"Come on, big brother, let’s have a drink!"
"Alright, I’m going to drink you under the table today, my dear third brother. By the way, where’s our second brother? Let’s all drink together!"
"Yeah, where’s second brother?"
"If you get drunk, just go home. Don’t embarrass yourself here!" shouted Zhou Hui.
At the dining table, the two old men were having a blast. His mom, Zhou Hui, and Li Zijun’s mom, one of them was rolling her eyes continuously, while the other was covering her forehead, unable to bear watching any longer.
Su He was off to the side, maliciously enjoying the chaos. He occasionally took out his phone and secretly recorded something with the camera, up to no good.
Li Zijun, on the other hand, was eagerly watching someone on the couch, her face showing a "wise of you to behave" expression.
Meanwhile, Su Qing sat shivering in the corner of the couch. With all the talk of second and third brothers, his heart was filled with fear every time something was said.
Initially, the two families seemed pretty normal, chatting about the events in their own families during the recent New Year period, occasionally steering the conversation towards his career.
After all, with a billionaire suddenly around, it’s not about currying favor, but at least both families celebrating and being happy for him seemed quite natural.
That was until Uncle Li took out a bottle of treasured wine, gifted by a friend, which had been buried underground for over ten years.
Suddenly, the two boozehounds’ appetites were whetted. Oddly enough, whether it was his dad or Uncle Li, both loved their drinks, yet their capacity was, well, something not easily described.
Su Qing always felt his poor drinking was inherited from Old Su. Of course, his so-called "poor drinking" was relative; at least he was stronger than them, plus they were drinking white liquor.
The main issue is that these two love fun and games despite not being good at them, whether it’s fishing or drinking. They aren’t great but keep wanting to try, never learning from past mistakes.
"Sister Zijun, you don’t have to look at me like that. It’s scary!" Su Qing chuckled awkwardly.
In response, Li Zijun rolled her eyes: "You say that now. I should’ve stopped you from joining if I knew."
"What does it have to do with me? How about next year’s gathering, we tell Aunt Liu not to bring my dad or Uncle Li? I think that’s the solution," Su Qing suggested.
There was no other way. Heeding Li Zijun’s prior warning, he hadn’t drunk a drop today and was very clear-headed.
But it was precisely because he was clear-headed that he felt embarrassed. At times like these, being drunk would have been better; at least he wouldn’t feel the social awkwardness.
"That makes sense. I’ll discuss it with my mom," Li Zijun nodded.
Just as they were talking, Aunt Liu’s voice came over, saying to them: "Little Zijun, you and Little Qing should go out for a walk. Don’t linger in front of them. Isn’t it lively outside today? Go have some fun!"
Even Zhou Hui chimed in: "No need, you’re grown-ups; you don’t need company. Son, you should head home first."
Upon hearing this, Su Qing suddenly felt like he’d been granted a pardon, quickly getting up: "Alright, I’ll be going then!"
"Hurry up! Otherwise, they’ll drag you for drinks again!" Zhou Hui spat.
Li Zijun stood up: "No problem, I’ll go with him. There’s a lantern fair over in South City; wanna take a look?"
"I’m easy," Su Qing was indifferent. Visiting was fine, but if not, he’d just go home and rest.
"I wanna go, too! I wanna go!" Su He quickly raised her hand!
"No way!" Zhou Hui rejected.
"Why, mom~"
"You need to help me take your dad back later. I’m afraid I can’t handle him alone!"
Su He: ...
In response, Su Qing smiled and ruffled Su He’s little head, laughing: "Oh, what a shame. Well, your big brother’s leaving first then!"
Just as he finished speaking, his mom Zhou Hui raised her hand as if to hit: "Are you leaving or not? Hurry up!"
"Go, go, go!" Su Qing fled in panic, glancing back at Uncle Li, who was competing with his dad in drinking, and couldn’t help but say: "Uncle... I’ve got something, so I’m heading out!"
"Second brother, why are you leaving? Come and drink!"
Su Qing: ...
"No, no, I’ve got something to do!"
"Dad, I’ll see him off!"
Li Maoquan: "Alright then, let... let your niece see you off. Come by more often, we’re... we’re like this, my daughter, she’s... she’s your daughter too!"
Everyone: ...
Old Su: "Big brother’s right!"
"Uncle..."
Just as Su Qing was about to explain, he suddenly felt a kick on his backside.
"What are you explaining for? Hurry and leave!" Li Zijun threatened with a raised fist.
Seeing her face dark as water, Su Qing shivered in fear, and the two hurriedly changed shoes and donned their coats, making a swift exit.
That realization hit him suddenly; right, why bother explaining to two drunken people? Any extra word would be inviting trouble.
"Whew~~"
A breath of mist was exhaled, the outside temperature instantly making them both a lot soberer.
"So, are we really going to South City?" Su Qing turned his head and asked.
In response, Li Zijun rolled her eyes at him, "Why would I be out here if we weren’t going? You didn’t seriously think I just came out to see you off, did you?