banquet
The food in Ohio is really terrible.
Apart from the big bread that was so hard that it could break your teeth, there were also various pickled meats.
In the end times, raw materials are in short supply, there are few varieties of pickled meats, and the pickling time is relatively long.
When you put it in your mouth...it feels like grandma's foot bindings have been rolled in salt.
Lu Tingxiao looked at Ling Shi, who was frowning and trying hard to swallow, and patted Sergei, who was talking nonstop beside him.
"General, are you performing a solo tonight?"
There was a round table, Sergei sat next to them and Pushkin opposite.
Sidorov was next to Pushkin, looking angry and busy stuffing his food.
I don't know how he can eat so much.
The other members of the White Eagle Team were at another table, accompanied by Smirnov and several other Russian lieutenants.
There were also Steven and Lawson who were called in specifically to apologize to them.
Lu Tingxiao raised his eyebrows towards Sidorov and said, "Let's move on to the next item on the agenda."
Sergei glanced at Pushkin and said, "Okay. For the sake of the friendship between our two countries, some misunderstandings must be cleared up."
Lu Tingxiao leaned back in his chair and looked at Pushkin.
Pushkin also looked up.
The two stared at each other for several seconds before Pushkin finally spoke: "Last time, when Ohio went to China to provide scientific research assistance, it was done with friendly intentions."
"What a pity," he glanced at Sidorov, "the people they sent over were clueless and messed up a good thing."
"Oregon and China are neighbors, and especially in these difficult times, we should be friendly and cooperative."
"Sidorov."
When he called out, Sidorov, who was standing next to him, lowered his head and stood up.
Without even looking at Lu Tingxiao and Ling Shi, he spoke repeatedly, "I'm sorry. My subordinates were too reckless in what happened earlier. We were wrong to cause you trouble."
After saying that, he sat down.
Lu Tingxiao didn't say anything.
He glanced at Sidorov, then at Pushkin, waited a moment, and then asked, "Is it over?"
"Ohio's style is really distinct. When you do something wrong, your apologies are just like the bread on this table: hard and smelly."
After hearing this, not only Sidorov, but even Sergei's expression changed.
Sergei: "Captain Lu, you can't say that. Our sincerity in Ohio..."
"Stop talking." Pushkin interrupted him: "Sidorov, apologize again."
Sidorov looked at Pushkin in disbelief, his butt as if stuck to the chair, twisting and turning, but unable to stand up: "General!"
Pushkin said in a low voice: "This is an order."
Another ten seconds of silence.
Sidorov supported himself on the table with both hands and finally stood up slowly.
This time, he no longer lowered his head, but looked at Lu Tingxiao and Ling Shi: "Two distinguished guests from China, and..."
He turned around, his gaze sweeping over all the members of the White Eagle Team. "...Friends of the White Eagle Team, before...it was Sidorov who was wrong and offended you all."
He glanced around, and Steven and Lawson stood up at the same time, standing straight with their heads slightly lowered.
Sidorov also bowed his head, his attitude very humble. "I am here to solemnly apologize to you all on behalf of myself and my two subordinates who have caused harm to our Chinese friends."
"I hope you can forgive us."
Steven and Lawson on the side also said at the same time: "Sorry."
The three of them lowered their heads and maintained this apologetic posture without waiting for any response.
Lu Tingxiao finally laughed: "That's more like it."
"Alright, General Pushkin is sincere, so we can talk to him. All past misunderstandings are written off."
"Once our Captain Ling recovers, we will send the equipment to you."
Sidorov and the other two had grim expressions on their faces and sat down without saying a word.
Pushkin's expression remained calm: "Okay."
He raised the cup in his hand and said, "Unfortunately, in these apocalyptic times, there is no fine wine. I can only offer tea instead. Let me toast you all."
Lu Tingxiao also raised his cup and took a sip.
This so-called tea has nothing to do with Chinese tea.
He took a sip and his heart trembled.
It's like mud powder mixed with water.
All the necessary procedures have been completed, and the surface cracks have been repaired.
Lu Tingxiao hadn't given up on the equipment the Ohioans wanted. They could only wait patiently. Otherwise, all this drama would be in vain.
Pushkin told Sergei to entertain Lu Tingxiao well, then stood up and left.
Sidorov followed suit.
Sergei looked at the plates in front of Lu Tingxiao and Ling Shi. "I'm still not used to the food in Ohio?"
Lu Tingxiao picked up his fork and poked the bread on the plate: "We all have Chinese stomachs. We really can't digest this stuff."
"Forget it, I know you didn't mean it."
Sergei pondered for a moment. "Although we don't have delicious food, we do have some excellent tea. Compared to China's, it's probably even better. Would the two captains be willing to do us the honor of serving it?"
"Oh?" Lu Tingxiao showed some interest. "Do you have any good tea that can rival China's?"
He flicked the cup in front of him with his fingers: "It can't be this kind of thing?"
