"Above there is Heaven, below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou."
Not to ntion the legend of Lady Bai turning tears into West Lake, attracting countless visitors; nor the mories of "The person beside the hearth seems like the moon, with snowy white wrists."
And the poignant beauty of the saying, "Don’t return ho until old, returning will break your heart."
Even the Yu Hang Liangzhu Culture, hailed as the "dawn of civilization," casts a mysterious and charming veil over this blessed land.
At this ti, Hang City was yet untouched by the dust of modernization, perfectly preserving its historical vicissitudes without losing its gentle charm. It’s a picture of an ancient Jiangnan water village on the cusp of transformation.
The lake of Xi Zi glistens best under the bright sun. Childish voices echo across Su Di. Children, brimming with innocence and joy, are part of a bright scenery along the shores.
Visitors to Hang City for leisure are happily andering along the edges of West Lake, on the White Embanknt, beneath the willows, strolling leisurely in the serenity of the mont.
Old Mrs. Cheng and her group, accompanied by staff, stroll along the pristine lakeside path. A step behind the crowd, Zhang Guoqing holds the child and leans in to whisper softly with his wife, Zhou Jiao.
Su Di Spring Dawn, Qu Yuan Wind Lotus, Ping Hu Autumn Moon, Broken Bridge Remnant Snow, Willow Waves Hearing Orioles, Flower Harbor Viewing Fish, Leifeng Pagoda Sunset, Twin Peaks Piercing Clouds, Nanping Evening Bell, Three Pools Mirroring the Moon.
Xi Zi Lake’s ten views unfold before their eyes, followed by the towering Liuhe Pagoda, which has stood guard by the Qiantang River for over eight hundred years.
The "always fitting, whether lightly or heavily adorned" West Lake, the Five Clouds Mountain Peak "splitting the entire lake," and Lingyin Temple hailed as the "millennia-old Yunlin Temple"...
This is "Heaven on Earth"—Hangzhou!
"Beyond the mountains, beyond the building," the famous dishes of West Lake vinegar fish, Dongpo braised pork, Longjing shrimp, beggar’s chicken, Song Sister fish soup, West Lake water shield are mouthwatering.
The soft texture and vivid colors of various silk and brocade capture travelers’ attention.
The pale green Dragon Well tea, fragrant as orchids, with a llow sweet taste shaped like a sparrow’s tongue, lingers on the palate, along with exquisite West Lake silk umbrellas and various crafted fans keeping people entranced.
Compared to returning to S City, this place is undoubtedly a paradise for food and shopping.
As crystal-clear as West Lake lotus root powder, as sweet as lotus seeds, tender as dried bamboo shoots, petite like walnuts...
The local specialties are countless, with famous local pastries like dragon beard candy and osmanthus cake.
Seeing these, Zhou Jiao couldn’t help but think of the myriad snacks of the twentieth century, feeling a sense of closeness transcending ti and space—why hesitate? Buy!
It seems won are naturally gifted at shopping.
Lin Lishan and Cheng Ruzhu joined the shopping ranks, and whether eating, wearing, admiring, or playing, they evaluated everything with detailed comntary along the way. They continuously demonstrated to everyone what "Hang City’s Delicacies" are, especially with their action and keen eye, putting the n in their place.
Zhou Jiao went about it with the deanor of a hamster hoarding for winter, gladly spreading out the cash. Whenever they went out, everyone turned into a "Christmas tree"—covered head to toe in bags and bamboo baskets.
The brief three days flew by.
This Hang City trip, Zhou Jiao gained trendously. Beyond the surface of big and small packages, the space was also filled with many goods. Besides various silks and silk quilts, she added a lot of food. Since Lin Lishan and Cheng Ruzhu could return fully loaded, let alone Zhou Jiao, who was intent on stocking up supplies.
Since the beginning of this year, on top of the existing grain tickets, cloth tickets, and at coupons, beef and mutton, fresh eggs, white and brown sugar, pastry flour were all added to the ticket purchase list, increasing Zhou Jiao’s worry about future days.
