Chapter 50 Goodbye

In the evening, the Drum Tower was bathed in the setting sun. Occasionally, a crow flew by the vermilion wall, its unpleasant caws mingling with the laughter and chatter of the tourists, creating an unbearable cacophony. Ge Lin hadn't been here in a long time. It felt as if she hadn't truly savored Beijing's scenery in all those years.

Ge Lin stood beneath an old roadside tree, watching Zhang Haiming nearby. He crouched on the stone steps, tinkering with his camera, polishing the lens repeatedly. He would glance up whenever a tourist inquired about the price. His handsome, warm smile always stopped people in their tracks. The wind blew a few dead leaves onto his shoulders, which he casually brushed aside, directing a group of elderly couples in poses, capturing the sunset's love in his camera.

Seeing that there were no more tourists, Ge Lin walked towards him and said, "Take a picture for me."

Zhang Haiming looked up suddenly, and the lens cloth in his hand almost fell to the ground. When he saw that it was Ge Lin, his eyes lit up instantly, the corners of his mouth curled up quickly, and he touched his hair a little awkwardly: "It's you!"

After they parted at his house that morning, he tried to keep her for a long time. He thought that as long as he used some tricks as before, Ge Lin would definitely come back to him again. But this time Ge Lin refused. She would not waste herself on the elusive pie of love.

"Go stand over there," Zhang Haiming quickly pulled out his camera and pulled a candied haws figurine from his canvas bag, pressing it into Ge Lin's hand. "Take this, it's pretty." The foam candied haws figurine was light, as light as the ten years between them, cheap and gaudy.

Ge Lin pinched the fake candied haws but didn't move. She looked at him and said softly, "Let's take a picture together."

Zhang Haiming was stunned for two seconds, then he reacted and the smile on his face became even wider. He quickly turned around and grabbed a big brother next to him, handed him the camera, and said with a flattering tone: "Big brother, please take a picture for us, and you can charge us according to your price."

The two stood side by side at the foot of the Drum Tower. Zhang Haiming's hand gently clasped Ge Lin's shoulders. His fingertips were a little cold, and when they touched her down jacket, Ge Lin's shoulders stiffened almost imperceptibly. "Smile," the older man holding the camera reminded her. The moment the shutter was pressed, Ge Lin's mouth twitched, but Zhang Haiming's smile was bright, as if the light that had been accumulated for a long time was concentrated in that moment.

As soon as the photos were taken, Zhang Haiming couldn't wait to take the camera and look through the photos. He couldn't hide his anticipation in his voice and asked cautiously: "Are you going to move back here?" He leaned forward and stared at Ge Lin.

Ge Lin's gaze shifted from the photo to the setting sun in the distance. Her tone was as calm as if she was talking about something that had nothing to do with her: "I'm going back to my hometown, Zhang Haiming. I'm here to say goodbye to you. We may never see each other again in this life."

"Why are you leaving?" Zhang Haiming's voice suddenly rose, his camera shaking. "Ge Lin, can you stay for me? I'm almost successful. I said I'd marry you when I succeed." His disbelief was so blunt and loud that the tourists taking photos turned their heads and whispered to each other, and the lively atmosphere seemed to freeze in an instant.

Ge Lin looked at Zhang Haiming. There was no hatred in her eyes, only tired sarcasm. "I'm tired. I've been chasing you for ten years, and I've heard your lies for ten years. They're no longer fresh. Zhang Haiming, you may not be able to live well without me, but I will definitely live better without you."

After saying this, she didn't look at Zhang Haiming's face again, but turned and walked into the crowd. The crowd of people obscured and revealed her back, but Ge Lin didn't stop and soon melted into the twilight.

Zhang Haiming stood there, his hand still in mid-air, trying to grasp something, but all he caught was a cool breeze blowing across his fingertips. It was completely dark, the streetlights still dark, and the Drum Tower in the distance was only a vague outline.

He looked down at the photo in his camera. The two of them were standing in the warm light, their smiles so perfect. But now he was alone, standing in front of the empty Drum Tower. Suddenly, the sound of a distant sightseeing bus arriving at its stop carried over the wind, sharp and fleeting, like those unspoken requests to stay.

Love doesn't have a time lag; all it has is the regret of those with vested interests. It wasn't until Ge Lin's figure completely disappeared into the night that Zhang Haiming felt his eyes tighten, and true regret washed over him. But this regret came too late, so late that even the wind couldn't take away his loneliness.

He Xiaolan brought Qin Tiantian and Hua Hudie to Wang Qingwei's company again. He Xiaolan first placed the evidence on the table. "Mr. Li, this is Wang Qingwei's medical certificate and labor contract. He is still within his six-month medical leave. Your dismissal is illegal according to Article 42 of the Labor Contract Law. The statutory compensation is 10 months' salary. In addition, we have testimony from your company's employees, proving that he has been working excessive overtime for a long time. If this is discovered by the labor inspection, not only will you have to pay overtime pay, but you will also be fined."

