Chapter 36: Lover's Wall

Wei Ming's salary hadn't been paid, and *Harvest*'s manuscript fee hadn't been given either. Fortunately, there was the 15 yuan from *Story Monthly* and the two-yuan daily subsidy; otherwise, he would have had to borrow money to go shopping.

They went to the Modu Great World first.

This place was once hailed as the "Far East's Number One Club" and had been brilliant for a time. Feuds, love, betrayal—many stories of the old era happened here.

Now it had changed its name to "People's Playground," and suddenly it had no murderous aura. Xu Wenqiang fighting a bloody battle against Ding Li in the People's Playground—was that appropriate?

It seemed it wouldn't change back until the late 80s.

There was food to eat, games to play, and theaters to watch plays or farces. Cross-talk didn't have much of a market here; it wasn't as good as Pingtan.

Of course, shopping was indispensable. The products in the mall were very dazzling. Wei Ming carried his bag, prepared to buy gifts for Xile here.

At noon, they came out of the Great World, bought some things, and filled their stomachs.

Wei Ming was eating many of the Modu specialty snacks inside for the first time. In his past life, when he came to Modu, he ate at big hotels and rarely had the chance to see this kind of local specialty.

Although the food here was on the sweet side, Wei Ming could adapt; after all, he could be salty or sweet.

In the Great World, Professor Qu also took a solo photo of Wei Ming. There was only one group photo of the three, after all, it was troublesome to ask passersby.

Afterward, they went to Yu Garden. Although this Ming Dynasty garden hadn't fully recovered its former style, this kind of classical garden was still very suitable for taking pictures.

Wei Ming suggested that he take a group photo for Professor Qu and Chen Chong. At first, Professor Qu was still worried.

"You can also take pictures?"

More than just take them, please call me Teacher Wei!

Wei Ming held this classic Seagull 4a camera and said: "When you wash it out later, you'll know how good I am. It's a pity you didn't bring a silk scarf."

Middle-aged women couldn't take pictures without a silk scarf, just like Shijiazhuang couldn't be without authentic Anhui beef noodles.

Wei Ming very professionally asked them to find angles and pose, and even attracted other passersby.

Although the specific effect couldn't be seen yet, Wei Ming looked very much like the real thing, and even young couples specifically asked him to take pictures. Wei Ming could be considered to have had a taste of being a photography master.

When he had money in the future, he must buy a camera!

Although Yu Garden was now open to the outside, the City God Temple next door was still a mess and had nothing to see.

So next, they went directly to the most famous Bund in Modu.

Turning from Renmin Road, they saw the Bund. Across the Huangpu River was the yet-to-be-developed Pudong.

At this moment, there were no Oriental Pearl Tower, Jin Mao Tower, or Shanghai World Financial Center on the opposite side. In ancient times, this area was a salt field. Now looking at it, there were some small factories, but it had nothing to do with prosperity and still belonged to the countryside.

Wei Ming imagined that if he got a piece of land in Pudong now, maybe there would be a "Wei Ming No. 1" in the future.

The three walked forward all the way, passing No. 5 Bund, No. 12 Bund, and finally arriving at No. 18 Bund.

Because of that song, Wei Ming was a little curious about this place. When he came in his past life, there were many luxury specialty stores inside.

Now, this place was called the "Chunjiang Building," and units like the Shanghai Aquatic Products Bureau were stationed inside.

And next to No. 18 Bund was the famous "Peace Hotel," which already had a history of more than 70 years.

Now this place was still a hotel, but it was relatively expensive, mainly for foreign guests and overseas Chinese to consume.

The buildings here all had characteristics, and the three took many pictures, mainly Wei Ming helping them take them.

There was also a Lover's Wall in this area of the Bund. Wei Ming had brought a little girl here in his past life. Actually, there was nothing to see. In this day and age, venues for dating were very scarce. There was certainly no place at home, and the parks were occupied by grandpas and grandmas, so a flood-control wall on the Bund became a place where young couples lingered. Over time, it got the name "Lover's Wall," all out of helplessness.

Gong Ying was also very curious about the Lover's Wall: "I don't know if our brother and sister came here when they were dating."

She insisted on pulling her second sister to watch the fun. Gong Ying said helplessly: "They are all men and women; what's there to see? Are you still going to sketch or not?"

"I also have to pick a good position. Just here." Gong Ying picked a position, first conceiving for a long time facing the river—no feeling—then turned direction, prepared to paint the old buildings across the road.

Gong Ying stood facing the river blowing the wind. The audition for *Lushan Love* at the Shanghai Er Yingchang failed. When she returned to Jingcheng, she didn't know if the Beijing Er Yingchang would have a chance. Becoming famous at the Beijing Er Yingchang and then being noticed and transferred back by the Shanghai Er Yingchang was also a path.

Just thinking about it, Gong Ying touched her.

"Sister, it seems there's a tall guy looking at you over there."

"How do you know he's not looking at you?" Gong Ying smiled, turned her head, and then saw Wei Ming and the two aunts.

Wei Ming waved at her. At first, he just thought she looked familiar; he didn't expect it was really her!

Modu was very big, but also very small.

!

"Sister, do you know him?" Gong Ying's gaze shifted between the two, as if she smelled a special aura.

Wei Ming walked over with his long legs.

"Oh, Little Ying, let me introduce you. This is a friend I met on the train, Comrade Wei Ming, a writer from Jingcheng. This is my sister, Gong Ying."

That she could admit Wei Ming was a friend made Brother Ming very happy.

"Writer?" Gong Ying curiously sized up the young-looking Wei Ming, "Do you have any works?"

Wei Ming: "*The Toothless Tiger*."

"Ah, so you wrote that fairy tale~" Gong Ying had told it to her nephew before, but her sister met the author of an article in a magazine she bought on the train?

Are you sure he's not a liar? This probability is too small!

Knowing what Gong Ying was thinking, Gong Ying added: "Comrade Wei Ming's other novel is about to be published in *Harvest*."

"What! *Harvest*?" Gong Ying was shocked by this title. Was it that *Harvest* that her father, mother, and eldest brother regarded as the Bible?

The more she heard, the more unreliable it sounded. Sister, are you sure you didn't meet a liar? You have to be careful. Although you are poor, you are good-looking!

At this time, Professor Qu and Sister Chen Chong also came over. They didn't expect Wei Ming to have friends in Modu, and they were all very pretty.

Wei Ming briefly introduced the sisters to the two, then said: "This is Professor Qu Yude from Peking University, and this is Teacher Chen Chong, a writer from Jingcheng. We are all staying at the Writers Association guesthouse. We had time today, so we came out to stroll."

The age and temperament of these two were very much like the real thing, which was quite convincing. The two sisters greeted politely, and Gong Ying basically believed it.

Seeing Gong Ying carrying a drawing board to sketch, Wei Ming didn't disturb her much and left after chatting for a few words.

Once people left, Gong Ying immediately asked: "Sister, how old is that writer?"

"Not clear~"

"Really not clear? I think he's at most twenty-one or twenty-two."

"Whatever."

"Then where is he from? Who else is in his family? How much is his monthly salary..."

(Today's second update will be a bit late)

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 37 =====