I'm back in 1990

Chapter 595: Returning to Familiar Places

On a cold winter night, February 5, 2002, two Gulfstream business jets landed one after the other at Qingjiang Airport, which had just been built and opened to traffic. Led by a guide vehicle, the two Gulfstream business jets silently taxied into the dedicated apron. This was the first time that Qingjiang Airport had accepted the take-off and landing of private planes, and there were two of them at once.

As soon as the plane door opened, Huang Ruiying rushed out in her down jacket, with Yu Xiang following angrily behind, shouting, "Xiao Duo, don't run around!"

The little girl pointed to the sky and giggled, "Mommy, look, it's snowing!"

After Huang Xiaochuan stepped off the plane from another aircraft, Gao Song walked up to him and said, "Mr. Huang! The car is already outside!"

Huang Xiaochuan nodded and ordered, "Let's go!"

He took Huang Zeji's hand and joined Yu Xiang and Huang Ruiying, a mother and daughter, who had just disembarked from another plane. They then walked out along the passageway.

As soon as the group stepped out of the passage, Yang Jianqing, the Secretary-General of the Municipal Government, who had been waiting there, greeted them with a broad smile and warmly extended both hands: "Mr. Huang! You must be tired from your journey. Welcome home! I am Yang Jianqing, the Secretary-General of the Municipal Government."

Huang Xiaochuan was stunned for a moment, but Gao Song reacted quickly and whispered in his ear, "Mr. Huang, the city may have known about the flight information in advance. According to regulations, flights and passengers must be reported in advance. Since you are a celebrity, the city would naturally receive the news."

Huang Xiaochuan thought about it and realized it made sense. Moreover, two business jets had arrived at once, so naturally the commotion would be a bit bigger.

Huang Xiaochuan smiled and shook hands with the secretary-general who came to greet him. While expressing his gratitude, he also conveyed his desire not to be disturbed: "Secretary-General Yang, thank you! I didn't expect to bother you. However, I'm just back for the New Year, so we won't discuss official business. I appreciate your kindness, and we can talk again another day."

His gaze then swept over the entourage behind the secretary-general, and he said to them politely, "Please all go back and rest! It's freezing cold, and I'm so sorry to have troubled you to make this trip."

After saying that, he protected Yu Xiang and their two children, and under Gao Song's guidance, they went straight to the business vehicle that had come to pick them up. The car door opened silently, and just like when they came, the family of four got into two business vehicles, while the rest of the people got into a large RV and two business vehicles, and then drove out of the airport one by one.

Yang Jianqing shook his head with a wry smile and could only watch the convoy leave.

The van smoothly merged into the city traffic. Outside the window, the streetscape of Qingjiang flashed by, illuminated by colorful neon lights and festive strings of lights entwined on the roadside trees. The familiar outlines of the streets and alleys stirred up Yu Xiang's deep-seated homesickness. She stared intently out the window; it seemed that not much had changed, except for a few more tall buildings.

The car finally drove into the Qingjiang Transportation Bureau's residential compound. This brick-and-mortar apartment building, which held the memories of Huang Xiaochuan and Yu Xiang's childhood, exuded a simple and warm festive atmosphere under the night and festive lights. At the entrance of the building, Lao Yu and Zheng Aiying, who had returned after New Year's Day, were already wrapped in thick cotton-padded clothes and eagerly waiting. The door light cast long shadows of the two of them.

As soon as the car came to a stop, before the doors were even fully open, Zheng Aiying rushed over and hugged her granddaughter tightly, exclaiming with delight, "We're finally home! It's cold outside, come inside quickly! The chicken soup has been simmering on the stove all afternoon!"

"Grandpa!" Huang Zeji broke free from Huang Xiaochuan's hand and rushed into Old Yu's arms. Old Yu hugged his grandson with a loving expression and asked, "Are you hungry? Shall we go home and have some chicken soup?"

At this moment, hearing the commotion, Yu Wei and Tang Yuan, along with Yu Chengping, came downstairs to greet them.

The small three-bedroom apartment was instantly filled, and after a bowl of rich chicken soup, Huang Xiaochuan felt warm all over.

