Xian Restaurant’s private room.
The dishes and bottles of Jin Liu Fu baijiu are served at the tables.
Work Party Committee Deputy Secretary, Geng Xinke, raised his glass. “Director Dong, I represent the Subdistrict Party Committee to welcome you. Here’s a toast.”
Dong Xuebing felt irritated. When did you represent the Work Party Committee? Are you trying to isolate me? Are you qualified to represent the Committee? It’s fine if District Committee’s Organization Chief has not announced his appointment. But after the announcement, he is the top Leader of the Work Party Committee. Geng Xinke might sound like he is welcoming the new Party Secretary, but this gesture challenges Dong Xuebing’s authority.
You all are too anxious. Do you all think I will be scare?
Dong Xuebing smiled and raised his glass. “We will be one big family in the future, and all of us are serving the people. I should be the one offering a toast to you all. Everyone, raise your glass. Those who can drink, bottoms up, and those who can’t drink, it’s fine. Haha… let me bottoms up first.” He looked around and finished the glass. His glass is slightly more than 50 ml, and that’s about his limit.
Everyone stood up and bottomed up.
A few staff members, especially the female staff, only took a sip. But the Leaders, including Zhou Yanru, sitting at the same table with Dong Xuebing, finishes their glasses. There’s a saying that the better your alcohol tolerance, the higher your rank is. This might sound ridiculous, but it’s the truth. What would your superior think if you only take a sip when he offered a toast? Those petty Leaders will think you are disrespectful.
50 ml of Baijiu is not a lot.
One will show how well they can hold their liquor through one glass.
Dong Xuebing can tell five to six staff on the other two tables cannot drink. They look like they are in a daze after finishing their glass. Only Zhou Yanru’s face turns red among the Leaders, and the rest look fine. Geng Xinke and his “three generals” are fine too.
Of course, Dong Xuebing is an exception. He drunk slowly, and his face turns pale instead of red.
Everyone can tell their new Director cannot hold his liquor well!
Dong Xuebing said after a Staff Member filled the Leaders’ glass. “I cannot hold my alcohol well. So, I will not offer any more toasts. Let’s start eating.”
The Leader had said he could not drink, and most people will not offer any more toasts.
But it’s different today. Some people want to embarrass Dong Xuebing.
Geng Xinke secretly gave the Police Chief Peng Gang a look.
Peng Gang got the hint and raised his glass. “Director Dong, this is your welcome dinner, and it’s meaningless if you are not drinking. I still want to drink with you. You must have a toast with me. You are looking down on me if you are not drinking!”
The atmosphere suddenly becomes tense!
Dong Xuebing looked at Peng Gang and laughed. “Fine. Just this glass. I can’t drink anymore.”
Peng Gang knocked his glass into Dong Xuebing’s glass and finishes it.
Dong Xuebing hesitates for a while and finishes his glass slowly.
Zhou Yanru looks at Dong Xuebing worryingly.
Dong Xuebing had drunk around 150 ml of Baijiu and looked paler than before. He can feel the alcohol effects and was about to eat some food to make himself feel better. But another person comes and offers a toast again.
Deputy Director Yu Rongfeng raised his glass. “Director, I want to offer you a toast.”
Dong Xuebing is looking terrible. He said he couldn’t drink, but these people kept forcing him. Are they trying to create trouble or trying to revolt against him?
Zhou Yanru quickly helps Dong Xuebing. “Director Yu, we still have not to drink today. Let’s have a toast.” She knocks on his glass and drinks.
Yu Rongfeng saw Zhou Yanru started drinking and did not say anything. He must finish his glass.
But Deputy Director Guo Mingfeng raises his glass next. “Director, let’s have a toast.”
Zhou Yanru can’t help Dong Xuebing anymore as she had just finished another glass. She can only look at them with an angry expression.
Dong Xuebing looks at him and calmly said. “Director Guo, are you trying to make me drunk?”
Geng Xinke smiles. “Director Guo does not have that intention. This is your first day, and we are happy. You had a drink with Chief Peng, and you should drink with us too.” He raised his glass. “I will offer you a toast too. Are you not going to give me ‘face’ as well?”
Dong Xuebing looked at them and did not touch his glass.
Peng Gang also joined in. “Director, count me in too. We are offering you a toast, and you must finish this glass.”
Dong Xuebing is furious.
I am not giving you all ‘face’?! Who is the one not giving ‘face’ now?!
Damn! You all are asking for it! Do you all want to show me who the boss is through drinking? This is too disrespectful to your superior!
It’s fine if it’s one or two of them. Now, all four of them are trying to revolt against me?!
The temperature in the dining room suddenly drop!
The Staff Members on the other two tables look over, wondering how is their new Director going to handle this situation.
Zhou Yanru clenched her teeth and said. “Secretary Geng, we….”
Geng Xinke smiled and interrupted her. “Director Zhou is a good drinker. Haha… We are offering Director Dong a toast now and will drink with you later.” He is implying that Dong Xuebing is weaker than a woman, which means they are about to fall out.
Zhou Yanru’s face changed!
Dong Xuebing looks at these few people and their glasses. They are asking for it.
Fine! Since you all want to drink, I shall drink with you all!
Dong Xuebing waved the waitress over. “Since everyone is so happy today, then we shall drink to our fill! Waitress, bring us three boxes of Jin Fu Liu!”
Translator’s notes: Jin Liu Fu is a brand of Baijiu.