As the fishery administration vessel drew closer, I quickly fastened my belt and turned to Ye Zhi, who was sitting on another rock, and shouted, "A fishery administration vessel is coming! We're saved! Come over here quickly!"
Ye Zhi stood up from the reef and walked to my side. Together, we looked at the fishery administration vessel flying the five-star red flag amidst the ebb and flow of the tide. A hint of joy appeared on her face.
I smiled and said to her, "We'll be free soon, don't forget to treat me to a seafood feast tonight!"
“Sure, our hotel kitchen can make it. You can have as much as you want.”
"Eating in the hotel is too boring. Let's find a street food stall by the sea and eat...we'll drink our fill of draft beer."
Ye Zhi smiled and asked, "Aren't you afraid of being too conspicuous?"
"Now that you mention it, I'm actually a little scared. What if we run into a villager who knows us and they arrest us again... This place is truly a den of dragons and tigers; it's giving me a real scare!"
"I never would have guessed you had anything to fear."
"The place isn't scary, what's scary is the people..."
Ye Zhi shook her head, then said with some emotion, "Actually, people aren't scary. What's scary is people's desires..."
"It really is! ...Desire is a bottomless abyss, yet some people like to look down at it... This trip to Sanya has really made me feel like I've gained a lot. I think I've seen what desire looks like, what shape it is."
Ye Zhi asked, "What does it look like?"
"It's like a dream. Those violent disputes that I only ever saw in the news actually happened to me. Before, I always thought life was just about competition in Shanghai. At worst, I couldn't afford a house, but I wouldn't starve... In fact, the real danger is in this remote place, hidden in the hearts of some people and in the things they can use. That's the real cruelty... It's like a life-or-death struggle, all for the sake of survival!!"
"I hear a philosophical undertone in what you said."
"Said spontaneously..."
I smiled and said, "This trip was worth it because we're finally together..."
Ye Zhi took my hand and, after a moment of hesitation, replied softly, "Thank you for this experience... It helped me understand you better, and it helped me understand myself better. This is more precious to me than any gift."
"Hmm... then let's stay together... We can be bold and set the timeframe at 50 years... No, with you by my side, even living to 80 won't be enough... Let's make it 60 years, 60 years of staying together!"
"Okay...60 years."
"Is this considered an agreement between us?"
“From now on, we must remember this day, this rock in the sea, and the words we spoke while standing on it.”
"Unforgettable."
Ye Zhi smiled and replied, "If we follow your usual logic... what I can't forget the most are these dreamlike scenes, right?"
I smiled and said, "To be honest, you seem to understand me better now... I think it's these scenes that lack a sense of reality that make people ponder what's real and what's fake... Once people start pondering, it's not easy to forget them."
"Then you can spend 60 years figuring it out."
"Great... I hope the final conclusion isn't just a dream!"
...
After we finished our heartfelt conversation, the fishery administration vessel finally arrived at the reef where we were standing. We explained to the crew why we were there, and they let us on board. They then sailed the vessel to the waters near the hotel and escorted us into the hotel.
Upon arriving at the hotel, Ye Zhi, despite her exhaustion, immediately got to work. About two hours later, the higher-level public security bureau and the subordinate economic investigation team sent someone over. I cooperated with the investigation and truthfully told them what I knew... At this point, the violent dispute caused by the villagers was temporarily put to rest; at least, it was no longer my problem.
Around noon, Ye Zhi asked the hotel manager to arrange a nice suite with a sea view for me to rest in. Not long after, she had someone bring me a very high-end smartphone.
Actually, she didn't need to do that. I was just joking with her. We're already boyfriend and girlfriend, so why would I really argue with her about a cell phone?
Just as I was thinking this, the staff told me that Ye Zhi had also bought herself the same phone, and that our phone serial numbers were consecutive, so we each got one phone, which could be considered a couple's phone.
Suddenly, I felt that we were closer. I liked this phone and considered it a thoughtful gift.
...
I lay in bed, took the SIM card out of my old, broken phone, and put it in my new one. My biggest concern was still the situation in Dali, because my business and most of my friends were there, especially Chen Jin. He should arrive before me, so I needed to arrange accommodation for him in advance… Also, I needed to have an open and honest discussion with Cao Jinbo about setting up my studio at “Jiulongju.” I needed his 16 shops to get started… If Cao Jinbo was willing to let me use those 16 shops, it would send a signal to the other landlords, letting them trust the capabilities of my studio. Only then could things proceed smoothly.
Thinking about it carefully, I realize I have so much to do. Without realizing it, I've taken on a responsibility, such as for Nicole and Chen Jin. After all, I brought him to Dali, and it would be a shame not to give him a promising career. Also, I need to put in more effort at the "Women's Flower" bar to completely resolve the reform dispute between the bar owner and the singers that I caused.
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