Lin Yao planned to treat these veterans to an authentic Chengdu hot pot meal at "Huangcheng Laoma Hot Pot Huangcheng Store" on the South Third Section of the Second Ring Road. The all-you-can-eat hot pot there is excellent, costing 118 yuan per person. Each person has their own small pot, which is convenient and hygienic. All the dishes are transported by an automatic conveyor belt that circles the hall, allowing diners to choose freely according to their preferences.
Huangcheng Laoma Hot Pot is arguably the most upscale hot pot restaurant in Chengdu. Its decor and the delicious flavors and aromas of its dishes are both outstanding. This catering group, established only twenty-odd years ago, possesses a deep cultural heritage. The decor blends traditional Chengdu style with modern elements, and the beautifully designed brochures distributed to diners (a set of twelve, I forget the exact number, but there were many) create a rich cultural atmosphere even before you start eating. The dishes are unique, ensuring that diners from all over China will find the experience worthwhile. Almost all diners give the same unanimous assessment: expensive, but worth it!
"I like hot pot, but I don't eat all-you-can-eat hot pot. If we're going to eat it, we should all scoop vegetables from one big pot together. That's what makes it lively," said an old soldier with a deep scar on his neck, which drew agreement from the crowd.
Soldiers are generally straightforward and generous. Once they consider you a friend, they won't be as formal as civilians. They appreciate your money, but they'll also speak their minds. Since a buffet hot pot wasn't their preferred style, they immediately raised their objections.
“Alright then, we won’t have the all-you-can-eat hot pot. We’ll all sit together and eat.” Lin Yao liked the soldiers’ straightforwardness and immediately changed the destination. “We’ll still have hot pot. Let’s go to ‘Huangcheng Laoma’ on Qintai Road. After we eat, we can stroll around Qintai Road. It’s a tourist attraction. The ancient street has been transformed into a Han and Tang style. It’s the first time you guys have come to Chengdu, so let’s relax first.”
The passengers on bus number 109 were stunned. A large group of people boarded the bus in droves, almost all of them disabled, with the remaining few being women and children. It was as if an earthquake had struck the bus; all the passengers stood up and offered their seats to Lin Yao and his group.
"Chengdu is such a wonderful place. The people here are so kind-hearted." A veteran who was missing his left leg spoke with a heavy Shanxi accent, his loud voice filled with joy. "Brother, thank you. You can sit down. It's okay for me to stand. I still have the strength."
Chengdu is a very loving and inclusive city. When people from other places come to this city, they smile more often. Strangers on the street are very friendly, and giving up seats on buses is a common practice, unlike some cities where young people often fight with the elderly for seats.
The final result was that all the disabled veterans were able to sit down. When some passengers who still had seats saw the disabled veterans give up their seats to people who did not appear to be disabled, and the healthy people took it for granted, they realized that the people who did not appear to be disabled might have more serious physical conditions, and immediately gave up their seats.
Having witnessed this situation, Lin Yao sighed inwardly. Everyone in this society should have compassion, it's just a matter of how to guide it. The cruel reality of society makes everyone hide their compassion deeply, only occasionally showing it in small things like giving up their seats.
The Huangcheng Laoma Hotpot Qintai branch attracted a group of special guests. More than thirty surprising diners gathered in the hall, with four hotpot tables clustered together. People moved around each table constantly, and the strong sense of family affection was freely expressed on the small tables, creating a lively atmosphere.
"Brother, bottoms up! I thought I'd never see you again in this lifetime." The one-armed veteran raised his glass and clinked it against that of his one-eyed comrade. He tilted his head back and poured the glass of liquor, mixed with tears, down his throat. His face was full of excitement and joy, and tears streamed down his red eyes.
The scene of crying, laughing, and making a ruckus clashed with the overall atmosphere of "Huangcheng Laoma" restaurant, but none of the diners frowned or showed any displeasure. Even the restaurant manager personally served them, not scolding the noisy tables, but instead diligently providing excellent service. The other diners and the restaurant manager realized that these people were not ordinary; they were wounded or disabled for the country and its people. They were heroes, and the excitement and fervor of their reunion only moved them, not disgusted them.
"Huangcheng Laoma" is a high-end restaurant. Lin Yao ordered baijiu, specifically 52-proof Wuliangye, and the four tables consumed four cases (24 bottles). The baijiu, originally priced at 788 yuan per bottle, was discounted to 600 yuan per bottle by the restaurant manager, even lower than some supermarket prices. Despite this, the meal still cost 19,800 yuan, rounded down after the discounts on food and drinks, suggesting the restaurant manager used all their authority.
Lin Yao didn't feel bad about spending the money. It was worth it to give the veterans a happy and carefree reunion!
