Just like the Changzhou Maritime Office, the Linghai Maritime Office has also built an office building, right next to the Bin Qi River Lock Management Office, not far from Yingchuan Port.

In the morning, Han Yu rides the light motorcycle to send Han Xiangning to work, and then heads to the Changyu Shipbuilding Factory in the Linghai Development Zone to oversee the modification of the 825 boat. In the afternoon, after finishing work, he picks her up on the way home; the young couple heads out together in the morning and returns home in the evening.

Every day, they travel on Yanjiang Road, a road they are both very familiar with.

Even when it was just a small road, they often traveled on it. Back then, Han Yu would visit his sister and brother-in-law at the Port Authority, and Han Xiangning would commute between the city and Bailong Port. It can be said that this road holds many beautiful memories for the two of them.

After the typhoon, heavy rain, and tidal surges all hit in '97, the city and several districts along the river invested a lot of manpower and resources to widen the original small road, building several large bridges in one go, making the riverside road wide and smooth.

Compared to the roads connecting the development zone, Linghai City District, and Dongqi District, there aren't many motor vehicles on Yanjiang Road. Especially after dark, you can travel several kilometers without seeing many cars, only people riding motorcycles and bicycles returning home from work.

But whether compared to the roads connecting the development zone, Linghai City District, and Dongqi District, or to the planned Jiangbin Expressway Linghai Extension Section and the soon-to-be-built Coastal Expressway, Han Yu prefers this less crowded Yanjiang Road.

Because it runs alongside the Yangtze River, parallel to the river.

Customs Anti-Smuggling Pier, Rescue Boat Team, Yingchuan Port Water Rescue Center, Water Police Third Team Second Squad, Changzhou Maritime Office, Water Police Third Team, Changhang Branch Linghai Police Station, Linghai Development Zone Police Bureau, Linghai Reserve Camp, and Bailong Port are all along this road.

After dinner at "Veteran Fast Food," Han Yu picks up Han Xiangning, and they ride the light motorcycle home together.

Han Xiangning habitually holds his waist, leans on his shoulder, and curiously asks, "How's the business at Veteran Fast Food?"

"Pretty good, they sell five to six hundred boxed meals a day."

"With so many factories in the Linghai Development Zone, it's only natural for the business to be good."

"It's not the only one, there are two others at the ferry."

"The two at Lingda Car Ferry don't count, they specialize in serving passing cars."

Han Xiangning really misses the work and life at the Linghai Port Supervision Office, so she asks again, "How's the construction at the Hailuo Cement Factory?"

Han Yu happened to visit yesterday at noon and smiled, "Building a cement factory is different from constructing residential buildings; the machinery and equipment are produced in mechanical factories, and there isn't much civil construction. Looking from afar, you can only see a large circle of walls."

"What about the dedicated pier?"

"No construction yet, maybe the permits haven't been approved."

"How's Linghai Port?"

"Quite busy. Today two bulk cargo ships were at the pier loading and unloading, and President Qian said there's another container ship arriving tonight."

"Did you meet President Qian?" Han Xiangning asked with a smile.

After work, why not go straight home? Who were you with tonight? You must explain clearly.

Han Yu quickly said, "We were leaving Qian San's computer room and ran into President Qian who had just finished work. He insisted on inviting us to dinner, so we went together to Veteran Fast Food."

Han Xiangning pursued, "How many people in total?"

"President Qian, President Wang, Uncle Liu, Uncle Ding, Xiao Yu, Xiao Gong, Qian San, and me, eight people in total. With beer, it was a hundred and twenty yuan; President Qian paid the bill."

"Why did you think to go to Qian San's place?" 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"To watch Xiao Yu get online."

Han Yu relayed his evening experience with immense envy, thinking more, he said wistfully, "Before heading to Shenzhen, big brother and Sister Zhang Lan had caught onto trends and bought a Little Overlord learning machine for Yuanyuan. Xiao Yu was even more impressive; he went straight to buying a computer, and tomorrow he'll even have someone from the telecom bureau come to install a modem. Once installed, he can sit at home and chat with friends from all over the country, get the latest news worldwide."

"Xiao Yu can type and use the internet?" Han Xiangning also found it incredible.

"Not just Xiao Yu, Xiao Gong and Guo Weitao can too. They didn't learn it formally; they picked it up while playing games at Qian San's computer room."

"How much did Xiao Yu spend on the computer?"

"Eight thousand two hundred."

"What brand? So cheap."

"No brand. Xiao Gong bought hardware at Binjiang Electronic City and helped him assemble it. Its functions are similar to Lenovo 1+1."

"A multimedia one?"

"Yes, you can watch movies on the computer with discs."

"Xiao Gong is quite something; he can even assemble a computer."

"He's interested in computers; otherwise, he wouldn't spend so much on subscribing to computer reports."

Computers are something Han Xiangning hasn't seen much of, and even if she did, she wouldn't understand it, yet she has a profound impression of computer reports.

