The pool in the lobby was shrouded in mist. Before even taking off his clothes, Zhuang Rui could already feel the rising steam. He immediately asked for a small lock, found a locker, and quickly stripped off his clothes before entering the pool. A wave of heat immediately hit him. Although it was a bit stuffy, it felt great, a truly exhilarating experience. He could hear the sounds of people stirring the water, the "plop plop" of back massages, and the dripping water from the ceiling, all of which seemed to be playing a beautiful melody.
The essence of soaking in a public bathhouse lies in the word "soak." As the saying goes, "In the morning, the skin wraps around the water; at night, the water wraps around the skin."
Taking a hot shower with a showerhead can induce sweating in a short time, but this only temporarily raises the skin's surface temperature and expels sweat from the epidermis. Only by slowly immersing yourself in hot water can you promote blood circulation, induce sweating throughout the body, open pores, push dirt and oil to the surface of the skin, and soften the stratum corneum. This allows sweat to carry away old waste and toxins from the body.
The two soaked in the pool for most of the hour, sweating profusely several times. They then called a bath attendant to scrub their bodies before getting out of the pool. Immediately, someone handed them two large towels. Zhuang Rui wrapped himself in them, took the scalding hot towels thrown to him by the attendant, and applied them to his face. Instantly, a wave of heat penetrated his pores. When he could no longer breathe, he lifted the towels, and the feeling of comfort was indescribable. All the fatigue from the past few days of travel disappeared.
Ordering two cups of tea and four slices of green radish cut into strips, Zhuang Rui lay comfortably on the wooden communal bed. It seemed as if he had returned to the old bathhouse in Pengcheng more than ten years ago, and his thoughts began to drift.
"Hey Wood, I have something to tell you, but don't get angry with me..."
A somewhat ethereal voice reached Zhuang Rui's ears. He looked up and saw Liu Chuan, who was chewing on a radish while mumbling incoherently.
P.S.: I had a wish when I was little that I never got to come true: to wander around the women's bathhouse. I never had the chance. Ladies, please don't be offended, many of you have had this thought.
This chapter is the one I'm most satisfied with. It should resonate most with those born in the 70s, and bring back memories for those born in the 80s. Those born in the 90s might find it less interesting. I hope this chapter will evoke fond memories for everyone. If you're satisfied, please give it some recommendation votes and a few tips so I can feel a little smug, hehe…
Chapter 62 A Beauty by My Side
Zhuang Rui knew that Liu Chuan was a straightforward person who could never keep a secret. Even if he didn't ask, Liu Chuan would eventually tell him. So, he deliberately ignored Liu Chuan, covered his stomach with a large towel, and then slowly picked up a peeled green radish and took a bite.
Peeled green radishes are very juicy and have a slightly spicy taste. When chewed, they have a sweet and refreshing aroma. Xu Youxiang of the Yuan Dynasty once praised radishes, saying, "Cooked radishes are as sweet as taro, and raw radishes are as crisp as pears."
Radishes have long been regarded as a good medicine for preventing diseases in winter. They are pungent and sweet in taste and cool in nature. They can enter the lung, stomach and spleen meridians and have the functions of clearing heat, stopping thirst and resolving phlegm, promoting qi and digestion, stimulating appetite and relieving constipation, enhancing function and immunity. Eating them raw can quench thirst and clear internal heat. After taking a bath and losing a lot of water, eating radishes that are as crisp and sweet as pears and drinking a sip of hot tea, Zhuang Rui closed his eyes and almost groaned in comfort.
Just as Zhuang Rui expected, seeing that Zhuang Rui ignored him, Liu Chuan got impatient, threw down the half-chewed radish strip, and shouted at Zhuang Rui, "Hey, I said, you blockhead, did you hear me? I have something to tell you..."
"What could you possibly have to do? Did you agree to some unequal treaty with Miss Lei again?"
