19: Go to the city, Zhang Yaoyao's brother
It was the Ice City Central Hospital in '92.
The walls were painted halfway up with green paint.
The air was thick with the smell of disinfectant, mixed with the scent of breakfast leek buns.
The corridors were packed with people, and there were even family members sleeping directly on straw mats spread on the floor.
"This hospital looks more chaotic than a country fair."
Long Wu carried his mother on his back, his brow furrowed so deeply it could crush a fly.
The old lady's illness couldn't wait, but this noisy, chaotic scene left one feeling uncertain.
"Don't worry."
Lin Chuan walked ahead, his steps as steady as if he were strolling through his own backyard garden.
He didn't join the long queue at the registration window; instead, he knocked directly on the door of the Chief of Nephrology's office.
"Hey, young comrade, I'm not on duty yet. Go out and wait in line."
An old director wearing thick glasses didn't even look up, sipping water from an enamel mug.
"Director Liu, thank you for your hard work!"
Lin Chuan walked forward with a smile, casually placing two cartons of special-supply Chunghwa cigarettes in the most prominent spot on the desk.
"I'm a friend of Long Wu, and I was also introduced by Director Li."
Director Liu looked up, his gaze lingering on the red cigarette boxes for a couple of seconds.
This kind of cigarette wasn't available for sale on the market.
He adjusted his glasses, and the tension on his face instantly melted into a smile.
"Oh—a friend of Director Li!
My, how can I accept this?
Quickly, quickly, don't just stand there."
Director Liu had no idea who Director Li was, but since the gifts were in place, what else could he say?
In a society built on connections, if the gifts are right, strangers become kin.
If the gifts aren't right, kin are worse than strangers.
Everything that followed happened as smoothly as a pre-written script.
Not only was the dialysis moved up,
But after the dialysis ended, Lin Chuan made a grand gesture.
He directly paid a three-thousand-yuan deposit and arranged a private premium ward for Long Wu's mother for ten days.
It had a private bathroom and even a dedicated caregiver.
Those young nurses, who usually kept their noses in the air, became incredibly attentive after receiving large red envelopes from Lin Chuan.
Every one of them smiled more warmly than a biological daughter.
Calling her 'Auntie' at every turn, they served the old lady like she was an Empress Dowager.
By the time everything was settled, it was already lunchtime.
Long Wu stood at the door of the ward, looking at the spotless white sheets and the long-absent smile on his mother's face.
The six-foot-three man turned away and fiercely wiped his eyes.
These past two days felt like a dream to him, moving from a bleak, dark life toward the light.
And Lin Chuan was that beam of light in his desperate life!
"Damn, Long Wu, are you a girl?
Why do you keep crying?"
Lin Chuan patted him on the back.
"Boss! I'm just happy!" Long Wu said.
"Let's go, time to eat. I'm so hungry my stomach is sticking to my spine."
"Right."
The three of them left the hospital. They didn't drive, intending to find a place nearby to grab a bite.
"After lunch, we're going to the First Department Store."
Lin Chuan pointed to the grandest building nearby, the Ice City First Department Store.
"Besides appliances, the three of us each need to get two suits."
"Suits?"
Long Wu tugged at his faded Dacron shirt.
"Boss, is that really necessary?
I think this Dacron is pretty good—it's cool and sturdy.
Wearing a suit is too restrictive; it's not convenient if I have to get into a fight."
"Lao Wu!"
Lin Chuan stopped and helped him straighten his collar.
His eyes held a piercing clarity that saw through the ways of the world.
"In this world, people respect the clothes before they respect the man."
"As the saying goes, 'Words subdue a gentleman, but attire subdues a scoundrel.'"
"Dressed like this, if you meet a gentleman, they see your honesty.
But if you meet a scoundrel, they'll think you're just a dirt-digger, and everyone will want to step on you."
"We're going to do big business in the future, dealing with big bosses and government officials in the city."
"This skin is your battle armor; it's your storefront."
"Sometimes, you put on a designer suit and just stand there—you don't even have to say a word, and half your troubles naturally vanish."
Qiang Zi, listening from the side, felt this deeply and nodded his head like a chick pecking at grain.
"Brother! What you're saying is absolutely right!"
"Back when I was driving for the fleet, if I picked up someone in work clothes, that King Yama Ma wouldn't even blink an eye."
"But if he met a big boss in a black suit, wearing a tie, with a briefcase tucked under his arm..."
"Good grief! King Yama Ma's waist would bend so low he'd look like a shrimp!
He'd practically want to shine their shoes!
