Chapter 706: Daily Life

The air of the four seasons is always like early spring; the cold stops at cool, and the heat stops at warm. The temperature difference throughout the four seasons in Dali is not very large, making it quite pleasant.

A breeze in September brushes by, blowing the hair of a beautiful thirty-two-year-old woman. She is wearing loose, casual black jeans, small boots, a white V-neck base layer, and a light, thin green trench coat on the outside. She wears sunglasses, and her long hair dances with the wind.

She stands by the roadside, blocking a silver-white suitcase with her leg, her head lowered as she fiddles with her phone.

Such a scene is very eye-catching. The old drivers, who usually prioritize harmony and wealth, and who become irritable the moment their hands touch the steering wheel, slow down slightly fifty meters before reaching this woman. One car slows, and all cars slow; everyone passes the woman with a tacit understanding. This is men.

Life is life, and one's wife is one's wife, but that never stops a man from appreciating beauty. In this regard, women should be the same; seeing someone handsome, they will always take a few extra looks. This is the common pursuit of beauty among people.

Xu Hongdou, of course, does not notice. After all, the traffic here is smooth, and a slight tap on the brakes is not very obvious. She stands by the street, looking left and right, wanting to wait for a ride. Several cars had passed by earlier, but they couldn't agree on a price, so she didn't take them. Anyway, she has plenty of time on this trip, and it is only morning now, so she is in no rush.

Just as she picks up her phone again to chat with someone, her peripheral vision is blocked by a vehicle.

She looks up and sees a black pickup truck, covered in dust and stains, slowly stopping in front of her. This pickup is very tall, and the cargo bed in the back has been modified and sealed, with a tent frame on top; one look and you can tell it has been on a long journey.

Under her gaze, the passenger window rolls down, and a man with deep eyes, a determined face, and short, scattered hair flying in the wind, wearing a kind smile that gives off a harmless feeling, says cheerfully: "Hi, beauty. I'm going around Erhai Lake. Seeing you like this, you must be here for tourism. Get in, I'll give you a lift."

As he speaks, Wang Yan opens the door and gets out from the driver's seat, goes to the back, and opens the cargo bed: "Put your suitcase here."

Seeing Xu Hongdou looking a bit dazed, he waves his hand and says: "Hey, bring the suitcase over, what are you standing there for? Oh, worried I'm a bad guy? Rest assured, look at all the cameras around here. Look at my license plate; it's not a fake one, see this 'Liao N'? If I were to commit any crime, I wouldn't be able to make it to Dali, and we wouldn't have the fate to meet."

Xu Hongdou waves her hand quickly: "No, no, it's just that you're too enthusiastic, and I didn't react in time. Then I'll trouble you, thank you." She tucks her phone into her pocket and drags her suitcase over.

Wang Yan understands very well that Xu Hongdou actually wants to refuse to get into the car of a stranger like him. This has nothing to do with whether he is a bad guy or not; it is just the caution one should have toward strangers. However, he never asked if Xu Hongdou was willing to get in from the start, and he had already gotten out of the car, leaving Xu Hongdou with no room to refuse. The words he spoke were also quite interesting, his eyes were clear and upright, and he wasn't ugly, so Xu Hongdou, who was out to travel, see the scenery, and see interesting people, naturally had no reason to refuse.

"I understand you; this is very normal. Society is developing rapidly, and interpersonal relationships change rapidly. People maintain distance from each other, and there is an adaptation issue with unfamiliar social interactions. But you might have to adapt a little now, because you are alone. Humans are, after all, social animals; few people can truly do many things alone, especially when out traveling, because there is always scenery to share, right? Relax a little."

Wang Yan lifts her suitcase with one hand: "Whoa, you have quite a lot of stuff. It looks like you plan to stay here for quite a while."

"Why can't it be that I just want to bring everything with me? Traveling is like moving house."

"Because there is a crisp, decisive temperament about you." Wang Yan easily stuffs the suitcase into the cargo bed and closes the door: "Alright, get in."

Arriving in the car, Xu Hongdou looks at the environment inside. In the back seat, there are functional drinks, mineral water, and the like, as well as a computer bag and other various large and small packages, all placed quite casually, though it can't be called messy.

