HLM – Chapter 718 A Pure White Disc Hanging in the Sky

Housing prices had already replaced Marxism-Leninism as the common language of the new era’s proletariat.

Of course, none of these tourists were actually proletarians. People who could spend tens of thousands to travel abroad surely had deep pockets.

But when it came to housing prices, everyone was still enthusiastic, gathering together to exchange experiences about real estate from different regions.

The cowboys had prepared meat and vegetables by the lakeside, and the barbecue grill was ready to use. Light up the smokeless charcoal, and it was good to go.

Ian connected a blower to the main furnace, and instantly, a huge flame shot up.

“How are we supposed to barbecue with such a big fire?” someone exclaimed.

Chen Luoxian laughed: “This stove isn’t for grilling meat; it’s for making a bonfire. You can’t use firewood on the beach—it’s impossible to clean up afterward. Here, the stove substitutes for firewood.”

“But you can still grill meat,” Wang Bo said. He took a long iron skewer, threaded a piece of pork on it, and rotated it over the flames.

This was a self-service barbecue. Tourists cooked for themselves; Wang Bo didn’t serve them. He grabbed a beer and sat by the lake with Eva, enjoying their private time together.

The tourists were clearly interested in their mayor. Soon, someone came over to chat: “Hi, man. I’m Cao Yanzhong. I do interior design in Beijing. Mind if we chat a bit?”

Wang Bo nodded: “Of course. I’ve stayed in Beijing too. That Line 1 subway really drives you crazy every single day!”

The conversation immediately took off. Cao Yanzhong laughed heartily: “I still take the subway to work every day.”

Someone else chimed in: “It’s still more comfortable in our smaller cities—rarely any traffic jams. Xiao Cao, aren’t you interested in developing somewhere else?”

Cao Yanzhong smiled: “I’ve thought about it. My hometown is a county in the northwest. People are simple, living costs are low, and life pressure is light. Many times, I’ve thought about going back.”

“Then why don’t you?”

He took a slow sip of his drink: “I can go back anytime. But once I go back, I’m afraid I’ll never have the courage to return to Beijing, where the pressure is so high, housing prices so steep, and competition so fierce.”

Wang Bo said: “Exactly! Come on, take a sip for Brother Cao’s insight! Honestly, I wouldn’t dare go back to Beijing myself.”

Several people raised their beer bottles, and soon the women ended up taking over most of the grilling.

The cowboys had to help. They were barbecue masters, moving like eight-armed Nezha, quickly grilling a large pile of beef, lamb, and vegetables.

The night at Gemini Lake was beautiful.

There was almost no wind. The clear night sky sparkled under the moonlight. According to the lunar calendar, it was the fifteenth day of the month. The moon hung large and flawless, shining on the lake as if coated in silver dust.

Occasionally, the wind would rise, creating ripples on the lake. These ripples glimmered silver and made crisp, “whoosh-whoosh” sounds as they lapped against the shore.

From time to time, cormorants and other waterbirds skimmed the water, calling out, making the night feel even more tranquil.

Du Yong looked up at the sky and said: “When I was a child writing essays, I always liked to describe the moon as a pure white disc. Finally, I’ve really seen a pure white disc. In the city, all you get are discs, nothing pure.”

Cao Yanzhong laughed bitterly: “You at least have discs in Magic City. In Beijing? Man, I tell you, you look up and it’s just an oppressive black cloud, pressing down on the city like it might collapse!”

Someone shushed them: “Don’t talk yet. The view is too beautiful.”

A young couple took some barbecue on a plate, along with juice and beer, and went to the dock. Sitting shoulder to shoulder, they seemed perfectly content.

Cao Yanzhong found his wife and asked: “What time is it? Shall we find a private spot?”

A slender beauty glanced at her phone: “Time’s moving fast. It’s eight o’clock.”

“Shall we do it?”

“Are you crazy? There are so many people! And you’re shouting so loud!” His wife anxiously pulled at him.

A group of men burst into laughter. Cao Yanzhong looked helplessly at his wife: “I meant… it’s eight o’clock, shall we?”

She angrily pushed him: “Are you drunk or what? ‘Do it, do it, do it!’ Can’t we do it back at the hotel? Why shout like that?”

Cao Yanzhong snapped: “I meant, it’s eight o’clock sharp, right?”

Wang Bo couldn’t help laughing. Eva didn’t understand and asked, confused: “Why are you all laughing? It really is eight o’clock.”

“Then are you going to do it with the mayor or not?” someone teased.

Chen Luoxian apparently understood the innuendo and scolded: “Don’t go too far. The mayor has a liger. Don’t say I didn’t warn you if you get dragged off at midnight.”

Speaking of the liger, Wang Bo looked back and saw little Wang strutting proudly by the bonfire.

The tourists didn’t know its temperament and dared not provoke it, which made it feel proud and prompted it to intentionally scare people.

That night, the accommodations were in a capsule hotel. Though the space was small, the novelty made tourists accept it happily. Rooms were assigned, and many tried them out first.

Wang Bo patted Cao Yanzhong’s shoulder: “Brother Cao, be careful. These things have terrible soundproofing. If you’re going to ‘do it,’ keep your voice down.”

“I’m staying next to you,” a young man joked mischievously—but he had a girlfriend, who punched him in the stomach.

The young man hurriedly explained with a grin that he was joking. His girlfriend narrowed her eyes: “What joke? Go queue for the bathroom. Call me when it’s your turn; I’ll head back to rest first.”

Eva was surprised: “Why doesn’t she queue herself? How can her boyfriend do it for her? I know men should be gentlemen, but you know, only women are supposed to be in the women’s bathroom.”

Chen Luoxian said: “Don’t worry. All the people queuing in the women’s bathroom are men.”

Eva thought for a moment, shook her head: “I think women should help their husbands or boyfriends queue. Today, the men must be having a harder time. They need a break.”

Chen Luoxian paused, looked at Wang Bo, and whispered: “Alright, now I understand why you, Wang Bo, don’t let go of Miss Eva once you have her.”

Indeed, part of the reason Wang Bo was reluctant to be apart from Eva was that she took such good care of him.

Besides being bad at cooking, Eva handled everything else—helping him think things through and share his burdens. Though she didn’t cook, every week she would bake pastries and desserts for Wang Bo, with a variety of styles.

Back home, Wang Bo had often heard about women abroad emphasizing independence and feminism. But after coming to New Zealand, he realized it wasn’t like that. New Zealand women were more like traditional Chinese women—after marriage, their husbands became their center. Even the prime minister and the Green Party leader were like that.

For instance, now that the barbecue was over, Eva went to direct the cowboys in cleaning up and calculated their overtime pay, all without Wang Bo having to worry about a thing.