Siheyuan: I am a trader in both worlds!

"Ling'er, you said it yourself, that as long as we can travel around this map, our journey will be a complete success. I'm asking you, didn't you say that?"

After seeing Ximen Lang hesitate for several days, he finally couldn't hold back and asked the question.

With a sigh, Bai Ling said helplessly.

"Yes, I did say that. What's wrong?"

"What else could it be? Look at yourself, take a good look. From Beijing to Tianjin, then to Huludao, then to the Hulunbuir Grassland, and now we're back in Tianjin. See for yourself, isn't this a circle? But what's the result? We're still stuck in this desolate wilderness. Look at this place, with no village in sight, no shop in sight, it's the same every day. I'm telling you, I'm really getting tired of it. My butt hurts from all this car travel."

Ximen Lang was genuinely fed up with the monotonous and desolate landscape.

Yes, you heard right, it's barren.

Seeing this, some people will definitely say
"That's not right. Back then, we hadn't experienced industrialization yet. Everything was still primitive, and the scenery should have been very pleasant! The vegetation was lush, so how can you describe it as barren?"

Ladies and gentlemen, you really should believe it.

As things stand, many places can only be described as desolate.

Especially in areas near cities or areas with high population density.

For miles or even miles, you can't see any decent trees. All you see are weeds, or just bare patches of land without a single hair!

Take the Tianjin area where Ximen Lang is now, for example. Can you imagine? There used to be bears in this place!

That's the real deal: Bear in the Woods!

Even setting aside bears, there were quite a few tigers in this area in ancient times!

But now?

Let alone these two big guys, if you can even see a slightly larger wild mammal, you're lucky to have found one today!
As for why it turned out this way, why it became like this even though it wasn't polluted by industry, and why the lush vegetation that was once described in history books as being in the old city of Beijing and the Tianjin area is now completely gone.
It's very simple. With the rapid increase in population during the Ming and Qing dynasties, before industrialization even had a chance to wreak havoc, the local residents had already cut down almost everything that could be cut down!
They were either chopped down to make furniture, or simply thrown into the stove to be burned as firewood!
In particular, people in ancient times had very little environmental awareness, and concepts like sustainable development simply did not exist!

On the contrary, sustainable, exploitative practices have a strong market!
Therefore, these lush vegetations never had the chance to be cut down by people of this era; by the Ming and Qing dynasties, they were already basically barren.

Not only did they not gain anything, but they also suffered a lot of pain due to the excessive logging by their predecessors.

Even in the 80s and 90s, and into the new century, people still suffered from time to time, with sandstorms blowing everywhere whenever the wind blew.

Who can you reason with about this?

It wasn't until the higher authorities started to crack down on this issue and take it seriously that the situation improved somewhat, after several generations of people had painstakingly planted the saplings decades ago, some even risking their lives to protect them.

So please don't say that things were really that great in the past; that's all nonsense.

On the contrary, it is only now, through so many years of effort, that China has gradually transformed into an oasis. (Around 1960, China's forest coverage rate was about 12%, but by the end of 2023, it had reached 24.02%, and the comprehensive vegetation coverage of grasslands had reached an astonishing 50.32%! The Loess Plateau has been directly transformed into an oasis, with its vegetation coverage rate increasing from 34% to over 63%, which is truly remarkable!)

Of course, that's getting off-topic.

Let's get back to the main topic and talk about how Ximen Lang and Bai Ling agreed to end their journey by simply walking around on the map.

Ximen Lang's statement that the map had already circled around was not without merit.

"But the problem is that we agreed to go around the entire map, and you're already impatient after only going around a small circle in the north. How can that be acceptable? Isn't this a waste of all our efforts?"

After saying that, he saw that Ximen Lang's expression immediately became anxious.

Knowing that Ximen Lang would definitely expose his past again, he didn't give Ximen Lang a chance to speak.

Bai Ling nodded in agreement immediately.

"Okay, okay, I admit it. I did take advantage of your curiosity and used some reverse psychology to trick you into saying those things. That was dishonest of me."

"But we've already come this far, it would be such a waste to turn back now, Ah Lang. No, just bear with it a little longer, hang in there, it'll be soon, it really will be soon. Putting everything else aside, at least we definitely have to go to Songjiang Prefecture, right?"

