Chapter 222: Can You Say That?

Li Ye and the others waited on the platform for several minutes; everyone in the sleeper car had disembarked, yet the man with the cane was nowhere to be seen.

Li Ye asked Jin Peng: "Did he ride in hard sleeper or soft sleeper?"

Jin Peng shook his head: "I don't know. If he's a first-class merit recipient, maybe he's allowed soft sleeper too. Should I go check?"

"No, wait a little longer."

After waiting half an hour, bored and distracted, Wen Leyu suddenly blinked, squinting: "A living first-class merit recipient? That's worth a proper look."

Li Ye suddenly remembered he hadn't explained clearly to her—he was about to tell her about Guo Donglun's condition when he saw the nanny Xiao Liang carrying a wheelchair and supporting Guo Donglun as they stepped down from the soft sleeper car.

Wen Leyu's gaze sharpened; she instantly understood. The faint smile that had just touched her face vanished, replaced by solemnity and gravity.

Li Ye strode forward, extending his palm from a few steps away.

This was respect for a soldier—unrelated to status or rank.

"Hello, Comrade Guo, I'm Li Ye."

Guo Donglun looked at Li Ye stepping forward first, his tension eased slightly, and he reached out with a quiet voice: "Guo Donglun. Just call me by name."

"Better to call you Comrade Guo. The car's outside—I'll push your wheelchair."

"No thanks."

Guo Donglun politely declined Li Ye's offer, letting Xiao Liang continue pushing the wheelchair.

As they passed Wen Leyu, Guo Donglun locked eyes with the girl at close range—her cold, assessing gaze made the breath he'd just released rise again in his chest.

"Hope we didn't get the wrong person. Otherwise, it'd be embarrassing."

The Pingsheng Seventh Factory's vehicle was parked outside the train station—a Beijing-brand 130, used for both passengers and cargo.

Jin Peng hurried over and pulled open the door, smiling: "Conditions are basic—Comrade Guo, please bear with us. Let me help you in."

But Xiao Liang said: "No need. We can take a taxi ourselves."

Jin Peng hesitated, then said: "Alright then—we'll lead the way. We'll get there quickly."

Guo Donglun and Xiao Liang flagged down a Volga and followed behind Li Ye's Beijing 130.

The two cars headed toward Chaoyang District, winding through side streets until they turned into a narrow alley.

Xiao Liang couldn't help asking: "Driver, where are we? Is there a Pingsheng Seventh Factory office or restaurant around here?"

The taxi driver had been holding back—he immediately replied: "No office here, but there's a small eatery—"

"If you're here to eat, you'd better ask ahead. Most people can't get a table—they don't serve just anyone."

"Not serve just anyone? Then who counts as someone special?"

"You've asked the right question—I live nearby," the driver's storytelling mode fully activated. "If you're a neighbor from these alleys, you're guaranteed a table. Otherwise, folks will curse you out loud.

But if you're not a local, it's tough. You two don't look ordinary, but until you've been to Beijing, you don't realize how small your rank is. Walk down this street, pick any company—its boss is at least a vice-ministerial level.

Who dares turn away customers without some clout? The old man in the kitchen retired from the Sea. No matter your rank, no one dares show him disrespect."

Guo Donglun and Xiao Liang said nothing. When they arrived, they paid and got out—it was indeed that small eatery.

Once there, they noticed Jin Peng and the driver didn't enter—only Li Ye and the girl went inside.

Inside, the staff immediately greeted them.

"You're here, Miss."

"Yes, sorry to trouble you again, Heng Shu."

"Trouble? Nonsense. Come right in—same private room as last time?"

After greeting Wen Leyu, they turned to Li Ye: "Brother, you ordering the dishes again?"

Li Ye smiled: "Not today, Heng Shu. Four of us—friends from the south. You decide the menu."

"Alright. You entertain your guests—I'll go prep the dishes in the kitchen."

Guo Donglun grew suspicious again: the staff had greeted Wen Leyu first, and their tone and warmth were noticeably different.

Add to that the taxi driver's wild tale.

So Guo Donglun asked Li Ye: "Li, are you from Beijing?"

"No. Why ask that?" Li Ye said as he led Guo Donglun into the private room. "I'm from Qingshui. Same hometown as Jin Peng and Hao Jian."