Among the many newspapers and magazines at the newsstand, the computer newspaper is definitely the most extensive, with the most exquisite printing and the thickest feel, so much so that each issue is packed in a large plastic bag.

Thinking about how Xiao Gong is getting older, Han Xiangning whispered, "Having interests and hobbies is a good thing, but they should suit one's actual circumstances. Can he afford to play with computers? He's almost twenty-four, doesn't even have an apartment in Binjiang, and what, will he have his future wife live with him in a dormitory?"

"Yeah, he can't compare himself with Xiao Yu."

"You should have a good talk with him later, tell him to save a bit and not waste money recklessly."

"Okay."

Talking about interests and hobbies, Han Yu suddenly remembered something: "I didn't know before, I later found out that Jiang Shengqi also has a hobby."

Han Xiangning asked curiously, "What is he into?"

"Philately, whenever he had time in the army, he would go to the post office to buy stamps. Over the years, he has collected almost all the stamps issued, not just by the piece but by the sheet! Some sheets have twenty stamps, some have a hundred: if a stamp was in high demand, he would even buy several sheets at a time. He spent over ten years in the army living frugally, turning all his wages into stamps!"

"Isn't philately about collecting stamps from envelopes? Why spend money on buying them?"

"I used to think the same as you, thinking that stamp collecting was just about collecting various stamps, similar to how I collected cigarette packs when I was young. It wasn't until I worked with Jiang Shengqi that I realized philately isn't as simple as collecting used stamps from others; it actually requires spending a lot of money."

"His family isn't well-off, and he's not wealthy, so why buy so many stamps?"

"You just don't understand," Han Yu smiled as he explained, "Philately isn't just a hobby; it's an investment too. Stamps have face value, similar to money. In his words, stamps are soft gold, they can appreciate, they can be a financial emergency fund, they can be spent like money, they can fund retirement!"

"Stamps can appreciate in value?"

"Yes, indeed, the rare ones do appreciate."

Pausing, Han Yu said with some envy, "Even those that don't appreciate can be sold for the purchase price. Stamps are akin to cash; as long as letters are being sent, they flow in the postal market. Investing in stamps is more reliable than the stock market. I wish I had money to join him in collecting."

Han Xiangning asked puzzlingly, "He spent all his past wages on stamps, so where did the money for the house come from?"

"When buying the house, he considered selling some stamps but felt reluctant. Instead, he borrowed two thousand from relatives and friends back home and took a bank loan for several thousand."

"So he has a few thousand worth of stamps?"

"Of course, he worked in the army for many years, and all his wages there were spent on philately."

Han Xiangning remained silent for a moment before asking, "San'er, do you feel unfairly treated?"

"Why unfair?" Han Yu was puzzled.

"Everyone has their hobbies and does what they want. But you have to repay the house loan with me, living on a tight budget without any personal interests, let alone playing with computers like Xiao Yu."

"What are you thinking? I've never had much interest in hobbies, and the days aren't tight either."

"Do you really think so?"

"Why would I lie? I don't envy them at all."

Han Yu didn't feel mistreated, but Han Xiangning felt guilty for putting him through all this. She wrapped her arms around him with remorse and said, "San'er, once we're done paying off the mortgage, you can buy whatever you want, go on any trip you like!"

"Sure, we'll go together then, with Han Han."

...

The two of them, envisioning a debt-free, lighthearted future, reached home without realizing it.

Xu Haoran's motorcycle was parked downstairs. When they went upstairs, they found Xu Haoran indeed sitting in the living room watching TV and chatting with Master Han.

"Brother Haoran, where's Sister-in-law and Junjun, why are you alone?"

"They went to the movies with your mom."

Only then did Han Yu notice that his mother-in-law and daughter were not at home. He put down his helmet and gloves, took off the military coat he wore while riding the motorcycle, and sat down to ask, "Dad, did you guys drink tonight?"

Master Han, holding a teacup, smiled and said, "Had a bit. Ge Diao and your Master's wife were here too; they just left before you guys came back."

"What's the occasion tonight?" Han Xiangning couldn't help but ask.

"Ge Diao reached a milestone today. Haoran and Xiao Qin wanted to celebrate it, but they were busy with work throughout the day and couldn't manage to make birthday noodles at lunch. So, your mom and I celebrated Ge Diao's milestone in the name of you and San'er, having birthday noodles for lunch and some drinks in the evening."

Crossing a milestone is a unique custom in Binjiang, analogous to celebrating a birthday but with special significance.

Older generations believe that the ages like 49, 69, and 79 are thresholds, and such birthdays shouldn't be celebrated at home. In the past, when families were bigger, it was usually daughters and sons-in-law who took parents home to celebrate birthdays, symbolically crossing these milestones and wishing for a long, healthy life afterward.

In short, although it's an 'unimportant birthday' to them, it's almost as significant as turning 50, 60, or 70.

Thinking about this, Han Yu frowned and asked, "I called home in the evening, why didn't you tell me earlier? I would have come home for dinner."