It's been a long time since I visited a night market. The hustle and bustle were unimaginable, with crowds of people and a constant flow of cars. Even the famous night markets of Bangkok probably couldn't compare. Seeing the greasy floors made me feel nauseous, losing my appetite instantly. A few stalls selling ice jelly with extravagant claims of being "world-class" were incredibly popular, drawing large crowds. Walking through the street felt like observing the masses. Guanghan is such a city, where the atmosphere is permeated with a sense of exaggeration. Everyone seems to have an inherent sense of flamboyance, even the ice jelly stalls boast banners claiming to be the best in the universe. It's quite amusing when you think about it.
"Peng, long time no see!" a woman's voice called out beside me. I turned to look, thinking, who is this? She looked familiar, but I couldn't recall. Seeing my awkward expression, she continued, "Don't you remember me? I'm Hu Lei, you used to buy clothes from us all the time."
"Oh, of course I remember you," I responded casually. "You've changed a lot."
"Gotten fatter?"
"No, you've become the best," I joked. "Women with a bit of a fuller figure are the best."
She laughed so hard her eyes turned into slits.
"What have you been up to lately?" I asked.
"Since having kids, I've been working at an insurance company," she replied slowly.
"That's great. Do you sell car insurance? My policy is about to expire. Help me out with your sales," I said.
"Yes, I handle both commercial and car insurance. I'll give you a quote…" She started talking non-stop, a typical trait of an insurance salesperson, I thought.
"Have you kept in touch with Lü Xiaoran?" I suddenly asked.
"You didn't know? She passed away six months ago." She hesitated before answering.
It was nearly the May Day holiday, and the weather in Sichuan was unusually hot, almost like summer had come early. But at that moment, I felt a chill run through me. "What happened? I didn't know she had passed away," I asked.
"She had depression and committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning."
I couldn't hear anything she said afterward, nor did I know how I reached my car. I slumped in my seat for a long time. It was as if time had stood still, and my thoughts drifted back to the first time I met Lü Xiaoran.