Rebirth: Seven Years in a Great Dream

Chapter 22: Life Is But a Hundred Years

After a moment’s thought, Mu Dong said, “I cannot refuse a gift from an elder. Mr. Wu, I’ll accept it. Thank you for your generosity.” With that, he took the two bottles of wine. Mu Dong had already figured it out: by giving such a valuable gift, Wu Gang was trying to cultivate a relationship so that he could more easily ask for favors in the future. Moreover, Mu Dong had a very favorable impression of Wu Gang—he was a CEO who thought about the company’s future development, and that was admirable. In the future, if the company ever needed anything, as long as it was within his power, Mu Dong would be willing to lend a hand. Wu Gang smiled, patted Mu Dong on the shoulder, and asked, “Have you been to Beijing before?” Mu Dong replied, “No, this is my first time,” though he thought to himself, “I’ve been here twice before—just brief visits—but let’s not count those for now.” Wu Gang said, “Since it’s your first time in the capital, make sure to enjoy yourself—there are plenty of places worth seeing.” He then turned to his secretary and said, “Xiao Liu, arrange a car and have a local Beijing employee show Xiao Mu around. The expenses will be covered by the General Manager’s Office.” Xiao Liu acknowledged the request. Next, Wu Gang walked over to his desk, picked up a business card, walked back, and handed it to Mu Dong, saying, “Mu, here’s my business card. Keep it. If you come to Beijing again, give me a call, and I’ll treat you to a meal.” Mu Dong quickly accepted it with both hands, put it in his pocket, and then instinctively reached for his own business card. Of course, he didn’t find one. Mu Dong felt awkward and said, “President Wu, I’ve already left the company, so I don’t have a business card…” Wu Gang burst out laughing and said, “No business card? Just give me your phone number, then.” Everyone in the room burst into laughter. Mu Dong pulled out his cell phone and dialed the number on Wu Gang’s business card. Wu Gang’s phone, sitting on the table, rang. Xiao Liu picked it up, hung up, and then saved Mu Dong’s name in the contacts. Having accepted the gift and received the business card, Mu Dong took his leave. Following Wu Gang’s instructions, Chen Hong took Mu Dong and Han Yong to Quanjude for Peking duck. Where to put the two bottles of liquor became a problem. In the end, they were stored in Han Yong’s locker. Han Yong had a workstation at headquarters that was mostly empty; underneath it was a small, lockable mobile cabinet, and the two bottles of Moutai were locked inside. As Han Yong locked the cabinet, he joked, “Dongzi, since we’re off to eat Peking duck, why don’t we just take a bottle with us to drink? It’s the national liquor, after all.” Mu Dong replied, “It’d be such a waste to drink it. Brother Yong, if you like it, I’ll give you a bottle.” Then, turning to Chen Hong, he added, “Director Chen, the other bottle is for you.” Chen Hong began to take a liking to this young man. Although it was said in jest, he hadn’t left anyone out and knew how to handle himself—yes, not bad. That tiny trace of jealousy he’d felt earlier had completely vanished. Chen Hong waved his hand and laughed, “The liquor General Manager Wu gave you—I doubt you’ll be able to pass it on at the Northern Company.” Han Yong added, “Exactly. I wouldn’t dare accept it, but if you bring it out for us to share, I’d be happy to have a drink.” The three of them chatted and laughed as they hailed a taxi and headed to the original Quanjude restaurant on Qianmen Street. For out-of-towners visiting Beijing or foreigners coming to China, eating Peking duck has seemingly become a must-try experience. Moreover, most people have a desire to trace their roots and enjoy the rich historical heritage at the place of origin, so the original Quanjude restaurant is naturally bustling with business. It was noon, and the restaurant was packed. The three of them waited in line for half an hour before finally getting a table in the main dining hall. Chen Hong ordered a roast duck and asked Han Yong and Mu Dong to order some other dishes. When it came time to order baijiu, Mu Dong said he wanted to try Erguotou, so they each ordered a small bottle. The roast duck arrived, and the carver began slicing it right there at the table. Mu Dong picked up a flatbread, wrapped some duck meat in it, added some sauce and cucumber, and took a light bite. Perhaps it was just a psychological effect, but Mu Dong felt that the flavor was indeed better than what he’d had before. Quanjude also has a branch in Quancheng, which Mu Dong had visited before. Comparing the two, Mu Dong felt that the duck he was eating now was cooked to a better degree—the crispy skin on the surface was even crispier, and the meat seemed to have less fat, so it didn’t leave his mouth greasy. Mu Dong gave a thumbs-up and said to Chen Hong, “It really is a time-honored restaurant—the flavor is authentic. Minister Chen, thank you!” Chen Hong replied, “Everyone loves eating at these old-school restaurants, but there are just too many people—you have to wait in line, and it’s pretty noisy in there.” Mu Dong replied, “That’s what makes it lively.” After the duck was sliced, the carcass was set aside to make soup. The three of them sipped their drinks leisurely, and by