Chapter 85: The Drinking Party

Hou Laoban could only smile and say, "Niu Ju, I'll have the waiters bring the drinks and dishes right away—please take your seats quickly."

After saying that, Hou Laoban withdrew.

At this moment, Niu Ju clapped his hands,

two burly men quickly came in from outside,

Niu Ju pointed at these two men,

and said to me, "Jianqiang, let me introduce you—this is Li Kezhang, head of our bureau's criminal investigation division,

this is Guo Team Captain, commander of the special operations brigade."

The two men hurried forward and shook hands with me.

After shaking hands, they immediately stood behind Niu Ju,

their eyes fixed solely on Niu Ju,

at a glance, these two were clearly strong and utterly loyal to Niu Ju.

Niu Ju, what's the meaning of bringing the criminal investigation chief and the special operations brigade commander?

I wondered in my mind.

Was he deliberately trying to pressure me?

Let's see how Niu Ju plays this out first.

I quickly said to Niu Ju, "Niu Ju, let me introduce you—this is Kang Zong of Southern Group, the one who rescued our Da Heng Group from urgent crisis."

Ya Li also came over and shook hands with Niu Ju.

Niu Ju looked at Ya Li and said, "Kang Zong, right? I didn't expect you to be so beautiful—Da Jun has mentioned you several times in front of me.

I always thought you were a man, and I even wanted to drink with you and become sworn brothers of opposite sex—looks like that wish won't come true."

After saying that, Niu Ju laughed heartily,

As Niu Ju laughed, the two men behind him quickly grinned along and even clapped.

Ya Li's face turned red,

and she said, "Niu Ju, you really know how to joke—meeting you today is also an honor for me."

After speaking, Ya Li tried to pull her hand from Niu Ju's grip, but after struggling for a while, she couldn't move it.

Niu Ju held onto Ya Li's hand and then said, "Listening to Kang Zong's accent, you don't sound like a southerner—why does your speech carry our Zaocheng accent?"

Ya Li had to reply, "Niu Ju, you're impressive—my hometown is Lanling County, and after graduating college I've been working at Southern Group."

Niu Ju looked at Ya Li,

"I never expected to meet a fellow Lanling native here—I'm also from Lanling and once worked in Lanling County for a long time.

Kang Zong, have you gone back to your hometown in Lanling to visit?"

Ya Li nodded,

then she tried hard to pull her hand again.

Still no movement; at that moment Ya Li glanced at me,

conveying that I should quickly intervene.

I turned my head and glanced at Shi Yong,

"Shi Yong, Niu Ju knows you, right? And Li Kezhang and Guo Team Captain—why don't you go over and say hello?"

Shi Yong, who was beside me, quickly raised his head,

then, following my gaze, saw Niu Ju still holding Ya Li's hand and not letting go.

Shi Yong strode forward in a single step,

"Niu Ju, alas, it's been ages since we last met—I, Shi Yong, have come, and I've missed you dearly."

After saying that, he forcefully squeezed himself between Ya Li and Niu Ju,

forcibly separating Ya Li's hand from Niu Ju's hand,

Niu Ju could only then speak to Shi Yong,

"Shi Yong, for today's drinking, I've found you two opponents—Li Kezhang and Guo Team Captain, this is Shi Yong, Vice President of Da Heng Group, nicknamed the Thousand Cups Not Drunk wine immortal,

your task today is to take him down. Do you have the confidence to accomplish the mission?"

At that moment, Li Kezhang and Guo Team Captain straightened their bodies,

and loudly said, "Niu Ju, we guarantee to complete the mission."

Upon hearing that, Shi Yong burst out laughing, "Niu Ju, look at what you're saying—if you take me down, I'll become a criminal.

Niu Ju, drinking is all about feelings,

a little drink enlivens the spirit, a lot harms the body."

Hearing Shi Yong's words, I couldn't help but laugh,

I then said, "Niu Ju, since I arrived I've been standing—should we sit down to chat? My leg can't take much more."

