From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

Wang Yi did not refute Wang Ge, but nodded sincerely: "I admit that. Compared with those international big brands on the market, it is indeed too heavy."

He paused, then added, "But then again, how many brands in the world can balance lightweight and durability? Besides, this is something that our country independently developed and produced. I think it's already quite impressive that we've achieved this level of quality."

I'm not as knowledgeable about equipment as Brother Wang, so I didn't speak rashly and just focused my attention on him.

As long as he feels there are no problems, then this batch of equipment is trustworthy.

After a brief moment of thought, Wang Ge nodded: "That makes sense."

After saying that, he turned to me and said, "Lin Ye, what's your choice? There's really nothing wrong with the quality of this batch of equipment. It's just a bit heavy, but it's still within acceptable limits."

I picked up a pair of hiking boots and weighed them in my hand.

Sure enough, it was much heavier than the one I wore when I went to the no-man's-land last time.

Wang Ge picked out those shoes for me; they're from an international brand, lightweight yet sturdy.

But this batch is, after all, a brand produced in our own country.

Since there are no quality issues, I think we should give domestic products some encouragement.

After a moment's thought, I nodded to Wang Yi: "Okay, since Brother Wang has checked and there are no problems, then I will wear this outfit for the entire trip."

"However, I still want to make it clear beforehand that I will not deliberately promote it. It's just a normal hike, a natural process, and it's also a way to help Brother Yi get through this difficult time."

Wang Yi nodded gratefully: "That's enough, really enough! Natural product placement in short videos is much more effective than hard-sell advertising now, and it's less likely to annoy people. In fact, the conversion rate is higher. Lin Ye, thank you so much this time."

"It was nothing," I waved my hand. "If you hadn't brought me into this industry, I wouldn't be where I am today. There's no need to thank me."

After a pause, I added, "Although I won't give a detailed introduction, please still prepare a copy of the specific product information for me. Just in case someone in the live stream asks about it and I can't even answer the questions about the specifications, which would damage my reputation."

"Okay, I'll have someone prepare it for you right away."

As he spoke, Wang Yi took out his phone and dialed a number:

"Qing'er, quickly print out the detailed information of this outdoor equipment factory we've taken on and bring it to the warehouse..."

He added as soon as he finished speaking, "Make a few more copies."

Wang Ge was also on the side counting the number of equipment, checking the size of each piece of clothing, and packing them into different categories.

I thought that because of his friendship with Wang Yidi, he would agree without hesitation, but he never indulged in personal favors or formalities and always did things in a very methodical manner.

Wang Yi and I stood in the corner of the warehouse. He handed me a cigarette, and we chatted casually about the latest developments in the outdoor community.

After waiting for a few minutes, Chen Yunqing arrived at the warehouse with a stack of documents.

I greeted her, and she nodded and smiled back, still as gentle and kind as ever.

I took the materials and glanced at them briefly; the content was very detailed.

The parameters, functions, applicable scenarios, and basic information of the manufacturer for each product are all clearly displayed.

Wang Ge has also verified everything.

Wang Yi then specially drove us back to Brother Wang's shop.

He had other things to do in the afternoon, so he didn't keep us for any more chats.

After Wang Yi left, Wang Ge and I went back to the club and carefully checked the equipment again, replacing some of the original components.

After checking the equipment repeatedly to ensure there were no safety hazards, Wang Ge finally nodded in approval.

By the time I finished all of this, it was already past four in the afternoon.

Before leaving, I said to Brother Wang, "Brother Wang, if you don't have any other plans in your schedule, then we can set off as scheduled tomorrow. Is that convenient for you?"

Wang Ge remained silent, simply nodding.

We agreed to meet at his store at 6:00 AM sharp tomorrow. After saying that, I left his outdoor gear store and took a car back to the riverside courtyard.

As the sun sets, its afterglow spills over the riverside railings, bathing the entire riverbank in a gentle orange-red hue.

The moment I pushed open the courtyard gate, warm yellow light shone through the windows, filling the courtyard with the warmth of cooking.

In the past, no matter how early or late I returned to my residence, I was always greeted by four cold, bare walls when I opened the door.

When the night is quiet, I often sit alone by the window, gazing at the lights of thousands of homes outside, feeling as if those lights are very, very far away from me.

I never thought of that.

One day, I too will become one of those lights in every home, and there will be someone who will leave a light on for me to come home.

Su Qing was sitting on the living room sofa, her head down, organizing documents. Her focused expression made it hard to reconcile her with how she looked when people first met her.

She seems to have changed, yet she also seems to have never changed.

Hearing the door open, she immediately looked up at me, a smile naturally spreading across her face.

"You're back? Did you and Wang Ge finalize everything today? Is there anything wrong with the itinerary?"

I smiled and nodded, walked over and sat down next to her, habitually ruffled her hair, and said:

"Okay, all the equipment has been checked. We'll leave at six o'clock tomorrow morning."

Upon hearing that they would be setting off tomorrow, the smile in Su Qing's eyes faded slightly.

She gave a soft "oh," then muttered under her breath, "So fast... It feels like you haven't been back from the no-man's-land for long, I haven't even had a chance to spend a couple of days with you properly."

Seeing her sullen expression, my heart softened, and I reached out and pulled her into my arms.

"This time it will be quick. If all goes well, I estimate I'll be back in about a week."

After I finished speaking, I paused for a moment and added, "Once I'm back from the Terra route, we'll take a complete break for a while, and I'll take you on a trip."

Upon hearing that they were going out to play, Su Qing immediately perked up: "Really? Then I want to go to the beach."

Seeing her regain her usual lively and energetic appearance, I reached out and touched her cheek, softly replying:

"Okay, let's go to the beach, find a place with warm weather, and have a good time for two days."

Su Qing nodded repeatedly. This girl, deep down, still loves to play.

So I said she seems to have changed, yet she also seems to have remained the same.

The change is because I didn't fully understand her before. I only saw her lively and cheerful side, but I didn't know that she was just as meticulous in her work.

Su Qing suddenly became serious again, earnestly instructing, "Remember, don't be reckless on the road. Don't think you're all that just because you've been to the no-man's-land once. Although Brother Wang seems a bit unreliable, his professional knowledge is very solid, so listen to him. If the weather is bad, rest where you are, wait if you should, and absolutely do not force your way in..."

She went on and on, going on and on about everything, down to the smallest detail.

I couldn't help but laugh and interrupt, "Okay, we'll do whatever our Director Su says."

She looked up at me and rolled her eyes, but her tone was serious: "I'm not kidding you. The Terra Trail is not like hiking on flat ground. It's at high altitude, the weather is unpredictable, and even the slightest carelessness could lead to an accident. Every day when you get to the camp, whether there's a signal or not, as long as you can connect to the internet, send me a message to let me know you're safe."

"I guarantee I'll complete the mission," I replied solemnly.