Guo Donglun said: "Just now in the taxi, the driver told me this restaurant only serves Beijing locals. He was clearly exaggerating."

Li Ye paused a second, then smiled: "Can't say he was exaggerating."

The four entered the private room. Li Ye offered seats to the guests, and Wen Leyu, without pretense, helped Guo Donglun pull out his chair.

After sitting down, Guo Donglun introduced: "This is Xiao Liang. I can't move easily, so she stays with me to assist."

Wen Leyu glanced at Li Ye, checking if he caught Guo Donglun's implication.

Since this was a business meeting, unnecessary people should leave.

Xiao Liang had to stay by Guo Donglun's side—she couldn't leave. But what about Wen Leyu?

Li Ye smiled calmly: "This is my classmate, Xiao Wen. I couldn't get a table here myself. Since you've traveled far, I couldn't let you be neglected—I asked her to help."

Guo Donglun "curiously" asked Wen Leyu: "Are you from Beijing, Miss Wen?"

Wen Leyu replied coolly: "Sort of. I only moved here with my parents last year."

Guo Donglun: "Oh? What do your parents do?"

Wen Leyu's cold gaze flickered: "I'd rather not say."

Guo Donglun immediately said: "Apologies. I was too forward."

He finally confirmed his instincts were right—all his doubts now connected, everything suddenly clear.

The cliché of a handsome boy from a small town winning the affection of a female classmate instantly filled Guo Donglun's mind.

In that era, such things were common—even bodyguards marrying the daughters of top officials weren't rare.

No wonder Hao Jian and Jin Peng, after receiving so much help from him, never even said goodbye before secretly doing all this for him—it was keeping the benefits in the family!

Who could you argue with? What would you do if it were you?

The dishes arrived quickly, and the taste was excellent—even discerning Guangdong diners couldn't find fault.

But the atmosphere at the table was tense. The four sat in silence, sipping tea. After the dishes came, everyone ate quietly, each trying to outlast the others in silence.

Li Ye, seeing it was unbearable, finally said: "Comrade Guo, can you drink?"

Guo Donglun replied readily: "I can handle a little."

【That's good.】

Both men thought the same thing.

"You've traveled far, Comrade Guo. My hospitality has been lacking—let me drink first."

"No need for formality. The food's excellent."

One glass exchanged for another.

"For over a year, thank you for looking after us folks from Qingshui. I toast you!"

"Can't say I looked after you much, heh."

One glass exchanged for another.

"I've heard from Jin Peng and Hao Jian about your story. I don't know much, but… I'll drink this one."

"Drink!"

"My grandfather and father were soldiers. They always cared deeply about the southern campaign, always regretting they were born too early. This one's to all soldiers who fought for the country."

【You're drinking water, you bastard!】

Anyone who's served in the military—unless they lack acetaldehyde dehydrogenase—can "handle a little."

So Guo Donglun was confident in his drinking ability—he hadn't lacked alcohol at home these years.

But five minutes, one bottle each, nearly empty… no one could take this!

As Li Ye opened another bottle and poured for both of them, Xiao Liang poked Guo Donglun's back with her finger.

Guo Donglun stayed silent—whichever one backed down would regret it.

Just as Li Ye reached for his cup again, Xiao Liang snatched Guo Donglun's glass first: "We've traveled far. Comrade Li has shown us great hospitality. This toast is for gratitude—I'll drink it first."

Xiao Liang downed the wine, surprising Li Ye.

But what surprised him more was Wen Leyu beside him, visibly eager to join in.

Li Ye had extensive combat experience—he could tell from a shoulder twitch whether someone was throwing a straight punch or hook. So the moment Wen Leyu lifted her hand, Li Ye snatched the glass and drank it himself.

What was he thinking? Wen Leyu insisting on coming today was already out of line—he hadn't refused her.

If she drank for him, would he survive the next meeting with Teacher Ke without seventeen or eighteen icy glares?

Xiao Liang finally relaxed.

She knew Guo Donglun's drinking capacity—few could match him. Li Ye had already downed five glasses in ten minutes—he should stop now.

But Li Ye lifted another glass: "I heard from Pingsheng Seventh Factory's people in the southwest that you visited several counties, donating one hundred thousand yuan each under the name of an anonymous soldier. Whether your method's right or wrong, I toast you."

