C39 (1/2)
”In the last six months, China has established five artificial islands in the Nansha Sea area, which are more than one square kilometer. The countries along the South China Sea, such as Vietnam and the Philippines, have expressed great concern about this. What are the explanations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China?” On the television, a large-nosed foreign reporter stammered out a question in Chinese with only one tone.
The foreign ministry spokesman, who had a straight face and looked like Li Xiangyang from ”The Plains Guerrilla Force,” as if he could make the foreign states surrender with a glare, smiled and said with slight disdain, ”That was just a set of projects we did to improve the living conditions of the island guards …”
The reporters below the stage burst into soft laughter.
The screen flipped and the middle-aged woman, who had a discordant life, appeared on the screen once more. ”Now, a new international news bulletin has been broadcasted. International oil prices have continued to fall, falling by more than 50% in the past year. They have fallen to their lowest level in the last six years …”
”The situation in Yemen continues to deteriorate and at the Saudi Arab-Yemeni border, the two sides are engaged in a barrage of artillery and rocket launchers. On the same day, at least 37 people were killed and 80 injured when a food factory was accidentally bombed in the western port city of Gautada, Yemen. ”
”Israel has accelerated the construction of the Israeli-Palestinian border barrier, in order to build which it has destroyed 140 houses in the north-west of the West Bank, affecting the lives of 875 thousand Palestinians and displacing more than 2,300 people from 400 families. As key water sources have been occupied, the gap in Palestinian water resources amounts to 12 million cubic metres. ”
”Quantum computers have made breakthroughs, and physicists have discovered that quantum dissipation can produce persistent and stable entanglement.”
”…”
The Taoist and I sat in the lobby of the travel agency and waited for the reception of the leader. He had been demoted to a business manager and had coincidentally been transferred to the Qianchao City Branch. When we arrived, he was trying to recommend a seven-day shopping trip to a group of fashionable women, patting them on the chest and assuring them that Korean Herm s was at least half as cheap and free of counterfeit goods.
Even though we knew there was danger ahead, we couldn't help but want to uncover the fog and see the truth within. It was like how a person who is particularly afraid of ghosts likes to watch horror movies or a person who is afraid of snakes likes to go to the zoo to watch snakes. The kind of feeling that makes one's skin crawl is like a good wine that makes one intoxicated.
After the business manager finished introducing his trip to Korea, the women left happily with the travel agency brochure and the beer bottle opener. He turned around and walked towards us. From a distance, he stretched out his hand with a professional smile on his face.
”I'm sorry to have kept you waiting …”
We stood up and shook hands with him in turn. His palms were damp and covered with meat, and felt a little greasy.
”Speak, where do you want to go?” Domestic or foreign? I'll definitely give you a good price! ”Recently, I've been going to Malaysia for a really cheap price. It's only 3000 yuan, so I'll give you guys a discount …” This person was also familiar with each other. In Mandarin with a northeastern accent, he sat down across from us and started selling.
I looked at the Taoist and said somewhat embarrassedly, ”This … We don't want to travel... ”
”Don't want to travel? ”Then what are you all doing here?” He took a box of Nanking's from his pocket and handed it to us. I waved to him not to smoke, and the Taoist took another one from the fire he offered us.