novelraw Chapter 234 Aid to the Military
Chapter 234 Aid to the Military
On the evening of the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, at the Peace Hotel
As dusk fell, the area in front of the Peace Hotel was quiet. Guided by a waiter, Yang Tiezhu and his entourage walked through a thickly carpeted corridor to the door of their reserved private room.
The door to the private room was open, and Lin San, who had changed into a suit, was already waiting there. He wore a dark red striped tie with his white shirt collar, and his hair was neatly combed. Although he was only in his early twenties, he exuded a maturity and competence far beyond his years.
Upon seeing Yang Tiezhu and the others, Lin San smiled, stepped forward, and, with respect for his elders, extended his hand.
"General Yang, thank you for joining us. Please take your seats."
Yang Tiezhu had also specially changed into a brand-new military uniform today. Upon seeing this, he quickly reached out and shook hands with the young "Mr. Lin." He could feel the firmness and strength of the other man's hand; he was clearly a trained fighter. A chill ran down his spine, and his tone unconsciously became more serious: "Mr. Lin, you're too kind. It's our honor to have you so kindly invite us."
Yang Weidong, Wang Jianguo, Zhao Shuguang and others following behind him were stunned for a moment when they saw Lin San's demeanor, which was very different from his "butler" attire yesterday. He seemed more like a young talent from a privileged family and well-educated. They felt even more pressure afterward - the other party was so young, yet he already had such power.
Lin San seemed oblivious to the awkwardness of the younger generation, and stepped aside to let everyone into the private room.
The private room was elegantly decorated, and under the warm yellow light, exquisite tableware and appetizers were already set on the round table.
"Officer Yang, please take a seat." Lin San smiled and gestured.
"Mr. Lin is young and promising, please go ahead." This time, Yang Tiezhu's refusal was even more sincere.
After some polite exchanges, Lin San finally took the seat of honor, with Yang Tiezhu sitting to his right in the guest of honor position. The younger generation sat down in turn, behaving very well under the invisible aura of Lin San.
The waiter quietly stepped forward to pour the tea.
"Lin Gang, order the dishes to be served!"
"Yes, Third Master!"
Lin San picked up his teacup, smiled gently, and glanced at everyone present, finally settling on Yang Tiezhu:
"Officer Yang, yesterday was filled with family matters, so we couldn't have a proper chat. Today, I've prepared a small feast, firstly to put an end to yesterday's events, and secondly because I admire Officer Yang as a senior member of the military with a broad mind, and I hope to make friends with him. Please relax tonight and don't be shy."
Looking at the young and shrewd "Mr. Lin" before him, Yang Tiezhu sighed inwardly and raised his teacup, saying, "Mr. Lin is young and promising, with an extraordinary demeanor. I admire you. Well then, we'll follow your lead tonight and take our leave."
After several rounds of tea, the atmosphere gradually warmed up. One after another, delicious dishes, each with its own unique color, aroma, and flavor, were served, instantly filling the entire private room with their fragrance.
Lin San introduced, "Staff Officer Yang, Deputy Staff Officer Li, Director Wang, and other leaders, please try these ingredients specially prepared for you. This is a large yellow croaker from the East China Sea that just arrived today; its meat is very tender. This is fresh abalone; simply cook it to enjoy its original flavor. This is venison from the forests to the north; it's especially nourishing to eat in winter."
Finally, he pointed to a steak with an exceptionally beautiful marbling and a vibrant red color: "This one is Wagyu beef that we specially sourced from our own channels in Hong Kong. Please try it and see if you like it."
These words secretly alarmed Yang Tiezhu. Large yellow croaker from the East China Sea, fresh abalone, and venison were all extremely rare and difficult to obtain at the moment, not to mention the "Wagyu beef" he had only heard of but never seen. The power and connections the Lin family had demonstrated far exceeded his expectations.
Just then, Lin Gang came over carrying two exquisite wine jugs.
Lin San continued, "Tonight, I've prepared two kinds of wine for everyone. One is our Lin family's ancestral 'Centennial Tiger Bone Wine,' made primarily with tiger bones and a variety of rare medicinal herbs. It's excellent for dispelling cold, warming the body, and strengthening muscles and bones." He pointed to another glass bottle. "The other is a red wine that our own winery is trying to brew; it has a smoother taste."
He glanced at the young people at the table, each with a different expression, and said with a smile, "How about this, young people are full of energy, so let them have some red wine as a token. As for me, I'll gladly keep you company today and have Staff Officer Yang and the other leaders try this medicinal wine."
He personally picked up the tiger bone wine jug containing the amber liquid, pouring wine for Yang Tiezhu and the others while half-jokingly and half-seriously reminding them, "But I have to say in advance, this medicinal wine is good, but don't overindulge! It's strong, and the aftereffects are even stronger. If you drink too much, I'm afraid you won't be able to get out of bed tomorrow morning, and your wives will come after me!"
These words, both witty and concerned, drew laughter from everyone present, bringing the atmosphere in the private room to a climax. Even the younger generation, including Yang Weidong, who had been tense the whole time, couldn't help but grin.