That smile of his would look like a rotten chrysanthemum!"
Long Wu scratched his head and gave a silly grin. "Alright then, I'll wear whatever the Boss tells me to.
Even if he told me to wear crotchless pants, I'd do it!"
"Get lost! I wouldn't want to see that even if you did!"
Lin Chuan laughed and cursed.
As they were joking, a person suddenly lunged out from the entrance of a video hall by the roadside.
Colorful posters were plastered over the video hall's entrance, and deafening disco music blared from the loudspeakers.
"Hey! Lin Chuan?!"
Lin Chuan looked up, his brow furrowing imperceptibly.
He saw a ruffian-like youth in a loud floral shirt waving toward them.
The man had a toothpick in his mouth and a face full of wrinkles, looking like an unripe, rotten eggplant.
It was Zhang Yaoyao's older brother, Zhang Erwan.
"Oh man! It really is you, kid!"
Zhang Erwan swaggered over, his beady eyes scanning Lin Chuan with a calculating look.
"What's up? Come to the city to watch videos?
Why isn't my sister with you?
Coming to the city and not bringing her along...
You're really inconsiderate!"
He didn't treat himself like a stranger at all, reaching out to throw an arm around Lin Chuan's shoulder.
Long Wu unobtrusively blocked him, nearly sending him sprawling face-first.
"Hey, hey, hey! Who's this big oaf? A good dog doesn't block the path!"
Zhang Erwan cursed as he regained his footing, then looked back at Lin Chuan.
"Is this your friend? He's pretty damn arrogant, huh?"
Lin Chuan smiled, a smile that was incredibly warm.
"Brother Erwan, this is my friend. He's trained in martial arts, so his reactions are a bit sharp."
"What are you doing here?"
"What else? Working!"
Zhang Erwan jerked his thumb toward the smoky video hall behind him.
"I'm the floor manager here now! Do you know what that means? My face carries weight wherever I go!"
In reality, he was just a bouncer and an errand boy dealing in pirated tapes.
But with that smug look on his face, one would think he was the kingpin of Harbin's underworld.
"Anyway, I won't waste my breath; a student like you wouldn't understand."
Zhang Erwan rubbed his flat belly with a shameless look.
"Since we've run into each other, I'm hungry."
"Aren't you going to treat your brother to a good meal?"
Lin Chuan smiled. "Well..."
Zhang Erwan continued, "What? You're supposed to be a college student; don't you understand basic social etiquette? Do you want to stay on good terms with my sister or not?"
He had no idea that Zhang Yaoyao and Lin Chuan had already broken up.
In his mind, Lin Chuan was a total pushover.
In the past, to please Zhang Yaoyao, Lin Chuan had been at Zhang Erwan's beck and call, and any money borrowed was never returned.
Today, a fat sheep had delivered itself to his door; he'd be a fool not to fleece it!
Long Wu's fists clenched instantly at that tone.
Where did this street thug come from, daring to speak to the Boss like that?
He was about to strike when Lin Chuan stopped him with a glance.
"Brother Erwan is right!"
The smile on Lin Chuan's face grew even more radiant.
"I absolutely must treat you!"
"No time like the present. Let's go! Today's my treat!"
"We won't eat at one of those roadside holes-in-the-wall."
Lin Chuan pointed across the road to the magnificent Oriental Grand Hotel, where two hostesses in cheongsams stood at the entrance.
"We'll eat there!
That's a top-tier hotel in the city. Their seafood is legendary!"
Zhang Erwan followed his finger, and his eyes nearly popped out of his head.
The Oriental Grand Hotel!
That was a place where only the truly wealthy went!
Supposedly, even a glass of plain water cost money there!
He usually didn't even dare to look at the entrance for too long.
"Holy crap! Lin Chuan, you've got some moves!"
Zhang Erwan was ecstatic. It seemed this kid actually had some money!
Or was he just trying to show off and suck up to his future brother-in-law?
Regardless of the reason, he'd be an idiot to pass up this meal!
"Fine! I'll give you credit for having some sense!"
Zhang Erwan slapped his thigh, drool practically leaking out.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
He took the lead, swaggering across the road with an arrogant gait.
Qiang Zi whispered from behind, "Brother Chuan, who is this guy? I really want to punch him."
"Just a fool."
Lin Chuan said flatly, a cold glint flashing in the depths of his eyes.
"Come on, let's go taste for ourselves what the lobster at the Oriental Grand Hotel is like."
"Remember, once we're inside, eat as much as you want."
"Someone else is paying the bill."