Chapter 27: Heading North, Returning West

After returning to Haiyuan City with Qin Ke, Bian Xiaoqi planned to stay for two more nights before flying back to Xizhou. Qin Ke first helped her settle into her accommodation before heading off to report to Zhou Pinyi.

Upon reviewing Qin Ke’s resignation letter and learning that Bian Xiaoqi was still in Haiyuan, Zhou Pinyi told him to leave the letter with him, promising to approve it only after she had departed so as not to interfere with his onboarding in Beijing. He encouraged Qin Ke to spend the next two days showing her around Haiyuan and invited them both to his home for dinner that evening. Pleased with this arrangement, Qin Ke happily accepted.

Early autumn in Haiyuan had shed the sweltering heat, but with the sun still high, the "autumn tiger" was in full force—perfect weather for a swim. Qin Ke suggested heading to the beach, and Bian Xiaoqi, delighted at the prospect of surfing the waves, immediately agreed.

After lunch, Qin Ke borrowed a heavy-duty road bike from a colleague and pedaled her toward the seaside resort.

It had been a long time since Bian Xiaoqi had ridden on the back of a bicycle like this. At times, she wrapped her arms tightly around Qin Ke’s waist, pressing her body against his back; at others, she spread her arms wide, letting the wind billow her dress and tousle her long hair. Laughing all the way, they traversed groves and sandy grasslands until they reached the shore.

The beach was bustling, filled with swimmers. They bought swimsuits, caps, and sunscreen at a kiosk, along with a parasol. After changing in the bathhouse, Qin Ke, worried her delicate skin might burn, carefully applied sunscreen for her. Then, hand in hand, they plunged into the ocean.

The water was warm. Bian Xiaoqi proved to be an excellent swimmer, rotating through breaststroke, butterfly, backstroke, and freestyle. With her fair skin and graceful form, she moved through the blue sea like a mermaid. Qin Ke stayed close by her side, warning her not to venture too far from the shore, as the deeper, colder water could easily cause leg cramps.

When they grew tired, they returned to the sand. Qin Ke dug a large pit, helped Bian Xiaoqi lie inside, and buried her in the sand, leaving only her head exposed, before setting up the parasol for her. Between the cool sea breeze and the warm sand, Bian Xiaoqi found the sand bath incredibly comfortable and relaxing.

Looking down at her with affection, Qin Ke couldn't help but recite a poem: "High sun, green trees, silver sands; white clouds, emerald waters, blue skies. The sea mirrors the ripples where gulls descend. At the ends of the earth, in my eyes, only you remain."

Bathed in the sea breeze, gazing at the sky, and listening to the waves while savoring his verse, Bian Xiaoqi felt a sense of profound peace. She smiled and said, "Your poem is beautiful, and this environment is just as lovely. I truly wish we could stay like this forever."

Once rested, they jumped back into the sea to enjoy the waves. In that moment, there was nothing in their hearts but each other, the blue sky, and the vast ocean.

Two hours later, Qin Ke asked if she wanted to go crab fishing. Curious, she replied, "I've heard of fishing, but never crab fishing. Lead the way!" They went ashore, rinsed the sand off in the showers, and changed into their clothes.

Qin Ke biked her to a nearby open-air market. Clinging to his waist, Bian Xiaoqi felt like a young bride heading to the market, savoring the sweetness of their shared journey.

At the market, Qin Ke bought two pounds of cheap, small fish, a length of twine, two pairs of cotton gloves, and some plastic bags, then headed toward a cape jutting into the sea. Along the way, he snapped off a few willow branches, asking Bian Xiaoqi to hold them for him.

At the cape, they found that the low tide had exposed many half-submerged rocks. Qin Ke tied the small fish tightly to the end of a willow branch and poked it into the crevices. After a few minutes, he pulled it out to find small crabs gripping the bait firmly. To avoid being pinched, he put on the cotton gloves to retrieve them.

Seeing the crabs, Bian Xiaoqi exclaimed, "So that’s how you catch them! That’s fascinating, I want to try." She mimicked his technique and soon began cheering excitedly as she caught her own.

They released the smaller crabs and kept only the large ones. Qin Ke wedged the branches into various crevices, and they simply walked back and forth along the cape to check them. In less than an hour, they had a bountiful harvest of over a dozen large crabs.

