Director Lu stared straight and fiercely at the old man.

The old man was used to being high and mighty at home.

But in the village, he was nothing, let alone in a city.

After just a few seconds of eye contact, he turned his face away from Director Lu’s glare.

"Hmph!"

Director Lu turned his head with arrogance, showcasing the full demeanor of a factory director.

Let’s go!

The three of them walked out of the office building of the bamboo weaving factory, all the way out of the factory.

Director Lu finally dropped his act and smiled at Jiang Cheng, asking, "How was my tiger-borrowing strategy just now?"

Jiang Cheng’s face suddenly turned serious, giving Director Lu a slight chill in his heart.

Did I get it wrong again?

It felt right to me.

I was borrowing the tiger’s force of the entire Sea City!

"Director Lu, I won’t allow you to talk about yourself like that!"

"You clearly scared them away with your own aura!"

"I even got startled by you!"

Director Lu first smiled, then his smile vanished slightly.

"Jiang Cheng, if you hadn’t said that last sentence, I would have believed you!"

Jiang Cheng immediately returned to his cheerful look.

"Why wouldn’t I understand you! We could be described as friends against all odds, right?"

Director Lu jokingly flipped his head.

"Who wants an intergenerational friendship with you? I’m still young!"

"Hahaha! My mistake, my mistake! Director Lu must remain eternally youthful!"

In the sunset, the shadows of the three stretched long as they laughed heartily, carelessly expressing themselves regardless of age.

The three ended today’s journey in laughter.

As they returned to the guesthouse, they were stopped by the young lady at the front desk.

"Mr. Jiang?"

"Xiao Mei, anything for me?"

Xiao Mei, who had been waiting at the front desk, nodded and said, "Director Mu from Foreign Trade left a message that the Foreign Trade canteen saved dinner for you."

"Thank you for letting me know, we are really hungry!"

After thanking her, Jiang Cheng called Director Lu and Director Lian to head out again.

Not far, about a ten-minute walk.

As soon as they entered, Director Lu and Director Lian stepped back several steps, leaving the main role to Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng greeted everyone warmly as he walked to the canteen.

Upon reaching the canteen, Director Mu and Director Yan also arrived.

The two formally expressed their gratitude to Jiang Cheng.

Tonight’s meal is also considered a farewell dinner.

The dinner was sumptuous.

Authentic Sea City specialties, as well as Jiang Cheng’s hometown dishes.

Eight dishes filled the table.

Director Yan even opened a bottle of Maotai, looking slightly provocative as he asked Jiang Cheng, "Can you drink?"

Jiang Cheng instinctively frowned.

"I’ve only drunk a couple of times."

Director Yan’s competitive spirit suddenly rose and asked, "Want to try some?"

Jiang Cheng reluctantly replied, "Alright, I can keep you company for a little bit."

Seeing this, Director Mu quickly reminded, "Jiang Cheng, don’t drink with him! He can drink!"

Jiang Cheng looked at Director Yan in surprise.

"Are you trying to win once against me?"

Director Yan wasn’t embarrassed when exposed and said, "Can you let me have some confidence?"

Jiang Cheng paused for a moment.

Director Yan spoke again, "Don’t worry, I won’t be rude by forcing you to drink."

"Just have a little, I’ll provide enough wine!"

Jiang Cheng seemed persuaded and asked, "Really?"

"Of course!"

After Director Yan’s assurance, Jiang Cheng smiled and sat down, handing over his glass.

Director Lian and Director Lu, who had seen Jiang Cheng drink before, tried hard to lower their heads, and then tried harder to lower their heads again.

They saw nothing!

A farewell feast began.

Director Yan raised his glass to thank Jiang Cheng for his contributions and expressed that Foreign Trade had something to offer.

Offerings equal bonuses, Jiang Cheng smiled and thanked, also raising his glass, "Thank you, I’ll down it!"

With a tilt of his head, Jiang Cheng finished the drink.

Director Yan’s speech was interrupted by this move; should he also down one?

Thinking of this, Director Yan immediately raised his glass and said, "Alright! Bottoms up!"

Not only did they accompany each other for one round.

After one glass, everyone sat down to eat.

Jiang Cheng didn’t eat any less, and she drank plenty, using all sorts of excuses to drink.

This dish is delicious — Director Yan, let’s have a toast.

This dish has the perfect seasoning — Director Yan, let’s drink this one.

Only the two of us speak MD language — a must-have toast!

...

After drinking a dozen glasses, Director Yan finally noticed something was wrong.

Just as he was about to speak, Jiang Cheng suddenly stood up and said, "No way!"

Director Yan: Did I get it wrong?

"This glass is too small to contain our friendship, Director Yan, shall we switch to bowls?"

With the words "switch to bowls," a cracking expression appeared on Director Yan’s previously calm face.

He woodenly turned his head towards Director Lu, who had been eating all along.

"Director Lu, has she always been able to drink like this?"

Director Lu finally looked up, reminiscing, "I just remember... back then, she toasted over a hundred of us guys!"

Director Yan: "..."

Speechless was already synonymous with him!

In the end, he could only look at Jiang Cheng.

"Shall we stop here?"

Jiang Cheng heard this, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, but just her gaze fell on the two unopened bottles of Maotai beside them.

Director Yan immediately understood and said, "The wine is yours!"

"Isn’t that a bit embarrassing?"

Jiang Cheng politely declined with a smile, and Director Yan twitched his eyes twice.

Does he still have to persuade her to accept it?

This feeling of being stifled was... truly his own doing!

"No, no, no, you must accept it, or else we’ll have to drink it ourselves!"

"Isn’t that not so good?"

"Good! Very good! If you don’t accept it, it’s disrespectful to me!"

"Please don’t say that. How could I disrespect you!"

"If you respect me, then accept it!"

Finally, Jiang Cheng accepted it.

Director Yan persuaded with a sweaty brow.

Director Mu watched happily and teased, "Serves you right!"

Director Yan, for once, didn’t retort, holding his forehead with one hand.

Seeing this, Director Mu immediately asked, "Are you okay?"

Director Yan, feeling woozy, replied, "No, I do have something!"

Hearing this, Director Mu actually felt a bit concerned.

Across the table, Jiang Cheng smiled meaningfully.

She thought these two had something going on.

This drinking session might have been Director Yan’s intentional act?

Who knows, these two bottles could be Director Yan’s matchmaking gift?

Thinking this, Jiang Cheng quickened her eating pace.

In the end, she even packed a portion of untouched food to take with her.

As for Director Yan, he was already woozy and almost leaning on Director Mu.

Once they left, Director Lu finally asked, "Director Yan doesn’t seem to have that great a tolerance!"

Before Jiang Cheng could answer, Director Lian clicked his tongue and said, "He wants to get drunk."

"What?"

Director Lu, a straightforward fellow, really didn’t get it.

But Director Lian and Jiang Cheng exchanged a glance, with a gossipy smile in their eyes.

They walked back to the guesthouse together.

Jiang Cheng handed the packed box of food to the receptionist, Xiao Mei.

"Thanks for passing the message, Xiao Mei. The food was portioned beforehand, untouched, enjoy a late-night snack."

Xiao Mei opened her mouth wide, holding the food box, saying thank you many times.

Jiang Cheng casually waved her hand and went upstairs.

Xiao Mei: Ah! My heart is even less stable now!