220: Chapter 218: Pouring Wine 220: Chapter 218: Pouring Wine “Yang Shao, you go ahead and have a few good drinks with Tang Shao first, and then we’ll have a few more later,” Zhou Tao said.
Yang Xiaoyu smiled and picked up his glass, “Big brother, allow me to toast you first, I haven’t had the chance to thank you for last time.”
“Alright, let’s keep it casual and finish it,” Tangyu said.
Seeing the two of them downing their glasses straight away, Zhou Tao smiled inwardly.
Although the glass wasn’t big, one glass still held more than an ounce.
After ten or twenty glasses like that, he should be able to knock him down.
“Haha, Yang Shao and Tang Shao really are both spirited.
What’s the fun in only drinking one glass at a time?
On such a rare occasion, we should at least start with three glasses before gradually taking it slow.
Yang Shao, that one glass was hardly a show of respect,” Zhou Tao said with a hearty laugh.
Yang Xiaoyu nodded, “Zhou Shao is right, downing three glasses first shows sincerity.
Big brother, I’ll toast you again.
It’s okay if you drink slowly, I’ll down mine first.” Yang Xiaoyu’s nature was indeed generous, but such openhandedness and naivety often led to his disadvantage.
Tangyu smiled lightly, glanced at Zhou Tao, and then said to Yang Xiaoyu, “The respect isn’t in the liquor; the banquet is still long, and we can take our time drinking.
I’m not a fan of quick drinking either, one glass is enough.”
“I have to disagree with you there, Tang Shao.
When men come out to drink, they should enjoy themselves to the fullest.
The depth of our feelings is all in the liquor.
As the saying goes, ‘A deep bond is sealed with a single gulp.’ We should start by downing three glasses, a gesture of the highest respect at our tables.
I know your tolerance, you’re doing well.
These mere three glasses are a trifle; we should start by downing three and then drink slowly afterward.
Isn’t that even more enjoyable?” Zhou Tao said.
“Yeah, big brother, these small glasses, three are nothing.
I’m happy today, so let’s drink merrily.
Big brother, I’ll go first,” Yang Xiaoyu said.
Tangyu shook his head and, without stopping him, allowed Yang Xiaoyu to down two more glasses himself.
Tangyu also went along with two glasses.
Yang Xiaoyu’s temperament was indeed too easy to take advantage of.
Tangyu smiled to himself, thinking if the intention was to get him drunk, then let’s see who would end up outdrinking whom.
“Haha, Yang Shao really is bold, I admire that.
Yang Shao, eat some food to fill your stomach.
It’s our first time drinking together, I should surely toast you a few glasses.
And my two friends here, they also greatly admire you, Yang Shao, and would like to drink a few more glasses with you,” Zhou Tao said.
Yang Xiaoyu smiled and was open to all comers, “Zhou Shao is too polite.
It should be me toasting to Zhou Shao for honoring me like this.
Well, everyone should eat first.
Drinking on an empty stomach is too harmful.
It’s more energetic to eat while drinking.
Come on, let’s not be shy, we’re all friends here.”
After eating for a while, Zhou Tao picked up his glass and said, “Yang Shao, let me toast you first.”
Yang Xiaoyu immediately picked up his glass, “Zhou Shao, you’re too courteous, cheers.”
Zhou Tao, Du Xiaowen, and Luo Shuang teamed up to drink Yang Xiaoyu under the table, and in just a few minutes, they’d downed more than a glass each.
With this high pace, Yang Xiaoyu’s face started to show a trace of drunken blush, and the alcohol began to take effect.
A few more glasses, and he’d likely collapse drunk.
Tangyu sat nearby, calmly observing, aware that Zhou Tao and his two friends intended to get Yang Xiaoyu drunk first, or perhaps to force him to intervene and drink on Yang’s behalf.
Zhou Tao’s gaze also shifted more than once to Tangyu, loaded with implications.
Although Tangyu would have preferred to ignore their repeated provocations, he couldn’t tolerate them taking advantage of Yang Xiaoyu.
Tangyu took Yang Xiaoyu’s glass and said, “Xiaoyu, eat some food and take a break; don’t drink for now.
Let me keep Zhou Shao and the others company for a few glasses.”
“Hehe, alright, big brother.
You’ve been sitting here not touching your glass, which is too solemn.
