Spicy chicken pieces, braised common carp, peppery sheep hooves, Big-Plate Mutton, plus a cold bean sprout salad and a cold Chinese cabbage heart salad.
Such a large spread for two people was a little extravagant.
Li Long had brought Wuliangye he had stored for several years. Seeing this liquor served on this occasion, Liu Gaolou knew Li Long was showing him respect.
"Boss Li, let me tell you, I've wanted to have a proper drink with you for ages." He took the bottle himself, poured for both of them, and said with a smile:
"I'll overstep a little today and drink more. You're driving me tomorrow anyway, so I've got nothing to worry about. You've got a wife and family, so how about you drink a little less today?"
"Hey, Manager Liu, how did I never notice you enjoyed your liquor this much?" Li Long said with a laugh. "That doesn't seem right. The Ili Aged Cellar over in Khorgos should be pretty good too, shouldn't it?"
"Well, how should I put it?" Liu Gaolou filled their fifty-gram cups, set down the bottle, and said, "Drinking alone just gets you down, and you get drunk fast.
"I don't have many friends over there. Bek and Mulat can drink when they come back, but those two get rowdy as soon as they have any liquor. They don't just hold things up; they cause trouble too.
"My second uncle strictly forbade them from drinking, so I can only drink by myself. Where's the fun in that?"
"All right, then. I brought two bottles today. That should be about enough for us." Li Long pointed at the dishes on the table. "Never mind the liquor for now. Have something to eat first. Nothing fancy, but the cooking at Tuanfeng Tower here in the