To this day, Liang Zhen still remembers the scene of the first time he introduced his hometown to someone else. Back then, he was as young as Gao Yunxiao was now, accompanying his father on a business trip to Beijing. They went together, and soon someone with a camera asked if they wanted a photo.

Seven-year-old Liang Zhen already had quite a personality. He looked down on the typical posed scenery and people photos. But the photos could be developed on the spot, and little Liang Zhen wanted to quickly have a tangible photo with his father. So, he listened to the photographer’s instructions and either gave a thumbs-up or made a scissor hand gesture. Later, when they received the photos, the person taking the photos politely asked Liang Zhen where he was from, and Liang Zhen said he and his father were from Lanzhou.

“Lanzhou, huh,” Liang Zhen remembers the tone of the person’s voice, “the Lanzhou with Lanzhou noodles.”

When Liang Zhen heard this, he actually wanted to refute it. He wanted to say it’s not just Lanzhou noodles, it’s Lanzhou beef noodles, it’s Lanzhou with the Yellow River, Zhongshan Bridge, and White Pagoda Mountain. Liang Zhen could talk for days about these authentic symbols and symbols, but he couldn’t spend days talking to everyone. Before Song Dongye’s song “Miss Dong” became popular, mentioning Lanzhou didn’t invoke authentic impressions and labels about the city; it was just about the noodles.

And when Liang Zhen really left Lanzhou, he met people from all over the country, and he also found that this kind of dilemma belonged to every city. Compared to the endless theft of well covers in Henan, the endless digging of coal in Shanxi, the Pu’er tea in Putian that’s more genuine than authentic AJ and UGG, and Wenzhou’s Jiangnan Leather Factory… Lanzhou noodles were neither praised nor belittled, at least it didn’t trigger territorial disputes like map artillery.

But not all cities were lucky enough. For example, next to Wenzhou is Wenling. No matter how deep the locals’ feelings for Wenling, when people outside the city mention this name, they might just say—

“Eh? You’re from Wenling, the one where medical disputes reached the Premier of the State Council?”

Such stereotypes also existed in Baiyin. When people mentioned Baiyin, the first thing they thought of was definitely not its rich mineral resources, but a serial murder case that remained unsolved for more than twenty years. When the truth finally came out, the one named Gao became the focus of public opinion.

“At that time, many reports said that the serial killer was a demon,” Gao Yunxiao said, “and then I heard the old man saying… saying we all have the surname Gao, maybe we are related, saying…”

Gao Yunxiao couldn’t continue, even though the old man outside the interrogation room repeatedly said that he didn’t mean it, his casual remarks deeply hurt the precocious and sensitive heart of this young man who left home early.

“You said…”Baogang was the only one present who was about the same age as the old man. Some things were only appropriate for him to say,” If you went out of town twenty or thirty years ago and told people where you’re from, and they said, ‘Oh, that’s Wenzhou, where they make bride shoes,’ would you feel good? If your village mostly shares a surname, and if one of them gets into trouble, people curse him and indirectly curse you, would you feel good?”

“But I really didn’t…” The old man wanted to refute, but his face slowly turned red. Under the gaze of others, he shook his head and changed his words, “I just gave him a slap, I didn’t expect to hit him in the face.”

“Did you really hit my brother?” Gao Yunge, who had been silent, also spoke, walking up impulsively, but was stopped by another police officer, hoping he would calm down.

“Twenty years ago, my parents came to work in Wenzhou and rented from you. My brother grew up here,” Gao Yunge’s voice trembled, “Old man, how could you do it?”

“He pulled the rope first!” The old man raised his voice, “If he didn’t pull the rope, would I be so angry as to hit him——”

“Stop arguing!”

Standing opposite the interrogation room’s large window, Shao Mingyin said those two words without shifting his gaze from Liang Zhen and Gao Yunxiao. Some colleagues felt that the situation was almost clear and were about to open the door and call everyone out, but Shao Mingyin stopped them.

“Wait a moment,” he looked at the person in the interrogation room, “wait a moment, they haven’t finished talking.”

