I am not Ximen Qing.

"It's settled then. We'll only go to Tianjin, and nowhere else."

"Of course, it has to be in Tianjin. If it's not reliable, I absolutely won't do it. That's my principle. I've already ordered a hundred computers, so I don't care about saving face anymore."

"How about 150 Jiang Tao units?"

"It's too late, they've already ordered a hundred units. Old Wei, Hailong's supplier, has ordered three hundred units. Brother, don't blame me, Old Wei made a bet with me, and he won. Hailong will be the company's distribution channel from now on. We can't put all our eggs in one basket."

"never mind."

"How could it not matter? From now on, Lao Wei will be in charge of purchasing computers for the company. This is a rule established by the company."

"No, does that mean we won't be making any more purchases in the future?"

“Old Wei will be in charge from now on, but don’t worry, a hundred units this time is quite a lot. With a profit of two or three hundred yuan per unit, you’ll have thirty thousand yuan in hand. That’s great. The key is that you don’t have to take any risk. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.”

Jiang Tao told Zhang Sheng to prepare the goods within a day. When they left the Xiamen Guild Hall, he advised Zhang Sheng to stop drinking and focus on finding a girlfriend. Actually, when it came to girlfriends, Zhang Sheng had always been searching for Yingying from the novel *Xiang Ji*, both in high school and university. But the poets Jane Eyre shattered his dreams of love. His second uncle, Zhang Hongqi, also introduced him to a girl from the local area. Only then did Zhang Sheng realize how pure Zhao Yongmei and Liu Yongmei's love was—a veritable Juliet-Romeo story. He believed that if you listened to the goddess of wisdom, Zhao Yongmei, love would come, and you shouldn't refuse! This caused Liu Yongmei to hate Zhang Sheng for life. She gave him a merciless, contemptuous look, and to make matters worse, Liu Yongmei got into a real university. Can you imagine? The local girl wasn't like his second uncle's flirtatious sister-in-law, Tang Li, who was also somewhat like Jane Eyre. She was young and possessed youthful beauty—all tears of love.

Love of Tears could only smile and say he was too busy. He needed to focus on building his business in Zhongguancun. Every day felt like being a machine, unable to stop working. Upon arriving at the shop, he immediately thought of the day's rent, the salaries of other sales staff, and a whole host of miscellaneous expenses. It felt like he was caught between two banks, or rather, his left and right hands were constantly in a fast-paced, rhythmic manner. It was as if he were working in a rural credit union, constantly stocking the counter with mountains of cash, working tirelessly. Every morning, a large number of Zhongguancun merchants would arrive with cash checks to withdraw cash, the counting machine constantly beeping as stacks of cash were handed out of the window. The merchants would quickly stuff the cash into their bags, the simplest and most inconspicuous bags filled with tens or hundreds of thousands of yuan, and hurriedly leave.

There's always a sense of disorientation about Jiang Tao, his wife, and his male secretary—the most loyal and humble male secretary in the world, who always obeys Jiang Tao's orders and always keeps a smile on his face—as they walk to the elevator, chatting as they say, "We'll have a pleasant working relationship."

"Mr. Zhang, give me a call if you need anything."

The secretary greeted Zhang Sheng with a smile the whole time. After leaving the Xiamen Guild Hall Building, looking at the lights of Beijing under the night sky, he thought about how busy people were during the day in beautiful Beijing, at least in the whole Zhongguancun area, and the whole Beida South Street, which is the street at the south gate of Peking University. Just thinking about it made him smile.

