Xicheng chuckled softly, “I also did once down south. That was the first time I saw a Chinese bayberry tree, I ate a lot until I felt like my teeth fell.”
Mu Tianye interjected lightly, “From what I know, fruit flies love to lay eggs on bayberry fruit, Mr. Xicheng must have eaten a lot of bayberry insects.”
Ning Xiaofei had just clipped a hawthorn to her mouth, and almost choked the pulp down her throat upon hearing this.
This guy really…He just had to touch someone’s sore spot. Was he deliberately trying to disgust others?
Ning Xiaofei quickly rose and poured a glass of wine for Xicheng. “This is plum wine, try it, it’s good.”
“Mr. Mu might not know,” Xicheng slowly brought over the glass, “Bayberry insects are high quality protein. Not only are they non-toxic, they also have antimicrobial peptides.”
“Mr. Xicheng’s taste is really heavy, but I just can’t swallow this antimicrobial peptide.”
….
The two exchanged tit for tat, refusing to show any weakness. Ning Xiaofei on the other hand felt bitter. She tried to persuade her left and right to no avail, until her patience was thoroughly worn out and shouted for them to stop.
Bayberry bugs turned into fruit flies, were they going to let her eat or not?
Both men turned their faces to her at the same time, so she held up her glass.
“Here, I…I’ll toast you! Let’s not dig deeper into this bayberry talk, shall we?”
They both took their glasses at the same time and clinked them with her, then both drained them in one gulp. Ning Xiaofei retrieved her cup to drink as well, but before she could take a sip, Mu Tianye pinched her glass.
“You can’t drink, drink less, I’ll accompany Mr. Xicheng.”
With that, he raised his hand and chugged down what remained in her glass of wine.
“That’s unfair for Mr. Mu.”
Xicheng raised his glass and the waiter hurriedly poured wine for him. He too tilted his neck and downed it.
Thus, one cup for one, one cup for the other…
From bickering to wine fighting.
Before Ning Xiaofei had even taken two bites of food, a bottle of plum, the two had already consumed a bottle of wine.
“Zhou Tao, bring over a bottle of my Maotai collection.”
It was only because of Ning Xiaofei’s low alcohol tolerance that he had arranged for this sour and sweet plum wine with a low degree of alcohol. It was suitable for ladies. But since someone was going to fight with him, he naturally had to bring some real wine for it to count.
Ning Xiaofei immediately frowned, “That alcohol level is too high, isn’t it?”
“It’s okay, it’s only 43%.” Mu Tianye replied lighty. “If Mr. Xicheng can’t drink such a strong drink, shall we change it then?”
Xicheng smiled, “Mr. Mu has specially prepared wine, why shouldn’t I taste it?”
Two men sat across the table with faces clear and relaxed, but every word they uttered was armed with guns and clubs, filled with tension.
Once the bottle of Maotai was on the table, they didn’t say much, just looked askance at each other, and drank it dry.
Ning Xiaofei tugged at Mu Tianye’s sleeve and said, “Drink less.”
“It’s rare to have Mr. Xicheng’s company, so of course I have to drink to my heart’s content with my guest.”
Ning Xiaofei turned towards Xicheng: “Xicheng, drink less as well.”
“A guest should suit the convenience of the host, I can’t brush of Mr. Mu’s good intentions.”
—-
Ning Xiaofei failed to persuade after a few tries. Seeing that they were going to replace their wine cups with porcelain bowls, she felt angry and helpless.
“Fine, I’ll drink with you too!”
After saying that, Ning Xiaofei snatched the Maotai bottle from the waiter, and filled her glass to the brim.
Mu Tianye stretched his hand and grabbed her glass, handing it to Zhou Tao.
“Don’t drink, eat.”
Then he took the initiative to serve her food.
Xicheng also realized his own gaffe and picked his chopsticks up, “I had heard that the chef in Jinfeng Tower is a disciple of the Palace’s Imperial Chef. Let me have a taste of his craft today too!”