Zhuang Rui didn't even open his eyes, and slowly said that the only person who could make Liu Chuan feel so conflicted, besides his father who only knew how to reason with his fists, was probably his old classmate Lei Lei, whom he had recently reunited with.
"Hey, so you found out, huh? Well, that's good, that's good..."
It seems that this knot in Liu Chuan's heart has been there for more than just a day or two. After hearing Zhuang Rui's words, he subconsciously thought that Zhuang Rui knew about his promise to Lei Lei, and couldn't help but feel happy.
"Get out of here! You didn't say anything, how would I know anything? What's going on? Is it really necessary to go to such lengths?"
In Sichuan dialect, Zhuang Rui felt sorry for Liu Chuan. It was just a relationship, and he was already acting all crazy. How would he manage after they got married?
"Lei Lei called me and said she'll be in Chengdu the day after tomorrow, and then we'll go to Tibet together. Anyway, this car is big enough, so we can just sit in the front, even if it's a bit of a hassle. Doesn't that make sense?"
Liu Chuan glanced at Zhuang Rui and finally blurted out what he had been holding in for days. Seeing that Zhuang Rui had no expression after listening, he cautiously added, "Well, Qin Xuanbing will be coming too. Don't say I won't take care of you. If you perform well in the middle of nowhere, you might just win over that ice queen."
"No...you scoundrel, please don't take care of me, I don't want this opportunity."
Zhuang Rui was speechless at Liu Chuan's shamelessness. It was clearly Liu Chuan who couldn't bring himself to refuse Lei Lei's request, but now he was claiming that he was creating an opportunity for himself. Zhuang Rui had noticed Liu Chuan frequently making secret phone calls these past few days and had guessed what was going on.
In fact, Zhuang Rui did not know that Liu Chuan had already made arrangements with Lei Lei before setting off from Pengcheng, but Qin Xuanbing's arrival was a last-minute decision.
Zhuang Rui was quite skeptical at this moment. He wondered if those two delicate beauties could endure the harsh natural environment of Tibet. Before coming, Zhuang Rui had done a lot of research and found out that once they entered Tibet, they might not be able to take a shower for several days in a row. Moreover, it would be very inconvenient for four people to squeeze into one car, even to take care of their physical needs.
However, Zhuang Rui wasn't as averse to Qin Xuanbing as Liu Chuan thought. Zhuang Rui didn't dislike Qin Xuanbing either; otherwise, she wouldn't be second in his dreams. It was just that her overly guarded attitude towards men and her overly cold expression made Zhuang Rui keep his distance.
Since the spiritual energy appeared in his eyes, his mentality has been slowly changing. In the past, he was always humble and dignified when dealing with people of status and wealth, and never felt inferior. Now that he has millions in his pocket, he has no sense of class distinctions. Moreover, Qin Xuanbing seemed to show him some goodwill before and after the treasure appraisal incident that day, which made Xu Wei lose face. This also greatly changed Zhuang Rui's impression of him.
As for Qin Xuanbing's other qualities, Zhuang Rui also admired her greatly. According to Zhuang Rui's estimation, her breasts were a full 32D, no, they should be 34D, her waist was slender enough to be grasped in one hand, and her face was pure and refined. These were all things that Zhuang Rui usually focused on. In the midst of a boring trip, having such a beauty join you would undoubtedly be a more powerful catalyst for a man than the engine of a Hummer.
Seeing Zhuang Rui remain silent, Liu Chuan assumed the guy was angry and quickly crawled over, patting his back and bringing him water. If he knew Zhuang Rui was mentally calculating Qin Xuanbing's body proportions, he would definitely strangle him with the towel in his hand. ...
In preparation for entering the Tibetan region the day after tomorrow, Zhuang Rui and Liu Chuan stayed in the hotel and slept soundly for the entire second day. On the morning of the third day, just after seven o'clock, Liu Chuan got up excitedly and drove to the airport to pick up Lei Lei and Liu Chuan.
