However, it should be noted that Mrs. Thompson is a child of the 70s. Her generation has experienced several unspeakable events in China, with both good and bad accompanying their growth, making their life experiences exceptionally rich.
It's precisely because they have gone through certain events that they, and the previous generation, tend to speak ambiguously and never take a clear stance. As a result, they naturally learned to deduce the underlying messages from others' words.
Just like when Zachary said so much, but after Mrs. Thompson simplified it, the message that came across was: one could go to Magic City, but it would cost a great deal, and even upon arriving there, it's not certain that the cousin could be found. Therefore, Zachary did not recommend going there to look for the cousin right now.