NABC Chapter 171 The Father-in-Law's Background
Chapter 171 The Father-in-Law's Background
"Indeed, the construction teams from the mainland are incredibly efficient." Zhou Jianming nodded in deep agreement.
"I personally oversaw this project in Sijiu City for a period of time. The workers started work before dawn and finished after dark every day, working in shifts without interruption. Moreover, their skills were excellent, and the quality of the building was fully guaranteed."
The same goes for the renovation of your courtyard house. The craftsmen there are all old Beijing artisans, very experienced in restoring those old houses. They preserved the historical charm while also doing a solid job.
Lin Zhou nodded in agreement, and just then, a thought suddenly came to his mind.
His wife, Su Wanqing, had never been to the mainland since she was a child. Now that the project in Sijiucheng has made such great progress and the courtyard house has been renovated, it's a good time to go back and visit, and also let his wife and children experience the local customs and culture.
His wife, Su Wanqing, has lived in Hong Kong since birth and has never been to Beijing. His son, Lin Xiaofeng, has only heard stories about the mainland from him, but has never seen it with his own eyes.
Now, taking this opportunity to bring the whole family back to see the place where he was born and raised, to see the courtyard house left by his mother, and to let his son recognize his roots, is not a bad thing.
Thinking of this, Lin Zhou felt a warmth in his heart and looked up at Zhou Jianming, saying, "Now that things in Beijing are settled, I'll go and see for myself. This time, I plan to bring my wife and children along so they can experience the atmosphere of the mainland."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jianming immediately nodded: "Of course, Mr. Lin. The old lady's courtyard house is finished being renovated. You can bring your family to stay there and get acquainted with the place. When do you plan to leave? I'll make the arrangements in advance."
Lin Zhou thought for a moment and said:
"The preparations for the cinemas in Hong Kong are being overseen by others, so there shouldn't be any major problems."
I plan to set off in the next couple of days, taking a plane from Guangzhou to Beijing, which will be more convenient.
Could you contact my team in mainland China and arrange airport pickup and accommodation? Keep it simple, nothing too extravagant.
"Okay, Mr. Lin." Zhou Jianming immediately agreed, took out his notebook, and quickly wrote down Lin Zhou's requirements.
"I will contact the project manager of Sijiucheng immediately and ask them to arrange a vehicle to pick you up from the airport. The courtyard house will also be cleaned and equipped with daily necessities in advance, so you can move in directly when you arrive."
I will also have my assistant book the flights from Guangzhou to Beijing as soon as possible to ensure a smooth trip for you and your family.
Lin Zhou nodded in satisfaction as he watched Zhou Jianming's decisive and efficient manner: "Thank you for your hard work, Zhou Jianming."
"It is my duty to share Mr. Lin's burdens." Zhou Jianming closed his notebook, bowed slightly, and said, "Then, Mr. Lin, I will go and make the arrangements here. I will report to you immediately if there are any developments."
"Okay, go ahead." Lin Zhou waved his hand.
Zhou Jianming turned and walked out of the office, gently closing the door behind him, and the office returned to silence.
Lin Zhou closed his eyes and leaned back in his office chair to rest for a while. His gaze fell on the two sets of photos on the table again. One was a skyscraper rising from the ground, and the other was a quaint courtyard house. One was modern and the other traditional, one was brand new and the other nostalgic, but both carried his expectations and concerns.
Hong Kong was where Lin Zhou started his business and where he built his business empire. Beijing, on the other hand, was the root of the original owner of this body, the place where his mother left him with a memory, and the starting point for his Zhonghua Group's expansion into the mainland.
Today, his business in Hong Kong is thriving, and his projects in mainland China are beginning to show results. His life seems to be developing in the most perfect direction.
He glanced at his watch; it was almost time to leave work. He got up, left his office, and went downstairs. His driver was already waiting for him, and he arrived home shortly afterward.
His father-in-law and son hadn't returned yet. He was reading the newspaper on the sofa in the living room when he fell asleep. When he woke up, Su Wanqing had already returned.
"A-Zhou, you didn't even tell me you were coming back today. Are you done with the theater business?" Su Wanqing asked with a hint of reproach in her voice.
"It'll be soon, honey."
Lin Zhou's voice softened instantly, and he said with a doting smile:
"I have something to tell you. The building we invested in in Beijing has been topped out, and the courtyard house my mother left behind has also been renovated!"
I'm planning to take you and the kids there in the next couple of days, and we can also do some sightseeing in mainland China so the kids can broaden their horizons. What do you think?
Hearing Lin Zhou's words, Su Wanqing was visibly taken aback, then a look of surprise appeared on her face as she asked:
"Really? That's wonderful! I've wanted to visit the mainland and Beijing for a long time, and my son keeps asking me what his hometown is like."
"Honey, when are we leaving? I need to pack my bags."
"Zhou Jianming will arrange everything in the next couple of days, so you don't need to worry about it. Just pack your luggage," Lin Zhou said with a smile.
"Once we arrive in Beijing, I'll take you to visit the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, and to eat the local specialties like Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste) and Peking duck, so you can truly experience the flavors of old Beijing."
"Okay, okay." Su Wan's voice was full of anticipation.
Just as Su Wanqing was about to say something more, Lin Xiaofeng and Su Guohua returned to the villa together, chatting and laughing.
The son seemed to have overheard part of Lin Zhou and Su Wanqing's conversation, and hurriedly ran over, chattering excitedly beside them:
"Dad, Dad, didn't you just say there was something delicious to eat? I think you meant we were going to eat noodles with soybean paste! And roast duck too!"
What is Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste)? Is it delicious?
"Haha, Zhajiangmian is a kind of noodle, a local delicacy from my hometown. How about we go eat it in a few days? And Dad will also take you to see the place where I lived when I was a child." Lin Zhou picked up his son Lin Xiaofeng and said with a smile.
Su Guohua, who had returned with Lin Xiaofeng, quickly spoke up to advise Lin Zhou after hearing his words:
"A-Zhou, are you planning to take Xiaofeng back to the mainland? Is it dangerous? I heard the mainland is very hostile towards business people like us. Should we wait a while and see?"
"It's okay, Dad. I went there a while ago. The government's policies have been completely changed. Moreover, the mainland has started its reform and opening up, and they welcome us to go back and invest."
"By the way, Dad, why don't you come back with us this time? After all, that's where our roots are! We've been away for so many years, it's time to go back and see them."
Hearing Lin Zhou's words, Su Wanqing looked at her father with anticipation. She had heard before that he was also from the mainland, but she had no idea what he did there.
Seeing the expectant look in Su Wanqing's eyes, and considering that he himself really wanted to go back and see what his hometown looked like again, Su Guohua nodded in agreement.
Upon hearing that her father had agreed to go to the mainland together, Su Wanqing couldn't wait to ask about her family's status on the mainland and why they had come to Hong Kong in the first place.
Su Guohua sat on the sofa and slowly began to tell the story of why he left the mainland.
Their family used to be small landlords. During the Liberation period, when their land was being distributed, they were almost instigated by some envious villagers to have their property confiscated. So, after using their connections, they secretly took most of their assets to Hong Kong.