Evening, Jupeng Restaurant.
Zhang Yang and the others arrived on time, driving a van, and parked the car under the staff's guidance.
Everyone quickly got off the van, and Han Qiang moved a cardboard box from the backseat.
The box contained Wuliangye, which Zhang Yang and his friends had made a detour to purchase, spending quite a bit.
It was Zhang Yang's idea, even though Luo Dapeng had said he would take care of the dinner and drinks for the celebration party, Zhang Yang didn't come empty-handed. When interacting with friends met by chance, Zhang Yang's style is not to take advantage of others for free.
Upon entering the lobby, Luo Dapeng quickly came forward. He was a bit surprised to see the alcohol they brought, and somewhat reproachfully said, "Look at you, isn't this making me lose face? We agreed I'd arrange it, and yet you treat me like we're strangers!"
Zhang Yang grinned, "No, Brother Zhou had some left in the car, just a few bottles for us to drink casually. Drinking our own saves the hotel's, right?
Have your friends arrived, Brother Luo?"
Luo Dapeng replied, "Most of them are here, a few are on their way, rushing over! Let's head to the private room first!"
"Alright!"
Led by Luo Dapeng, the crowd grandly took the elevator to the private room on the third floor.
Though this Jupeng Restaurant isn't a five-star hotel, its decor is quite upscale. Walking in, from the lobby to the corridor, to the private room, everything is elegantly decorated in a classical style.
Luo Dapeng led Zhang Yang and the others into the room, and those who had already arrived looked up.
Luo Dapeng said, "Haha, didn't I tell you? You were asking when Zhang Yang would arrive, and here he is!
Everyone take a seat first, we'll do introductions when everyone's here!"
Among those who arrived early, besides a few fishing buddies close to Luo Dapeng, Liu Wenjun and Xu Xiao were also there. With Zhang Yang's team arriving, the atmosphere instantly became lively.
These two had both been on stage to receive awards, and Zhang Yang's team knew them. Seeing Old Luo host a celebration dinner and invite them, it was quite a surprise.
"Master Liu, Master Xu, and other older brothers, sorry for being late!" Zhang Yang said with a friendly smile, first offering an apology.
"Not late, not late, we just arrived, we were just discussing you! You fish well, easily won the championship!" Liu Wenjun warmly stood up to greet Zhang Yang.
Xu Xiao also smiled and said, "I saw the awards ceremony and realized that the yellow bait and little medicine sold at Old Luo's shop are from your company! The products are amazing!"
"Haha, you're too kind. Just lucky, just lucky!" Zhang Yang modestly exchanged pleasantries.
With a table of people, plus Zhang Yang's group of five, there were now eleven people in the room. Although everyone wasn't very familiar with Zhang Yang, they acted warmly, chatting and joking around.
After five more minutes, Luo Dapeng received a call and went downstairs, and soon returned with two men and a woman into the private room.
Seeing Lin Nianwei following behind referee Old Chen, Zhang Yang couldn't help but feel a stir in his heart.
"Wow, Big Beauty Lin is here too! Everyone, welcome!" Luo Dapeng initiated, and everyone started clapping lightly.
Lin Nianwei gracefully said, "Hello everyone, hello Brother Luo! I'm here for a free meal tonight!"
"Everyone's here, notify the kitchen to serve the dishes! Come on, everyone, let's get into fighting mode!" Luo Dapeng announced, and everyone took their seats.
At this point, a small episode occurred.
Everyone instinctively offered the main seat opposite the door to Zhang Yang, but being sneaky, he used his young age as an excuse to sit on the side near the door, thus letting the oldest, Old Chen, take the main seat.
After some more courteous offers and refusals, everyone finally settled into their seats.
Without detailing the specifics, the anglers' celebration banquet was essentially the same as any adult gathering.
Old Luo introduced everyone around, and then there were constant toasts, drinking and chatting about various fishing topics, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
Originally, Zhang Yang thought a box of alcohol would be enough, but surprisingly, it was already finished halfway through.
Xu Xiao, Liu Wenjun, and Old Chen all had impressive drinking capacities, trying to reclaim the honor they didn't get at the fishing ground through drinking.
When it comes to drinking, Zhang Yang is a sturdy young man in his early twenties, and he can hold his drink well.
Yet, being sneaky, he preemptively pretended to surrender after drinking half a pint of strong liquor, claiming he couldn't handle anymore.
As it was everyone's first meeting and they couldn't gauge Zhang Yang well, they didn't push too much, letting him get away with it.
In contrast, Han Qiang, Wang Yan, and Zhou Chu, who were with Zhang Yang, showed extraordinary combat ability at the drinking table, and after some rounds of encouragement, everyone drank quite a bit.
Around eight o'clock, the battle in the private room continued, but Zhang Yang found an excuse and strolled out.
At the hallway's end near the fire escape, there was a window, and Zhang Yang felt a slight buzz from the alcohol after drinking half a pint, so he came out to sober up.
Not long after Zhang Yang left, Lin Nianwei also got up from the private room, heading out to briefly use the bathroom, and upon exiting, quickly noticed Zhang Yang smoking by the window.
Inside the private room, Lin Nianwei and Xiao Yi were the only ones who hadn't been drinking. In fact, she hadn't left just to use the bathroom but rather because she saw Zhang Yang leave, and impulsively followed him out.