Chapter 118: Candid Encounters in the Bathhouse

Although it is already mid‑afternoon, the Bathhouse still has many elderly people soaking; they are usually called "bath enthusiasts", bring a lunchbox, and can soak from the early‑morning water to the night when the stars appear.

A dip in hot water relaxes muscles and invigorates the blood; then a pot of jasmine tea, a rinse inside and out—that's truly authentic.

Until two young men walked in, instantly drawing the gaze of several old men; they had entered the Bathhouse and wrapped themselves so tightly in bath towels—it was obvious they were outsiders.

Ding Shitou indeed felt a bit restrained, tugging the arm of Ding Yuanmin beside him.

'Yuanmin brother, why are they all looking at the two of us?'

Lu Cheng swaggered into the pool first: 'That's because you two are too eye‑catching; you've entered the Bathhouse yet act all shy like a young lady.'

Ding Yuanmin felt a bit embarrassed: 'Mainly because I've never taken a bath in front of so many people!'

Lu Cheng ignored them, leaned forward, gradually sat into the scalding pool, his face expressing pure enjoyment.

'Sizzle, comfort… you two hurry in as well; you've probably gone days without a wash in there, clean up before heading out, there's a train tonight.'

To get into the pool you must remove the bath towel; Ding Shitou fidgeted terribly, feeling the old men's gazes buzzing like mosquitoes on his skin.

Finally, he fixed his gaze on Lu Cheng, who was already in the pool.

'Yuanmin brother, why does his spot look like a donkey's thing?'

Ding Shitou lifted his bath towel, looked at himself, and instantly felt a bit insecure.

Ding Yuanmin told him not to talk so much; Ding Shitou took a deep breath, tore off the towel, closed his eyes and stepped toward the pool, but as soon as his foot brushed the water he was scalded and pulled out.

'This, this is hot water, right? Are you shedding pig hair?'

Ding Shitou's 'shedding pig hair' instantly made several old men burst into laughter.

'Comrade, you're from out of town, right? Then you should soak well and experience the Bathhouse culture of the Capital City.'

'Exactly, Comrade, you can soak comfortably for two hours today; when you leave, you'll be walking as light as a feather, feeling relaxed.'

Ding Yuanmin nodded at everyone, and Lu Cheng, arms on the pool edge, said: 'If you two don't get in, people will just treat you like monkeys.'

The two realized this wouldn't do; everyone is a man, so being completely open isn't a problem—naked, it's all the same.

The two exchanged a glance, stood on the stone ledge, finally made up their minds, spread their stance and jumped straight in.

Lu Cheng tried to stop them, but it was already too late.

The Bathhouse pool's temperature stays above forty degrees for a long time; if you plunge in abruptly, you must ease in gradually to let the body adjust.

But the two jumped in directly; unsurprisingly they screamed in pain from the scalding water, flailing and climbing onto the platform.

This scene made the old men laugh heartily again.

Only after a few old men gave on‑site instruction did they tentatively lower their calves and gradually adapt.

Lu Cheng leaned against the pool ledge, tilted his head upward to watch the tiny droplets condensed on the ceiling.

'Do you know why I brought the two of you here to soak?'

Ding Shitou took the cue and said: 'That must have been arranged by Hao Ge.'

Lu Cheng shook his head slightly: 'I prefer openness; only in the Bathhouse can everyone meet honestly.'

Ding Shitou didn't understand at all, muttering: 'That's honest enough, we're already naked.'

That's the effect Lu Cheng wants—no one hides anything.

Ding Yuanmin said: 'Comrade Lu, you must have already spoken with our Hao Ge, right? When Yuanmin and Shitou return, we'll bring another shipment; you'll have to do us a favor.'

Ding Shitou nodded beside them: 'Mm‑mm, we'll give you a good deal; when we earn money we'll share it with you.'

Lu Cheng glanced sideways: 'I said, have I already done you a favor?'

Hearing Lu Cheng's words, the two looked bewildered.

'Comrade Lu, didn't you already coordinate with Hao Ge? What does this now mean?'

'Right, you treated us to baked pancakes, invited us to soak, even gave us travel money…'

Lu Cheng cut in: 'What I'm doing has nothing to do with that Hao Ge you mention; I have a small business and want to ask you for a favor.'

Ding Yuanmin slapped his thigh: 'Isn't this still cooperation? No deviation; our Hao Ge talks about cooperation—just turn a blind eye, don't inspect our goods, the rest you don't have to worry about; we'll find a way to flip them to the black market…'

Lu Cheng interrupted again: 'Although what you flip are daily necessities, current policy forbids it; anything forbidden is illegal, and I won't do illegal things—that's my bottom line.'

So I advise both of you not to engage in Speculative Profiteering; otherwise, I'll catch you the first time I see it.

As Lu Cheng made his stance clear, the two were completely bewildered.

'W‑what do you mean by that cooperation…?'

'Exactly, if you won't do the favor, what cooperation can we talk about!'

Looking at the two, Lu Cheng stated his purpose: 'I want to source some warm‑weather cotton gloves and caps from you for sale; do you have stock? Let me be clear, I'm talking about legitimate goods that can obtain an Approval Document.'

So this is the kind of cooperation; it has nothing to do with Speculative Profiteering.

Seeing the two fall silent, Lu Cheng asked again: 'What's the matter? No such goods, or unwilling to cooperate?'

Ding Weimin caught on and quickly said: 'We do have goods, but what kind of cooperation are you proposing? If you take the goods, are you planning to flip them yourself?'

Lu Cheng removed the hot towel from his body: 'I have a friend who works at a Tea Stall in Jing Zhan Guang Chang; I want to bring some warm‑weather goods to sell. The Tea Stall is a collective unit of the Street Office, so even if we sell other items, the source must be legitimate.'

Hearing Lu Cheng's words, Ding Weimin slapped his thigh, looking extremely excited.

'So that's the cooperation method, great, our side is also a legitimate enterprise.'

Lu Cheng laughed: 'You're a legitimate enterprise? Then why engage in Speculative Profiteering! Don't fool me; I need an Approval Document, otherwise you can't catch the train.'

Ding Weimin, as if his village's enterprise finally found a way out, dove excitedly into the Bathhouse pool, only to be scalded and jump out again.

'Comrade Lu, you're Train Police, how could I dare deceive you!'

'You don't know, our village's community‑run enterprise produces warm goods in winter—cotton shoes, cotton gloves, hats—and plastic sandals in summer…'

Listening to Ding Weimin's excited voice, Lu Cheng was full of questions.

Since there is a proper community enterprise, and now the nation has centralized procurement and sales, there's no need to skirt the law unless these few people want to skim some profit for themselves.

Ding Weimin was clever, as if he knew what Lu Cheng was thinking, and hurried to explain.

'Comrade Lu, don't overthink it; we have no choice but to buy and sell like this, forced by circumstances, listen to what I have to say…'