Indeed, Liang Zhen and Gao Yunxiao hadn’t finished talking. Gao Yunxiao, who had opened up, told Liang Zhen why his parents had come to Wenzhou to work and how they lost their ability to work due to work-related injuries. His parents’ generation had not caught up with the rectification. His father lost his arm in a small factory without a labor agreement, and his mother got leukemia from long-term exposure to glue in the workshop. Twenty years ago, they were just like every other out-of-town worker who came to Wenzhou, selling their labor at the cost of their health. Twenty years later, when Wenzhou had transformed, how many of “them” had been eliminated and forgotten, just like those small workshops that had been rectified.

“Now, it’s only my brother earning money at home, and he really works hard,” Gao Yunxiao couldn’t hold back tears, he tried to hold back his emotions, “So I can’t stand others saying bad things about my brother. I can’t stand anyone saying bad things about Baiyin, as if I’m inferior because I’m from Baiyin, I…”

Gao Yunxiao suddenly paused, remembering another experience: “Every time I go to school, I take the bus by myself. Once a local got on, and they were chatting with the driver in Mandarin. Suddenly, he said, ‘Why don’t you speak Wenzhounese?’ I knew they were joking, but when the local said, ‘Since we’re all from Wenzhou, why speak Mandarin?’ and they started speaking Wenzhounese, I listened, and I knew I could never fit into this city in my life.”

When Gao Yunxiao finally poured out his innermost thoughts, Liang Zhen could somewhat understand Gao Yunge’s indifference towards Song Zhou. Like his brother, he also had no sense of belonging to the city. How could he let go of his guard against the people of this city?

“It’s okay if you don’t fit in,” Liang Zhen comforted him, “Once you finish school, you can go back to Baiyin.”

But Gao Yunxiao shook his head, “But Baiyin isn’t good.”

Liang Zhen chuckled, “How can you say your hometown isn’t good?”

“Baiyin is really not good,” Gao Yunxiao said, “the mines are gone, the harvest is gone, those who could go out to work have left, otherwise my parents wouldn’t have come to Wenzhou. My brother said that Baiyin’s economy is bad, the schools are bad, so he wants me to study well in Wenzhou, he wants me to become a university student.”

“We can’t go back to Baiyin, we can’t go back.”

When the place called home really became an unreachable distance, it wasn’t just Wenzhou, wherever they went, they were all outsiders without belonging.

“I did pull the rope,” Gao Yunxiao said this calmly, his eyes barely even red, “he mentioned my brother first, and also Baiyin, I wanted to retaliate against him, but when he found out, he slapped me, that’s it.”

“You all heard that,” the elderly man outside finally breathed a sigh of relief, but no one was happy with him, everyone remained silent, continuing to look into the interrogation room, listening to Liang Zhen’s firm words to Gao Yunxiao, saying that Baiyin is good, Baiyin can be returned to.

“Baiyin is not just famous for that murder case,” Liang Zhen smiled at Gao Yunxiao. That smile somehow felt familiar to Shao Mingyin, as if he had seen it somewhere before.

Liang Zhen asked, “Do you know a singer named Zhang Weiwei?”

Gao Yunxiao shook his head, never heard of it.

“Well, now you do,” Liang Zhen took out his phone, opened Netease Cloud Music, and showed Gao Yunxiao Zhang Weiwei’s playlist.

“Many people know Zhang Weiwei because of ‘The Rice Shop’, but few pay attention to the fact that this song is from the album ‘Baiyin Hotel’,” Liang Zhen continued to smile, “Zhang Weiwei is from Baiyin.”

Since Liang Zhen didn’t have earphones, he played the song on speaker. The song ‘Baiyin Hotel’ also transmitted from the room to outside through the device, reaching everyone’s ears. Liang Zhen and Gao Yunxiao leaned close, shoulder to shoulder, reading the lyrics of the song. After the song ended, the next song on loop was ‘Xiushui Street’.

Baiyin’s Xiushui Street.