Jiang Tao actually had the nerve to tell Zhang Sheng to hurry up and find a girlfriend. What right did Jiang Tao have to make such a demand? This is all just male strife. Think about it: Athena, Bai Hua, and the ghostly figure of Lin Xiaoqing—Jiang Tao was stunned back then. He was probably thinking that such beautiful women really existed. He, Jiang Tao, was still foolishly living in a feudal-era view of love. Zhang Sheng deliberately boasted that his Tangshan girlfriend was incredibly sexy and voluptuous. The streets were lined with Peking University Resources Building and Sitong Building, including the Zhonghai Electronics Market and Keyuan Electronics Market, which used to be the most bustling electronics markets in Zhongguancun. All the IT industry's distributors had set up shop there, including HP, Lenovo, Dell, Combi, IBM, Shida, Great Wall Computer, and even the once-doubted king of cost-effectiveness, Shenzhou Computer, because it was so cheap that people thought it was beyond comprehension. Of course, Shenzhou (a Chinese electronics retailer) proves that while prices are low, quality is still guaranteed. They offer Perfect Plus motherboards from ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, Foxconn, and the full range of products from SOYO and Colorful. They also carry Intel, AMD, and Citron CPUs. Samsung monitors are ubiquitous, as are Hyundai memory and monitors. Seagate SE Gate hard drives and Hitachi Western Digital hard drives are also readily available. Zhongguancun is filled with products manufactured in Southeast Asia, specifically Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia. Whether it's hard drives or processors, there are labels like "Made in Singapore," "Made in the Philippines," and "Made in Malaysia." Edifier speakers, Creative high-end sound cards and speakers, Logitech and A4Tech mice, Pioneer optical drives and burners, the great Galaxy cases, and Lenovo stores everywhere. There are also Lenovo distributors in Zhongguancun, including Lenovo's largest agent, Beihai Company, whose business is incredibly successful in Zhongguancun.

In Zhongguancun, top-tier distributors are powerful, with various Nikon, Sony, and Canon camcorder dealers profiting from the scarcity of their products. Brands like Bayi Space and Aigo offer ubiquitous products, while Apple Stores, still rooted in Steve Jobs' legacy, boast large locations in Sanlitun and Xidan. If we're talking about the fastest-evolving technology, it's mobile phones. Motorola and Nokia, once the biggest unicorn companies, have declined, their once-dominant status replaced by Google's meteoric rise and the birth of a groundbreaking mobile operating system. Apple and Google together eliminated Motorola and Nokia, marking a significant turning point in Microsoft's strategy. Even the ubiquitous Microsoft could feel the power and competitiveness of innovation.

It's unbelievable that Jiang Tao chose to get married right after graduating from university. Jiang Tao wears gold-rimmed glasses and looks very refined, while his wife is as graceful as a willow, seemingly delicate and frail. I almost forgot the gift that Jiang Tao's grandfather, Super Puter, gave to his father-in-law in Xinjiang. Jiang Tao is a darling of the times; it seems he has almost never worried about funding while running his company, and the speed of its development is simply unimaginable, giving him a sense of quantum mythology.

What a beautiful night! It shows the true face of those who strive. In the beautiful, bustling skyscrapers, after a long day's work, these strivers and entrepreneurs head to places like Liulangzhuang, Shucun, Malianwa, the foot of Xiangshan Mountain, Qinghe, the Old Summer Palace, the Summer Palace, and the various urban villages around Beigongmen—paradises and havens for these strivers, their paradise. It's the home and spiritual home of all Zhongguancun entrepreneurs and strivers. Strolling under the night sky, I see Gome and Suning's direct-sale stores already in the core area of ​​Zhongguancun, along with JD.com's online direct-sale stores. The Three Kingdoms period has begun again. The price of products from Zhongguancun merchants is no longer a myth; they no longer have an advantage. The only constant is Zhongguancun's unique spirit of sharing. The freedom and openness of innovation, creation, and entrepreneurship—the price difference of hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands for the same product is now a seemingly impossible possibility. Is it all due to competition or a lingering sense of nostalgia?

