real key to enjoyable drinking was the mood, and with Liu Xiaohu's flattery, Fu Le was delighted and drank more.

"Boss, why do I feel like flying? Don’t move! Why do you have two heads? When did you grow them?" Liu Xiaohu shouted at Fu Le.

"That can't be! Wait, don't you also have two heads?" Fu Le joked back at the drunken Liu Xiaohu.

"Boys, today I’ll drink with you until the end! Look, braised wild rabbit!" Secretary Liu returned joyfully.

"Boss!" Liu Xiaohu slumped face-first onto the table.

"Uncle! Old is indeed gold, I concede!" Fu Le said, then promptly lay down under the table to sleep.

"Little rascals! Want to laugh at me? You’re still too green!" Secretary Liu finished his wine in one gulp, then carried Fu Le and Liu Xiaohu to their rooms.

The summer friendship games between East and West Villages proceeded as planned. The broadcast room at the West Village brigade headquarters was piled high with watermelons, a welfare offering grown on East Village’s unused brick factory land. Even agricultural products were exchanged between the villages.

Deputy Secretary Fu suggested splitting the watermelons, but the group disagreed, saying it was more satisfying to eat their watermelons and win their prizes. This idea was immediately approved by Deputy Secretary Fu. Yes, they aimed to win first place while enjoying their opponent’s watermelons! The events were set along both sides of a river, now crowded with spectators.

The summer friendship games were a community-wide event. Without the participation of villagers from elsewhere, only athletes and competitors would be present. On both riverbanks were rows of podiums for invited leaders and judges. A temporary floating bridge was built for easy access.

The judging panel was quite large, comprising audiences and village leaders. To ensure the importance of the event, professional referees were specially invited. Referees determined the wins and losses, while judges finalized the results. The primary goal of this arrangement was to enhance participation and fairness.

At the last moment before the start, the organizing committee added singing and poetry competitions, primarily due to Fu Le and Liu Xiaoyan’s involvement.

Hosting the opening ceremony worried old Zhangtou and Liu Mazi, the emcees and announcers. Generally, the highest-ranking leaders present should give the opening speech. However, given the special geographical position of East and West Villages, two sets of county and provincial leaders were present, with equal ranks, all deputies. Who would speak first was a matter of high sensitivity, potentially affecting inter-provincial relations. The two hosts quickly reported to their respective Secretaries, who surprisingly gave the same directive: handle it yourselves.

"Handle it ou

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