National Tide 1980.

If we divide them by region, girls from Beijing certainly have a unique personality that distinguishes them from girls from other regions.

Especially in this era, before the Republic was completely eroded by the torrent of materialism, the characteristics of girls in Beijing were not only obvious but also universal.

Generally speaking, you'll rarely hear praise from girls in Beijing; instead, you'll hear more discouraging criticisms.

The strike was so precise, so thorough, so lifelike.

So much so that even those who were being criticized couldn't help but feel from the bottom of their hearts that they were right and were amazed by their insight.

Don't be fooled by the sharp tongue and ruthless nature of girls from the capital; they are actually quite noble in real life.

In Beijing, since the founding of the People's Republic of China, there has been no tradition of bride price for daughters' marriages.

In the words of people in Beijing, "I only marry off my daughters, I don't sell them."

Girls in the capital city don't really like romantic talk, and you rarely hear anyone say "I love you" or similar sentimental things when they're in love. They certainly wouldn't call their husbands "husband" like palace maids would call eunuchs.

When it comes to doing things, girls from the capital can be a bit domineering, unreasonable, and like to follow their own feelings.

But look at what they do. Generally speaking, even their most domineering behavior has a touch of righteousness about it.

Especially when it comes to money, they won't suffer losses, but they will never take advantage of others, and they have no habit of asking others for money or things.

If a girl from the capital helps you, she will never ask for anything in return.

But on the other hand, if you help them once, they will definitely remember your kindness. They will definitely buy you a gift or treat you to a meal to make you feel at ease.

And so, because Xiao Tao acted as a protector, he escorted three girls in distress from the bar back to their hotel, Zhaolong Hotel, at around 1 a.m.

The next day at noon, when the drunk girl had mostly sobered up, she finally remembered the scene of being rescued the night before.

Feeling both frightened and grateful, she wanted to repay Xiao Tao.

She pulled Liu Mei aside and started talking about it with another colleague.

"Meizi, that guy last night was my savior! If it weren't for him, I almost would have been kidnapped. Hey, you know him, right? Why don't you give him a call and ask if he's free today?"

The girl who went to rescue the man with Liu Mei nodded vigorously beside her: "That's right, thanks to them, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable. Besides, that foreigner pushed Meizi, and they even fought back for us and avenged her. We have to thank them properly. We must treat them to a meal; we have to call them out no matter what."

Liu Mei was so persuaded by the two that she couldn't refuse and agreed that it made sense, so she had no choice but to bite the bullet, open her contacts, and call Xiao Tao.

When I called, her tone was a little awkward, but she tried her best to be polite.

"Hey, are you up yet?"

"I'm up, I've been up for a while." In fact, Xiao Tao's people were already busy with important business at the taxi company.

"Then did you recognize who I am?"

"Of course I could tell."

"who am I?"

"Liu Mei, of course," Xiao Tao said dismissively.

Liu Mei, however, seemed not to have caught the sarcasm in his tone.

"Okay, it's alright."

"What do you mean 'okay'?"

"You're alright."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you're praising me. Thanks for what happened yesterday."

"You're praising me? It feels so unreal. Besides, you already thanked me yesterday."

"Look at you, we're really sincere. Yesterday we only thanked you verbally, but a few of us would like to treat you to a meal. When would be a convenient time for you today?"

"You're treating me to dinner?" Xiao Tao was taken aback; she was indeed a little surprised.

But after thinking about it, he realized he couldn't avoid Liu Mei's bad temper, and besides, she had only arrived this afternoon and had a lot on her plate, so he declined, saying, "I think we should forget about it. I appreciate your kind intentions. We're just not compatible, so let's not see each other again..."

"You're really getting carried away."

Xiao Tao's refusal made Liu Mei a little anxious, feeling that she had lost face.

"Listen, it's not just me inviting you; it's me and those two girls inviting you together. If you don't go, you're disrespecting the three of us..."

The moment Xiao Tao heard a few kind words, the tone changed drastically, making her feel that Liu Mei had revealed her true colors.