Mr. Li's face darkened and he asked, "Who is spreading rumors outside?"

Hua Hudie smiled and said, "Mr. Li, we're all in business, and we know how valuable our reputation is. I have a few friends who run public accounts for Beijing workplaces. They were planning to do a special feature on 'Enterprise Employment Compliance' and mentioned your company. I even tried to get them to stop it for you."

Mr. Li stared at the evidence on the table, then listened to their conversation, his fingers tapping unconsciously a few times. He wasn't inexperienced in calculating the costs. If the arbitration was successful, not only would he have to pay approximately 150,000 yuan in compensation, but if negative news got out during the arbitration, his new project might fall through.

"Director He, I know we're in the wrong here. So, how about giving Engineer Wang seven months' salary as compensation, about 100,000 yuan? What do you think? Let's both take a step back and show some understanding.

He Xiaolan didn't argue any further and agreed to Mr. Li's proposal. Although she would get less money than through arbitration, there was no need to waste time. After all, her family was in urgent need of money, so the sooner she could get it, the better. After leaving Wang Qingwei's company, the three of them stood in the cold wind, letting it buffet them.

Qin Tiantian looked at the gray sky and pretended to be relaxed. "I've bought my plane ticket. I'm leaving next week. You guys should take good care of yourselves."

Qin Tiantian's words were like a key, suddenly unlocking the door to memories. In the late summer of 2005, He Xiaolan had just dragged her old suitcase into the dormitory when the wheels snapped off, sending the clothes and books inside spilling onto the floor, even exposing the floral sheets she'd saved up for six months. She was squatting on the ground, bewildered, when a girl with a high ponytail approached, holding a tissue. "My name is Qin Tiantian, what's yours?"

"He Xiaolan." She answered softly, her face flushed. He Xiaolan always felt that her name was very rustic, and no matter who asked, she was always embarrassed to say it.

"Xiao Lan, what a nice name!" Qin Tiantian squatted down to help her pick up the clothes, "Do you see Conan? You are Xiao Lan's sister, so you have to protect me in the future."

Nineteen years had passed since they'd said this. From sharing bunk beds in a university dormitory, to squeezing into a shared apartment near the North Fifth Ring Road after graduation, from Qin Tiantian being a bridesmaid at He Xiaolan's wedding, to later meeting Hua Hudie together, and the two of them crying together the night Hua Hudie was cheated on.

During those years, they were like three trees leaning against each other, relying on each other's roots to walk through difficult roads time and time again. When Yueyue was sick and had no one to accompany her, it was Qin Tiantian who rushed back from out of town to watch over them. When Huadie Beauty Salon was reported, it was Qin Tiantian who asked a lawyer friend to help sort out the paperwork. When Qin Tiantian was heartbroken, it was He Xiaolan and Huadie who took her to KTV to sing all night.

Qin Tiantian bought a ticket for an early flight. It was barely dawn, and the airport highway wasn't busy. "What I Miss" played on the stereo, a gentle yet unpleasant tune. Hua Hudie tightened her grip on the steering wheel, saying nothing, only occasionally glancing in the rearview mirror at the back seat.

He Xiaolan leaned on Qin Tiantian's shoulder, tears falling without stopping, wetting Qin Tiantian's coat, "You said that I can't get used to you leaving. We have been together longer than I have known Wang Qingwei. What should I do in the future?"

Qin Tiantian was amused by her. She took out a tissue from her bag and gently wiped He Xiaolan's tears. Her tone was still as optimistic as before, "Oh, I'm going abroad to work, not to go to jail. I have vacation time. Besides, my parents are still detained in the country. I will definitely come back from time to time."

"Xiaolan, don't be sad." Hua Hudie finally spoke, her voice a little hoarse, "Teacher Qin is gone, but I, Old Song, am still here. If no one picks up Yueyue from your house in the future, I will go. If Wang Qingwei dares to make you angry again, I will scold him for you. I can do anything for you, don't worry." She said she was strong, but her eyes were secretly red.

Qin Tiantian dragged her suitcase and walked a few steps outside. She then turned back and hugged Hua Hudie, then He Xiaolan, tightly, as if to hold all the warmth of the past nineteen years in her arms. "Let's go," she waved, turned around and walked into the security checkpoint, not looking back, afraid that if she did, she would be reluctant to leave.

He Xiaolan and Butterfly stood there, watching her figure gradually get smaller until she disappeared into the crowd. When they got back into the car and just pulled out of the parking lot, a plane flew overhead, its engine rumbling and leaving a white streak in the pale blue sky. He Xiaolan quickly rolled down the window, letting the wind in, carrying a hint of the airport air, the smell of parting couldn't dispel the moisture in her eyes. "Do you think Qin Tiantian will miss us?"

The wind still carries the unfinished song from the car stereo, "What I miss is talking about everything, what I miss is dreaming together." The morning sunshine brings a lot of hope, like the summer in the dormitory nineteen years ago, and like the many days they will walk together in the future.

