I drove to the street office in the ancient city and explained my purpose to the staff. The staff said that installing streetlights was not under their department's jurisdiction and told me to apply to the Ancient City Protection and Management Bureau.
After wandering around the ancient city for half an hour, I finally found the Ancient City Protection and Management Bureau. After asking around, I finally found out which department of their bureau was responsible for installing streetlights.
I explained my purpose again, and the staff member wearing glasses, while playing on his phone, said to me impatiently, "Your studio does not belong to the property management company of this commercial street, nor is it the developer of this commercial street, so you cannot be qualified to apply."
I patiently explained to her, “This commercial street has always been deserted, so there’s no property management at all… I want to install streetlights to liven up this commercial street, which seems like a good thing. Could you please make an exception and authorize our studio to do the lighting project for this street?”
"Are you kidding me? You think you can just circumvent these rules? ... Even if our leader came, the rules would still be rules."
"The developer has already left, and there's no property management anymore... So, can I understand that because you're blocking the way, this street will never have streetlights again?"
"Who's blocking you? It's the rule."
I smiled, then questioned, "Your regulations are designed to prevent these kinds of actions that contribute to public welfare? ...Am I the ridiculous one, or are your regulations the ridiculous one?"
The staff member put down his phone, looked at me with an unfriendly expression, and asked, "Are you here to cause trouble?"
"I'm here on business... Let me make a hypothetical scenario: Jiulongju is completely dark at night. If a high-ranking official were to accidentally fall inside... would you handle the matter or not?... I doubt your bureau would even need to tell you; you'd probably just cover the costs and handle it swiftly... But don't forget, the purpose of your organizations is to serve the people, not for leaders, much less for the privileged class... I'm here as a citizen, doing something that benefits everyone. Why are you using these regulations to make things difficult for me?... Aren't you putting the cart before the horse?"
The staff member was speechless for a moment, then angrily said to me, "Don't try to pin the blame on me. I didn't make these rules... I'm just doing my job. If you don't have anything else to do, don't waste time here. There are other people waiting to get things done!"
I didn't give up and insisted, "Whoever made this rule, I'll go find them, okay?"
"You think you can just see anyone you want... Don't interfere with our work here, or I'll call security."
Judging from her posture, she could call security to kick me out at any moment. I didn't want to make things too ugly before things were settled, so after much restraint, I walked out of the office myself.
...
I walked alone on the sun-dazzled street, but my heart couldn't find any light. Despite having been in close contact with society, I still felt suffocated. I didn't know why there were so many troubles and obstacles when I wanted to do something truly beneficial for myself and others... These so-called regulations are like impenetrable walls in some people's eyes, and also tools to make things difficult for others.
I'm feeling a bit negative. As a socially responsible citizen, I feel like I've suddenly lost my sense of participation in society.
...
Sitting on a bench in the ancient city street, I smoked a cigarette and lost myself in the sound of random footsteps. I didn't know what to do next, and eating and drinking became less important. So I would rather be hungry and thirsty than move an inch from this bench.
I don't know how long I sat there, but then I saw patrol officer Wang Xiaoling again... She glanced at me, and I glanced at her, but we didn't greet each other. The patrol car carrying her had already driven off to the next street.
I saw many strange people: a middle-aged man with long hair selling paintings on the street; a homeless man begging from tourists with a pack of stray dogs; and a few girls wearing miniskirts and smoking cigarettes, who were bickering and laughing all the way before stopping at a food stall, buying several skewers of pork kidneys, and eating them right away.
Overall, things are peaceful, and there is no conflict...
I let out a heavy breath, trying to change my perspective on the world and its countless rules... Perhaps the peace we enjoy now is simply a result of these rules, just like people. With more rules, there will inevitably be both good and bad people. So I have to learn to adapt and find a more tactful way to deal with these rules.
I felt better, so I left the bench and drove back to my apartment complex.
...
I took the basketball that Yang Sisi left behind after she ran away that morning to the basketball court. I shot hoops by myself, doing those long-forgotten techniques, sweating it out and releasing the pressure and unhappiness that had been building up in my heart until I was completely exhausted and lay on the basketball court like a piece of wood.
I took deep breaths, then searched for a strange sense of security in the space enclosed by the fence.
After catching my breath, I sat up, leaned against the railing behind the basketball hoop, wiped my sweat, took out my phone from my pocket, and called Sun Jiwei…
Honestly, I feel bad for bothering him so many times, but I'm not very good at dealing with government officials, so I sometimes really need his guidance. After all, he's part of the system himself, and he knows exactly what to do when ordinary people don't know how.
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