Chapter 4 Part 1 - the near future with a future protagonist

Since the Wansheng Bookstore, the best humanities and academic bookstore in Beijing, was forced to close down, I seldom go to the East Gate of Peking University in Haidian District.About a week after the Spring Festival party of Sanlian "Dushu", I still went.In the past week, I had a good life. I didn’t have any unpleasant things. I read newspapers and watched TV news on the Internet every day. I was glad that I lived in China every day. When I was touched by chance, I wanted to cry. I was very happy.Originally, I didn't think about Xiaoxi anymore, because I felt that her current state was a little out of tune with my state of mind and life, but for several nights in a row, the last dream before waking up in the morning was about Xiaoxi. It made me excited all over, probably because I haven't had a woman by my side for too long.I once dreamed of Fangcaodi again, it was an annoying dream, walking back and forth in the same place.I regretted not taking their mobile phone number, and they never contacted me again. It seems that I am not so important to them.I don't know how to find Fang Caodi, and I don't want to look for him, so forget it.As for finding Xiaoxi, I still had a clue, so I came to the east gate of Peking University.

In the late 1980s, Xiaoxi and her mother became self-employed. They opened a small restaurant called Wuwei Restaurant in an illegal one-story house in front of the residential building outside the east gate of Peking University.I call Xiaoxi’s mother Sister Song. Her Guizhou hometown goose is a bit famous, but mainly because Xiaoxi and her friends hang out there all day long, chatting all night. A salon for foreigners and intellectuals.It was closed for a few years, and after Deng Xiaoping's southern tour, he found a place nearby and reopened. At that time, I would go out to eat every time I was in Beijing.However, I haven't been there for many years, is the restaurant still there?

As soon as I arrived outside the east gate of Peking University, I immediately knew that there was no hope. The entire residential building and one-story house were demolished. How could the restaurant still exist?The restaurant is gone, and the Wansheng Book Garden is gone. I walked without nostalgia, and planned to walk to the photosynthesis bookstore in Wudaokou on foot. Chatting is better than nothing, and then go to Sculpture Time to have a cup of coffee.This area used to be the base of rock music in the west, and there were several performance venues, but I haven't paid attention to this circle in recent years, and I don't know if those venues are still there.When I was approaching Wudaokou on Chengfu Road, I walked past a store and felt like I missed something. Looking back, the facade was a bit rough in design. The name of the store was "Five Flavors". What kind of performance venue.I really stayed for a while, is it related to Wuwei Restaurant?I decided to open the door and go in to have a look.

The interior is also extensively designed. The dining tables and chairs are low-priced ordinary products with a sense of design. There is a small stage that can barely accommodate a four-member rock band.There was no one in the lobby, but I was familiar with a loud voice coming from the back room.I pulled the curtain and walked in, calling out "Sister Song". Xiaoxi's mother recognized me immediately: "Old Chen!" "Sister Song, I'm here to see you."I felt a little hypocritical after I said that. Sister Song said: "It's great to see you! What a rare visitor!"

She took a bottle of Yanjing Chunsheng at room temperature, and dragged me to the lobby to sit down. "It's great to see you, Old Chen, I really miss you a lot." I'm a little ashamed that I haven't thought of greeting the old man after coming to Beijing for several years. "I ran into Xiaoxi a while ago." Sister Song suddenly lowered her voice and said, "You should persuade her more, persuade her more." "I just ran into her at Sanlian Bookstore. Will she come here?" I asked. "Won't!" "Do you have her cell phone? I'll give her a call," I just want her cell phone number.

"She didn't use her phone."Sister Song has been watching the door, saying: "She has an email. Now she is arguing with people on the Internet all day long, changing addresses. You persuade her." I thought to myself, I can only contact by email, it is better than no contact at all. Sister Song stood up: "I'll get her new email address." I said with a bit of duplicity: "No hurry, I'll take it later." "I'm afraid I'll forget it later," she hurried to the back of the store. I thought to myself, Sister Song is still so enthusiastic and old-fashioned.

At this time, a young man walked in. He must be the kind of boy who loves girls. He is tall and looks very correct, like an athlete. I noticed that he was wearing a pair of white high-waisted sneakers. How big is the soil in Beijing? Generally, boys are not that big. Wear white sneakers.He looked at me confidently, as if he wanted to know who I was, but he was very polite: "Hi! You are..." "I am... a friend of Eldest Sister."I suddenly realized: "You are..." I want to say that you are Xiaoxi's son?I don't know why he hesitated for a while and didn't say anything.

