A widower's entertainment

Xinghua Hutong, Beijing.

As heavy snow once again blanketed Beijing, turning the city into a white wonderland, 1996 was about to pass under the cover of snow, and the footsteps of 1997 seemed to be drawing ever closer.

Because Lin Zhaoyuan, the little devil, wanted to play in the yard and build a snowman, Lin Youcheng, the father, wasn't afraid of the cold and didn't accompany Lin Zhaoyuan to build a snowman in the yard.

This is also because Lin Youcheng has always been in good health and pays attention to exercise. Unlike Wang Xiaobo, who was always hunched over writing and staying up all night to meet deadlines, Lin Youcheng rarely has time to rush to meet deadlines. He writes at a leisurely pace, typing on a keyboard, which is much faster than handwriting back then, and naturally much easier.

Otherwise, in the past, Lin Youcheng would never have had the time to spend with his daughter Lin Zhaoyuan building snowmen in the yard.

He was probably played in the yard by some of the older children, while Lin Youcheng was writing his manuscript inside the house.

As the weather was getting colder, Lin Youcheng couldn't keep playing in the snow with Lin Zhaoyuan in the yard. After playing for a while, he naturally took his daughter into the heated house.

Xie Shuhua noticed that Lin Youcheng and his daughter Lin Zhaoyuan were still covered in snow, so she went over to help them sweep it away. She added, "It's still you who's willing to play in the snow with her outside."

"Dad is the best!"

Upon hearing his mother Xie Shuhua's words, Lin Zhaoyuan immediately replied.

Upon hearing Lin Zhaoyuan's words, Xie Shuhua laughed and said, "You're getting better and better at talking now."

Hearing his daughter Lin Zhaoyuan's words, Lin Youcheng was naturally overjoyed and said with a smile, "These are my daughter's honest thoughts. Everything she says is true."

Xie Shuhua saw Lin Youcheng talking to Lin Zhaoyuan and shook her head with a smile.

"Tomorrow is New Year's Day. When the kids are on holiday, let's have a good get-together at home."

Lin Youcheng nodded and then said, "Shuhua, should we consider moving next year?"

"move place?"

These words surprised Xie Shuhua.

Lin Youcheng thought for a moment and said, "Should we go stay in a villa?"

Lin Youcheng owned quite a few houses in Beijing, including many high-end detached villas. Even though it was 1996, these houses were still quite nice; otherwise, why would so many people choose to live in commercial housing?

Of course, Lin Youcheng's current courtyard house in Xinghua Hutong is also very nice. In particular, all the modern appliances have been installed in the back, making it no worse than any high-end residential area. Most importantly, Lin Youcheng owns three courtyard houses in Xinghua Hutong. The other two are also very close to each other and are well decorated. If his children want to move out in the future, they can live in the courtyard house next door, which will still be very close.

"Why would you suddenly decide to move out?"

Lin Youcheng smiled and said, "It was just a casual remark. Let's see what you say."

“I was thinking that your parents are getting old and will be coming to Beijing eventually, so why don’t we just move to a villa together?”

Upon hearing Lin Youcheng's words, Xie Shuhua said, "I think living in a courtyard house would be better. You wouldn't have to climb stairs, and it would be quite charming with its antique style."

When Lin Youcheng heard Xie Shuhua say that, he smiled. Actually, he had thought the same thing, but it was just a casual remark. Since Xie Shuhua also wanted to live here, he naturally didn't think there was any problem. He said, "I wonder if the children would like to live in the apartment in the complex."

"They're all about to graduate soon, so it'll be up to them to decide what to do next."

"Anyway, you have plenty of rooms for them to live in."

Hearing Xie Shuhua's words, Lin Youcheng's lips curled up slightly. As a father, he certainly didn't lack houses for his children to live in. He owned houses in many places in Beijing. Even if his children wanted to live further away and in a quieter place, like Tongzhou, Lin Youcheng would have houses for them to move to.

"Yes, let them decide for themselves when the time comes."

Lin Youcheng didn't think much of it, but he chatted with Xie Shuhua about his parents-in-law coming to live in Beijing.

Xie Shuhua naturally knew that Lin Youcheng genuinely wanted to bring her parents over. After all, she was an only child, and her parents would need her care in the future. However, her parents had not retired yet and were not in a hurry to retire, so they were unwilling to stop working so early.

