The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 267 After drinking this cup, there's another; after drinking one cup, there are three more.
The twilight is closing, and the lanterns are starting to turn on.

The night in Shanghai in 1979 was naturally far less dazzling than in later years, but along Jinling West Road, many neon signs had already begun to flash.

The city that never sleeps is beginning to reappear.

Bright lights shone from the windows of various state-run barbershops, photo studios, and Friendship Stores.

There were more pedestrians on the street, and their clothing became more diverse, showing that people's spirits were becoming more lively.

The atmosphere of daily life became rich and colorful, with the aroma of pan-fried buns and fried dough sticks and the crisp sound of bicycle bells wafting in the air.

A black Shanghai-plated sedan with a special pass drove into the Ruijin Hotel area, which was nestled among the green trees.

This area was once a high-end residential area in the French Concession, with a quiet environment and lush plane trees casting swaying shadows under the dim streetlights.

Finally, the car stopped in front of a beige building with a distinct Art Deco style—this was the famous Ruijin Hotel's small banquet hall, used specifically for high-profile international banquets.

Qian Jin, Yang Dagang, and two portly officials got out of the car.

Yang Dagang was wearing a brand-new navy blue woolen Zhongshan suit, which was ironed perfectly.

Qian Jin, on the other hand, was wearing a dark gray suit that didn't fit him well, with loose-fitting trousers that looked like they were borrowed.

Then his tie was crooked and he wore a pair of old-fashioned black-rimmed glasses.

He seemed uncomfortable after getting off the bus, but he tried to straighten his back. A fashionable woman with permed hair and a women's trench coat noticed him and chuckled to herself, thinking, "A country bumpkin pretending to be an intellectual."

The waiters, dressed in pristine white uniforms and wearing white gloves, chuckled to themselves, trying their best to appear respectful as they led them into the banquet hall.

High-end venues are just different.

Yang Dagang thought he had seen it all by frequently visiting the private rooms of state-run restaurants, but he found this place to be completely different.

The small hall had teak floors that gleamed like mirrors, a magnificent crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, and the walls were covered with patterned wallpaper. Velvet sofas and small round coffee tables were placed there, exuding a typical old-fashioned Shanghai luxury atmosphere.

The banquet hall has huge floor-to-ceiling windows on the south side, through which you can see the meticulously maintained garden.

Even though it's winter now, the garden is still full of blooming flowers.

The guests hadn't arrived yet, so Qian Jin leaned closer to the glass for a closer look.

They were fake flowers.

They waited for about half an hour before a waiter led in a group of short men dressed in sharp suits and shiny leather shoes.

The negotiation team from Kawasaki Heavy Industries has arrived.

Qian Jin took the initiative to greet him. Yang Dagang coughed, scratched his head awkwardly, stopped, and bowed slightly, waving his arms solicitously: "Director Yang, please go first."

Yang Dagang went up and shook hands with each of the other party's people.

The middle-aged man at the head of the group said in slightly broken Chinese, "Mr. Qian, Mr. Yang, thank you for the hospitality!"

Upon hearing this, Qian Jin was overjoyed and hurriedly nodded and bowed, saying, "I'll cry for you, you wretched man!"

The Japanese soldiers were stunned by what they heard.

They exchanged a glance, both with deep confusion on their faces.

good afternoon?
Yang Dagang seemed to misunderstand their expressions, pointing at Qian Jin with a forced smile and saying, "Our expert Qian is a language expert. He taught himself your Japanese. I'm just a roughneck, I don't understand how well he speaks..."

"Well said, very well." The middle-aged man leading the group smiled and even gave a thumbs up.

Qian Jin hurriedly bowed and said, "Arigato!"

The middle-aged man was a little stunned as he watched him bow ninety degrees, folding his back and legs into a right angle.

His lips twitched, and he had no choice but to follow suit with the most respectful salute.

The next few people introduced themselves.

The man at the head of the negotiation team is named Toshiro Nakamura.

He was about fifty years old, rather short and stocky, wearing a well-tailored dark striped suit, his hair was neatly combed, and he had that kind of humble smile typical of Japanese people, a very formulaic smile.

Behind him was the chief technical judge, Masao Ono, who was also short, but had a very imposing presence with his head held high.

But he likes to glance at people sideways when he looks at them, which gives him a sense of arrogance.

The legal advisor, Kenichi Sato, is the oldest, looking to be in his sixties, with graying hair.