By noon, Liu Chuan still hadn't returned. Zhuang Rui washed up and got up, ready to go to the dining room for lunch. Just as he opened the door, he saw Liu Chuan waving his fist, preparing to "knock" on the door. However, there were four people following behind him, two of whom Zhuang Rui had never seen before.
Zhuang Rui's gaze naturally fell on Qin Xuanbing immediately. Perhaps because the weather in Chengdu was relatively warm, Qin Xuanbing was wearing a denim outfit with a low-cut cashmere sweater underneath. Looking down, the tight jeans outlined an alluring curve in her beautiful hips, and her slender legs were clearly visible.
At this moment, Qin Xuanbing had lost some of her captivating charm, but gained a unique allure that straddled the line between sexiness and sensuality. That wild charm made Zhuang Rui's heart race.
"Wood, where are you going?"
The door opened abruptly, startling Liu Chuan, who was about to knock. Seeing Zhuang Rui's neatly dressed appearance, he couldn't help but ask.
After hearing Liu Chuan's words, Zhuang Rui finally managed to shift his gaze away from Qin Xuanbing. In just a short while, he felt his lips and tongue were dry. There was an old monk who once said that women are tigers, and that was absolutely true. Zhuang Rui had no doubt that a woman like Qin Xuanbing could devour a man completely, leaving not a trace.
"It's this hour, of course we should go eat. You guys bring your things in first."
Zhuang Rui stepped aside to let the group enter the room. Besides Lei Lei and Qin Xuanbing, there was a young girl. She was considered young because she had a baby face, but a great figure, especially her impressive bust, which gave her a youthful appearance with large breasts. Zhuang Rui had to exert a lot of effort to keep his spiritual energy from wandering over her prominent breasts, and his gaze fell on the man who was following at the back.
The reason Zhuang Rui didn't notice the man at first was because he was carrying many bags and packages, leading him to mistakenly believe that the man was a hotel waiter. However, after Liu Chuan and the others moved aside, Zhuang Rui realized that compared to this man, he probably looked more like a hotel waiter.
Chapter 63 The Bai Siblings (Part 1)
The young man in front of Zhuang Rui was about 1.75 meters tall, very handsome, with bright eyes and slightly dark skin that looked healthy, as if he had deliberately tanned himself. His well-fitting clothes did not look like store-bought items. Zhuang Rui had seen many luxury goods when he worked at the pawnshop, and he could tell that this was a foreign handmade designer suit.
"Zhuang Rui, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Bai Meng'an, and this young lady is Bai Meng'an's sister, Bai Mengyao. Um... they are friends that Xuanbing and I met in Hong Kong..."
After everyone entered the guest room, Lei Lei introduced the two strangers who had come with her to Zhuang Rui. However, Lei Lei only introduced their names and did not say much about their backgrounds.
Aside from her alluring and wild attire, Qin Xuanbing remained the same as always, quiet and reserved. The only difference was that she greeted Zhuang Rui upon seeing him, something she had never done before.
"Hello, Mr. Zhuang. Lei Lei and Xuan Bing have mentioned you many times. My sister and I apologize for disturbing you this time."
Bai Meng'an had already put down what she was holding, and then stepped forward and reached out her hand to Zhuang Rui.
Bai Meng'an's encounter with Qin Xuanbing in Nanjing was purely accidental. He was in Nanjing handling some family business matters when his younger sister insisted on coming from Hong Kong to visit. Unexpectedly, his sister spotted Miss Qin, who wasn't home when he visited the Qin family for the New Year earlier, at a restaurant in Nanjing. After receiving the news from his sister, Bai Meng'an naturally wouldn't let the opportunity pass. Upon hearing that they were going to Tibet, he bought two plane tickets and flew over as well.
"It's okay, Lei Lei and I are old classmates, we're all friends, it's just..."
