Chapter 33

Chu Tianshu saw that the situation was getting tense, so he stepped in to mediate, saying, "Qi Ke, from now on, the Secretarial Department and the Comprehensive Department will be one. Since Huang Li and Xiao Min can't drink, I think we should let it go."

Qi Daguang had earned plenty of face at the dinner table today. He looked at Huang Li and Zheng Xiaomin and smiled, "Since it's Xiao Chu's treat, let's do as the host wishes."

Zhao Pingyuan was extremely unhappy: Before they left, they had agreed to make Chu Tianshu lose face at the dinner table. Now, Qi Daguang was earning face by stepping on their faces, and he had forgotten the original purpose. Whatever Chu Tianshu said, he took seriously.

Thinking of this, Zhao Pingyuan no longer cared about Huang Li's feelings. He stood up aggressively and said loudly, "Drink! Men and women should be treated equally, everyone must drink. Whoever doesn't drink isn't one of us."

Everyone was stunned!

Zhao Pingyuan was sulking, and Chu Tianshu looked at Zheng Xiaomin with some difficulty.

No, I can't let Brother Chu be in a difficult position!

Zheng Xiaomin didn't hesitate for a moment. She mustered her courage, picked up her glass, and stood up, saying, "Alright, since you all don't treat me as an outsider, I'll toast Brother Chu first."

Zheng Xiaomin's father, Zheng Tufu, was a heavy drinker, and Zheng Xiaomin grew up licking the tips of chopsticks dipped in alcohol. She had never tested her alcohol tolerance, but she definitely wasn't afraid of alcohol.

Chu Tianshu was deeply moved.

Zhao Pingyuan was puzzled. Every time a critical moment came, Liu Chunna, Zheng Xiaomin, and even Qian Meihua were willing to step in to help him. What kind of magic did this guy have to make these women stand up for him so fearlessly?

This time, Chu Tianshu didn't yield to Qi Daguang. He drank a glass with Zheng Xiaomin first.

Zheng Xiaomin refilled her glass, walked to Qi Daguang, and drank it in one go.

Seeing Zheng Xiaomin drink so fiercely, Chu Tianshu quickly stood up to block. "Qi Ke, you have strong charisma. Even Xiao Min is not holding back. Come, I'll toast you again, learning from you, I'll drink first."

Seeing that Huang Li was still hesitating, Qi Daguang was somewhat dissatisfied. The men and women of the Comprehensive Department were all brave and eager, but why were the people of the Secretarial Department so hesitant to step up?

Zhao Pingyuan was in a difficult position. He tugged at Huang Li's sleeve and whispered, "Go, toast Qi Ke."

Huang Li lowered her head and mumbled, "I really can't drink."

Chu Tianshu didn't want to make Huang Li uncomfortable, so he suggested, "Huang Li, if you can't drink, don't force yourself. You can use tea instead. I'll toast you." He then walked over with his glass.

Zhao Pingyuan's face turned red and then white. He mistook Chu Tianshu's kindness for something else and stood up in anger, saying, "Chu Tianshu, why can the people of your Comprehensive Department drink, but the people of our Secretarial Department have to use tea? Huang Li, show some spirit, drink this glass. If there are any problems, I, Zhao Pingyuan, will take full responsibility."

These words moved Huang Li. She took the glass from Zhao Pingyuan, raised her head, and drank it in one go. She coughed several times because she drank too quickly.

Zhao Pingyuan hurriedly handed her a tissue.

Once she caught her breath, Zhao Pingyuan refilled his glass and urged, "Huang Li, you still have to toast Qi Ke."

Seeing Huang Li's discomfort, Qian Meihua intervened, "Xiao Zhao, that's enough. The gesture is enough."

Zhao Pingyuan glared at her and said, "What are you doing? Sister Qian, are you making fun of the Secretarial Department?"

Qian Meihua rolled her eyes and said nothing.

With Zhao Pingyuan's support, Huang Li toasted Qi Daguang again.

As a result, Qi Daguang became the person who drank the most at the table.

After two glasses of white wine, Huang Li's face turned as red as a ripe peach, drawing the attention of all the men at the table.

Zhao Pingyuan was also very pleased and began to incite Zhang Guoping and Wan Peng to attack Chu Tianshu.

Fan Yibing had been holding back, but now he began to fight back. He fought alongside Chu Tianshu, blocking every move and countering every attack. He dealt with Zhao Pingyuan and the others while also teaming up with Liu Chunna and Zheng Xiaomin to keep Qi Daguang busy.

After the drinking bout, the Comprehensive Department did not fall behind at all. Instead, Qi Daguang was drunk and disoriented, and Zhao Pingyuan was extremely frustrated.

Seeing the situation, Zhang Guoping and Wan Peng knew they couldn't gain any advantage and withdrew first.

Just as the situation was getting intense, Huang Li couldn't hold it anymore. She covered her mouth and rushed out of the private room.

Zhao Pingyuan was still trying to persuade Chu Tianshu to drink and didn't pay attention.

A moment later, Huang Li came back in, her face pale.

