Chapter 30 As Time Flows, We Grow Up

Time—Just like the faint footprints of youth, Running forward.

“Grandma Ma, I’m taking Siyi swimming!”

“Grandma, can I go swimming with them?”

“Alright, alright, everyone be careful out there.”

“Zimo, make sure to look after Siyi! And Hua Da and Hua Zi, no horseplay in the water!”

Ma Siyi had now completely integrated into Bai Zimo’s life and rhythm. She wasn’t the quiet, hesitant girl she used to be.

Huajie Dock!

The adults were still as busy and hardworking as ever. Day after day, without daring to slack off.

This is life.

But now, near the Huajie Dock, a guesthouse called “Time Inn” was being renovated!

It was a riverside courtyard house that Bai Zimo had received as a system reward. He told his grandma it was rented. Whether she believed him or not, he planned to use it as a guesthouse.

Near Huajie Dock—There were Huaiyang cuisine restaurants, fresh river food taverns,

Snack markets and local folk customs, Antique courtyards and the Grand Canal that stretches north to south. But not a decent inn for tourists!

Opening a guesthouse might not make you rich, But done well, it could bring long-term steady income. Grandma Lin was a sensible woman.

She knew her grandson had ideas and ran the numbers with him. If Zimo went on to study, relying on selling seasonings alone would be hard. She was from Fujian, and even at her age, she was willing to take a risk—To fight one last time for her grandson.

____

In fact, Bai Zimo just didn’t want his aging grandma to work so hard. Even though those seasonings looked simple. The process was actually complex, time-consuming, and physically demanding. Otherwise, her secret recipes would have already been copied by others.

Besides, what the system had given him was far more valuable than it looked. He just needed a legitimate front for it. And opening a guesthouse was only the beginning.

“Let’s go! Zimo, hurry up! Stop staring!”

“Hua Da, what are you still eating?”

“Alright, alright, let’s go swimming!”

Near the dock, the horns of passing cargo ships echoed regularly.

Bai Zimo called out, “Wait for the big ship to pass before jumping in!”

Ever since Xie Wanghe had been on Captain Xie’s new boat. He had more dreams of the future.

“One day, I’ll be a captain too. I’ll buy a big ship, head south from Sanjiangkou, sail out to sea, and go all the way to the Suez Canal.”

“I want to sail too!” Hua Da shouted.

“No way, and no girls on my ship.”

“Then I’ll buy my own ship and be the boss lady. Zimo and I will go, split the profits fifty-fifty! You’ll be so jealous.”

“What about me?” Siyi asked.

“I’ll bring you too—we’ll make money together! But Zimo has to lead the way!”

In Hua Da’s mind, girlfriends were important. But when it came to money-making, Bai Zimo was more reliable. The boys all looked at Hua Da curiously.

“Hua Da, can you even swim? Always talking big. Making money? Don’t come crying when you lose it all.”

“Hmph! I swim better than you guys!”

“Yeah, right.”

“Don’t believe me? Meet me in the water!”

“Fine, race to the dock buoy. Zimo, you be the judge.”

“Alright!”

“One, two, three—jump!”

Bai Zimo dove into the canal, embracing the wind and sunshine.

____

Time splashes away in the water spray. Slips past in the alleyways we run through. Flies beneath the soaring kites. Drifts away under the shadowy currents.

As time flows, we grow up. Time had passed from the summer of 2000, when they stole melons as kids. To the summer of 2007, bold and full of youthful pride.

“Hua Zi, come down!”

“Come down already!”

“Haha, jump!”

But unlike before, they had all grown up. Except Hua Da was still standing on the bridge.

“I told you, my swimsuit got washed by my mom.”

“So what? Just jump in!”

“Jump, Hua Zi!”

Xia Fenghua refused to budge.

“Bai Zimo, you’re the worst—splashing me like that! And Siyi, why are you siding with them?”

“Didn’t you say you swim better than us guys?”

“I swear, splash me again and I’ll take all your clothes. You’ll have to walk home naked.”

Siyi giggled and quickly hid behind Bai Zimo.

Xie Wanghe shouted, “You wouldn’t dare!”

“Why wouldn’t I? I’ll make sure you all walk home in your underwear.”

Hua Zi scooped up everyone’s clothes and dashed to the shore.

“Hey! Are you serious? Hua Zi… Xia Fenghua!”

“Hua Zi! Xia Fenghua! Come on, at least leave us one piece!”

“Neener neener…”

Xia Fenghua stuck out her tongue at them from the shore. But the gang in the water was in trouble now. They weren’t kids anymore—They couldn’t exactly walk through town in just their boxers.

“Xia Fenghua, you’re too cruel!”

“Who told you to mess with me?”

“No way!”

“Hey, hey, give us back our clothes!”

That’s Xia Fenghua for you.

Through all these years, it was rarely others pranking her—She was the one always getting the upper hand. Because when Hua Zi meant business, she really did it.