"Let’s take these to Manager Zhou’s house tonight," Bian Xiaoqi suggested happily.

They returned home fully laden.

***

Back at the hotel, Bian Xiaoqi took a refreshing hot shower, changed into clean clothes, and applied light makeup.

Qin Ke brought two bottles of local liquor from his father and a Transformer toy he had bought for Zhou Pinyi’s son, and they headed to Zhou Pinyi’s home.

Zhou Pinyi had already left work early and was busy in the kitchen with his wife, Du Yufen. He welcomed them in, and Du Yufen came out to greet them. Their second-grade son, Zhou Ran, was in the living room, engrossed in an episode of *Tom and Jerry*.

Qin Ke introduced them: "Xiaoqi, this is Du Yufen, my sister-in-law." Zhou Pinyi added, "Yufen, this is Bian Xiaoqi." Du Yufen immediately took Bian Xiaoqi’s hand and smiled, "Xiaoqi, welcome to our home. Old Zhou has told me so much about you—you are truly beautiful." Bian Xiaoqi smiled modestly, "Thank you, Sister-in-law. I’m sorry to trouble you and Manager Zhou today."

Qin Ke handed the liquor to Zhou Pinyi, and Bian Xiaoqi gave the toy to Zhou Ran, who was overjoyed. "Thank you, Auntie! You’re so pretty!" he chirped, abandoning his cartoon to run to his room and play. Qin Ke laughed, "That kid has a sweet tongue," as he began making tea, acting as if he were in his own home.

While the women chatted in the living room, Qin Ke and Zhou Pinyi worked in the kitchen. The crabs were steamed to perfection in ten minutes, and Qin Ke personally stir-fried two more dishes. In less than half an hour, eight dishes covered the table: steamed crab, salt-boiled shrimp, stir-fried sea cucumber with scallions, braised pomfret, spicy stir-fried sand clams, stir-fried sea worms with chives, steamed oysters, and cold octopus salad.

Zhou Ran was too busy with his toy to eat. Du Yufen sat down with Bian Xiaoqi, who looked at the spread with delight. "Thank you, Sister-in-law, for letting me taste so much seafood." She pointed at the sea worms and asked, "I haven't seen that dish before."

"Those are sea worms; they are delicious," Du Yufen said. "Old Zhou told me you loved seafood, so please, eat your fill."

Qin Ke added with a smile, "This is quite a feast, Sister-in-law. Sea cucumber, sea worms, and oysters—these are real delicacies."

Zhou Pinyi teased, "You’re just catching a ride on Xiaoqi’s coattails today. If it were just you, a plate of peanuts and stir-fried clams would be all you’d get."

Du Yufen served Bian Xiaoqi a sea worm. "Try it, Xiaoqi."

"Mmm, delicious," Bian Xiaoqi noted. "It’s fresh, tender, and has a great texture."

Qin Ke used a small knife to pry open the plump oysters, serving them to everyone. The meat was fat and juicy, and Bian Xiaoqi enjoyed them immensely. Seeing how much she liked them, Du Yufen gave her her own portion, saying, "There’s plenty more in the kitchen."

Soon, a small mountain of oyster shells piled up in front of Bian Xiaoqi.

Zhou Pinyi and Qin Ke drank the local liquor, while Du Yufen and Bian Xiaoqi opted for red wine.

Raising his glass, Zhou Pinyi said, "Welcome, Xiaoqi and Qin Ke. Qin Ke is headed to Beijing soon, and to be honest, I’m quite reluctant to see him go. But I support his ambition—youth is the time to venture out. Qin Ke, you’re bright; I’m certain you’ll find your footing in the capital."

"Thank you, Manager Zhou and Sister-in-law, for your hospitality," Qin Ke replied sincerely. "You’ve treated me like family, and your kindness and tolerance are things I will never forget."

Du Yufen smiled, "Qin Ke, you are truly excellent. Old Zhou is very fond of you—I’ve never seen him treat anyone else at Company A with such regard."

"Qin Ke is lucky to have met you both," Bian Xiaoqi said, moved. "He has always spoken of your mentorship with such gratitude. Today, experiencing your brotherly affection firsthand has been very touching. Once we are settled in Beijing, you and Zhou Ran are more than welcome to visit."

"Xiaoqi, Qin Ke is even luckier to have met you," Du Yufen remarked. "You are so knowledgeable, elegant, and beautiful. He’s a lucky man."