"Grandma!" The boy greeted Sister Song. "Here? My grandson. This is Mr. Chen." I pretended to be surprised: "Your grandson!" "Mr. Chen, my name is Wei Guo." "It's a pleasure to meet you. You are so talented." We shook hands.I remembered that I saw this child more than ten years ago, and Xiaoxi also said before that the child took her surname Wei. Sister Song said: "Ms. Chen is a Taiwanese, a regular customer." Sister Song described me as a regular customer. "I don't seem to have seen Teacher Chen," Wei Guo said.

"Over there at the old store," Sister Song explained to Wei Guo. "Ms. Chen hasn't been in Beijing for many years." I said, "Sister, I'm moving to Beijing now." Wei Guo didn't ask which district I live in, but asked, "Mr. Chen, what do you do?" "I am a writer". Wei Guo became more interested in me: "What to write?" I said, "Write anything, novels, reviews..." "Comment on what?" "Eating, drinking, entertainment, cultural media, business management..." Wei Guo asked: "What is your opinion on China's current situation?"

Sister Song: "Let's eat here tonight!" "I have something to do today, let's do it another day, sister! I'll leave after chatting with Wei Guo." Ms. Song said, "Let's chat" and went to the back of the shop. Wei Guo looked at me firmly, with an intimidating air rarely seen in young people. I want to know why Xiaoxi said she has nothing to say to her son.I deliberately said: "Now everyone is saying that nowhere is as good as China."What Xiaoxi said was like what her son said. "You are right. Mr. Ji Xianlin said that the 21st century is the century of the Chinese people. This is unstoppable."

I teased him: "Then what are you going to do in the Chinese century?" Most young people would be shy before answering, Wei Guo is not: "I am going to Peking University Law School, after graduation, I will apply for civil servants." "Official?" "The country and the party need the best talents." I recalled that Xiaoxi had mentioned the Central Propaganda Department, and tentatively said, "Wei Guo, if you could pick anything, which ministry would you like to go to?" "Central Propaganda Department!" I didn't expect him to be so frank. He added: "Of course, the Central Propaganda Department didn't enter randomly. This is just my highest ideal at this stage." I asked, "Why the Central Propaganda Department?" "A nation cannot only rely on material strength, but also spiritual strength, so that the people will be united. Hard power is as important as soft power. I think the Central Propaganda Department is very important. It is not doing well enough yet, but it can do well. better." I asked, "How can I do better?" He seems to be well-trained: "For example, I don't have enough understanding of the Internet and netizens, and I don't have a precise grasp of the direction of young people. I can contribute in this regard. Also, I am a law student, so I can help the Central Propaganda Department Every decision of the Communist Party of China provides a solid legal basis, in line with the national policy of ruling the country according to law. Of course, as a young man, I also have an immature and romantic side, and I think the Central Propaganda Department is very romantic.”He finally got a little shy. "Romantic? How to say?" "You are a writer, you should know that only the spiritual is romantic, and the Central Propaganda Department is leading the spiritual life of the people of the whole country." I didn't want to talk about the Central Propaganda Department anymore, and pointed to the stage: "Do you have live performances here?" "Some newcomers' bands, as well as school clubs, have performances every night. I gave my grandmother the idea. There are all kinds of young people here, which helps me understand their mentality and trends. There is no research. You have no right to speak." I deliberately said: "Having a place like this, where good people and dragons are mixed, won't it affect your future?" He probably thought I was a little naive and said, "Then you underestimate our party and government. Everything is under the control of the party and the government. Everything is clear." I said, "Nice to chat with you, Wei Guo. Interesting, but I have to go." "I wish you a happy stay in Beijing, write more articles to introduce the true face of China, and tell Taiwan compatriots not to trust Western media casually," he said. I wanted to say, "Tell your grandma that I'm leaving", and Sister Song came out: "Why are you leaving?" "I have something to do. I'm on the east side. I'm afraid I'll run into a peak," I said. "Come over here to eat hometown goose when you have time." Sister Song stretched out her hand. "Definitely, elder sister, take care." I held elder sister Song's hand with both hands. Holding hands, I took the small note from the elder sister's hand in a timely manner. The eldest sister and I felt reluctant to part. When I walked out, Wei Guo stopped me and asked coldly, "Mr. Chen, have you seen my mother recently?" I lied: "No". He said goodbye politely. I nodded, and couldn't help but take another look at his snow-white sneakers.