Chapter 89: After Several Rounds of Wine

Gui A County. The new house of Liu Dexin.

“Ah, Brother Lu, you’ve finally arrived! We’ve been waiting for quite a while. You must drink more later.” When Lu Kun got out of the car, Liu the Skinner was already looking out at the gate. Now, seeing Lu Kun arrive, his tone was exceedingly warm.

“All right, all right, I’ll start by punishing myself with three cups,” Lu Kun replied, eyeing Liu the Skinner’s bulging belly, which seemed barely contained by his belt, and couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

“And this is?” Liu Dexin glanced at the man stepping out from the car and asked Lu Kun.

“Oh! This is my brother Liang Guanshi—grew up together, not a stitch between us,” Lu Kun said, pulling Stone over and introducing him to Liu Dexin.

“So it’s Brother Liang! I’ve long heard of you!” Liu Dexin said with a hint of admiration.

“Oh?” Lu Kun and Stone exchanged a glance, rather puzzled.

“You’re too kind, Brother Liu,” Stone replied a little shyly.

“Heh, Brother Liang, you must think I’m joking, right? But I really have heard of you.” Seeing Stone’s doubt, Liu Dexin added, “Isn’t the hero they talk about—the one who ‘with his fist strikes three counties in Fengyang, and with his foot treads both banks of the Li River’—you?”

Liu Dexin raised his chin toward Stone as he spoke.

“…”

“Haha, now do you believe me? I really have heard your name,” Liu Dexin said, hitching up his trousers.

“Enough with the chitchat, it’s freezing out here!” Liu Shixun muttered under his breath.

Liu Dexin’s expression stiffened for a moment, but he quickly recovered. “Right, right, Shixun, hurry and take your two uncles inside to warm up.”

He shot Liu Shixun a subtle look.

“Brother Kun, Brother Stone, let’s go inside. It’s awfully cold out here,” Liu Shixun said, breathing into his hands to warm them.

Liu Dexin: “…”

So you want to be on the same level as your old man? I treat you as a son, but you want to be my brother!

…

Knowing there’d be drinking, Lu Kun had naturally brought Stone along. Stone was a true heavy drinker. With him to fend off the rounds, Lu Kun didn’t have to worry about being forced under the table.

Liu Shixun had hoped to sit at a separate table with his mother, but his father called him over to help entertain the guests. “Shixun, come here and have a few cups with your two uncles.”

For reasons unknown, every time Liu Dexin told Liu Shixun to call him “uncle,” Lu Kun’s hand couldn’t help but tremble. This man-child, calling me uncle—there’s only so much injustice I can bear!

Even Liu Shixun’s mouth twitched. “Brother Kun, Brother Stone, I’ll down this—join me if you like!” He grabbed a glass of orange juice and gulped it down in one go, looking rather bold.

But.

Lu Kun: “…”

Stone: “…”

“Who told you to toast them with juice? I meant wine!” Liu Dexin’s eyebrow twitched violently at this performance.

“But… but I really can’t drink. A drop and I’m drunk,” Liu Shixun protested miserably.

“Never mind, never mind, Brother Liu, he’s still a child—it doesn’t matter if he drinks or not,” Lu Kun quickly smoothed things over, having already heard about Liu Shixun’s poor tolerance.

“That won’t do! He’s already seventeen—I’m preparing to arrange his marriage! How is he still a child?” Liu Dexin waved dismissively.

“He’s a child in every way,” Liu Shixun muttered under his breath, but Lu Kun and Stone caught every word.

The two of them couldn’t help but burst out laughing. If not for the occasion, they would have let loose entirely.

Though already seventeen and tall enough, Liu Shixun was, in other aspects, as underdeveloped as a needle mushroom.

“He must toast properly! If you never learn to drink, you’ll never know how,” Liu Dexin insisted.

“Can you really learn?” Liu Shixun hesitated, then filled Lu Kun and Stone’s cups to the brim, poured himself a small half glass, steeled himself, and said, “Brother Kun, Brother Stone, cheers!”

Pinching his nose as though swallowing poison, Liu Shixun downed the liquor in one gulp.

Watching his son toast Lu Kun and Stone, Liu Dexin’s expression stayed dark throughout.

“Boy! Did you forget your father?” Liu Dexin fumed.

“Uh… I think I’m about to pass out,” Liu Shixun said, face flushing instantly after half a glass, his body swaying.

“You’re drunk already?” Lu Kun stared, dumbfounded.

Liu Dexin was equally stunned—was his own son’s tolerance really so poor?

“Catch him!” Liu Dexin’s wife came out of the kitchen with two dishes and, seeing her son about to collapse, hurriedly called out.

Fortunately, Stone reacted swiftly. Before she’d even finished speaking, his long leg shot out to prop Liu Shixun up, and with a quick step, he scooped him into his arms.

“Where should I put him?” Stone asked in his deep voice.

“Second room on the left,” his mother replied hurriedly.

Lu Kun watched with the air of a bystander, amused. That cradle carry… wasn’t it just like the stories…

…

“Shixun still can’t handle his liquor. Once he’s built up his tolerance, I’ll have him toast you both properly. Tonight, let’s just enjoy ourselves—cheers!” Liu Dexin said hastily.

“Cheers!” Lu Kun and Stone responded, raising their cups.

As for Liu Shixun being knocked out by a sip, none of them took it to heart. After all, they’d always treated him as a child.

“Brother Lu, don’t just eat the food. Here, let me fill your cup,” Liu Dexin said, his enthusiasm boundless.

Lu Kun shot Stone a subtle look, and Stone caught on immediately.

“Brother Liu, come, come, a deep bond is drained in one gulp; a shallow one is just a sip,” Stone said, standing to urge him on.

“Well said!” Lu Kun cheered, helping refill Liu Dexin’s glass.

“Brother Liu, there’s not much more to say—our feelings are all in the wine,” Lu Kun said, rolling up his sleeves and stepping on the bench. “If the bond is deep, there’s never enough; if it’s shallow, there’s none at all. Bottoms up!”

…

“Ha! The east wind blows, the war drums beat—drink if you dare, who’s afraid?” Once Liu Dexin was drunk, he needed no urging; he poured his own glass full.

“Yes, yes, let’s drink again,” Lu Kun slurred, pretending to be tipsy.

“That’s the spirit! A man who doesn’t drink is like a dog; a man who doesn’t smoke is like a eunuch!” Liu Dexin shouted.

Lu Kun: “…”

If I’m not mistaken, your son neither smokes nor drinks.

…

“Sister-in-law, Brother Liu is drunk and asleep on the sofa. We’ll be heading off now,” Lu Kun called into the house.