Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 599 Bayu

After visiting Xiaoguang Temple, paying respects to the monument, touring the Whampoa Military Academy, enjoying the beautiful scenery on the island in the middle of the Pearl River, visiting the Mausoleum of the King of Nanyue, seeing the Sacred Heart Cathedral, and eating all the delicious food they could find, they strolled around Tianhe Road, Renmin Road, and BJ Road. Xiaowei and his three companions reluctantly boarded the plane.

On the evening of August 6, 1991, the four of them arrived in the mountain city of Chongqing.

By 91, Chongqing had already taken on the rudiments of a large city, with its urban construction being quite modern. Coupled with its many rivers and bridges, it had developed its own unique charm.

Jiangbei Airport had just begun operations, exuding a fresh and modern feel, both inside and out, but it was too far from the main urban area. In 91, unlike later airports which were built dozens of kilometers away, twenty kilometers seemed like a very long distance in Chongqing. Crucially, the highway system wasn't as developed then as it is now.

After sitting on the airport bus for almost an hour, we finally arrived at Shangqingsi. The four of us got off and took a taxi to Jiefangbei.

The car swerved and bumped along, and Xiao Hong grabbed Xiao Wei and asked, "My God, isn't there a straight road in Chongqing?"

Xiao Liu said, "Bayu is a mountain city, built on mountains."

Xiao Hong said, "Beixi is also a mountain town, and it's called a mountain town, but it's not this awkward. Can't we just level the mountain before building? That's how Beixi was built."

Xiao Wei said, "It's different. Beixi has mines, and it was built that way to mine and transport ore. It was mainly built by the Japanese. This place is a city that gradually formed by residents. Does an individual have the ability to level a mountain and build a city?"

The driver laughed and said, "Brother, first time in Chongqing? You're going to get all confused, hahaha."

Xiao Wei thought for a moment and said, "Speak slowly, I didn't quite understand."

The driver said, "Brothers, is this your first time in Chongqing? The roads are very winding; you'll get lost."

While Xiaowei was still thinking, Xiaohong said, "He asked if this was your first time in Chongqing, saying that the roads here are winding and can easily confuse people."

Xiao Wei suddenly realized: "Oh, I'm confused. I'm a little bewildered by someone suddenly speaking in formal language."

The driver said, "When you come to Chongqing, you must try the Chongqing noodles. They're so delicious and satisfying!"

Xiao Hong lowered her head and said, "I don't understand it either. It's really a bit embarrassing to hear people use colloquial language to speak formal language."

Xiao Wei said, "He seemed to be asking what kind of noodles we want to eat, right? You mean what kind of noodles we want to eat?"

The driver nodded and said, "That's right. When you come to Chongqing, you have to eat Chongqing noodles. Chongqing noodles are the best."

Xiao Wei asked, "What does 'ba shi' mean?"

The driver thought for a moment and said, "It's good, comfortable."

Xiao Wei asked, "Do you always describe something as 'comfortable' or 'pleasant'? It's giving me goosebumps."

The driver chuckled a few times and said, "It's comfortable, isn't it? How so?"

There weren't many cars on the way, but the road was narrow and winding, turning a three-kilometer distance into more than six kilometers. When we arrived at the Bayu Hotel, the four of us got out of the car. Xiao Hong said, "There's no three feet of flat land and no three days of sunshine. It's truly a well-deserved reputation." At this moment, a light rain began to fall. It wasn't heavy, but it felt cool on our faces, which helped to dispel the summer heat and was very comfortable.

Upon checking in, the price was surprisingly comparable to that of the Shanghai Haikou Hotel. Given that this is also a hotel catering to foreign guests, the higher price is understandable.

The next morning, the four of them got up, had breakfast at the restaurant, and then went outside. The rain had stopped sometime earlier, the air was still damp, and there was a hazy mist in the distance.

Unlike Beijing and Shanghai, the streets were already bustling with activity. The roadside was lined with stalls selling breakfast and vegetables, creating a lively atmosphere. Farmers carrying vegetables, dressed in old-fashioned Zhongshan suits, sat on the curb behind their baskets, slowly fiddling with their pipes and observing the passersby.

