Chapter 13: Xu Damao: Didn't eat meat, just drank alcohol

Now Xu Damao.

Young and full of vigor.

He can't stand even a bit of goading.

He hasn't yet evolved into that later-generation bastard who has colorful flags flying outside and red flags never falling at home.

He also had the notion of treating his rival Shazhu to a meal, which was preying on his mind.

Starting at 5:40 p. m., Xu Damao waited outside.

The reason he didn't wait inside was that Xu Damao worried Shazhu wouldn't come, and if he went in alone he'd be stood up by Shazhu; as the respectable Xu Damao, he had to be flawless.

It was cold.

The cold made Xu Damao shiver like a third grandson, with his hands stuck in his sleeves and his body hunched as much as possible, making him look almost like a homeless vagrant on the street.

Just as he was shivering nonstop,

Shazhu arrived late, accompanied by He Yushui, swaying gracefully.

Upon seeing Shazhu,

Xu Damao felt like a child scolded by a teacher, feeling aggrieved.

"Shazhu, why are you only coming now? Do you know how long I've been waiting for you?"

Having said that,

He moved his stiff torso and then stamped his feet hard.

He must have realized his words were wrong.

He then began to add.

"Shazhu, I thought you didn't dare come. I, Xu Damao, have laid down my words: if you dare enter this place, fine; if not, just call me 'grandpa'."

He looked fierce in both voice and expression.

It was quite hilarious.

Shazhu let out a hearty laugh.

"Shamao, who's the grandfather and who's the grandson isn't certain right now; let's go."

The slogan was shouted so loudly it shook the heavens.

It was time for actual action.

Everyone ended up being the grandson.

This was the first time Shazhu, in his two lifetimes, brought Yushui to East Come Smooth.

Xu Damao's coming to East Come Smooth to eat was also his first time.

They were all flustered.

You let me in.

I'll let you go in first.

Each wanted the other to take the blame for them.

Later, Xu Damao couldn't hold out and used little Yushui as an excuse.

"I say, Shazhu, just eat your meal; why did you bring Yushui along?"

Yushui glared at Xu Damao; the little girl, hearing she could come to East Come Smooth for a meal, was happier than wearing new clothes for New Year.

"If I don't bring my sister, who would I bring?" Shazhu turned and dug a pit for Xu Damao, saying, "If you're jealous, go home and tell your parents to hurry up and give you a sister."

"Just wait, I don't believe my parents can't give birth to a sister."

Yushui laughed with a puff.

Xu Damao also realized he'd stepped into Shazhu's trap, and angrily marched toward the door of East Come Smooth.

He looked full of vigor.

This made the following Shazhu secretly admire him a bit.

If you cut half off Xu Damao's big donkey face, he'd count as a handsome man.

Fine.

He was still timid.

Naturally, Shazhu, who had thought highly of Xu Damao, discovered that Xu Damao was nothing; as the person reached the doorway, he flung the door open with a clatter, shoved Shazhu, who was trailing behind him, inside, and shouted, "You brat, get in!"

The people inside East Come Smooth were somewhat taken aback.

Mainly because Shazhu and his companions were too young, and they were also bringing a nine-year-old little girl.

No matter how you looked at them, they didn't seem like people coming to eat.

They seemed to have come to find someone.

"Kid, who are you looking for?"

"Not looking for anyone, just eating." Shazhu saw there was still an empty table in the middle, took Yushui to it, and also greeted Xu Damao, who was still standing at the doorway looking like he was about to slip away, saying, "Shamao, why are you just standing at the door? Come in."

The situation at the moment.

Xu Damao did not immediately retort to Shazhu's shout of 'Shamao'; instead, he obediently followed Shazhu's instruction and came up to him.

The three of them each took a seat.

"Let's have a clear broth hot pot, three plates of mutton, a plate of cabbage, a plate of vermicelli, a jin of hand-pulled noodles—we'll boil the noodles ourselves later—and a bottle of erguotou."

The waiter didn't move.

Without a word, he watched Shazhu, who was familiar with the process, pointing out what he wanted.

"This stuff will cost at least twenty thousand; do you have the money?"

It's not surprising the waiter would ask that.

Shazhu is too young.

As for Yushui, there's no need to say more.

Xu Daming was again all yes and no.

The waiter worried that Shazhu and company would soon be unable to pay the bill.

Nowadays, you can't go saying the customer is god; as a consumer I've come, you must greet me with a smile.

Bullshit.

Just this service attitude.

Like it or not, eat it.

If you don't eat, forget it.

"Pa!"

Shazhu slapped a 50,000-yuan bill from his pocket onto the table in front of the waiter.

This is currently the highest-denomination bill in circulation.

"We have money, hurry up and serve."

The waiter gave a cold snort, turned and went about his work.

Not long.

The hot pot was brought up; after the water boiled, Shazhu added the lamb and cabbage etc. to the pot, then urged Yushui to hurry and eat; as for Xu Daming, he remained wide-eyed and stunned.

What an unsophisticated look!

Losing face for the Siheyuan.

The meat is cooked.

Xu Daming couldn't even manage the basic use of chopsticks to pick up meat and eat, staring at Shazhu in amazement.

Shazhu also couldn't be bothered to pay attention to Xu Daming; he and Yushui eagerly ate the lamb.

By the time Xu Daming realized something was wrong, two of the three plates of lamb had already gone into Shazhu and Yushui's stomachs.

Shazhu is the rival.

Eating Shazhu's food is taking revenge on Shazhu.

Holding that thought, Xu Daming reached his chopsticks toward a piece of lamb.

Shazhu lifted the baijiu cup before him and said to Xu Daming: "Shamao, don't just eat, drink."

Xu Daming reluctantly set down his chopsticks, his eyes still fixed on that piece of lamb, the muscles at the corner of his mouth twitching unnaturally.

Yushui snatched the piece of lamb that Xu Daming had been about to pick up.

"Yushui, don't just eat meat, eat vegetables." Shazhu set down his wine cup, used his chopsticks to give Yushui a piece of cabbage, and thoughtfully gave Xu Daming a full chopsticks of cabbage: "Shamao, eat some vegetables too."

Xu Daming thought: "I fucking don't want to eat vegetables, I want to eat meat."

"Drink." Shazhu set down his chopsticks, lifted his wine cup, his cup clinked with Xu Daming's, he raised his neck and downed the one-liang baijiu in one gulp, the cup flipped over to show he'd finished: "I won't say another word; it's all in the wine."

Xu Daming also downed it in one gulp.

"Shamao, everything I say now is true; I truly regard you as my brother. For any past wrongs, as your elder brother I first apologize here. After finishing this drink, our previous unpleasantness is over."

Another cup of one-liang baijiu.

Likewise, still a single gulp.

Xu Daming followed Shazhu's example and also downed a cup of baijiu.

Afterwards, without waiting for Shazhu to speak.

In a few bites, they ate the cabbage in front of them clean.

Not a single piece of meat was eaten.

They even drank two cups of baijiu.

This time.

Xu Daming wanted to turn passive into active; he grabbed the wine bottle and filled baijiu for Shazhu and himself.