Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 160 A Stroll in New York and an Encounter at Dusk

Chapter 163: A Stroll in New York and an Encounter with Dusk

Over the next few days, Lin Yan fully played the role of host, taking Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming to various iconic landmarks in New York.

They took a boat to the Statue of Liberty, gazing up at the colossal bronze statue symbolizing freedom and rebirth from its pedestal. Lin Yan explained its history: "This was a gift from France to the United States. The designer was Bartholdi, and the internal steel frame was built by Eiffel, the designer of the Eiffel Tower." Li Wenbin, watching the crowd queuing to climb the crown, exclaimed in astonishment, "If you climbed up there, your legs would go weak."

Standing in the vast main hall of Grand Central Station, gazing up at the starry dome adorned with constellation patterns, watching businessmen in suits and travelers hurrying along the gleaming marble floors, Lin Yan explained, "This is not just a station; it's a New York landmark in itself, a testament to the glory of railroad transportation during the Gilded Age."

Strolling across the Brooklyn Bridge, feeling the wind on the East River and the slight tremor of the boardwalk beneath my feet, Lin Yan pointed to the intertwined steel cables and said, "It was built in 1883, and at the time it was the world's longest suspension bridge, a true engineering marvel." Zheng Jiaming, holding onto the railing and gazing at the Manhattan skyline, exclaimed, "The view from this angle is indeed quite unique."

They also lingered in the shop windows on Fifth Avenue, felt the neon lights begin to glow in Times Square, and enjoyed a moment of tranquility on the sheep meadow in Central Park. Lin Yan's explanations were insightful yet easy to understand, combining architecture, history, and anecdotes, which greatly benefited Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming, giving them a more comprehensive understanding of New York.

However, this period of "three-person fun" had neglected a certain little guy. Little Qi felt extremely aggrieved that its brother spent most of his time with Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming. That evening, it finally couldn't hold back anymore, jumping onto Lin Yan's lap and rubbing its head against his hand, its big, dark eyes full of accusation: "Brother, aren't you my best friend? You haven't spent any time playing with me lately!"

Seeing the little guy's overflowing possessiveness and grievance, Lin Yan's heart softened. He smiled and ruffled its head, soothingly saying, "It's my fault for neglecting our little Qi. How about this, starting tomorrow, I'll take you for a walk alone every evening after dinner, just the two of us, okay?"

"Really?" Xiao Qi's eyes lit up instantly, her tail wagging like a propeller. "Brother, you keep your word!"

"Of course I keep my word," Lin Yan assured him.

So, in the following evenings, a new routine was added. Lin Yan would take Xiao Qi for a stroll alone through the quiet and elegant streets of the Upper East Side, often heading to Gracie Place Park or Carl Schulz Park, which are near the East River and have a more tranquil environment. These places offer a wide view, with views of Roosevelt Island and the lights of the Queensborough Bridge, and are popular private recreational spots for nearby residents.

That evening, the setting sun bathed the surface of the East River in a warm golden hue. Lin Yan was walking along the path in Gracie Square Park with Xiao Qi in his hand. Suddenly, Xiao Qi sniffed, attracted by the sweet smell of popcorn. She gently broke free from Lin Yan's hand and happily ran to a bench not far away.

Seated on a bench was an elderly Chinese woman with a graceful demeanor and elegant attire. Beside her sat a lean, bespectacled elderly man of similar distinguished bearing. The woman held a paper bag of popcorn and they conversed quietly.

Little Seven didn't pounce on her; instead, she sat obediently a meter or so away from her, wagging her fluffy tail and looking at her with pure and curious eyes... at the popcorn in her hand.

Seeing this, the old woman smiled gently and said softly in Wu dialect to the old man beside her, "This little dog is very clever and knows how to be polite."

Lin Yan stepped forward at the opportune moment, apologized in clear and natural Mandarin, and gently tugged at Xiao Qi's collar: "I'm sorry to have disturbed you both. Xiao Qi, let's go."

