52: I'll drink it for you, is that okay?

He was just about to speak.

But then he breathed a sigh of relief.

Because, after all, these few were old friends with Li Ming; jokes were jokes, they wouldn't go too far.

Despite the scary talk, everyone switched to ordinary small beer glasses.

Five people each poured a glass for Li Ming, totaling only about one bottle.

Li Ming, finally having a chance to cut loose, didn't refuse and drank them one by one, then apologized.

"Sorry everyone, my brother is still waiting! I won't stay with you much longer."

"Alright, Old Li, seeing how generous you were today, we won't make it hard on you. Hurry back to the room and sleep, or we might not be able to carry you later."

Several people waved their hands and joked.

"Hmph, who wants to sleep? I have serious business today. Otherwise, I'd have to show you my true strength."

Laughing and bantering with them, the red-faced Li Ming wobbled back toward Ye Tian.

After just two steps, his shoulder was suddenly grabbed.

"What's this, Boss Li? So others are guests, but we aren't? We've been waiting over here expectantly for you to drink with us, and you won't even spare us a glance?"

The one who grabbed Li Ming was a short, stout middle-aged man with dark skin and a mocking expression.

"You are...? Tuxiangyuan Restaurant's... Boss, Boss Zhang?"

Li Ming seemed to be feeling the alcohol; he thought for a long time before remembering who the person was. Then he quickly offered a conciliatory smile.

"Sorry, Boss Zhang, I'm a bit dizzy from drinking and didn't recognize you for a moment. My mistake, I should be punished."

Saying this, Li Ming quickly called out to Ye Tian.

"Xiao Tian, help me get a bottle of wine. I'll toast Boss Zhang."

Ye Tian nodded and was about to get the wine when he heard Boss Zhang say indifferently:

"Boss Li, no need to be so polite. I have wine right here, just waiting for you to drink."

Saying this, Boss Zhang reached out and took a bottle of wine and two beer glasses from the table next to him.

But seeing the bottle, Li Ming's brow furrowed slightly.

Because what the other party took was clearly baijiu, and it was high-proof jiangjin baijiu.

Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle.

The other party poured two full glasses.

Then, without giving Li Ming a chance to refuse, he handed one of the glasses to him.

Li Ming was stunned.

"Boss Zhang, I was drinking beer just now, and quite a bit of it. How about I switch..."

Before Li Ming could finish, he was interrupted: "Is Boss Li not giving me face?"

"How could that be? Boss Zhang coming to support us is the greatest affirmation for me. How could I not give you face?"

Helplessly, Li Ming had to take the glass.

Furrowing his brow, he opened his mouth wide and downed the alcohol in one go.

His face instantly turned a bit ugly, and he made a heavy swallowing motion.

It took a good while before he slightly recovered.

Meanwhile, the other party curled his lip and nonchalantly finished the alcohol in his own glass.

Then he looked at the others at the same table.

Several people exchanged knowing looks.

Another person stood up.

"Boss Li, congratulations! You've really stepped into the spotlight today, even appearing on TV. This glass is to wish your business prosperity and steady growth."

Similarly filling two glasses, this person also approached Li Ming with the drink.

The moment he saw this glass of alcohol.

Li Ming couldn't help but make a retching motion. He quickly covered his mouth with his hand to avoid making a fool of himself.

"Boss Li, surely not? You're knocking them back bottle by bottle at other tables, but when it comes to us, even when we take the initiative to toast you with this small glass, you're acting so exaggerated?"

"No, sorry, I drank the last one a bit too fast, and mixing drinks made my stomach feel bad. Boss Qian, next time, next time I'll treat you to a drink privately. Our shops are so close anyway, we can find time whenever."

"I get it. Boss Li is a big shot now, so you look down on us little people. Heh, and here we were, specifically coming to support your business. I didn't expect you wouldn't even give us face for a toast."

The other party said sarcastically.

Hearing the other party's intentionally raised voice and seeing the amused looks from people at other tables, Li Ming gritted his teeth. You can lose the fight, but not the spirit!

He raised his hand to take the drink.

But before he could reach out, his hand was held down.

In the next moment, Ye Tian had already taken the glass for him.

"Brother Li, don't drink anymore. If Sister-in-law comes out later, do you still want to live?"

"But..."

Li Ming really didn't want to drink, but he was in a difficult position now. While he was hesitating, he saw Ye Tian look at the person opposite them.

"Boss Qian, right? My Brother Li really can't drink anymore today. How about I drink this on his behalf?"

"You? Who are you?"

The other party sneered, completely refusing to look Ye Tian in the eye.

"I'm Brother Li's brother!"

"Brother? Since when did a waiter become a brother?"

The other party's tone remained hostile and sarcastic.

Li Ming's brow furrowed.

"How are you talking? This is my brother, my own brother! You got a problem with that?"

After all, he was someone who had been drinking; once his temper flared, he didn't care who anyone was.

Regarding his own issues, considering he was running a business, he could force himself to endure. But if the other party was going to make things difficult for Ye Tian, he couldn't stand it.

Stiffening his neck, Li Ming was about to rush forward.

At the same time, Ye Tian's ears twitched slightly as he heard the sound of chairs dragging around the nearby table.

Turning his head, he saw that the several people still sitting at that table had already adjusted their chairs to a distance where they could stand up at any time. They were looking at Ye Tian and Li Ming sinisterly.

Furrowing his brow slightly, Ye Tian quickly held Li Ming back.

"Sorry everyone, my brother has had too much to drink. See, he's already starting to talk nonsense."

"Xiao Tian, what's going on?"

As Ye Tian finished speaking, Wang Shufen, who was busy inside, also heard the commotion. She ran out and saw the tense situation, asking with a frown.

"It's nothing. These bosses just wanted to have a drink with Brother Li, but he's drunk, so I'll just drink on his behalf."

"This won't do, you don't even know how to drink!"

Wang Shufen shook her head repeatedly, her frown deepening.

The situation of 'the wind will destroy the tallest tree in the forest' was something she and Li Ming had considered, but she hadn't expected it to happen so soon.

Normally, if you didn't give face, you didn't give face. They were just competitors; why should they give them face?

But now, those people's shops couldn't open, and those with nothing to lose aren't afraid of those with something. They were intentionally looking for trouble. If you couldn't handle it, they wouldn't let you have a good time. Especially at this critical juncture, they had to act carefully.

Wang Shufen could think of this, and Ye Tian naturally could too.

Therefore, ignoring Wang Shufen's attempts to stop him.

Ye Tian stood before the table of several men.

"Everyone, to tell you the truth, I am also one of the shareholders of Changle Restaurant. Since you say you've come to congratulate us, then as a representative of Changle Restaurant, I'll have a drink with you. That's no problem, right?"

The men looked at each other, somewhat surprised by Ye Tian's identity. Then Boss Qian smiled coldly.

"Drinking is fine, but since you're drinking on his behalf, the rules will be set by us!"

Thump!

As Boss Qian finished speaking, two bottles of jiangjin baijiu were slammed onto the dining table.

"Well? Are you still drinking on his behalf?"