Chapter 1019: Chapter 1012: Chatting on the Ice Lake

Although the addition of Makarov and Liu Peiqiang and his son increased the number of people, the area of the ice was still large, and there were plenty of fish in Lake Baikal. The two of them drilled two more ice holes near Chen Yu, set up their chairs, and lowered their fishing lines into the holes, waiting for the fish to bite while chatting.

Sitting so close by, it was natural for Makarov and Liu Peiqiang to start talking with Chen Yu along with having their own conversation.

Upon learning that both Chen Yu and his wife were doctors, and quite accomplished ones at that, the two couldn’t help but feel a bit surprised. Liu Peiqiang’s expression even turned somber momentarily.

Through their conversation, Chen Yu learned that Liu Peiqiang’s wife passed away from a terminal illness when their son was very young, which left Chen Yu feeling quite moved.

“Even as doctors, we can’t cure every illness. Diseases remain the greatest challenge to human health,” Chen Yu reflected, as he checked the bait on his hook. “For doctors, saving a life is the most important thing, but medical technology ultimately limits us from saving every life. In fact, seeing a life pass away can sometimes make us more upset than the patient, because they were once vibrant lives.”

This topic undeniably carried a heavy weight, and Makarov, the robust Russian man, seemed a bit uncomfortable with the atmosphere. He reached into his box and pulled out two bottles of beer, throwing them to Chen Yu and Liu Peiqiang.

“Let’s not talk about these heavy topics. Let’s drink!” Makarov bit open a bottle cap, took a swig, and couldn’t resist commenting, “It’s a shame we don’t have vodka. Beer is just not strong enough.”

Seeing his son and Liu Qi eyeing the beers eagerly, Makarov chuckled heartily and pulled out two more bottles from the box, tossing them to the young men: “Haha, if you want to drink, just say so. How can a man not drink!”

Makarov’s son seemed used to this, taking the bottle and biting off the cap just like his father, promptly taking a sip.

Liu Qi, holding the bottle, glanced at Liu Peiqiang and, seeing no objections, pried off the cap too, clinking bottles with Makarov’s son before taking a swig himself.

The way he drank suggested it was not his first time.

The two young men drinking livened the atmosphere a bit, and the successive bites on the lines shifted everyone’s attention back to fishing.

“Doctor Chen, are you here on vacation? Fishing at Lake Baikal this season isn’t something just anyone would do. Being a doctor, you must be busy, right?” Liu Peiqiang asked Chen Yu while keeping his eye on his rod.

“I have a friend who invited me to Moscow for a visit, so I came by here to see Lake Baikal along the way,” Chen Yu replied, taking a sip and reeling in another fish from the ice hole.

After throwing the fish into a nearby bucket, Chen Yu continued, “My work is alright. Our hospital doesn’t handle outpatient services, so we don’t have many patients. With Japan’s tiered healthcare system, it’s the primary care hospitals that are busy.”

“Are primary care hospitals really that busy? That’s quite different from back home! In China, it feels like big hospitals are always crowded, and it’s hard to get an appointment,” Liu Peiqiang commented, given his personal experiences with his wife’s illness.

“Japan uses a tiered healthcare system, which maximizes the role of primary health facilities and allows big hospitals to concentrate their medical resources on treating and researching complex diseases,” Chen Yu explained, aware of the differences between Chinese and Japanese medical systems. However, he didn’t believe the Japanese system to be superior: “Tiered healthcare has its advantages but isn’t without its flaws. Compared to China’s system, each has its own pros and cons.”

Shaking his head, Chen Yu baited the hook again and lowered it back into the ice hole.

“That’s true; getting medical treatment back home seems easier than abroad,” Liu Peiqiang nodded, having once sought treatment for his wife and knowing the difficulties well.

Makarov, having a beer in his hand, sighed and said, “Compared to Russia, China and Japan’s medical conditions are already good, you know? In Russia, even though healthcare is free, you have to buy the medicine prescribed by doctors yourself since hospitals don’t sell it. Plus, medical equipment in Russia is very outdated, with much of it still from the Soviet era!”

“Oh, that’s terrifying!” Chen Yu raised his bottle, took a sip, and said, “You should thank the Soviet Union; otherwise, you might not have any medical facilities now! To the great Soviets!”

Clearly joking about the Soviet Union, Chen Yu was unhindered by Makarov’s equal enthusiasm as he raised his own bottle and shouted, “To the Soviets!”

For Russians who lived through that era, the Soviet Union is an indelible pride yet a lasting pain.

The red empire was once the most powerful country in the world, bringing prosperity to Russians, yet it collapsed, bringing suffering as well.

Russians still enjoy the benefits of the Soviet era today, but the pain brought by its dissolution still affects them.

Though not shouting like Makarov, Liu Peiqiang also raised his bottle and said with complex emotions, “To the great Soviets.”

For China, the Soviet Union is also a complex presence; it once assisted China but severed ties during China’s toughest times, and relations even deteriorated to military clashes.

But now, despite whatever happened in the past, Chinese and Russians find themselves fishing and drinking by Lake Baikal, enjoying peace together; this is the rare and bittersweet reality history leaves us.

The three drank, and Chen Yu brought his daughter from Hiromi Jounouchi, holding her as they fished together.

Little Yixi’s adorable demeanor won the affection of Makarov and Liu Peiqiang, making them play carefully with her and sparking regret in each for not having a daughter of their own.

The three strangers became familiar with each other, and after a day of fishing, they simply lit a campfire on the ice, cooking the fresh salmon they caught over the fire. Makarov even pulled out Russia’s Water of Life from his box, drinking and dancing, turning the barbecue into a campfire party.