Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 415 Xingcheng (Happy Birthday to My Ni's Dad)

The train arrived in Xingcheng amidst much noise and bustle.

Xingcheng Railway Station hadn't been rebuilt yet; it was small, a low-rise building. Entering and exiting the station were all outdoors, with only the ticket office indoors. Five people dragged their suitcases out of the station, and a straight road came into view, lined with two- or three-story old buildings on both sides. In the distance, several taller buildings, about six, seven, or eight stories high, stood amidst the houses.

The small town is located on a hilly area. To the left of the train station is a gentle slope. The town is not big, about the same size as Xiaowei's hometown county.

The train station was bustling with people, but unlike those in big cities, there were no touts or loud blaring horns. The plaza in front of the station wasn't large, but it also served as a commercial plaza, with shopping malls and bathhouses nearby, along with privately owned grocery stores and various small businesses lining both sides of the plaza.

The five of them found a public phone, and Xiaowei called his older brother.

"Brother, we've arrived at the train station. How do we get there? Didn't you say it was right next to the station?"

"We're here? In the square? Don't move, I'll come get you. How many of you are there?"

"Five. Didn't you say your workplace is right outside the train station? Just tell us how to get there and we'll walk over."

"Alright, stay there and wait for me." Zhang Jun hung up the phone.

Xiao Wei put down the phone and said, "He told us not to move, he's coming to pick us up. How much?" he asked the old lady who was looking at the phone.

The woman glanced at the phone and said, "Five cents."

Xiao Hong said, "I have some change." She rummaged in her pocket and, after a while, pulled out a 50-cent bill. Geng Hui laughed and said, "You're really something, remembering that. Look how many years you've had this in your pocket, haven't you?"

Xiao Hong said, "I don't usually spend money. Besides, how could I forget about money?" After taking this train ride, their relationship improved dramatically.

A dark blue Santana turned around and stopped next to the group. Zhang Jun got out of the driver's seat and called out with a smile, "Xiao Wei, Xiao Hong."

Xiao Hong was stunned for a moment, then laughed and exclaimed, "Brother, oh my, I can hardly recognize you! You've changed so much!"

Zhang Jun came over and hugged Xiao Wei, saying, "You've gotten stronger, but your height hasn't changed much." He himself wasn't tall either, even shorter than Xiao Wei's 1.69 meters.

Xiao Wei said, "Brother, let me introduce you. This is Chen Hui, this is Xia Maosheng, and this is Lao Xia's wife, Geng Hui. They just got married the day before yesterday."

All three called out "Brother!" Zhang Jun glanced at the ground and said, "Come on, put the luggage in the car." They put their suitcases in the trunk, but it was too full, so they crammed another one into the back seat. Zhang Jun said, "Xiao Hong and Geng Hui, get in the car. You three can go."

Xiao Hong pulled Geng Hui into the car, and Zhang Jun got in and started the engine, saying, "Just watch where I park my car."

The car started, walked out of the square, crossed an intersection, and stopped by the roadside. It was less than a hundred meters in total. Xiao Wei blinked and looked at Chen Hui. Chen Hui said, "What are you looking at? Let's go." The three of them crossed the intersection and walked over. When they got to the car, Xiao Hong and Geng Hui had just gotten out, and Zhang Jun was taking his suitcase out.

Xiao Wei said, "It's only a short distance, you could have just told me and walked over."

Zhang Jun laughed and said, "Can't tell? I'm just showing you that I have a car now, it's provided by my company."

Xiao Wei asked, "Where do you live?"

Zhang Jun pointed behind him and said, "It's just over there, not far. My place is too small, so you guys can stay at the guesthouse. Have you eaten yet? Come on, let me take you to eat first, then we'll go to the guesthouse. Does Xiao Hong like mutton? I'll take you to eat authentic hand-pulled mutton."

Xiao Wei pointed to the ground and asked, "What about the luggage?"

Zhang Jun glanced at the suitcase and said, "Why don't we go to the guesthouse first, drop off our luggage, and then come out? Let's go, it's not far, just a few steps."

Several people, pulling suitcases, followed Zhang Jun in the opposite direction from the train station. After walking for another hundred meters or so, they came to one of the six- or seven-story buildings they had seen in the square earlier. Zhang Jun said, "This is it. It's owned by the company itself."

Carrying his suitcase inside, Zhang Jun went to the counter and said, "Give me three keys; my younger brother and sister-in-law are here to see me."

The bartender glanced at Xiaowei and his group, then took out a form and placed it on the counter, saying, "Sign here. Which floor are you staying on?"

Zhang Jun said, "Which floor would be better? The third floor? Let's go with the third floor, are there any rooms available?"

The waiter checked and said, "Yes," and handed Zhang Jun three sets of keys. Back then, there were no card-operated or magnetic unlocking systems; it was just a key stick. The card attached to the key was for meals. Meals were provided here.

Zhang Jun signed the form, took the key, and said to Xiao Wei, "Go upstairs. The conditions here are so-so, just make do." The waiter glanced down at Zhang Jun and pursed his lips. This hotel, run by the management office, should be at least one of the top three in Xingcheng, yet he said it was so-so.

As they took the elevator upstairs, Xiaowei asked, "This building belongs to you, right?"

Zhang Jun said, "There are many. Starting from the station, if you walk straight along this road all the way to the hospital, this area on both sides is almost entirely military housing. Further away, the housing is scattered and not as concentrated. Some of it has been handed over to local authorities."

Chen Hui said, "Why are there so many military houses here? I've never heard of military housing being so densely packed before."

The elevator arrived, and several people got out and walked down the corridor. Zhang Jun said, "The area from Chagan to Xingcheng is the densest. This area is of a higher level; it's our country's weapons testing range and live-fire range, the largest in all of Asia. Originally, it housed everything from field units to artillery, tanks, and the air force, as well as security forces. Later, some were withdrawn or relocated, leaving the buildings vacant. It's alright here, but if you go to Chagan, you'll see that the military occupies three-quarters of the city's land."

Xia Maosheng said, "What kind of city is that? Isn't it just a military base?"

The older brother opened the door with a smile and said, "That's called a city? Now the local government is constantly pestering the military to give them land."

The group entered the house, and Zhang Jun handed the key to Xiao Wei, saying, "These are the three rooms next to each other. Leave your luggage here for now, and you can divide it up yourselves when you get back. I'll take you to eat mutton. In the morning, go to the restaurant on the first floor and use this card to eat."

After putting down their luggage, the group went downstairs. Xia Maosheng asked, "Do you want the space? Will you pay for it?"

Zhang Jun said, "They won't give us any money. They'll either exchange it for some wasteland on the outskirts of the city, or they'll just renege on their promises. There are plenty of empty plots that the locals have been occupying and refusing to take. Anyway, you can't really get through the lawsuits. That's why the military region leaders got angry. They said we should deal with what we can, sell what we can, and make full use of what we can't sell. That's how this guesthouse started, along with a restaurant, and further on, there's a hotel."

(End of this chapter)