Nie Zhao breathed a sigh of relief and finally asked the complete question that had been on his mind for a long time.
He began by saying, “For example, the mainland government’s close attention and the mainland people’s special regard and love for Hong Kong, just like our love for Ah Yuan. These two kinds of love are intertwined, which is why you came to my side and have stayed for so many years. Congratulations, Ah Rou, today, your mission is finally complete. You may find it ridiculous to say this, but isn’t it really a dream, a dream based on your beliefs?”
...
As husband and wife, and their closest confidante, Chen Rou could sense Nie Zhao's panic and confusion.
But in reality, she is just like him; she also experiences fear when facing the unknown. She also feels panic and confusion.
In her two previous lives, totaling more than forty years, she had never shared her joy with anyone, nor had she confided her confusion to anyone, nor had she sought help from others or hoped that others could give her anything.
That habit was something she developed when she was a teenager, after Yue Zhongqi first found her, pointed his finger at her nose, and ordered her to repeatedly recite the cryptic phrase, "There has never been a savior."
She still firmly believes that there is no savior and she never seeks salvation from external sources.
But today, she is going to share her feelings with Nie Zhao.
At this moment, the convoy is descending Victoria Peak, and by turning their heads, they can enjoy a panoramic view of all the brightly lit buildings in Central.
You can also see the dazzling light show in Victoria Harbour, as well as fireworks that occasionally rise into the sky from Kowloon.
As far as the eye can see, lights are everywhere, colorful and vibrant. The lights outline the skyscrapers and the outline of the entire city. The sea is illuminated by the lights, and the reflections cast in the water make it seem as if there is a city in the water.
Having witnessed it firsthand tonight and been there in person, Chen Rou finally understood why it is the brightest pearl in the East.
As a mainland Chinese, an ordinary mainland Chinese, Chen Rou also wanted Nie Zhao, a native of Hong Kong, to understand why she, a mainland Chinese, had a special and extraordinary love for it.
After all, that's a question that most Hong Kong people have: why do mainlanders like their Hong Kong?
She began by saying, “When I was in first grade, there was a little poem that I still remember to this day. It was called ‘Spring is Coming.’ It said that in the Greater Khingan Mountains, snowflakes were still falling, on both banks of the Yangtze River, willows had already sprouted, and on Hainan Island, flowers were blooming everywhere… At that time, I thought, ‘Oh, this is my country. I love the snowflakes in the Greater Khingan Mountains, I love the willows on the banks of the Yangtze River, and I am even more curious about Hainan Island, which is full of flowers, and Hong Kong is the same.’”
By this time, the car had descended the mountain, and there were more pedestrians on the road, so the car was moving slower.
Looking out the window, Chen Rou continued, "Hong Kong isn't as special to me or most people as you imagine. Just like I love its prosperity, I also love the vastness of the Northwest desert and Gobi. And if there's anything I can do to make the lives of my compatriots in the Northwest desert and Gobi better, I will do it. Just like how, with global desertification becoming increasingly serious now, and into the future, our Northwest desert and Gobi will not only stop expanding and encroaching on arable land, but will also shrink day by day."
Mr. Nie also has his limitations, and in his mind, desertification is irreversible.
But the broader a person's knowledge base, the less likely they are to question others, so he only asks, "Why?"
Why is it that people from mainland China can manage deserts when no one else in the world can?
The country had not yet begun to advocate for the development of the western region, and Boss Nie had never been to the Northwest, so he did not understand it.
Chen Rou said with a smile: "Because, just like I spent ten years in Hong Kong doing only one thing, there are many people who stay deep in the desert and spend their whole lives doing only one thing, which is to control the desert and fight against it."
Furthermore, "Hong Kong is wonderful and unique, but it's not the only place. I love the deserts of Northwest China and the primeval forests of Northeast China; to me, they are all the same."
Nie Zhao was stunned by his wife's words. He remained speechless for a long time before asking a naive question: "Those who fight against the desert, are they sure they will succeed? Aren't they lonely? Are they sure they aren't also sacrificing themselves?"
Living in a desolate desert, fighting against it, aren't you lonely and yearning for prosperity?
Why would someone sacrifice their prime years to do such a thing?
Others would not only not believe it, but would also loudly proclaim, "You're lying! That's impossible!"
Nie Zhao also had that doubt for a moment, which is why he raised the question.
But he immediately understood that someone like Chen Rou could adapt to and cope with the hustle and bustle, and also endure loneliness.
Most mainlanders, like her, love Hong Kong and its prosperity.
But they also love the desert, and its desolation.
Their love for Hong Kong doesn't stem from how great Hong Kong is.
Rather, we are compatriots, of the same ethnicity, living on the same land.
Even Nie Zhao found it hard to understand, let alone most Hong Kong people.
But that's okay. Prejudice will always exist, and time is the only cure. We should just let nature take its course.
After explaining the issue, Chen Rou grasped Nie Zhao's hand in return, hesitated for a moment, and suddenly said, "Actually, I'm also a little flustered, no, I should say very flustered. I feel uncertain, empty, and uncomfortable."
His wife actually panicked too?
Why, and why was she confused? Did she think it was all a dream?
The madness of the rational, the calmness of the irritable, and the passion of the Buddhist are all natural charms.
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