This is the age difference between her and Lin Youcheng. She is now a mother, but her parents are not yet of retirement age, so naturally they would not be willing to give up their jobs and come to Beijing.

It wasn't because of money, but because her parents had their own jobs.

Xie Shuhua shook her head and said, "I'm afraid it will be difficult. You can ask them again during the Spring Festival this year, but I don't think they will be willing to come so early, especially my dad. He may still be thinking about rehiring me in the future. He really likes teaching."

Lin Youcheng smiled, knowing that his father-in-law, Xie Zelin, was indeed a very dedicated math teacher, and had been recognized as an outstanding teacher in Tianjin.

"Then I'll talk to Dad again during the Chinese New Year."

Xie Shuhua turned her gaze to Lin Youcheng and suddenly brought up another matter, asking, "Youcheng, the Writers' Association is holding elections next year. Do you have any thoughts on that?"

Xie Shuhua is also in the Writers Association and knows that the Writers Association is going to hold a new election. Lin Youcheng can definitely be considered a senior figure in the literary world now. Even though he has not been particularly involved in some of the affairs of the Writers Association, his influence is still there.

Lin Youcheng waved his hand and said, "I'll pass. I haven't even been in charge of the novel group of the Beijing Writers Association, let alone the Writers Association itself."

“Chairman Zhang also talked to me, and I also told him.”

Xie Shuhua nodded, knowing Lin Youcheng's temperament, and then said, "It is most appropriate for Ba Lao to continue serving as the chairman of the Writers Association."

Lin Youcheng nodded in agreement.

Following this, the Fifth Congress of the Writers' Association was held in Beijing, and Ba Jin was re-elected as chairman. Nothing much had changed, although some things had changed long ago. For example, Lin Youcheng became an advisor to the Writers' Association. Although this was due to Lin Youcheng's literary status, he was appointed as an honorary advisor, which meant that Lin Youcheng didn't have to pay too much attention to some things in the Writers' Association, just like in the Beijing Writers' Association.

Unfortunately, Lin Youcheng genuinely had no intention of getting involved in those matters. Otherwise, if this were a film association, even if he couldn't become the chairman, he could definitely rise through the ranks. After all, his influence in the film industry was no less than that of the directors, and in some ways even stronger. After all, he was the only screenwriter with considerable international influence.

However, Lin Youcheng really had no interest in getting involved in those matters, so he was just a figurehead honorary member.

Even though the domestic film industry is experiencing a downturn, some things still continue to move forward. After all, we can't stop living just because it's a downturn.

It could even be said that even in the dead of winter, life will continue as it always has to be.

Time passed quietly without much turmoil, and before we knew it, it was the end of 1996 and the beginning of 1997.

Of course, this year was not peaceful, because 1997 was the year Hong Kong returned to China, and there were bound to be significant changes afterward.

But New Year's Day was rather ordinary; it was just a simple New Year's Day holiday.

However, on New Year's Day, Hunan TV Channel 1 in Hunan Province officially began broadcasting via AsiaSat 2, with the call sign "Hunan Satellite TV," marking its satellite broadcast. Additionally, Hunan TV's Mandarin Channel, Hunan North Channel, Liaoning Satellite TV, and Qinghai Satellite TV also began satellite broadcasting on the same day, which is a major reason for the increasingly booming television drama market.

There's no other reason than that the more satellite TV stations there are, the more choices the people will have.

The children didn't watch Hunan TV; they mainly watched CCTV, since CCTV now broadcasts cartoons, especially those from Japan like "Little Flying Dragon" and "Let's & Go!!".

Even though Lin Zhaole is already in the first year of junior high school, he is completely captivated by the anime "Let's & Go!!". After school, he watches this anime. Fortunately, no one is fighting with him for the TV, otherwise it would probably be a tough struggle.

During the New Year's Day holiday, since schools were all closed, it was a rare occasion for several children to come home from the courtyard house.

Lin Youcheng naturally asked his nanny, Sister Zhou, to prepare a good meal, so that the family could have a reunion on New Year's Day.

“Zhaoxi, your cousin called and said that Chunfeng Alley in Decheng is going to be demolished and rebuilt. He also plans to bring Wenjie and the others to Beijing after the New Year next year.”