The first wave of gold diggers often found gold nuggets effortlessly. In the Keyuan Electronics Market, the earliest nouveau riche of Zhongguancun, adorned head to toe in gold and silver jewelry, exuded a luxurious and extravagant air, somewhat reminiscent of Balzac. These new-era nouveau riche seemed out of place amidst the market stalls filled with mice and keyboards. Those who came here were the most astute entrepreneurs; all they needed was a stall, and they could quote prices arbitrarily when someone inquired. This was a pure era of low-cost marketing; Beijing at that time was a landmine of wealth. One could easily buy an apartment, a bungalow, or open a stall in a shopping mall or supermarket, leaving the rest to time. It was a pure unicorn era, a Warcraft era—anything went, anything was possible, but it required relentless persuasion, a tenacious, adventurous spirit, full of courage and fearlessness.

Brands are as numerous as hairs on a cow; just remember the technical specifications of the chip, CPU, and memory. Sacrifice brand for profit, or sacrifice profit for brand. In an era where every computer must generate thousands of dollars in profit, and whoever profits wins, we now feel the arrival of an era where capital trumps everything. We've become numb to Moore's Law, and the roles of commercial and home computers are becoming blurred. Once upon a time, there were internet cafes everywhere, with Feiyu Internet Cafe on Haidian South Street being the first to try it. The purpose of computers was simply to access the internet; the internet had become the future. Computers were no longer luxuries, just ordinary tools. The internet was the future; as long as you could surf, had sufficient bandwidth, play games, and program, you could succeed. The era of the three giants—Google, Apple, and Microsoft—dominating the consumer electronics market and mobile operating systems has quietly begun to change, and it's happening iteratively, leaving no time for transformation and development. The cruelty lies in the fact that by the time you realize you're out of touch with the times, it's too late to do anything about it.

These strivers and entrepreneurs have no time to think about the future. After a day's work, they happily return to their university apartments near God's house, next to a nightclub where they party every night. The nightclub's entrance is filled with all kinds of luxury cars like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Cadillac. Everywhere there are bars, bathhouses, and KTVs with a rich and colorful nightlife, a dreamy and passionate night.

Bian Cheng's phone call revealed that he wouldn't be motivated without Zhang Sheng's help, and Wu Qi chimed in, saying that if Zhang Sheng didn't come, Lao Bian would be finished. Lao Bian, also known as Hai Zi, worked with Wu Qi at a software company that supplied tobacco companies. They spent their free time maintaining systems at the tobacco company, eating and drinking. Despite this happy life, Lao Bian was quite ambitious, having obtained a Cisco systems engineer certification and learning programming. They owned a small, 30-square-meter old house in Xinjiekou, where they would occasionally eat crabs and seafood together in the alleyways. Lao Bian needed Zhang Sheng's help in an emergency when Bian Cheng's lover and girlfriend bumped into each other, neither of them easy to deal with. Julie insisted that Bian Cheng prove Qianqian wasn't his lover, or she would call him "Dad." This terrified Lao Bian, as Julie's father had dirt on Lao Bian and couldn't stand Hai Zi's infidelity. Julie was undeniably a stunning beauty, but to men, she was more like Ximen Qing or Jia Lian—ideal for many men.

A relationship lasting over five years without marriage is just awful, it's practically immoral. Mo Xu and Zhu Li had been together for five years, and Mo Xu was at a loss. Then, a sudden inspiration struck him: make Zhang Sheng his mistress's boyfriend. Zhu Li said they needed proof, so why not? Zhang Sheng liked to drink anyway, so they could drink first, then Zhang Sheng and Mo Xu's mistress could sleep at his place.

Playing musical chairs while drinking with Qianqian, a strange chemical reaction, the birth of flow—could life be this pleasant? From morning till night, drunk and hazy, alcohol and women mingled, desires expanding infinitely. Thinking of Lin Xiaoqing's full, firm, and elastic buttocks, while singing karaoke with Qianqian, keeping a distance, while Lao Bian and Julie sang "A Thousand Songs," each acting as if they were dying. Qianqian and Lin Xiaoqing looked alike, Lao Bian was also a womanizer, and Julie was a great beauty, a plump beauty, wasn't she? Especially those two full, round breasts—just imagine, their beautiful shape resembled apples.

