Chapter 315 - 250: Encouragement and Difficulties

Chapter 315: Chapter 250: Encouragement and Difficulties

Inside a private room with rustic farmhouse charm at Changbai Snow Village.

Just as Gu Heng, Zhao Hongbo, and the others were finishing up the goose, ribs, mantis shrimp chicken, and pork stew in the original iron pots, the staff cleared the four pots away and replaced them with four new ones.

After more firewood was added to the stove, it wasn’t long before the lids were taken off again.

"BUBBLE BUBBLE BUBBLE..."

Inside the four steaming iron pots, each held a large fish.

The moment the lids were lifted, the rich, savory aroma of fish soup swept through the entire private room.

"It smells so good!"

Wang Wan Ning had been listening to Gu Heng, Zhao Hongbo, and the others discuss business. She had barely said a word the entire time, only sneaking glances at Gu Heng every so often. The admiration filling the young woman’s eyes grew deeper.

They were the same age, yet Gu Heng was already capable of leading industrial investments worth hundreds of millions of yuan and negotiating terms with the many leaders governing the local region.

That kind of aura, that kind of composure, that kind of bearing—for someone like Wang Wan Ning, who had always been goal-oriented and ambitious about her future since childhood, it was truly hard not to be in awe.

In comparison, the boys her age at school seemed utterly childish.

"Chairman Gu, Miss Wang, these pots have snakehead, bighead carp, river carp, and yellow catfish, respectively."

After the lids were opened, Zhao Hongbo introduced the four iron pots to Gu Heng and Wang Wan Ning in turn. "Besides the snakehead, the other three types of fish are all specialties of our Ji Province."

"The bighead carp is from Chagan Lake, the river carp is from the Songhua River, and the yellow catfish is from Zhanshan Lake. They were all live fish, pulled from the nets by fishermen during the winter catch this morning. These four fish pots were already simmering on low heat in the back kitchen before we even started eating, so the timing should be just right now."

Compared to when they had first met, Zhao Hongbo was now acting noticeably more enthusiastic.

"Have a taste..."

Gu Heng personally picked up an empty bowl, ladled some fish soup for Wang Wan Ning, and gently placed it by her hand.

"Thank you, Brother Gu Heng~"

Wang Wan Ning’s heart leaped with joy as she whispered her reply to Gu Heng.

"Thank you for your warm hospitality, Director Zhao."

After ladling the soup for Wang Wan Ning, Gu Heng picked up his glass and toasted Zhao Hongbo. "For Wan Ning to be able to taste such authentic Ji Province specialties on her very first visit here, we really have Director Zhao to thank."

"Ah..."

"Chairman Gu, if you put it that way, you’re really embarrassing me."

Zhao Hongbo quickly raised his glass as well, waving his hand dismissively. "Zhen Cui Group is already a leading company in Ji Province’s high-end culinary industry. For me to discuss cuisine in front of Chairman Gu is like an amateur showing off in front of a master."

"But since Chairman Gu has come to Changbai Mountain today, it’s only right for us to fulfill our duties as hosts. If we can make sure Chairman Gu and Miss Wang have a good meal tonight and enjoy themselves, then that’s the greatest success for us."

Zhao Hongbo spoke with great sincerity. Regardless of how much was genuine, his words were certainly pleasant to hear.

"It’s excellent!"

"Director Zhao, to be honest."

"If it had been up to me to arrange Wan Ning’s first dinner in Ji Province today, I probably couldn’t have planned something so thorough and so representative of Ji Province’s specialties."

Gu Heng extended his glass at the right moment. "You’ve gone to great trouble, Director Zhao. To you."

Hearing this, Zhao Hongbo quickly extended his own glass.

Gu Heng glanced at the specialty liquor that still filled about a third of his glass. He paused for a moment as the rim touched his lips, then with a slight flick of his wrist, he downed the entire glass in one go.

"Impressive tolerance, Chairman Gu!"

Seeing this, Zhao Hongbo followed suit and drained his glass as well.

By this point, Gu Heng had already drunk nearly half a jin.

If it had been regular Maotai, half a jin would probably have made Gu Heng feel a little drunk. But now, while he didn’t feel very intoxicated, his body was starting to feel undeniably hot.

’This stuff is potent...’

Gu Heng thought to himself.

On the other side, Zhao Hongbo saw that Gu Heng’s glass was empty. He picked up the unlabeled glass bottle from the lazy Susan and asked Gu Heng tentatively, "Chairman Gu, how about another glass?"

"Well..."

"Just half a glass more."

"If we’re still in the mood for more later, I’ll switch to regular baijiu to drink with everyone."

Gu Heng said with a smile, "I have to say, this liquor really is potent, but at my age, I’m afraid I can’t quite handle it."

"Ah..."

"It’s great to be young."

Zhao Hongbo instantly understood Gu Heng’s meaning. He looked at Gu Heng’s youthful face and couldn’t help but sigh with genuine emotion.

As he spoke, Zhao Hongbo did as Gu Heng requested and poured him only half a glass.

"Brother Gu Heng, why did you get another half glass?"

"If you keep drinking, you..."

Wang Wan Ning paused. Thinking of the special properties of this specialty liquor, her fair face couldn’t help but turn a slight shade of red. "Can your body handle it?"

"This is the last half glass. No more after this."

Gu Heng replied with a smile.

"Then..."

"Can I try some?"

Wang Wan Ning gazed at the pale yellow liquid in the glass, her expression tinged with curiosity.

"Then I’ll pour you a little."

As Gu Heng spoke, he was about to reach for the bottle on the lazy Susan, but before he could, Wang Wan Ning quickly stopped him.

"I..."

"I’ll just take a small sip from your glass."

"That way, we won’t waste any, and you’ll also drink a little less."

After saying this, Wang Wan Ning’s pretty face couldn’t help but flush an even deeper shade of red.

"Alright."

Gu Heng naturally had no objections. He pushed the glass toward Wang Wan Ning with his index finger and watched her with an amused expression.