At this moment, Zheng Aiying arranged, "I've tidied up the rooms on the first floor. You can sleep there tonight, and Xiaoduo and Xiaodong can sleep here with me."

Huang Xiaochuan readily agreed with a smile, "Okay!"

After settling their son and daughter in, the couple went downstairs.

Upon entering the house, it was warm and cozy. Although it had been renovated, it still retained its original layout. Looking at this familiar home, Huang Xiaochuan couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion, as if he had returned to 1990.

The next morning, the golden light of dawn bathed Qingjiang City in a warm hue. Without the two children, Yu Xiang linked arms with Huang Xiaochuan and strolled leisurely through the streets, just like when they were dating.

The streets were crowded with vendors selling New Year's goods. Red couplets and the character "福" (good fortune) were displayed, along with various snacks and braised dishes. Shops selling roasted chestnuts were also selling freshly roasted chestnuts, filling the air with the aroma of roasted nuts from both the north and south. The New Year's atmosphere in the small town was very strong!

"Roasted chestnuts!" Yu Xiang followed the aroma and found a general store selling chestnuts. "Let's go buy some chestnuts!" Yu Xiang pointed to a large iron pot steaming in front of the store, where many people were queuing.

Huang Xiaochuan and Yu Xiang had the same idea. He quietly waved to Gao Song and the others who were a few steps away, signaling them not to get too close. Then he pulled Yu Xiang to squeeze into the front of the general store and joined the queue.

It was very cold outside, and the two of them were wearing hats and scarves. No one would have guessed that the "richest couple in Asia" would be queuing up to buy chestnuts here.

After it was his turn, Huang Xiaochuan pointed to the chestnuts covered by a quilt and said, "Weigh me a pound, and make sure they're hot!" Huang Xiaochuan spoke fluent Qingjiang dialect with a long-lost sense of ease.

"Alright! Just a moment!" The vendor selling roasted chestnuts deftly scooped up a large spoonful of glistening, piping hot roasted chestnuts from under the quilt, flicked her wrist, and poured them into a brown paper bag.

After Huang Xiaochuan received the chestnuts and change, the couple took off their scarves and eagerly each picked up a chestnut and started peeling it.

Just then, a hesitant female voice rang out from not far away: "Huang Xiaochuan?"

Huang Xiaochuan and Yu Xiang looked toward the source of the sound at the same time. A few steps away, Ren Yangyang stood there with a bag full of food, looking surprised. Her eyes darted back and forth between Huang Xiaochuan and the bag of roasted chestnuts. She never expected to meet her old classmate, who had become the richest man in Asia, here.

Yu Xiang couldn't help but look at Huang Xiaochuan, as if to ask, "Who is this?"

Huang Xiaochuan clapped his hands and whispered in Yu Xiang's ear, "This is my high school classmate!" Upon hearing this, Yu Xiang smiled and nodded to Ren Yangyang as a greeting.

Huang Xiaochuan then said to Ren Yangyang, "What a coincidence? Ren Yangyang, it's been seven or eight years since we last met, hasn't it?" As he spoke, he put his finger to his lips, indicating to Ren Yangyang not to make a fuss.

Ren Yangyang immediately understood what Huang Xiaochuan meant.

She glanced around and, making sure no one was paying attention to them, said, "Huang Xiaochuan, I recognized you immediately. You've matured a lot. Are you back for the New Year?"

Huang Xiaochuan laughed frankly and said, "Yes! I miss home."

Ren Yangyang watched Yu Xiang breathing on the bag of chestnuts, and saw the gentle look in Huang Xiaochuan's eyes that he only showed to his family. She asked curiously, "Are you experiencing life like this?" She made a lighthearted joke.

Huang Xiaochuan waved his hand: "Not at all! We're just revisiting old haunts, going back to familiar places!"

After exchanging a few pleasantries, since it wasn't a place for reminiscing amidst the bustling crowd, they exchanged New Year's greetings and then parted ways at a street corner filled with the sweet aroma of roasted chestnuts.

Cola Novels makes reading always a chapter faster than others.