Old Jin City on the Wall

Chapter 23 Private Chat

The day after Qin Xiaowan put up the "No Photography Inside the Counter" sign, the first person to come to the teahouse was not the window repairman.

Instead, it was three people wearing shirts.

The one in the middle was in his thirties, wearing a white shirt, black trousers, and shiny leather shoes.

After entering, he first looked up at the plaque, then glanced at the counter.

Wu Ling was the last one to be looked at.

"Boss Wu?"

Wu Ling was wiping the tea tray behind the counter.

Qin Xiaowan spoke first.

Which organization are you from?

"Jincheng Real Estate. Our company participated in the development of the Chama Lane area."

Qin Xiaowan threw the rag into the basin.

"Did the neighborhood committee send you?"

"no."

Do you have the documents?

"We're not going through any formalities today; we're just having some pre-conference communication."

"That's private chat."

The man paused for a moment.

"That's one way to put it."

"Private chat is fine." Qin Xiaowan pointed to the paper on the counter, "No taking pictures in designated areas, and don't touch the items. If you want tea, sit down; if not, don't block the door."

The young man following behind had just taken out his phone when he heard this, so he put it back in.

Wu Ling stood straight.

Would you like some tea?

"No need to trouble yourself." The man handed over a business card. "Xu Chengyuan."

The business card reads: Jincheng Real Estate, Project Development Department.

Wu Ling took the business card and placed it on the counter.

"Please sit down."

Xu Chengyuan did not sit down.

He took half a step forward, his leather shoes stopping on the outside of the counter.

"Boss Wu, I heard you've been reluctant to sign."

Wu Ling put the tea boat back on the shelf.

"Um."

"Actually, I can understand. A teahouse passed down from one's ancestors definitely has a different kind of emotional connection."

"It's not about feelings."

"That is?"

"It cannot be dismantled."

Xu Chengyuan stared at him in silence for two seconds, then nodded.

"The neighborhood office has a record of this statement."

Qin Xiaowan, who was standing by the counter, raised her eyelids upon hearing this.

She took her phone out of her apron pocket, turned on the screen, and placed it on the counter.

Xu Chengyuan's gaze fell on his phone.

"Miss Qin, isn't this unnecessary?"

"It's necessary. Lately, a lot of people have been asking about teahouses, and my brain isn't big enough to remember them all."

The young man behind him looked down at his shoes.

Xu Chengyuan pulled out a chair and sat down.

Wu Ling poured a bowl of Sanhua (a type of vegetable dish) and placed it in front of him.

Xu Chengyuan didn't drink; instead, he spread a proposal on the table.

"This time, it's not just one or two shops in Cha Ma Xiang that are being converted. The communication with several surrounding shops has been quite smooth, and the owner you know, Mr. Zhang, has already signed a contract."

He pointed to the diagram on the paper.

"Your apartment is a two-story building with your own property rights. By current standards, the compensation and resettlement will be around four million, which isn't low."

Qin Xiaowan glanced at it.

"Four million."

She repeated it softly.

She had already calculated that number.

Wu Ling was also aware of this.

Xu Chengyuan continued, "I'm not here today to urge you to sign immediately. I just want to clarify the situation beforehand. Once most of the area starts construction, if your building is left alone, it will become complicated how to fence it off, how to connect temporary water and electricity, how to leave fire exits, and how customers will enter from.

Qin Xiaowan looked up.

"Whom should I bother?"

"Everyone's in trouble."

"Are you referring to trouble, or a threat?"

The kettle on the stove made a sound.

It's not open yet.

Xu Chengyuan pushed that page of the drawing forward.

"Ms. Qin, you've misunderstood. We would not threaten the merchants."

"That's good."

Xu Chengyuan picked up the teacup but still didn't drink it.

"If it's just about expediting the signing, there's no need to make this special trip."

Wu Ling asked, "So what do you want to talk about?"

"Let's discuss a way to stay."

Xu Chengyuan put down his teacup.

"Your teahouse has been trending online lately. We've seen the brown sugar glutinous rice cakes, storytelling, and the old Chengdu space. After the area is renovated, it can't all be turned into ordinary shops; it also needs some memorable content."

As Xu Chengyuan finished speaking, he glanced around the counter.

The counter has been moved; the commonly used tea sets are placed in front, while the truly important items have been moved to the back.

He could only see a section of the handle of the bronze stove and the rim of the cracked teacup in the shadow of the shelf.

Qin Xiaowan pushed the phone next to the counter further inside.

Xu Chengyuan withdrew his gaze.

"The Wu Family Teahouse signboard could actually be kept."

Wu Ling asked, "How can we keep it?"

"We won't leave it exactly as it is," Xu Chengyuan said. "We'll change its location and approach. We can preserve the plaques, counters, and old tea sets as a whole. When the new district is built, we'll reserve a special area to create a space dedicated to old Chengdu tea culture."

Qin Xiaowan looked up.

"Not for sale at the counter."

Xu Chengyuan turned his head away.

"Miss Qin, I meant protection."

You mean moving away.

The teahouse fell silent for a moment.