"Wait—why do you think I did it wrong?"

Guo Donglun finally spoke before Li Ye could drink.

Li Ye set his glass down: "I didn't say it was wrong."

Guo Donglun insisted: "But you didn't say it was right either."

Li Ye paused, then smiled: "Comrade Guo, your intention in donating is noble. But you're a sensible man—you know one hundred thousand yuan won't significantly improve many families."

Guo Donglun said firmly: "In a year of severe drought, a single drop of water can save a life. How can that be wrong?"

Li Ye turned his glass slowly, calmly: "I heard you spent half a month with Chen Donggou, visiting many remote villages—"

"Then you should understand why I had him choose the harder path, spending time and effort to hire just a few workers."

Guo Donglun nodded: "You wanted to give jobs to the poorest, those most in need, right?"

Guo Donglun had seen it—if ErGou hired in the county town, he'd fill the positions faster, maybe even the next day. But those workers wouldn't necessarily be the poorest.

"It's both yes and no," Li Ye said. "Even if each village recruits three people, the jobs will most likely go to the children of the most powerful families in the village—small households have no chance at all."

"And your simple donations might just breed more lazy people."

"."

Guo Donglun fell silent; in this regard, he was not skilled.

Dongshan has a county town whose poverty hat has been removed and reinstalled, removed and reinstalled again—this is precisely the manifestation of such flaws.

Finally, Guo Donglun said: "Then what's your suggestion?"

Li Ye sighed: "There's only one solution: if the nation grows strong, poverty will vanish naturally. When the great river flows full, the smaller streams fill too—even a trickle can irrigate a whole field of fertile land."

Guo Donglun laughed: "Li Ye, after all that, isn't this just the same old talk? People have been saying this for decades!"

Li Ye also smiled: "Yes! That's why I'm working toward that direction."

Guo Donglun kept smiling: "Are you going to use your Pengcheng Seventh Factory to do it?"

Li Ye looked at Guo Donglun's smiling face and said slowly: "Yes. You were once a soldier—so what do you think our land is facing now?"

Guo Donglun's smile vanished. He said seriously: "Go ahead. Even if you're talking nonsense, I'll listen."

Li Ye nodded: "If you've studied economics, you know that since WWII, the Beacon Nation has shifted from military hegemony to economic hegemony—and now I believe it's moving toward cultural hegemony."

"The problems we face have also shifted from purely military ones to complex, multifaceted ones. The first to emerge was economic invasion."

"Soon, our enterprises will come into contact with overseas economic groups. On the surface, these contacts may seem peaceful, but in essence, they are brutal."

"If you don't believe me, ask around—how many small nations' economies have already been kidnapped by major conglomerates?"

"Those conglomerates have experience, talent, and vast sums of flexible capital. Only by defeating them can we realize the dream from decades ago."

"Pengcheng Seventh Factory is weak, but it's willing to contribute its share. And I hope more wealthy people will contribute too—instead of squandering money on trivial things."

"."

Li Ye spoke at length. At first, Guo Donglun was dismissive—Pengcheng Seventh Factory looked prosperous, but compared to big corporations, it meant nothing.

But by the end, Guo Donglun felt a pang of shame.

Li Ye was younger and started lower, yet over the years, Guo Donglun himself seemed to have done nothing.

After Li Ye finished speaking, the private room fell silent for a long time. The three of them stared at Li Ye, head bowed in reflection, unsure how to respond.

Then Wen Leyu said: "Li Ye, why don't you tell us more about cultural imperialism?"

"It's just my speculation—it's hard to articulate."

Li Ye truly found it hard to explain, because he didn't know if anyone in 1982 had already noticed the concept of cultural exchange.

But it had already happened.

In 1981, the Beacon Nation launched a cultural and ideological campaign against the Swan Nation, and within ten years, it defeated a nation with millions of soldiers and twenty million core members.

After the red flag fell over Red Square, those who still carried the red star in their hearts could only cross the Dnieper River, climb the Ural Mountains, and journey to the icy ends of the earth to seek the red star's continuation.

Could he say this?

Writing these last few chapters has been agonizing—rewriting, cutting, constrained, painfully slow. And when I reread them, I shudder—terribly chilling.

(End of chapter)