Business specialist Junichi Watanabe is a young man, full of fighting spirit and vigor, and he shakes hands with Qian Jin very firmly.

Qian Jin winced as he was pinched.

The translation of the name is interesting. The surname is legendary. It turns out that the surname is Qian Jin, which I have only seen online as "Inukai". The name is Inukai Hana.

"Mr. Nakamura, Mr. Ono, gentlemen, please take your seats first?" Yang Dagang gestured with his hand, his face bearing a perfectly appropriate official smile.

Qian Jin quickly added, "Thank you for coming from afar. We have prepared a small feast to welcome you and wish our meeting tomorrow a successful one."

Nakamura Toshiro looked up and smiled, "Thank you, thank you very much."

Ono Masao habitually tilted his head and glanced at Qian Jin, his eyes narrowing and his lips curling into a slight expression of disdain. But he immediately bowed and thanked him, saying, "Mr. Qian, Director Yang, you're too kind. Thank you for your hospitality!"

He turned to Qian Jin, "Especially the place Mr. Qian arranged, it was very elegant."

Upon hearing this, Qian Jin was overjoyed and laughed heartily: "You're too kind, you're too kind, thank you."

The group from Japan laughed again.

Only Nakamura Toshiro didn't laugh. He asked, "Mr. Yang, Mr. Qian, all four of you hold leadership positions. So, who is the translator?"

Yang Dagang said casually, "Didn't you bring a translator? We didn't bring one."

Qian Jin coughed.

Yang Dagang continued, "However, our Comrade Qian Jin is an international expert. He understands English and Japanese, and can also act as a translator when necessary."

Ono Masao said thoughtfully, "Take it or leave it?"

Yang Dagang looked at Qian Jin with a puzzled expression.

Qian Jin
Everyone took their seats.

A huge round mahogany dining table was covered with a snow-white tablecloth, and set with gleaming silver cutlery and white porcelain bone plates from Jingdezhen.

The waiter quietly began serving the cold dishes.

"Come, try some of our Chinese specialty wines!" Qian Jin gestured to the waiter to pour the wine.

The specially supplied Moutai liquor is as clear as water. When poured into a small glass, it releases a rich and unique aroma.

Nakamura Toshiro sniffed it and exclaimed with genuine admiration, "Fine wine! Could this be Moutai?"

Qian Jin slapped his thigh, beaming with excitement: "Yes, it's Moutai liquor. Leader Nakamura is truly insightful."

Jun Watanabe said something to his companions in Japanese, and they all laughed.

Wei Zhucheng, who truly understood Japanese, immediately stood up.

Qian Jin immediately asked, "Do you need to go to the toilet again?"

Wei Zhucheng forced a smile and said, "Yes, yes, I need to go to the toilet again."

Qian Jin introduced to Nakamura Toshiro and the others: "We arrived yesterday. Section Chief Wei doesn't like the local cuisine, and as a result, he got an upset stomach, haha..."

The group from Japan laughed along.

The waiter started to serve the food.

Qian Jin waved his hand casually and said, "Let me introduce this to our international friends and distinguished guests from Japan."

The waiter glanced at him sideways and snorted coldly, then immediately put on a polite smile: "Good evening, gentlemen. This is the first dish of the evening, an eight-ingredient cold appetizer."

Nowadays, high-end restaurants in Shanghai offer a considerable amount of food, unlike in the 21st century when entertaining Shanghainese was like feeding birds with a tiny bit of food.

A variety of delicious dishes were displayed on the large white porcelain platter:

The exquisitely crafted braised pork is crystal clear, like pink agate; the drunken chicken has yellow skin and tender meat, and is filled with the aroma of wine.

The stir-fried shrimp are bright red and plump, with crispy shells and bouncy meat; the smoked fish has a deep sauce color, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

The four-happiness roasted gluten, soaked in rich, dark sauce, is soft and delicious; the shepherd's purse and dried tofu are mixed until bright green, fragrant and refreshing.

The vegetarian duck was so realistic it was hard to tell the difference, and it had a rich bean flavor; the crystal pork hock jelly was like amber, with bright green peas and bright red ham cubes inside.

The eight cold dishes were colorful and fragrant, instantly whetting everyone's appetite.

Qian Jin urged everyone to start eating: "Eat, eat! You must be hungry after your long journey. Eat quickly."

