The bus finally stopped at the city's long-distance bus station. Shen Tingzhou, carrying luggage, led Lin Wanqiu and Nian'an off the bus. The station was bustling with people, filled with the sounds of conversation and car horns. Shen Nian'an held Lin Wanqiu's hand tightly, his eyes filled with both curiosity and nervousness—this was his first time in such a lively place, and everything around him felt both new and unfamiliar.
"Don't be afraid, Dad and Mom are here." Lin Wanqiu felt the tension in her son's hand, gently patted the back of his hand, and softly comforted him. Shen Tingzhou, on the other hand, cautiously observed the surrounding environment and said to Lin Wanqiu, "Let's find a guesthouse to stay in first. I asked a friend beforehand, and there's a state-run guesthouse near the station. The environment is quite nice, and the price is reasonable."
They walked along the road outside the station for about ten minutes and arrived at the state-run guesthouse. The guesthouse gate was red, with a wooden sign hanging above it bearing the four large golden characters "Dongfeng Guesthouse". Inside the gate was a spacious courtyard with several tall sycamore trees. Under the trees were several stone tables and benches, where a few travelers were resting.
Shen Tingzhou walked to the front desk, took out his letter of introduction and ID card, and checked in. The front desk staff was a middle-aged woman who was very enthusiastic. "Comrade, are you here in the city for tourism? Perfect timing, a new children's playground recently opened in our city, right next to People's Park. It's perfect for taking the kids to play."
Hearing this, Lin Wanqiu was very happy and quickly thanked her, "Thank you, Auntie. We were just planning to take the children to People's Park. We can go check out the children's playground here."
After checking in, Shen Tingzhou carried the luggage and led Lin Wanqiu and Nian'an to the room. The room wasn't big, but it was very clean, with two single beds, a table, and two chairs. A landscape painting hung on the wall. Shen Nian'an put down her schoolbag and ran to the window, looking at the street outside. "Mom, the roads here are so wide, and there are so many bicycles, much more than in our commune."
Lin Wanqiu walked to his side and pointed to a bridge in the distance, saying, "Nian'an, look at that bridge. That's the Liberation Bridge in the city. There's a big river below it called the Tuo River. We can go to the bridge and take a look tomorrow."
"Really? That's great!" Shen Nian'an said excitedly.
After resting for about half an hour, Shen Tingzhou checked his watch and said to Lin Wanqiu and Nian'an, "It's about time. Let's go have lunch first, and then go to People's Park. What do you say?"
"Okay!" Lin Wanqiu and Nian'an answered in unison.
They left the guesthouse and walked along the road towards People's Park. The city streets were wide, with a green belt in the middle planted with neat rows of holly and roses. Shops lined the roadside, their windows displaying all sorts of goods: clothes, shoes, toys, snacks, and fruits, dazzling Chen Nian'an.
"Mommy, look at that toy store! They have so many toy cars!" Shen Nian'an pointed to a toy store, her eyes full of longing. Lin Wanqiu smiled and said, "Let's go to the park first, and I'll buy you one when we get back, okay?"
"Yes!" Shen Nian'an nodded vigorously, holding Lin Wanqiu's hand tightly, and continued walking forward.
They found a state-run restaurant and went inside. The restaurant was very clean, with tables and chairs arranged neatly, and menus hanging on the wall listing the names and prices of various dishes. Shen Tingzhou asked Lin Wanqiu and Nian'an to sit down, while he went to the counter to order. He ordered a plate of sweet and sour pork, a plate of braised pork belly, a plate of stir-fried vegetables, and three bowls of rice—all dishes that Nian'an liked.
Soon, the dishes were served. The sweet and sour pork was golden in color and emitted a sweet aroma; the braised pork was glossy and tempting, rich but not greasy; the stir-fried greens were bright green and refreshing, making them look very appetizing. Shen Nian'an picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of sweet and sour pork and put it in his mouth. The sweet and sour taste spread on his tongue, and he squinted his eyes in satisfaction. "Mom, this sweet and sour pork is so delicious, even better than the one we make at home!"
Lin Wanqiu smiled and said, "Eat more if you like it. We can order more if you're not full." She put a piece of braised pork on Nian'an's plate and a piece of green vegetable on Shen Tingzhou's plate. "Tingzhou, you should eat more too. You must be tired from driving all the way."
Looking at his wife and children's warm and loving scene, Shen Tingzhou felt a surge of happiness. "You all eat too, don't worry about me."
After lunch, they continued walking towards People's Park. After about twenty minutes, they saw the park's main gate. The gate was an antique-style building with red pillars and green glazed tiles, and a huge plaque above it bore the four powerful characters "People's Park." There were many people at the gate, mostly parents with children, as well as some young people and elderly people.
As you enter the park, the first thing that catches your eye is a spacious square with a circular fountain in the center. The water jets create beautiful arcs in the air, splashing up tiny droplets that shimmer in the sunlight. Many children run and play in the square, while some elderly people practice Tai Chi or dance, creating a lively atmosphere.
"Mom, look at that fountain! It's so beautiful!" Shen Nian'an grabbed Lin Wanqiu's hand and quickly walked to the fountain, excitedly watching the water jets. Lin Wanqiu took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from Nian'an's forehead. "Be careful, don't get too close, don't get your clothes wet."
Shen Tingzhou watched the mother and son from the side, a gentle smile on his face. He walked to a small shop by the square, bought three popsicles, and handed them to Lin Wanqiu and Nian'an, saying, "It's hot, have a popsicle to cool off."
Lin Wanqiu took the popsicle, took a bite, and the cool sweetness instantly dispelled the summer heat. "It's so delicious. There are so many kinds of popsicles in the city. Our commune only has white sugar popsicles. This place even has cream ones."
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