Traveling back to 1966, starting by living in a cowshed.

Chapter 180 The New Look of the Courtyard House

Lin Zhou stood in the courtyard paved with bluestone slabs. The slabs under his feet were smooth and warm from the wear of time, carrying the unique aura of antiquity.

This was the family property that his mother had managed to get from Lin Dahai after much pleading and cajoling; it was also the home he, Lin Zhou, would settle down and make a living from…

Although the vermilion door has been renovated, it still retains the unique rustic charm of the old Beijing courtyard houses, and the faded carvings on the lintel still faintly reveal the exquisite craftsmanship of yesteryear.

Outside the courtyard wall, the neighbors' chatter still drifted in intermittently, like whispers of bygone eras, lingering among the blue bricks and gray tiles.

"Speaking of Lin Zhou, he was really daring back then!"

"Back in 1966, when chaos reigned everywhere, he, a mere teenager, dared to go to Hong Kong alone. Anyone else wouldn't have dared to do that, even if they had ten times the courage!"

The speaker was Aunt Zhang from next door, with a loud voice. Lin Zhou had heard her loud voice a lot when he was a child.

Her voice, tinged with a mixture of amazement and envy, pierced through the courtyard wall and reached Lin Zhou's ears clearly.

"That's right! Back then, so many people who were sent to the countryside wanted to escape but had no way to do so. But he was different. He left quietly and stayed away for more than ten years. When he came back, he had become a big boss!"

"I heard from the renovation workers that they're here to work for a big boss from Hong Kong, and they're going to renovate the whole courtyard. Wow, what a triumphant return!" Another slightly hoarse voice chimed in, full of emotion.

"I still remember when he was a child, he would follow his mother around this yard, and he was as skinny as a monkey. Who would have thought that he would be so successful now!"

Looking at his demeanor now, I'm sure he's doing big business in Hong Kong and has made a lot of money. I'm afraid he'll be staying here permanently this time." Aunt Zhang's voice rang out again, tinged with curiosity and a hint of inquiry.

Lin Zhou stood quietly in the courtyard, listening to these familiar yet unfamiliar discussions, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

Over the years, he has been able to quickly accumulate initial wealth in Hong Kong by relying on information and novels stored on his virtual computer, which can be considered a smooth and successful journey.

He traveled through time back then and was determined to escape this place, just to find a way to survive. He never expected that more than ten years later, he would actually be able to return in this way.

He gently shook his head, casting aside his chaotic thoughts, and began to look around at his long-lost home.

When I received the invitation to come back for an inspection last year, I took back this courtyard. At that time, the courtyard was in a state of disrepair and dilapidation.

The wood of several doors and windows was rotten and crumbled at the slightest touch. There were many small, uneven pits in the middle of the yard, and a pile of discarded junk was piled up in the corner.

Now, after renovation and tidying up, the entire courtyard has been completely transformed, and its original dilapidated state is nowhere to be found.

The ground paved with blue bricks was swept clean, without a speck of dust in sight. The courtyard wall had been rebuilt and plastered with smooth white lime. Several potted plants were neatly placed on top of the wall, adding a touch of vitality to the rustic courtyard.

The previously somewhat dilapidated doors and windows were all replaced with new ones, the bright red paint was eye-catching, and the windows were fitted with brand-new glass.

In the center of the courtyard, a small open space was specially reserved, paved with bluestone slabs. Next to it, the original small stone table and four stone stools were still kept, a place for people to sit and chat.

Lin Zhou's gaze first fell on the east wing, which had now been completely transformed into a clean and bright kitchen and dining room.

The kitchen walls were covered with white tiles, clean and tidy. A brand-new honeycomb briquette stove stood in the corner, with a pile of honeycomb briquettes neatly stacked next to it, along with an iron shovel and a coal bucket.

Above the stove was a simple range hood, a novel gadget for this era despite its simple design.