Nakamura, Ono, and the others didn't stand on ceremony. After Yang Dagang raised his glass to accept the drink, they reservedly picked up their chopsticks to taste it, and then nodded in praise: "Oh my! Very delicious!"

"This is the foundation of Huaiyang cuisine, where knife skills and cooking time are extremely important," Qian Jin said with a smug smile.

He also raised his glass like Yang Dagang and greeted them:

"Come on, let's drink to our cooperation!"

The crisp, refreshing Moutai, as it went down my throat, was like a fuse, instantly igniting the atmosphere.

The group from Japan drank again.

They had barely put down their glasses when Qian Jin scurried over to refill them. Yang Dagang immediately followed, saying, "Mr. Nakamura, you have a great capacity for alcohol. I toast you and thank you for the 'advanced' technology that Kawasaki has given us!"

He deliberately emphasized the word "advanced," tilted his head back, drank it all in one gulp, and showed the bottom of his glass.

Inukai Hana smiled as he translated, and Nakamura, unable to refuse, also downed a drink, his face flushing.

Immediately afterwards, hot dishes were served in a continuous stream.

Qian Jin personally took charge this time.

He rolled up his sleeves and said, "Distinguished guests, this is crab meat lion's head meatball. Please don't be shy, hurry up and try it while it's hot."

The lion's head is about the size of a fist and is served in an exquisite blue and white porcelain bowl.

Toshiro Nakamura scooped up a piece with a spoon.

The minced pork, with its perfect balance of lean and fat, is pounded until it becomes elastic, then mixed with freshly hand-picked crab meat and roe. The result is a soft and fluffy texture, truly a rare delicacy.

Savor it carefully, and you'll experience a burst of fresh, rich flavor that hits you right in the head. After swallowing, the sweet taste of crab roe will linger in your mouth.

Qian Jin rolled up his sleeves and ladled him a spoonful of soup: "Leader Nakamura, have some soup. This soup is the best. You should try it. It's made with chicken broth!"

The essence of lion's head meatballs truly lies in the broth.

The broth is crystal clear yet incredibly flavorful, garnished with vibrant green bok choy for a refreshing touch.

Nakamura Toshiro savored the moment, then couldn't help but exclaim in Japanese, "Subarashii!"

Yang Dagang deliberately asked Qian Jin, "What did he say?"

Qian Jin glanced at the expression on Nakamura Toshiro's face and tentatively asked, "Is it really delicious?"

Yang Dagang rolled his eyes: "Am I asking you or you asking me?"

He then looked at Inukai Hana.

Inukai Hana laughed and said, "Expert Qian's translation is correct. Vice Minister Nakamura said 'that's great,' which in this context means 'very delicious.'"

Qian Jin immediately rolled his eyes at Yang Dagang: "What? I've already translated it for you, and you still don't believe me?"

Ignoring him, Yang Dagang raised his glass and said, "According to the rules of Chinese banquets, we drink a glass of wine with each dish served. Come on, everyone, let's drink!"

Toshiro Nakamura raised his glass: "Let's drink to each other!"

Qian Jin gave a thumbs up: "Great! That was straightforward!"

This meal was excellent; we ordered all the local specialties.

Next, they served squirrel-shaped mandarin fish.

Naturally, Yang Dagang raised his glass again.

Jun Watanabe was quite intrigued by the dish: "This guy, Old Xu? The squeaky Old Xu?"

Qian Jin laughed: "You mean rats? No, no, no, mandarin fish, that's a fish."

As he spoke, he swung his arms in a swimming fish motion.

This squirrel-shaped mandarin fish is very well made. It uses a fresh mandarin fish weighing 1.5 jin (approximately 500 grams) and is fried until it looks like a squirrel with its head held high and tail raised.

The fish has a crispy, golden-thread-like outer skin and a snow-white, tender interior, topped with a piping hot tomato sauce that is both sweet and sour.

Upon closer tasting, it also carries a perfectly balanced fruity aroma.

The group from Japan raved about the food, repeatedly asking why the fish tasted like fruit.

Qian Jin said, "Because orange juice was added, hehehe."

Masao Ono was particularly fond of this dish; this usually stern engineer started eating it repeatedly.

Yang Dagang immediately raised his glass to him: "Mr. Ono, good food goes with good wine, drink up!"

Just as the crystal shrimp were served, Wei Zhucheng returned. He warmly invited everyone to taste it and gave Qian Jin a meaningful look.

