"What are you going to the capital for?"
Wu Youzhi stepped in.
"Mr. Jiang wants to see me about something tomorrow. Are you coming?"
Guo Xuyang said.
"Not for now. Let your sister-in-law recover a bit.
To be honest, the venison you gave us was really good.
Now your sister-in-law can get out of bed and cook by herself."
"Then why are you still going back to cook?"
Pi Xiaoqian said from the side.
"It's a habit. I was just worried your sister-in-law wouldn't get a meal."
"Since we're all here, shall we begin?"
Guo Xuyang looked at the others.
"We're all hungry now."
Pi Xiaoqian said.
"I told you not to wait for me before I came,"
Wu Youzhi said.
"We just arrived a moment ago and were chatting. Have a drink?"
Cheng Xiuping said.
"Absolutely. We agreed to drink, and we won't go home until we're drunk today."
Pi Xiaoqian patted his belly.
"Bring four bottles of Guojiu first, and we'll order more if it's not enough."
Guo Xuyang said, instructing Liu He.
Soon, six dishes and one soup were served.
Two cold dishes: pickled cucumber and jellyfish, and soy-marinated beef.
Four hot dishes: a large plate of spicy chicken, clear stewed venison, ants climbing a tree, and stir-fried kale.
One soup: a large bowl of lamb soup.
"Now that all of us brothers are in the provincial capital, let's get together more often.
Unlike before, most of you were in the capital and didn't have time.
To our friendship, cheers everyone."
Guo Xuyang raised his glass.
"Yangzi's suggestion is feasible.
We wanted to get together before but didn't have time. Now that business is on track, we can afford to be idle for a while. Cheers."
Cheng Xiuping said.
The few of them had barely been eating for a while when people from home started arriving one after another.
"Brothers, you keep drinking. I'll be right back."
Guo Xuyang greeted them and went to join his family's table.
"Why are you drinking so much? You smell of alcohol."
Wu Shangqing saw him and chided him.
"Just catching up with friends."
Guo Xuyang turned to Wang Xukun and said.
"Uncle, Aunt, I won't see you off when you go back tomorrow. Gao Yuan will drive you.
I've arranged the beef, lamb, and wine. They will be delivered early tomorrow morning."
"You're busy, so you go ahead. Just call Xiao Hong more often."
"I will. It's a global village now, and video calls are very convenient.
Uncle, Aunt, I toast you. Thank you for your tolerance towards Xiao Hong."
Guo Xuyang raised his glass.
"It's Xiao Hong's good fortune to know you. Without you, she wouldn't be where she is today.
We should be thanking you."
Wang Xukun stood up and said.
"Then enough said, it's all in the wine."
Guo Xuyang tilted his head and emptied his glass.
"Uncle, as I said, if you want to drink, just call me.
We can't promise much else, but we can still supply this."
"Xiao Guo, you should tell your uncle to drink less.
He's still not sober from drinking so much at lunch."
Zhang Jingyi said.
"Today is a happy occasion, and we must drink."
Wang Xukun said and also finished his wine.
"Auntie, that lamb is quite good. Drink more when you have the chance. It's good for your recovery."
"I've been feeling much better these past few days. I feel much stronger than before."
Zhang Jingyi said.
"That beef is also good for stir-frying, or you can use it to make dumplings. I've asked Manager Liu to prepare fifty jin for you.
Whenever you finish it, call me, and I'll arrange for someone to deliver more."
"You don't have to be so polite. This is already very good."
Zhang Jingyi said.
She no longer sounded boastful or passive-aggressive.
There was no other way; the people she met were all too outstanding.
If she had previously thought Guo Xuyang was just a nouveau riche, she now realized he was a genuine magnate.
Not to mention the beef, lamb, and Guojiu, even the businesses he invested in were beyond the reach of a university lecturer like her.
If there was anyone she truly admired and respected now, it would probably be Guo Xuyang.
There was no other way; Guo Xuyang was simply too exceptional.