"Old Bian is a true friend."

"Qianqian doesn't have a boyfriend, hurry up and pursue her."

"Old Bian is a true brother, thinking about his brother who's single. Julie, Old Bian is definitely a good man, unlike me who hasn't even been in a relationship yet."

"Hurry up and start dating, don't lead Lao Bian astray, all you guys like dating."

"It's not entirely like that, but I appreciate Lao Bian's kindness, thank you."

Zhang Sheng immediately asked, "Where should we go have some fun later?"

"Let her be, listen to Qianqian."

"Don't worry, Lao Bian, there's absolutely no problem."

"Okay, that's it."

"Julie, you can rest assured, Zhang Sheng would never lie to you."

"That won't do. We'll drive Qianqian and Zhang Sheng to where Qianqian lives."

"Joli went a bit too far."

"Are you lying to me? An actor's self-cultivation."

"Fine, fine, Julie, I'll give it to you. If you're not afraid, why should I be?"

This was the first time Julie forced Hai Zi to act as a matchmaker, and Zhang Sheng was still in the dark.

Wu Qi's face turned bright red immediately after drinking the wine, like a monkey's bottom. He was probably thinking to himself that Julie was too ruthless. She clearly knew what was going on, but it was all thanks to Zhang Sheng, that idiot, who was completely distracted by pretty girls. Wu Qi smiled mischievously and said, "It would be a waste of my talent if I didn't become a director."

"Old Bian, let's find Wu Qi a part-time white-collar job too."

Too much alcohol! How much? A bottle of whiskey, a bottle of vodka, ten barrels of Red Bull, thirty bottles of Carlsberg, three large fruit platters... I vaguely remember being at the Huguosi Snack Bar in Xinjiekou, with Julie, Bian Cheng, Wu Qi, and Qianqian, whom Zhang Sheng had just met. Under the bright lights, Qianqian seemed to possess a hidden allure, an Eve-like charm, even more so than Julie. Only a lustful man's intuition could sense that Hai Zi had a taste for this; wildflowers were more appealing than cultivated ones. But Zhang Sheng, caught in the crossfire, had long forgotten that Qianqian and Hai Zi had once been lovers who swore eternal vows. A girl's jealousy can truly drive a man mad. A short walk further into Huguosi is the People's Theater. "Too bad I was supposed to be watching a teahouse show."

"What kind of teahouse is this? It's a place where four generations live together every day."

"What's wrong with a teahouse?"

"The teahouse belongs to the Beijing People's Art Theatre."

Bian Cheng was happiest as he chattered about this and that, because it allowed him to distract Julie.

"What teahouse? You can't even watch 'Four Generations Under One Roof' anymore. Now you can go to Volcano Disco."

"Forget about Zhongguancun and Huangzhuang, they're too far."

He'd been drinking too much. Normally, when Zhang Sheng drank too much, he'd have a McDonald's meal: a large tub of Coke, fries, and a giant beef burger. McDonald's was truly a natural hangover cure; one wasn't enough, two would shock even the night shift servers. The highest he ever ate was three beef burger meals. Qianqian also had a habit of eating late-night snacks. Drinking and flirting made it easy for men and women to get along, and coupled with Qianqian's jealousy, Zhang Sheng and she were all lovey-dovey and affectionate. Following Qianqian, he wandered aimlessly, turning left and right, into an old-fashioned, dark apartment building with two doors. He wondered when Haizi and Julie had disappeared without a trace.

"Hai Zi, where did you all go?"

"Julie isn't lying to you, is she? This guy has fallen for Qianqian."

Hai Zi didn't go upstairs; it was Julie who knocked on the door and gave Zhang Sheng a few more bottles of Carlsberg, saying, "Have fun."

Julie was overjoyed; this wasn't a lie, they were really dating.