Lin Yao entrusted Qingying to lead his comrades and a few women and children shopping, and then asked him to quickly contact someone to rent a place near the Wangchao Mansion after returning. After paying the bill, Lin Yao pulled Ge Yong aside and left first. Situ Hao called to say that the medicine had been delivered to the hotel, and they had to leave quickly to get the medicine and head to the 452 Hospital. Time was of the essence.
Lin Yao was unaffected by the alcohol; it was automatically absorbed by the grass seeds as it passed through his bloodstream and chest, leaving him completely sober. Ge Yong also controlled his alcohol intake. He knew he had a lot to do that afternoon; Hu Zi's illness was weighing on his mind, and he still needed to find a place to rent. He couldn't drink to his heart's content today.
The two ran very fast when they left, as if rushing to put out a fire. Lin Yao ran in front, and his thug-like appearance made him look like he had stolen something and was being chased by Ge Yong. Fortunately, the general public's habit of not wanting to get involved in trouble is very common, and he did not encounter any hot-blooded people who dared to stand up and fight against evil. He made it to the bottom of the building without incident.
"Hey, wait a minute." A figure suddenly darted out from another direction. People from both directions were rushing towards the entrance of the hot pot restaurant. Lin Yao lost control and crashed into the figure with a bang, sending the equally anxious person flying and crashing to the ground two meters outside the main entrance with a thud.
"Ouch!" Only then did the figure cry out in pain; the voice belonged to a man.
After being parasitized by the grass, Lin Yao's body was continuously strengthened. In addition, his cultivation of the Luo family's techniques had reached the sixth level of the Qi Realm. His seemingly slender body now possessed formidable strength, with great speed and explosive power. At this moment, after colliding with the man on the ground, Lin Yao did not feel any discomfort. On the contrary, he sent the man flying nearly three meters, causing him to lie on the ground and cry out in pain.
"Ouch... it's you!" The man on the ground struggled to prop himself up with his hands, turned his head and exclaimed in surprise when he saw Lin Yao, "You little bastard, how dare you bump into me!"
Ah! Lin Yao was also very surprised. The person on the ground was actually Kang Dikai, whom he had met twice before!
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I was in a hurry and walked a bit fast. I didn't expect you to come right at that moment, and I couldn't stop myself from bumping into you." Lin Yao apologized as he went out and reached out to pull Kang Dikai away.
"Get away! Don't touch me, you little bastard!" Condi Kai swung his left arm, swatting away Lin Yao's hand, his face contorted in pain.
Looking at Lin Yao's repulsive face so close to his, Kang Dikai's anger grew stronger. Xia Yuwen had clearly rejected him, and he hadn't been able to contact Grandpa Xia at all; it was as if he had vanished from the world. Recalling how he had never had a smooth time since joining this hoodlum, his resentment intensified. Just now, while eating at the hot pot restaurant, Xia Yuwen had even brought up Kang Dikai's disgraceful behavior at the "Old Wharf" hot pot restaurant that day, deliberately drawing a conclusion that she disliked a petty and uncouth man.
As he slowly got up, Condike coldly stared at Lin Yao. At that moment, he caught sight of two men in military uniforms out of the corner of his eye. He gritted his teeth and shouted, "Lieutenant Ye, Lieutenant Fan, teach this scoundrel a lesson! He attacked me!"
Lin Yao didn't notice the two soldiers behind him. He was only surprised to find two girls not far ahead, Xia Yuwen and Lan Xiaoqing, who were looking at the scene in front of the door in astonishment.
Suddenly, Lin Yao felt himself being pushed away by a strong force. He staggered forward four steps before regaining his balance. Turning around, he saw Ge Yong fighting with two soldiers. Recalling what Kang Dikai had said earlier, he immediately realized that these two soldiers were the ones he had called to attack him, and that Ge Yong had pushed him away to block the attacks.
The two soldiers were clearly skilled in martial arts, their moves fierce and rapid, their coordination impeccable. In contrast, Ge Yong appeared quite composed, his movements not fast, each move clearly defined, yet he consistently managed to perfectly block the attacks of the two soldiers, or strike where they were most vulnerable, forcing them to constantly retreat and defend.
The three-way battle was dazzling, but fortunately, Lin Yao's body had been modified by Xiao Cao, giving him exceptional eyesight, allowing him to make out some of the movements. Combining this with the grappling techniques taught by Ge Yong, he gained a series of insights while watching the duel. Some questions he hadn't understood before about why those grappling manuals required intricate shifts and hand controls were now answered. Lin Yao was so engrossed in watching that he forgot everything else.