The image of the once lively and youthful beauty has changed, and now a little aunt with her hands on her hips, glaring angrily at him, seems to have reappeared before his eyes.

Xiao Tao chuckled on the other end of the phone, deliberately trying to annoy this proud young lady.

He suddenly decided to deliberately create a difficult problem for Liu Mei.

"You really want to invite me? Sure. Seven o'clock tonight, please. But let me make this clear, I'm not going to any fancy hotels or Western restaurants. I hate places with lots of rules and people who spend money to show off. And don't try to be sophisticated with me. To be honest, I just love Beijing snacks. How about the Donghuamen Night Market? They have everything there: douzhi (fermented mung bean juice), guanchang (stuffed sausage), luzhu (stewed offal), baodu (tripe), mutton skewers, chageda (stir-fried dough pieces), dalian huoshao (stuffed pancakes)... If you're really serious about inviting me, then let's meet there."

He assumed that Liu Mei would immediately reject the food stalls, which he thought were full of rustic charm and were too dirty and vulgar.

But to his surprise, Liu Mei paused for a moment, turned around and said something to the other two girls, and the three of them agreed without hesitation.

"Okay, let's go to Donghuamen Night Market then. See you at Donghuamen at 7 pm. It's on us."

Xiao Tao was stunned on the spot.

Well, it seems he really can't not go now.

As evening fell, the Donghuamen Night Market was bustling with people, warmly lit, and steaming everywhere. But the weather did not improve; a light drizzle began to fall in the cold wind, just as cold as it had been in the early hours of the morning when it rained.

The three girls who had arranged to meet Xiao Tao arrived on time and waited for her at Donghua Gate.

Then, following Xiao Tao all the way to the night market, they volunteered to squeeze into the food stalls separately, enthusiastically buying Xiao Tao what he wanted to eat.

The Donghuamen Night Market of this era still sells the same things as before, and they are indeed all Beijing snacks.

The three girls were very sincere and agreed exactly as Xiao Tao instructed. They wanted to buy lamb and chicken skewers from the barbecue stall with the "Manhan Barbecue" sign, cream cakes and meat-filled flatbreads from the Nanlaishun stall, almond tea from Li Ji Tea House, sausage from the Fengnian Snack Shop, braised pork offal from Xiaochangchen, spiced spare ribs from Wufangzhai, and vegetarian assortment from the Gongdelin stall...

But in reality, queuing like that was a really unpleasant experience. The three girls were exhausted and squeezed around quite a bit.

Tao, who hadn't lifted a finger, was smoking on the sidelines. As he watched, he gradually felt sorry for her, and his intention to deliberately make things difficult for her slowly dissipated.

So, after the three girls finished their first round of queuing to buy things, Xiao Tao stopped testing them and took over the task herself.

His way of buying things was certainly different from that of the girls.

Don't forget, Ning Weimin owns quite a few stalls in the Donghuamen area.

Luo Guangliang and Xiao Tao were the people who collected rent on behalf of Ning Weimin every month.

In addition, the tricycle drivers that Xiao Tao was in charge of started to make a living around the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Beihai Park and Shichahai after they were forcibly relocated from the Temple of Heaven Park. Donghuamen was one of the places they came to every day.

So, in reality, Donghuamen was like the Temple of Heaven Park under the old director's management to Xiao Tao. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it was his private plot. He knew everyone there so well that he had a lot of privileges.

If he wants to buy something to eat, he doesn't need to queue. He just needs to say so, and they'll prioritize taking his order. Plus, many shops are reluctant to accept his money.

Especially the barbecue stall, which he actually managed for Ning Weimin. The people who came to work there every day were chefs who had left the Tangong Restaurant.

When they saw him coming, they not only set aside someone specifically to grill for them, but they also grilled items that were not sold to the public: grilled corn, grilled garlic, grilled peppers, and grilled pork belly.

And so, Xiao Tao wandered around the various stalls by himself, and soon ordered everything that his group wanted to eat.

