Chapter 63: Whoever Backs Down Is a Coward

When Chen Liang returned, he had the waiter bring out sesame paste, chive flower sauce, fermented tofu, and a small bottle of vinegar. He took the oil dish, mixed these condiments thoroughly, and added just a touch more vinegar. The aroma that wafted up was utterly delightful!

“Come on, brothers, don’t just sit there—have a taste!” he called.

He picked up a slice of lamb, cut as thin as a cicada’s wing, dipped it in the boiling pot, and when it was about seventy percent cooked, fished it out and rolled it in the oil dish. The fragrance of sesame paste, the freshness of lamb, the salty tang of chive flower sauce, the creamy richness of fermented tofu, all balanced with a hint of vinegar’s tartness—it was as if the full symphony of flavors had opened a shop in his mouth. The taste was beyond description.

For Zhang Cheng and his brother, tasting such exquisite food for the first time, their faces radiated pure pleasure, their eyes squeezed shut in delight.

“Let’s all take a drink together!” Chen Liang raised his glass; the four clinked, and Chen Liang, Zhang Cheng, and Zhang Yi drained theirs in one go.

Li Yuanchao had only managed half his glass and was about to grab a piece of frozen tofu to take the edge off when he was startled by the others’ bold drinking, his legs almost wobbling beneath him.

Chen Liang took a bite of greens, chewed a couple of times, and swallowed. “Little Mengchang, are you raising fish in your glass? I’ll let it slide this time since you’re new, but next round, we’ll drink as they do in the Northeast!”

Backed into a corner, Little Mengchang of Beijing gritted his teeth, raised his glass, and downed the rest in one gulp.

“Phew, ha!” He exhaled sharply, quickly grabbing some lamb with his chopsticks, skipping the condiments and stuffing it straight in his mouth.

The meat at Donglaishun was all from Mongolian Ujumqin sheep; slices boiled in the white broth, even without sauce, were delicious enough.

Seeing Li Yuanchao down his drink, Chen Liang opened another bottle of Maotai, poured himself full, filled Zhang Cheng’s and Zhang Yi’s glasses, then emptied the rest into Li Yuanchao’s glass.

Li Yuanchao glanced at Chen Liang with gratitude—what a good brother; this favor, he’d remember for life.

With each glass at about 125ml, the four finished a bottle exactly; pouring for Li Yuanchao last meant he had to drink two or three glassfuls less.

The four ate hotpot, boasted, drank, and enjoyed themselves immensely!

Amidst the clinking of glasses, their conversation somehow turned to hunting. Listening to Zhang Cheng brag about his exploits across the Changbai Mountains, Chen Liang and Li Yuanchao’s eyes brightened.

Hunting, with guns and wild beasts, is a sport no true man can resist—except, of course, for the effeminate.

At that time, people still struggled to eat their fill; no one cared much for protected species, and there were no laws banning hunting.

When Zhang Cheng mentioned he had even killed a tiger, Chen Liang raised his glass in admiration. “Brother Cheng, hey! Next time I go to the Northeast, could you take me along? I’ve never been hunting!”

For Zhang Cheng, head of Harbin Forestry Bureau, this was nothing—easier than splitting a sesame seed!

“No problem, brother. Next time you come to the Northeast, just have Xiao Yi arrange a car to bring you straight to me. I’ll personally take you hunting!”

Li Yuanchao, listening, was tempted. “Brother Cheng, could I come too? I’d love to hunt!”

Zhang Cheng had already accepted Li Yuanchao as a younger brother when Chen Liang first introduced him during their business dealings.

“No problem. As long as you come to Harbin, your big brother will arrange everything for you!”

“Thank you, Brother Cheng! A toast to you!” An excited Li Yuanchao drained his glass, his expression animated. “Brother Cheng, tell us again how you took down the tiger. I love hearing about it!”

“Haha, that’s nothing. If you want to hear it, I’ll tell it!”

Their conversation grew heated. Chen Liang suddenly asked, “Brother Cheng, when did you kill that tiger?”

Zhang Cheng thought for a moment. “Hmm, must have been last March. I remember because Xiao Yi had just been promoted to section chief then.”

“Last March? Brother Cheng, do you still have the tiger bones?”

Chen Liang raised his glass and clinked with Zhang Cheng, drained it in one go. “Brother Cheng, I have a secret recipe. If you use tiger bones to steep wine, it can prolong life, strengthen the body, and even enhance bedroom pleasure! Tempted?”

His words drew all three men’s attention. “Really? Brother, you’d better not be joking!”

Chen Liang was indignant. “Brother Cheng, when have I ever lied? I got this recipe from a master after much coaxing and pestering!”

Li Yuanchao laughed. “Brother Cheng, you can believe him. You don’t know how cunning Chen Liang is—he even tricked me out of a job quota not long ago!”

“That’s how we met! Come, let’s drink to our friendship forged in adversity!” Chen Liang said, full of pride.

He raised his glass and drank with Li Yuanchao, who, already tipsy, finished his in one gulp.

“That tiger bone, I really have it. If you want it, I’ll have someone bring it to you later. Do you want the pelt as well?”

“Brother Cheng, I won’t stand on ceremony then. Once I finish my medicinal wine, I’ll send you a barrel!”

“Chen Liang, is that wine really so good?” Li Yuanchao, numbed by alcohol, rattled on like an old woman.

“It’s a must! I tell you, I got the recipe from Old Master Lu at the library, and he asked me to bring him ten jin once it’s ready!”

“Old Master Lu? The library? Are you talking about Lu Yeling? He’s quite the character!” Li Yuanchao slurred, mumbling.

“What are you two saying, whispering over there?” Zhang Yi turned.

“Brother Yi, we’re talking about a remarkable old man. He’s versed in astronomy and geography—when the Russians aided us, it was said that he led the negotiations!”

“Whoa! Little Mengchang, are you telling me stories? Is Old Master Lu really that legendary?” Chen Liang frowned skeptically; that old man was sly, full of tricks.

“Why would I lie? Believe it or not, let’s just drink!” Li Yuanchao raised his glass, gulped it down, ate a couple more bites, then swayed and slid off his chair with a thump.

Chen Liang burst into laughter. “Haha, with skills like that, you dare call someone a coward! Little Mengchang, you’ve truly earned the title!”

Li Yuanchao, sprawled on the floor, struggled to get up. “I’m not drunk—I can still drink!”

“Come off it! With your tolerance, you’d be seated at the kids’ table in the Northeast. Go sleep!” With a gentle hand, he helped Li Yuanchao to a nearby tea table and let him doze off.