She rubs her hands and asks curiously: "How did you tell I was decisive?"

"The car is a bit dirty, wipe your hands." Wang Yan pulls a tissue from the center console and hands it to her: "As for how I told, it's a matter of experience. When you see enough people and consciously pay attention and analyze, a feeling naturally arises. I believe you have that feeling too, otherwise, why would you have gotten into my car?"

Xu Hongdou smiles faintly. She works as a manager in a hotel and sees many people, so naturally, she has such feelings. Who is easy to talk to and who is difficult to deal with—if she didn't have a count of these things in her heart, her work would be very difficult to do.

Seeing her smile without speaking, Wang Yan operates the controls and starts playing music: "Where are you going? I'll see how to go."

"Yunmiao Village, do you know it?"

"Of course I do. I guess you are going to the 'Windy Courtyard', right? That boss is called... oh, I remember now, Xie Xiaochun, right?"

"Hmm? How did you know?" Xu Hongdou opens her eyes wide, then reacts and asks: "You aren't going there too, are you?"

"What a coincidence." Wang Yan releases the handbrake and starts the car. The modified Raptor pickup enters the main road, driving neither fast nor slow: "That's near the ancient city. I was thinking of taking a detour and driving around a large part of Erhai Lake to get there. If you're not in a rush, we're going the same way. If you are in a rush, I can drop you off at the ancient city first, and you can find a way to get there. I'll go after I finish the loop. What do you say?"

"Forget it. Since it's the same Windy Courtyard, let's go together. Anyway, I was planning to loop Erhai Lake these two days. Everyone says it's a must-do item, and if I don't do it, I feel it won't be complete."

Perhaps because she knows they are staying at the same homestay, her guard is lowered quite a bit. Perhaps Xu Hongdou is just like this by nature; in short, the feeling of talking is much more relaxed.

She says: "My name is Xu Hongdou, how should I address you?"

"Wang Yan."

"You drove all the way from Liaoning Province? That's really amazing."

Wang Yan shakes his head and smiles: "You could say that."

Hmm? Seeing him like this, Xu Hongdou becomes curious: "So, it's not?"

"I set off from Liaoning seven years ago. First, I went around the Northeast, Inner Mongolia, and Xinjiang, then went to Gansu, Ningxia, Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei, etc. Yunnan Province is the last stop."

"Whoa, that's traveling all over China. Really amazing."

Wang Yan waves his hand: "I wouldn't dare say I've traveled all over. China's 9.6 million square kilometers of land—it's not that easy to walk through. It's just that I've been to various large and medium-sized cities and visited famous tourist attractions everywhere, but there are still many places I haven't been to. Truly traveling all over China—that's not something that can be done in just seven years."

"That's still very good. How many people can do what you've done? Hey, that..." Xu Hongdou hesitates for a moment. Although it's a bit taboo, she asks based on the spirit of not being constrained by trifles when out in the world: "I'm being presumptuous, but I'll ask: You've been on a self-driving tour for seven years, and I see this car of yours isn't cheap either. The gas money and tolls along the way aren't small, plus your other expenses for eating, drinking, and having fun—what do you rely on to live?"

"Of course, it's because my family has some money." Wang Yan shakes his head and smiles, explaining: "Actually, it's not particularly wealthy; it's just that my parents left me some family assets, and I understand some financial management, so the returns are not bad. In addition, I also do photography on the road, submit articles to domestic and foreign websites and magazines, and also create some paid photography tutorials, which can also earn some money."

Speaking of which, this drama can be considered relatively normal. There are no disgusting values, and no disgusting female characters; it's just a normal petty-bourgeois literary life, which is acceptable.

According to Xu Hongdou's travel consumption, the cost of staying in a homestay for three months is less than 10,000, and normal expenses are about 3,000 to 5,000 a month, totaling 20,000-plus. Xu Hongdou worked as a manager in a five-star hotel in Beijing, earning 10,000 to 20,000 a month. After working for so many years after graduation, it's normal to save some money, and spending 20,000-plus on a trip is a common occurrence. Throughout the whole drama, the characters don't have any earth-shattering remarks that make people feel disgusted. Overall, it's quite good.

