Bi Ming

[Author's Preface]

In 34-degree heat, trapped in a room of less than 500 square feet, writing and writing non-stop from morning till night, what do you think that would feel like?

 

Every night, while others enjoy the cool breeze, you can only enjoy the hot air blown out by the air conditioner downstairs. Do you ever feel dizzy or lightheaded?

 

"7 Days Inn: Encounter with Jiurufang" was completed in this environment, under this weather, and with this mood.

 

It's hard to imagine that I could complete this work in such a short time. In the process, I also had to constantly revise the plot, calculate every potential climax in the story, and the most important part was to "polish the plot that develops in the same time and space as the author, Che Ren, but is presented from another perspective."

 

If you ask me whether writing a collaborative novel or a solo work is more difficult, I will answer without hesitation that it is the former. When you create solo, you can imagine yourself soaring freely in the sky like a bird, without any constraints. But when you create collaboratively, you have to take care of the other person's feelings, know how to compromise, and help and tolerate each other. The situation is like a three-legged race. You must hold hands and move forward in sync, otherwise you will only fall and get hurt.

 

Che Ren is definitely a great author and a great writing partner. Her emotional writing draws me into the story, and her careful and meticulous attention to detail makes the plot more intriguing and engaging. With Che Ren by my side, I can write with complete peace of mind and give my all without reservation, because she always gives her partner 100% trust.

 

"Seven Days Inn: Encounters at Jiurufang" is my fourth book this year. Although the theme differs from my previous works, I'd like to reveal a little-known secret: if you've consistently supported my work and have a keen eye, you'll notice that I've subtly included a "graduation mark" in all four books.Haven't noticed yet? Let me tell you!

 

Why not start with this book, slowly savor my words, immerse yourself in the world I've created, and freely choose your favorite character? Perhaps one day, you'll tell me with tears in your eyes that this "graduation mark" has touched you deeply.

 

 

 

[Preface by co-author Che Ren]

My feelings were up and down when I was creating "Seven Days Inn: Encounter with Jiurufang". March 2007 was an unforgettable month.

 

I just left a familiar place, temporarily parting ways with many close friends I think of even in my midnight dreams. I shed many tears and recalled many memories. During those sorrowful days, I created the character "Jian Lan." Jian Lan's amnesia is also what I hoped for; she willingly forgot a painful past. As for me, I want to keep some happy memories to myself.

 

It's cruel to live only in your mind. The world changes, and even if I choose to stay put, I can't guarantee that the beauty that isn't mine will last forever. If I have to leave sooner or later, I want to leave before you. I used to work in Central, and I would occasionally go to Kau Ru Fong for clear broth beef brisket or tomato and egg beef tuna. Even though it was a long way and I was sweating buckets, I enjoyed the long queues. It wasn't just the taste that I enjoyed.

 

The tranquil environment of Kau U Fong is particularly captivating. Several long staircases connect to the bustling city center of Central and Sheung Wan, while nearby paper mills, hardware stores, old-fashioned health centers, and food stalls exude an old-world charm. The serene, low-rise buildings brought back a long-forgotten blue sky to my mind, giving me a strong sense of old Hong Kong. I thought the stories that unfolded here must be quite fascinating. This is how the concept for "7 Days Inn: Encounters in Kau U Fong" came about.

 

The last time I visited Jiurufang was on a Friday at the end of February. The weather was exceptionally good that day, and I took a picture leaning against the colorful brick wall, which is also the author's photo in this book.

 

Having collaborated with Bi Ming for the third time, I must mention his boundless creative energy and astonishing writing efficiency. After meticulous planning and tireless discussions day and night, we took on the personas of "Jian Lan" and "Huo Hua" and together wrote a tightly woven story in seven days. This collaboration was fraught with difficulties, with each of us facing our own challenges, but in the end, we finally completed it before the deadline. In the dead of night, we finally sent out the manuscript, and we both breathed a deep sigh of relief! I hope you will enjoy this short story that takes place in Jiurufang.