Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 1136 - 25: Having the Courage to Drink Matters Most

The night is deep, but "Veteran Fast Food" is still brightly lit.

Deputy Mayor Shen, Hao Qiusheng, President Wu, Liu Degui, and others sit around a large table made by combining small tables, drinking beer and chatting happily.

Han Yu, Ma Jintao, and Xiao Yu arrived late and had to sit at the door as there's no room inside.

The autumn air is brisk, and sitting at the door feels quite pleasant, like an outdoor food stall.

Tonight's theme has several elements: it's a celebration for the opening of "Veteran Fast Food" and Old Cao and other Old Brothers getting their new cars, as well as celebrating President Hao and President Zhang's return from attending the National Flood Control Summary and Commendation Conference! However, everyone is now discussing how to make the business of "Veteran Fast Food" thrive.

"Secretary Han, didn't many people come from the City Bureau, Customs, and Border Inspection? Do they want to have supper?"

"I don't know."

"Call them and ask. If they want supper, let them order from You Ming here."

"Alright!"

Three hours ago, Director Zhou and Deputy Director Zeng, upon receiving the report, urgently gathered eighteen customs enforcement officers including Xu Mingyuan and Xu Haoran, along with more than thirty public security police officers and armed police troops, and rushed to Sanhe.

Han Yu acted as a pilot once again, helping to dock the suspected smuggling freighter at Shenglong Shipyard's fitting-out pier, handing over the suspected smuggling freighter, its captain, crew, and seized smuggled cigarettes to the anti-smuggling special task force, and then returned to the police barge to change into civilian clothes and join the gathering with Ma Jintao and others.

Wearing a police uniform while eating and drinking doesn't leave a good impression, even though there are few people by the river at night, it's necessary to be cautious.

Han Yu wanted to help Wu Youming, and was about to get up and go to the neighboring small shop to make a phone call when Wu Youming came over, smiling, "Secretary Han, we won't trouble you today."

"Making a call to ask is no trouble at all! Besides, why not seize the opportunity for business?"

"We're out of ingredients today, can't buy food so late at night."

"What a pity."

"Not really, there will be more opportunities in the future."

As soon as Wu Youming finished speaking, Liu Degui came out holding a beer, laughing, "Salted Fish, Minister Li said militia training will be arranged in our camp area in the future, the shooting range is right in front, very convenient. I figured that the Armed Forces Department won't cook during militia training anymore; they'll order fast food from You Ming."

"Sounds good. Give all the food expenses to You Ming, let You Ming handle the cooking," Han Yu thought and added with a smile, "Not just for militia training, our reserve camp training should be the same, saving the hassle of arranging people to help cook every day."

Deputy Mayor Shen also came out to offer a toast, clinking glasses while laughing with everyone, "There are so many enterprises in the development zone but only one fast food restaurant. I believe You Ming's upcoming business will surely be good!"

Hao Qiusheng stood behind Deputy Mayor Shen, offering suggestions, "You Ming, you can't just stay in the shop every day, you need to venture out. It's best to print more advert flyers and visit enterprises one by one. While surrounding enterprises have canteens, there will always be times when people get hungry and the canteen has no food, or they find canteen food unpalatable. That's when they'll remember you."

"You Ming, President Hao is right, you need to advertise, go out and spread the word!"

"Service is key, first and foremost install a phone line urgently, so when people call to order food, you can ride a motorbike to deliver it."

"You Ming, our shipyard often works overtime, when workers get hungry late at night, there's no food. You need to install a phone soon, so I can call you for delivery!"

...

Everyone eagerly offered advice, and soon, the operations strategy for Veteran Fast Food's future was basically outlined.

Manager Yang from Lingda Car Ferry suggested they could spare a small area and advised Wu Youming to get a pushcart for selling fast food at the ferry terminal every noon and evening.

Ma Jintao recommended Wu Youming recruit more local women to set up stalls at nearby construction sites every noon.

