Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 588 Observations in Shanghai

The next evening, after nearly twenty hours of swaying and jolting, the train finally pulled into Shanghai Railway Station.

As dusk fell, the four of them dragged their suitcases and followed the surging crowd to the North Square. This place was different from the north; all they could hear was the soft Wu dialect, and they couldn't understand a single word.

Xiao Hong looked around and asked Xiao Wei, "Where are we going? I feel like I'm in a foreign country, I'm totally confused."

By 91, Shanghai was already a modern metropolis. Standing in the square and looking up, all you could see were skyscrapers and building signs. Although it wasn't dark yet, many places were already lit up, and the streets were bustling with traffic and people, a scene of prosperity.

Not to mention Xiao Hong was confused, Ga Zi was sweating again.

Xiao Wei asked Xiao Liu, "Comrade, which way do we go?"

Xiao Liu scratched his head and said, "Where do you want to go? There are maps for sale over there." He walked to the roadside and bought a map of the administrative divisions from an old lady. The map cost 1.5 yuan in Fengtian and 3 yuan in Beijing, but it would cost 5 yuan in Shanghai.

Xiao Wei and Xiao Liu opened the map to look at it, while Xiao Hong stood to the side looking at the street scene, rubbing her stomach and saying, "I'm hungry, what should we eat? Do they serve Chinese food here too?"

Gazi chuckled, and Xiaowei turned to ask, "What are you laughing at?"

Gazi said, "What Xiaohong is saying is interesting. Isn't this also China? We can eat foreign food here?"

Xiao Liu said, "You know what, there are so many places to eat Western food here, and there are cafes and bars everywhere. My buddy has been here before and even went to the Bund. He said that there are lots of buildings built by foreigners, right on the riverbank."

Xiao Hong said, "I want to go to Nanjing Road. The sentinels under the neon lights, I want to see the neon lights."

Xiao Wei said, "Then let's go to Nanjing Road. Let me find it." He looked at the map to find the address.

Xiao Liu said, "Look along the river. I remember my buddy saying that Nanjing Road and the Bund are next to each other, right on the Huangpu River."

Xiao Hong said, "I have a question: The Huangpu River is in Shanghai, but the Whampoa Military Academy is in Guangzhou, so why is it called Huangpu?"

Xiao Liu said, "The Whampoa Military Academy is in Huangpu, Guangzhou. 'Pu' is a place name with the 'earth' radical. This one is 'pu' with the 'water' radical."

Xiao Hong stuck out her tongue. Xiao Wei said, "Found it! Nanjing West Road, Nanjing East Road, the Bund. The Bund connects to Nanjing East Road, so let's go to Nanjing East Road. It looks quite far from here. How do we get there? By taxi or bus?" He looked up at the taxis gathered around the square. The North Square wasn't big, and with the tall buildings all around, you couldn't see anything. The bus stop was on the right.

Just like in the north, unlicensed taxi drivers and small hotels would come over mysteriously with small signs in their hands, trying to solicit business. However, for Xiao Wei and his three companions, who were traveling far from home for the first time, they couldn't understand a word and could only watch them talk incessantly, not knowing how to express themselves.

Xiao Wei searched on the map for a long time and said, "This, let's stop here. Wu Palace Hotel, it's right next to Nanjing Road and the Bund."

Xiao Hong shrank closer to Xiao Wei, dodging the hand of a woman soliciting customers, and said, "Why are they so annoying? I can't understand a word they say, and they even hit me. Let's take a taxi. We'll get lost if we take the bus, and we won't even have anyone to ask for directions."

After putting away the map, the four of them went to the roadside to hail a taxi. There were quite a few taxis around. Because of their large luggage, the four of them took two taxis and arrived at the Wugong Hotel for 30 yuan.

At this time, the Wu Palace Hotel still had a palace-style exterior, with green tiles and flying eaves at the main entrance, and each floor looked like an old-fashioned house, with a huge signboard standing on the side.