I have indeed drunk a bit much; I’ll get some food to settle my stomach, and then I’ll join you for a good drink,” Yang Xiaoyu said.
“Hmm,” Zhou Tao smirked coldly, the smile tinged with a sense of triumph as he looked at Tangyu and said, “Tang Shao really keeps a low profile.
I’ve had a bit too much, so I’ll let my two friends accompany you for a few glasses first.”
Without waiting for Zhou Tao to say more, Du Xiaowen and Luo Shuang exchanged a knowing smile.
Luo Shuang picked up his glass and said, “Tang Shao, as they say, ‘No fight, no acquaintance.’ We’ve just formally met.
If there was any offense earlier, I hope you won’t take it to heart.
This glass is my way to offer a toast to Tang Shao, a drink for respect first.” Having said that, Luo Shuang tilted his head back and downed a glass of alcohol.
“Luo Shao, you’re too kind,” Tangyu replied casually, as there was no need for pleasantries with such people.
“Tang Shao, your tolerance is impressive.
The last glass was an apology; this one is out of respect.
Words are superfluous when it’s all in the liquor, so a toast to you first,” Luo Shuang said and downed another glass.
Tangyu also nonchalantly downed a glass.
Zhou Tao and Du Xiaowen watched with interest, believing that drinking at this pace would definitely bring someone down fast.
Drinking one against three, they didn’t believe they couldn’t take down Tangyu.
Besides, they were quite confident about their drinking capacity.
“This third glass, well, it’s for fate, I guess.
Having the chance to sit at one table and drink together, that’s fate,” Luo Shuang said.
Without saying much, Tangyu downed another glass.
After downing three glasses in quick succession, even Luo Shuang clicked his tongue, feeling a bit uneasy in his stomach, especially since he had already had a few glasses before.
These three glasses were nearly four ounces in quick succession, and even for someone with a good alcohol tolerance, that would cause some discomfort.
However, Tangyu’s face showed no reaction, as if he hadn’t had a drop of alcohol at all, which made Zhou Tao and his friends furrow their brows.
“Seeing as Luo Shao is in such a festive mood today, how about I toast you three glasses in return?” Tangyu said with a light smile.
Yang Xiaoyu looked at Tangyu with admiration on his face, “Big brother really has a great capacity for liquor; I’m impressed.”
Luo Shuang was also feeling irritable.
Hearing Tangyu’s active offer, he immediately agreed, curling his lips into a smile and said, “How could I refuse a drink from Mr.
Tang?
Not to mention three glasses, even six glasses I’ll drink to the bottom.”
“Alright then, let’s go directly for six glasses,” Tangyu said.
Luo Shuang frowned, momentarily stunned.
Had this guy gone crazy?
Or was he simply dizzy from the alcohol?
He had already chugged three glasses straight, and now he dared to challenge me to six more?
Six glasses, that’s nearly seven or eight ounces of liquor.
Not to mention he had already knocked back six glasses; twelve glasses, that’s around one and a half pounds of liquor.
Chugging so much liquor continuously, even if you could hold two or three pounds, you’d likely be near your limit, and most people probably couldn’t handle it.
Challenged in such a way, Luo Shuang was really irked.
Liu Shanshan could naturally see that Zhou Tao and his two companions were pouring drinks into Tangyu.
Seeing Tangyu agree one after another, she looked at Tangyu with some concern.
However, seeing Tangyu’s relaxed and self-assured expression, Liu Shanshan’s worries eased, because she knew Tangyu would never do something he wasn’t confident about.
Since he appeared relaxed, it meant he was completely confident he wouldn’t get drunk.
“Big brother, you’re drinking pretty heavily, directly downing six glasses, but it’s quite bold.
Seems your alcohol tolerance is way beyond mine,” Yang Xiaoyu, feeling a bit of the liquor himself, was completely unaware of the unusual atmosphere between Tangyu and Zhou Tao’s trio.
“If Mr.
Tang wishes to drink, I’m naturally willing to keep you company even if it costs my life.
If I get dead drunk, I’ll still stick it out to the end,” Luo Shuang said with a smile, the corner of his mouth lifting in a cold arc.
The two gulped down three glasses in quick succession, but by the fourth glass, Luo Shuang’s condition was clearly shaky, and when he put the glass to his lips, it was difficult to swallow.