What this drama conveys is also a somewhat literary pursuit of poetry and the distance, or rather, trying to be oneself and living the life one wants. It's not bad.

Xu Hongdou grasps the "parents left some family assets." Money is one aspect, but on the other hand, it's also that this person's parents have passed away. She nods and sighs: "You're living a god-like life; it's really enviable. Unlike us working people, who circle between bosses and clients every day, exhausting our minds and bodies, losing our ideals, losing our direction, and seeing no hope..."

"But there are also people who find value in their work and feel happy. It cannot be generalized."

Just then, the music playing in the car ends, and the next song switches on.

*Are you not very satisfied with life? Haven't laughed for a long time and don't know why. Since you are neither happy nor like it here, why not go west to Dali... *

They are driving on the road around Erhai Lake. Looking to the left, there is the Cangshan Mountain, where the snow never melts all year round. The music playing in the car is "Go to Dali," and the feeling comes right up. The lakeside of Erhai is very lively. Some people are riding bicycles together, talking and laughing; some are driving convertibles and shouting; and some are performing talents on the lakeside, facing mobile phones on stands, shouting for big brothers to click follow...

Xu Hongdou opens the car window and lies on it, letting the wind blow her hair. The car speed is not fast, and the feeling is just right. She closes her eyes contentedly, enjoying the feeling of this moment.

Wang Yan shakes his head and smiles, his left hand resting on the window frame to support his chin, his right hand controlling the shiny, polished rosewood steering wheel. The "Living Father" knew he liked this set, so he took care of his good son and modified the entire Raptor from the inside out. The interior decoration is exquisite and harmonious, forming two worlds with the wild exterior.

After a long while, Xu Hongdou comes back to her senses and looks at the stranger beside her who is holding the steering wheel with one hand: "Sorry, I was distracted just now."

"So, did you come here because you are not very satisfied with life? Or were you hurt by love and came here to relax?"

"You said you have a feeling because you've seen many people, so guess?"

Wang Yan pretends to ponder, thinks for a moment, and says: "I guess it's love."

Xu Hongdou smiles and says: "Wrong. It seems your feeling isn't that accurate."

"Love doesn't specifically refer to the hurt of romantic love. There is romantic love, family love, and friendship. I guess it's because of friendship."

Hearing Wang Yan's statement, Xu Hongdou's eyes widen, and she is a bit incredulous: "You can tell this too?"

"The eyes are the windows to the soul. I saw it in your eyes. The sadness of these three is not the same, and the behaviors, actions, and words expressed are also different. I have no way to accurately tell you the difference between them with words."

Xu Hongdou feels very surprised and gives a thumbs up: "Amazing."

After speaking, she picks up her phone and fiddles with it. Looking at her finger movements, she is chatting with someone. After a while, she asks: "Do you mind being in the frame?"

"Of course not."

Xu Hongdou picks up her phone and says while filming: "I am now by Erhai Lake. Look, there are so many people here, it's very lively. This one here is a kind-hearted person I met by chance who booked the same homestay as me. He is from Liaoning, has been on a self-driving tour for seven years, has traveled all over China, and is also a photographer... Over there is the Cangshan Mountain, where the snow never melts all year round. In a couple of days, I'll climb up and show you."

When filming herself, Wang Yan cooperates very well, turning his head to show his face and greeting with a bright, sunny smile. He is thirty years old in the real world and thirty years old here, but who isn't a thirty-year-old teenager?

After chatting for a while and saying a few more idle words with Wang Yan, Xu Hongdou sighs and asks: "How long are you staying here?"

"I've been to most places in Yunnan. Only Dali and Lijiang are left. I might not stay long, or I might just stay here. Who knows?"

"Stay?"

Wang Yan nods: "I think the environment here is good, the climate is quite nice, and it's a famous tourist attraction with many tourists. Maybe I'll open a homestay, or a bar, coffee shop, or teahouse, and read books and newspapers every day—that would also have a different feeling. After all, I've been walking for seven years, and I'm thirty this year. Perhaps it's time to stop and retire early. But I don't know exactly what I'll do; it's just that this idea has suddenly come to my mind recently and won't go away. Before, I always wanted to travel the world, but at that time, I hadn't even walked through the land under my feet, so what was the point of thinking about the world? So I started a national self-driving tour. But after these seven years, I feel a bit tired and don't want to walk anymore. To use your words from before, I've lost my direction. I don't even know what I should do next. A duckweed wanderer has no roots, and I don't know where my home is..."