That's not all. Because he had also become familiar with the people at the tobacco and liquor store next door, he was able to find a warm and sheltered place to sit down and have a meal.

He bought a bottle of baijiu and a few bottles of beer from the shop owner, set up a small table and a few chairs in front of the shop, and soon displayed a dazzling array of food.

His ability to host a banquet right on the street left several girls speechless.

Enough with the chit-chat, let's get started!
The cream-filled fried cakes were fresh out of the fryer, so hot that the girls hissed and gasped for breath, but they couldn't bear to put them down.

The sugar triangles ooze sugar when bitten into, and everyone's mouths are glistening with delight as they eat them.

Sausage dipped in garlic sauce, tripe with sesame sauce, braised pork offal steaming hot, and grilled skewers sprinkled with secret seasoning—they ate with more relish than anyone else.

It was a good time, as it was completely dark and the night market was bustling with activity amidst the flickering lights.

This further fueled their enthusiasm for eating and drinking to their heart's content.

One word: Beautiful!
However, as they ate, Xiao Tao was dumbfounded, because the girls could not only eat, but also drink, chugging beer straight from the bottle without hesitation.

"You guys are really not shy at all, you really treat me like one of your own?"

Xiao Tao was astonished to see several pretty girls eating heartily without any regard for their image; he felt he had truly seen something new today.

It's worth noting that these three girls are all flight attendants for Air China. The one who went to rescue people with Liu Mei yesterday is named Xu Chen, and the one who got drunk and was harassed by foreigners is named Song Yaxin.

They were all so delicate in appearance and so elegant in demeanor that their current image of eating carefree and unrestrainedly on the roadside is a stark contrast.

Unexpectedly, these girls really didn't care.

Xu Chen laughed as he ate his kebabs.

"Why wouldn't we eat? We grew up in Beijing, so our appetites are naturally like this. Flying every day, eating either airplane food or Western food, that's what you call suffering."

Song Yaxin nodded, "That's right, this is still the most reliable. Come on, bro, let's have a toast."

Xiao Tao then truly realized that the three flight attendants in front of him were not the aloof, ostentatious girls he had imagined.

Conversely, the same applies; the girls' perception of Xiao Tao has also undergone a new breakthrough.

Snowflakes drifted gently down, and a table was set with steaming hot snacks. Several girls watched the bustling street scene with smiles, their warm and happy eating making them feel cozy. Even the way they looked at Xiao Tao was different now.

Everyone initially thought he was just a taxi driver, but now they realize he's both humorous and capable, unlike ordinary people.

Especially Liu Mei, sitting to the side, silently watched Xiao Tao greet and chat with various stall owners. She was efficient and righteous, without any pretense or affectation.

She suddenly realized that her previous impressions of him seemed to be entirely based on prejudice.

And so, the small feast was a delight for both host and guests, even more enjoyable than a grand banquet.

Even after the girls hailed a taxi and returned to the Zhaolong Hotel that evening, they still felt a bit unsatisfied.

Even after they entered the house, Song Yaxin and Xu Chen were still chattering away.

"Let me tell you, Meizi, this Xiao Tao is really great. He doesn't talk much, but he's energetic, responsible, and he looks pretty cool, like Ken Takakura."

"Exactly, he's incredibly manly, generous, and doesn't hold grudges at all. Especially since he has so many friends; so many people in Tung Wah Men know him. He's just like a big brother in a Hong Kong movie. If I didn't have a boyfriend, I would definitely give it a try."

Hearing them say that, Liu Mei was inexplicably unhappy. "You guys are shameless. Let me tell you, don't even think about him. He's my friend's boyfriend."

Little did she know that her words would have been better left unsaid, as they instead provoked a joint resistance from Xu Chen and Song Yaxin.

Because of the drinks they had over today, they managed to get some information out of Xiao Tao, roughly understanding his feud with Liu Mei, and naturally, they also learned about Sang Jing's situation.

"Give me a break. Your friend's boyfriend? Your friend changed her mind as soon as she went abroad and has already forgotten about him. She hasn't contacted him for months, which says it all. He even spent money to send her abroad and kept sending her money. How many men these days would do that? Your friend is really clueless; she doesn't even appreciate such a good man."