The sun rises on this street, the stars walk on this street. When Gao Yunxiao’s memory of Xiushui Street overlapped with Zhang Weiwei’s singing, he, who came from this city and this street, also had an unknown future.

The sky was clear on this street, and people passing by shed tears of happiness. Except for Gao Yunxiao and his brother, none of the people outside the interrogation room had been to Baiyin, but when Zhang Weiwei sang ‘let’s stop here…’, they seemed to see the Xiushui Street, seeing themselves as new elites, entering another golden world.

“Awesome, right?” Liang Zhen looped the song before it ended, and as the guitar intro played again, Liang Zhen said, “Baiyin has Zhang Weiwei.”

“And until now, Wenzhou doesn’t have such a song or singer,” Liang Zhen patted Gao Yunxiao’s hair again, “Although it’s not fair to compare like this, but Baiyin really is a good place.”

Liang Zhen said, “You from Baiyin are also very good.”

Suddenly, Gao Yunxiao started crying, not just shedding tears, but crying out loud. He was only seven years old after all, crying so hysterically. Liang Zhen gave him a hug, patting his back, and while doing so, Liang Zhen asked him, “Do you know about the bride’s shoe?”

“Did you tell him?” Baogang, outside the interrogation room, asked Shao Mingyin.

Shao Mingyin shook his head, he himself didn’t even know what the bride’s shoe reference meant.

“Stereotypes and prejudices are really unavoidable,” Liang Zhen’s tone was calm as he narrated the story slowly, “Frankly speaking, Wenzhou used to have some unfavorable labels too.” Liang Zhen explained how the quality of Wenzhou shoes was once poor, but now it’s changed due to the hard work of the people of Wenzhou.

Liang Zhen encouraged him, “Put your intelligence into your studies, and you will also be excellent in the future. Excellent to the point where one day when people mention Baiyin, they will say that Baiyin has produced both Zhang Weiwei and Gao Yunxiao.”

Liang Zhen said, “That’s the rope you should pull, not out of revenge, but to prove to them proudly that you, and your city, are not inferior to anyone.”

Liang Zhen said, “You can’t control others’ stereotypes about your city, but when you shine brightly, others will change their prejudices because of you.”

Gao Yunxiao was moved, he asked Liang Zhen, “Will that day come?”

“Of course,” Liang Zhen affirmed, “So don’t dislike your hometown. It’s the golden world sung in songs, it’s your roots, your eternal home.”

“Then…” Gao Yunxiao asked impulsively, “Will you go back? Lanzhou, will you go back?”

Liang Zhen didn’t answer immediately, he just turned his head to look at the darkened glass, not sure if he made eye contact with that person, but he knew that person must be looking at him.

Shao Mingyin was indeed looking at him, he had been looking at him all along. The answer about going back was also what Shao Mingyin wanted to know. Lanzhou was deeply loved by Liang Zhen, it was where his heart belonged. If Liang Zhen had to go back, and if he couldn’t go with him, Shao Mingyin would still bless him.

“I will go back.”

Shao Mingyin looked up at the glaring ceiling, blinking his eyes rapidly, feeling the surge of emotions in his heart overturning the assumption he had just made.

As memories of the past vividly emerged and converged into the Liang Zhen standing before him today, he knew that day of departure would truly come. Facing Liang Zhen, he was certain he wouldn’t even offer the customary blessings.

Then he heard Liang Zhen say “but.”

As his gaze returned to the young man in the interrogation room, he heard the young man’s evasive answer, “But I met that person in Wenzhou.”

Liang Zhen continued, “Unless I bring him back too, I won’t go back to Lanzhou.”

He smiled lightly, those ramblings only understood by Shao Mingyin.

“He is my bond in Wenzhou, he is my other hometown.”

Cough, cough Baogang’s cough broke the long silence outside the interrogation room. Another police officer went to knock on the door, and then Baogang whispered to Shao Mingyin’s ear that the young man’s words actually made sense.

