Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 589 Nanjing East Road

A friend from Shanghai once told me that when she was eight or nine years old, she would play outside her house on days she wasn't in school because the old houses in Shanghai were very cramped, and there wasn't enough room for children to play inside. One day, she was bored and started scratching at the eaves, which damaged them. She got a beating because the roof would leak when it rained, and repairing it would be a hassle. How tall are eight or nine-year-old children? How low are the old houses in Shanghai?

After leaving Benbang Restaurant, walk one more intersection forward and you will reach Nanjing East Road.

It was as if I had entered another world—spacious, bright, grand, and modern. Neon lights were already flashing all over the streets, which were paved with red marble. The lights were dazzling, the night was hazy, and people were coming and going. Shops lined up one after another, and the entrance of each shopping mall was a huge neon wall, forming vivid patterns.

Little Red's eyes were almost heart-shaped as she looked around in amazement, completely absorbed. The most distinctive feature of Nanjing Road is its century-old shop signs. Extending horizontally from the shop entrances, these old signs, composed of neon lights and lettering, exude an exotic charm and historical flavor.

This intersection leads directly to Wing On Department Store. The exotic architecture instantly transports you back to a bygone era, immediately reminding you that this is old Shanghai, once a world dominated by foreigners. The sculptures and floral patterns on the windows and eaves tell tales of history's vicissitudes.

At that time, many buildings on Nanjing Road didn't exist yet; they were all old buildings. Later Teletubbies and New World didn't have any of those Inspire.

The shops along the street mostly sell candies and sweets, as well as dried and cured meats, which generally don't suit the eating habits and tastes of northerners. There are also watches, scissors, and knives, mostly from established brands. The majority are fashion department stores, four or five stories high, frequented mainly by out-of-towners and foreigners. Locals don't buy anything here; it's too expensive.

After visiting several shops, Xiao Hong became even hungrier and her mouth watered because most of the items didn't appeal to her. She started clamoring to find something to eat.

Finding something to eat on Nanjing Road isn't too difficult, but it's not easy either. There are plenty of snacks, but almost no proper Chinese meals.

A group of people walked along Nanjing East Road towards the Bund, browsing and searching as they went. They grabbed a handful of snacks, which was a way of satisfying their stomachs. They strolled around, seemingly deceiving their palates. Actually, the buildings here weren't that tall at the moment, but the whole street gave off a feeling of grandeur and sophistication—an indescribable aura. What was that aura?

Finally, the street was coming to an end. The pedestrian street was over, and we were almost at the legendary Peace Hotel. Finally, we saw the restaurant, the big restaurant. Little Red's eyes sparkled as she rushed over.

This is a restaurant that blends Chinese and Western styles, and the food here isn't sweet. That's great.

At that time, the Shanghai Metro hadn't been built yet, nor had the Oriental Pearl Tower. Famous items like bottle openers and egg beaters didn't exist then, but their antiquity gave them a rustic charm, a rich, 20th-century atmosphere that drew you in effortlessly—something that skyscrapers couldn't match. Later, it became increasingly modern, taller, and more luxurious; however, Nanjing Road eventually became just another road.

I don't understand why so many important figures are so convinced that new, big, and luxurious things are always better. In an ancient China, everything can only be experienced on paper and described verbally. What else is there in our eyes? What do we have left?

To get to the Bund, you have to go through an underground passage. As soon as you come up from the low and narrow passage, you see a sculpture of Mayor Chen, smiling and waving to everyone.

Before its later renovations, the Bund was just a narrow riverside promenade, crowded with people from all over the world. The turbid Huangpu River flowed mightily northward into the sea, its wide surface shimmering under the colorful lights. On the other side of the road stood a row of old European-style buildings, telling all who came here that this place was once a world for foreigners.

Starting from the Bund, Nanjing Road stretches for more than five kilometers. This was the so-called "ten-mile foreign concession" of old Shanghai. Foreigners living on the Bund would pass through Nanjing Road to the racecourse ten miles away for entertainment, which gradually formed a bustling commercial street.

There were cruise ships on the river. The four of us bought tickets and boarded a boat for a river cruise, taking some photos. On the opposite bank, Lujiazui was still a desolate area. The Oriental Pearl Tower had not yet started construction, and the foundations of some other major buildings had only been dug.

After getting off the cruise ship, Xiao Hong clutched her stomach and cried out that she was hungry again. Xiao Wei said, "What's wrong with you today? Is your stomach empty? Didn't you just eat so much?"

Xiao Hong grabbed Xiao Wei's arm and leaned against him, saying, "What's wrong? You think I eat too much? We didn't eat well to begin with, and then we walked so far. Look, look, we came from Yong'an Department Store, plus the Bund, do you see how far that is?"

Xiao Wei said, "Let's eat if we're hungry. Where should we eat now?" It was already 8:30, and the four of them had walked all the way south along the Bund. All that was in front of them was darkness.

Xiao Liu said, "How about we go to the City God Temple? It shouldn't be far from here. There are lots of places to eat, play, and find antiques there."

Xiao Hong turned her head and asked, "You've never been to Shanghai before, right? How did you know?"

Xiao Liu said, "Can't I even listen to what others say if I haven't been here before?"

Xiao Wei asked, "How do we get there? Wait for a taxi or walk? Which way?"

Xiao Hong said, "Let's look at the map."

Xiao Wei pulled a folded map out of his back pocket and handed it to Xiao Hong, saying, "Take a look." Xiao Hong took the map and opened it, only to find that it was impossible to see clearly under the streetlights. Knowing that Xiao Wei was teasing her on purpose, she raised her hand and gave him a few more heavy blows.

Xiao Wei laughed as he took a few punches, then looked around and said, "If I remember correctly, it should be this way, going west. There seems to be a park there, and beyond that is the antique market."

Xiao Hong had a completely blind and unconditional trust in Xiao Wei, pushing him and saying, "Then hurry up and go, go, go."

Xiao Wei said, "What if I remembered it wrong?"

Xiao Hong said, "It's okay, I believe in you. If it's not good, just consider it a stroll; it's shopping after all."

After crossing the street to the other side, Ga Zi looked around and said, "Which way should we go? Big cities are really boring. You get lost as soon as you start walking. What's the point of making them so big?"

(End of this chapter)