The vendors didn't shout; they only responded when someone asked a question. On the contrary, the customers were chattering away.

The road in front of the restaurant is a steep slope that climbs from northeast to southwest, turns twice, and then disappears. The side alleys are even steeper slopes, with an incline of 30 to 40 degrees. On both sides of the road are old two- or three-story wooden buildings, as well as brick buildings, all crammed together in large and small. The narrow streets and alleys converge on the roadside from all directions. The alleys are full of steps, and no matter which direction you go, it's all downhill. It feels like this main road is built on a mountain ridge.

The four of them walked to an open space next to the restaurant and looked out. They could see the river in the distance, and the houses were built one layer at a time on the hillside. The alleys wound their way down the hillside.

Nearby are dilapidated old houses with black tiles and mud brick walls, crammed together densely, while in the distance are high-rise buildings under construction. They look very close, but looking at the countless layers of old houses cascading down, you know the distance is not short.

Xiao Hong said, "This is really a mountain city. Life here is too tiring. You have to climb hills all the time."

Xiao Wei looked at the stone steps extending outwards and nodded: "Now I feel like our county town is a plain, and a sense of happiness wells up inside me."

Gazi laughed heartily, and Xiao Liu said, "Just standing here staring at the sky? Where are you going?"

Xiao Wei said, "Looking at all these steps, my legs are getting weak. You know, if we were police officers in Chongqing, wouldn't we eventually die from exhaustion, from climbing hills to death?"

Xiao Liu said, "It's a matter of habit. If you've grown up here, you won't feel this way. But these steps do look a bit creepy."

Xiao Wei looked around and said, "Get a map, we're completely in the dark, where do we go?"

I finally managed to buy a map at the hotel service desk for ten yuan. I gritted my teeth and bought it.

Finally, they figured out which direction was which, and the four of them walked toward the Liberation Monument.

Walk uphill for 500 meters from the hotel and then turn right. There's a gentle downhill slope, and you'll see the famous monument in the distance.

This place is different from the area around the restaurant. The buildings here are all three or four stories high, and they look much nicer, giving it a more urban feel. Back in 91, this area around Jiefangbei wasn't a pedestrian street yet. The monument itself was a roundabout, with shops on both sides, and countless GG signs of all sizes densely packed on the rooftops and walls.

Hongsheng Electric Appliances, Aidi'er Air Conditioner, and Dongbao Air Conditioner were quite attractive to a few people who had no concept of air conditioning and had never even seen one. Even in later years, not many households in Northeast China had air conditioners. It was only hot for a few days a year, and with central heating in winter, there was really no need for such a thing. It wasn't until around 2010, when the temperature warmed up, that some households gradually started installing air conditioners.

There were various food vendors and flower stalls along the roadside, which was a novelty for the four of them. The clusters of flowers in full bloom made them feel happy.

Along the roadside, groups of people stood, some riding motorcycles waiting for passengers, others carrying bamboo poles and waiting for work. These were jobs the four men had never seen before. In those days, riding a motorcycle in Northeast China was still a luxury; few could afford it, or were unwilling to buy one. Being a porter was even more unusual, a unique profession specific to the Sichuan region.

I saw an umbrella shop, filled with brightly colored umbrellas of all sizes and colors. In this rainy city, umbrellas are a necessity. The umbrella seller was a girl wearing a white knitted sweater with two large red V-shaped stripes. She seemed lost in thought, staring blankly at the empty space in front of her with a slight smile.

Beside her sat a thermos and a teacup, the green thermos and warm yellow teacup blending perfectly with the wall of brightly colored umbrellas behind her. Xiao Wei snapped a couple of photos with his camera. Startled by the sound, the girl looked up, but instead of being angry, she smiled, revealing a set of perfect teeth: "Buying umbrellas? New ones!"

Xiao Hong strode over: "Let's buy a few, they look really nice. Besides, we didn't bring any, and it rains a lot here, we'll need them."

(End of this chapter)