Later, Liang Zhen and Gao Yunxiao came out. Gao Yunxiao was the first to apologize to the old man. Despite his age, the old man didn’t seem reluctant when Gao Yunxiao apologized. Baogang, curious, couldn’t help but ask Liang Zhen how he knew about the story of the bride’s shoes, a Wenzhou tale known only to the older generation. Liang Zhen explained that he had studied many professional presentations and papers, and had also researched the topic of the transformation of the Wenzhou shoe industry. He had come across this story while gathering information.

“Chief, I do study seriously,” Liang Zhen nodded as he spoke, as obedient as meeting his father-in-law. Baogang didn’t comment much, just instructed other duty officers to escort Gao Yunxiao and the old man back. As for Shao Mingyin, he was already off duty, so Baogang urged him to go home and rest.

Seeing Liang Zhen trotting behind Shao Mingyin, waving goodbye after they left, Baogang hesitated but still waved them off, urging them to go home quickly.

Seeing the chief’s reaction, Liang Zhen figured that perhaps he wasn’t considered as incompetent in the chief’s eyes. He happily sat in the passenger seat after Shao Mingyin, who had already started the car but hadn’t driven off.

“What’s wrong?” Liang Zhen leaned over to touch Shao Mingyin’s hand, which Shao Mingyin grasped. Before Liang Zhen could express his happiness, Shao Mingyin raised his arm to embrace him.

“You’re being quite proactive today,” Liang Zhen hugged him back, reluctant to let go.

“Don’t keep touching my back,” Liang Zhen felt Shao Mingyin’s movements, “I was just acting for that kid earlier. It only hurt when I first got hit, if you don’t believe me, check it when we get home, there won’t be any bruises.”

Liang Zhen’s tone was truly relaxed, as if nothing had happened. This contrasted with Shao Mingyin’s subdued voice, who asked Liang Zhen why he was so foolish.

“Why so foolish, rushing over to protect me like that?”

“If I didn’t protect you, that would be foolish,” Liang Zhen hugged him tighter, “It’s a relief it wasn’t you hit with that hoe, otherwise, I’d be heartbroken.”

He felt Shao Mingyin’s shoulder tremble, so Liang Zhen supported his shoulder, letting their foreheads touch. Shao Mingyin remained silent, his teeth pressing slightly against his cheek. Seeing Shao Mingyin in such a suppressed state made Liang Zhen feel sorry for him, so he kissed him on the lips.

He asked Shao Mingyin, “Shall we go home?”

“I put the leftovers from yesterday in the fridge,” Liang Zhen noticed Shao Mingyin hadn’t touched the instant noodles he made for him earlier, “When we get back, I’ll make you fried rice with eggs, the kind where you mix the eggs directly into the rice, super tasty!”

He pinched Shao Mingyin’s cheek, calling his name.

“Shao Mingyin, let’s go home.”

That night, Liang Zhen was the one driving, with Shao Mingyin in the passenger seat. Liang Zhen often glanced at Shao Mingyin, and his posture reminded him of the first night they drove home together. In that GT4’s passenger seat, Shao Mingyin leaned against the door just like this, his head tilted, lost in thought.

But now they were in an old Santana, and after arriving at the neighborhood, they entered their one-bedroom home together. Liang Zhen quickly cooked up some egg fried rice, and he also washed the dishes after they finished eating. When they finally lay down together, Shao Mingyin called his name and thanked him.

Liang Zhen didn’t know exactly what Shao Mingyin was thanking him for, but he had a vague idea. He just smiled, and what started as an arm around the waist now moved down. Shao Mingyin pushed his hand away playfully, and amidst this playful banter, they both laughed. When their lips met again, Liang Zhen heard Shao Mingyin thank him once more.

Thanking him for being here.

That night, Shao Mingyin slept more peacefully than ever before, and it was from that night onwards that he truly bid farewell to insomnia and shallow sleep. He still had dreams, dreaming of that song “Xiushui Street,” Zhang Weiwei singing “Yesterday has passed, tomorrow will come, let’s stop here,” another golden world.

And he, along with Liang Zhen embracing him, was in Wenzhou today, which was also their golden world.