Charlie Wade was truthful with Steve. The tradition of starting with three drinks is amon practice in wine bars across many cities in China. However, the specific selection of drinks often reflects the average alcohol tolerance of the area. The strength of the alcohol and the size of the sses can differ as well.


    For individuals with a high tolerance for alcohol, it’s typical to have three sses of premium liquor, with at least one tael (about 50 grams) of base liquor for each cup. In contrast, those who are less tolerant might only have three sses of standard beer, each measuring at least 150 ml.


    Steve understood that Charlie wouldn’t deceive him, yet he still felt a twinge of doubt and murmured, “I…I’ve attended banquets hosted by Chinese people before…but I’ve never drunk like this…”


    With a smile, Charlie Wade replied, “Given your status, who would dare to pressure you into drinking? Even if there were such customs, I wouldn’t bring them up in your presence.”


    After that, Charlie shifted the conversation and added, “I’m different from others. I don’t ask you for favors, I don’t seek to borrow money, and I’m not reliant on you for support. So, how could I bend the rules just for you? Wouldn’t you agree?”<h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">


    Reflecting on this, Steve realized that Charlie had a point. In the United States, the people around him often regarded themselves as lesser, showing him deference. At a table filled with drinks, if he didn’t propose a toast, no one would dare to lift their sses. Thus, regardless of local customs, his own standards prevailed.


    However, Charlie’s approach was different. If someone sought to please him, they would naturally adhere to his guidelines.


    With this in mind, Steve quickly said, “It’s my fault for not grasping the customs at Chinese wine tables earlier. In that case, I’ll follow your lead and drink whatever you suggest!”


    Charlie nodded appreciatively, lifted his ss, and smiled, “Let’s raise three sses together. As the saying goes, when the rtionship is deep, we should lift the empty ss and set it down. After finishing these three sses, we can rx.”


    Steve nced at the bottle containing about 20 ml of strong liquor. Holding his ss, he thought to himself, “With such potent alcohol, wouldn’t it be harsh on the stomach to drink it straight without ice?”


    While lost in thought, Charlie had already raised his ss and cheerfully announced, “Alright everyone, let’s take our first ss. Cheers!”


    Don Albert and Isaac Cameron quickly raised their sses, clinking them against Charlie’s and eximing, “Cheers!”


    Although Steve felt a bit anxious, he decided to follow suit. He clinked sses with the three of them and bravely dered, “Okay! Let’s do this!”


    Charlie Wade, Don Albert, and Isaac Cameron downed their drinks in one go. Even though Steve wasn’t ustomed to such a drinking style, he made up his mind and gulped it down as well.<fn46a1> This text is hosted at find?novel</fn46a1>


    Charlie nodded in approval, picked up his chopsticks, and said with a grin, “Now, let’s all use chopsticks together. After a few bites of food, we can enjoy a second round.”


    Steve had no choice but to go along with Charlie’s request, adhering to the local customs.


    After three rounds of the strong liquor, Steve was starting to feel a bit lightheaded. He wasn’t necessarily a poor drinker; he usually enjoyed stronger spirits like cognac, whiskey, and vodka, but he had never experienced this fast-paced drinking style before.


    At that moment, Charlie Wade looked at Steve with curiosity and asked, “By the way, Steve, what brings you to Aurous Hill? Since I’m somewhat of a local here, if you share your purpose, I might be able to assist you.”


    Hearing this, Steve felt a wave of relief. Upon arriving in Aurous Hill, he had been somewhat aimless. Although the Hogwitz family had sent people to seek him out, every lead hade to a halt, leaving him unsessful after much searching.


    His initial intention was to arrive early to impress old man Howard and show that he was taking this matter seriously. However, he wasn’t quite sure how to locate the father and son duo and had decided to visit Charlie Wade first.


    Now that Charlie had offered his help, it was the best possible oue for Steve.


    So, he spoke up, “Mr. Wade, to be honest, I came to Aurous Hill this time to find someone.”