On the kitchen counter, there was a brand-new set of kitchen utensils, including an iron pot, an aluminum pot, a cleaver, and a cutting board, all of which were polished to a shine.

Next to the counter stood a beige refrigerator with the "Snowflake" brand logo printed on it, which was definitely a luxury item in Beijing in 1981.

A small rag was hanging on the refrigerator door handle, clearly having been carefully cleaned.

Stepping out of the kitchen, you enter the dining room. The dining room isn't large, but it's decorated very warmly.

A rectangular wooden dining table is placed against the wall. The tabletop is smooth and polished to a shine. Four chairs are placed around it, with the backrests and cushions of the chairs covered with light gray fabric, making them look comfortable and elegant.

Above the dining table hangs a small pendant light with a milky-white glass shade, its design simple yet elegant. On the wall hangs a brightly colored New Year's picture depicting peonies, symbolizing wealth and good fortune.

A sliding door separates the dining room from the kitchen, covered with a thin layer of frosted paper to ensure privacy without obstructing light.

After looking at the east wing, Lin Zhou turned and walked towards the west wing. The west wing had been converted into guest rooms and was also very tidy.

The room contained a single bed covered with a brand-new blue coarse cloth sheet and a thin cotton quilt with a simple floral pattern.

Against the wall behind the bed, there is a small bedside table with a white enamel mug and a lamp on it. The lamp has a brass base, giving it a retro feel.

In another corner of the room, there was a wooden wardrobe with sliding doors and simple patterns carved on them.

The walls are covered with pale yellow wallpaper, which makes the room feel warm and comfortable. In the corner, there is a pot of thriving pothos with lush green leaves, which adds a lot of life to the room.

Next, Lin Zhou walked towards the main house. The main house is the core of the entire courtyard house, and it has now been renovated into a two-bedroom, one-living room layout, which is much more spacious than before.

The living room is located in the center of the main house, with a spacious and well-lit area. A black ceiling fan hangs from the ceiling, its blades made of iron with silver paint on the edges, giving it a sturdy appearance.

Below the ceiling fan, there is a light gray sofa with wide armrests and backrests, which looks very comfortable.

In front of the sofa was a rectangular wooden coffee table with a glass fruit bowl on it, which was empty and obviously hadn't been filled with fruit yet.

On one side of the living room, against the wall, stands an imported color television. The screen is not large, and the frame is made of dark brown wood, making it look very heavy.

Next to the television was a small tape recorder with a red plastic casing bearing the "Zhonghua" brand logo.

Several paintings and calligraphic works by famous people were hanging on the wall, including landscape paintings and calligraphy works. Although Lin Zhou did not have much knowledge of painting and calligraphy, he could tell that these works were of good quality and had obviously been carefully selected.

Below the calligraphy and painting hangs a small battery-operated wall clock, its hands ticking away, adding a touch of life to the quiet living room.

On either side of the main house are two bedrooms, a master bedroom and a secondary bedroom.

The second bedroom was a little smaller, containing a single bed covered with light blue sheets and a thin quilt.

There was a small desk by the bedside, with a desk lamp and several blank notebooks on it.

Next to the desk was a small bookshelf, which was currently empty, making the space seem somewhat bare. The room had large windows, and sunlight streamed in through the glass, making the entire room very bright.

The master bedroom is slightly larger than the second bedroom and is decorated more exquisitely.

The room contained a large double bed covered with pink sheets and duvet covers featuring delicate floral patterns, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. On either side of the bed stood a bedside table; the left table held a lamp and a small alarm clock, while the right table held a glass of water.

On one side of the room stood a tall wooden wardrobe with sliding doors, decorated with exquisite patterns.

Next to the wardrobe was a small dressing table with a round mirror and several empty cosmetic bottles on it, clearly prepared for Su Wanqing.

The walls of the room were covered with light pink wallpaper, and a pot of blooming roses sat in the corner, their fragrance filling the entire room and creating a pleasant atmosphere.