I am not Ximen Qing.

Xia Jinshi hadn't left the company. He waited for Zhang Sheng at the entrance of Zhongguanyuan to have dinner together. He had decided to start his own business. Today, he was installing computers for Jinghua. Whether he was quoting prices or expressing his own suggestions, he was always interfered with by Zhang Sheng and had no autonomy at all.

Xia Jinshi seemed to have figured it out too. Zhang Sheng was determined to make money in this unprofitable business to secure a client with high growth potential. Yes, having clients in Zhongguancun, especially high-quality ones, meant a potential goldmine. He had already called his father in Jiangxi and decided to do something similar in Zhongguancun. Zhongguancun had many people from Jiangxi, chambers of commerce, and groups from Henan, Anhui, Fujian, Zhejiang, and of course, Guangdong. In short, different provinces generally controlled the supply channels for certain computer hardware products. By renting counters in the various markets of Zhongguancun, computer dealers could handle the entire process of sourcing from these channels. The key was the large sales volume; with volume came bargaining power, allowing them to demand larger discounts from upstream manufacturers.

Xia Jinshi was blinded by greed; he thought he could soon earn millions here. Xia Jinshi had never experienced hardship growing up, but his family was in business, and he was immersed in commercial culture from a young age. He learned quickly and earned 800 yuan a month, but lived in a rented apartment in Yanyuan, paying 1,800 or 1,900 yuan a month in rent, with his father subsidizing his living expenses.

As night fell and it grew late, Xia Jinshi invited Zhang Sheng to dinner at a long-established restaurant not far from the west gate of Peking University. He had learned a great deal from Zhang Sheng about business philosophies and experiences in Zhongguancun, and since he was planning to start his own business, he needed Zhang Sheng's advice to avoid pitfalls. Zhang Sheng hailed a taxi from near Peking University Third Hospital, worried that Xia Jinshi might be waiting too long. He was very familiar with the area; anyone who had worked in Zhongguancun knew the surroundings well. There was even a village near Yuanmingyuan where artists lived, commonly known as the "artists' village." Renting a place there, as long as it wasn't an apartment or high-rise, was much cheaper—a single-story house, though simpler, for a few hundred yuan. This was Beijing's backyard, a place where land was incredibly valuable, and the rent of a few hundred yuan was a bargain. There were also many unique restaurants nearby, especially Xinjiang restaurants. Enjoying a roasted lamb leg and a draft beer would be incredibly satisfying.

The happy days were filled with busy work, pushing sales and promotions in the supermarket, leaving no room for the carefree joy of leisure. Their minds were solely focused on buying and selling; making money was the most important thing in the world. Sitting quietly with Xia Jinshi near a large, clear glass window, they could see the west gate of Peking University in the distance. It was a superb spot, offering a glimpse of the cars passing by on the street, creating a sense of timelessness. Xia Jinshi had ordered a large table full of dishes, and the two were quite excited, having already drunk five or six bottles of Yanjing beer, mainly due to Xia Jinshi's flattery of Zhang Sheng. "Manager," he said, "I've decided to learn from my seniors. It's different from my original plan. I wanted to work for another year, but I feel that if I hesitate any longer, it'll be too late."

"How long have you been thinking about this?"

"It's been almost half a year, senior. Thank you for taking me in."

"Jinshi, you also create value for the company. No need to thank me. This is the culture here. You can start your own business just by working here. That's the good thing about Zhongguancun: it's open, free, and inclusive. But on the surface, everything seems calm, but there are hidden dangers. One wrong step and you'll regret it forever."

"There's no other way, we have to do it. Making money means taking risks. Look at those graduate students who borrowed hundreds of thousands of yuan to start their own businesses. I can't be more daring than them."

"Jinshi, it's fine if you want to start your own business, but please don't do anything reckless or impulsive."

Am I impetuous?

"You need to be patient. The key is to choose a good product and keep doing it for a long time. You will definitely succeed."

Those who make money in Zhongguancun are often product manufacturers, acting as agents for reputable, large brands. Partnering with a major company guarantees a 60-70% chance of success; the rest requires patience and sustainable operation. Many profitable companies in Zhongguancun had a clear initial positioning, choosing to become agents for Lenovo branded computers. The incentives from large companies allowed them to leverage their success and grow. Look at those who represent HP, IBM, Lenovo, and Founder – they've all done quite well, at least they've made money. Relying on speculation is unsustainable. Xia Jinshi had his own mature ideas. He wanted to start a used monitor business, sourcing from Shenzhen and wholesaling to vendors in Zhongguancun. His old classmate had followed in his footsteps, starting a business in Zhongguancun and earning his first fortune. That classmate rented a shabby counter and shipped hundreds or even thousands of monitors daily. This was why Xia Jinshi couldn't resist starting his own business. He earned 800 yuan a month, while others made hundreds of thousands in profit – how could that be fair?

"I've made up my mind. I'll partner with someone to wholesale used monitors."

"Jinshi, your personality is more suited to being a director at Lenovo or something, you're not suited to selling used monitors."

