The idea of buying a sound system quickly grew and expanded in Rui Xiaodan's mind like a seed, becoming a genuine desire and craving in just a few days. She couldn't believe that someone as rational as herself could become so obsessed and uncontrollably drawn to a sound system. She didn't know if it was her heart's response or her soul searching for solace. She struggled and fought between desire and reason, over and over again.
She gave herself two reasons to justify the purchase: First, she had over 50,000 yuan in cash savings, which made it feasible. Second, it was a need for spiritual and cultural enrichment. However, she also faced a significant psychological barrier: spending several thousand yuan on a sound system seemed like a luxury reserved for a certain social class, and it felt extravagant to her.
Ultimately, her psychological defenses crumbled under the pressure of her need.
She then threw herself wholeheartedly into researching sound systems, becoming distracted at work, and completely forgetting about finding a new place for Ding Yuanying. Over the next week, she took her "Daughter of Heaven" CD to every audio store in the ancient city, repeatedly listening and comparing, hoping to find the best sound quality for the lowest price.
However, none of the stores could replicate the sound she had heard from Ding Yuanying's system, let alone discuss prices. Many store owners began to think she wasn't serious about buying a sound system, even mocking her with lukewarm comments.
The current audio market was already a battlefield, with countless shops and brands, a mix of quality and deceit, making it seem perilous. Newcomers lacking knowledge about audio equipment and an ear for distinguishing true quality often fell prey to the persuasive sales tactics. Luckily, Rui Xiaodan had a reference for the sound quality she desired, keeping her grounded.
As she moved from store to store, her knowledge about audio systems grew daily. She learned the differences between Hi-Fi systems and home theaters, and became familiar with terms like solid, powerful, mellow, pure, low-frequency depth, and high-frequency clarity. She was becoming a semi-audiophile and realized that the quality she sought couldn't be found in the ancient city.
While she didn't find the sound system, her work suffered greatly. For over a week, the police car she drove was seen almost daily outside various audio stores, and those in the audio community knew of the woman driving a police car in search of a sound system that couldn't be found in the ancient city. It went so far that she even thought about sound systems during suspect interrogations and case analysis meetings, with audio-related notes appearing in her interrogation and case analysis records.
Using a public vehicle for private purposes and neglecting her duties eventually cost her. It was her first mistake in four years on the force, and no one could believe it was all because she wanted to buy a sound system.