"That's one of the most worthwhile places to visit in the entire city of Beijing, and also the most prosperous area! Do you know the City That Never Sleeps? It would be such a waste not to go and explore it properly!"

"Haven't you always wanted to see for yourself if Zheng Chaoyang has really become that heartthrob Officer An? Let's go together. I also want to see just how big the gap is between reality and the TV series!"

"Anyway, I think Zheng Chaoyang is definitely not as lovable as that charming guy in the TV series! Maybe he'll end up like Runtu after he grew up, without any of his former charm."

It's clear that Bai Ling has used every trick in the book and said everything she could to keep Ximen Lang calm, restore his confidence, and prevent him from giving up halfway.

Ximen Lang also knew that giving up halfway was indeed very bad and particularly inappropriate.

"But I'm just so bored."

"If you're bored, find something to do. Black Monkey hasn't finished the game yet, right? Keep playing! If that doesn't work, try Super Smash Bros., or if all else fails, chess is fine too. I'll play with you. Let's call YiYi and play three-on-one."

"Why bother queuing? I'm already tired of it, it's pointless."

"So what do you want to do?"

"I don't know what I want to do! That's why I'm bored!"

At this point, with a blink of his eyes, Ximen Lang tentatively asked, seemingly unintentionally.

"Hey, how about this? Let's find some time for a really exciting three-player match?"

"Why bother taking the time? We can do it now. I'll call Yi Yi right now and tell her to log on!"

As she spoke, Bai Ling took out her phone and pretended to make a video call to Yi Yi, telling her to log on quickly.

The phone had barely lit up when Simon Lang pressed the button for her.

They started making faces and saying inappropriate things.

"Not this third row. It's that one, the one I've always wanted, you know."

Making faces and acting so improperly really infuriated Bai Ling.

Seeing that this bastard Ximen Lang was really audacious, actually wanting to have two women on his left and right and enjoy the bliss of having two wives, he realized that Ximen Lang was truly audacious.

She could tolerate anything, give in to anything, and indulge Ximen Lang in everything, letting him do whatever he wanted. But Bai Ling was the only one she couldn't stand, and she immediately lost her temper.

"You wish! One of me isn't enough, you want a three-man squad? Keep dreaming! Let me tell you, don't even think about it!"

Good heavens, their attitude was so resolute that it immediately made Ximen Lang give up on the idea, leaving him utterly disappointed.

Once I lie down on the bed, I'm like a salted fish that has lost its dreams; I'm too lazy to even turn over.

He stood there sighing and complaining.

"Ugh, this is so boring, so incredibly boring. When will this ever end?"

Because Ximen Lang was truly feeling genuine emotions at this moment, his reaction to Xiao Wei was anything but ordinary.

Besides, now we're really counting on Ximen Lang to make things work.

So when Ximen Lang showed this half-hearted, half-disappointed look, Bai Ling, who had been furious and resolute just moments before, immediately softened her attitude.

Ximen Lang, on the other hand, also deeply understood the principle that one should not be too hasty in doing things.

Seeing that Bai Ling's attitude softened immediately.

Without giving Bai Ling a chance to say more, he simply said, "That's all, let's go eat."

Ximen Lang left the RV in a sullen mood and went to the barracks that the guard battalion had specially built for him, which was also the place where he ate.

Lao Luo and Hao Pingchuan knew that Ximen Lang was feeling irritable due to his recent travels.

So today I specifically instructed the cooking team not to eat anything else but the hot pot that Ximen Lang has suddenly become obsessed with these days, the old Beijing traditional hot pot.

Hao Pingchuan had also prepared the seasonings according to Ximen Lang's taste in advance and did his best to help Ximen Lang stir the dipping sauce.

And then Ximen Lang finally arrived.

Eager to show off his achievements to Ximen Lang, Hao Pingchuan immediately took the dipping sauce in his hand and hurried over to greet him.

"Brother Lang is here? Quick, here's the freshly mixed dipping sauce."

How many laps?

"128 laps, not a single lap less."

Seeing that Hao Pingchuan was indeed very perceptive, and even more so, Ximen Lang naturally did not hold back his praise.