The comprehensive implentation of the ticket system that follows the next year made Zhou Jiao anxious enough to want to save even a blade of grass she ca across.
In these three short days, Zhou Jiao pulled Zhang Guoqing along, and the couple took the opportunity to drive around nearby towns and villages for insight and shopping.
Using Zhou Xiaozheng’s cara, they captured photos: grandchildren under the skylight in the big courtyard of large households, the young apprentices on the creaky wooden stairs of two-story buildings along the street, children playing gas in front of peasant thatched huts.
Along the way, they discovered that, outside of big cities, most families, regardless of southern or northern regions, were only poor.
At this ti, blue cloth outfits and grey cloth shoes were in vogue; the simpler, the better. Most households wore patched clothes that were "recycled," aning clothes that adults could no longer wear were resized for older children, then resized again for younger children, with a narrowed shirt sotis becoming a skirt for a child.
If dressing was like this, eating was even harder. Apart from a few families with old savings, ordinary families cooked and counted each grain for a decent sip of thick soup, while the worse-off had to make do with wild vegetables. Besides this, housing ant multiple people squeezed into not-so-spacious small yards, dirty, ssy, mixed, and chaotic; only courtyards with more female owners were cleaner.
What’s rare and valuable is that these diligent, simple, and hospitable people did not let their spirited positivity diminish despite their impoverished life. Fueled by faith, they were brimming with energy about the future.
Once again thinking about the nearby tourist attractions, those visitors dressed in formal clothes, whose restrained manner couldn’t disguise their affluence, and the old aristocrats in Beijing walking their birds.
In fact, history has been moving along its destined path.
The car continued toward S City.
Zhou Jiao took one last look back at Hang City. She clasped her hands together, bowed her head, and silently prayed that the deities and Bodhisattvas of Lingyin Temple would bless her father with a life of stability and her family with happiness and success.
Zhang Guoqing, holding the child, freed a hand to gently pat her shoulder. With others around, all he could do was silently offer his wife so comfort.
In the early hours of three o’clock today, the couple rushed to Lingyin Temple to light the first incense and make their wishes. Didn’t the abbot say that everything would go as they hoped?
The ancient temple that stood firm even through great disasters. It thrived for a thousand years with continuous incense and endless believers.
He was even more convinced of heaven’s compassion. Since they were people who did good to please their conscience, perhaps, as the abbot said, they were blessed people.
Zhou Jiao turned her head to offer him a slight smile.
Old Mrs. Cheng watched the young couple with a joyful expression. She looked at Zhou Jiao, like an elder sister, silently praying that her sister and brother-in-law in heaven would protect their descendants well.
The Gu Family’s collateral branch scattered after the fall, so died, and others were sent down, making her believe even more in the cycle of cause and effect.
At this mont, she rubbed the wooden beads in her hand, feeling delighted for her nephew Zhou Xiaozheng. Over forty years ago, her sister prayed at Lingyin Temple for his safety. Forty years later, his daughter sought gods and Buddhas at Lingyin Temple for him. Her nephew was no longer a wandering orphan; he had children bound by blood, devoted to his wellbeing.
"Jiao Jiao, did your father ntion when roughly he’s returning to the old Gu family residence?"
Old Mrs. Cheng asked softly. She only heard from her nephew that it’ll be soon, very soon. Her husband said there must be so enemies unresolved, so they currently do not return to the old residence for worship.
She knew the children didn’t tell her out of concern she might be distressed, so she pretended not to know. The truth didn’t matter anymore. What goes around cos around; she would just see who heaven spared.
Zhou Jiao paused and smiled, "Aunt, do you want to return to Su City? Or phone my dad when we get back?"
"Let’s forget it this ti. I’ll wait until your dad finishes his affairs before going." Old Mrs. Cheng shook her head and said.
Zhou Jiao said no more. After toppling the Gu Family’s collateral branch, there were certainly many attentive people watching their father-daughter moves. Concerning the family’s safety, she still had to wait for her father’s final decision.
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