On a summer evening, the south bank of the Main River in Frankfurt was alive with the distinctive beer culture of Germany. Almost every restaurant and bar had set up outdoor seating, with more customers outside than inside. Germany's deep connection to beer was evident in the leisurely open-air drinking, which the Germans cherished.
At the outdoor bar of the Purple Bamboo Garden Hotel, patrons were enjoying themselves with large mugs of beer. Some didn't even bother with snacks, casually sipping their drinks. There were no flashy neon lights or luxurious decor, just the gentle ripples on the Main River and the cool breeze, creating a natural and romantic atmosphere. People chatted, clinked glasses occasionally, and burst into happy laughter.
Zhang Huimin, the hotel owner, was standing at the entrance, talking to a man in his fifties when a joyful, clear voice suddenly called out, "Mom!" Startled, she turned to see her daughter, Rui Xiaodan, standing there. Delighted, she exclaimed, "Oh my… it's you, my dear! Where did you come from? You nearly gave me a heart attack." Despite her words, she immediately embraced her daughter tightly.
Xiaodan put down her luggage and hugged her mother back, explaining, "I came from Berlin. I was there for a couple of days on business. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to lose sleep for a week worrying about my visit."
Her mother lovingly looked her over, saying, "It's been two years again. Come, let me introduce you. This is Uncle Qi. Old Qi, this is my daughter, Xiaodan."
Xiaodan shook hands with Qi Bo, saying, "Hello, Uncle Qi!"
Caught off guard, Qi Bo hesitantly extended his hand.
Huimin, in a slightly reproachful tone, said, "Xiaodan, it's not very polite to just shake hands with your Uncle Qi."
Qi Bo, looking a bit awkward, responded, "It's alright, it's alright."
Xiaodan, puzzled, wondered if she was supposed to hug him instead. She quickly realized the situation hinted at something more, indicating that her mother and this man had a special relationship. She took a closer look at Qi Bo: he wasn't very tall, slightly overweight, with a simple face, some gray hairs on his head, and wearing a striped casual shirt and gray pants. He seemed like a down-to-earth, practical person.
Huimin asked, "Have you eaten?"
Xiaodan replied, "No, I hurried back."
Qi Bo suggested, "Put your luggage in the car first. You can accompany Xiaodan home later. I'll take care of things here." He reached for the luggage, but Xiaodan quickly took it herself, accepting the car keys from her mother and placing the luggage in their white sedan.
Qi Bo said, "Sit outside, it's more spacious. You two talk; I'll check on things inside." He smiled courteously at Xiaodan and stepped aside.
Mother and daughter found an empty table and sat down. Huimin asked, "What would you like to eat?"
Xiaodan said, "Anything will do. Maybe some fried rice."
Huimin instructed the waiter, "One serving of assorted fried rice and a bamboo shoot mushroom soup."
Xiaodan went inside to wash her hands and returned to the table, smiling as she asked, "Mom, who exactly is Uncle Qi?"
Her mother replied, "We'll discuss that at home. What business were you handling in Berlin?"
Xiaodan said, "It was about Ouyang's company's audio evaluation. It's too complex to explain briefly, but it wasn't a big deal."
Her mother worriedly asked, "I was concerned you might be handling your study abroad application without letting us know. Did you bring the application materials?"
Xiaodan confirmed, "Yes, I did."
Huimin said, "You're 27 now. A girl wielding a gun daily isn't ideal. The family worries about you. Women age quickly; I know better from experience. Find a stable path while you're still young."
Xiaodan assured her, "Don't worry, Mom. I know what I'm doing. I can take care of myself."
Her mother added, "Your father called several times about your study abroad plans. He doesn't want you to study law; he prefers you to study theater. He said he could help arrange it and has a lot of experience to share. He wants to place his hopes in you."
Xiaodan said, "I've always focused on law."
Her mother persisted, "He believes that's your strength. With your intellect, a few years of dedicated study could lead to great achievements. You defied him once by choosing law enforcement over becoming a scholar or actor. I feel like a failure too, acting for ten years without becoming a star, now just running this small hotel."
Xiaodan responded firmly, "Mom, I'll decide my path. Dad can't dictate my life. I'll do what I'm passionate about. I can't excel in something I have no interest in."
Just then, the waiter brought the fried rice and soup. Xiaodan, not wanting to discuss the matter further, focused on her meal. Despite her father being a director, she felt "theater" was a distant concept, almost like a fantasy.
Watching her daughter eat, Huimin suddenly asked, "Are you getting along well with him?" referring to Ding Yuanying.
Xiaodan replied, "We're doing fine right now."
