ly tasked with pouring drinks. Liu Xiaohu lived up to his name, looking robust and determined. Although only two years older than Fu Hui, his drinking capacity was immense.

Every time Fu Le and Secretary Liu drank, they would get Liu thoroughly inebriated before Fu and Liu Xiaohu continued their spree. Liu Xiaohu and Fu Le were perfectly matched drinking buddies. Eventually, Secretary Liu realized he was being outplayed by these two, so he would find excuses to leave early, leaving the time and drinks to the young enthusiasts. In Secretary Liu's house, alcohol was never in short supply.

The residents' affection for Liu was embedded in their offerings of wine. If he refused even this token of goodwill, it might as well signal the end of his tenure as Secretary. Sometimes, simple villagers needed to have their kindness acknowledged. Denying them the chance to express their goodwill would lead to lingering grudges.

As the Secretary of East Village, Liu deeply understood the villagers' mindset. Villagers are like water, and the Secretary is like the boat. Water can carry the boat, but it can also overturn it. Public opinion is the water, and the boat cannot travel against the current. Liu would invariably deliver his preflight lecture before making his retreat:

"Kids, your alcohol etiquette reflects your character. A slick drinker will never achieve great things. Lezi has proper drinking ethics and excels in his studies."

"Boss! Are you about to launch into a political lecture again?" Liu Xiaohu communicated with Fu Le through his eyes. Fu Le didn’t respond, only showing a facade of attentive listening, much to Secretary Liu’s satisfaction.

"Huzi, why can’t you learn from your big brother? Seeing you just makes me angry. Forget it, I have things to do at the village committee." Irritated, Secretary Liu glanced at the downcast Liu Xiaohu before leaving.

"Boss, if he hadn’t left, I’d drink him under the table; believe me or not?" Liu Xiaohu regained his vigor as soon as Secretary Liu was out of sight. Fu Le, knowing these two bugbears of a father and son, could only laugh secretly. But despite Liu Xiaohu’s impressive drinking capacity, Fu Le couldn’t take him lightly. The thing with Huzi was, when his father wasn’t around, he had many tricks to encourage drinking.

But not with Fu Le. No matter how much he was given, he would accept it all gladly. Faced with this, Liu Xiaohu could only sigh internally, recalling a phrase he recently learned, "既生瑜何生亮" (Why must Zhuge Liang be born when there is already Zhou Yu?). Fu Le liked this phrase too. Liu Xiaohu’s exaggerated flattery—calling Fu Le his eternal idol—explained why Fu Le favored this little cousin. After all, the praises he gave could be recycled for personal benefit during drinking sessions. The

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