"What's wrong?" Zhao Pingyuan quickly put down his glass and asked with concern.

"He... he..." Huang Li pointed at the door, panic-stricken and unable to speak.

Qi Daguang was excited and patted his chest, boasting, "Huang Li, don't be afraid. I'm here. I can handle anything in Qingyuan City."

Before he finished speaking, the door of the private room was slammed open.

A short, fat man with a big head and a thin neck rushed in, his face flushed. His eyes immediately fell on Huang Li. He laughed strangely, grabbed her, and dragged her out, cursing and slurring, "Little bitch, run, run with me. I'll see where you can run to. Come, drink with me."

This was unacceptable. Someone was bullying them right here.

Qi Daguang, who was enjoying the drinking, couldn't stand it. He shouted, "What are you doing? You're really out of line. Xiao Zhao, get him out."

To be humiliated in front of everyone, with his girlfriend being bullied, was unbearable.

Following Qi Daguang's order, Zhao Pingyuan, like he had taken a stimulant, jumped up, took two steps forward, and kicked the fat man, sending him sprawling.

The fat man, drunk and unprepared, fell to the ground and cursed, "Motherfucker, you're tired of living, daring to kick my ass."

Zhao Pingyuan followed up with more kicks, sending the fat man out the door.

He slammed the door shut, grabbed Huang Li, and cursed, "Son of a bitch, dare to touch my people, I'll kick you to death."

Throughout this, Chu Tianshu remained calm.

In dealing with people, he adhered to a cautious principle: know yourself and your enemy, safety first.

He could deal with someone like Tian Keming without hesitation, but for someone whose background he didn't know, it was best to stay calm and try to defuse the situation. He shouldn't act impulsively unless absolutely necessary.

Qi Daguang laughed loudly and shouted, "Xiao Zhao, good kick! As Xiao Chu said, no one can touch my people, not even the Son of Heaven. Ha..."

Before his laughter could fade, the door of the private room was kicked open again.

Qi Daguang's laughter was cut short, and everyone turned to look at the door.

Two men in white suits blocked the entrance, followed by the fat man.

The leader was a young man with glasses. He stared at Qi Daguang coldly and asked, "If no one can touch your people, can anyone touch mine?"

Seeing this, Qi Daguang was shocked.

The young man sat down on the sofa nonchalantly.

One of the men in white suits brought in a set of gongfu tea and placed it in front of the young man, respectfully pouring a cup of tea.

The young man slowly picked up the cup, took a sip, and looked around the room with a mocking and sinister gaze, as if he was about to play a cat-and-mouse game.

Zhao Pingyuan, one hand protecting Huang Li and the other holding a wine bottle, looked at the newcomers with caution, ready to defend his girlfriend.

Everyone looked at Qi Daguang.

Qi Daguang got up from his seat and walked to the sofa, smiling and said, "Brother, may I ask your name?"

The young man smiled slightly and said, "I am Kong, Er Gou. Some friends outside call me Er Ge." As he said this, he gave Qi Daguang a meaningful look.

"What?" Qi Daguang stared at Kong Er Gou, half-disbelieving, "You are... Er Ge?"

"Indeed." Kong Er Gou nodded.

Damn, I've run into a tough one today, Qi Daguang sighed inwardly.

Who is Kong Er Gou?

He is one of the well-known figures in Qingyuan City's underground world.

Qi Daguang had heard of him but never met him in person.

"Ah, you are Er Ge." Qi Daguang's expression changed completely, and he smiled obsequiously, "Your name is like thunder in my ears. It's a great honor to meet you today."

Qi Daguan had his own philosophy of life: a man must be able to bend and stretch. He knew very well that there were some people he couldn't afford to offend, whether in the official world or the underworld.

Chu Tianshu also drew a sharp breath when he heard this.

He had heard Wei Shijie mention Kong Er Gou, who was brought back from the northeast by Qin Daming, the boss of Qingyuan Real Estate. Known as the "Smiling Tiger" in the underworld, he was known for his ruthless and cunning actions, and his arrival in Qingyuan had dramatically changed the city's underground power structure.

Kong Er Gou's appearance didn't match his reputation. He looked like a typical white-collar worker, with a fair complexion, wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, and speaking politely without a single dirty word.

"Qin Shao, come over. Find the person who kicked your ass," Kong Er Gou turned to the fat man and said slowly.

The fat man stepped out from behind the men in white suits and pointed at Zhao Pingyuan and Huang Li, saying, "It's this pair of dogs."

Kong Er Gou glanced at them and asked, "Qin Shao, what do you want?"

The fat man said viciously, "The man crawls out, and the woman comes with me."

"Didn't you hear?" Kong Er Gou raised his teacup and asked the two men in white suits behind him, his face stern.

"Yes," the two men in white suits replied loudly, with a commanding presence.

The men in white suits cornered Zhao Pingyuan and Huang Li at the door of the private room.

Zhao Pingyuan's wine bottle clattered to the ground, and his eyes sought help from Qi Daguang.

Chu Tianshu calmly surveyed the scene, ready to act.