I deliberately handed my cane to Niu Ju to see,

Niu Ju laughed, "I forgot about Jianqiang's leg injury—we'll be sitting down soon.

Jianqiang, how should we arrange the seats—who is the host companion, who the assistant host companion? You're the host; I'll follow your arrangement."

I said, "Niu Ju, Kang Zong has come from afar and is a distinguished guest—may I let her take the seat of honor? Niu Ju, you are the most formidable person here; if you sit in that position, I am today the host, which makes me the host companion.

Let Hou Laoban be the assistant host companion—he's always been in the mood to keep Niu Ju company over drinks."

With that arrangement, I ended up sitting right between Niu Ju and Ya Li,

Just as Niu Ju was about to raise an objection,

Hou Laoban came in from outside,

"Chairman Zhao's arrangement is quite reasonable—I'll take the assistant host companion seat, which is the one who pays the bill; nobody can take it from me."

Niu Ju, angry, said: "Competing with you over a fart—it was originally your hotel; Old Hou, we already agreed that seat is the drinking seat."

"If you keep being slick and don't drink, don't say I made you look bad."

Hou Laoban's face showed embarrassment.

"Niu Ju, I'll just have a little. These past days I've been taking Chinese medicine."

I know this Hou Laoban is a famous health king,

three sentences never stray from health topics.

He nurtures himself to be as pretty as a little white mouse.

"Old Hou, what's 'just a little'? Here with me there's no such thing as a little. If you can drink, sit there; if you can't, sit aside and eat," Niu Ju said directly.

Hou Laoban looked very awkward, somewhat unable to save face.

At this moment Hou Laoban could only bite his teeth and say: "Fine, today I'll drink freely; I've claimed this seat."

In some occasions men must save face, no matter how much they eat vegetarian and chant Buddhist sutras.

Everyone sat in their respective seats, seven people in total, at a large banquet table that could accommodate twenty.

Because there were few people and the table was large,

people had to lean forward and speak loudly to be heard.

Niu Ju, sitting at the head of the table, angrily asked: "Jianqiang, who booked this table?"

I said: "It was Hou Laoban's wish; I originally booked the Lotus Hall, but hearing you'd come, he specially reserved the largest hall, the Cypress Hall, for you."

Hou Laoban continued: "Chairman Zhao is right; our hotel can easily welcome two guests—a God of Wealth and a Guardian Deity. We must receive them with the highest standards, as well as General Manager Kang, Vice President Shi, Li Kezhang, Captain Guo, and Vice President."

"Thank you for Hou Laoban's kindness. Please don't call me the God of Wealth; General Manager Kang is the true God of Wealth. Without her help, Da Heng Group couldn't get out of trouble," I said.

"I didn't see it; I always thought General Manager Kang was a star, never guessed she was a female God of Wealth."

"Great, today I'm honored to meet the female God of Wealth here. Zaocheng is a small place; if our hospitality falls short, please forgive us, General Manager Kang," Hou Laoban said politely.

Ya Li laughed: "Hou Laoban, you're so courteous, I already said I'm from Lanling; returning to Zaocheng is like returning home. Everything at home is fine,

I thank Hou Laoban for the warm hospitality, which made me feel the warmth of home."

Ya Li had just finished speaking, and at that moment Hou Laoban burst into applause,

"Truly worthy of coming from a big city, a worldly person. Look how beautifully General Manager Kang speaks; returning to Zaocheng is like returning home,

which instantly narrowed the distance between me and General Manager Kang."

After Hou Laoban finished speaking, Niu Ju waved his hand and said: "Old Hou, don't get chummy with General Manager Kang. I and General Manager Kang are the closest; Kang's hometown is Lanling, and I've worked in Lanling for many years.

We are the true locals.

When fellow locals meet, tears well up; when I see General Manager Kang,

my eyes turn red."