Chapter 35: Drinking Contest

Upon reaching the entrance of the party and government office, Hu Yongbiao glanced inside. The people inside immediately put down their cards and stood up upon seeing him.

"Director Li, come out with me for a moment!" As soon as Hu Yongbiao spoke, Wang Jian saw the person who had been talking to him hurriedly walk over.

Hu Yongbiao pointed at the person and said to Wang Jian, "This is Director Li of the party and government office!"

Seeing Hu Yongbiao introduce him to Wang Jian, Li Huai, the director of the party and government office of Wushan Town, was unsure of Wang Jian's background. He had just lied to Wang Jian, saying Hu Yongbiao wasn't there, but now it seemed Hu Yongbiao was his guest. Li Huai's face showed some awkwardness as he looked at Wang Jian a few times without speaking.

"This is Wang Jian, the deputy mayor of Xianhe Township!" Seeing Li Huai's lack of enthusiasm and not giving him face, Hu Yongbiao introduced Wang Jian to Li Huai with a displeased look.

Li Huai was taken aback, quickly reacted, and hurriedly bent over, extending both hands to shake Wang Jian's hand, saying, "Deputy Mayor Wang, hello, hello, I'm sorry for earlier!"

"Hehe, Director Li, you're also doing well. I don't blame you for earlier; after all, I didn't give my name, and you mistook me for an ordinary citizen!" Wang Jian, noticing Li Huai's change in attitude, subtly pointed it out.

After speaking, Hu Yongbiao asked curiously, "What's going on?"

Wang Jian smiled and said, "It's all in the past, nothing to worry about!"

Hu Yongbiao looked at Li Huai, who said with an awkward expression, "I didn't recognize Deputy Mayor Wang earlier!"

Understanding the situation immediately, Hu Yongbiao said sternly, "Then you should properly accompany Deputy Mayor Wang and apologize to him!"

"Sure, sure!" Li Huai nodded in agreement.

The three of them walked out, got into a car, and went to a restaurant in town, booking a private room. Hu Yongbiao had the driver take two bottles of Wuliangye from the car. Wang Jian was surprised to see this, not expecting Hu Yongbiao to carry such expensive liquor with him.

"Deputy Mayor Wang, this is ten-year-aged Wuliangye. I only drink it when you come; I wouldn't drink it with anyone else!" Sitting at the table, Hu Yongbiao smiled and said to Wang Jian, who he was eager to befriend. Wang Jian was a young and promising township mayor with a bright future.

Wang Jian smiled and said, "Today, I actually wanted to report an issue to Secretary Hu, but ended up being treated to a meal by you. I feel really bad. I won't drink such expensive liquor; just eating and chatting will do!"

"How can that be? If you hadn't come to report the issue, we wouldn't have met. Moreover, you told me about Wang Erfang, so I should thank you. Today, we should drink to our heart's content!" After speaking, Hu Yongbiao instructed Li Huai to open the bottle.

Li Huai was busy setting up the table and pouring water. Upon hearing Hu Yongbiao's words, he immediately opened the bottle. Wang Jian tried to stop him, but it was too late.

"Pour a glass for Deputy Mayor Wang!" Hu Yongbiao ordered.

Seeing Li Huai pour a full glass of liquor, Wang Jian inwardly groaned. He had an appointment with Zhao Dongbo in the evening, and Zhao had just called again. If he drank too much at noon, what would he do in the evening?

"Deputy Mayor Wang, one glass each, this one is yours!" Hu Yongbiao placed the poured glass in front of Wang Jian.

Wang Jian looked at the glass and shook his head, saying, "Secretary Hu, my alcohol tolerance is limited; I can't drink this glass!"

"Deputy Mayor Wang, you are young and promising; how can you not drink? You need to start training now!" Hu Yongbiao said casually.

"Come, the dishes are ready; let's start drinking. I'll toast to Deputy Mayor Wang first!" Hu Yongbiao stood up and said to Wang Jian.

Wang Jian hurriedly stood up and said, "That's not right, Secretary Hu. You are my superior; I should toast to you!"

"You can't say that. Since you came to me, I should toast to you. Besides, I haven't been a good superior, making Deputy Mayor Wang worry. Here, I toast to you!" Hu Yongbiao, who usually had the final say in town, was surprisingly humble in front of Wang Jian, leaving Li Huai in awe.

"I toast to Secretary Hu!" After Hu Yongbiao took a sip of liquor, Wang Jian also raised his glass and took a sip.

"Brother Wang, don't call me Secretary Hu all the time. I won't call you Deputy Mayor Wang either. Let's be brothers, okay? Just call me Brother Biao!" After drinking, Hu Yongbiao laughed and said to Wang Jian.

Wang Jian wanted to laugh at Hu Yongbiao's suggestion but held back, saying, "I'll call you Brother Hu!"

"Brother Hu is fine! Come, let's have two glasses of liquor. If you go back to your hometown, make sure to tell me in advance, and I'll send a car to pick you up!" Hu Yongbiao said generously.

"Thank you, Brother Hu!" Although Wang Jian didn't need Hu Yongbiao to pick him up, he appreciated the gesture.

"No need to be polite, let's drink to half a glass!"

After two sips, they finished half a large glass. Although the liquor was good and didn't immediately make one drunk, Hu Yongbiao's enthusiasm was hard to resist. Wang Jian soon finished a full glass. After finishing, Hu Yongbiao had another glass poured for him. Wang Jian had no choice but to drink it. Li Huai then stood up to toast Wang Jian and apologize.

"Sorry, Deputy Mayor Wang, I didn't recognize you earlier and offended you. I'll toast to you!" Li Huai held his glass and said humbly.

