thebusnovel Chapter 115 Jiaodaokou Subdistrict Office
Chapter 115 Jiaodaokou Subdistrict Office
The next morning, just as dawn broke and the sun was high in the east, the cool morning breeze was refreshing. After washing up, Lin Zhou told Old Master Huo about his arrangements and then left the Beijing Hotel alone.
It's the height of July, and in the north, it gets light early. Just after seven o'clock, the streets are already bustling with traffic, though most of the passengers are workers hurrying to work by bicycle or on foot. Occasionally, you'll see middle-aged women carrying shopping baskets, rushing towards the morning market.
A stream of people on old-fashioned bicycles passed by like flowing water, the bells on the handlebars jingling and clanging. The air was filled with the sweet aroma of steamed buns from breakfast stalls and the faint smell of smoke from coal stoves, a scent that made one feel comfortable.
Lin Zhou, dressed in a crisp white shirt, black trousers, and shiny leather shoes, stood on the steps at the restaurant entrance, squinting as he surveyed his surroundings.
I haven't been back to Beijing for over a decade, but the streets are still the same as I remember, with the gray-walled, gray-tiled courtyard houses scattered in an orderly fashion.
The only change was in the clothing of the pedestrians on the street. They were no longer all wearing the same blue and gray cloth shirts. Occasionally, you could see a few girls wearing brightly colored clothes, with braids, walking by with smiles on their faces.
After finishing his breakfast by the roadside, he looked up at his watch. The hour hand was pointing to 8:30, exactly the time he had arranged to meet them the night before.
Before long, the sound of a car engine approaching from afar broke the surrounding tranquility.
Lin Zhou looked in the direction of the sound and saw a military green jeep driving over, its body covered with a thin layer of dust, indicating that it had traveled quite a distance.
The car slowly stopped in front of the restaurant. The door creaked open and a young man in his early twenties, wearing blue overalls, jumped out. He had dark skin and a clever look in his eyes.
Immediately afterwards, a middle-aged man got out of the passenger seat. He was wearing a crisp cadre uniform, his hair was neatly combed, and he had a serious expression on his face.
The two men quickly approached Lin Zhou. The middle-aged man extended his hand first, his voice booming, "Are you Mr. Lin Zhou? We're from the General Office. My surname is Wang, and my name is Wang Jianguo. This is Xiao Li, Li Jianshe. Our leader specifically instructed us to accompany you today to handle your housing matters."
Lin Zhou smiled and shook hands with them, feeling the rough texture of their hands, which carried the straightforwardness of northerners. "Thank you both for coming so early."
"It's nothing, it's nothing." Wang Jianguo waved his hand, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothing out. "Mr. Lin is a patriotic businessman who returned from Hong Kong and has contributed to the development of our mainland. This little thing is nothing."
Lin Zhou knew perfectly well that these two people accompanying him were either afraid that his newfound status as a big boss in Beijing would attract unwanted attention and make him a target for trouble, or that he would run into trouble because of his arrogant demeanor.
Secondly, it also carries a degree of surveillance. After all, he had been away from the mainland for over a decade, and now he was returning with the title of a big boss in Hong Kong; anyone would be wary of him.
Lin Zhou didn't take this matter seriously. In this day and age, people value prudence in everything, which he understood.
After getting into the jeep, Xiao Li started the engine, and the car slowly drove towards Jiaodaokou.
On the way, Wang Jianguo and Lin Zhou chatted casually, asking about the local customs and culture of Hong Kong. Lin Zhou didn't hold back and told him about ordinary things, such as Hong Kong's gangs and the night view of Victoria Harbour. Wang Jianguo was amazed and said, "This is truly an eye-opener."
The car wound its way through several narrow alleys before finally stopping in front of the Jiaodaokou Subdistrict Office.
This is a drab two-story building with a red wooden sign with white characters hanging at the entrance. The sign reads "Jiaodaokou Subdistrict Office". On the steps at the entrance, there are two pots of half-dead roses.
Lin Zhou found the place unfamiliar; this wasn't the neighborhood office where he used to come looking for odd jobs. The old neighborhood office was located in a courtyard house. Had the neighborhood office moved?
