Chapter 29 - 29 29 The Power of China's Local Rice Wine

29: Chapter 29 The Power of China’s Local Rice Wine 29: Chapter 29 The Power of China’s Local Rice Wine Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Old Zou was busy cooking and did not notice.

However, when Su Lu carried the dishes out, Bo Jingshen, who was originally sitting on the sofa looking at his phone, quickly noticed.

“What happened to your hand?” Bo Jingshen’s sharp eyes fell on her fingers.

Only then did Old Zou react, “What happened to Xiao Su’s hand?

Did you get hurt just now?”

Su Lu didn’t try to hide it, “I just got a small prick, it’s not serious.”

“Oh dear, you need to take care of injuries from sea creatures, it’s easy to get an infection.” Old Zou said.

Bo Jingshen got up from the sofa, “Old Zou, do you have a first-aid kit?”

“Yes, yes, yes, under the TV cabinet.

You go get it yourself and treat her, I’ll bring out the dishes.”

Bo Jingshen quickly found a small plastic first-aid kit under the TV cabinet.

Though it was small, it was well-equipped with disinfecting tools and bandaging materials.

“I’ll do it myself.

You go help Teacher Zou with the dishes…”

Su Lu reached out to take the first-aid kit, but Bo Jingshen grabbed her fingers.

It wasn’t a strong grip, but it was enough to make it hard for her to break free.

Losing her balance, she was pulled in front of him.

Bo Jingshen frowned slightly, “Sit down.”

Su Lu paused for a moment.

Given her reputation as the famous “Harvester,” she felt she had to give this tempting “grass” some respect.

So she obediently sat down.

Letting the man frown and stare at her fingertip wound.

It wasn’t a serious injury, but his serious demeanor made Su Lu’s heart feel warm.

She coughed lightly, “President Bo, if you don’t hurry up, it will heal on its own.”

Bo Jingshen glanced at her and efficiently disinfected and bandaged her wound.

Old Zou brought out all the dishes.

“All bandaged up?

Come and eat once you’re done.”

The old man was quite happy.

Compared to cooking and eating alone, he much preferred having his prized student over for a meal.

“Old Zou, your cooking skills haven’t changed at all.” Bo Jingshen said with a smile.

Old Zou was very pleased, eagerly asking, “Isn’t it?

The old knife hasn’t dulled, has it?”

Then he made a toasting gesture, “Want some?

We haven’t had a good drink together in ages, have we?”

It wasn’t just ages, they had never really had a good drink together.

Back then, it wasn’t that Bo Jingshen didn’t want to drink, but Old Zou didn’t agree, always worrying that alcohol would dull his prized student’s mind.

Bo Jingshen: “I can drink, but you better not.”

Old Zou: “Hey, what?

Look down on me?”

Bo Jingshen nodded towards the coffee table, “I saw the medicine bottles under your coffee table.

If you’re not in good health, why drink?

Just watch me drink and get a vicarious thrill.”

Su Lu wasn’t surprised that Bo Jingshen noticed this; he was always attentive.

Besides, he had come to visit Old Zou because he heard from an old classmate that Old Zou’s health wasn’t good lately.

Old Zou felt a bit embarrassed, “Ah, it’s just…

old age, the usual old age problems.”

Bo Jingshen: “You and Su Xiaolu drink juice.”

So it ended up with Su Lu and Old Zou drinking juice, while Bo Jingshen held a bottle of wine, drinking alone and enjoying himself.

He usually didn’t drink like this; even at social events, it was rare for President Bo to drink more than a few sips.

Usually, others would drink while he just touched his lips to it lightly.

But now, he was drinking very relaxedly.

It wasn’t even good liquor, just some rustic rice wine that Old Zou had gotten from somewhere, rich and smooth.

He drank it slowly, glass after glass, chatting aimlessly with Old Zou.

They talked about everything, from his startup abroad to his current plans to return to China and develop his career.

This and that, Su Lu listened quietly from the side, trying to piece together the fragments to form an image of the five years of his life that she had missed.

Old Zou gave him advice, “I know you don’t like attending class reunions and such, but there are still a few talented people among your peers.

After all, you were all my students.

If you were still developing abroad, it would be different, but now that you’re back, you will need people.”

Of course, Bo Jingshen would not refuse his mentor’s words.

Although he indeed had no interest in class reunions, he agreed to go to the reunion tomorrow for Old Zou’s sake.

When they were leaving, Old Zou wanted to give them stuff in big and small boxes, but Bo Jingshen politely declined.

“You keep it for yourself.

After all…

I am your prized student; do I lack these things?”

Old Zou laughed heartily at that and nodded towards Su Lu, “Harvester, take care of him.

Looks like he’s had a bit too much.”

“Nonsense.” Bo Jingshen pursed his lips, “I’ve been drinking foreign liquor with foreigners, whiskey, vodka, tequila, you name it.

Had a bit too much?

Impossible.”

Old Zou sighed, “You don’t know the power of the aftereffects of traditional Chinese rice wine.

Alright then, Xiao Su, you two should head back.”

Su Lu originally thought Bo Jingshen would be fine, considering that time at Yunding, when they both downed three glasses of whiskey.

She ended up vomiting miserably, but he was perfectly fine and even had the energy to corner her in the bathroom and…

It shouldn’t be possible to get drunk on this small amount of alcohol.

But clearly, Su Lu underestimated the aftereffects of traditional Chinese rice wine.

Once in the car, Bo Jingshen sat in the passenger seat, lowering the window to get some air.

As she drove away from the science and technology university, before they even left University City, Bo Jingshen turned into a salted fish hanging on the car window, which made Su Lu want to laugh.

“Bo Jingshen, have you had too much to drink?” Su Lu asked as she stopped at a red light.

The man in the passenger seat quickly straightened up, bumping his head on the window frame because of the sudden movement, but he seemed unfazed.

Sitting up straight, he spoke clearly, almost with deliberate articulation.

“Just drive, I’m fine.”

Su Lu looked at his slightly glazed eyes, which had lost their usual deep sharpness and now seemed a bit naive and harmless.

She felt like laughing, yet also a bit pained.

Maybe he had been like this for the past five years, in places she couldn’t see, in business and social events, pretending to be sober even when he drank too much.

“Alright, do you feel like throwing up?” Su Lu’s voice softened.

Bo Jingshen shook his head honestly, “Not quite yet.”

After saying this, he paused for a few seconds, then realized something was off and frowned again, “I didn’t drink too much, what’s there to puke, just drive.”

Su Lu acknowledged softly and, after leaving University City, didn’t head towards the hotel but turned towards the Seaside Highway.

Bo Jingshen didn’t notice the route change, and within a few minutes, the man who had been sitting straight turned into a hanging salted fish again, swaying with the sea breeze…