Lin Zhaoxi didn't go to Shanghai last summer vacation, so naturally he didn't go to see the old house in Decheng. Lin Youcheng had told Lin Zhaoxi before that the old house was going to be demolished, and now Lin Youcheng was just telling Lin Zhaoxi about it again.

Lin Zhaoxi nodded when she heard Lin Youcheng's words. She had known about this for a long time, and naturally she felt a little nostalgic. However, what she missed was not Chunfeng Alley, but her mother who had lived with them in Chunfeng Alley.

Of course, Lin Zhaoxi didn't say these words out loud. Some things are better left unsaid. She had never forgotten her mother.

Lin Zhaoxi smiled and said, "That's a good thing. My cousin and his wife have come to the capital. The capital will be even more lively from now on."

Lin Youcheng nodded. He naturally welcomed Zhao Gensheng's family to come to Beijing. After all, he had already told Zhao Gensheng that after he gained a foothold in Beijing, he could bring his parents from Yunnan Province over. Of course, it would depend on whether Zhao Gensheng's parents were willing to come.

To be honest, Lin Youcheng had only asked Zhao Gensheng to take money back to Yunnan Province to give to his brother-in-law before. Originally, Zhao Gensheng didn't want it, but Lin Youcheng said it was for his brother-in-law. However, he felt ashamed because he hadn't taken the children to Yunnan Province to visit his brother-in-law. Now he was planning to take the children to Yunnan Province during the winter vacation to visit their uncle.

For so many years, we've only kept in touch by phone; I've never visited in person.

However, it is clear that the people in Yunnan Province did not care. Firstly, because transportation was underdeveloped and economic conditions were not suitable in the past. Secondly, Lin Youcheng had always helped Zhao Gensheng, and the family relationship had not been severed. Zhao Gensheng's parents were very grateful to Lin Youcheng. After all, the mother of Lin Zhaoxi's children had passed away, and Lin Youcheng had remarried. It was really difficult to maintain contact without any reason.

Of course, Zhao Gensheng's family was also very grateful to Lin Youcheng. After all, if it weren't for Lin Youcheng, Zhao Wenjie's illness and Zhao Gensheng's college entrance examination being stolen would have been very different.

I really don't dare to think about it anymore. It's like the parallel life story in Lin Zhaomei's short film "Destiny." I just don't know how much suffering that story would have.

Of course, if Zhao Gensheng's family comes later, and then his brother-in-law and his wife are also brought over, then there will naturally be more opportunities for them to visit each other in the future.

"Yes, it'll be even more lively from now on!"

Lin Youcheng smiled and nodded, saying, "You all need to take good care of Wenjie in the future. He's just arrived in Beijing and there are probably still many things he doesn't understand."

"Don't worry, Dad, I'll take care of Wenjie."

Lin Zhaole patted his chest and said earnestly, "I'm his cousin, of course I have to take care of him."

"Haha, you're also my little cousin, haha!"

Lin Zhaoqing laughed non-stop when he heard Lin Zhaole's words. Then, thinking of his second aunt, he said with a smile, "It would be great if my second aunt and her family could come to the capital too."

Hearing Lin Zhaoqing's words, Lin Youcheng couldn't help but smile and shake his head, saying, "Your second aunt and her family are doing well in Jiangsu Province, so why would they come to Beijing? But they can come to Beijing to play when they have time in the future."

Lin Youcheng knew very well that his second sister Lin Youfeng's family would not be able to return to Beijing. After all, his brother-in-law was a native of Jiangsu Province, the couple had good jobs, and their child had been admitted to a local university in Jiangsu Province. They would most likely stay in Jiangsu Province and live there in the future.

Lin Zhaohuan smiled and added, "We can also go to Jiangsu Province to see our second aunt."

Lin Youcheng smiled and nodded, saying, "Yes, when you grow up, you can visit your second aunt whenever you want."

Hearing Lin Youcheng's words, Lin Zhaohuan was surprised by his thoughtfulness and immediately replied, "When I grow up, I'll still stay by my father's side."

"Hahaha!"

Although he knew that Lin Zhaohuan might have just said it casually, Lin Youcheng still felt very warm inside.

When Lin Zhaoyuan saw her father, Lin Youcheng, smile, she smiled too, holding Lin Youcheng's hand tightly.

The house was warm and cozy, while outside, the snow was pristine and white—another beautiful sight to behold. (End of Chapter)