Twisted Dreams-Chapter 187 - 158: Drinking Culture

Elder He smiled:

"That’s more like it."

Wei Ming scratched his head and asked:

"There’s one more thing I want to ask you.

Do you still plan to impose control over Changbai Mountain?"

Elder He touched his thermos cup and said:

"The Security Administration won’t move against the Demon Race for the time being.

The specifics depend on the attitude of the Demon Race."

Wei Ming breathed a sigh of relief.

He once promised the Black Emperor not to disturb the Demon Race. If the Security Administration went against them, and the Black Emperor thought he broke his promise, who knows what would happen to him.

Elder He glanced at his watch and said:

"Get some rest, tomorrow you’ll go to the South Sea."

...

South Sea, airport.

Wei Ming exited the airport with his suitcase.

A beautiful woman in jeans and a tight T-shirt waved at Wei Ming.

Wei Ming was momentarily stunned, then his face lit up with joy:

"Sister!"

Wei Ming ran towards Wei Na, happiness written all over his face:

"Sister, why are you here?"

Wei Na smiled warmly and patted Wei Ming’s head:

"I came to see your brother-in-law and catch up with old classmates.

I heard you were coming to the South Sea today, so I waited here to surprise you."

Wei Ming looked puzzled.

Old classmates?

Could it be Cao Yi?

Right, only Cao Yi would know I was coming to the South Sea today.

Matters concerning the Security Administration, even for Intermediate Administrators, are confidential to most people.

Behind Wei Na, the window of a large jeep slowly rolled down, and Cao Yi poked his head out:

"Get in the car, I’ve got a spot booked, let’s give Xiao Ming a proper welcome."

Wei Ming cheerfully got into the car.

Wei Na was his favorite person, and Cao Yi the person he admired most.

These two were very important to Wei Ming.

Especially after hearing how much trouble Cao Yi went through for him, Wei Ming felt very moved.

Sitting in the back seat, Wei Ming watched Wei Na in the front passenger seat.

For some reason, seeing the two most important people in his life together gave Wei Ming an odd, uncomfortable feeling.

Wei Ming looked puzzled.

The senses of the Extraordinary are quite keen.

Wei Ming’s brow slowly relaxed.

He finally understood what this feeling was.

It was an air of romance!

Between Brother Yi and his sister, there was something ambiguous.

Wei Ming’s brow slowly furrowed.

If Cao Yi had slept with his sister...

Wei Ming didn’t dare think; his sister was a married woman!

Yet the more he thought about it, the more it seemed plausible.

His sister heard about his troubles while with the Liu Family and used her body to seek Cao Yi’s help...

With his sister’s personality, it was highly possible!

Everyone knew Cao Yi liked married women!

Wei Ming’s eyes dimmed.

He wanted to protect his sister, yet his sister was bullied by Cao Yi in her efforts to protect him...

Wei Ming shook his head, internally telling himself this couldn’t be true.

Suddenly, Cao Yi, who was driving, spoke:

"Xiao Ming, you’re different now; you’re someone of status.

Stay in the South Sea for a while, and I’ll introduce you to some gatherings, introduce you to some friends.

They’re all influential figures in the South Sea, beneficial for your future.

Once you have accumulated enough capital, you’ll eventually return to the Imperial Capital.

Don’t worry, I’ll say you’re developing in the Imperial Capital and have come to the South Sea to handle a project, so your identity won’t be exposed."

Wei Na chimed in:

"Actually, it’s fine if our dear Ming doesn’t go to the Imperial Capital and just stays in the South Sea.

I think the South Sea is better than the Imperial Capital, it’s prosperous without so much trouble."

Wei Ming murmured:

"Forget about the gatherings; they’re not for me."

Wei Na turned back and playfully chided Wei Ming:

"It’s rare for your Brother Yi to take you under his wing, you should learn from him.

You’re twenty-five, almost at an age to start your own family; you have to know something about the drinking culture.

Your Brother Yi conveniently has a gathering tonight, you should go with him."

Since his sister insisted, Wei Ming didn’t know what else to say and had to nod in agreement.

Being treated like a child made him a bit irritated.

He wanted to immediately tell his sister he was on a secret mission to the South Sea and scare them both!

...

