Some people, when they get drunk, don't speak at all.

  They might weep uncontrolbly, ugh hysterically, or simply pass out, but they won't say a word.

  When they cry, it's as if they've lost their closest family member. The more they cry, the sadder they become, until it seems like they are the most pitiful person in the world.

  Even if you knelt down and handed them two million on the spot, they would only cry harder.

  But when they sober up and you ask them why they were crying, they likely won't have a clue.

  When they ugh, it's as if gold ingots are raining from the sky, and they're the only one lucky enough to pick them up.

  Even if their house had just burned down, they would still ugh. Even if you spped them a dozen times, they might just ugh even harder.

  And if they fall asleep, it's even worse. No matter how many people kick them, they won't wake up. Even if you threw them into a river, they'd keep sleeping soundly.

  He Yafeng happened to be that kind of drunk.

  At first, he seemed like he could handle his liquor. He drank quickly, downing gss after gss without stopping.

  But then, in the blink of an eye, he was out cold.

  As soon as he fell asleep, Guo Dalu started ughing.

  Yan Qi gred at him and snapped, "Are you drunk too?"

  Guo Dalu replied, "Me? Drunk? Do I look even a little drunk to you?"

  Yan Qi said, "Not a little. More like eight or nine points."

  Guo Dalu said, “You're wrong. Right now, I'm as clear-headed as Confucius himself.”

  Yan Qi replied, “But you're ughing like a mongrel.”

  Guo Dalu said, “I’m just ughing at him. I haven't even started yet, and he's already drunk because of me.”

  Yan Qi asked, “Do you still remember why you wanted to get him drunk?”

  Guo Dalu answered, “Of course. I originally wanted him to tell the truth.”

  Yan Qi asked, “Did he?”

  Guo Dalu said, “He did.”

  Yan Qi pressed further, “Oh? And what did he say?”

  Guo Dalu replied, “He said that if he had any ill intentions toward us, he wouldn't have gotten drunk—drunk like a dead pig.”

  Yan Qi looked him up and down, shaking his head. “Sometimes I really can't figure you out. Are you drunk or completely sober?”

  Guo Dalu chuckled and turned to look at Wang Dong.

  Wang Dong asked, “Why are you looking at me?”

  Guo Dalu grinned. “I’m waiting for you to say something. Isn't it your turn to speak now?”

  Wang Dong asked, “And what exactly do you want me to say?”

  Guo Dalu said, “Say that when I'm sober, I'm actually drunk, and when I'm drunk, I'm actually sober.”

  Wang Dong couldn't help but ugh. That was exactly the kind of thing he would say.

  Guo Dalu asked, “Did I get it right?”

  Wang Dong smiled. “You got it right.”

  In the row of rooms in the back courtyard, there were also two beds.

  It seemed as if they had been pced there specifically for drunken guests.

  He Yafeng was carried to the bed like a dead man.

  Guo Dalu chuckled and said, “He actually picked the right time to come today. If he had arrived two days earlier, he'd have had to sleep on the floor.”

  Wang Dong said, “I just hope he sleeps through the night until morning.”

  Guo Dalu asked, “Why?”

  Wang Dong replied, “So I don't have to pawn something.”

  Guo Dalu ughed. “Why would you need to pawn something?”

  Wang Dong said, “To treat our guest to dinner.”

  Guo Dalu grinned. “Maybe we won’t need to pawn anything at all. We just have to wait for the cat to ring the bell.”

  Yan Qi asked, “You really think someone's still going to send us dinner?”

  Guo Dalu nodded. “Mmm.”

  Yan Qi couldn't help but ugh. “You sound so sure, like you've already decided to take advantage of him.”

  Guo Dalu burst into ughter. “That’s right! I'm pnning to live off him for a lifetime—make him support me in my old age.”

  His voice was deliberately loud, as if he wanted that person to hear.

  Was someone hiding in the shadows, secretly watching them?

  Was that person He Yafeng? Was he drunk?

  Those who get drunk quickly often sober up just as fast.

  Before dusk, the two children suddenly ran from the back courtyard to the front.

  Standing respectfully before them, they solemnly presented an invitation.

  Diao Shi said, “Our young master wishes to extend his apologies for disturbing you all this morning. This evening, he would like to return the courtesy and sincerely invites you to attend.”

  Guo Dalu gnced at Wang Dong and gave him a pyful wink.

  Wang Dong muttered, “Looks like we won't need to make the cat ring the bell after all.”

  Diao Shi didn't catch what he said, and even if he had, he wouldn't have understood. Unable to contain his curiosity, he asked, “What did Master Wang just say?”

  Before Wang Dong could respond, Guo Dalu quickly interjected, “He said we would be honored to attend.”

  Yan Qi sighed and shook his head. “You really are shameless.”

  Diao Shi suddenly blinked and asked again, “And what did this gentleman just say?”

  Guo Dalu immediately replied, “He said we'll head over right away.”