I kept talking like this the whole way, while Nicole listened silently and hardly said a word... Actually, I really hoped she would refute me, because I also saw the negative side in my own words.
I keep saying I should cherish everything I have now, but when I think about the past two weeks in the detention center, my heart suddenly turns gloomy... I can't forget Zhou San's cowardice, nor can I forget the pain of losing my freedom.
I would have wild thoughts, and I would inexplicably think of Tie Nan, who is currently serving his sentence. I was only in there for half a month, and I was already like this. How will he, who was sentenced to several years, get through this period?
I wish there was someone who could sort out my current feelings... Connie obviously doesn't have that ability.
...
In a bathhouse near the ancient city, I took a good bath, then threw away the clothes I was wearing before and changed into a brand new set of clothes.
I canceled my lunch appointment and rescheduled it for the evening, then went to Erhai Lake alone...
Before going, I didn't expect to have such patience. I sat there from noon until dusk without getting tired of it at all... I think I must be someone who values inner feelings more than form, so I prefer to be alone and reflect...
...
As dusk approached, I met up with Xiao Song from the car dealership by Erhai Lake. I wanted to talk to him the most because he was the only one among all my friends who had firsthand access to all the latest news and information about Dali.
Xiao Song has been doing well lately and has already bought a BMW 3 Series as his car. He first parked the car on the shore and then sat down on the rocks next to me. He handed me a cigarette, a soft Zhonghua brand, which startled me so much that I didn't dare to take it right away. In the detention center, smoking a five-yuan pack of cigarettes is a luxury.
I finally took the cigarette from Xiao Song's hand, then smiled and said to him, "I was scared by this cigarette!"
"It can't be that bad."
I lit a cigarette and took a satisfying drag.
After smoking half a cigarette, he finally spoke to Xiao Song, "I've been back in Dali for quite a while now, and I'm looking for some business opportunities that have a good chance of success. Do you have any good suggestions?"
"Brother Mi, you're not kidding me, doing business is your forte!"
I shook my head and laughed, "No clue, really no clue... I'm not lying to you, I've never been so confused about making money before!"
"Sigh... If it weren't for those damn real estate agents, Jiulongju's business could have really grown so big!"
After a brief pause, Xiao Song continued, "To be honest, business is tough these days... The government hasn't provided a clear policy or plan yet. They only talk about protecting Erhai Lake, but they don't tell outside investors how to operate a guesthouse in a compliant and legal manner... Just last month, they targeted those running guesthouses in the villa area, and many were shut down... Think about it, even running a guesthouse can be shut down by the government now, let alone a regular guesthouse... But in Dali, what else can you do besides run a guesthouse or a bar?"
"Is this an attempt to drive out outsiders?"
"Well, how should I put it... people like you, who aren't the type of people from out of town they like... but people like your ex-girlfriend, they really like."
With a strong feeling, I replied, "Yes... No matter the era, capital is king... I've come to understand that in the process of a city's development, there will always be some people who have to sacrifice... So, you just hit the nail on the head. We've already lost money in the bar business, we don't dare to run an inn, and we can't find another place like Jiulongju... So what else can we do?"
Xiao Song pursed his lips, indicating that it was difficult.
After a moment of silence, I spoke to Xiao Song again: "Since the general environment doesn't give us a way out, I'll forge my own path... You must often deal with the local food delivery industry, right?... Could you help me find a food delivery job?"
"Brother Mi... what do you mean? I don't quite understand?"
“I want to deliver food. I feel that only this profession can truly connect me with people from all walks of life in Dali, and market demand is hidden among the people… I’ve figured it out. This time, I won’t talk about personality or sentimentality when starting a business. I will give the market whatever it needs.”
After saying that, I took a deep drag of my cigarette and looked back at the cultural tourism complex built by Binjiang Group on the shore of Erhai Lake. It's almost finished now, and I don't know how it will face the public in the future, or how much joy it will bring to tourists... All I know is that this so-called number one cultural tourism complex in Dali is a scar in my heart... It ruined my guesthouse and forced me to face the gap between myself and Ye Zhi.
"Brother Mi, when you were at your most successful, you were driving a BMW 7 Series... Are you really willing to lower yourself to deliver food?"
I smiled and replied, "Did you see that complex over there?"
Xiao Song looked back and then said, "This was developed by Binjiang Group. Your inn was demolished because of this project back then."
"Yes... If one day I build a complex on the other side of the strait that is even larger than this, do you think it's possible?"
Xiao Song was stunned for a moment, and then replied after a long while: "Believe...why wouldn't I believe...you're not a dreamer, you're the most capable person I know, and the one I admire the most!"
"That's right... If you have ambitions, why be afraid of those trivial matters?"
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