Chapter Fifty-Four: Shazhu Goes on a Blind Date

Driving in this era was truly exhilarating. Once you left the city limits, it was all gas pedal to the floor—the Liberation truck roaring ahead felt more like piloting a Ferrari race car. Along the way, after Chen Liang got to know Brother Niu, he couldn’t resist taking the wheel himself for a spin or two, especially after they entered the vast, sparsely populated Northeast. The sense of freedom was overwhelming.

It was said that, in the eyes of Northeasterners, everyone beyond Shanhaiguan was considered a Southerner.

Passing by the Northern Barracks of Harbin, they dropped off the general’s wife. Her husband was already waiting by the roadside, having been notified by telegram from her mother-in-law as soon as she set out.

After bidding farewell, the vehicle pressed on, soon arriving at their destination: Harbin Military Industry.

In this era, Harbin was unquestionably the favored child of the Republic; most of the aid from the Soviets was concentrated here! And Harbin Military Industry was the crown jewel among these projects, with the tightest security. Chen Liang’s two semi-automatic rifles were immediately handed over for safekeeping—anything less would have caused unnecessary suspicion.

After completing the handover documents with the head of the Security Section, Chen Liang’s business trip was officially over.

However, they still needed to wait for an official reply from Harbin Military Industry, so Chen Liang and his group had to stay for an additional two days.

As someone escorting the shipment all the way from the capital, Chen Liang naturally received the full hospitality of the hearty Northeastern men.

There was no avoiding it; this was just how things were. Everyone was in security—if you came to our place, we’d show you proper hospitality, and the next time we came to you, you’d do the same!

Chen Liang could easily handle three or four jin of liquor, maybe even five with some effort, which was considered impressive in the capital. But here in the Northeast, he realized he was only fit to sit at the children’s table!

Well then, if you force my hand, don’t blame me for bending the rules. This is about the reputation of the men from the capital!

And so, Chen Liang became a legend in a single night, drinking every Northeastern strongman under the table.

Northeastern men: So this is your excuse for cheating? You care about your reputation? Are you saying we Northeastern men don’t? Where’s your sense of propriety?

But Chen Liang had no idea that the head of security at Harbin Military Industry, anxious not to appear inhospitable to his brothers from the capital, had assembled the entire section’s best drinkers—and they were all defeated!

This was a major faux pas in the Northeast. There was an unspoken rule: if you didn’t outdrink the guest, you hadn’t done your job as host.

But how could Chen Liang, a rookie just out of the capital, possibly know that?

Thus, for three consecutive days, except for breakfast, the other six meals were a haze of heavy drinking. The embarrassed security section called in countless reinforcements, all of whom came in upright and left stretched out.

The head of security, Zhang Yi, deliberately delayed the reply by a day just to spend more time with Chen Liang. Gripping Chen Liang’s hand, he insisted on giving him gifts. “Brother, I, Zhang Yi, don’t bow to anyone, but you I respect! Your drinking prowess is godlike!”

Chen Liang had no idea that, without meaning to, he had already become a living legend in Harbin—the capital’s very own God of Wine.

“Brother Yi, if you ever visit the capital, I’ll make sure to show you a good time!” Chen Liang truly felt the warmth and hospitality of the Northeasterners.

Honestly, if it weren’t for a little help from outside forces, his life might have ended right here in the Northeast!

“All right, brother, if I ever make it to the capital, I’ll definitely look you up!” Zhang Yi had no intention of challenging him to a drinking contest again—he valued his life too much!

He couldn’t wait to send the God of Wine back to the capital; otherwise, the entire city of Harbin would never live down the shame of being wiped out by a single man!

Yes, Chen Liang had singlehandedly defeated all of Harbin’s mightiest drinkers. What a misunderstanding this had turned out to be!

After receiving the reply letter and reclaiming his two semi-automatic rifles, Chen Liang bid farewell to Zhang Yi and the others.

Even Brother Niu, who knew the Northeast inside and out, was full of admiration. “Little Chen, your drinking is truly something. You’re the first person I’ve seen leave a Northeastern table on your own two feet. I’m impressed!” He gave Chen Liang a big thumbs-up.

On the way back, Chen Liang didn’t mind if Brother Niu and his crew ran a few side hustles; after all, his little stunt had delayed them by a day, so he felt obliged to make it up to them.

Drowsily clutching his rifle, Chen Liang was jolted awake by a sudden bump. He looked around bleary-eyed and, to his surprise, found a dozen people crammed into the back of the Liberation truck.

He rubbed his face to clear his head, grabbed a pack of Red Pagoda Mountain from the dashboard, lit one up, and handed another to Brother Niu before lighting one for himself.

Smoking, he absentmindedly fiddled with a kerosene lighter he’d somehow picked up from a table during one of the feasts. “Brother Niu, you drivers really have it easy, huh?”

“Don’t laugh at me. I’m just out here making a hard living,” Brother Niu replied, good-naturedly poking fun at himself.

A little hungry, Chen Liang rummaged through the gifts Zhang Yi, the Northeastern strongman, had given him—a bounty of wild delicacies: monkey head mushrooms, wood ear fungus, and two huge bundles of Northeastern red sausages and dried sausages, all a testament to sincere hospitality.

He tore off two sausages, handed one to Brother Niu, and took a big bite himself. The flavor was truly excellent.

The journey back to Red Star Steel Rolling Mill went smoothly. After handing over the reply letter and the two semi-automatic rifles, Chen Liang returned home, his arms laden with gifts.

He arrived just in time for dinner. His darling Xiaoyu looked at her dusty, travel-worn husband with delight.

Clinging tightly to Chen Liang’s sleeve, Xiaoyu couldn’t let go. Since their marriage, they’d never been apart for more than twelve hours. This sudden assignment had left her feeling empty.

“All right, let’s eat first!” Chen Liang stroked her hair and led her by the hand to the table.

After dinner, as the family sat chatting, Chen Liang remembered the bag of gifts by the door and hurried to bring it over. “Mom, could you make chicken soup tomorrow? Put some of these monkey head mushrooms in—it’ll be delicious!”

His mother looked at him with delight. “You’re really something, bringing back all these wild delicacies! All right, I’ll make chicken soup for you tomorrow!”

They chatted for a while longer. When night fell, Chen Liang, amid knowing glances from his family, took Xiaoyu by the hand and slipped back to their room.

No longer satisfied with his old ‘Charm +3’ wardrobe, Chen Liang, using the excuse of this business trip, claimed to have brought back new clothes from the Soviets.

This time, he unveiled three new outfits all at once: an office lady’s bodycon suit, a classic cheongsam ensemble, and a pure, alluring Republican-era set.

That night turned into Xiaoyu’s private fashion show. After being apart for so long, she set aside her shyness and changed outfits right in front of him, much to Chen Liang’s delight.

Deep into the night, their neighbor Shazhu was once again kept awake by the sounds of “meowing” from the next room. With no other choice, he grabbed a bottle of liquor and downed half of it in one go. As the alcohol took hold, he found himself looking forward to his blind date the next day even more.