Chapter 60: Visitors from the Northeast

While savoring the little wontons infused with a father's love, everything felt harmonious—except for the strange look Chen's father kept giving him.

After his usual routine of dropping his wife off at work, Chen Liang hurried to the Red Star Steel Mill, since he still had the 56-1 with him.

“Uncle, I’ve brought the gun back to you!” As soon as he entered, Chen Liang announced loudly, taking the initiative.

“All right, just leave it there,” Lu Youwei replied, then fixed Chen Liang with a curious gaze. “Kid, you really have some skills—went to the Northeast and even made friends there!”

Chen Liang was baffled. What did that mean? He hated it when people spoke in half-sentences like that.

“Someone called yesterday asking for you, said he was from the Northeast, name’s Zhang Yi. Do you know him?”

“Oh, I know him very well! Let me tell you, Uncle, I barely made it back from the Northeast. Those people drink liquor like it’s water, you have no idea how terrifying it is…”

Chen Liang rambled on, leaving Lu Youwei dumbfounded, suddenly feeling like he didn’t know his nephew at all.

Lu Youwei swallowed hard. “So you just outdrank a whole group of them every day? Wait a minute! Since when did you become such a heavy drinker?”

Chen Liang grinned with pride. “Uncle, don’t worry about those details! What matters is that I didn’t disgrace the men of the capital!”

“All right, all right, get lost! Since this Zhang Yi is from the Security Division of the Harbin Military Factory, just take good care of him. Any expenses can be charged to their Security Division!”

Hospitality culture of this era was like that: when a brother unit came to your territory, you had to provide good food and drink, or you’d bring shame not just on yourself, but your whole unit.

“The department can reimburse me? Then, Uncle, give me two cases of Moutai to set the tone!” Chen Liang hadn’t finished his sentence before his uncle kicked him out.

“Moutai? Two cases? Why don’t you help your uncle sell them instead!”

“No Moutai! Go to the Supply Division and pick up two cases of Xifeng wine to make do. By the way, he’s staying at the Municipal Guesthouse. If there’s nothing else, get lost! Just looking at you annoys me!”

Damn, were old men in this era all so irritable? Better not provoke him! Time to make myself scarce!

Chen Liang left the office without delay, hopped onto the bicycle he borrowed from the division, and sped to the Municipal Guesthouse.

Presenting his work ID at the front desk, he said, “Hello, comrade! I’m looking for Zhang Yi from the Northeast. Could you tell me which room he’s in?”

The young receptionist checked his credentials, then glanced at the register. “Zhang Yi from the Harbin Forestry Bureau, right? He’s in room 2011.”

Though Chen Liang wondered how Zhang Yi had gone from the military factory to the forestry bureau, he kept his expression neutral. “Thank you for your help, comrade!”

Following the room number, he found 2011 and knocked three times. A booming voice called from inside, “Who is it?”

Chen Liang recognized Zhang Yi immediately. “Brother Yi, it’s me, Chen Liang!”

After a flurry of movement, the door swung open. “Brother, how did you find me?” Zhang Yi asked as he pulled Chen Liang into an awkward bear hug.

“Oh, don’t mention it! I got held up yesterday and couldn’t come to work. This morning, my supervisor told me someone from the Northeast was looking for me. I figured it must be you, Brother Yi! So I asked where you were staying and came right over!”

With that, Chen Liang grabbed Zhang Yi’s arm. “Brother Yi, today you must let me treat you to a meal—otherwise I’ll feel too guilty!”

Zhang Yi was the archetype of the hearty Northeastern man. “That’s great—since I didn’t find you yesterday, I’m not leaving today without having a meal with you!”

Chen Liang loved hanging out with straightforward, forthright people—no need to wear any masks. “Of course, Brother Yi! I even prepared a case of Moutai for you. You’re not leaving until we finish it together!”

As they were boasting, another man emerged from inside the room. “Hey, what are you doing chatting at the door? Invite him in!”

Chen Liang recognized him at once. “Director Zhang, you’re here too?”

“Haha, the Wine God still remembers me!”

The man was none other than Director Zhang of the Harbin Forestry Bureau, whom Chen Liang had met at his second drinking bout in the Northeast.

Having worked undercover in his previous life, Chen Liang had his own method of memorizing people—once he saw a face, he never forgot it.

As the three sat down, Chen Liang glanced around. “Director Zhang, what’s your relationship to Brother Yi?”

He hadn’t forgotten how Director Zhang had just called him “little brother.”

Zhang Yi answered first. “Why call him Director? He’s my older brother—Zhang Cheng!”

Chen Liang had more or less guessed as much. “Brother Cheng, you two aren’t playing fair—how can real brothers gang up on someone at the drinking table?”

The two brothers had similar personalities—or perhaps it was just that most Northeastern men of that era were equally hearty and bold.

Zhang Cheng smiled wryly. “Hey, how was I supposed to know? If I’d known you were the reincarnation of the Wine God, I wouldn’t have embarrassed myself!”

As they chatted over tea, Chen Liang pulled a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes from his satchel. “Brother Cheng, I didn’t know you’d be here, so I only brought one pack. I’ll bring you more tomorrow!”

In the Northeast, there was no escaping three things: boasting, drinking, and smoking.

Chen Liang couldn’t just pull out more cigarettes unexpectedly—Zhang Cheng being here was a surprise. If he’d suddenly produced two packs of Zhonghua, it would have seemed suspiciously prescient.

“Wow, little brother, you’ve got skills! You can even get Zhonghua cigarettes—impressive!” Zhang Yi exclaimed, exchanging a glance with his brother.

“Little brother, I have a favor to ask—if it’s convenient for you,” Zhang Cheng said, a bit awkwardly.

“Brother Cheng, there’s no need for such formality between us. If I can help, I absolutely will!” Chen Liang replied sincerely. For a straightforward Northeastern man to have trouble speaking his mind, this must be a big deal.

“Big brother, you’re overthinking it. Let me explain,” Zhang Yi interjected. “The Forestry Bureau has a batch of unplanned timber. We came to the capital to see if we could trade it for something useful.”

“So that’s all it is? I thought it was something serious. Consider it done!”

“By the way, Brother Cheng, how much unplanned timber do you have?” Chen Liang asked, taking a sip of tea.

Zhang Cheng relaxed at his words. “This batch has been accumulated by the mountain workers over several years—about twenty thousand cubic meters.”

Chen Liang spat out his tea in shock. “Brother Cheng, did you say twenty thousand cubic meters of timber?”