Her mother, puzzled, asked, "What do you mean by 'right now'?"
Xiaodan explained, "Love requires mutual consent. My feelings are one thing, but whether he loves me back is another. Relationships can change, like what happened with you and Dad."
Huimin nodded, then inquired, "How far have you two gone?"
Xiaodan, slightly irritated, said, "Mom, we're adults. Respect our privacy, please."
Her mother advised, "Be cautious with such important matters. The days of loyal, unchanging relationships are gone."
Xiaodan countered, "That mindset has harmed many Chinese women. Women should be valued for being lovable, not because someone loves them. If I ever become redundant at the police force, then I'll reconsider studying abroad."
Surprised by her daughter's maturity, Huimin remarked, "No wonder your father thinks highly of your intellect. You're very insightful."
After finishing the meal, Huimin checked the time, "It's almost 11 PM. Let's go home. I'll say goodbye to Uncle Qi. He'll manage things here."
Xiaodan moved the car closer and opened the passenger door for her mother. As they drove, she asked, "Mom, is he Uncle Qi or Mr. Qi?"
Her mother laughed, "Qi Bo is his name. You should call him Uncle Qi."
Xiaodan joked, "What a clever name. Either way, he gains seniority."
Her mother laughed too, "Just focus on driving!"
They reached home at 72 Schneller Street, a 22-story apartment building mostly occupied by middle-class families. Huimin's 96-square-meter apartment on the 8th floor had two bedrooms and a study, bought for 240,000 Marks, paid off over nine years.
After parking, Xiaodan and her mother took the elevator upstairs. The apartment was well-maintained, similar to when Xiaodan lived there. Her childhood room had changed, with a bigger bed and more adult decor.
Xiaodan took her pajamas and went to the bathroom to shower. Meanwhile, her mother replaced the bedding and prepared tea, placing it on the nightstand along with some documents.
Coming out in her pajamas, Xiaodan saw her mother on the sofa and joined her.
Huimin said, "It's late. You should rest. The bed is ready."
Xiaodan teased, "You always talk with me until late the first night I'm back."
Huimin suggested, "Let's chat in bed. You can sleep when you're tired."
In the bedroom, Xiaodan thanked her mother for the fresh bedding and tea.
Huimin said, "You don't need to thank me. It's my job to take care of you. I always feel I owe you because I couldn't be there for you all these years."
Xiaodan insisted, "Mom, if you keep saying that, how am I supposed to live?"
Sitting on the bed, Huimin began, "I want to tell you about me and Uncle Qi. You've probably noticed. Qi Bo is 54, originally from Guangdong, ran a Cantonese restaurant in Hamburg before divorcing in 1986. He moved to Frankfurt to work as a chef, then opened his own restaurant in 1994. He has a daughter with his ex-wife. We've gotten closer in the past two years. He's honest, quiet, and kind. I'm 52 now, and having a companion is good for both of us. You'll be more at ease too. What do you think?"
Xiaodan replied, "Mom, it's your personal matter. As long as you're happy, I support you. It's about your feelings."
Huimin handed her the documents, saying, "This decision is made. Now, look at these documents. I have something to discuss with you."
One document was an agreement between Qi Bo and Huimin for joint property ownership, ensuring no claims on the property by either party's children. The other was a financial independence agreement, maintaining each party's separate property and inheritance rights.
Huimin explained, "This is for your peace of mind. The house in the ancient city is yours for work and maybe marriage. The hotel shares in your name were for your residency status. Now, there's over 300,000 Marks saved for you. I don't need much, just you. I'm cautious about giving you everything at once, fearing you might be misled by someone."
Xiaodan said, "Mom, I've already taken a lot from you. I hope to repay you someday, but I want to avoid troubling you now."
Huimin said, "Silly girl, as long as you're well, I'm happy."
Xiaodan smiled, "Then be happy, because I'm doing great."
Huimin noticed, "You didn't smoke this time."
Xiaodan replied, "I quit. Yuanying doesn't like women smoking."
Huimin mused, "It takes one to subdue another. What kind of person is he? Your father said you'd choose someone you couldn't control."
Xiaodan said, "Mom, I've explained before. He's a complex person, hard to categorize."
Huimin said, "How could you, a police officer, love such a person?"
Xiaodan clarified, "He's not a typical troublemaker. I don't agree with Dad's view. Love and control aren't linked. It's about understanding each other's roles. You can't avoid certain responsibilities."
Huimin sighed, "Xiaodan, you've grown up. Sometimes I think, what is happiness for a woman? Understanding brings happiness, but women often realize this too late."
Mother and daughter continued talking late into the night.