Sergei tutted. "How could that be possible? If it were something like that, I wouldn't be bringing it up specifically."
Ling Shi stood up. He had little interest in eating and drinking. "Or I should go back and rest first..."
"Then I'll go back too." Lu Tingxiao also stood up.
"Hey, hey," Sergei pulled Lu Tingxiao closer, his voice lowered, "That tea... isn't just for quenching thirst, it can nourish the body. Captain Ling is injured, isn't he? He needs nutrition."
"Besides, this tea is in very low stock. Even I wouldn't drink it easily. Go try it."
"Also, the passes you've been asking for will be made soon and delivered shortly."
Hearing this, Ling Shi nudged Lu Tingxiao with his elbow and said, "Go ahead. Don't let the general down."
Lu Tingxiao raised his eyebrows and looked at him: "Do you want a pass or tea?"
"It was you they called out. Your sickly body has always been on people's minds."
Although what is really being cared about is not the body, but the equipment.
Sergei added promptly, "Together, together. This tea is not only for patients."
Ling Shi thought about it and realized that Sergei was so enthusiastic that it would be difficult to refuse him outright. He nodded and smiled, "Okay. Let's go together. Just consider it as you accompanying me."
"Thank you for your hospitality, General."
The two followed Sergei, left the banquet room, and turned to a small tea room next door.
The place is decorated in a unique way, with an entire wall decorated with bamboo, a long bamboo table of the same style, and four bamboo chairs by the window.
This kind of classical style with the charm of Jiangnan region of China is extremely rare for the big and strong people from Ohio.
The tea was served quickly.
A brown tray with the same large-capacity brown frosted cup on it.
The color of the soup in the teacup was impossible to tell, and it wasn't even warm.
Back to the big and rugged Ohio style.
Three people, three cups of tea, placed in front of each person.
Lu Tingxiao sneered inwardly.
Ohioans really don't understand tea. Whether it's green tea, black tea, oolong tea, or rock tea, they don't use tea sets like this.
Could it be the herbal tea from southern China?
Forget it. In such social occasions, what matters is the affection between each other, and no one takes tea seriously.
He picked up the teacup and poured a sip into his mouth.
After taking a sip, Lu Tingxiao was a little surprised.
This tea...slightly bitter, yet with a hint of sweetness. Even though it's cold, it's not hard to drink.
It is really possible that it evolved from the herbal tea in southern China.
Sergei, who was sitting opposite him, leaned towards him and smiled flatteringly: "How does it taste?"
Lu Tingxiao nodded: "Not bad."
After saying that, he picked up the cup and took a few gulps.
Sergei didn't sit back, but leaned closer and whispered, "This thing nourishes yin and yang, not only replenishes qi and blood, but also... hehe."
"I'll send someone to your room tonight. Don't worry, it's very clean."
Lu Tingxiao was stunned.
What this means...
At this moment, he suddenly felt a warm current flowing down his throat, through his esophagus, to his stomach, and then suddenly spreading downward until his lower abdomen felt faintly warm...
This feeling... is extremely similar to the one I had after drinking a bowl of deer antler powder water that day!
Now, Lu Tingxiao completely understood what this so-called tea was.
This is a bit too much nourishment for the body.
As for who Sergei wanted to send to his house, it went without saying.
He tilted his head, and Ling Shi just picked up the cup and was about to drink the tea in it.
In that brief moment, many things flashed through Lu Tingxiao's mind.
From the astonishment she felt when she first saw Ling, to his shirt being ripped open by the whip, to the bright blood oozing from his fair chest muscles, to his determined expression when he wanted to save Xiang Chongyi, and to his sparkling eyes when he made the healing potion...
Of all these scenes, the one that left the deepest impression on me was the image of Ling Shi crouching on the ground as I pushed open his bedroom door that night...
He at that time... Lu Tingxiao felt a little unbearable just thinking about it.
The "tea" has already entered his throat, and he is doomed to not escape this disaster tonight.
But Ling Shi can still...
As long as he speaks up and stops it now.
Lu Tingxiao's fingers trembled, his throat rolled, but no sound came out.
Just like that, he watched Ling Shi, like him, tilt his head back and drink a big gulp of tea.
Ling Shi pursed his lips, looking confused: "Is this... tea?"
"Yes." Lu Tingxiao suddenly spoke up, before Sergei could say, "Isn't it a bit like the herbal tea from southern China? It tastes okay, right?"
Ling Shi smacked his lips again and nodded, "It's okay. But it's far from the tea I imagined."
"Otherwise, it can nourish the body." Lu Tingxiao said: "It must be a little different from the tea you drank before."
The tea has been taken, and at least tonight, Ling Shi and his fate are the same.
After overcoming that initial hurdle, Lu Tingxiao's muscles relaxed. He raised his glass, clinked it with Sergei across from him, then with Ling Shi, and drank it all.
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