the time they finished lunch, it was already past 2:00 p. m. They took a taxi back to the company. The security guard at the company gate saw the three of them return and said to Chen Hong, “Director Chen, Secretary Liu asked you to come back and give her a call.” Chen Hong dialed Secretary Liu’s number as he walked, spoke a few words, hung up, and said to Mu Dong, “Mu, you wait here for Secretary Liu. I’m going upstairs.” With that, he walked away. Mu Dong assumed it was about arranging an outing, so he waited in the courtyard. Han Yong took a key off his keychain and said to Mu Dong, “Dongzi, this is the key to the locker. I’m heading back to Quancheng right now; you stay and enjoy yourself for a few more days before heading back.” Mu Dong said, “Brother Yong, why don’t you stick around and have some fun too?” Han Yong replied, “The big boss didn’t tell me to stay with you, so I wouldn’t dare stick around. I’d better make a quick exit.” With that, he left as well. A few minutes later, Secretary Liu, dressed in a tracksuit, walked over, extended her hand to Mu Dong, and said, “Let’s reintroduce ourselves. I’m Liu Wei.” Mu Dong shook her hand: “Mu Dong. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Liu Wei said, “Let’s go. I’ll show you around Beijing.” Mu Dong was taken aback. “You? Didn’t they say they’d arrange someone?” Liu Wei replied, “What’s wrong with that? I’m from Beijing, I know how to drive—I’m the perfect person to show you around.” Mu Dong asked, “But if you’re gone, what about Mr. Wu…” Liu Wei said as they walked, “Mr. Wu has to go to the ministry for a meeting that’ll last two or three days, so I happen to have some free time. Thanks to you, I get to revisit this beautiful country.” The two walked up to a white Audi A4. Mu Dong exclaimed in surprise, “Did the company provide such a nice car?” Liu Wei shot him a look and said, “This is my own car.” Mu Dong was even more surprised, but said nothing. He looked Liu Wei up and down. That morning in the office, Liu Wei had been wearing a navy blue skirt suit, black high heels, and her hair pulled up in a high bun. That outfit made her look very elegant, but it also made her appear older. Now she had changed into a light yellow tracksuit, white sneakers, and her hair was tied back in a simple ponytail. She instantly looked full of vitality and was quite a sight to behold. Liu Wei started the car with practiced ease and asked Mu Dong, “Where do you want to go?” Mu Dong counted on his fingers, “I want to go to the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Great Wall, the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube, and I also want to see the flag-raising ceremony.” Liu Wei laughed, “You’re quite the sightseer. Let’s go to the Summer Palace first today—an afternoon should be plenty of time.” With that, she pulled the car onto the road. Liu Wei had specifically volunteered for this “tour guide” assignment because she couldn’t stand being outdone. Liu Wei came from a family of high-ranking officials; she had been arrogant and haughty since childhood and had excelled academically. She graduated from Peking University two years ago and, through her own efforts, landed a job at the General Office of Northern Electronics. In fact, Liu Wei hadn’t known at first that her job application had been arranged by her family, who had specifically asked someone to put in a good word with Wu Gang. Otherwise, her family would never have agreed to let a young, pretty girl take a job as a secretary in the first place. When Liu Wei later found out, there was nothing she could do about it. Allowing her to go out and find a job on her own was already a compromise on her family’s part. Liu Wei’s performance at Northern Electronics was evident to all. Everyone in the company knew that a formidable figure had joined the General Manager’s Office—young, attractive, with excellent writing skills and strong coordination and organizational abilities. Through her successful organization of several major company meetings, Liu Wei firmly established her position as secretary to the General Manager and deputy director of the General Affairs Department. It’s worth noting that the General Affairs Department didn’t even have a director. And keep in mind, Liu Wei was only 24 years old. Liu Wei was well aware that her age was a disadvantage, so during work hours, she always dressed in a way that made her look much older than she actually was. In truth, no matter how she dressed, she remained strikingly beautiful. Liu Wei looked down on this young man who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Just by submitting two reports, he’d managed to stir up quite a bit of controversy throughout the company. Today, after spouting a load of nonsense in front of President Wu, he actually managed to get him to give away two bottles of Maotai. She didn’t know if Mu Dong knew a good thing when he saw it, but Liu Wei certainly did. She vaguely agreed with some of the points Mu Dong made, but it still left a bad taste in her mouth. So, Liu Wei used some tact to secure this opportunity to accompany him on the trip. She wanted to observe Mu Dong up close, hoping to uncover something that would allow her to expose him. As for what exactly she wanted to expose, even Liu Wei wasn’t sure. The two arrived near the East Palace Gate of the Summer Palace, found a place to park, and then walked toward the Summer Palace together. At the ticket office, Mu Dong rushed ahead to buy the tickets. Liu Wei said, “Mu Dong, General Manager Wu specifically instructed that I handle the expenses. I’ll give you the money.” Mu Dong replied, “I can’t very well let a beautiful lady pay. Besides, ‘a general in the field need not always follow the emperor’s orders.’ When General Wu finds out, he’ll praise me—and you, too.” Liu Wei thought to herself: Go ahead and strut around. How much more praise do you want? I’ve already given you decades’ worth of aged wine. “The Summer Palace is the most intact imperial garden in existence, covering 290 hectares and primarily consisting of Wanshou Hill and Kunming Lake. It was modeled after West Lake in Hangzhou, fully incorporating the lake’s water, mountains, bridges, and other garden architectural elements.” As a true native of Beijing, Liu Wei spoke eloquently about the Summer Palace. “West Lake in Hangzhou? Was the Summer Palace built to mimic West Lake in Hangzhou?” Mu Dong really had no idea. Liu Wei pursed her lips, thinking to herself, “He really is a country bumpkin.” She said aloud, “Yes, look at that bridge—it’s called the Seventeen-Arch Bridge. Doesn’t it resemble the Broken Bridge at West Lake in Hangzhou?” Mu Dong took a look and said, “The shape is somewhat similar, but the Broken Bridge is a single-arch bridge, while this one has many arches.” He marveled to himself: There really is something to learn everywhere. Liu Wei continued, “Here’s what we’ll do: let’s take a walk along the lake first, then take a boat tour of Kunming Lake, and after that, we’ll explore Wanshou Mountain.” Mu Dong replied, “No problem. I’ll follow the beautiful lady’s lead.” The two walked side by side, with Liu Wei occasionally pointing out sights to Mu Dong, looking every bit the competent tour guide. That was just how Liu Wei was—whatever she did, she strove to do it to the best of her ability. The two strolled from 3:00 p. m. until dusk began to fall. Mu Dong couldn’t help but be amazed by Liu Wei’s stamina; his own legs were already feeling a bit sore and stiff from walking, but when he looked at Liu Wei, she still seemed to be striding along lightly. He couldn’t help but marvel: this beautiful woman really is something else. After they finished their tour, Mu Dong felt that Liu Wei must have been quite tired from spending the whole afternoon with him, so he invited her to have dinner together, but she declined without hesitation. Liu Wei walked Mu Dong to the entrance of a hotel near his company and said to him, “This is a hotel run by our company. I’ve already made arrangements. Just give your name at the front desk to check in. You can stay as many days as you like, and all you need to do is sign for any expenses.” Then she sped off in her car. On the way, Liu Wei thought to herself, “What’s so great about him? He’s not exactly a superhero. Just a country bumpkin—though he’s at least sensible.” Mu Dong, of course, had no idea Liu Wei was secretly mocking him. He went to the front desk, checked in, and was told that the hotel had its own restaurant where he could dine—all he had to do was show his room key card. Mu Dong was over the moon—the treatment was great, with room and board all taken care of. He’d been worrying about where to get dinner, so this was perfect. The restaurant was on the first floor, so Mu Dong grabbed his room key and headed there first. He’d spent almost the entire afternoon walking, and the little bit of roast duck he’d eaten at lunch was long gone. The restaurant offered a buffet with a wide variety of dishes—and to his surprise, they even had roast duck. However, compared to Quanjude’s, it fell far short in both appearance and taste. Mu Dong chose plenty of high-calorie foods and ate to his heart’s content. After eating his fill, he went back to his room to take a shower. Once he was done, he lay in bed and called Xiao Xiao. After pushing themselves to the limit, Mu Dong and Xiao Xiao felt as if they’d returned to the days of their first love—it truly felt like a day apart was as long as three autumns. The two chatted on and on for a long time; it felt like the phone was getting hot before Mu Dong finally hung up. There was a 7-Color Lottery drawing tonight, but the TV in his room couldn’t pick up the Lu Dong Qilu Channel, so he’d have to find an internet café tomorrow to check the results online. The next day, just after finishing breakfast, Mu Dong received a call from an unknown number. A middle-aged man’s voice on the other end said he’d been sent by Secretary Liu to take him sightseeing that day. Mu Dong thought to himself, “Looks like she’s tired and doesn’t want to hang out with me anymore. That’s fine—being with a beautiful woman is a treat for the eyes, but it does make me feel a bit self-conscious.” Liu Wei was genuinely exhausted. She worked nine-to-five every day and even took fitness classes on weekends, but an entire afternoon of intense walking had really worn her out. Yet, being the proud type, she kept pretending to be completely at ease. Besides, she thought Mu Dong was a real wallflower—he didn’t seem at all at ease talking with General Manager Wu, which made him quite boring. So, after returning last night, Liu Wei immediately