After dinner, everyone suggested taking a walk. It was only half an hour on foot back to the Siheyuan Courtyard.
They had eaten and drunk their fill, so it was a good chance to walk off the meal.
It was not yet seven, and the streetlights were blazing while traffic was still heavy.
Capital City's nightscape in the eighties was nowhere near as impressive as it would be in modern times.
But for the people Yu Zhengyang had brought with him, it was still full of novelty.
"You know, I used to think Rong City was a big city! But now that I'm in Capital City, I realize my imagination wasn't nearly good enough!"
"Of course! This is the capital! Naturally, it's different!"
"Hey! When we have a day off, let's go see Tiananmen together! I want to get my picture taken there! My dad's lifelong dream is to see Tiananmen just once! I never thought I'd actually make it here myself!"
"I'm going too! I'll come with you!"
"Me too! Me too!"
"Count me in!"
Song Ning followed quietly behind them, pulling her scarf closer around her.
The night wind felt cold against her face, but it was not quite biting.
The weather forecast had predicted snow over the next couple of days. She wondered whether forecasts in this era were accurate.
Tang Wei had not come that evening, and Han Xiao walked behind her.
For no particular reason, Song Ning suddenly asked, "Han Xiao! Can ordinary people go up onto the Tiananmen Gate Tower?"
"No way!"
Han Xiao answered immediately, "You can walk around the square and cross the Silver Water Bridge, but access to the gate tower is strictly controlled! Only national leaders and representatives invited to major celebrations can go up, and even then they