Hearing such fluent Mandarin in a foreign land, a hint of warmth flashed in the old woman's eyes. She looked up, smiled, and replied in Mandarin with a Shanghai accent, "It's alright, little one. Your little dog is very cute and well-behaved." She looked at Lin Yan and asked gently, "Are you Chinese? Where are you from?"

Lin Yan replied politely, "Yes. My name is Lin Yan. I used to live in Hong Kong after moving from Beijing, and I only recently came to New York."

"Oh..." The old woman nodded slightly, glanced at the silent old man beside her with a gentle smile, and then said to Lin Yan, "It's indeed rare to see Chinese people around here; it's fate that we met." She gracefully pointed to herself and her partner, "My husband's surname is Gu, you can call him Uncle Gu. My surname is Yan, you can call me Aunt Yan."

"Okay, Uncle Gu, Aunt Yan," Lin Yan replied obediently. "We won't disturb your walk any longer today. Xiao Qi, we're leaving now."

Xiao Qi seemed to understand, and reluctantly stood up, turning back every few steps, her eyes still lingering on the bag of popcorn in Aunt Yan's hand.

This little face completely amused Aunt Yan, and she called out to Lin Yan, who was about to turn around: "Lin Yan, wait a minute."

She stood up, smiled, and walked over to Lin Yan, stuffing the almost untouched bag of popcorn into his hand: "Here, it's our first meeting, Auntie is treating you and Xiao Qi to some snacks."

Lin Yan looked at the unexpected "gift" in his hand, feeling both amused and exasperated, but still politely accepted it: "This... thank you, Aunt Yan."

Upon seeing this, Xiao Qi immediately let out an excited "woof" and affectionately rubbed its little head against Aunt Yan's trouser leg to express its gratitude. Then, it couldn't wait to circle around Lin Yan, staring longingly at the bag of popcorn, its tail wagging like a windmill.

Seeing this amusing scene, Mr. Gu's face broke into an even wider smile.

Aunt Yan looked at the anxious Xiao Qi with affection and said to Lin Yan, "Quickly give it some food, look how anxious it is. We live on Park Avenue nearby, you can bring Xiao Qi over to play when you have time."

"Thank you, Aunt Yan and Uncle Gu. We won't stand on ceremony then." Lin Yan smiled, then opened the paper bag and took out a popcorn to feed the eagerly waiting Xiao Qi.

A few days later, a light rain was falling. Lin Yan, holding an umbrella, took Xiao Qi to shelter from the rain under a pavilion in the park, where they happened to run into Mr. Gu and Aunt Yan, who were also taking shelter from the rain.

"We meet again, Lin Yan." Aunt Yan greeted him with a smile, her gaze falling on Xiao Qi, who was wagging its tail excitedly. She squatted down and patted Xiao Qi's head. "Xiao Qi? Do you still remember Grandma?"

"It has a great memory," Lin Yan replied politely, with a hint of a joke, "especially remembering which grandma might have something delicious." This made Aunt Yan laugh. The atmosphere was more familiar than last time, and they chatted briefly about New York's unpredictable weather and the fun of raising pets. During this time, the usually quiet Mr. Gu also watched the interaction between the man and the dog with a gentle smile on his face.

The third time was on a clear evening. Lin Yan and Xiao Qi were strolling along the riverbank when they heard someone calling out gently in Chinese from behind: "Lin Yan, Xiao Qi."

Lin Yan turned around and saw Mr. and Mrs. Gu walking slowly towards them. Aunt Yan added with a smile, "I haven't seen you these past few evenings. Old Gu even asked why the boy with the little white dog hadn't come for a walk."

Mr. Gu looked at Lin Yan, his tone gentle and natural: "We live on Park Avenue nearby. If it's convenient for you and the little one (referring to Xiao Qi), you can come over for a chat and a cup of tea sometime. Your Aunt Yan really likes Xiao Qi."

Faced with the personal invitation from this kind elder, Lin Yan felt a sincere sense of goodwill. He smiled, his attitude respectful and frank: "Thank you, Uncle Gu and Aunt Yan, it is our honor. We will definitely find time to visit you and trouble you both."