Wu Ling pushed the bowl of tea toward Xu Chengyuan.

"She's right."

Xu Chengyuan turned to Wu Ling.

Wu Ling said, "A teahouse is not a display case."

"A display case isn't necessarily bad," Xu Chengyuan said. "At least more people will look at it."

"That's still a display case."

Wu Ling raised his hand and touched the stubble on the side of the counter.

"This is what we're using."

Xu Chengyuan looked in the direction he was pointing.

The pry marks were still fresh, and white wood shavings lay across the dark cabinet, left from last night.

He remained silent for a moment.

"Boss Wu, I understand what you mean."

"You don't understand."

Wu Ling looked towards the back wall.

The murals are not very noticeable during the day. The area of ​​the Republic of China-era teahouse is a bit darker, while the ancient Shu tree and bowl are so light that they are almost indistinguishable.

He then turned to the back door.

The door was closed.

To outsiders, it's just an ordinary back door.

Wu Ling withdrew his gaze.

"Once things leave this teahouse, they are no longer the same."

Xu Chengyuan turned the teacup halfway around, the lid scraping against the rim of the bowl with a very soft sound.

"Boss Wu, the signboard can remain the same, the counter can be repaired, and the old tea sets can be properly preserved. Moving to the new district will bring more customers and more stable conditions. If you stay here, things will only get harder and harder."

That's not a nice thing to say.

But it's not entirely without reason.

Just as Qin Xiaowan was about to speak, Wu Ling raised his hand to stop her.

She stopped.

Wu Ling said, "If you want foot traffic, build a commercial street."

"We've always been doing that."

"Then build your commercial street, don't come and tear down my teahouse."

Xu Chengyuan put the lid back on the bowl.

"Let me make this clear: the project won't wait for just one shop. Once the first few shops sign up, the construction site fences, water and electricity facilities, and fire lanes will all be prioritized. You can choose not to sign now, but when construction starts, if the entrance is dug up and customers can't get in, you'll be at a disadvantage."

Qin Xiaowan stared at the lit-up phone on the counter.

"I've memorized that sentence."

"Miss Qin, I'm just giving you a heads-up."

"Um."

She repeated it slowly.

"The entrance has been dug up; guests can't come in. Please be aware."

Wu Ling glanced at the untouched bowl of Sanhua.

"Mr. Xu."

"you say."

"The bowl of tea you just drank cost fifteen yuan."

Xu Chengyuan was taken aback.

Wu Ling said, "If you come for tea, you're welcome. But if you come to teach me how to turn a teahouse into a display case, this bowl is on me, and we don't need to talk about anything else."

Qin Xiaowan glanced at Wu Ling.

She rarely saw him like this.

No rush, no retreat.

It was as if the gavel hadn't even been struck yet, and the table had already fallen silent.

The water on the stove finally boiled, and a wisp of white steam came out of the kettle spout.

Xu Chengyuan did not get up immediately.

Qin Xiaowan reached out and turned off the lit phone, then placed it face down on the counter.

She originally thought Wu Ling would keep pushing her forward.

After all, he doesn't talk much and is often slow to react.

But that last sentence, "Don't come and tear down my teahouse," wasn't out of spite or out of defiance.

Wu Ling wiped away a drop of water from the edge of the counter.

"Mr. Xu, the tea has gone cold."

Xu Chengyuan looked up.

The bowl of three flowers was placed between the two of them, and the steam gradually subsided.

This is not a way of turning away customers.

But the meaning is clear enough.

The copper bell at the door rang once.

When Su Wangqing came in, he was carrying a file bag.

An old man was following behind her.

The old man was wearing a dark gray jacket, had completely white hair, and walked slowly.

Upon entering, he didn't rush to recognize anyone. Just like Su Wangqing's first visit, he first looked up at the plaque, then looked down to measure the threshold.

"Boss Wu."

Wu Ling responded.

"Teacher Su."

Su Wangqing walked to the counter and put down the file bag.

"My grandfather would like to come and have a bowl of tea."

Qin Xiaowan immediately asked, "Three flowers?"

The old man responded.

"trouble."

The voice was not loud, and it was very steady.

Qin Xiaowan went to make tea.

Xu Chengyuan glanced at the old man.

The old man ignored him and walked straight to the counter.

His gaze moved from the bronze stove to the pottery shards, and then to the cracked teacup.

Finally, it landed on the pry mark on the side of the counter.

"New wound."

Wu Ling said, "We were robbed last night."

The old man nodded.

"No wonder."

The young man behind Xu Chengyuan wanted to reach for his phone again.

Qin Xiaowan glanced sideways.

"Don't take pictures of the inside of the counter."

The young man put his hand down.

The old man glanced at Qin Xiaowan, a hint of a smile in his eyes.

Su Wangqing opened the document bag and took out several photos and a test report.

"Boss Wu, I've compiled a version of the materials."

Xu Chengyuan's eyebrows twitched slightly when he heard the word "materials".

"What materials?"

"The materials are clues about immovable cultural relics," Su Wangqing said. "The main focus is on the architecture, murals, and historical spaces, not the objects on the display cases."

