Chapter 33: Drinking (Part 3)

As Zhao Jinhai placed his bowl on the table, Zhu Da Dong picked up the wine bottle and refilled it. This was the fourth bottle they had opened. After filling Zhao Jinhai's bowl, the bottle was empty. They were drinking Wuliangye, which came in one-kilogram bottles. Four bottles poured into five bowls, each bowl containing exactly 400 grams, no more and no less.

"Director Zhao, I would like to toast you again on behalf of the Shulin Ridge Police Station. Welcome to inspect our work." Zhu Da Dong filled his own bowl and then raised it, speaking slowly.

Chen Shijie, standing beside him, showed a look of shock. He no longer doubted Zhu Da Dong's drinking ability, but he still found it hard to believe how much he could drink. He glanced at Zhao Jinhai and noticed that he not only did not show any displeasure but was actually smiling, indicating that he was in a good mood.

"Alright." When Zhu Da Dong turned his bowl upside down, Zhao Jinhai shouted, feeling a surge of enthusiasm. He raised his bowl and drank it down in a few gulps, leaving it completely empty.

"Director Zhao is truly a hero among drinkers." Zhu Da Dong opened a new bottle and refilled Zhao Jinhai's bowl.

"You're not bad either. A good drinker has courage, and courage brings heroism." This was the first time Zhao Jinhai had formally spoken to Zhu Da Dong, and it was clear that he appreciated Zhu Da Dong, the secretary of the township government.

"Director Zhao, I would like to toast you again on behalf of the Shulin Ridge Township Government." As he spoke, Zhu Da Dong filled his own bowl and raised it, speaking sincerely.

With a tilt of his head, another 400 grams of Wuliangye flowed into Zhu Da Dong's stomach. Although this was the third 400 grams, not a single drop spilled from the corner of his mouth, and not a drop stained his clothes.

"I will drink this bowl too." Zhao Jinhai became more spirited as he drank. He hadn't encountered such a hearty drinking companion in many years.

As Zhao Jinhai's bowl emptied, Zhu Da Dong's new bottle came over. The time spent pouring wine was now longer than the time spent drinking. They had drunk three bowls, totaling 1.2 kilograms of wine, all in less than ten minutes.

"Director Zhao, should we wait for the dishes to come and take a break before drinking more?" Chen Shijie, seeing Zhu Da Dong pour more wine into his bowl, said nervously.

"It's up to Secretary Zhu. I don't mind." Zhao Jinhai was a very generous person. As long as you followed his lead, he didn't care about your status or position. He found Zhu Da Dong very likable and, if Chen Shijie hadn't introduced him as the township government's secretary, he might have considered transferring Zhu Da Dong to the county police department.

"Drinking should be enjoyable, and it shouldn't be interrupted without reason. Director Zhao, under your leadership, the Shulin Ridge Police Station has fought crime and protected our community. I would like to toast you again on behalf of the 23,000 residents of Shulin Ridge." Zhu Da Dong felt very excited. Although more than 1.2 kilograms of white wine had entered his stomach, he remained clear-headed. Even while drinking, he paid attention to the movements of Chen Shuli and Yuan Ping, and the more he drank, the clearer he heard them, as if they were sitting at the next table, with every move and action displayed in his mind.

"I must drink this bowl, but after this, I need to take a break, or I might end up in a mess today in Shulin Ridge." Zhao Jinhai's alcohol tolerance was around 2 kilograms, which was why he had set such a rule. However, Zhu Da Dong's continuous toasts had already amounted to 1.6 kilograms, and the breaks were only the few minutes it took to pour the wine. Even with his tolerance, he needed to call a truce. If Zhu Da Dong toasted him again, he wasn't sure if he could hold out.

"Whatever Director Zhao says goes." Zhu Da Dong finished the wine in his bowl and smiled. After drinking 1.6 kilograms, his face remained unchanged, as if he had only drunk 400 grams.

"Time doesn't spare anyone. If I were twenty years younger, I wouldn't stop until I had you on the ground." Zhao Jinhai laughed heartily. He was a retired military officer and could drink at least 3 kilograms in his prime.

"I rely on my youth and strength. But if we go back twenty years, you wouldn't even find me. I might not have even learned to walk yet." Zhu Da Dong saw that Zhao Jinhai was calling a truce and did not press his advantage. After all, Zhao Jinhai was the leader of the bureau, and this dinner was centered around him, which he could not forget.

Zhao Jinhai was already very happy. When the dishes arrived, Chen Shijie and Hou Yong started making jokes and telling funny stories, livening up the atmosphere of the dinner.

Zhu Da Dong did not toast Zhao Jinhai again, but he accompanied Hou Yong when he toasted Zhao Jinhai. After this bowl, Zhao Jinhai was almost at his limit. Chen Shijie, of course, would not miss this opportunity. He could only drink one bowl, and this was the perfect time to showcase the fighting spirit of the Shulin Ridge Police Station.

When Chen Shijie toasted, Zhu Da Dong also accompanied him, not out of respect for Zhao Jinhai, but because he found Wuliangye much more fragrant than old white wine. His inner wine lover was already drooling, but he didn't want to drink alone, so he took the opportunity to drink more.

However, Zhu Da Dong's behavior greatly increased Zhao Jinhai's good impression of him. After Chen Shijie finished his toast, Zhao Jinhai was a bit tipsy and started talking more, even addressing Zhu Da Dong as a brother. They agreed to drink again in the county when they had the chance.

This dinner was a success, with the guest, Zhao Jinhai, thoroughly enjoying himself, and Chen Shijie and Hou Yong achieving their goals. When they left the restaurant, Hou Yong supported Chen Shijie with his left hand and Zhao Jinhai with his right arm. Apart from Zhu Da Dong, only Hou Yong remained clear-headed.

"Brother Zhu, I will thank you for today later. I will send Director Zhao and Chief Chen back to rest first." Hou Yong looked at Zhu Da Dong, who was as clear as water, and was already convinced. He had always boasted about his drinking capacity, but compared to Zhu Da Dong, he couldn't even reach a third of it.

"Brother Hou, do we need to thank each other? You send the two leaders back first, and we can have a good drink another day. I didn't toast you at all today, which might have been a bit impolite." Zhu Da Dong smiled lightly. He indeed hadn't toasted Hou Yong or Chen Shijie, as the main goal was to entertain the guest. If he had toasted them, Chen Shijie would probably be lying in the restaurant, and Hou Yong would be lucky to make it home by leaning against the wall.

"Not impolite, not impolite. In the future, we will drink from cups, not bowls." Hou Yong shook his head. He might have wanted to compete with Zhu Da Dong in drinking before, but after today, that thought was completely extinguished in his mind, and he no longer dared to mention it.