Nine o'clock.
It was dark outside.
Yet the hotel's Small Banquet Hall was brightly lit. The roomful of people ate and drank, with most of their attention focused on Dong Xuebin and his group.
"County Chief Dong, come on."
"Director Chen, you're trying to kill me."
"It's just one drink. Are you really refusing to give old Chen any face?"
"It's not that I won't give you face. I already had a drink with Director Lu, and I really can't take any more."
"How much you can drink is a matter of capacity. Whether you drink or not is a matter of character."
"That's all the capacity I have. I usually don't drink, so I really can't handle it. How about we both take it easy? Don't bottom it up—just take a sip for form's sake."
Chen Mingming, Director of the Meiyang District Investment Bureau, urged him to drink, while Dong Xuebin hemmed and hawed as he tried to decline.
Seeing this, a cadre from the Municipal Investment Bureau joined in the teasing with a laugh. "County Chief Dong, Director Chen rarely toasts anyone."
Dong Xuebin smiled. "I'm not in good shape today. Another day, another day."
Chen Mingming said unhappily, "How can that do? Zhenshui County is the star of tonight's dinner. Come on, I'll drink first as a sign of respect." With that, he gulped it down.
Three taels of liquor.
Not much, but not little either.
Chen Mingming's tolerance was probably about the same. After finishing it, a flush rose to his face, and he stared unblinkingly at Dong Xuebin.
Everyone else looked at him too, waiting for Dong Xuebin to drink.
Dong Xuebin was still stammering out excuses. "I really can't. I still haven't processed those three taels from earlier. I'm already dizzy. Director Chen, forget