As soon as Li Baolong got home, he was bursting with energy, eagerly starting to pack his things, his mind only on moving tomorrow. He didn't have much stuff, just a few large boxes of clothes. As for his valuables, they were all neatly stored in that magical two-square-meter space. He didn't plan to leave out his cat and dog either; after all, they had lived together for almost a year and had developed a deep bond.
That evening, Li Baolong and Honghong talked on the phone for a full hour. Honghong was in Chongqing accompanying her sick mother for physiotherapy at the hospital and wouldn't be back for another two weeks. After hanging up, Li Baolong lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. He was filled with excitement and restlessness, his mind constantly imagining the scene of moving into his own house the next day.
The next morning, Li Baolong got up early and thoroughly cleaned the room inside and out. Although he was moving to a new home, he still felt a little reluctant to leave his old place. He called the landlord, politely explained the situation, and generously offered to waive the remaining three months' rent, letting the landlord find a new place to rent.
Li Baolong drove his car, humming a little tune, and carrying large and small bags, to his new apartment building on Tongzilin Road in Nanmen. He strode confidently into the elevator and went straight to the top floor.
The moment the door opened, the feeling was simply amazing! A spacious and bright living room came into view, with a high-end leather sofa, a gleaming marble coffee table, and a 29-inch color TV made in Japan—the setup was top-notch! Each of the three bedrooms had a large Simmons bed, which must have been incredibly comfortable. The study was equally impressive, with a computer desk and a bookshelf next to it, neatly arranged with the Four Great Classical Novels. Li Baolong looked around, nodding with satisfaction, feeling utterly delighted.
He strolled onto the spacious, bright balcony and took a deep breath; the air was so fresh. He couldn't help but think that practicing his Taoist arts here at night would definitely be a good choice. This house was such a worthwhile purchase!
Li Baolong turned around and went up to the eleventh floor. He opened the doors to the two small apartments and went inside to examine them closely. He thought to himself, "One of these apartments would be perfect for Jiang Xiaomei. I'll just leave the other one empty for now." Thinking this, he felt quite pleased with himself.
Then, Li Baolong went downstairs and headed straight for the nearby supermarket. Inside, he picked out a lot of famous cigarettes and liquors, and filled a large bag with snacks and fruit, thinking that he had to stuff the refrigerator in his new home to the brim.
After lunch, Li Baolong didn't rest. He quickly ordered some basic furniture and appliances for the two houses. This way, whoever moved in could simply bring their bags and move in, which would be very convenient. After everything was arranged, he sat on the sofa, imagining his new life in these houses, a satisfied smile on his face.
As night fell, Li Baolong began his leisurely evening in his new home. He bought some fragrant braised dishes and opened a bottle of red wine. He didn't know when it started, but ever since he and Honghong got together, he had gradually developed a liking for the taste of red wine, while his interest in baijiu (Chinese liquor) had waned. Li Baolong slowly ate the braised dishes and sipped his red wine, soon finishing his meal. He got up and quietly walked to the large balcony. Looking up, he saw a sky full of twinkling stars and a bright moon hanging high in the sky—a scene so beautiful it was intoxicating.
Li Baolong steadied himself and began chanting a Taoist incantation, repeating it forty-nine times. After finishing, he took a deep breath and tried to open his mental perception. At this moment, he clearly felt that he was already at the fourth level of perfection, just one opportunity away from breaking through to the fifth level. For the past few days, he had been trying, constantly thinking that if he could break through this level, he could improve his ability to manipulate time to ten minutes. At that time, no matter what happened, he would have enough ability to protect himself. Li Baolong stood on the balcony, gazing at the night sky, his heart filled with anticipation and longing for his breakthrough.
Two days later, Li Baolong was busy tidying up his house, adding household items, when his pager suddenly beeped. He picked it up and saw it was Xiaoyu calling. He quickly dialed back, and Xiaoyu's voice came through: "Is this Brother Baolong? This is Xiaoyu. I'd like to meet you, have a good chat, and talk about what's on my mind." Li Baolong replied, "Sure, wait for me in Longquanyi, I'll drive over to you."
Without a word, Li Baolong put down his work, left home, got into his Santana, and headed straight for Longquanyi District. The road conditions were pretty good, and he arrived at the agreed-upon location in half an hour. He immediately spotted Xiaoyu sitting alone on a stone bench by the roadside. Li Baolong honked the horn and called out, "Xiaoyu!" Hearing the voice, Xiaoyu turned around, saw Li Baolong, and immediately ran over, saying, "Brother Baolong, it really is you! Get in the car, I'll wait for you here, let's go into town for a meal." Xiaoyu got into the car, her face flushed, her eyes darting around, not daring to look Li Baolong in the eye.
As Li Baolong drove, he asked, "Little Yu, how is your mother?" This question immediately brought tears to Xiaoyu's eyes, and she burst into tears, sobbing, "My mother passed away before the Spring Festival. Now there's only my elderly father and my younger brother in middle school left." Li Baolong's heart sank. He quickly comforted her, "Don't cry, don't cry. You didn't even tell me. If I had known, I definitely would have gone to help you."
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