Li Baolong boarded a bus with a fare of only five yuan, heading from Jianzhou to Chengdu, the largest city in Sichuan. Outside the window, towering skyscrapers stood like giants, their densely packed buildings filling him with awe. This city was about to become his new stage for study and life, a brand new starting point in his life's journey.
Upon arriving in Chengdu, he wandered the streets alone, like a leaf drifting in the wind, stopping and starting, his eyes greedily scanning every corner of the city, trying to take in everything new and exciting. Afterwards, he took a bus to Western Jiaotong University, where he would soon be studying. The university was located at the city's north gate, its gate towering majestically. Since classes hadn't started yet, the campus was sparsely populated, exuding a tranquil atmosphere. Li Baolong strolled around the campus, carefully observing his surroundings, before finding a small hotel nearby.
This small inn was inexpensive, costing only ten yuan a night. Of course, the conditions were extremely basic, with only a narrow bed. The middle-aged owner chatted warmly with Li Baolong, telling him that the inn was always packed during the start of the school year because many college couples would stay there. "After all, they're all adults, and dating isn't illegal," the owner muttered to himself, a knowing smile playing on his lips. Li Baolong's lips curled into a knowing smile, then he turned and left, continuing his exploration of this unfamiliar yet captivating city.
Chengdu at night resembles a splendidly dressed dancer, displaying her charm on a stage where lights and darkness intertwine. The streets are brightly lit, teeming with people, and the cries of vendors rise and fall, weaving a unique symphony of everyday life. Outside the KTVs, handsome men and beautiful women chat and laugh merrily. Li Baolong, standing amidst this vibrant scene, suddenly feels out of place, a strong sense of alienation washing over him.
Back at the hotel, he was exhausted and fell into a deep sleep. The next day at noon, Li Baolong remembered his promise to his cousin and paged him, but received no response for a long time. Frustrated, he paged Sister Honghong. Ten minutes later, the phone rang; it was Sister Honghong, who warmly invited Li Baolong to her dance hall near the Baiguolin bus stop to the west. Without hesitation, Li Baolong immediately took a taxi there.
About a hundred meters from the bus stop, Li Baolong easily found the shop called "Qing Nong Dance Hall." The name intrigued him. Stepping into the dance hall, a tall, beautiful woman came into view—it was Sister Honghong. "Baolong, it's been months! You've matured even more, exuding a real manly charm," Sister Honghong said with a smile, giving Li Baolong a warm hug before looking him up and down. "You've grown quite a bit taller too; your physique now meets the aesthetic standards of most girls."
Sister Honghong led Li Baolong into a private room, explaining, "It's not open yet, so there aren't many people." Li Baolong, worried about his cousin, quickly asked, "Where's my cousin? Where did he go?" Sister Honghong's expression changed slightly, and she said angrily, "Don't mention him! It makes me so angry. A while ago, the dance hall business was doing a little better, and we made some money. Then he insisted on investing in a teahouse with a friend, but who knew there would be gambling inside? It got shut down by the police. It's only been open for a few months, and tens of thousands of yuan in rent and renovation costs have gone down the drain. He felt too ashamed to face me, so he and that friend went to Yunnan to do jade and gemstone business, saying they could make a fortune. It's been almost a month since they left, and they haven't even answered my pager once! It's infuriating!"
Li Baolong quickly comforted her, "Sister Honghong, don't get upset. I'm currently studying at university in Rongcheng, and I can come and help you at the shop on weekends whenever I have free time. I can serve you tea and water and keep things orderly." Upon hearing this, Sister Honghong's face lit up with joy, "That's wonderful! I've been hoping to have someone I know well come and help me." After saying that, Sister Honghong tried to pull Li Baolong to eat, and Li Baolong didn't refuse. The two of them enjoyed a pot of maocai (a type of Sichuan hot pot) nearby.
That evening, Li Baolong decided to stay and help Sister Honghong at the shop to see if he could adapt. It was the weekend, and the dance hall was exceptionally busy, soon packed with people. Tickets were five yuan each, dancing was two yuan a song, herbal tea was two yuan a cup, and Tianfu beer was three yuan a bottle. Li Baolong quickly memorized these prices and then busied himself among the crowd, serving beer and drinks with practiced ease, as if he were a natural member of the nightlife scene. Seeing this, Sister Honghong couldn't help but praise him, "Baolong, you're truly born for the nightlife business!" Li Baolong simply smiled modestly, but in his heart, he was pondering his future life in this city, a hint of anticipation and longing in his eyes.
Beneath the city's neon lights lies a dance hall, a place where many stories are hidden. Li Baolong first entered the world of dance halls two years ago through his cousin Huang Jian's introduction. Now that his cousin has left, he has coincidentally stayed on, becoming a weekend worker.
At one in the morning, the noise of the dance hall gradually subsided. Security guard Brother Wu, tall and straight, though retired, still exuded a heroic spirit, diligently checking every corner to ensure safety. Cleaning lady Aunt Sun, her face etched with the marks of time, silently swept away the trash on the floor, her movements practiced yet weary. Sister Zhang at the bar, her eyes bright, counted the drink sales; tonight's revenue was just enough to cover the dance hall's expenses. Everything was so ordinary and real.
Sister Honghong, the woman who runs the dance hall business, is charming yet shrewd and capable. After work, she and Li Baolong eat barbecue at a roadside stall, where she explains the dance hall to him like family. When she suggests that Li Baolong work part-time on weekends—three nights a week for 200 yuan, 800 yuan a month—Li Baolong can hardly believe his good fortune and immediately raises a glass to thank her. Keep in mind that the average person only earns 700 or 800 yuan a month working a regular job.
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