arranged for a driver from the General Affairs Department to take Mu Dong sightseeing. As for herself, she decided to take a couple of days off to rest in her office. Her ankle was aching, and she needed to rest it. Mu Dong first went to a nearby internet café to check last night’s lottery numbers—still no win. Then he waited for the driver in the hotel lobby. The driver introduced himself as Sun but didn’t give his first name. Mu Dong just called him “Brother Sun.” At first, Old Sun addressed Mu Dong as “Manager Mu,” but later, at Mu Dong’s insistence, he switched to calling him “Little Mu.” Old Sun pulled up in a black Honda Accord. The two headed straight for the Forbidden City. There were no parking lots near the Forbidden City, so they parked quite a distance away and had to walk a long way to get there. This time, Old Sun took the initiative to buy the tickets, and Mu Dong didn’t insist on doing it himself. Noticing that Old Sun was rather quiet, Mu Dong hired a tour guide—a young woman in her twenties. Mu Dong explained his preferences to the guide: they wanted to take their time, go at a leisurely pace, and see how things went—whether they’d stay half a day or a full day. The young woman seemed pleased—tour guides love clients like this. Since guides are paid by the hour, spending a full day there meant she’d landed a major job for the day. As the world’s premier palace complex, the Forbidden City is not merely a scenic attraction—it embodies the history and culture behind the scenery. Most people visit the Forbidden City in a rush, offering a few words of admiration before moving on. Mu Dong had once toured it that way too, but this time he wanted to take his time and explore the deeper meaning behind the architecture. The Forbidden City is the pinnacle of ancient wooden architectural craftsmanship; every brick and tile, every eave and wall, is imbued with rich cultural significance and has its own historical origins. The tour guide was very knowledgeable, providing detailed explanations of the architectural styles and construction methods—exactly what Mu Dong wanted to hear. It was mid-October—a crisp, clear autumn day, perfect for sightseeing—and the place was bustling with tourists. Mu Dong asked the tour guide to avoid the most popular routes as much as possible and instead explore some unique spots. The tour guide thought for a moment, then led the group to the Treasure Hall and the Clock and Watch Museum. Separate tickets were required for these two galleries, and there were slightly fewer visitors. As he examined the jade artifacts, gold objects, ritual vessels, and Buddhist artifacts up close, Mu Dong was truly awed by the exquisite craftsmanship of the ancients. In ancient times, without the efficient equipment available today, everything was made by hand—entirely through the accumulation of human effort and time—crafting these exquisite, intricate, and masterfully crafted artifacts bit by bit. Stepping out of the Treasure Hall and gazing up at the clear, azure autumn sky, Mu Dong couldn’t help but reflect that these rare and precious treasures, having endured for thousands of years, now stood on display here, quietly narrating the passage of time. Yet the former owners of these treasures had long since perished in the long river of history. Human life spans no more than a hundred years—it is merely a series of rising and falling curtains. Now, Heaven has granted me seven additional years of life. I am grateful to Heaven, and I intend to use these seven years to do whatever I can. In a life that lasts no more than a hundred years, I will make the most of these years; in the fleeting passage of time, I will leave a small mark. A flock of wild geese flew across the sky, and Mu Dong thought to himself, “This must be the last flock of the season.” Just as the geese fly with all their might toward the warmth of the south, so too should people strive for a better future. A sudden sense of serenity washed over him, and the journey ahead felt much more unhurried. Even the bustling crowd around him seemed to come alive a little more. At that moment, Mu Dong was suddenly overcome with an overwhelming longing for Xiao Xiao. Over the course of a hundred years, this woman could be the one to accompany him through it all. They grabbed a quick lunch at a random snack shop inside the Forbidden City. Places like this have two defining characteristics: they’re expensive, and the food is terrible. The three of them struggled through lunch and continued with their afternoon itinerary. In the end, Mu Dong spent the entire day walking a huge loop through the Forbidden City—entering through the Meridian Gate in the morning and exiting through the same gate around four or five in the afternoon. After settling the bill with the tour guide, Mu Dong said to Old Sun, “Brother Sun, I’m heading back tomorrow morning. Thanks for everything today—I’ll treat you to dinner tonight.” Lao Sun waved his hands repeatedly: “It’s no trouble at all—it’s all part of the job. No need for dinner, Mu. You’re too kind. I still need to go back to the office to drop off my car, so I can give you a ride back.” Mu Dong replied, “That works out perfectly, Brother Sun. I need to stop by the office too.” There were still two bottles of Maotai at the headquarters—those were real treasures.