In a world yet to recover, there's a subtle, elegant helplessness. It seems I've arrived at the wrong time; I can't possibly choose this moment to recklessly pour the 190,000 yuan left by Wang Lei into the turbulent guesthouse industry in Dali. I'm someone who desperately needs to be happy, yet I sit by Erhai Lake, wallowing in self-pity. I can't just stay idle like this forever.
Gradually, dawn arrived. I maintained the same mood and posture throughout, until I could clearly see the color and species of the distant vegetation. Lost in thought, a white cruise ship carrying passengers passed by, leaving a ripple in its wake. Then I saw the mountains reflected in the sea, appearing serene and beautiful. Unconsciously, I entered a state of emptiness, no longer concerned with how much of my life I had squandered that morning.
...
"Uncle, have you found a place to stay?"
It turned out to be a WeChat message from Yang Sisi; this really felt like walking right into a trap.
I immediately replied to her message: "I'm sure I found it, did you find it?"
"you guess."
"I'm not a mind reader, how am I supposed to guess?"
Yang Sisi sent a bunch of smiley faces, then changed the subject, saying, "Uncle, let's play a game... If I can find you before lunch, can you promise me something? I promise it's something you can do."
"Don't joke around, do you know how big Dali is?"
"Of course I know, so you won't be at a disadvantage in this matter, because I basically have no chance of winning."
"Okay, but what if you can't find me before lunch?"
"I'll treat you to dinner."
"Then you come and find it."
"Alright, from now on you can only stay where you are and not move. If you deliberately make things difficult for me, you're a dog."
"What if I need to pee?"
"Hold it in."
I smiled as I read the conversation, lit another cigarette, and waited for this little lamb to walk right into my trap. I was puzzled; where did she get the confidence to be so sure she would find me?
I didn't let myself be idle either; I kept searching for suitable accommodations to run as a guesthouse on my phone. Time passed by, and to avoid the strong ultraviolet rays, I moved to a tree and continued my search.
I think that although many guesthouses that failed to meet environmental standards have been shut down, there's no policy that says they can't operate at all. On the other hand, given the worrying outlook for the guesthouse industry, I had the opportunity to take over a guesthouse for sale at a low price during this period of widespread anxiety.
Over the past few years, I have saved up about 100,000 yuan on my own. With the 190,000 yuan that Wang Lei gave me, I have barely managed to raise 300,000 yuan. Based on my initial understanding online, I think I can take over a small inn.
...
After organizing the collected housing information into my phone's notes, it was already noon. Unlike in the morning, the number of tourists on Erhai Lake had increased significantly. Some people rode large tortoise-shaped motorcycles, some drove convertible jeeps, and many more were rented four-wheeled electric vehicles. These colorful vehicles, like beads strung together, circled Erhai Lake, as if adorning it with a flowing, colorful necklace.
A group of street musicians appeared at the nearby pier, setting up tents next to the white building, selling beer and singing for tourists. Tie Nan said that when it gets cold, the seagulls will fly back from the north, and Erhai Lake will be truly beautiful then. But even now, I already felt it was beautiful! I even wanted to go to the street musicians' stall, buy some beer, and sit closer to listen to their songs.
I almost forgot about the bet with Yang Sisi until I saw her Land Cruiser slowly driving towards me from a distance. It was unbelievable! Even circling Erhai Lake, let alone the ancient city, is over 100 kilometers. I really don't know how she found her way here.
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