"Sister-in-law, you have a capable and considerate husband—I think you’re the lucky one," Qin Ke teased.

"Qin Ke, you’d better learn from Old Zhou and be more attentive to Xiaoqi," Du Yufen joked back.

The four of them toasted and chatted, the atmosphere as warm as if they were a single family.

After Bian Xiaoqi and Qin Ke left, Zhou Pinyi remarked to his wife, "Judging by Bian Xiaoqi’s demeanor and conversation, if I’m not mistaken, she likely has an even brighter future ahead of her than Qin Ke."

Du Yufen agreed, "I chatted with her a lot while you two were cooking. She’s well-bred, incredibly smart, and very quick-witted. She and Qin Ke are a perfect match."

Walking along the coast after leaving the house, Qin Ke looked at the lights of the distant harbor. "I don't know when I'll be able to return to Haiyuan," he sighed. "It’s hard to leave."

Bian Xiaoqi replied, "You are a man of deep sentiment, and having met people as like-minded as Manager Zhou, it’s only natural to feel attached. Keep them in your heart, but look forward. As long as you maintain your integrity and kindness, you will continue to meet such people."

***

Bian Xiaoqi flew back to Xizhou as scheduled, with Qin Ke seeing her off at the airport. At the security entrance, she hugged him. "Whether in Haiyuan or Linshan, I’ve had such a wonderful few days. I’ve really enjoyed having you by my side. I don’t want to leave, but I will resign as soon as I get back to Xizhou and head to Beijing."

Qin Ke held her close. "I’ll be waiting for you in Beijing. We won’t be separated again. 'In Xizhou you stay, in the capital I dwell; a promise made, soon we’ll be well. Though travel dust may stain the road, my heart feels light as I bear the load.'" His impromptu poem made her laugh.

As soon as Bian Xiaoqi arrived home, Qin Ke called to say his resignation had been approved by Zhou Pinyi and was being processed; he would likely leave for Beijing in three days.

Seeing her daughter come downstairs with a radiant smile, Jiang Sumei said, "You’ve been gone for over a week, and you don’t even greet your father and me before getting on the phone."

Bian Xiaoqi rushed over to hug her. "Mom, I’m here now, aren't I?"

She presented the millet, peanuts, and shepherd’s purse her parents-in-law-to-be had gifted her, and Jiang Sumei accepted them happily. When she pulled out a garlic mortar and a rolling pin, her mother gasped, "Xiaoqi, are you planning to cook for us?"

Bian Xiaoqi shared her experiences in Linshan, laughing, "Mom, cooking isn't that hard. From now on, I can roll noodles and wrap dumplings for you and Dad."

Jiang Sumei was shocked; her daughter, who had never lifted a finger in the kitchen, had returned from Hedong with a newfound desire to cook.

Before completing his resignation, Qin Ke contacted his classmate Lin Haidong in Beijing to help look for an apartment. Lin had found a two-bedroom unit in Zhichunli, waiting for Qin Ke’s final decision.

After finishing his paperwork, Qin Ke boarded a train and arrived in the capital the following afternoon. He wasn't very familiar with Beijing, having visited only once during college to see the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace. Back then, he had stayed with Lin Haidong in the Zaojunmiao area of the Haidian District.

Emerging from the Beijing Railway Station into the surging crowds, he took Subway Line 2 to Xizhimen and hailed a cab to Lin’s home. Lin Haidong was still single and living with his parents. Since it was his day off, he was waiting for Qin Ke.

Qin Ke greeted Lin’s parents with gifts of Hedong liquor and dried shrimp from Haiyuan. They remembered him fondly and accepted the gifts with pleasure.

Lin Haidong immediately took him to see the apartment in Zhichunli, a six-story building from the eighties. The unit was on the fifth floor, over sixty square meters, with simple renovations, tiled floors, and clean walls. The master bedroom had a large bed and wardrobe; the second bedroom had a smaller bed and wardrobe; the dining room had a basic table and two chairs. The bathroom was tiny, and hot water was provided by a gas heater in the kitchen. There were no appliances. The rent was 2,100 yuan per month, with a "one deposit, three rent" policy, plus a one-month agency fee.