“My cousin makes hundreds of thousands a month. I took him to Zhongguancun. He set up a shabby counter, got some cheap second-hand monitors from Shenzhen, Guangdong, gave them a six-month warranty, and he made a fortune.”

"You're better suited to working in a big company; you're different from them."

"Why aren't they all people?"

“Look at this graduate student, he’s thinking about starting a business. He’s thinking about developing a large software system platform, and he expects to earn around two million after the system is completed.”

"Damn, I'm going to learn programming."

“Entrepreneurship in Jinshi requires you to forge your own path. One good thing about Zhongguancun is that there are 38,000 paths to choose from, and you can make a fortune by choosing any one of them. Just because your classmate made a fortune selling secondhand items doesn't mean you can do the same.”

"why?"

"The opportunity has passed."

"So fast?"

"Yes, that fast!"

Xia Jinshi drinks with such vigor and heart, which is the fiery spirit of a passionate young entrepreneur. He can really eat a lot after drinking. He ate mutton and scorpion, and then savored the roasted lamb chops. He ordered eight large lamb kidneys at once.

"Brother, eating so much mutton makes you feel so hot and bothered."

"No problem, the scallops here are so delicious! Ten more scallops, please!"

"Jinshi can't eat it all!"

"No, you've taught me too much! Grilled beef tongue is the best specialty here. After we're full, let's go to this foreign bar and continue having fun."

Honestly, this high-profile bar on the street was the noisiest and most rock-and-roll place. The key was that it was full of international students from all over the world, beautiful girls, all with long legs, beauties like Xi Shi, Diao Chan, Chang'e, and the Queen of the Moon. They were all pursuing the Bob Dylan style of free rock, all romantic poets pursuing a free and rebellious spirit. Zhang Sheng knew Xia Jinshi was drunk; he'd had over ten bottles of beer. The two of them were a bit too excited, so Zhang Sheng paid the bill. He then helped Xia Jinshi, still tipsy, past the bar that Xia Jinshi had insisted on going to. Of course, there was also a bar for international students in Wudaokou.

Thanks to Xiao Huang and Xiao Qin from the convenience store downstairs, he managed to get a place to rent. The two girls from the south were clerks at the store and were quite familiar with Xia Jinshi; he must have spent a lot of money there. The beauty of Beijing at night lies in the darkness. He still missed the old-fashioned bungalows near the north gate of Tsinghua University—a dozen or so large tile-roofed houses, each like the staff quarters of the Dahe Forestry Farm, divided into 20 single rooms, each about ten square meters, with a bunk bed and a desk for a computer. Winters were bitterly cold, summers sweltering like steam, making you sweat profusely. Thinking about Xia Jinshi acting like a big shot, arriving in Beijing and immediately experiencing the campus, moving into a high-end apartment—could he really start a business? Zhang Sheng didn't think Xia was a good candidate for starting his own business. He was better suited to be an assistant or secretary to a CEO, gaining experience; if he started his own business, it would likely fail miserably. He enjoys nightlife and a life of luxury, eating, drinking, and having fun. Luckily, he didn't date any beautiful women.

This commune was run by a family from Henan. The boss was, of course, the father; the second boss was, of course, the eldest son; and the third boss was, of course, the second son. The boss's wife was a simple village woman. The eldest son's wife often held their son while tending the small shop. The second son ran the canteen, and the eldest son sat in the office handling money collection and invoicing. Most people who worked or started businesses in the various markets of Zhongguancun came home to sleep at night, leaving the place almost deserted during the day. But at night, it transformed into a bustling market. Zhang Sheng had lived near all the universities—Peking University, China University of Geosciences, Beihang University—and although he hadn't attended those prestigious universities, he knew them better than anyone else.

A person only needs a bed and ten square meters of space to sleep. Why are so many entrepreneurs successful in their early stages? It's because they can maintain their composure and focus, which leads to success! I myself spent days thinking about starting my business in this commune. You can't succeed easily without making a firm decision. Now, lying on this wooden bed, I can experience the feeling of Du Fu's thatched cottage in Chengdu. I rejected Liu Yongmei's fervent love too decisively. I shouldn't have treated Yongmei like that just because of Jane Eyre's beauty. I regret it so much. Actually, Yongmei is no less remarkable than Jane Eyre, like the passionate Liu Lijun, whose eyes were full of indifference towards Zhang Sheng. Liu Yongmei and Liu Lijun's images have been moved to the bureau's honor roll, their image instantly elevated. Actually, Zhang Sheng is a victim of perfectionism in love. I forgot that Xia Jinshi actually gave Zhang Sheng a set of *Jin Ping Mei* and over a dozen pirated CDs. Xia Jinshi must have bought them from a pirated CD seller in Zhongguancun.

