The Lijiang in my eyes has nothing to do with romantic encounters

The fate with Lijiang is really full of twists and turns.

In 2009, when I lost my job, I flew from Harbin to Kunming, preparing to embark on an indefinite trip to Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La. As a result, when the plane stopped in Zhengzhou, I received a call for a retest. After landing in Kunming, I flew back to Shanghai the next day. Fortunately, I finally got an offer.

In 2010, I went to Yunnan again and arrived in Dali. Due to time issues, I did not go to Lijiang. At that time, the most common headline seen in Foreigner Street in Dali Ancient City was: I'm waiting for you in Lijiang. Okay, Lijiang, you wait for me.

In 2015, due to work related business trip to Shangri-La, I did not miss it this time. After the work, the bus finally arrived in Lijiang and stayed in Shuhe. At that time, both career and love were at the pinnacle of my life. So, I vowed to post on WeChat Moments: Where is the promised affair? No good.

This year, no one knows what I have experienced. The first one was done by oneself, and the second one went through all kinds of turmoil. Generally speaking, it was the bottom of life. It was raining in Shanghai for a few days, and I suddenly missed the sunshine in Lijiang.

So, I came to Lijiang for the second time. Not for anything else, just for the sunshine, to clear away the haze of my life at that time. This time I met a group of people in Lijiang, and it made me understand that Lijiang may have nothing to do with romantic encounters. It can heal wounds, not just emotional wounds, but all kinds of wounds.

1. Dabing’s Hut

Because I am at the bottom of my life, I need chicken soup. Chicken soup may not make me better, but it can at least ensure that I won't get worse. I'm afraid of being depressed. So, after reading several of Da Bing's books, I naturally came to Da Bing's Hut Pond Bar opened by Da Bing in the ancient city of Dayan.

As much as I like Shuhe, I hate Dayan. If it weren’t for coming to Dabing’s hut, I would never set foot in Dayan. Before I went there, I heard from many people that it had become very secular and commercialized. A group of fans came to line up at the door, and the stories in the book were told over and over again in the room.

But what I saw was that a group of strangers were sitting tightly together, and they were not strangers at all. The singing is accompanied by smoke, filled with poetry and distance.

The story told is not the story in the book. There is a male singer who is very good-looking. After graduating from college, he and his girlfriend worked hard in Shenzhen. He sang, she was in a company that was about to go public and her own career was booming. Later, he lost his job and was depressed all day long. He told himself that he couldn't do this, so he decided to become a wandering singer in the hut. She gave up everything in Shenzhen and came to Lijiang with him. He got his wish, and she was painting on the street and was happy.

Really, when you come to Lijiang, you will understand: There are really people in this world who live unconventional lives that you can’t even imagine. The capital you have to survive is really not only the life you have been doing since graduation. The work-until-retirement routine.

In Lijiang, there is no need to have an affair.

A group of people became familiar with each other in the later stages of the game, and after the game, they met to have a supper at the Veterans Barbecue, which was just opposite the cabin.

2. Veteran’s BBQ

Let’s talk about Veteran’s BBQ first. To be honest, I was a little disappointed. The veteran Weiguo in the book almost died, but after the war he refused all the country’s benefits and lived in seclusion in Lijiang and came to this barbecue restaurant. It took the soldier several years and several opportunities for the veteran to get drunk before he knew the story of the veteran in person. Nowadays, it is clearly displayed in the form of a circuit diagram so that you can’t see it. It feels like a person who has never had anything to do with the world is now as full of worldliness as the smoke from a barbecue.

Of course, this is just my pretentiousness, and it does not affect the fun we have at all as a group of strangers who have just become acquainted.

Someone is heartbroken and has been living in Lijiang for almost a month. Where is the next stop? I don’t know; some people are in a good mood. When they come to Lijiang, how long do they plan to stay? It depends on the mood; some people come to Lijiang with their lovers, and the next stop may be Shangri-La or Dali, but they plan to continue wandering anyway. We are all the same, one eye and two noses. We are all different, and our lives are so vivid and distinct that they cannot be copied.

Later, waves of street singers from the hut came, and it was obvious that they all had stories and lived contrary to worldly values. But aren't they happy? You work from nine to six every day, are you really happy?

Really, when you come to Lijiang, you will understand: I hope you can accept yourself working from nine to six, and you can also agree with others wandering around the world. The so-called success means living your life according to the lifestyle you want, rather than quantifying the so-called income and house area like KPI!

In Lijiang, it turns out that there is no need to have an affair.

3. Shuhe Qinglong Bridge

I like Shuhe Ancient Town, so I always live in Shuhe Ancient Town. The last time I came to Lijiang, I particularly liked the Qinglong Bridge at night. The moonlight shone on the bluestone bridge, and the surroundings were quiet and comfortable. At that time, there was still you; at that time, my career was simply a matter of living in blessings and not knowing how to be blessed.

I came to Qinglong River again and had brunch. People were coming and going on the bridge. Many couples took wedding photos here, and the dogs were tortured. At this time, you are gone; at this time, I am still an older, unemployed, middle-aged man.

Really, come to Lijiang and I will understand. Every word in Da Bing’s book is heart-breaking. Life is like a dream, you can never go back when you wake up; looking back on the past is already far away, and bad wine with mixed flavors is better than a glass of boiled water.

In Lijiang, perhaps there is no need for an affair at all.

4. Written at the end

Although, when I wrote this, I was still standing at the bottom of my life and still couldn’t find any support to climb up. But the gain from this trip to Lijiang is that if I am still at the bottom of my life, it will be a bowl of chicken soup; if I can go uphill soon, I will miss this time very much and will continue to revise my future life, whether it is Career or life, or relationships.

When it’s dark, it’s time for sunshine. I firmly believe that I encourage everyone!

A bowl of chicken soup, please don’t spray it!