His brows were tightly knit, and his face showed signs of discomfort.
However, he still forced himself to finish the fourth glass.
He wanted to take a break and eat some food to recover, but seeing that Tangyu had no intention of stopping, continuing to drink one glass after another as if it were plain water, Luo Shuang was not about to admit defeat and had no choice but to grit his teeth and compete to the end.
He certainly had the capacity to drink, and though he felt extremely uncomfortable after six glasses, even feeling the urge to vomit, he managed to suppress it with sheer willpower.
However, Luo Shuang was very clear that he couldn’t touch alcohol anymore, at least not for a while; otherwise, he might really vomit, and that would be hugely embarrassing.
By this point, he already felt the effects of the alcohol hitting him, feeling a bit dizzy.
Zhou Tao’s brow furrowed again, and turning to Tangyu, he was somewhat astonished to find that after consuming more than a pound of liquor in one sitting, he showed no reaction at all.
Such a capacity for alcohol was indeed that of a master.
However, Zhou Tao was also very disgruntled.
He couldn’t believe that three people couldn’t outdrink one.
He signaled Du Xiaowen with his eyes, and Du Xiaowen immediately picked up his glass and said, “Mr.
Tang truly has a vast capacity for drink, I am greatly impressed.
May I propose three more glasses to Mr.
Tang—I wonder if you would grace me with accepting?”
Tangyu responded with a light smile, “If Mr.
Du wishes to drink, naturally, I’m in it with you.”
Yang Xiaoyu, somewhat worried, said, “Big brother, why don’t you eat some food to slow down a bit?
Drinking too quickly isn’t good for the health, and it makes it easier to get drunk.”
Tangyu glanced at Yang Xiaoyu and replied, “No worries, I’m feeling good today, I know my limit.
If I feel anything, I’ll slow down.”
“Hehe, Mr.
Tang, then I’ll honor you with three glasses first,” Du Xiaowen proceeded to down three glasses cleanly.
Tangyu accompanied him and downed three glasses as well.
After the three glasses, Tangyu’s expression remained calm and composed, as though he hadn’t had a drop to drink.
His eyes were still clear and bright, without a trace of becoming unfocused.
One can tell if a person is sober by looking into their eyes.
Zhou Tao could see clearly that Tangyu wasn’t showing any signs of drunkenness, which frustrated and humiliated him greatly.
After pouring two pounds of liquor into him, yet not a bit of reaction—what kind of tolerance was that?
Drinking two pounds of liquor without any trouble wasn’t something Zhou Tao hadn’t seen before; in fact, he had seen plenty, but such an ability to drink two pounds in one go without an issue was something he had not encountered.
Two pounds of vodka, he could drink it too, but he couldn’t do it like that.
Originally, he had wanted to use their numerical advantage to get Tangyu drunk, but he hadn’t expected the other’s capacity for alcohol to be so astonishing.
Luo Shuang was almost defeated, and yet no effect had been achieved, which only deepened Zhou Tao’s dismay.
Grinding his teeth inwardly, Du Xiaowen said, “Mr.
Tang, you’re not also planning to return the favor with six glasses, are you?”
“Hmm, I could do that.
If Mr.
Du is willing, I naturally have no objections,” Tangyu replied.
“Fine, let’s go for six glasses then.
Today, I’m going all in, not leaving until I’m drunk,” Du Xiaowen declared resolutely.
Zhou Tao was also scanning the scene, keen to see whether Tangyu could remain unruffled after six more glasses.
Tangyu and Du Xiaowen didn’t hesitate and quickly downed the six glasses.
Du Xiaowen’s capacity for alcohol wasn’t much different from Luo Shuang’s; after six glasses, his state wasn’t much better, and he sat down directly, giving Zhou Tao a look to indicate he couldn’t drink any more and needed to take a break.
As for Tangyu, he was still unfazed, his face did not even have a hint of blush.
It gave people the impression that what he was drinking was not liquor but water.
Having lost two main players, Zhou Tao felt extremely irked as if trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used to lure it.
He also bit his teeth secretly; how could Tangyu have such an alarming tolerance for alcohol?
It seemed getting him drunk today would be a difficult task.
To regain some face from him, Zhou Tao would have to think of another strategy.