Zhuang Rui had a good first impression of the young man in front of him, who was about the same age as him. Judging from his clothes and behavior, he should be from a good family and well-educated. However, he did not have the arrogance of a typical rich kid, which was quite rare these days. However, just as he shook hands with the other party, he thought that although the Hummer could not be too crowded for six people, it would not be very convenient for one man and three women to stay in the back of the car.
"Oh? Is there something inconvenient for Mr. Zhuang?"
When Bai Meng'an saw that Zhuang Rui stopped halfway through his sentence and looked troubled, she couldn't help but ask.
"Well, we only brought one car, but there are six of us now, so it might be a bit crowded. But that's okay, as long as Mr. and Ms. Bai don't mind."
Since everyone was young, and the other party's behavior didn't seem like that of Xu Wei, whom he had encountered during the appraisal, who was petty and narrow-minded, Zhuang Rui voiced his concerns.
"Oh, I see. That's alright, Mr. Zhuang. I arranged an SUV before I came. We can sit separately. I certainly won't let the ladies feel uncomfortable."
Bai Meng'an sighed inwardly. Of course he didn't mind, and he was even hoping to squeeze in with Qin Xuanbing, the smaller the space the better. However, before coming, he had already told Qin Xuanbing and Lei Lei that he would find a car to accompany them, so this wish probably couldn't be fulfilled.
However, Bai Meng'an put in a lot of effort for this car. Although his family was wealthy and powerful in Hong Kong, they had not been developing in the mainland for very long. He went through some roundabout ways to borrow a modified Desert Prince off-road vehicle from a client in Chongqing. He also had his own little plan: if the other party's car was not as good as his, then Qin Xuanbing could naturally travel with him.
"Mr. Zhuang, I heard from Sister Xuanxuan and Sister Leilei that you are really good at appraising antiques and have great luck. My brother is such a fool. He has bought a lot of fake things. When can you teach me? By the way, you can call me Yaoyao. That's what my friends call me."
Bai Mengyao, who had been standing next to Bai Meng'an, was as quiet as a well-bred young lady when she didn't speak. But as soon as she opened her mouth, she immediately became mischievous and clever, especially with the innocent expression on her face. If she entered the entertainment industry, she would definitely be a heartthrob. However, apart from Bai Meng'an, no one noticed the cunning in Bai Mengyao's eyes.
The siblings' Mandarin had a slight Cantonese accent, which was much better than many Hong Kong people who couldn't understand Mandarin. In addition, Cantonese is somewhat similar to Suzhou dialect, so Bai Mengyao's voice was soft and pleasant to listen to.
Zhuang Rui smiled wryly to himself upon hearing this. It was somewhat believable that Lei Lei was praising him, but Qin Xuanbing was probably implying that he was just lucky. However, he also had a good impression of this girl who was full of youthful energy, and said, "Your sister Xuanxuan is right, I really am lucky. If we have the chance next time, let's try our luck together. Um, you don't need to call me 'sir' anymore. We're all young people, let's just call each other by our names."
"Okay, okay, then I'll call you Brother Zhuang from now on."
Bai Mengyao very naturally stepped forward and took Zhuang Rui's arm, which made Zhuang Rui's heart skip a beat. Although it was winter and he was wearing a lot of clothes, he still felt an amazing elasticity from the place where his arm touched Bai Mengyao's.
When Qin Xuanbing heard Zhuang Rui mention the name Xuanxuan, her eyes twitched slightly. She glanced at Zhuang Rui and, upon seeing Bai Mengyao's actions, a hint of displeasure flashed in her eyes. She couldn't explain why she felt unhappy seeing Bai Mengyao and Zhuang Rui together.
"Alright, you're all tired today, so let's not go out for dinner. Just have something at the hotel restaurant. Leilei, you guys rest this afternoon and we'll leave tonight. Mr. Bai's car should arrive tonight, right?"
Liu Chuan had been waiting for the plane all morning and was starving. It was only because Lei Lei had come that he was so eager to pick up anyone else, even his own father.
It was almost one o'clock in the afternoon, and the group nodded in agreement, stood up, and walked outside.
