Chapter 415 The Story of Time
"Can't I have them all?"
"That's a beautiful thought!"
"They are all our houses, can't I think about it?"
"The compensation for the demolition isn't even enough to buy a new house in the Second Ring Road. Do we really have to move outside the Second Ring Road in the future?"
"Let's save some money and try to buy a commercial apartment."
"The key is that demolition also requires relocating the household registration. What will happen to my children's schooling if we move far away?"
"Who knows? Let's take it one step at a time."
"Can't we just not demolish it? Our compound is still in pretty good condition. All the small advertisements on the exterior walls have been removed."
"What can we do? You can't go against the government."
"I heard that someone in the Lin Family Compound refused to move, even after being compensated hundreds of thousands of yuan, and they still refused to leave and even threatened to sue."
"Isn't this a nail house? They all have large courtyards with four entrances, passed down from generation to generation.
Our small courtyards will definitely have to be demolished. Besides, your neighbors are making so much money after demolishing their houses. Don’t you think you’re tempted?”
"As long as the money is enough, they will definitely move out."
"Oh, it's already this late, I have to go buy groceries."
"Wait a minute, you haven't got the rope yet?"
"I'll leave it with you first. We'll meet at the usual place tomorrow morning."
Someone has calculated that there were more than 7,000 alleys in Beijing in 1949.
In 1990, the government began a large-scale renovation program for dilapidated houses, demolishing the old and building new. By the millennium, there were only about 2,000 hutongs left.
A huge white word "demolition" is written on the outer wall of the alley, indicating that it will be crushed into ruins by bulldozers in the near future.
Gao Xiulan felt uncomfortable after hearing this and wiped her face with a towel.
In the past, the whole family was crowded in a small alley. We had no money to move, and we were reluctant to do so.
Some elderly neighbors are old, have blurred vision, and have difficulty walking. They find it unsafe to live alone, so they move to live in an apartment building with their children.
In order to increase income, the houses in the compound were rented out to outsiders.
Over time, the familiar faces of the past were gradually replaced by new faces.
I instantly lost the mood to continue exercising: "Old Xie, are you going home?"
Xie Da Jiao replied loudly: "I'm here, uncle. Will you come here again tomorrow morning?"
"Come on, remember to bring your diabolo."
"Okay."
A family of four walked slowly towards home.
Lin Xiaotong noticed at a glance that the corners of Gao Xiulan's mouth, which were usually upturned, were drooping today.
Holding hands, he asked, "Mom, what's wrong with you?"
Gao Xiulan sighed, her voice slightly melancholy.
"What if our compound is demolished one day? Where will we live in the future?
Your father and I have lived here since we got married, and I never thought we would have to move when we get old."
I felt very uncomfortable, my eyelids drooped, and I wiped the corners of my eyes with my hands.
Xie Da Jiao held her hand tightly and said, "Xiu Lan, whether we tear it down or not, our whole family is together."
Before he got married and started a family, he and his father Xie Dawei lived here.
He watched the apricot tree in front of his window grow day by day.
Lin Xiaotong consoled him, "Yes, Mom, and maybe our compound will be allocated the same place, and we can be neighbors in the future."
Although the aunts in the compound always quarrel with each other, they actually have a deep relationship with each other.
From youth to old age, we have experienced many ups and downs together.
Although they are called neighbors, they are actually no different from family members.
Xie Yi strode forward with his hands behind his back, shaking his head and sighing deeply.
Gao Xiulan was amused by Haodaer's mischievous behavior and burst into laughter: "Why are you pretending like that, kid?"
"I'm thinking about moving into an apartment building and not living on the first floor.
Then when Mom and Aunt Big Mouth gossip, do we have to shout out the window?"
When Xie Da Jiao thought of this scene, the corners of his mouth curled up.
By then, I guess he and his old friends will be in the same situation.
He patted Xiulan's hand and said, "Then the family compound will be bustling downstairs again, with people, children, cats, and dogs all there."
Lin Xiaotong stepped forward and took Xie Yi's shoulder: "Then can our apricot tree be moved as well?"
Xie Yi clapped his hands and said, "Oh, my dear, you are so smart. I didn't even think of that.
Our trees are so well taken care of, we can’t let anyone destroy them.
There are also grape racks, which were planted the same year Orange was born."
"Will the small courtyard near Beijing University also be demolished?"
The monthly rent of this house is quite considerable, and she is a little reluctant to tear it down.
"I guess so. The buildings in the courtyard over there are quite old.
The exterior walls are covered in flyers and need to be scraped off once a week."
The young couple discussed that they would count their family savings when they got home to see if they could buy another large commercial house, and it would be even better if it came with a yard.
Gao Xiulan stopped feeling melancholy and began to look forward to her future life: "It would be great if I could buy two sets and connect them together."
Her husband, Mr. Xie, now likes to grow flowers, raise cats and birds. When he has nothing to do, he sets up a table at the gate of the yard to play chess and mahjong.
Xie Yi flattered her: "Mom, you are so generous."
"Go away, you're blocking my light."
"Dad, why have you become so cold and heartless?"
"Son, if you keep saying that, you'll have no pocket money for next month."
"I was wrong, Dad. I was cruel and heartless."
The four of them returned to the compound chatting and laughing.
Walking into the alley, you will see many old men and women sitting together in the shade at the corner, chatting with small stools and fanning themselves away with palm-leaf fans to keep away the heat.
"I heard we're going to build a big road here, this long and this wide."
He gestured up and down and left and right with his fingers and almost pulled his waist. He was in so much pain that he leaned on his old sister with his crutches to slowly move forward.
"I heard that there's a family in Yu'er Hutong who bought a house and a car by selling steamed buns."
"I know that place too. Their buns are really good. My eldest granddaughter loves the ones with braised pork filling."
"I think the tofu and cabbage flavor is delicious."
"I think the ones with egg and vermicelli filling are the best."
The two sisters who bought the same skirt when they were young have become old sisters. They get together and count how many teeth each other has left.
There were mottled shadows of trees overhead, and a naughty cat climbed up to the roof to peel off the tiles. It kicked its legs and fluttered hard on the roof, and the tiles made a popping sound as it walked.
The heat-fearing boy was playing basketball in the alley with his upper body naked and wearing shorts.
Every time a goal was scored, the little kid standing by with eager eyes would immediately start clapping his hands.
When people go out to exercise early in the morning, they also bring their dogs with them, tying them to electric poles with their tails wagging.
There was also an enthusiastic auntie wearing red armbands watching over to prevent any children from touching the dog.
Every brick and tile in the alley is engraved with the story of time.
A chance glance reveals old roots and twisted trunks at the base of the wall, which are always waiting for people to return home despite the wind and rain.
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