The development zone doesn't only have many enterprises but also numerous construction sites. Migrant workers need to eat, though they are generally thrifty, unwilling to eat anything too expensive or extravagant. If aiming for migrant workers' business, the profit margin shouldn't be too high.

Wu Youming and the four cooks listened attentively, quickly jotting down notes with the plan to follow everybody's advice. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

They drank from dusk until after nine at night, finishing dozens of bundles of beer.

Tomorrow comes with tasks of its own, and after satisfying their appetites, they gradually bid farewell.

Hao Qiusheng also had commitments tomorrow, and the driver from the Road and Bridge Company was anxiously waiting in the car, pulling Wu Youming to settle the evening's bill. Hao Qiusheng insisted on picking up the tab for the entire gathering!

Wu Youming couldn't let him pay, resolutely refusing.

Deputy Mayor Shen, aware of the difficulties of starting a new business, decisively declared Hao Qiusheng must treat everyone tonight.

Wu Youming had no choice but to calculate the bill at "cost price," feeling embarrassed. Hao Qiusheng, looking at the bill, opened his wallet and paid double the amount.

Before Wu Youming could speak, Zhang Erxiao stopped him, and he reluctantly accepted the money.

With fewer people, several tables were merged into one.

Deputy Mayor Shen didn't plan to return to the city tonight, wishing to chat with the group a little longer. Despite not being advised to drink more, he insisted on opening another bottle.

"Mayor Shen, are you okay?"

"Drinking this little beer is no trouble," Deputy Mayor Shen filled his glass and asked with a smile, "President Zhang, you and President Hao attended the reception celebrating the 49th anniversary of New China's founding?"

"No, not all the anti-flood model representatives attending the commendation conference are going; only the representatives among representatives are going." Zhang Erxiao thought for a moment and then said, "Maybe there are too many military representatives and the arrangements are too tight, so most of the attendees at the reception are representatives from various provinces."

"Being able to attend the commendation conference is good enough."

"Yeah, it feels like a dream." Zhang Erxiao recalled the experience of attending and said excitedly, "The hotel we stayed at was a bit far from the People's Hall, so we had to take a car to get there for the meeting. When we headed to the meeting from the hotel, police cars led the way, and the route was completely unimpeded!

The motorcade needed to pass through Tian'amen Square and go down Chang'an Street, with traffic police and armed police blocking off the surrounding roads to let our convoy pass. Especially when the convoy passed in front of Tian'amen, we were so thrilled we almost wanted to cry..."

Enjoying the privilege of having police cars clear the way in front of the People's Hall, on Chang'an Street, at Tian'amen, this is the highest honor!

Deputy Mayor Shen understood Zhang Erxiao's feelings at that time, and even felt a bit envious, turning around and saying with a smile, "Salted Fish, it's your turn soon, remember to take a few more photos."

This morning, the Military District notified us to report to the Provincial Military District the day after tomorrow afternoon, to join the Nanjing Military Region delegation, and collectively fly to the Capital to attend the National Flood Control and Rescue Commendation Conference!

Major General Jiang from the 404 Division called to say that there will definitely be drinking involved.

The military is different from places; the commanders can all drink, so if a commander proposes a toast to you, will you drink or not?

Han Yu was really a bit scared, and with a bitter smile, he spoke of his worries.

Deputy Mayor Shen laughed, a little schadenfreudely, "Salted Fish, I'm not scaring you, but since you're attending the commendation conference, wanting to avoid drinking will be very difficult, trying to muddle through will not be easy either, you might have to drink at several parties."

"Several parties?"

"Think about it, before you go, won't your superiors give you a send-off, during which the military region commanders will definitely propose a toast. You are the only representative of the Provincial Military District and even the Nanjing Military Region's reserve forces, others might dodge, but you can't, and even if you want to, you can't dodge; you definitely have to drink."

