Chapter 268: One Remark Sends Li the Superman Running, One Drunken Toast Wins the Tycoons

In the latter half of the banquet, after Li Jiasheng's stiff silhouette completely vanished at the doorway, the entire grand reception hall fell into a ten‑second dead silence.

It was a silence mixed with shock, astonishment and disbelief, as if even the air had solidified. Everyone seemed frozen, holding their glasses and conversation, yet their eyes fixedly followed the Mercedes that had vanished into the night.

After the dead silence, a suppressed, heavy panting rose instead of immediate chatter. Guo Dongying of Sun Hung Kai, the real‑estate magnate famed for his fiery temper, let his glass clang to the floor; amber liquor splashed his expensive Italy leather shoes, yet he seemed oblivious, eyes wide, lips trembling, unable to utter a word.

Goo‑dong.

Someone, swallowing hard, let out a gulp. That sound acted like a signal, instantly igniting the whole room!

Boom!

The emotion, suppressed to the limit, erupted like a volcano, and the hall was instantly flooded with a frenzy of sound!

Liang Zhiwei lifted his glass, his palms already soaked with cold sweat. Watching this mind‑blowing scene, his voice hoarse from excitement, he almost whispered to the woman beside him, Ye Ning: "Miss Ye… at HSBC I've attended countless banquets of British executives; they're courteous, yet exude an arrogance that keeps others at a mile's distance. I never imagined that one day a banquet of us Chinese businessmen could have such… such a triumphant atmosphere! And that's Li Jiasheng!"

Ye Ning's eyes glittered like diamonds; she stared intently at Lu Qingshan, surrounded by the crowd, her voice low but unusually firm: "Mr Liang, this isn't just an atmosphere, it's the embryonic new order. The boss, with a victory and a few words, didn't merely light a fire; he personally detonated the volcano in everyone's heart."

The true eye of the storm was Lu Qingshan, encircled by a group of old men averaging over fifty or sixty, almost drowning him in brandy.

"Chairman Lu Qingshan! You youngster, truly remarkable! In my whole life I've never bowed to many people—one is a great pioneer who opens new lands, the other is you!" Guo Dongying's face flushed bright red, his voice booming enough to overturn the roof. He snatched the largest brandy glass from the waiter's tray, filled it himself, and, cupping it with both hands, thrust it toward Lu Qingshan. "Damn, in the past, dining with those Westerners for a piece of land forced me to smile and listen to their damn table etiquette. Seeing Li Jiasheng's fly‑eaten face today makes me feel richer than earning a hundred million! Here, this glass is for you, for the face you've reclaimed for us Chinese!"

"Uncle Guo, you're being too courteous, I really can't drink any more…" Lu Qingshan felt his head as if filled with cotton, the alcohol beginning to numb his nerves.

"Hey! What's with the courtesy!" Guo Dongying waved his hand, thrusting the glass straight into his hand, eyes bulging like copper bells. "Last time at the Li Family, I saw your temper, kid! You just didn't drink enough! Today's your stage, you must make up for it! Bottoms up!"

Li Fuying tried to intervene, but Character pulled her back. The old man's eyes were slightly reddened; he patted Li Fuying's shoulder, his voice trembling: "Fuying, don't mind it, let him drink, let everyone make a ruckus! Be happy! How long have we Chinese businessmen gone this happy? I, Character, have toiled on Hong Kong Island all my life, playing the dutiful grandson before the Westerners just to earn a legacy for our descendants. I thought that was all my life would be, but… I never imagined that, even near death, I could witness the day our Chinese finally run the show and set the rules!"

The alcohol surged, and Lu Qingshan felt the world spin. He watched these usually formidable, scheming bigwigs, now each as excited as a child, their gazes filled with unreserved sincerity and trust.

In his previous life, he was forced to drink the same way, only to be humiliated by creditors and fair‑weather friends after losing all his money. In this life, he is again made to drink, but the cup now overflows with scorching hearts and heavy trust. His mind is clear; he knows this drink is more than liquor—it's a pledge, a testament that they have wagered their future fortunes and destinies on him. To stay sober today would be to deny these elders face, to reject this searing loyalty.

Thinking of this, he simply let go, no longer refusing, muttering unconsciously, "Pour me again… last time I got drunk and confused…"

It was fine when he didn't say it, but once he did, Guo Dongying's grin widened: "Haha! I still remember last time! Proves you didn't overdrink! Today no one's getting away! Come, fill it up!"

Cup after cup, Lu Qingshan lost track of how much he'd drunk. His last memory was of someone, voice hoarse, softly humming a tune. Guo Dongying froze, then slapped his thigh and bellowed with his gong‑like voice: "Pride faces ten‑thousand waves! Hot blood like the red sun!"

In an instant, the entire hall—every Chinese tycoon, regardless of rank or age—joined the roar. Shoulder to shoulder around Lu Qingshan, they sang with a kaleidoscope of accents, pouring all their strength into the song "Man Should Strengthen Himself". The voices were coarse, even off‑key, yet carried a soaring passion finally unleashed after a century of suppression! Some sang with tears streaming, others with veins bulging, but in every eye burned the same fire!

Amid the singing, Lu Qingshan was fully ignited by the scorching emotion; he staggered to his feet, and under the awe, worship and fervent gazes of everyone, he raised his glass high, mustering his last strength, and roared his final words before collapsing drunk:

"To… our Chinese… new era!"

As the words fell, he fell straight backward, his face bearing a satisfied, exuberant smile.

Lu Qingjun and bodyguard Ahu swiftly steadied him, and the rousing song, mingled with the bigwigs' laughter and shouts, continued to echo through the night sky over Shek O Hilltop, as if proclaiming a new era to the whole Hong Kong Island.

The next day.

Harsh sunlight streamed through the massive floor‑to‑ceiling windows, spilling onto the soft carpet and mercilessly stinging the hung‑over eyes.

"Brother! Brother! Wake up! The sun's already scorching our backsides!"

Lu Qingjun's voice cracked like a string of firecrackers beside Lu Qingshan's ear. He shook Lu Qingshan's shoulder vigorously, his face lit with uncontrollable glee.

Lu Qingshan let out a groan, feeling his head as if repeatedly struck by a massive hammer, each heartbeat tugging the temples, the world spinning. He rubbed his splitting forehead and struggled to sit up.

"What's wrong?" he asked hoarsely, a fire seeming to rise in his throat, the night's madness still smoldering.

"The market's open! The market's open!" Lu Qingjun handed over a glass of warm water, adding excitedly, "Sister Ye has already settled all the payments, so you should rush to the exchange! Brother, hurry, everyone's waiting for you! The bigwigs from last night have been blowing up the phones since early this morning, all asking about our results! Mr Character and his group are already waiting for you in the VIP room of the exchange!"

Lu Qingshan gulped down the water in one breath; the coolness finally eased the lingering headache, and his muddled consciousness cleared.

The heroic ambition of last night still rang in his ears, and today was the time to reap the fruits.

After changing clothes and a quick wash, he hurried with Lu Qingjun, escorted by the bodyguards, toward Central.