HLM -Chapter 1166 Ice and Snow Challenge

After hearing the driver, Wang Bo quickly said, “Oh, sorry, buddy. I’ve got a child with me, so I’m not interested in some mysterious, fun games.”

Dale’s eyes sparkled. “I’m interested! Interested! Interested! Brother-in-law, don’t treat me like a child—I’m already this big!”

Wang Bo tried to scare her. “Keep making a fuss, and I’ll send you back—by express delivery!”

Dale pouted and shrank back, timidly saying, “You can’t do that! What if the delivery company forgets me? I’d starve to death!”

Seeing this, the driver laughed heartily. “Sir, you’ve definitely misunderstood me. Of course I see the child. I’m talking about the Ice and Snow Challenge.”

“Ice and Snow Challenge?” Wang Bo asked with interest; he hadn’t heard of this activity before.

The driver nodded. “Yes. After every heavy snowfall, people come here to take part in the Ice and Snow Challenge to show off their strong physique. Many children join, too. Do you want your little girl to try it?”

Dale asked worriedly, “Do we eat the ice and snow? I can’t do that. Sister said it would freeze your intestines into a popsicle, stop them from moving, and you’d die.”

The driver shook his head with a smile. “No, it’s not like that. You take a bucket, add ice, snow, and cold water, then pour it over yourself.”

Wang Bo said, “The Ice Bucket Challenge?”

“Something like that, but more thrilling and exciting. It’s not meant to raise awareness for ALS; it’s a traditional local event passed down for many years. Of course, there’s also a charitable aspect to it.”

With nothing else to do, just watching TV back at the hotel would ruin the fun of traveling. The two mischief-makers exchanged a look and decided to check it out.

The event started at 1 PM, the warmest time of the day. It wasn’t held regularly; it could be done anytime after a heavy snowfall.

When Wang Bo arrived, four or five blonde-haired, blue-eyed white children in bikinis or swim trunks were scrubbing themselves with snow and ice, accompanied by similarly dressed adults.

Seeing this, Wang Bo immediately gave a thumbs-up. Amazing! The outdoor temperature was around minus five or six degrees Celsius. While it wasn’t freezing cold enough for water to turn to ice instantly, it was still extremely chilly.

At that temperature, he shivered even in a down jacket, yet these kids, about the same age as the little girl, were unbothered by the cold.

The driver, who had brought Wang Bo and the little girl, went off to chat briefly before returning. “You two are lucky. Today you’re in for a treat—a big showdown is going to happen.”

Wang Bo asked, “What do you mean?”

The driver pointed to the kids. “They’re Russians, here to compete in a dog sled race. When they heard about the Ice and Snow Challenge, they decided to join. You know, we can’t let Russians run wild on American turf, so there will be people coming to compete against them.”

Anchorage was originally just a stopover. Back in the early 19th century, Russians settled here. In 1867, U.S. Secretary of State William Seward bought Alaska for $7.2 million, forcing the local Russians to leave.

Today, selling such a vast land for $7.2 million is considered an international joke, but back then, Alaska was truly a frozen wasteland—permafrost made farming impossible, and there were no coal or copper-iron resources. It was just abandoned land.

Later, gold was discovered near Anchorage, increasing its value. The “joke” only came later, after oil was discovered.

Given this history, Russians naturally had strong feelings about Alaska. During the Cold War, there were even rumors of Soviet attempts to reclaim it, so locals have a complex view of Russians.

The Russian girls were all very pretty, with chubby, rosy cheeks. Wang Bo thought this was due to the cold. They had strong, well-defined bodies—not delicate, but possessing a healthy charm.

The snow was deep, over a meter. Dale suddenly disappeared while walking. Wang Bo was startled. The fat cat brothers quickly dove into the snow and pulled her out of a snow pit.

“Don’t wander off. Stay with me. Luckily we have Da Pang and Er Pang; otherwise, you’d be buried here, got it?” Wang Bo said sternly.

Dale was genuinely scared and nodded repeatedly. “Got it, brother-in-law. I’ll stay with you from now on.”

The children taking part warmed up. Someone filled a bucket with ice, water, and snow, then lifted it—

“Splash!” The ice water poured down, and the child covering their face laughed as it dripped off.

A sign planted in the snow read: If you can do it, step forward. If not, please make a charitable donation.

Wang Bo thought the Ice Bucket Challenge probably drew inspiration from this activity. The rules were similar, though the Ice Bucket Challenge specified a donation amount.

Dale saw the sign too. “Brother-in-law, give me money—I’ll donate.”

Wang Bo smirked mischievously. “You’ll have to use your own money, my dear little girl.”

He pulled out a hundred-dollar bill and put it in the donation box. Others followed, mostly ten-dollar or eight-dollar bills.

Dale was stunned. “I didn’t bring any change.”

Wang Bo said, “Bills are fine too. Charity doesn’t care about the amount. God will take note.”

Dale protested, “I didn’t bring any money! Why would I bring money on a trip?”

Wang Bo pushed her forward. “Alright, then you’ll just have to participate in the event.”

Dale clung to his arm like a koala. “No, no! I’ll freeze to death! I don’t want to die, brother-in-law!”

The Russian kids had already finished pouring ice water over themselves. Unsurprisingly, some locals were dissatisfied and brought their children to compete.

Alaskans are resistant to cold, but these children came from a “fighting nation.” Their life motto: Don’t be afraid, just go for it.

Meanwhile, Alaskan children were stubborn. Parents tried pushing their kids, but the children struggled and cried, “I’m not going! Can’t we do it in summer?”

Wang Bo was also pushing the little girl, which spectators misinterpreted. Someone commented, “Wow, that’s harsh. Are they even related?”

Another said, “You can tell just by looking. He can’t be her real father. That guy would have to have a child with Elise to get a girl this pretty.”

Wang Bo wanted to curse. Who talks like that?!