Jinjiang Hotel is also a long-established five-star hotel. Accommodation is only one part of its business. It also has businesses such as gyms, nightclubs, saunas, and restaurants. Liu Chuan's room was on the sixth floor, but the hotel restaurant was on the twelfth floor, so they had to take the elevator to the twelfth floor to dine.
After the elevator reached the sixth floor, Bai Meng'an immediately took the lead, entered the elevator, and pressed the open button. She only released her finger after Liu Chuan, who was walking at the back, entered the elevator, showing great gentlemanly manners.
However, Liu Chuan didn't appreciate it at all. He muttered to himself, and judging from his mouth, he was saying "sycophant." Now, whenever he sees a man around Lei Lei, he immediately becomes like a male penguin in heat, full of fighting spirit, without ever considering whether the man is there for Lei Lei.
Zhuang Rui, however, saw a true gentlemanly demeanor in Bai Meng'an. A gentleman is not someone who is handsome or rich. He can simply learn to open car doors, pull out chairs, and show off a few tricks in front of women he is interested in to create a perfect man's performance.
Gentlemen are a special group that evolved from the hereditary aristocracy in British history, and gentlemanly conduct is a product of profound cultural accumulation. Its spirit encompasses all aspects of speech, behavior, life values, and lifestyle. It is an inner quality that comes from the heart. This spirit is actually very similar to the connotation of the Chinese "gentleman." However, for some reason, this gentlemanly quality has changed in modern Eastern society. Often, some playboys or nouveau riche open car doors for women and think they are gentlemen.
Zhuang Rui had an excellent upbringing. Although he didn't have the subtle influence of a large family, his calm confidence, honesty, and integrity made him appear very magnanimous in any situation. However, in the eyes of some women, this was seen as petty. At least Qin Xuanbing thought so in the elevator because Zhuang Rui consciously stood behind Bai Mengyao instead of beside her when he entered the elevator.
Actually, Qin Xuanbing hadn't originally planned this trip to Tibet. She had devised a plan in Nanjing and was just about to implement it when she unfortunately ran into Bai Mengyao and attracted her brother's attention. Helpless, she came to Chengdu with Lei Lei, hoping to avoid this person. However, she underestimated Bai Meng'an. After finding out, he also bought two tickets for the same flight and followed her with his little sister. Qin Xuanbing's family and Bai Meng'an's family had a special relationship, so she had no choice but to let him come along.
Qin Xuanbing's family company and Bai Meng'an's family have had numerous collaborations in various fields over the years. The two have known each other since childhood, but they stopped seeing each other after Qin Xuanbing went to study in the UK. When Qin Xuanbing returned to Hong Kong, Bai Meng'an, who had already taken control of part of the family business, immediately began to pursue her.
Bai Meng'an is a very sincere person and does not have the spoiled habits of those playboys. In addition, due to their childhood friendship and the relationship between their families, Qin Xuanbing, although she has no feelings for Bai Meng'an, can be considered one of her few friends. However, in the eyes of the elders of both families, he has become a good son and daughter-in-law. Qin Xuanbing's trip to the mainland this time is largely because she is afraid that her elders will agree to the marriage proposal between the two families during the New Year.
Chapter 64 The Bai Siblings (Part 2)
As soon as Zhuang Rui and his group entered the restaurant, they immediately attracted a lot of attention.
Liu Chuan is a full 1.85 meters tall with a robust and burly build. Bai Meng'an, on the other hand, is the most handsome of the three men. Lei Lei had just jokingly asked him why he didn't apply to the Hong Kong TVB acting class. Zhuang Rui, although not particularly handsome, is a natural clothes hanger and looks good in anything. He also has a very special aura.
As for the three female companions, Qin Xuanbing's appearance would definitely be considered a stunning beauty in ancient times, capable of causing the downfall of a nation. Lei Lei was only slightly inferior. Bai Mengyao, who exuded youthful vitality, had a different kind of charm. This combination of three young men and three women who could be described as having the beauty of a nation immediately made the previously noisy restaurant quiet.
