I worked all morning.
After reheating yesterday's leftovers and having lunch, Lu Yibei continued working.
Finally, it was afternoon, and the manuscript was almost finished.
Lu Yibei stretched.
While taking a short break, he almost instinctively reached for his phone and glanced at his WeChat Moments.
With highways toll-free during the Chinese New Year, quite a few people are traveling with their parents.
Looking north of the mainland, the majority of travelers are concentrated in Guangdong and Guangxi, and quite a few also go to southern Fujian.
Of course, there are also those who take advantage of the winter to travel to the north.
However, this group that came to the Northeast only had verified accounts and they weren't very familiar with each other, so Lu Yibei didn't specifically try to chat with them.
I'm so envious.
Lu Yibei thought to himself, "It's so nice to be able to go out and have fun."
Unlike him, who still has to work and write during the Chinese New Year.
Really...
“…Abei?” Ji Qingqian opened the study door.
She peeked in.
"Are you done? My parents are here..."
"Oh, just right."
Lu Yibei turned off the screen and turned around to see the little girl smiling softly.
"What are you laughing at?" Lu Yibei asked, standing up.
My parents said they'd come with us—
Ji Qingqian whispered, "Abei, you don't mind, do you?"
What's there to mind?
Lu Yibei smiled and gently touched the girl's downy black hair.
“That’s great. I was originally going to ask Uncle and Aunt if they wanted to come along too,” Lu Yibei said.
He has been dating his girlfriend for more than half a year, and they have been together all this time.
But once she returned to Northeast China, she was no longer just her boyfriend, but also the daughter of two elders—they hadn't gone out with their daughter for quite some time, so they had to cherish this winter break.
Lu Yibei walked out of the study.
The uncle and aunt had just arrived; they hadn't even had time to take off their coats.
"Are you done?" Old Man Ji asked.
"Um."
Neither of them knew Lu Yibei's identity as a writer—and thankfully they didn't—and simply assumed he was doing something related to his studies.
"Then put on your clothes and let's go," Old Man Ji said with a smile.
"Xiao Lu, don't blame us for interfering in your two young people's time together," Mrs. Ji said jokingly.
"Please don't blame us for interfering with your time together."
Lu Yibei said, "I was originally planning to call you and Uncle Ji to ask—Qingqian told me she doesn't go out often, so I'd like to trouble you and Uncle Ji to take me out for a stroll. Of course, visiting tourist attractions in Northeast China is only truly enjoyable with explanations from local Northeasterners."
Old Man Ji was quite pleased with himself.
He had been advocating that we go to our daughter's house and find two young people to go out with.
He boasted to his wife, "See, I told you—"
He then assured Lu Yibei:
"Don't worry, Xiao Lu, I will definitely give you a complete introduction."
“Okay, then I’ll trouble you, Uncle,” Lu Yibei said.
Harbin, as a tourist city, saw an increase in visitors during the year-end and New Year holidays.
This is especially true in Daonei District.
As an outsider, Lu Yibei can't say for sure where the central area of Harbin is.
But Daonei District is indeed quite lively.
The frozen Songhua River alone has been the site of many ice activities, such as ice skating and ice motorcycling.
As for the famous Ice and Snow World across the Songhua River, although it belongs to Jiangbei District, it is just across the river from Ji Qingqian's home. It can be reached by crossing the highway bridge, and the journey is very short.
However, this time the family of three did not drive there, but instead took a taxi to Central Street.
It only takes about ten or twenty minutes.
There's a reason behind using a taxi service; it solves the age-old problem of driving being easy but parking being difficult.
Central Street is considered a landmark attraction in Harbin and a must-visit for tourists.
"It used to be called 'China Street' and even the road was very distinctive—it was paved with cobblestones."
The cobblestones were uneven, which effectively prevented slips and falls caused by the freezing weather.
"Speaking of which, breadstones are quite interesting. These are actually volcanic rock bricks, invented by the Russians. They are shaped like Russian rye bread—oh, that is, something on the menu of Russian restaurants, which is basically a large loaf of bread, hence the name."
"When it's laid on the ground, it looks quite like the wave pattern of piano keys."
"It should be... well, I think it's been around 120 years since then."
"The century-old street lives up to its reputation."
The family of four listened to the long-winded introduction.
His tone was melodious and clear, and his manner was approachable.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him a tour guide.
Regarding this introduction, Old Man Ji felt there was only one small shortcoming.
He wasn't the one who introduced us.
Instead, it is north of Lu.
—Rebel against the Heavenly Gang!
Mixed in with the crowd, the three people—a father and daughter from Northeast China whose home is less than half an hour's drive from Central Street—felt no different from other tourists.
“No, Xiao Lu, you’re from Northeast China and I’m from Northeast China, how do you know so much about me?” Old Man Ji interrupted and asked.
"I think Xiao Lu's opinion is quite good," said Mrs. Ji. "If you could utter a single word, you wouldn't have had to ask Xiao Lu to speak!"
"Then I won't—"
Old Man Ji wanted to say, "I'm going to recommend some good restaurants!"
But his meticulous wife intercepted it:
"What genuine Harbin native would eat on Central Street? They'd have to go to Laodao Biao!"
Harbin has two well-known districts: Daonei and Daobiao.
Fun fact: the Daonei area is located inside the city, hence the name.
The colder knowledge, the surface area, is named so because it is on the outside.
Old Man Ji was speechless.
"I found it all online—I've forgotten where it was from."
Lu Yibei smiled and said, "Besides, Uncle Ji's recommendation was also good. This popsicle is quite delicious. What's it called again?"
"Madier popsicles," Old Man Ji said with a smile, "They're practically a specialty of Harbin."
"Well, I rarely eat popsicles in winter."
Lu Yibei smiled, still holding the Madier popsicle in his hand. Because the temperature was extremely low, there was no need to worry about it melting.
But after he ate only half of it, Ji Qingqian snatched it away.
"You're not allowed to eat anymore, or you'll get an upset stomach," she said.
Mrs. Ji looked at her daughter.
Ji Qingqian was afraid her mother would think she had mistreated her boyfriend, so she added an explanation:
“Grandpa Abei and Mom both have stomach problems. Sometimes he gets upset in the cold wind. We have to be careful.”
"How do you know that my grandfather and mother both have stomach problems?" Lu Yibei asked curiously.
“When I first went to your house, Grandma said, ‘Have you forgotten?’” Ji Qingqian said.
Lu Yibei really didn't remember that many.
Mrs. Ji and Mr. Ji were even more surprised.
—No, isn't this still their careless, absent-minded daughter who doesn't want to remember anything?
—Your mind is so delicate!
—Just like a little girl!
Indeed, loving the right person can make you gradually become a better person without you even realizing it.
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