At the restaurant, during the welcome dinner, Wei Ming found the meal less than enjoyable.

Halfway through dinner, Wei Na took a call, saying her husband wanted to see her.

This made Wei Ming even more uncomfortable inside.

Liu Xian, a son of the Liu Family, never used to think much of a small figure like him.

When he became a Senior Administrator, his brother-in-law Liu Xian had called him several times, with concern that left Wei Ming flattered.

However, after his demotion and coming to the South Sea, his brother-in-law didn’t even want to meet him.

Wei Ming shook his head with self-deprecation:

"So realistic."

Cao Yi lit a cigarette and said:

"That’s how reality is.

If you’re not strong, you’ll be looked down upon.

Xiao Ming, you’re lucky to have become an Extraordinary. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Your achievements now, many people can’t achieve in a lifetime.

You have to work hard, don’t waste your good fortune.

So perform well at tonight’s gathering, combining effort and luck is the foundation of success."

Wei Ming nodded gloomily:

"I understand, Brother Yi."

...

Late at night, Wei Ming left the gathering arranged by Cao Yi, reeking of alcohol, yet not drunk.

He really did meet some big shots.

He even met the South Sea Military Lord, and according to Brother Yi, had Su Yutang not been on a business trip abroad, he would have seen her too.

His performance at the gathering wasn’t good.

Compared to Cao Yi, he seemed like a three-year-old child.

Wei Ming didn’t understand social nuances, let alone drinking culture.

Though he met many people tonight, he felt like a fool.

A little bird wanting to fly, forever unable to grow up, always hiding behind others.

"Damn it, what’s the use of drinking gatherings?! What’s the use of drinking?! Is that even a skill?!"

Frustrated and lost in thought, Wei Ming wandered aimlessly.

Fortunately, he wasn’t really demoted but came to the South Sea on a secret mission, or he might have cried himself to sleep tonight.

He wasn’t sure how long he walked, but when he looked up, he saw a bar.

Desire Trade Bar.

Wei Ming walked in.

Having not drunk well, he thought, might as well have some more.

At the bar, the bartender was a woman with a ponytail and wearing a mask.

Wei Ming said:

"One drink, please."

The woman skillfully prepared a drink and handed it over.

Wei Ming looked at the glass and sneered:

"Tell me, how did five thousand years of Xia Country culture end up with just drinking culture?"

Typically, bartenders would engage customers in conversation, but this woman at the Desire Trade Bar was an exception.

The woman replied indignantly:

"Not mentioning the Four Books and Five Classics, music, chess, calligraphy, painting, Tang poetry, or Song lyrics; just talking about drinking culture.

Do you understand drinking culture?

Can you impress at a riverbank social?

Do you understand pitching skills or drinking games?

Can you compose songs while drinking?

Can you engage in flower fly drinking games?

There’s so much culture, how could it be reduced to just scum in your mouth?

To put it more plainly, when asked to speak at a gathering, if all you can utter after ages is ’I’ll drink, you choose’, how embarrassing!

If you could actually show off a bit, wouldn’t you just sail through social gatherings?"

Wei Ming was taken aback by her comments.

How could this girl’s tongue be so sharp?

He rolled his eyes:

"You talked like you know so much about drinking, as if you’re some big shot.

But aren’t you just working as a bartender?"

The woman retorted:

"I have other jobs during the day."

Wei Ming was surprised:

"Then aren’t you just a workhorse?"

The woman widened her eyes in anger.

How infuriating this guy is!

But he wasn’t wrong!

Instead of engaging with Wei Ming further, the woman grabbed her phone and started playing on it.

Li Yang said she had to meet her monthly targets, but she wasn’t going to waste energy on this one!

The woman messaged Ye Fan on WeChat:

"What are you up to?"

Ye Fan sent back a short video showing him drinking alone at a restaurant.

Ye Fan replied:

"Fox Xiaosan turned human.

Asked me to buy her some clothes and a phone in Bai Mountain City.

Just happened to enjoy a bit of a drink."

The woman asked:

"Fox Xiaosan?"

Ye Fan responded:

"The little fox."

The woman sighed deeply.

How come others become Extraordinary and have such interesting lives.

They know magic and can befriend shape-shifting demons.

But for herself, she could only exchange barbs with a drunkard?