Chapter 191: Going Ice Skating

Lu Cheng had already warned in advance that this bean juice thing is best not to try; most people can't get used to it.

Who would have thought that after he said that, Ding Yuanmin insisted on trying.

His reason was simple: since he'll often deal with Capital City people, he needs to blend in a bit.

Having no choice, Lu Cheng had to take a few people to a large state‑owned breakfast shop.

They arrived early, just after five o'clock, and there weren't many customers yet.

They ordered horse‑hoof cakes, fried dough sticks, sugar‑oil cakes, fried dough rings, flower rolls, stir‑fried liver, and shredded pickled vegetables.

They also got each of the three a bowl of bean juice, while Lu Cheng took a bowl of noodle tea.

Ding Yuanmin looked up and said, "Group Leader Lu, you Capital City person, don't you drink bean juice? I heard on the train that Capital City people all love bean juice."

"That's just a rumor; only some people like it," Lu Cheng actually could only say he didn't dislike bean juice—he could drink it, but couldn't claim to like it.

He knew Master Xu Erye liked it a lot.

He gestured to the few, letting them have a try.

Ding Yuanmin leaned over the table and took a big gulp…

Lu Cheng had prepared in advance; before Ding Yuanmin could spit it out, he sidestepped away.

"Phew… vomit…"

Ding Yuanmin paused, realized his faux pas, and hurried to apologize: "Sorry, sorry, maybe I didn't brush my teeth this morning, my mouth smells."

Lu Cheng smiled without replying, and as Ding Yuanmin and the others each tried another sip, painful expressions appeared on their faces.

"What is this sour‑stinky taste?"

"It's like rinsing a pot."

Seeing they really couldn't drink it, Lu Cheng laughed and said, "If you don't like it, don't force it. I'll get each of you a bowl of tofu pudding."

Ding Yuanmin replied, "Forget it, we shouldn't waste food. Besides, I saw that tofu pudding earlier; it's salty and still not something we can get used to."

Ding Shitou added, "Yes, Group Leader Lu, next time you come to Guangcheng, we'll treat you to our morning tea."

This breakfast was unbearably painful for Ding Yuanmin and the others, and only after they were taken to Qinghua Garden for a soak at nine in the morning did they regain their vigor.

Normally, bathers come in the afternoon or evening when it's crowded; mornings are quiet, and at nine the place just opened, so the first batch of water was hot and clean.

They used the big pool, convenient for discussions.

Ding Yuanmin knew that whenever Lu Cheng brought him to the bathhouse, there was always something to discuss.

He just didn't know what habit this Group Leader Lu had—preferring to discuss matters in the bathhouse, where everyone meets naked, so there's no need for pretense.

"Group Leader Lu, this place is really nice, much more grand than those small baths."

Lu Cheng really went out of his way this time; normally he wouldn't even spare himself to soak.

"Yuanmin, soak well; soak through, and later I'll give you a back rub, so you won't be cold when you go out."

Ding Yuanmin said, "Group Leader Lu, thanks for the hospitality. Since we're old friends, just tell me what you need."

When Lu Cheng treats them like this, even a fool knows there's something up.

"It's not really a command; I just want to ask you, Hao Ge, for a favor."

"A favor?" Ding Yuanmin was puzzled for a moment, then said, "Group Leader Lu, you're too polite. Our production team has come this far; the most thanks we owe is to you."

Since the Tea Stall became a fixed sales channel, Li Minghao used the chance to negotiate with several Street Office shops, and the profit directly doubled.

It was Lu Cheng who first gave them a chance, which led to the later gains.

Ding Yuanmin and the others kept recalling that favor.

"Group Leader Lu, just say it straight, no courtesy needed; we even dream of handling things for you. If you can give us a chance, it would be an honor for our whole Big Team."

You could tell that, though exaggerated, their words were sincere.

Lu Cheng wasn't the type to be overly sentimental; his hesitation today was because what he wanted to say didn't quite comply with regulations.

But at present, he had no other way.

"Alright, I'll be direct: I need a drug called Insulin."

"Insulin? What kind of drug is that?" Ding Yuanmin looked at Ding Shitou and the other, both shaking their heads, indicating they didn't know.

Lu Cheng explained, "It's an imported medication for treating diabetes."

Ding Yuanmin nodded vaguely, "Then we should go to a hospital. Doesn't Capital City have this drug? It shouldn't be missing."

If even the capital doesn't have it, he truly didn't know where to get such a drug.

Lu Cheng said, "It does exist, but it's extremely scarce. I'd like you, Hao Ge, to see if you can obtain it from Gang Cheng."

The only channel Lu Cheng could think of was this.

Hearing this, Ding Yuanmin realized the seriousness; getting the drug from Gang Cheng wasn't a trivial matter.

Seeing their concern, Lu Cheng added, "I know this is difficult, I won't force it; our relationship won't be…"

Without waiting for Lu Cheng to finish, Ding Yuanmin jumped in: "Group Leader Lu, no need to say more; since you brought it up, we will definitely handle it."

"Furthermore, for you, Group Leader Lu, to speak up, it must be a matter of life and death; when I get back, I'll tell Hao Ge and have him think of a solution."

Although nothing was settled yet, whether Li Minghao would be willing or have a channel was still unknown, but with Ding Yuanmin's words, Lu Cheng felt relieved.

Now all they could do was wait patiently.

In the blink of an eye a week passed, still no news from Li Minghao; it seemed this matter wasn't as easy as imagined.

They could only keep waiting; he knew that whether Li Minghao could succeed, there would be a response—no news now meant they were still working on it, at least not giving up easily.

Lu Cheng temporarily stopped thinking about it, because the ice rink at Shichahai had been completed.

Every year around the turn of the year, this period is the busiest at Shichahai.

In Si Jiu Cheng, the mischievous youths who'd been cooped up all year, along with the Grand Courtyard kids, all wanted to get a turn on the ice rink.

They're energetic youngsters with nowhere to release their energy, inevitably causing fights, making it the most tense time for the Public Security Joint Defense Team, which has to station people there daily.

This day, the weather was excellent, perfect for ice skating.

They had arranged it early, so Lu Cheng took the ice skates from under the bed and hid them in his chest, unable to let his mother know, lest she fear he'd fight again and surely forbid him from going.

But this time he really wasn't going to fight; he was heading straight to find a bride for the older ones.

The little girl on the stage was simply dazzling.

Arriving at Xi Er Fang, Lu Cheng saw his sister combing her hair in front of a mirror: "Sis, you're dressed so beautifully, are you preparing to find me a brother‑in‑law on the ice rink?"

"Screw you, if I go play I can't stay all pretty."

"Neng Neng, my sister is definitely the most outstanding one, so hurry up and get ready; Binzi and the others should have arrived by now. Later you and Qing Yan go meet first, I'll go pick up Da Kui and the others."