Suddenly, the soldier, whose identity was unclear—whether he was a lieutenant or a second lieutenant—striked a powerful whip kick. Ge Yong, who had been handling the situation with ease, didn't have time to react and could only block with his arm. He then quickly wrapped his arm around the soldier's calf, trying to use the force against him to throw the soldier off. However, another soldier seized the opportunity, jumped up, and swung his two-handed hammer down from above.
Ge Yong had no choice but to raise his left arm to block. With a muffled thud, Ge Yong visibly stumbled backward, losing his balance and lowering his left side, wincing in pain. Taking advantage of the moment when Ge Yong's right hand relaxed, the soldier using the braided leg technique broke free and rushed over to deliver a heavy punch to Ge Yong's right armpit, then grabbed Ge Yong's right hand and twisted it behind his back.
The soldiers on the left quickly cooperated, grabbing Ge Yong's left arm and twisting it backward. One of the soldiers used his knee to press Ge Yong's lower back, slamming him to the ground.
Ge Yong struggled desperately, but his spine was pressed down by a knee, and he couldn't exert any force with his lower body. His arms, which were tied behind his back, were unable to break free due to his injuries and posture. He could only be humiliated and pressed to the ground. A wave of regret rose in his heart. He should have used his legs earlier.
The turn of events was sudden. From Ge Yong's ease to his sudden subjugation, it all happened in an instant. Lin Yao, who was immersed in observing and learning, had just realized what had happened when the outcome was already decided. Taking it lightly now would be extremely disadvantageous. Just as Lin Yao was about to rush over to save the man, he saw the lieutenant walking towards him with a fierce expression on his face.
Lin Yao immediately assumed a defensive stance. Having witnessed the fight between the three, he didn't think he could handle the lieutenant. However, he was unwilling to use Xiaocao's ability at this moment. So many people needed treatment; this ability should be reserved for when it was most needed. Besides, they all knew each other, and Kang Dikai was probably just venting about losing face; there wouldn't be any real danger.
What happened next was simple: one was a trained fighter, the other a novice; the outcome was obvious. Lin Yao, using a grappling technique he had only recently learned, and relying on his body modified by Xiao Cao, barely managed to hold out for a minute before being knocked to the ground. This time, he lay on his back with his head up, able to see the mocking smile and contemptuous gaze on Lieutenant Fan's face.
"Kang Dikai, what are you doing? Release Lin Yao right now!" Xia Yuwen approached and said shrilly to Kang Dikai. She hadn't seen what happened at the beginning, but she had witnessed Kang Dikai ordering two soldiers to attack Lin Yao. Of course, she couldn't let him do as he pleased.
Kang Dikai ignored Xia Yuwen and walked menacingly to Lin Yao's side. "You little bastard, I'll teach you a lesson for being so arrogant! You dared to attack me today. You won't remember me, Kang Dikai, until you're bedridden for half a year!"
After saying that, Condike raised his leg and kicked Lin Yao hard in the chest.
With a loud bang, Lin Yao felt as if he had been struck by a hammer. He felt the capillaries in his lungs rupture due to the intense pressure, and blood began to seep from his alveoli. The little grass sensed the abnormality in Lin Yao's body and quickly extended its tentacles to rush towards Lin Yao's lungs, releasing medicinal gas to treat his injuries.
One kick, two kicks… Kang Dikai cursed as he continued to kick Lin Yao relentlessly. Lin Yao felt as if his chest was being crushed, his ribs cracking, and the damage to his lungs and heart was beyond Xiao Cao's ability to heal.
"Stop! Kang Dikai, stop right now!" Xia Yuwen was a little panicked and stepped forward to pull Kang Dikai away, but he pushed her aside.
Lin Yao glared angrily at Kang Dikai, regretting that he hadn't used the flying needles. He had originally thought that Kang Dikai wouldn't be so ruthless.
Seeing this, Ge Yong regretted even more not using his leg techniques earlier, which had allowed Lin Yao to suffer such a blow. Judging from the sound, the opponent's strength was immense; internal injuries were inevitable. Thinking this, he glared and shouted, "Stop!"
"Stop?" Condi Kai lowered his raised leg and said lightly, "You think you can just stop like that? Wouldn't I lose face? You little bastard, you've made me lose face time and time again. If I don't teach you a lesson, you'll be flying high in the future."
Lin Yao's expression changed, and he relaxed completely, deciding to use the herb. He would first deal with the lieutenant on his body, then take revenge on Kang Dikai. Looking at Kang Dikai, Lin Yao gritted his teeth and said, word by word, "You'll regret this soon!"
Ge Yong felt even more remorseful, but he was suppressed and unable to move. The humiliation made him feel like he was about to explode. His eyes turned blood red, and a flash of inspiration struck him as he thought of his comrades.
With great effort, Ge Yong turned his neck and stared into the depths of the gate, motionless. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. He didn't know how much time had passed before he finally saw a familiar figure.