As soon as the group entered the small building, they heard a hearty laugh coming from inside. A middle-aged man in a white shirt, with a slightly protruding belly, came out to greet them, holding a palm-leaf fan and fanning himself vigorously.
"Section Chief Wang, what a rare guest!" He spotted Wang Jianguo walking ahead at a glance, and quickly stepped forward to shake his hand, being extremely enthusiastic.
Wang Jianguo patted him on the shoulder and introduced him with a smile: "Director Zhang, this is Mr. Lin Zhou, whom I mentioned to you."
Mr. Lin is the chairman of Xiangjiang Zhonghua Group. He came back to Beijing specifically to investigate investment opportunities, and today he's here to reclaim the small courtyard house that his family inherited from his ancestors.
Upon hearing the words "Xiangjiang Zhonghua Group," Director Zhang's eyes lit up, and his smile widened. He quickly released Wang Jianguo's hand, strode over to Lin Zhou, and gripped his hands tightly, so tightly that Lin Zhou felt a slight pain.
"Oh my! Mr. Lin! I've heard so much about you!" His voice was filled with excitement. "I've long heard of a Mr. Lin in Hong Kong, a young and promising man who is wholeheartedly devoted to serving his country. I never imagined I'd meet you in person today! Please come in, please come in! Have a seat!"
As he spoke, Director Zhang eagerly ushered the group into his office, calling out into the inner room, "Xiao Liu! Quick! Brew a pot of good tea! Longjing! Get out the best Longjing tea from my cabinet!"
Upon entering the office, several neatly arranged wooden tables and chairs with peeling paint were visible. Quotations from Chairman Mao hung on the wall, and an old filing cabinet in the corner was covered with a thin layer of dust. As soon as the group sat down, Xiao Liu entered carrying a tray with a white porcelain teapot and several small teacups on it. The tea leaves unfurled in the water, releasing a faint, pleasant fragrance.
Director Zhang personally poured Lin Zhou a cup of tea, smiling broadly as he said, "Mr. Lin, I know about your ancestral courtyard house. It's in Ju'er Hutong, a rather exquisite little courtyard. Over the years, due to some historical reasons, several families have lived there. Don't worry, since it's your Lin family's ancestral home, it will definitely be returned to its rightful owner!"
He paused, rubbed his hands together, and said with a hint of anticipation in his eyes, "Mr. Lin, when you come back to invest this time, could you consider Jiaodaokou Street? Our location is excellent, and we have a lot of connections. If you could set up a factory or open a shop here, it would definitely be a sure-fire way to make money! I, Old Zhang, would be the first to wholeheartedly support you and fully cooperate with your efforts!"
Lin Zhou picked up his teacup, took a sip, and savored the rich aroma and sweet aftertaste. He put down the teacup, looked at Director Zhang's eager eyes, and smiled slightly: "Director Zhang, you're too kind. I did come back this time with some investment plans, but I still need to investigate the specific projects. However, if Jiaodaokou is suitable, I will definitely give it priority consideration."
Upon hearing this, Director Zhang's eyes lit up even more, and his face crinkled into a wide smile. He slapped his thigh, raising his voice a few decibels: "Excellent! Mr. Lin, you're so generous! Just for those words, I'll get this matter settled for you perfectly today!"
As he spoke, he turned and shouted outside, "Xiao Li! Go and call the heads of those households in Ju'er Hutong! Tell them I urgently need to speak with them!"
After shouting, he turned back to Lin Zhou with a face full of apology and said, "Mr. Lin, please wait a moment. I'll arrange for someone to clear out the yard for you today! Don't worry, I definitely won't keep you waiting!"
Wang Jianguo watched from the side, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. Lin Zhou leaned back in his chair, looking at the sunlight streaming in through the window, and sighed softly. More than a decade had passed; finally, he was returning to his own little courtyard. The pomegranate tree in the yard, the stone table and benches under the grape trellis, and the image of his mother sitting at the door pasting matchboxes—scenes flashed before his eyes.
In the office, Director Zhang was explaining the details of the task with great enthusiasm, while Wang Jianguo and Xiao Li chimed in. Lin Zhou watched all this with a slight smile of relief on his lips.