people peeked out, their eyes full of curiosity as they looked at Lin Zhou and his group, who were dressed smartly and carrying many high-end gifts. They whispered among themselves, wondering whose family this group was visiting.
Soon, the three of them reached the third floor. At the end of the corridor on this floor was a public restroom, which always had a faint odor. Su Wanrong's home was on the side closest to the restroom.
Lin Zhou stopped in front of the red-painted wooden door. The paint on the door had aged and peeled off quite a bit over time. There was an old strip of cloth wrapped around the doorknob, presumably for anti-slip purposes.
He gently placed the toy in his right hand on the ground, freed his hand, raised his fingers, and gently knocked on the door with a slow and steady rhythm: "Knock knock knock."
The knocking wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet hallway, penetrating the door and reaching inside.
A moment later, the sound of rustling footsteps came from inside the house, followed by a slightly hoarse woman's voice, carrying a hint of the cheerfulness of a northern woman, mixed with a touch of languor after a busy day: "Coming, coming!"
Just two or three seconds after the sound faded, the old wooden door was pulled open from the inside with a soft creak.
The person who opened the door was a middle-aged woman, who looked to be around forty years old. She had a bob haircut that reached her ears, and her hair was neatly combed, but a few strands of silver hair could not be hidden in her hair.
Her face was tanned from years of exposure to the sun and wind, her cheekbones were slightly high, and fine wrinkles clung to the corners of her eyes and her forehead—traces left by time and life.
He was slightly overweight, wearing a faded blue work uniform with the sleeves rolled up, revealing his strong wrists. His hands were still covered in flour, suggesting he had been busy with housework.
Lin Zhou's gaze lingered on the woman for a moment, and he sighed inwardly.
"This is Su Guohua's niece, Su Wanrong. Judging from her appearance, she must have suffered a lot over the years. She must have endured a lot of wind and rain while reclaiming wasteland in Northeast China, which is why she has such a rough appearance."
Looking at Su Wanqing beside him, she was pampered, with fair skin, gentle features, and a quiet demeanor. Although the two were cousins, their appearances and temperaments were worlds apart—they were practically two extremes.
Su Wanrong opened the door and was momentarily stunned to see four people standing there.
The people in front of me were all well-dressed. The man was tall and had a calm demeanor, clearly indicating that he was either rich or noble.
The woman beside him had gentle features, fair skin, and wore exquisite clothes; she looked like she had lived a life of luxury.
There was also an elderly man with gray hair and a refined demeanor, leading a beautiful little boy. The child's clothes were brand new, and the material looked excellent.
This group of people had an extraordinary air about them, were dressed in fine clothes, and were completely out of place in this tenement building. They were definitely not people that an ordinary family like mine could come into contact with.
Su Wanrong was filled with doubt, and even subconsciously felt that the other party had probably come to the wrong place.
She paused for a few seconds, then quickly recovered, her face showing a mixture of restraint and wariness, and asked:
"Excuse me, who are you? Have you knocked on the wrong door?"
As she spoke, her gaze swept back and forth across the faces of Lin Zhou, Su Guohua, and the others, finally settling on Su Guohua.
I felt that the old man looked somewhat familiar, but I couldn't quite place where I had seen him before, which only deepened my confusion.
She usually interacted with her coworkers and their families from the machinery factory, all ordinary people. She had never seen someone with such an air of authority before. For a moment, she didn't know what to do with her hands and feet. The cheerfulness she had shown when she opened the door earlier had largely dissipated, leaving her feeling awkward and uneasy.
A gentle breeze blew through the hallway, carrying a faint odor from the toilet, making the atmosphere somewhat awkward.
Lin Xiaofeng hid behind Su Wanqing, peeking out to look at Su Wanrong, his little face showing a hint of timidity.
Su Wanqing gently patted her son's back, looked up at Su Wanrong with a gentle smile on her face, and wanted to explain, but Su Guohua beside her spoke first.
Looking at his niece, Su Guohua was filled with emotion.
Since I left the mainland and came to Hong Kong, I have not heard any news from my elder brother's family.
The last news he received was about Su Wanrong's mother's death, and he didn't know where Su Wanrong had gone. He thought his older brother's family was no longer alive.
He only recently learned that Su Wanrong had signed up to go to Northeast China to reclaim wasteland. So many years have passed in the blink of an eye. The little girl of yesteryear is now a middle-aged woman with a weathered face. The marks that time has left on her made Su Guohua feel a pang of sadness.
He took a step forward, a gentle smile on his face, and spoke in a soft voice with a familiar local accent, "Wanrong, it's me, Su Guohua."
Those few simple words sent a jolt through Su Wanrong. The doubt and restraint on her face vanished instantly, replaced by surprise and disbelief.
She suddenly opened her eyes wide, her gaze fixed on Su Guohua, scrutinizing him closely. The outline in her memory gradually overlapped with the old man before her, and those memories sealed by time surged forth at this moment.
"Uncle?" Su Wanrong called out tentatively, her voice trembling slightly, with a hint of disbelief, and her eyes instantly reddened.
Su Guohua smiled and nodded, replying softly, "Yes, it's me."
A simple "Uncle!" and a quick reply instantly broke the subtle tension in the hallway, allowing relatives who hadn't seen each other for many years to reunite in this simple tenement building.
The initial awkwardness and distance dissipated largely under the pull of blood ties, leaving only a heart full of excitement and emotion.
Lin Zhou stood aside, watching this scene with a faint smile on his lips. He picked up the toys from the ground again, knowing that this long-awaited family visit was finally complete...