After Qin Tiantian left, Wang Qingwei's follow-up examination showed no other problems, and he was discharged smoothly. He Xiaolan went to the hospital to pick him up. The two of them didn't speak in the car for a long time. After a long time, He Xiaolan told Wang Qingwei about the recent events one by one: Qin Tiantian went to Italy, she was unemployed, and Wang Qingwei was laid off again.

The lucky chocolate is always the next one, and they still keep looking for the next lucky one.

Wang Qingwei, who escaped death, has become more open-minded about many things. Even though he is unemployed again, even though He Xiaolan has lost her job, even though they are about to lose everything, they are still alive and can start over again.

But at their age, finding a suitable job is practically impossible. He Xiaolan and Wang Qingwei would submit their resumes every day, but nothing came back. Their savings were dwindling, and their house, which they had put up for sale, had received no inquiries.

The two hadn't eaten out together for a long time, and they were still a little uncomfortable sitting at the Northwest Restaurant outside the community gate. Hua Hudie had invited He Xiaolan to be the store manager several times, but He Xiaolan refused every time. Talking about gossip was fine, but talking about work really hurt feelings.

He Xiaolan knew that Wang Qingwei had something to say to her, "Wang Qingwei, you are just wasting time. What's the situation now? Just tell us what you want to say."

"There is no progress on the house yet. Next month, we won't be able to pay off the mortgage. The money we have left is enough to pay for the house in Tianjin."

"What do you mean".

"If you can't pay it back, you will be overdue. If you become a deadbeat, it will affect Yueyue's future life."

The food was served on the table one after another, but it became less tempting. He Xiaolan looked at the big plate of chicken in front of her, which seemed as dark as her helpless life.

"Are you saying we should get a divorce? Is there no other way?" He Xiaolan said calmly. She felt that this was just a joke. How could it come to the point of divorce when there was no grudge between her and Wang Qingwei in the past or present?

"Xiaolan, I'm not kidding you. Let's go and complete all the procedures in the next few days. I will transfer the house in Beijing to my name and wait for it to be auctioned off by the court."

"Wang Qingwei, I think you are kidding me. Really, if you want to divorce me, you can find any reason, but this reason is not enough."

The restaurant was very noisy. They didn't even prepare any special ceremony. They just discussed the important events in their lives in this ordinary restaurant, like the beginning of their marriage. They didn't make any preparations either. They became a family in a confused way, and now they chose to separate in a confused way.

Wang Qingwei transferred all his money to He Xiaolan and said, "Don't tell my parents first. We are not really getting divorced because of relationship discord."

Wang Qingwei held He Xiaolan in his arms. Her body was soft and lifeless, without any reaction, just like countless nights before, calm and without ripples. The drafted divorce agreement was there, and the eight-year marriage was about to end, but the love did not stop.

On the day they went to get the divorce certificate, it was Hua Hudie who accompanied He Xiaolan. Hua Hudie took a photo of Wang Qingwei and He Xiaolan in front of the Civil Affairs Bureau. They were not sad, but they had to make this choice for the sake of their lives and their children's future.

"Do you think you and Wang Qingwei can remarry in the future? Wait until all these things are over."

"I don't know, maybe it's really over."

He Xiaolan moved to Tianjin, driving south, further and further towards her dream. Beijing was the ideal place where all her desires were piled up, where she wanted her life to be more prosperous. But now, her dreams had turned to dust, blown away by the wind as the wheels of her car rolled.

Yueyue fell asleep. He Xiaolan sat next to Ms. Zhang Xinrong and didn't speak for a long time. The tears in her eyes had dried up, and she only said the word "Mom" in a hoarse voice.

"You are my daughter. No matter what, you are my daughter and a child that makes me proud."

Later, they continued to struggle for their lives. He Xiaolan found a subsistence job at a small business in Tianjin. Although money was sometimes tight, it gave her more time to accompany Yueyue's growth. Wang Qingwei sorted items at the Little Elephant Supermarket during the day and shared a Didi ride with others at night, working even harder for Yueyue's future.

Qin Tiantian's work in Italy went smoothly, but she often lost her wallet and phone. Every time she called He Xiaolan, she cursed the thieves. Hua Hudie also ran her own beauty salon, which was booming. Qian Helin went to Canada, saying he could find his soul there. Hua Hudie complained that he was just rich because his family was rich.

Ge Lin passed the county job exam. Her work wasn't easy, but she no longer had to worry about being laid off. She recently went on a blind date with a young policeman who seemed nice, reliable, and down-to-earth. Jiang Wei had been married and divorced, and now she seemed to have found the next step.

Beijing is the capital, the heart of the world. It holds fame, wealth, promise, and also failure. For He Xiaolan and others, it's someone else's city. Here, they are rootless drifters, desperate workers constantly striving to build a foundation with money. The fire of hope ignites their ideals, only to be extinguished by reality. Staying is a matter of hope; leaving is a matter of helplessness.

For the "butterflies," Beijing is a home they want to leave but can't. The beginning of 110 is both support and bondage. The high city walls are a driving force for others, but for them, it's another story.

End of article