It only took me fifteen minutes to pack my luggage for Shanghai, and then I had nothing to do. This kind of idleness is very unsettling because you have absolutely no idea what to do to pass the time.

Around nine o'clock, I received a WeChat message from Nicole; she asked me to come to the "Woman Flower" bar because she had already set the date for the bar to reopen, which was the day after tomorrow.

This was a very important matter to me, so I immediately put on my coat and went to the "Red Dragon Well" bar street where "Women's Flower" was located.

On the way, I squeezed through the crowds to call Bai Lu. I believe she would be very happy to hear that "Women's Flower" had reopened.

About ten seconds after I dialed, Bai Lu answered. She smiled and asked me, "Why did you suddenly decide to call me today?"

"We're all family, it's good to care about each other. You don't need to be so surprised."

“I’m really surprised… I remember you haven’t contacted me since I left Dali.”

"You've been in constant contact with Coach Ma... You two are as close as one person, it doesn't matter who you contact."

Bai Lu smiled again: "I never realized you were so good at talking... Did Dali hone your skills?"

"It's as if there are many bad people in Dali. I have to say something nice so that I won't be bullied."

"You know what... being able to talk is also a form of self-protection."

I smiled and said, "Since you think so highly of me, I'll accept it without being modest. After all, everyone needs to improve... By the way, how have you and Coach Ma been doing lately?"

"It's great... He sings in bars, and I run a yoga training class, teaching people yoga every day."

"You two sound like a perfect couple, but don't you plan to settle down there?"

“No, we’ve always been renting…” After a slight pause, Bai Lu continued, “I can tell that Xiao Ma still wants to go back to Dali. We do have some spare money, but he never mentions finding a stable business to do, let alone buying a house.”

"Maybe he's a sentimental person..."

I smiled and said, "As a friend, I welcome you back to Dali with open arms... By the way, I called you to tell you that the Women's Flower Bar will reopen the day after tomorrow... It's currently being managed by a female friend of mine who sings. She's very confident and says it will definitely be even more lively than before."

Bai Lu was pleasantly surprised: "Really?"

"Absolutely true."

"I'll definitely post this on my WeChat Moments later to share this good news with my old customers."

"Okay... Tell them that all the beer is free when they come to play the day after tomorrow."

"Free beer?...Aren't you seriously underestimating their drinking capacity!"

“They all love going to bars, so their alcohol tolerance is definitely not bad… But it’s okay, I’ll have Lao Yu (a friend who’s in the tobacco and alcohol wholesale business) send over a hundred cases of beer. You can let them drink as much as they want, and you have to get the atmosphere going.”

"You really are generous!"

"Just hoping for a good start."

"Okay, I'll add the free beer part too."

"It's done!"

After saying all that, Bai Lu on the other end of the phone was silent for a moment before saying to me, "Michael, next week, Xiao Ma and I are planning to go back to Dali... Xiao Ma wants to see Tie Nan, and I'm also worried about Tao Zi... We're both quite sad. How could such a good person do something like this?!"

I sighed, and after habitually lighting a cigarette, I replied, "Tie Nan's personality is too radical, and he acts impulsively. As a friend, I can only say it's a pity what he did!"

Didn't you try to persuade him before?

"I've tried to persuade him... but he just won't appreciate my good intentions. I'm quite frustrated. Why has there become so much distrust between us?"

"Maybe the relationship isn't that close yet."

I was struck dumb by Bai Lu's words, and it took me a while to recover. When I finally came to my senses, I replied with some sadness, "You're being fair... If it were Coach Ma who was advising him, he might have listened to you."

“Michael, you misunderstood me. I said this because I felt that Tie Nan’s matter had nothing to do with you, and I hoped that you wouldn’t feel too burdened… We are all adults, and the ability to distinguish right from wrong is a basic skill. Tie Nan was wrong, and he should bear the consequences of his mistakes… There’s nothing more to say.”

"Thank you for understanding me so much."

"We're all on the same side, no need to be so polite..."

I smiled and replied, "Well, we're family, so there's no need to stand on ceremony... I won't say any more to you here. Once you and Coach Ma return to Dali, I'll treat you to a proper meal."

"See you in Dali then."

...

After ending the call with Bai Lu, I finally felt a little relieved and quickened my pace towards the "Woman Flower" bar. I had thought Nicole had only called me, but the bar was already quite crowded.

Nicole told me that these people were friends she met in Dali, and three of them, like her, made a living by performing in bars. She called me over to talk about their singing at our bar.

After I sat down, Nicole brought me a bottle of beer and then asked, "What do you think of my idea of ​​hiring all female singers?"

Are there any bars in the old city that are staffed entirely by women?

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