Lin explained that the location was excellent, only a twenty-minute walk to Company C’s office in Zhongguancun—a huge advantage in Beijing’s congested traffic. The buildings in the area were older, but the price and layout were standard. Anything newer would be much further away. Qin Ke only needed to buy a fridge, a washing machine, and bedding to move in.

Satisfied with the layout, Qin Ke agreed to Lin’s help in negotiating the agency fee down by half. He didn't quibble over the rent, signed a one-year lease, paid 9,400 yuan, and received the keys.

Lin took him to the nearby Shuang'an Department Store to buy bedding so he could move in that night. Following Lin’s advice, he also ordered a 160-liter dual-door fridge and a fully automatic washing machine to be delivered the next day.

Qin Ke insisted on treating Lin to dinner, but Lin refused, insisting on playing the host for his visitor. Qin Ke stopped arguing and let him take the lead.

***

After returning to Lin’s home to grab his luggage, they headed to a Hunan restaurant. Lin, whose ancestral home was in Hunan, loved the cuisine. They ordered chopped chili fish head, Mao-style braised pork, stir-fried farm pork, and Xiangxi grandmother’s greens. Opening a bottle of Erguotou, they ate and drank without restraint, just as they had in their college days.

Lin toasted him: "Old Sixth, welcome to the capital."

They didn't use names, only their dorm-room order. There had been eight of them in that room, and they had stuck to their numbers for four years. Lin was the fourth, Qin Ke the sixth.

Four years after graduation, they had scattered across different provinces. Hearing "Old Sixth" brought back a flood of memories for Qin Ke. "Old Fourth, you’ve really gone out of your way for me. Thank you."

"Cut the crap," Lin laughed. "Who else would help you if I didn't? We spent four years together for a reason."

Lin’s father was a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and his mother was a teacher. He and Qin Ke had been bunkmates. Despite their different backgrounds—one from a big city, one from the countryside—they were close, often skipping class together to share a meal. Lin was outgoing, smart, and famously articulate with a thick Beijing accent.

After a few drinks, Qin Ke asked, "Old Fourth, four years went by in a flash. Tell me, how have you been?"

Lin dived into his story: "I started in a state-owned enterprise, but got bored of the nine-to-five in six months. I quit to learn coding at a software company for two years. But staring at cold computers got old, so I jumped to Company C to work in marketing. What about you?"

"The opposite," Qin Ke replied. "I started in marketing for an electronics company selling energy-saving lights. The products were outdated, so I moved to Company A as a system engineer for telephone exchange equipment."

"Why leave? Telecom is booming."

"I don't see a future at Company A. The technology is stagnant. I want to try something new while I’m young. Tell me about Company C."

"You have a point. Fixed-line exchange is nearing its end. The internet is the future—data communication is where the next decade is. Company C is a foreign firm, only a dozen years old, but it’s a global leader. We’re in the top three for both innovation and market share. We don't just serve carriers anymore; we’re in every industry. The Beijing office has a marketing division and a technical management division—that’s where you’re going. Technical management is split into solution planning and project management. We don't do R&D here; that’s all done abroad."

"Report on the day after tomorrow. I’ll be there. Buy a phone tomorrow—it’s expensive, but necessary. Here’s my number."

After finishing the bottle of Erguotou and two beers each, they were satisfied.

After saying goodbye, Qin Ke bought an IP phone card at a kiosk and called Bian Xiaoqi.

She was back in Xizhou with her parents. She had resigned from her job that day; her boss, Cheng Ang, had been surprised and reluctant to let her go, but she insisted she had a new position in Beijing. He eventually agreed, promising to have someone take over her accounts within two days.

She had spent the evening cooking shepherd’s purse dumplings for her parents, who were delighted by her effort. She told them she would head to Beijing by Sunday at the latest.

Qin Ke told her he had arrived and rented a place. She told him about her resignation. They stayed on the line for over an hour until the card ran out.

The next day, Qin Ke spent over 1,000 yuan on kitchenware and toiletries. He spent another 1,000 on soft bedding, pillows, and elegant linens for Bian Xiaoqi, even buying curtains for her room. The appliances cost over 6,000. He also bought two phones—a Motorola for himself and a Samsung foldable for her—costing over 5,000. Of his 30,000 yuan in savings, he had spent over 25,000.

He called Bian Xiaoqi on his new phone to give her his number, then did the same for Lin Haidong.