Perhaps the people in the restaurant didn't want to be impolite in front of the beauties like Qin Xuanbing, because after they came in, every guest became very polite. And with Liu Chuan, a big guy whose face practically screamed "I'm not a good person," by their side, no one bothered them. The meal went smoothly. Bai Meng'an was good at setting the mood, and he didn't neglect anyone at the table while talking. Even Liu Chuan, who had been looking at him with displeasure, started calling him brother after the meal. This showed how skillful Bai Meng'an was in dealing with people.
Bai Mengyao kept calling Zhuang Rui "brother" and kept asking about the characteristics of Sichuan cuisine. Anyone who didn't know better would think that Zhuang Rui was her biological brother. Even Liu Chuan, who was usually carefree, sensed something was off and looked at the two of them with a playful expression.
After dinner, Liu Chuan booked two more rooms. Since they would be driving that night, and the road would be very difficult to travel after passing Ya'an and entering the Tibetan area, requiring the driver to be highly focused, Liu Chuan didn't bother Lei Lei, and everyone went back to their rooms to rest.
"Hey bro, your rival's come knocking on your door, and you're just sitting there doing nothing? You're destined to be a bachelor for life. But seriously, Bai Mengyao seems to have a thing for you."
As Liu Chuan lay in bed, seeing Zhuang Rui's leisurely demeanor, he felt a sense of utter helplessness.
"Alright, you scoundrel, stop talking nonsense. I have no feelings for Qin Xuanbing. As for Bai Mengyao, what do you think her purpose was in those actions..."
At first, Zhuang Rui simply thought that Bai Mengyao was just like that. But after returning to his room and reflecting on it, he realized that wasn't the case. Could a woman from a prestigious family really be so naive? Considering Bai Meng'an's purpose in coming here, Zhuang Rui understood a bit more. It seemed that Yao Yao had already regarded him as her brother's imaginary rival.
However, Zhuang Rui was not disappointed. He was just an ordinary person and didn't need to rely on women for a living. It didn't matter how much money the other party had or what their status was. It was just that these four people suddenly appeared on this trip to Tibet, which made Zhuang Rui somewhat expectant.
"After I accompany you on this trip, I'll go back to work in Zhonghai. What happens to Qin Xuanbing is none of my business, but that Bai Meng'an seems like a pretty good person..."
Zhuang Rui then told Liu Chuan that he had once set a standard for choosing a partner: the other person must be filial to his mother. Judging from Qin Xuanbing's appearance, she was probably not the kind of person who would do housework. Therefore, Zhuang Rui had always kept his distance from her. Even after the treasure appraisal incident, when Qin Xuanbing became a little more enthusiastic towards him, Zhuang Rui had no intention of taking advantage of her.
"You... never mind, I'm just being a busybody, what does it have to do with me? I don't care anymore."
Liu Chuan was surprised that Zhuang Rui would actually praise Bai Meng'an. Although his feelings for Bai Meng'an had changed, he still thought that his brother was more important than him. In a fit of anger, Liu Chuan pulled the covers over his head and went to dream about being intimate with Lei Lei.
Zhuang Rui didn't sleep. He was looking at maps of Sichuan and Tibet. According to Liu Chuan's plan, there was no need to go to the slightly larger autonomous prefectures and districts, because purebred Tibetan mastiffs had basically disappeared in those places. Even if they did, they would be extremely expensive. The 500,000 coins offered by the Song army probably wouldn't be enough to buy one.
Therefore, the points marked by Liu Chuan on the map are all sparsely populated pastoral areas. In these places, the local residents have very little contact with the outside world, and the mastiffs they raise are rarely crossbred with other sheepdogs, making them the purest and most likely to produce good mastiffs. However, these places are adjacent to the uninhabited grasslands, which are the most harsh natural environments in Tibet.