But before he could finish praising her, Ximen Lang realized there was a problem.

It wasn't the dipping sauce that was the problem, but rather that after searching the table, Simon Lang discovered that the essence of Old Beijing Hot Pot—the pickled garlic—was missing.

This is not possible!
Ximen Lang immediately asked about it.

"Where's the pickled garlic? Where's the pickled garlic?"

Upon hearing Ximen Lang's words, Hao Pingchuan immediately began searching around.

After scanning around, I found that none of them were there.

Hao Pingchuan was embarrassed.

"It was rushed."

"Why eat hot pot? Isn't it all for the pickled garlic? If there's no pickled garlic, can this even be eaten?"

This is truly making trouble out of nothing.

Yes, for Lao BJ Hot Pot, pickled garlic is certainly very important.

But without pickled garlic, it's impossible to eat.

Isn't this pure nonsense?
The key point is that Ximen Lang has never been this pretentious before, so what's going on?

So, I was completely baffled.

Luo and Hao Pingchuan stared at each other, completely bewildered.

I'm really puzzled.

Seeing that Ximen Lang really wouldn't stop, just because things didn't go his way, he became so dramatic, even taking it out on Lao Luo and Hao Pingchuan.

Bai Ling frowned and stared at Ximen Lang for a long time, but in the end, she still couldn't turn away from the shameless Ximen Lang.

I had no choice but to lower my standards once again.

I tried hard to convince myself.
"Well, it's bound to happen sooner or later anyway. If it doesn't work out, just give in to him. That way, he won't keep causing trouble all the time."

She spoke with a fierce look on her face.

"Okay, whatever you say. As long as Yi-yi agrees, I..."

As they were talking, Ximen Lang was also filled with anticipation.

Gao Cheng rushed in and immediately reported the situation to Lao Luo and Ximen Lang.

"Uncle Luo, Brother Lang, Sister Ling, there's a situation. Our radar has detected a fighter jet heading towards us, about to fly overhead. Initial assessment indicates it's coming from Baldy's direction."

Being interrupted at a crucial moment infuriated Ximen Lang.

Upon hearing the truth of the matter, Ximen Lang immediately exploded.

"Damn it! Why now of all times? They're obviously trying to ruin my plans! Well then, what are we waiting for? Gao Cheng, where the hell are your anti-aircraft guns? Bring them out and shoot them down, you son of a bitch!"

Since Ximen Lang had spoken, Lao Luo and the others had no objections.

Gao Cheng, who was bold, daring, and eager for a thrilling real battle more than anyone else, naturally wouldn't refuse.

Those eyes immediately lit up like lanterns, they were sparkling!

He stood at attention and immediately made his stance clear.

"Yes! I'll shoot it down right now!"

With that, he went to prepare.

Then, a whole minute was wasted.

As an anti-aircraft missile from the guard battalion was launched, the fighter jet, which was clearly no good, was shot down at sea before it even got close to the mainland.

This speed is simply outrageous.

Especially for Lao Luo and Hao Pingchuan, who had never seen this scene before!

"This...so fast? Such a large fighter jet just disappeared?"

"What else did you think? Didn't I tell you the logic of modern warfare a long time ago? Detection equals destruction. Now it's so brightly visible on our detection radar, yet it's flying at a snail's pace. If it doesn't die, who will?"

"I know, but looking at weapon parameters and actual combat, there's a difference. In the past, we had to go to great lengths and still might not be able to keep it. But now, alas, it seems that times have really changed, and we've really fallen behind."

How do you say that?

When the times abandon you, they may not even say goodbye.

That's exactly how Lao Luo feels right now.

It happened so suddenly, so quickly, that in an instant, most of the war experience he had accumulated over most of his life became useless.

How could this not make Lao Luo feel disappointed?

However, Lao Luo quickly put all his disappointment behind him.

It's not because Lao Luo has a stronger will.

After all, no matter how determined you are, it's not easy to get over something like this.

But
"What? There are survivors? Someone jumped off before the missile hit it? What are you waiting for? Where's the helicopter? Fly over there! And our ships, get over there too! Capture them, capture them alive!" (End of Chapter)