Yang Tiezhu smiled and raised the newly filled tiger bone wine cup. The wine was a deep amber color, and a rich aroma of herbs mixed with the fragrance of wine wafted up, making one feel completely relaxed just by smelling it. He stood up, his expression grateful.
"Mr. Lin is so considerate! Such hospitality and kindness... I, Old Yang, am ashamed! Come, everyone, raise your glasses," he said, looking at his nephews and nieces, his voice booming, "This glass is to Mr. Lin for his magnanimity and forgiving nature! And to thank Mr. Lin for his hospitality!"
"Mr. Jinglin!" Everyone stood up. Whether it was Yang Tiezhu, who was filled with gratitude, or Yang Weidong and Wang Jianguo, who had mixed feelings, they all sincerely raised their glasses at this moment.
Lin San also stood up with a smile, raised his wine glass and gently clinked it with everyone else's.
Upon tasting the amber-colored tiger bone wine, a warm and mellow current immediately slid from the throat into the stomach, then quickly spread throughout the body, making one feel as if soaking in a hot spring, and even the dull pain in some joints seemed to be relieved.
Yang Tiezhu was even more shocked. This medicinal wine... was definitely not an ordinary product! He looked at Lin San's young face, and his evaluation of the "Lin family" rose infinitely higher once again.
After several rounds of drinks and dishes, the atmosphere in the private room had become quite harmonious. Lin San felt the time was right. He put down his chopsticks and looked at Yang Tiezhu, the guest of honor, and Director Li, who had been rather silent beside him.
"Chief of Staff Yang, Deputy Chief of Staff Li, we're both sensible people, so let's not beat around the bush. I know that Deputy Chief of Staff Li must have used his connections to investigate me before."
A hint of embarrassment flashed across Li's face when he was called out. He subconsciously touched his nose but did not deny it.
Lin San smiled slightly, looking completely matter-of-fact: "However, I guess they didn't find anything out. That's not your fault; my identity is absolutely not allowed to be revealed or accessed unless it's within the appropriate system permissions."
Upon hearing this, both Yang Tiezhu and Director Li were shocked! They had indeed used some channels before, but the information they received was extremely vague. They only knew that the other party had a powerful background and connections with high-level officials, but no specific details. Now, Lin San's personal confirmation, and his mention of "system permissions," left them somewhat at a loss.
Lin San changed the subject, his tone softening: "However, my younger brother is very satisfied with your attitude in coming to apologize in person yesterday. Although he is young, he sincerely admires you revolutionary veterans who have made great contributions to the country. Since he has spoken, as his older brother, I can only comply. After all, he is the apple of everyone's eye in the Lin family."
Yang Weidong chewed on deer tendon, his envy and jealousy of Lin Yan, the capitalist's youngest son, reaching its peak. Look at Lin San, what kind of "brother-doting maniac" he is, and what kind of "devil father" he has! He could only turn this resentment into his appetite, stuffing food into his mouth. But, it was really delicious!
"Taking this opportunity today, I'd like to be frank with you all." Lin San leaned forward slightly, his tone candid, "Our Lin family originated from Hunan on the mainland. Over several generations, we went to Southeast Asia to make a living, and finally settled in Hong Kong. But our Lin family has always remembered where our roots are."
He glanced at the attentive crowd and said, "To be honest, our Hong Kong Lin Group has been doing business with the country in coarse grains."
"Mr. Lin! You mean... that batch of emergency grain from the past two years, it was you..." Yang Tiezhu couldn't hold back any longer and blurted out in surprise. Given their position, they naturally knew how crucial that mysteriously sourced grain had been at that critical moment!
"That's right." Lin San readily admitted, then revealed a helpless and doting smile, "Actually, our Lin family only intended to do some coarse grain business with the country, to contribute our modest efforts. But my younger brother has just too much affection for the Chinese People's Liberation Army."
He mimicked his younger brother's willful tone: "Brother, the People's Liberation Army trains very hard, they can't go without meat! If he loosens his grip, I'll be in trouble." Lin San shrugged, "So, besides coarse grains, we can also consider trading some meat and refined grains like rice and noodles with the military system. Otherwise, if he goes back to Hong Kong and complains to the old man that I'm stingy, I really can't handle that."
These seemingly complaining yet insightful words stirred the hearts of Yang Tiezhu and his men! A stable supply of meat and refined grains! They knew all too well what this meant for the army!
Finally, Lin San's expression turned solemn: "My younger brother once told me something that I remember very well. Here, I would like to share it with all of you revolutionary veterans: 'Dignity lies only on the edge of the sword, truth lies only within the range of cannons!'"
These words struck Yang Tiezhu and Deputy Chief of Staff Li like a resounding bell! What a clear-headed and sharp understanding this was! It was not something a young man could say, yet it hit the nail on the head!
Looking at their shocked expressions, Lin San said in a deep voice, "Therefore, he believes that no one should suffer, especially not you soldiers who defend our country."
The private room was silent. Yang Tiezhu and his old comrades exchanged glances, noticing that everyone's eyes were red. They had endured countless battles over the years, unafraid of hardship themselves, but terrified of mistreating their soldiers, for no one had suffered more than them. This meal, with just that one sentence, was enough for these old men. Yang Tiezhu glanced at his son, who was only focused on eating meat, and immediately felt a surge of disdain.