This place feels different from the Beijing Hotel; the latter is grand and imposing, while this one is opulent and magnificent. However, they have one thing in common: they're expensive. A standard room costs over 700 yuan a night, and in 2001 it even rose to 1300 yuan.

After checking into the hotel and putting down their luggage, the group went out to find something to eat. Xiao Wei suggested eating at the hotel, but Xiao Hong wanted to go out for a walk, so the three men gave in and went outside together.

In 91, although Shanghai was more prosperous than northern cities, it was still limited. Many high-rise buildings had not yet been built, and there were old two- or three-story buildings and alleys everywhere. The streets were very narrow, just wide enough for two cars to pass each other. Wires and other electrical equipment were tangled up in a mess above the road. The houses were narrow and tall, with long bamboo poles reaching out to hang quilts and clothes to dry.

The alleyways along the road were even narrower, barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side, because the houses on both sides were two or three stories high. The alleyways were dark and gloomy, with clothes and quilts drying densely overhead. The wooden doors of the houses were open, and you could see the steep and narrow wooden stairs leading to the second floor. A faint musty smell hung in the air.

Xiao Hong asked softly, "Why are clothes and luggage always hanging out to dry outside? Does everyone wash clothes every day?"

Xiao Liu said, "It's humid here, sometimes it doesn't dry for days, so luggage has to be aired out all the time, otherwise it's unusable."

A large, fat rat glanced at the four people on the roadside, then calmly turned and walked away. Xiao Hong was startled and grabbed Xiao Wei's hand, saying, "It's so big! Why isn't it afraid of people?" Ga Zi said, "It's probably used to it. Even a cat couldn't catch it in this environment."

A few people stood at the entrance of the alley and glanced inside, but didn't dare to go any further. They walked along Fujian Middle Road toward Nanjing West Road. There were quite a few restaurants, but they all looked shabby and old. After wandering around for a while, they were indeed hungry. Xiao Hong randomly pointed to one of the restaurants and said, "Let's eat here."

This is a local restaurant next to a used bookstore. The storefront isn't big, and frankly, the interior isn't big either. There's even a second floor separating the two rooms, making it feel rather cramped when you walk in. The four of us found a table, sat down, and ordered.

The defining characteristic of Shanghai cuisine is its sweetness. People here have an insane love for sweet flavors, and the portions are very small, even when cooking at home. It's usually only about six-tenths full, with just two spoonfuls of food, but a whole spoonful of sugar is added—no matter what you're cooking.

The four of them gave up after the stir-fried seaweed was incredibly sweet. They only took a few bites of the other dishes they ordered before exchanging disapproving looks. Xiao Wei waved to the owner and called out, "Boss, do you have any dishes that aren't sweet?"

The owner came over, looked at them, and said, "They're not sweet. These aren't sweet at all. Let me tell you, you'd need to add a lot more sugar at home. There's only a little bit here to enhance the flavor. They don't taste good without sugar. You should savor them slowly."

Xiao Wei said, "Just tell me if you have any dishes that don't contain sugar. If you do, make them; otherwise, we won't eat them."

The shopkeeper said, "You need to understand this properly. It only has a tiny bit of sugar in it. If you don't add any sugar at all, it won't taste fresh."

Xiao Wei waved his hand and said, "Forget it, let's settle the bill. How much?"

Then the four of them discovered that the food in Shanghai was not only sweet and plentiful, but also very expensive. People here rarely, very rarely, treat others to meals, and they are very careful with every penny spent on small favors.

In fact, most local Shanghai residents have the worst income and living conditions in Shanghai. Many families live in rooms that are only the size of a bed, and there are many people living in attics. Most families also have very low incomes in Shanghai.

It's no joke that the Shanghai-style harbor was built and is used by people from other places.

Then there are these locals living in attics and earning low incomes who refer to people from all over the country outside of Shanghai as country bumpkins, with faces full of disdain.

(End of this chapter)