Song Yaxin nodded in agreement, her tone full of agreement with Xu Chen's point of view.

"Absolutely! Don't let Tao's fierce words fool you; he's more sentimental than anyone else. Even knowing the other person is cold towards him, he still cares so much. He even uses money he earns in China to support someone in America—I've never heard of such a thing. A man who's good at fighting, reliable, and loyal is truly rare. Your friend is really foolish to do something so heartless; she'll regret it sooner or later."

As he was talking, Xu Chen suddenly slapped his forehead.

"By the way, my second aunt has an older sister who's single. What do you think about introducing her to my sister? She's a radio announcer, and quite pretty. She should be a good match for Xiao Tao, right?"

Hearing the other party say that, Xiao Tao seemed to have become a hot commodity. Liu Mei's heart skipped a beat, and she didn't say anything for a long time, only letting out a soft sigh.

That night, it was already past midnight, but she couldn't fall asleep at all while lying in bed.

Images of Xiao Tao kept flashing through my mind—his back as he stood up for her in the bar, his confident demeanor in the night market where everyone gave him face, and the contrast between his sharp tongue and his practical actions.

But what was even clearer for her was the dinner party before Sang Jing went abroad, and the conflict between herself and Xiao Tao.

That day, the group of people at the table were having a lively time, but Xiao Tao's face was as cold as ice, and she would turn her face away whenever she saw her.

Liu Mei felt awkward but was too lazy to pay attention to him. Instead, she spoke to her best friend, "Sang Jing, when you get to America, you have to take good care of yourself. It's not like China; you have to rely on yourself for everything."

Xiao Tao immediately scoffed, her tone full of resistance and sarcasm.

"Don't pretend to be kind. If you're really worried about her safety, why are you encouraging her to go out? Don't give me that. Sang Jing and I can't be together now, and it's all your fault."

Liu Mei didn't argue any further. She just silently took out a Walkman that she had saved up to buy and handed it to Sang Jing, afraid that she would be lonely and bored abroad.

She turned her head and glared fiercely at Xiao Tao.

"You're a grown man, all you do is whine. If you're really capable, go abroad with her and don't let her suffer working hard overseas. Saying anything else is useless."

These words seemed to have struck a nerve with Xiao Tao.

With the bluntness, stubbornness, and anger unique to people from the lower class, he uttered each word harshly in her face.

"You're a woman, all you do is sow discord. Have some decency. Don't think you're superior just because you wear a flight attendant uniform. You're so self-important. All you do is think about is relying on men and hooking up with rich guys. What's the difference between you and those gold diggers? Sang Jing was perfectly fine before, but you've completely corrupted her!"

Liu Mei's face flushed, and she immediately retorted defiantly.

"What do you know, you nouveau riche? Sang Jing is only wasting her time with you! Going abroad is the best way out for her!"

Now that the night is deep and quiet, recalling this scene, she feels a mix of emotions and no longer believes she was right as she once did.

She suddenly realized that when she looked at Xiao Tao before, she only saw his roughness, impulsiveness, and inflexibility, but she never saw his deep affection, sense of responsibility, and integrity.

I've never seriously considered whether Sang Jing's decision to let go was too hasty.

Thinking about this, Liu Mei really couldn't remain indifferent.

Listening to Xu Chen and Song Yaxin's even breathing inside the room, she quietly put on her clothes and sat up.

Then, I quietly took out paper and pen, and by the light of the bedside lamp, I wrote stroke by stroke.

She made up her mind; she would write a letter to Sang Jing.

I did it for no other reason than to tell her everything I had seen and thought that night.

I hope she can look back at Xiao Tao, and I hope that she and Xiao Tao still have a chance to rekindle their relationship.

The pen tip scratched across the paper, its soft rustling sound mingling with the sound of snowflakes falling on the eaves outside the window.

Some feelings, though expressed a little late, are better than being missed forever. (End of Chapter)