Deputy Mayor Shen chuckled and continued, "When you're in the Capital, after the commendation conference, the superiors will probably hold a celebration banquet for you, where you also have to drink, and there's no escaping it. And when you return to Jiangcheng, the Provincial Military District and Jiangnan Army Reserve Division will throw another celebration banquet, and you are the main character, meaning you have to drink even more, hahaha."

Han Yu said worriedly, "I can't drink alcohol, drinking like this will undoubtedly kill me!"

Ma Jintao teased, "Secretary Han, why not ask the superiors if I can go with you? You can't drink alcohol, but I can, just say I'm your secretary, and I'll drink for you."

"Can't you say something useful? The military really, is there nothing better to do besides drinking."

"You don't understand!"

Liu Degui clinked glasses with Deputy Mayor Shen, drank up the beer in his glass, and with emotion said, "To outsiders, drinking might not be good, but in our military, whether one can drink, especially whether one dares to drink, is a crucial standard for assessing a cadre."

Han Yu, half crying, half laughing, asked, "Whether one can drink or dare to drink is actually a standard for assessing cadres?"

"Why would I lie to you."

Liu Degui put down his glass and explained, "When we were in the military, whenever a new cadre was assigned to our battalion, no matter how harsh the conditions were, we had to find a way to organize a drinking session. First, to test their alcohol tolerance, to see exactly how much they can drink. Second, to test their courage with alcohol, put alcohol tolerance aside, but see whether they dare to drink!"

Han Yu curiously asked, "What if they can't drink and don't dare to drink?"

"Then it shows that this cadre is not going to be prioritized for development; at least that's how it was. Seeing Han Yu didn't quite understand, Liu Degui said seriously and solemnly, "Think about it, if a military cadre doesn't even dare to drink, then what else can he do? How much can one drink is not important, whether one dares to drink is very important."

"What if someone gets drunk?"

"If someone gets drunk, they'll be carried away, no one laughs, at worst they go to the medical team to get an IV."

"Being drunk is uncomfortable."

"Is it as uncomfortable as losing skin and meat?"

Liu Degui asked, then reminisced about the old days: "Drinking culture is indicative of one's style, it's not a joke. Back then, regardless of whether it was participating in a grand competition or completing a major task assigned by superiors, a celebration banquet was held afterwards.

There wasn't any fancy alcohol back then, just ordinary alcohol, poured into bowls and arranged on the long table made up of several smaller tables. The commander would point to the table full of alcohol and announce that the grand competition officially begins.

If ten units were participating, then all ten units would come together, and fifteen large bowls of alcohol per unit, we'd see which unit finishes it first. We chose those with the best drinking ability one after another to come up, speed was key, even if drinking till you fall, you have to drink, can't lose in the training ground, can't lose in the battlefield, and equally can't lose in the drinking field!"

Deputy Mayor Shen could imagine that spectacular scene, and with a touch of sympathy patted Han Yu's arm: "Be mentally prepared, it's just drinking, so just drink!"

"It's not that I'm afraid to drink, mainly I really can't drink, one sip and I'm down."

"Down is down, Director Liu explained clearly, being down won't get laughed at, not daring to drink is what gets laughed at."

Drunk, very uncomfortable.

Besides, what's good about alcohol, it's neither sweet nor fragrant, really don't understand why so many people like to drink, even forming a drinking culture.

If there was a choice, Han Yu really wouldn't want to go to the All-Army Commendation Conference.

But there's no choice now, it's an order from the superiors, and must be attended.

Han Yu didn't want the discomfort of being drunk, much less want to embarrass himself with drunken antics, and after a moment of silence muttered, "Tomorrow I'll call Liang Xiaojun and ask if there's that kind of medicine that you can take and won't get drunk even after drinking."

Deputy Mayor Shen wasn't expecting him to think this way, and laughed heartily: "If there is, remember to bring me some, I need it too."