I'll wait for you amidst the romance of nature.

After I explained the reason to Coach Ma, he didn't say anything more. However, Bai Lu seemed to sense something and asked me, "What were you talking about just now? I was completely confused."

I briefly recounted to Bailu the whole story of how Sun Jiwei later had someone deliver this "Certificate of Compliance for Wastewater Discharge".

She frowned and said, "Michael, we might have offended someone a bit in this matter."

"What do you mean by that?"

"They offered to help you out, but you refused; then you did the same thing yourself, even though the process was different, the result was the same. So why not do them a favor? He works for the Environmental Protection Bureau, and if we want to expand our guesthouse in Dali in the future, we'll inevitably have to deal with him!"

Coach Ma replied on my behalf, "Even if Michael offended someone, he saved his wife and children. The good outweighs the bad, right?!"

"You can't calculate social interactions like that... You two are just too straightforward."

Bai Lu glanced at Lao Mi, who had been standing to the side, then realized it wasn't appropriate to say so much in front of him. She whispered to us, "Let's not talk about this now. I'll treat Sun Jiwei to a meal another day. You two should put in a good word for him. Just say that the work group found out about this online. Don't say it was our idea... otherwise, it'll really offend people!"

Coach Ma replied coldly, "I'm not going. You can go by yourself."

After Coach Ma finished speaking, he picked up the electric drill and started working on the work he had just finished. Bai Lu looked a little embarrassed, and there was a hint of pain on her face.

Having lived in Shanghai for so long, I understand the ways of the workplace to some extent, so after a little thought, I understood. I comforted Bai Lu, "Don't worry, I don't think Sun Jiwei is that petty. I'll treat him to a meal another day. Let's not bring this up with him; maybe he doesn't even care. However, since Chongren delivered the wastewater discharge permit the next day, we should accept his kindness and thank him properly."

Bai Lu nodded and accepted my suggestion. Then she went to Coach Ma's side and helped him with some odd jobs.

……

I led Lao Mi to the guest room and helped him settle in. Then I said to him, "Dad, you should rest for a while. I still have some things to take care of at the inn... I'll take you for a stroll around the ancient city tonight."

"Wait a minute, I have something to ask you."

I stopped in my tracks.

He added, "I just heard that girl (Bai Lu) say that your inn has an investment of nearly one million. Where did you get so much money?"

Because of Wang Lei's profession, I had never let him or my mother know that Wang Lei existed. At this moment, I didn't want to cause any more trouble, so I replied, "It was an investment by a few friends. Actually, it's only about 20 yuan per person. I've also saved some money myself over the years."

"I know your income and expenses very well; how could you possibly save so much money!"

I replied smoothly, "I borrowed some more from Xiaoye... so you believe she supports my decision to stay here and build my career, right?"

Old Mi frowned, and after a long pause, replied, "Last night, Old Huang from your company called me again, saying that the product manager position is still reserved for you... You've endured so many years in Shanghai, isn't this all you've been waiting for?... Now that your inn is open, I can't persuade you to ask for the money back. So, let's compromise. You can continue operating the inn, but you have to go back to Shanghai. Consider this an investment... I see your inn has quite a few people; it can keep going even without you."

I complained, annoyed, "Why does Old Huang keep calling you for no reason!"

"This proves that they value you and are nurturing you as a talented individual!"

"Did you tell him that I have a girlfriend here?"

Old Mi paused for a moment, then replied, "Why would I talk about this with someone for no reason?"

"The next time he calls you, tell him about this and see if he still tries to persuade me to go back to the company."

"What kind of talk is that?"

Old Mi had no idea what had happened, and I wasn't in the mood to explain, so I changed the subject and pleaded, "Dad... please don't mention going back to Shanghai anymore, okay?... I was the one who spearheaded this inn, and now I'm saying I'm just walking away? What will people think?... When we're doing business together, sincerity is the most important thing. I didn't tell them I was just an investor, that I'd only take a small share and then go back to Shanghai; if I had said that earlier, they wouldn't have invested so much money. They came because they trusted me."

"There's no room for discussion... You can't just give up such a great job in Shanghai like that."

I can't tell you.

"Michael, if you don't listen to us, I'll have your mother come over too. We'll eat and drink in Dali and see what you can do."

I was really angered, and the next moment I stormed out, slamming the door behind me.

……

I sat alone by the infinity pool, lit a cigarette, and felt especially lonely. This loneliness stemmed from the lack of understanding from my closest relatives. I had already presented him with the excellent situation of the inn, but he still stubbornly believed that returning to Shanghai to work as a product manager was the best way out for me.

