Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 111 A Youthful Journey: The Vibrant Charm of Hong Kong

Since the banquet at Repulse Bay, Lin Yan seems to have truly put aside those heavy plans and devoted himself wholeheartedly to a completely new rhythm of life that belongs to the 16-year-old rich boy Lin Yan.

Li Wenbin, Zheng Jiaming, and the other young men were indeed enthusiastic. Just two days later, the phone in Lin Yan's room rang, and Li Wenbin's energetic voice came through the receiver: "Yan! Come out! Today I'll take you to see the most exciting amusement park in Hong Kong!"

Lin Er was delighted and personally arranged a car and bodyguards, telling Lin Yan to have fun.

Our first stop was Liyuan Amusement Park, which Li Wenbin had highly recommended. As soon as we got off the car, we were greeted by a cacophony of noise, laughter, and the sounds of various arcade games. The atmosphere was so lively that Lin Yan, who was used to quiet, felt slightly uncomfortable, but mostly filled with novelty. Li Wenbin was a regular there, familiar with the place. He bought us all-day passes and pulled Lin Yan, along with Zheng Jiaming, Zhou Peiwen, He Zhiqin, and others who arrived later, into the park.

"Let's play this first! Bumper cars!" Li Wenbin pointed at the cars speeding around the arena, his eyes shining. "Ah Yan, ride with me in one car, let's see how I crash and knock Jiaming and the others over!"

Zheng Jiaming smiled calmly from the side: "Wenbin, you always say the same thing. Every time, you're the one who gets knocked down and is dizzy."

Chow Pui-man laughed and pulled Ho Chi-ching to ride the carousel: "Don't be so crazy with those boys, let's go ride the carousel and take pictures!"

Lin Yan was pulled onto the bumper car by Li Wenbin. At first, he was a little hesitant, but he was quickly infected by the simple and direct fun of bumping into things, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up. Although he had never played before, his reaction speed and control were far beyond that of ordinary people. After a few rounds, he and Li Wenbin cooperated perfectly, making Zheng Jiaming "cry out in pain" and eliciting bursts of laughter.

Afterwards, they played a game of throwing chewing gum to win prizes, watched an animal show, and rode the slow-moving Ferris wheel to overlook the scenery of North Point. Lin Yan mostly watched his friends play with a smile, occasionally joining in. His quiet and reserved temperament stood out in the bustling amusement park, but it also made him more easily accepted by this lively group.

A few days later, Cheng Ka-ming hosted a dinner and suggested going to the Peak. This time, the trip was much more refined. The group boarded the Peak Tram with its green retro cabins and slowly climbed the steep track, with the bustling scenery of Victoria Harbour and the north shore of Hong Kong Island unfolding below.

"Wow, so beautiful!" Zhou Peiwen and several girls squeezed together by the window to take pictures.

Zheng Jiaming introduced the building like a tour guide: "This is the HSBC headquarters, and that's the City Hall... It's even more beautiful at night, with lights from every house."

Li Wenbin then moved closer to Lin Yan, pointing to the densely packed buildings below the mountain: "Yan, can you see it? This is Hong Kong! It's densely packed, but full of life, isn't it?"

Lin Yan gazed at the magnificent view before him, nodded, and exclaimed sincerely, "It's truly breathtaking." This was the first time he had examined the city he was subtly influencing from this perspective, and the feeling was quite magical. They enjoyed afternoon tea at a restaurant on the mountaintop, feeling the cool mountain breeze and chatting about interesting things at school or in their social circles. The time was leisurely and pleasant.

Another day, everyone decided to experience the charm of Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter. They rented a seafood boat converted from a Cheung Po Tsai boat, enjoying the sea breeze and watching the fishing boats go by. The freshest seafood was caught directly from the water and cooked on the spot by the boatman: steamed grouper, salt and pepper mantis shrimp, stir-fried razor clams with black bean sauce... the taste was incredibly delicious.

"Come on, Ah Yan, try this shrimp! It's great!" Li Wenbin enthusiastically served food to Lin Yan.

Zheng Jiaming, on the other hand, was more particular, slowly peeling the shrimp shells as he said, "The seafood here is all about freshness. It has a unique flavor compared to restaurants."

He Zhiqing carefully pushed the dipping sauce dish in front of Lin Yan and smiled, "It will taste even better with some soy sauce and ginger."

Lin Yan thanked them one by one and followed their example in tasting the food. He found the feeling of sitting around a table and sharing food to be very warm. He was still not talkative, but his eyes were focused when he listened, and the occasional questions he asked showed his extraordinary knowledge, making his friends feel that although he was introverted, he was very insightful.

At the end of the year, the annual Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo opened at Victoria Park, naturally becoming a must-visit destination for them. The venue was packed with people and bustling with activity. Major manufacturers launched their latest product promotions, offering a dazzling array of food, clothing, and household goods.

"Hurry up! Let's grab the shrimp noodles! This one sells out so fast!" Zhou Peiwen has a natural passion for shopping, and she dragged her female companion inside.

Li Wenbin, on the other hand, showed interest in the new Japanese appliances: "Wow, this rice cooker is amazing! It can automatically keep warm!"

Zheng Jiaming had a clear goal: to go straight to the food section to buy wife cakes and egg rolls as souvenirs (gifts).

Lin Yan followed them, curiously observing this microcosm of Hong Kong's industry in this era. Li Wenbin dragged him to try various free snacks, Zheng Jiaming recommended Arrow shirts to him, and he even joined in the fun, playing the ring toss game a few times with game tickets and winning a small plush toy, which made everyone laugh and joke.

Besides these group activities, they often get together to watch the latest international blockbusters at the Queen's Theatre, have morning tea at Luk Yu Tea House or Lin Heung Tea House, experience the traditional flavor of "one pot and two dishes", or simply play table tennis or listen to vinyl records at one of the members' villas.

Through these everyday games and activities, each person's personality becomes increasingly distinct:

Li Wenbin: Lively and outgoing, loves to play and joke around. He is the team's ray of sunshine and an action-oriented person, but he is not very interested in learning about business and is a bit playful.

Zheng Jiaming: Relatively steady, meticulous, and has the demeanor of an elder brother. He takes care of everyone and has begun to pay attention to the family business. Occasionally, he reveals some business insights in his conversations.

Zhou Peiwen: Enthusiastic and cheerful, a little willful, loves shopping and following trends, and is a lively person.

He Zhiqing: Generous and poised, with high emotional intelligence, she is good at reading people and adjusting the atmosphere, and always manages to take care of the somewhat quiet Lin Yan unintentionally.

Lin Yan thoroughly enjoyed this simple and pure friendship and fun. It made him feel like he was truly "living," not just "carrying out a plan" or "playing a role." These vibrant, down-to-earth experiences, like warm spring water, slowly nourished his hardened heart.

He wore a stylish shirt and jeans, wandered through the streets and alleys of Hong Kong with his friends, ate fish balls and egg waffles from street vendors, cheered for a great movie, and laughed in the slightly salty sea breeze... as if he really was just a 16-year-old boy from a wealthy family, pampered and just returned to Hong Kong to start a new life.