Chapter 316: Chapter 316: Alcohol Tolerance
Moreover, there are several senior leaders present. These are people you often see on television. If an ordinary official or businessman saw this scene, who knows if they might be dumbfounded.
The service at the Tang National Hotel was exceptionally efficient, and within a few minutes, the table was densely packed with delicacies, marking the official start of the banquet.
Jiang Cheng poured himself a drink with a calm expression and said, "Being able to meet the leaders today is truly a bit shocking for someone like me. Let’s drink to express respect." After saying this, Jiang Cheng directly tilted his head back, drank up his glass, licked his lips, placed the cup down without changing his expression, and sat back down.
The pupils of many officials present, including those of Leader One and Leader Three, couldn’t help but contract slightly. They knew this was premium national liquor - Maotai - with a very high proof. Yet Jiang Cheng drank an entire glass without changing his expression, suggesting his drinking capacity was exceptionally high.
However, how old does Jiang Cheng look?
They naturally believed Jiang Cheng was a genius who achieved massive success in scientific research and the business world, but they never expected that his drinking capacity would be so vast!
One must understand that drinking a glass of baijiu in one go is something even veteran officials who have been in the circles for decades cannot handle!
Yet Jiang Cheng, astonishingly, drank such a large glass of baijiu directly, leaving them utterly shocked.
In the upper echelons of officialdom in Huaxia, red wine isn’t trendy. The Maotai liquor on the table was extremely expensive and was a special supply soy sauce-flavored type, which couldn’t be found on the market.
Generally speaking, even in official circles, it’s rare to see someone drink like Jiang Cheng. The after-effects of baijiu are very strong.
If they drank like Jiang Cheng, they might soon collapse under the table.
Seeing Jiang Cheng’s actions, Leader One raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "I didn’t expect Young Friend Jiang Cheng to be not only an outstanding researcher but also to have quite a drinking capacity."
Leader Yi couldn’t help but be extremely shocked seeing Jiang Cheng this way. After all, even in his younger days, he couldn’t drink like that.
The liquor at the banquet was soy sauce-flavored baijiu supplied specifically by the Maotai Group with no added water in the brewing process. Leader Yi, who often drank, certainly knew the potency of this liquor. He was shocked by how freely and generously Jiang Cheng drank it, especially considering he finished an entire glass without even furrowing his brows.
Jiang Cheng smiled without responding to the leader.
Soon, everyone snapped out of their shock at Jiang Cheng’s drinking capacity. While eating, many leaders, including the senior leaders, started chatting, mostly about matters concerning the country.
At their level, they are very sensitive and won’t behave as disgracefully as lower-level officials. At their level, they must pay attention to their words and actions and maintain good personal conduct.
The banquet commenced. While others chatted, the Director of the Environmental Department sitting next to Jiang Cheng also filled a glass for Jiang Cheng and raised it to toast him. The reason he wanted to toast Jiang Cheng was evident, primarily due to the recent success of the country’s work on smog control, for which Jiang Cheng was the greatest contributor. Without his smog-curing bacteria, the country wouldn’t know where to start in genuinely tackling the smog and would have to slowly imitate Western countries in a drawn-out process.
For example, it took Los Angeles a full half-century to tackle smog. Considering Huaxia’s large population, involving the interests of so many people, the process might take even longer.
However, all of this is no longer of significance, as Jiang Cheng’s smog-curing bacteria ensured the country’s efforts to combat smog would proceed very smoothly, saving considerable human, material, and financial resources, allowing him as the Director of the Environmental Department to stop worrying constantly about smog.
"Young Friend Jiang Cheng, let’s drink a toast," the Director of the Environmental Department said, holding up his glass with a hearty laugh.
Seeing this situation, Jiang Cheng smiled slightly in response and also picked up the glass that the Director had filled, drinking the entire contents.
The flavor of the soy sauce-flavored baijiu lived up to its reputation. Though it was Jiang Cheng’s first time drinking it, his body had long been enhanced by the Genetic Evolution Potion, granting him an alcohol tolerance far superior to these officials. As such, drinking more wasn’t an issue; at most, it would only make his stomach feel a bit full.
Seeing Jiang Cheng down the drink in one go, Director Liu couldn’t help but be shocked again. Watching Jiang Cheng treat baijiu like beer without the slightest fear was astonishing.
"Old brother Jiang Cheng, it seems your drinking capacity is indeed impressive. I have yet to drink with you. Come on, a toast to you!" Major General Xiang Dong, also awed by Jiang Cheng’s drinks, refilled Jiang Cheng’s glass without hesitation.
Jiang Cheng continued to drink in one gulp, smiling unblinkingly.
"More drinks?" he asked.
"Keep going," Major General Xiang Dong said, unwilling to concede.
The result was apparent. Even Major General Xiang Dong, a frequent drinker with a high tolerance in the military, was overwhelmed by Jiang Cheng’s capacity. Under Jiang Cheng’s continuous persuasion, he became intoxicated and almost numb, and when he saw Jiang Cheng pour himself another drink, he nearly vomited directly at the table.
"Come, come, Director Liu, you look flushed. You should drink this on behalf of Major General," Jiang Cheng said with a smile as he poured another glass for Director Liu.
Director Liu was miserable at this point. When Jiang Cheng had poured drinks for Major General Xiang Dong, he was also roped in. Now, his flushed face was naturally from having drunk a fair amount just moments before.
At this point, seeing Jiang Cheng’s grin made Director Liu shiver. Previously, he had drunk quite a lot, and now just seeing Jiang Cheng offering him another drink made his head pound.
"I’ll drink on behalf of Xiang Dong," said another senior leader nearby, almost laughing at Director Liu’s plight, smilingly addressing Jiang Cheng.
"Hmm," Jiang Cheng nodded, then handed the glass to the senior leader.
That senior leader drank it all at once, expressing admiration for Jiang Cheng’s manner at the drinking table. After all, why are there so many banquets and social engagements in the official and business communities? Sometimes a person’s character can truly be observed through how they handle themselves at the drinking table.
"Old brother Jiang Cheng, I didn’t expect you to drink so well; it’s satisfying, satisfying," Major General Xiang Dong shouted to Jiang Cheng, reeking of alcohol, but he quickly realized the occasion and immediately quieted down.
Leader Yi had been secretly watching Jiang Cheng’s conduct all along. Seeing Jiang Cheng’s impressive drinking ability surprised him slightly, but being a national leader who had witnessed many scenes, Jiang Cheng’s drinking prowess wasn’t the focal point for him.