When Xu Chengyuan heard the words "immovable cultural relics," his expression changed slightly.

"Ms. Su, there is a plan for the redevelopment of this area. Whether the application materials will be accepted ultimately depends on the relevant authorities."

Su Wangqing looked up.

"The relevant authorities will review the materials."

She paused.

"But sir, who are you?"

Xu Chengyuan paused for a moment.

"Xu Chengyuan, Project Development Department, Jincheng Real Estate."

"So you're not the relevant authority."

The teahouse fell silent for a moment.

Xu Chengyuan quickly took it back:

"Of course not. But urban renewal isn't just about materials; it's also about the actual conditions. Counters, plaques, and old objects will all be relocated and preserved as a whole. Displaying them in a commercial district isn't necessarily worse than displaying them here."

"Very different."

Why?

"Because what you want is not protection, but dismantling."

Su Wangqing placed a photocopy of the 1935 photograph on the counter.

"The plaque, the counter, the threshold, and the location of the storyteller all belong to the same historical space. If you take them apart and put them in the new neighborhood, that's called a display, not Wu's Teahouse."

Xu Chengyuan glanced at the photo.

"Can the average tourist tell the difference?"

Qin Xiaowan stopped brewing the teapot.

Wu Ling looked up.

Su Wangqing did not rush to reply.

The old man spoke.

Just because tourists can't tell the difference doesn't mean you can fool them.

Xu Chengyuan turned to the old man.

"Grandpa, this isn't just a show. In urban renewal projects, we relocate what can be relocated and repair what can be repaired. It's better than leaving it here to rot."

The old man didn't respond to that sentence.

He lowered his head and examined the bronze censer.

He wasn't wearing gloves, and he didn't touch anything.

He bent down to examine the wear marks on the inside of the stove handles, the rust on the base, and the dark ring between the stove and the cabinet.

He then bent down to examine the faint circular marks on the counter.

That round seal wasn't just placed there.

The edges are darkened by the moisture, while the center is lighter.

The old man took half a step along the edge of the counter.

The wooden surface next to the bronze stove was darker than the rest of the area, and there was a patch of fine water droplets near the tea boat.

Further out, there's the gleam created by guests' elbows pressing down when they hold their bowls.

Individually, those traces are worthless, but when put together, they resemble a teahouse.

The stove has been here for many years.

Pick it up, put it down, wipe it, add water.

The people next to me were sitting and drinking tea.

Those actions weren't written on the instruction sign; they were all buried inside the wood.

After a while, the old man straightened up.

"This is not a decorative item."

He turned to Xu Chengyuan.

"This stove is half useless once it's removed from the counter."

"Old man, you can't be so absolute."

Xu Chengyuan continued, "In the end, it depends on how the relevant authorities decide."

That's right.

The old man pointed to the bronze stove, then to the counter and the back wall.

"The old thing can go into the warehouse."

"The old place won't do."

Xu Chengyuan glanced at the old man, then looked at Wu Ling.

"Boss Wu, I won't disturb your business today."

Wu Ling looked at the old man.

The old man didn't say "I won't move it," but no one in the teahouse treated the bronze stove as just an ornament anymore.

The copper bell at the door rang again.

This time, the person who came in wasn't a guest.

Four people.

The man in front wore a dark blue uniform jacket with a work badge hanging on his chest. Behind him were two others, one carrying a camera and the other a rangefinder. The last young man carried a folder of documents.

Upon entering, the person in the uniform jacket first scanned the store and then looked at the counter.

"Which one of you is Wu Ling, Boss Wu?"

Wu Ling stepped forward.

"I am."

The man nodded.

"Luo Qiming, Qingyang District Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau. We have received your materials regarding the Wu Ji Teahouse as an immovable cultural relic. We will be here today to conduct an on-site inspection."

After he finished speaking, he turned around and gestured to the people behind him to wait a moment.

Xu Chengyuan stood up.

"Director Luo."

Luo Qiming then noticed him.

"President Xu is here too."

"I just happened to be here to communicate with the merchants."

Luo Qiming didn't respond to that, but simply straightened his work ID.

His gaze passed over Xu Chengyuan and landed on the old man in front of the counter.

He clearly paused for a moment.

Then take two quick steps.

"Teacher Jiang?"

The old man turned around.

"Qiming."

Luo Qiming's tone immediately changed.

"Professor Jiang Wenhe, what are you doing here?"

Xu Chengyuan stopped in his tracks as he was about to collect the documents.

Only then did he look at the old man again.

Jiang Wenhe said, "My granddaughter said there's a bowl of tea here, and it's worth drinking."

Luo Qiming glanced at Su Wangqing, then looked at the bronze stove and photograph on the counter.

He didn't ask any more questions, but only said to the people behind him:

"Take a record. Clearly photograph the scene, the people present, and the original furnishings."

The person with the camera removed the lens cap.

The young man opened the document bag.

Another person turned on the body camera.

Xu Chengyuan's earlier comment, "Can ordinary tourists tell the difference?", is still fresh in everyone's minds.

We were just having a private chat.

Now, let's begin recording.