At that moment, I thought of the woman who had taken Lu Jia's number. She had told me: If I told my parents about my suffering in Shanghai and my happiness in Dali, and they didn't forgive or understand me, it would only prove that they were selfish, and I could stop taking their pressure seriously.

But can I really just stand by and watch my parents suffer?

I can't do it, because their suffering is because of me. Regardless of whether they are right or wrong, as their child, I have to try to understand them.

Unlike Yang Sisi, I'm past the age of being willful. I'm also the sole breadwinner of my family, and I need to consider the overall harmony of the family. If I really break ties with them completely because of this, who can they rely on for the rest of their lives?

……

Around noon, Tie Nan returned from GG Company. He said the signboard issue was settled and the workers would come to install it that afternoon. Afterward, I also told him the good news that the inn would be able to open in November.

This guy's hand, holding the cigarette, was trembling with excitement...

I felt even more alone. Why did everyone else see the potential of this inn's opening and rejoice so wildly? Yet Old Mi treated Shanghai like a goldmine, forcing me to go back and repeat those oppressive days. To yearn for those towering buildings, yet not a single apartment belonged to me—a mirage of a dream?

Once Tie Nan had calmed down from his euphoria, I lit a cigarette and said to him, "I just ordered takeout. Take it up to my dad later."

Why didn't you deliver it yourself?

"They're having a tiff."

"Are you still forcing me to go back to Shanghai?"

"That's right! ...With him making such a fuss, this matter is almost unsolvable!"

"You're not really going back to Shanghai, are you?"

I looked at Tie Nan with a confused expression and replied, "Let's take it one step at a time. I've tried everything I can." After a slight pause, I added, "Wait here for a bit. I'll go outside and buy him some braised meat and wine. He has a habit of having a drink or two at noon."

……

Before we knew it, it was afternoon. The people from GG Company arrived with the newly made inn sign. Coach Ma, Tie Nan, and I worked tirelessly for them, doing all the heavy work without complaint, because this sign, which didn't seem to cost much, was of great significance to us.

Of the three of us, Tie Nan was the most ritualistic. After the signboard was installed, he insisted on holding an unveiling ceremony and required everyone in the guesthouse to be present to witness this historic moment.

So, Bai Lu was called back from the bar, and Yang Sisi also returned to the inn ahead of schedule from the hotel where she was receiving training.

The five of us stood in a line under the sign, and Tie Nan set up his phone next to us to video chat with Tao Zi, who was far away in Shanghai.

I wanted Lao Mi to come and see this too, but unfortunately, he didn't see it as a career at all. He preferred to stroll along the shore of Erhai Lake rather than come here to share this special moment with us.

Coach Ma somehow got hold of firecrackers, and just as I was removing the red cloth covering the signboard, the firecrackers he lit flew into the sky.

Amidst the explosions, our dreams seemed to blossom on this land of Dali...

Thousands of kilometers away, peaches were applauding us, and I was so immersed in this joyful and expectant atmosphere that I couldn't contain myself...

I've forgotten what kind of expression I have at this moment, but I keep thinking about many people, especially Wang Lei and Lu Jia.

If it weren't for Wang Lei's relentless encouragement and selfless material support, I wouldn't have come to Dali; if Lu Jia hadn't chosen to break up with me, I wouldn't have come to Dali either. So, in a way, they both acted as my guides to Dali.

I am grateful to Wang Lei and do not want to hate Lu Jia, so the only thing I can do is to live well on this land and live my own life, instead of letting a house wear down the natural human instinct to pursue freedom.

……

Before things had completely calmed down, a car I'd never seen before pulled up in front of the inn, and the person who got out was none other than Sun Jiwei, whom Bailu and I had been talking about earlier that day. He clapped as he walked towards us…

After coming to my side, he said with a big smile, "Brother, congratulations on the official opening of your inn today... I've already heard about your situation from my colleagues, so I'm even more congratulatory on getting that precious spot."

"Thank you. Without the discharge permit you provided, things wouldn't have gone so smoothly..."

"I only did small things."

I smiled and replied, "This is no small matter for us... I was just talking about this with Sister Bailu. Now that you're here, you absolutely have to give me a chance to treat you to a meal."

"Please don't be so polite with me. I haven't properly thanked you for what you did last time... I booked a table at a hotel in Haidong before I came. You'll all come with me to Haidong later, and I'll treat you all to a nice meal."