After spending a week at the Sang family's old house, Lu Nange and her family of five didn't have much free time. They inspected all the properties they had bought in Beijing, as well as the villas and courtyards that Chi Yanzhou, Shi Xu, and others had given them.
After looking around, the family's attention finally settled on the courtyard house that Chi Yanzhou had given them.
Blue bricks and gray tiles, vermilion gate, and gleaming copper rings.
The location is really good, hidden in a quiet alley behind the bustling city, not far from the old residences of the Chi family and the Sang family.
Pushing open the door, the interior suddenly opened up into a bright and spacious space.
The courtyard is square and spacious, paved with bluestone slabs, with velvety moss sprouting from the cracks, exuding a warm and gentle atmosphere that has been imbued with the essence of time.
In the southeast corner stands an old osmanthus tree with lush, verdant branches and leaves. I imagine that when it blooms in autumn, the whole courtyard will be filled with its fragrance.
There is also a pond in the courtyard, not too big or too small, with clear water that is obviously well maintained. Water lilies are planted in it, and various koi carp of different colors, red and gold, swim slowly, adding a touch of life.
The main house faces south, with symmetrical east and west wing rooms, forming a classic northern courtyard house layout that is orderly and grand.
The real surprise is under the eaves.
Under the eaves, a birdcage hangs, and inside the cage stands a brightly colored macaw.
Lu Nange, Lu Xici, and Lu Beiye stopped in their tracks simultaneously, their three pairs of eyes fixed on the figure, and they exclaimed in unison, "Gangzi!"
The macaw tilted its head, its tiny, beady eyes staring at them, and made a few muffled "caw caw" sounds.
The three Lu siblings: "...Gangzi?"
The macaw flapped its wings and mimicked the sound, calling out, "Gangzi! Gangzi!"
Lu Beiye looked up, her voice filled with disbelief and excitement: "Sister, is...is this Gangzi?"
Lu Nange subconsciously called out in her mind: [Youyou! Youyou, are you there? This parrot...]
A voice immediately rang out: "[Nannan, it's Gangzi. But now it's just an ordinary parrot, without any special abilities. Its brain capacity is limited, so it probably doesn't remember much about the apocalypse.]"
Lu Xici had already taken out his phone: "This bird...did Yan-ge get it? I'll call and ask."
“Brother,” Lu Nange said with certainty, “No need to ask, this is Gangzi.”
Listening to the children's conversation, Sang Niannian asked curiously, "You three siblings... know this parrot?"
Lu Nange: "Yes, I know him. He's my... pet that I've always wanted to bring home and raise."
Youyou added in her mind: "[Nannan, you can feed it some spiritual spring water and see if it can develop intelligence.]"
Although I can't remember anything, I did eat some of the branches and leaves, so perhaps they can awaken something in me.
Lu Nange stepped forward, opened the birdcage, and took the macaw out.
The feathers were smooth and warm, and it was quite heavy. The familiar feeling brought a slight lump to her throat: "I'll hold it with me when I go house hunting."
Sang Niannian looked at the colorful bird in her daughter's arms and liked it more and more.
"Honey, such a beautiful parrot is truly a rare sight. But, you named it... Gangzi? Isn't that a bit too plain a name?"
Lu Nange remained unfazed: "Mom, a humble name makes it easier to raise a child."
Sang Niannian: "...At least it's not called Gou Dan (Dog Egg). Gangzi is fine, whatever you like."
Lu Nange held the parrot and followed her family inside.
Taking advantage of the moment when no one was looking, she drew a small handful of spiritual spring water from her spatial storage and held it to the parrot's beak.
The macaw lowered its head, pecked at the water a few times, and drank it all up.
Then he raised his head, tilted it, and called out loudly, "Beauty!"
"Beauty...Beauty, Gangzi..."
Lu Beiye immediately jumped up: "Sister! It's Gangzi!"
The macaw turned to him again, flapping its wings: "Aye! Aye!"
Lu Beiye: "Sister, it still remembers me! It recognizes me!"
"Then you can hold it for a while." Lu Nange smiled and handed the parrot to her younger brother's outstretched arms.
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