Xu Hongdou sighs long and doesn't speak. She feels a bit embarrassed because she senses that Wang Yan's mood is a bit low, and he brought up the "duckweed wanderer" thing, thinking he was thinking of his deceased parents and his hometown he didn't want to return to.

Wang Yan shakes his head and smiles: "Let's not talk about it; it's making the atmosphere a bit dull. Come, let's change the song and change the mood. 'Colors of the South'—oh, no, this song doesn't have Erhai and Cangshan. This one does: 'Dream Back to Yunnan'. Go!"

He operates the screen, swipes twice to find the song, and clicks play. Passionate and dynamic music rings out, and the singing echoes.

*Want to fly over that Erhai and Cangshan, fly up that Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, fly to that heaven on earth, watch the sunset redden the blue sky... *

Xu Hongdou listens to this ordinary song with a smile. Her evaluation is: "Not as good as 'Colors of the South'."

"I also say it's not as good as 'Colors of the South', but just for the first two lines that fit the scene, let's listen to it." Wang Yan also smiles and says: "Actually, I should take a couple of photos of you. But it's not urgent; anyway, you'll be staying here for a while, so we can do it when we have time in a few days."

Xu Hongdou pauses and asks: "You aren't pulling me along just to be your model, are you?"

"At first, I did have that idea. You're beautiful, and you have a fairy-like aura, so you're just right. But after knowing we were in the same homestay, I wasn't in a rush; you can't run away."

"Sure enough, there's no such thing as a free lunch in the world."

"Look at what you're saying, as if I have ulterior motives. My photography skills are quite good; you won't lose out. Go on Weibo and search my name, and you'll know."

Xu Hongdou picks up her phone again, operating it as Wang Yan said. She wanted to ask earlier, but she was in a bad mood, and now that Wang Yan brought it up, she naturally wants to see what level a person who can sell photos and courses is at. For things they don't understand well, people are always curious.

This, of course, was arranged by the "Living Father." After all, how could someone who has traveled all over the country not have any photos? Everything was arranged according to the persona of a traveler and his skills. The "Living Father" is always so thoughtful; he can always trust the "Living Father."

The shoreline of Erhai Lake is 117 kilometers long. Yunmiao Village, a village that doesn't exist in reality but only in this world, is not very far from the ancient city, about 90 kilometers away.

Wang Yan maintains a steady speed of 60, chatting and laughing with Xu Hongdou, looking at the scenery leisurely, and it takes less than two hours to arrive at Yunmiao Village. He parks the car near the village committee, where the terrain is flat and open.

Not to mention the large Raptor he is driving, even a regular small car wouldn't be able to drive any further. It's all small alleys, and cars can't get in.

After getting out of the car, Xu Hongdou looks at the surrounding environment and nods seriously: "This place is not bad. It wasn't in vain that I spent so long flipping through travel posts. It's just that this place is a bit remote, which is why so few people come here. Come, great photographer, take a photo of the model? I'll send it to the family group for them to see."

Two hours clearly wasn't spent in vain; they can now be considered friends who can chat.

Wang Yan smiles and takes the Huawei phone she handed over, opens the camera, adjusts it to professional mode, directs her to pose, and takes a series of photos.

His photography skills are quite good. After all, he practiced specifically in his previous world to entertain Wei Lan and take videos of cats and dogs, reaching LV4 level. His spirit broke through, and the regression of long-unused skills was basically solved, so his techniques and experience were preserved. He is at the upper level of LV4 and could break through to master level if he tried.

Just as one was posing happily and the other was smiling and taking photos, a woman wearing a denim suit, a white short-sleeved shirt inside, and short hair tied in a ponytail came running over from afar.

From a distance, she showed a smiling face: "Are you Wang Yan and Xu Hongdou? How is it? Is the scenery here not bad?"

From afar, she showed a smiling face: "Is it Wang Yan, Xu Hongdou? How is it, the scenery here is not bad?"