I put the phone back on the table, feeling a mix of emotions. Then I asked Bai Lu, who was the most observant of all, "Does the contract we signed with the landlord have any clear clauses regarding demolition compensation?"
Bai Lu shook her head and replied, "I don't recall it. Because demolition is a low-probability event, Zhao Jing didn't specifically list this clause when she signed the contract with the landlord... But as far as I know, any place that undertakes demolition must publicize the demolition compensation method, and there is a decoration compensation item in the demolition compensation. Theoretically, the tenant can receive a portion, but the specific amount needs to be negotiated and assessed between the demolition office and the landlord."
"Can I understand it this way: if our house is demolished, we are the passive party, and how much compensation we receive depends entirely on the landlord's mood?"
"Well... if we're not satisfied with the compensation offered by the landlord, we can also choose to sue... This is the economic dispute that Sun Jiwei just mentioned... Actually, demolition is a very complicated matter, involving economic interests from all sides, especially with commercial properties, where economic disputes are even more frequent... If this matter isn't just hearsay, we should prepare in advance and protect our legal rights."
I sat back down in my chair, feeling utterly exhausted. I had a deeper understanding of the saying that starting a business is easy, but maintaining it is difficult. I was also feeling weary from the constant waves of change. At least for now, I had no mood to think of any solutions.
After a moment of silence, Coach Ma said to Bai Lu, "If there really is a huge project coming to Longkan, your tourism bureau should have received the news, right?"
Bai Lu glanced at Coach Ma with a tired look on her face, then shook her head and replied, "This matter is not under the jurisdiction of our tourism bureau, but the environmental protection bureau where Sun Jiwei works will definitely be one of the first units to know the news, because an environmental assessment must be done before a project is launched... so it's more reliable for him to inquire about this matter."
"So how credible do you think this is?"
"The credibility should be quite high... We've discussed before why there hasn't been any large-scale commercial development in Longkan. The location is actually very advantageous; it's not only close to Erhai Lake but also near the ancient city, so it's impossible that there hasn't been related discussion. The reason it's been delayed for so many years is probably because they're waiting for a large-scale project, and what Sun Jiwei mentioned is a mega-project. From this perspective, it aligns quite well with the needs of those above."
After a brief pause, she reassured them, "Let's stay calm and not panic. After all, this is still uncertain. Even if a large project comes along, the location might not be within our inn's area."
Everyone nodded.
I don't know what others think, but I feel like I have a fishbone stuck in my throat.
...
Because of the news, everyone lost their appetite, so after eating a little, they went their separate ways. It was only when I sat alone by Erhai Lake that I truly calmed down.
I started to imagine the consequences if the demolition and relocation were implemented.
I'm pretty sure this is a consequence that we can't bear, because we've already given everything we have to this inn, and the final amount of compensation we'll receive for the renovations is still unknown.
In my opinion, the outlook is not very optimistic. The demolition of a house by Erhai Lake would be a huge loss for the landlord. Under such circumstances, how could he possibly be willing to give us full compensation?
Amidst a multitude of thoughts, I lit a cigarette. Before I could even take a puff, a cold sea breeze blew in. I instinctively tucked in my collar, shrinking into this self-created protection. There I saw the brightly lit opposite shore, reflecting only the utter loneliness in people's hearts.
I kept asking myself: What kind of abilities do I need to live a peaceful life in Dali? Or is Dali also a place where bloodshed and turmoil can happen, and we outsiders are just blinded by the gentle beauty of the city, which is why we fell in love with it with restless hearts?
I took a deep drag of my cigarette, and then inexplicably thought of Yang Sisi, and how she had told me in her letter to pick some cherry blossoms from Dali University and mail them to her next spring.
I came at the wrong time. I never knew what Dali was like when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, but I still hope that I can get through this long winter and visit Dali University when the cherry blossoms bloom in the spring.
...
Night deepened, and Erhai Lake grew even quieter. Amidst the ceaseless sound of the tide, I thought of Ye Zhi again. I wondered if she had safely reached one of the cities along her route. With this concern in mind, I sent her a WeChat message: "Where are you?"
Guiyang.
"Not slow at all!"
"It wasn't fast. I drove all night and just found a hotel to stay in."
I checked the time; it was already 10:30. If she was only arriving in Guiyang now, her travel speed wasn't actually that fast. With some doubt, I asked, "Didn't you say you weren't in a rush? Why are you driving at night?"
“I remember when I came here, I passed through a small county town. It was beautiful with mountains and rivers, so I wanted to get there as soon as possible and stay there for a few more days.”
"That county is in Hunan Province, it's called Luxi, right?"
How did you know?
Although Ye Zhi was asking me a question, she was also indirectly answering me; at that moment, I had a very strange feeling: it turned out that she also had a special fondness for that small county town!
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