Zhang San Li Si (2)

  The liangpi was served.

  I picked up a pair of disposable chopsticks from the box beside me and handed one to Gu Xue Lin, taking another for myself.

  I waved a disposable chopstick in my hand and pointed at the plastic wrap covering the liangpi bowl.

  "We all know that using disposable chopsticks requires cutting down forests and destroying the environment. The country has also issued documents to promote the use of fewer or no disposable chopsticks, but what's the result?"

  Gu Xue Lin looked at me with an inexplicable gaze.

  I couldn't help but laugh, "Look at the result, see how many disposable chopsticks are discarded in this trash can. And what about that loud and clear ban on plastics in early 2008? What's the situation now?"

  Gu Xue Lin shook her head.

  "These two originally should be vigorously implemented and resolutely executed legal provisions have become a mere scrap of paper, and protecting the environment has also become an empty talk that is like scratching an itch through one's boot."

  Gu Xue Lin nodded.

  "What's the reason?" I asked back.

  "You might think one person's power is too weak," said Gu Xue Lin.

  "There's a movie called 'The Secret Code', perhaps it can answer this question, that is, only when disaster truly arrives will people reflect and change, otherwise, all the preaching is useless."

  "What does it mean?" A hint of puzzlement flashed in Gu Xue Lin's eyes.

  "If we ordinary people have this kind of thinking and awareness, it is only when disasters occur that we will calm down and reflect. Because we are all too superficial and eager for quick success. Yes, born in hardship, died in comfort, that's the principle."

  Gu Xue Lin tilted her head, looking very thoughtful.

  I nodded, "Let's talk about this 'Earth Hour' again. I think it doesn't make much sense. Instead of spending so much effort on publicity and advocacy, why not just distribute a few energy-saving light bulbs to every household, so we can all use them for lighting in our daily lives?"

  "So you're saying that those factories which specialize in producing energy-saving lamps won't be greatly affected?"

  "It can be given tax rebate protection like export trade, or specify the production of a type of energy-saving lamp with a price lower than incandescent lamps, while other types of energy-saving lamps are priced higher than incandescent lamps. Wouldn't this solve the problem? And the market may be further expanded. This is even better for manufacturers."

  "Hmm, makes sense." Gu Xue Lin nodded. "But you said, why doesn't the country do this? Didn't they think of it?"

  I smiled and said, "Don't worry, whatever problems we can think of and solutions, the country will definitely think of them."

  "Why don't we just do it?"

  "Hmm, one is the system, the other is the pattern." I smiled and continued eating liangpi.

  "What does it mean?" Gao Xuelin raised her head and looked at me.

  The system is reform, and reform requires innovation, which inevitably involves the interests of some people, and will encounter great resistance, making it very difficult to implement.

  Now, let me put it this way. In your village at the foot of the mountain, there are 500 people in total, but only Zhang San's family has a well. If everyone wants to drink water, they have to go to Zhang San's house to buy some. As a result, Zhang San gets rich by selling water and doesn't need to work in the fields anymore. Moreover, Zhang San's house is better than others'.

  One day, Li Si came to find Zhang San and said, "Zhang San, from now on, you have to give me half of the money you make selling water." Zhang San asked, "Why should I give it to you?" Li Si replied, "I found a spring on the mountain that tastes even sweeter than your well water. However, this spring doesn't belong to me, it's on public land, and I can't sell the water like you do. So, either I tell everyone in the village not to buy water from you anymore and just go up the mountain to fetch water themselves, or... I won't tell anyone about the spring, but then you have to give me half of your earnings." Zhang San thought for a moment and agreed to Li Si's terms. From then on, both Zhang San and Li Si became rich men in the village.

  Later, Wang Wu also discovered the spring water and came to find Zhang San. As a result, Zhang San gave one-third of his future earnings to Wang Wu. Later, Zhao Liu also discovered the spring water and came to find Zhang San. Then, five or six more people came to find Zhang San for money. Zhang San thought that this was not good and called Li Si, Wang Wu, Zhao Liu, and others who had discovered the spring water to discuss what to do.

  They came up with a good idea, with Zhang San and Li Si responsible for the funding, Wang Wu and Zhao Liu responsible for supervision, and the others responsible for the labor. They enclosed the spring water, laid down a pipeline, and connected it to each household. As a result, the villagers no longer needed to fetch water, but Zhang San and Li Si earned a considerable income every month by collecting pipe fees.

  Gu Xue Lin didn't say anything, her face a picture of intense thought.

  "Uh-huh, I'm done." As I said that, I pulled out two paper napkins from the box and wiped my mouth twice.

  "Ah," Gu Xue Lin saw that there was still half a bowl of liangpi left in her own bowl, smiled at me and then lowered her head to continue eating.

  Soon, Gao Xuelin also finished her meal.

  The two of us headed towards "Jidi Internet Cafe", a place we often went to.