Chapter 156: Getting Drunk Late at Night

“Oh! Got it, got it.”

Old Zhang had naturally heard of Xie Tianhua, the big shot in Bohai District. He didn’t dare to ask for details and simply agreed without hesitation.

But inside, he was terribly aggrieved. Damn it, he had only wanted to run an honest business, yet things had turned out like this.

Old Zhang’s car dealership was different from others. He did a lot of business but never fronted any money. Sellers would approach him first, then he’d find buyers. Once a deal was roughly agreed upon, he would call both parties to the dealership for face-to-face transactions. Old Zhang took a commission, usually one percent of the transaction amount.

If a car sold for ten thousand yuan, Old Zhang earned a hundred. For a 780,000-yuan Q7, his cut would be seven thousand eight hundred—a considerable income.

“Should we tie him up too, Brother Fa?”

Zhang Cong, full of resentment, dropped the unconscious Guo Tao on the ground, kicked him a few times, and spat fiercely on him.

“Addicted to kidnapping, huh? Bringing trouble on yourself! Have you forgotten how fierce Zhang Rui is?”

Jiang Shunfa had learned from experience. Although he now had Zhang Huizhong as his backing, it was only because of Zhang Huizhong’s friendship with the boss, Zhu Jiuming, who was helping him out. Besides, Zhu Jiuming needed people like Jiang Shunfa to make money for him. Jiang Shunfa understood Zhang Huizhong’s ambitions clearly—profits from oilfield deals meant Zhang Huizhong would take seventy percent.

Everything had to be endured. Unless Zhu Jiuming returned to Bohai, Jiang Shunfa had to keep his head down and keep working hard.

“Hmph! When Brother Ming is back, we’ll finish him off.”

Zhang Cong said fiercely, kicking Guo Tao once more before rushing to the front hood to pack up the briefcase.

Before leaving, Jiang Shunfa pulled out ten thousand yuan from the briefcase and tossed it to Old Zhang. “Old Zhang, you have a reputation. You know what to do.”

Whoosh!

The Audi Q7 reversed out of the yard and headed straight for Xiying County. Jiang Shunfa wondered how things were going in Xiaoqiao Village. By now, the village head should have persuaded the villagers, and work should have started.

Jiang Shunfa sat calmly in the passenger seat, lost in thought. Beside him, Zhang Cong was ecstatic, humming a tune. “Brother Rui, today we finally got some satisfaction and even brought the car back! Damn, such a fine car—letting them drive it is a waste!”

“Don’t get cocky yet. We’ll change the plates later. This car can only be driven in Xiying County. We can’t let Zhang Rui see it.”

Jiang Shunfa was scared of Zhang Rui’s wrath. He knew his limits—he could maneuver quietly, scheme behind the scenes, but he must never be arrogant. Zhang Rui was not someone to be trifled with.

“Alright, Brother Fa. Now we’re doing big business, better than snatching construction sites before. No wonder people say the Middle East and West Asia are overflowing with wealth. Now I get it—oilfields are damn lucrative. Doing business in Xiying County, it’s hard not to make money.”

Zhang Cong was so excited he almost jumped out of his seat.

---

"Alright, alright. Not everyone can make money. If it weren’t for Commissioner Zhang’s connections, we wouldn’t get a single deal. Every business is wrestled from someone else’s pocket. Since the oilfield was established, suppliers like us have existed. Do you think they’re happy about it? Stay low-key. Maybe someone around us hates us enough to want to get us."

Jiang Shunfa knew well that Xiying County had a longer history than Bohai City and was a place with deep undercurrents. One had to tread carefully.

---

Glorious Manor.

Xia Yu’s home was in disarray. Since Zhang Rui left last night, she hadn’t been able to sleep.

She emptied all the food from the fridge, along with two bottles of rare vintage Lafite from the French vineyard. The feast filled the living room coffee table. Xia Yu changed into a lace silk robe, drew open the sheer curtains, turned on the TV, and drank the crimson Lafite alone.

Holding the wineglass, faint candlelight mingled with the glow from the TV screen. Xia Yu smiled foolishly to herself, “I really am a fool.”

Night ruthlessly cast its darkness and left Xia Yu with loneliness.

That night, she felt an unprecedented solitude.

Her mother remarried; her father even brought his new lover into their garage. And Zhang Rui... the man who had almost shared her bed, abandoned everything just as it seemed about to come to fruition.

And with his departure came a long, hollow second half of the night.

Xia Yu’s heart was empty. She tried to fill it with food and wine, seeking numbness, yet no matter what, her mind was clear.

She remembered everything; memories flashed relentlessly. She couldn’t forget even if she tried.

Zhang Rui must have regretted it.

His earlier impulse was just a normal man’s reaction to seeing a young, somewhat alluring woman so forthcoming. The final dash was a test of genuine feeling.

The truth was, Zhang Rui chose to retreat.

When Xia Yu was filled with hope, joy, and excitement, Zhang Rui told her he was leaving.

No matter the reason, the fact remained. There was no turning back; time wouldn’t rewind. That passionate entanglement probably could only be buried in memory, locked deep within her heart.

Two bottles of Lafite weren’t enough—she reached for something stronger.

Her passion flared as she opened the bottle of Inner Mongolian liquor that Wang Bin had brought back once for her father. She sniffed it—dry, harsh, and pungent, yet it excited her.

---

Heh, what was there to fear?

Xia Yu poured the Inner Mongolian liquor into her wineglass, took a bite of beef, then swallowed a large gulp.

The fiery liquor burned her throat with a fierce, choking sting, but Xia Yu held her breath and swallowed it down.

It wasn’t about the process—it was about the result.

Whether it tasted good or not didn’t matter. She just wanted to get drunk.

Yes!

If she got drunk, she could forget everything tonight—no more filthy scenes with her father, Xia Changhai, no more Zhang Rui’s disappointing departure.

Hoo!

The fifty-six-degree liquor was soon finished by Xia Yu, a girl still inexperienced with alcohol.

The entire one and a half jin (about 750 ml) Mongolian-style leather pouch was drained without a drop left.

Her cheeks flushed deep red, spreading to her neck, chest, and even her bosom.

Xia Yu lay on the sofa, dazed, lips slightly parted with a few drops of wine clinging, eyes glazed and unfocused, humming softly before finally sinking into a deep sleep.

When she woke, it was already one in the afternoon. Her head throbbed as if struck by a severe illness, unbearable pain.

Her lips were cracked, throat hoarse, body weak and lightheaded, cheeks swollen.

Xia Yu struggled to get up, drank some water, and turned on her phone. Messages from QuanShiTong flooded in.

Except for three missed calls and one text from Xia Changhai, there was no word about Zhang Rui.