Yan Ning walked to the sofa and sat down, explaining:
"Grandpa, you know that although the famine has passed in the mainland, many people still don't have enough food or warm clothes.
Some people would take their useless old items, antique calligraphy and paintings to the black market to exchange for food.
What I have in my hands was obtained from those people in exchange for grain. I also have a few small bowls from the Tang Dynasty and small blue and white porcelain bowls in my hometown."
Old Man Ning sighed. He didn't expect life in the mainland to be so difficult.
Those people have actually fallen to the point of using these precious antique calligraphy and paintings to exchange for food to survive.
He thought again of Ning Yuwan and Yan Ning's lives over there, and was afraid that they must have had a very hard time these years!
After reading Yuwan's diary last night, he learned a lot about her previous life.
The couple blamed themselves more and more for not finding their daughter Yuwan a few years earlier.
Now that Yuwan is gone, they must make it up to the daughter she left behind.
Old Man Ning looked at Yan Ning with a look of pity, "Xiao Ning, why don't you stay in Hong Kong and don't go back to the mainland."
Yan Ning smiled and said, "Grandpa, I have to go back. Don't worry about me having a bad life in the mainland. I have no worries about food and clothing over there.
Although it is not as good as the life in Hong Kong, I am still considered a small rich man in the mainland.
Moreover, the economic situation in the mainland is gradually improving. In two years, it may be possible to open up for development.
By then, the mainland and Hong Kong will be able to travel freely. Not only will I be able to come to Hong Kong at any time, but you can also go back to Beijing to visit your old residence!"
Old Man Ning continued to sigh, "Two years? It would be a miracle to achieve what you said within ten years. I can't even imagine it in two years."
Yan Ning raised his eyebrows and said, "Grandpa, you should know the Treaty on the Extension of Port and City Boundary between the Qing government and the Eagle Kingdom in 1898.
At that time, the Chinese government leased the port city to the Eagle Kingdom for 99 years, which expired in 1997.
Now it is only 22 years away from 1997. When the term expires, Hong Kong City will return to China.
Not only Hong Kong City, but also Macau City will return to China after the lease expires. Then we will live on the same territory and all will be Chinese children."
Old Master Ning slapped his thigh suddenly, he remembered!
How could he not know!
How could he forget!
His grandfather told him this history.
In 1898, the 24th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu, his grandfather was still an official of the Imperial Court's Zongli Yamen.
His grandfather knew exactly what happened back then.
But he had been living a smooth life over the years and almost forgot about it.
Mr. Ning said excitedly: "Yes, Hong Kong City belongs to China, and it will return to the motherland in twenty-two years.
Although I won’t see that day in my lifetime, I still look forward to it.”
Yan Ning smiled slightly, "I definitely will."
Old Master Ning's thoughts drifted away, and I don't know what he was thinking about.
Yan Ning took the juice and drank it slowly.
The other members of the Ning family came downstairs one after another and came to the living room.
After a while, Mr. Ning came back to his senses.
He looked at Madam Ning, "Madam, didn't you say you were going to keep the courtyard house we left in Beijing as a dowry for Yuwan?
Now that Yuwan is gone, why not give the yard to Xiaoning!"
Madam Ning was stunned for a moment. "If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten. Then let's make a dowry for Xiao Ning!"
Then she said to Yan Ning: "Xiao Ning, I will find the land deed for you later. When you return to the mainland, you can go to this courtyard in Jing City to take a look when you have time.
Take a look at the current state of that courtyard, and you will have a place to live in Beijing in the future."
As for the secret in the yard, she would find time to tell Xiao Ning in the evening.
Old Master Ning looked at the other people in the living room and said, "Big Brother, second brother, do you have any objections?"
Ning Shaoming said: "Dad, of course we have no objection. Don't say that this is the dowry you left for your sister. Now that your sister is gone, it will naturally be inherited by Xiao Ning.
And even if it's not a dowry for my sister, we can't go back to the mainland now, so it's useless to keep it there.
No matter what, this yard is most suitable for Xiao Ning."
Ning Shaoyang also nodded in agreement.
When the Ning family moved away, they sold all their property, leaving only a courtyard house that was part of Old Lady Ning's dowry.
They also used their connections to look after the yard so that it wouldn't be forcibly expropriated by the state and turned into residential housing for homeless people.
Yan Ning was shocked. That was a courtyard house in Beijing!
Housing and land in Beijing will become extremely valuable in the future!
Yan Ning thought for a moment and asked, "Grandma, where is that courtyard house in Beijing?"
Madam Ning: "No. 20, Qinghe Hutong, Zhuzheng Street, District 3, Beiping City.
I heard that it has now been changed to Dongcheng District, but the streets and alleys have not changed.”
She still remembers it clearly after all these years.
I even remember every blade of grass and every tree in the yard.
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