Wang Jian knew that such people were very authoritative in front of the masses but became like a child in front of their superiors. There was no need to take offense. He smiled and said, "Director Li, you're too polite. We're all brothers; let me toast to you!"

"Thank you, Deputy Mayor Wang, for forgiving me. I'll drink to the bottom!" Li Huai finished the large glass in one go.

At this moment, Wang Jian realized that Li Huai was a smooth talker and very cunning. He hadn't drunk a glass earlier but now drank a large one, clearly challenging Wang Jian. Wang Jian, looking at the full glass, inwardly cursed Li Huai's ancestors.

"I've finished, Deputy Mayor Wang!" After drinking, Li Huai showed Wang Jian the empty glass, with a challenging tone.

Wang Jian, who had a good alcohol tolerance, wasn't afraid of anyone. He knew that if he didn't show his strength, Hu Yongbiao and Li Huai would look down on him. He looked at the glass and drank it in one go.

"Brother Wang, you have a good alcohol tolerance!" Hu Yongbiao clapped from the side.

Wang Jian composed himself and said, "Brother Hu, it's not right for Director Li to only toast to me. He should also toast to you, the elder brother!"

Hu Yongbiao waved his hand and smiled, "He drank to apologize to you, so there's no need for me!"

"But I toasted to Director Li, and he didn't drink to apologize. Director Li should drink a separate glass, and the previous one doesn't count!" Wang Jian, who had initially been lenient, now saw that he couldn't be too soft.

Wang Jian pretended to be very drunk and insisted firmly. Hu Yongbiao, seeing that Wang Jian wouldn't let it go if Li Huai didn't drink, said to Li Huai, "Deputy Mayor Wang has spoken; drink it!"

Li Huai, seeing Hu Yongbiao supporting Wang Jian, reluctantly picked up the glass and said, "Deputy Mayor Wang, let me toast to you again!"

"Finish this glass first, and then you can toast to me!" Wang Jian didn't fall for his trick.

After a few deep breaths, Li Huai finished the glass and immediately felt the effects of the alcohol. After two glasses, Wang Jian was still clear-headed, but Li Huai didn't dare to challenge him again and didn't dare to toast to Wang Jian.

At this moment, Hu Yongbiao wanted to drink more with Wang Jian, but the door suddenly opened, and a bald man walked in. Hu Yongbiao and Wang Jian looked up and saw it was Wang Erfang!

"Secretary Hu, why didn't you tell me you were drinking? The boss told me you were here, so I came to toast you!" Wang Erfang's face was red, clearly having drunk a lot.

Seeing Wang Erfang's unsteady stance, Hu Yongbiao was unhappy and said, "Wang Erfang, what's wrong with you? Sit down and talk properly!"

Wang Erfang, drunk, didn't listen to Hu Yongbiao and stood there, holding a glass and a bottle. Hu Yongbiao couldn't show his authority in front of Wang Jian.

"Isn't this my nephew? Why are you sitting with Secretary Hu?" Wang Erfang ignored Hu Yongbiao and looked at Wang Jian with red eyes.

"Uncle, it's me. Let me toast to you!" Wang Jian, seeing that Hu Yongbiao couldn't control Wang Erfang, stood up and offered to drink with him.

Wang Erfang, seeing Wang Jian's understanding, didn't say anything more, just let Wang Jian pour the liquor. Wang Jian poured a glass for himself and raised it, saying, "Uncle, I toast to you, let's finish it in one go!"

Wang Jian drank it in one go. Wang Erfang, seeing Wang Jian's good alcohol tolerance, didn't want to show weakness and also drank it, spilling some on his mouth.

"Uncle, let me pour you another glass!" Wang Jian poured another glass for Wang Erfang.

Wang Erfang, swaying, sat down and didn't object to Wang Jian pouring the liquor.

"Come, let me toast to you again, Uncle!" Wang Jian raised his glass to Wang Erfang.

Wang Erfang tried to raise his glass but couldn't hold it. Suddenly, he let go and fell on the table. He had already drunk a lot, and Wang Jian made him drink three glasses in a short time, so it was no surprise he fell.

"Who is this guy?" Hu Yongbiao, looking at Wang Erfang, said angrily.

At this moment, two people came in. Hu Yongbiao recognized them as village officials from Haizi Village and scolded them, "What's wrong with you? Letting him drink so much? Get him out of here!"

Wang Jian also recognized them as people who hung out with Wang Erfang. They didn't say anything to Wang Jian, just helped Wang Erfang up and left.

Seeing Wang Erfang lose control in front of him, Hu Yongbiao felt embarrassed and said to Wang Jian, "This Wang Erfang, when drunk, doesn't even know his own name!"

"Brother Hu, does he not listen to the party committee?" Wang Jian asked, turning his head.

"He dares not! Don't worry; Wang Erfang won't do anything to you. If he does, I'll have the police deal with him!" Hu Yongbiao waved his hand confidently.

"Thank you, Brother Hu!" Wang Jian expressed his gratitude.

Seeing that Wang Jian, after three glasses, was still clear-headed, Hu Yongbiao couldn't help but admire his alcohol tolerance and wanted to drink more with him. Wang Jian quickly said, "Brother Hu, to be honest, I have another drinking session tonight. If you care for me, don't make me drink anymore!"

"Hey, why didn't you say that earlier? I made you drink so much!" Hu Yongbiao put down his glass, showing understanding.

"I was afraid Brother Hu would think I was making excuses. I'll drink with you another time!" Wang Jian said.

"That's fine; our brotherhood doesn't need to be rushed!" Hu Yongbiao said understandingly.

After finishing the drink, Wang Jian ate a simple meal, and Hu Yongbiao had the driver take him home to rest.

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