The three strange things about Zhongguancun are selling fake invoices, pirated CDs, and making stamps for various counters. Watching movies is much more convenient now, because I have a computer specifically for enjoying art films. This is far more wonderful than the love story of Pan Jinlian and Ximen Qing in *Water Margin*. Their love was too exciting! Think about it, it's not easy for a man to have a romantic relationship. Even for a wealthy and powerful man like Ximen Qing, that's not enough; he also needed the clever schemes of Wang Gan Niang and Wang Po. Consider Wu Song, a relatively fortunate man. Pan Jinlian was deeply in love with him, but it was Wu Song who gave up his love for her. One Pan Jinlian alone could cause potential conflicts between at least four men. But one thing I don't understand is why people hate Pan Jinlian so much? Even if she was promiscuous, the problem lies in Wu Da's incompetence, which led to Ximen Qing's seduction. Besides, Ximen Qing had the looks of Pan An, the charm of Deng An, the wealth of Tao Zhu Gong, and the official airs of Shi Chong. Yes, Jinlian was even more beautiful and alluring than You Erjie and You Sanjie. It reminds me of how Du Shantao delivered countless love letters for Zhang Sheng, allowing him to call Jane Eyre. Zhang Sheng was captivated by the beauty of Pan Jinlian in *Jin Ping Mei*, a common habit among many single men. Similarly, Pan Jinlian became the object of many boys' fantasies. After calling Jane Eyre, he even asked her to come to Beijing to work hard together in Zhongguancun. He can't remember the rest; perhaps he was too influenced by *Jin Ping Mei*, or perhaps he drank too much. Jane Eyre remained remarkably rational, listening attentively to Zhang Sheng's sonnets of vows of eternal love. Later, Zhang Sheng even talked extensively with Jane Eyre's mother. So, men can go crazy for women. Jane Eyre must have been incredibly embarrassed and furious. The next day, Zhang Sheng's second aunt called, saying that Jane Eyre had a boyfriend, someone from the bureau. The aunt said it was Bao Luzi. Bao Luzi—Zhang Sheng remembered! Bao Luzi's father was a cadre in the bureau. Bao Luzi didn't like studying, but she was rich; she owned several buildings in the Forestry Bureau that housed restaurants. It seemed that Bao Yu's wedding was held at Bao Luzi's grand restaurant. He also recalled Bao Yu and his sister-in-law's wedding; Zhang Sheng had been running around helping out like a devoted fan, scattering confetti and setting off firecrackers.

"Nephew, that girl has a boyfriend, understand?"

"Oh, I understand, Auntie. I know, Auntie."

Zhang Sheng's second aunt was always concerned about him, as he was struggling to build his business in Beijing. She would often call him, inviting him to eat at Bao Yu's house, worried that he wasn't getting enough nutrition while living alone. Actually, Zhang Sheng's lifestyle was quite sophisticated now; he felt a change in his demeanor, a newfound boldness, and his horizons had broadened. His biggest takeaway was the sheer number of beautiful women in the department store. Each one was as alluring as Xi Shi (a legendary beauty), and the most alluring of the saleswomen resembled Pan Jinlian (a notorious woman in Chinese folklore). They had almond-shaped eyes, fair skin like spring snow, peach-like breasts, full hips, and slender waists. They exuded a mesmerizing aura of love—what man wouldn't love them? What man wouldn't like them? Then there were the busty, long-haired women with voluptuous figures who sold cats wholesale, radiating a romantic and alluring charm. These women with slender waists changed boyfriends every so often. And then there was Old Ma's seductive wife, still so alluring even after giving birth, not wanting to be outdone in beauty. The women were all vying for attention.

What about Zhang Sheng's sister-in-law? She treats him quite well, at least maintaining her consistent style, unlike Li Xian's wife, Li Tongtong, who can't maintain her consistent style. His aunt praises her daughter-in-law everywhere they go. Li Xian has kept his promise; his wife practically idolizes this alcoholic, wine-loving, wine-loving genius. Li Feng is currently pursuing her master's degree; her boyfriend is a professor in the mathematics department. And Li Ping? Her child is already twelve or thirteen years old. She often thinks of Sister Ping; her cooking skills are Michelin-level. She devotes all her energy to being a good wife and mother.

My second aunt and uncle are now living with Bao Yu's wife and her husband because they are both too busy working at the hospital. My second aunt and uncle help with cooking and grocery shopping in Beijing. Every time Zhang Sheng calls, his mother always asks him when he's going to find a girlfriend and get married. Zhang Sheng is confused by his mother's nagging; she's right. Almost all the young people in the commune are womanizers, living sweet, romantic lives. Handsome men and beautiful women ride together on bicycles back from Zhongguancun. Zhang Sheng feels embarrassed; other boys have pretty, alluring girls nestled behind them on their bicycles. Ah! The sky has fallen. The pure love of Jane Eyre has vanished from Zhang Sheng's mind. He has always pursued pure love relentlessly. Girls in the big city are a million times more beautiful than Jane Eyre, yet Jane Eyre's beauty controlled his youth for ten years. Zhang Sheng can't understand why this is. Actually, after seeing how Ximen Qing seduced Pan Jinlian, he understands: the so-called beautiful love is, in the very beginning, a false and deceptive love.

Yongmei should be glad she didn't make a mistake. The key is that Zhang Sheng is a perfectionist obsessed with pure love. It's actually a very simple problem: the second aunt directly saved her nephew.

"Nephew, stop pursuing her. That girl is Bao Luzi's girlfriend." What does a love of more than ten years mean? My second aunt's words ended it all.