Putting aside my sadness, I said to Ye Zhi, "Let's go upstairs and see Coach Ma and Bai Lu off together."
What happened to them?
"Bai Lu divorced her scumbag ex... She didn't even ask for custody of the children, all so she could be with Coach Ma." After a slight pause, I continued, "It sounds like Bai Lu is being a bit irresponsible, but as someone who knows the situation, I can understand her..."
"From what you've said, it sounds like a very tragic experience."
"Yes, the divorce is not a result between Bai Lu and Coach Ma, but a beginning..."
Ye Zhi is a very smart woman. She immediately grasped the key point and said to me, "But this beginning is not so beautiful. They have to endure the strange looks from others and moral condemnation, so they left Dali to avoid these things."
I nodded and replied, "Everyone wants to live a happier life... It's just that they're gone, leaving us behind, which is quite sad!"
Ye Zhi didn't speak. Her mind was too focused on business, so she probably didn't understand the genuine camaraderie that developed while navigating the underworld. For those of us who didn't leave, losing Coach Ma and Bai Lu was like losing two family members we spent every day with.
I climbed ashore before Ye Zhi, and then reached out my hand to her again. This time she didn't refuse. I pulled her out of the water with all my might, and we put on our clothes and went back to the inn...
...
Taozi and Tienan were both in the inn. They seemed very silent, probably already knowing about Bai Lu and Coach Ma's decision to leave.
After Ye Zhi and I went back to our room to change, we joined them. Coach Ma handed me a cigarette and then said, "Michael, there's something else I'd like to ask you for a favor..."
"you say."
"Bai Lu also has a bar in the ancient city. We don't have time to wait here to sell it, so we'd like you to help us sell it."
How much money are you planning to transfer?
Coach Ma glanced at Bai Lu, who was clearly still reeling from the sudden turn of events. After a moment of stunned silence, she replied, "300,000, including a year's rent... It's okay if it's a little lower, but don't go below 200,000."
“This is easy. You leave an account number, and I’ll transfer the money to you once the bar is sold.”
Bai Lu shook her head and replied, "You all should keep this money... Since the inn was demolished, we won't receive any compensation for the renovations anytime soon. You've given all the money to us and Zhao Jing, but you should also keep some for yourselves, maybe for starting a business or something..."
"When you get to a new place, you won't know anyone, and you'll need money everywhere. It won't hurt to bring more money."
Bai Lu still refused: "Xiao Ma and I don't plan to do business for the time being. The money you gave us is enough... You are the ones who will really need to spend money in the future, so you must keep the money from the transfer of the bar."
At this moment, Ye Zhi, who had been silent until now, suddenly asked Bai Lu, "Where is your bar located?"
Bai Lu glanced at her with a hint of surprise, but still replied, "It's on a street behind Honglongjing. The location is a bit out of the way, but it has its own regular customer base."
"Can it be profitable?"
"I don't earn much, maybe around 100,000 a year."
Ye Zhi nodded, and after a brief silence, she said, "Transfer this bar to me... I'm willing to take it over for 300,000."
Bai Lu looked surprised, then glanced at me, unsure of what to do. I wasn't stupid; I knew Ye Zhi's purpose. She just wanted to compensate our inn in a different way... because she was not someone who would look down on a small bar like this.
I wiped my face with my hand, and after a moment of hesitation, I replied, "I know you feel guilty towards this inn and towards us... but there's really no need to make amends in this way, because it feels a bit like charity..."
Ye Zhi, unusually, interrupted me and said, "Before you finish saying all this, let me ask you a question... If I don't take over this bar, will someone else?"
I hesitated for a moment before replying, "...The bar has a good location and can make some money, so someone should be willing to take it over."
Ye Zhi's expression was a little unpleasant. She said to me in a low voice, "Then tell me, what's the basis for my charity?... I know you have pride, but excessively using that pride to judge others is a sign of narrow-mindedness... You really need to change that!"
I replied rather seriously, "Does such a small bar really meet your standards?"
I only got halfway through my sentence when Tie Nan, who had been standing idly by without saying a word, suddenly became unhappy. He first pushed me away, then said to Ye Zhi with a fawning smile, "Just pretend Michael just farted, don't be angry... I've made the decision for Bai Lu, the transfer is to you for 300,000... But... when will the money arrive?"
"Once the contract is signed, it can be done anytime."
Tie Nan nodded with satisfaction, then asked Bai Lu, "Do you have the contract with you...? Why don't we sign it now?"
"It's so rushed, there's no time to prepare a contract... If Ye Zhi really wants to take over this bar, she can discuss the contract details with Michael. Once the contract is ready, just send it to me for my signature."
After Bai Lu finished speaking, she looked at Ye Zhi, who indicated that there was no problem. Bai Lu then turned her gaze to me... but I felt a little awkward.
At this moment, Tie Nan leaned close to my ear and whispered in a mocking tone, "A person like you deserves to be single... Why would someone take this job at a bar? Isn't it just so they'd have an excuse to come to Dali more often?... I'm asking you, what do you need to say to understand this situation?"
I was a little taken aback. Everyone's eyes were now on me, as if I were the one most clueless in the game. But my resolve wasn't broken. I firmly believed Ye Zhi didn't think that way. If she really wanted an excuse to come to Dali, why go through all the trouble of taking on this small bar? She'd invested in such a huge project in Dali; surely she could find an excuse to come here within that project?
Before I could even voice my objection, everyone had already confirmed that Ye Zhi would be taking over the bar… And the next moment, Coach Ma went back to his room to pack his luggage, and I started to feel uneasy again…
I swallowed hard, then stared at Bai Lu, who was still sitting in the bar, speechless...
A thought gradually popped into my mind: they're gone, and winter in Dali must be even colder!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