Qian Jin didn't understand, but he followed along and tried his best to persuade the group from Japan to eat as many shrimp as possible.

The shrimp used here are large green shrimp from Taihu Lake, and the shells are peeled and the shrimp meat is extracted by hand, making them crystal clear like white jade beads.

Then, stir-fry the shrimp quickly over high heat with only a little salt and Shaoxing wine to preserve their natural sweetness.

It is served on a white porcelain plate, accompanied by a dish of rosy Zhenjiang vinegar, making it both beautiful and delicious.

Jun Watanabe nodded repeatedly as he ate.

The shrimp were crisp, tender, and bouncy—a delicacy he had never tasted before.

Once they started to put down their chopsticks, Wei Zhucheng smiled and said, "In our Haibin City, we have a custom: for every shrimp eaten, we drink a glass of wine. Come on, distinguished guests who have come from afar, let's drink."

He was the first to do so, raising his glass and drinking three cups in a row.

The Japanese delegation had no choice but to join in the drinking.

I drank a lot this time.

However, they felt that the Moutai liquor was mellow and refreshing, and it was easy to drink without causing a headache, so they did not refuse it.

This is exactly the effect Qian Jin wanted.

This Moutai liquor has been chilled in the refrigerator!
It is indeed crisp and refreshing.

However, its alcohol content remains the same, so when you drink too much, the combined effects of the alcohol can be as potent as TNT in alcoholic beverages.

They raised their glasses repeatedly.

The waiter arrived with a smile, and the Wensi Tofu Soup and the Braised Eel with Hot Oil were served again.

Qian Jin became attentive again, serving each person a bowl of tofu soup: "Distinguished guests, please have some soup. Although the Moutai liquor is good, you must not overindulge."

Upon hearing this, Yang Dagang immediately slammed his hand on the table: "What do you mean by that? It makes it sound like we're reluctant to let our distinguished guests from Chuanqi have a drink."

“That deserves a penalty drink. Come on, Vice Minister Nakamura, Mr. Ono, and distinguished guests, let’s drink.”

Nakamura Toshiro and the others were astonished.

It's fine to punish us with drinks, but why punish us?

However, Yang Dagang did not force them to drink; everyone else, including Qian Jin, had already raised their glasses and started drinking.

They exchanged glances, laughed heartily, and raised their glasses for a hearty drink.

Yang Dagang continued to urge them to drink, while Qian Jin continued to serve them Wensi tofu soup one by one.

This is also a famous dish, and it can even be said to be the dish that best showcases knife skills.

Soft tofu, rehydrated shiitake mushrooms, winter bamboo shoots, cooked chicken breast, cooked ham, and other vegetables are all cut into thin strips as fine as cow hair.

The chef at this restaurant is truly a master; his skill is so fine that he could practically thread a needle.

Qian Jin scooped very carefully, so that in the end, each person had an extra bowl of clear soup in front of them.

The broth contains countless fine strands that slowly unfurl as if they were alive. When Qian Jin puts down the bowl, there is movement, causing the broth to sway and the strands to rise and fall, creating a scene as beautiful as a poem or a painting.

Toshiro Nakamura once again exclaimed, "Chinese cuisine is art."

Yang Dagang: "Then let's raise a toast to art, distinguished guests, drink up!"

Qian Jin also raised his glass.

The cup contained soup.

The soup, though light, contains a myriad of flavors, offering a warm and comforting experience.

Among these dishes, the braised eel with sizzling oil is quite unique.

It was served with a plate piled high with glossy black eel shreds, topped with minced garlic, chopped green onions, minced ginger, and white pepper powder.

The waiter poured a spoonful of hot oil on it, and with a sizzling sound, a rich aroma filled the air.

Qian Jin invited them to try some.

The eel shreds are smooth and chewy, with a rich soy sauce flavor, subtle peppery spiciness, and caramelized garlic aroma, making them extremely delicious with rice.

Taking the opportunity, Yang Dagang raised his glass again: "Mr. Ono, this dish is strong! With this strength, let's have another one!"

Masao Ono was not a heavy drinker to begin with, and after a few cups of Moutai, his face was already flushed. He was further provoked by Yang Dagang's boisterous "deepening" of the drink, and he downed another cup.

There's also an Eight Treasure Gourd Duck later on.

The whole duck is deboned without breaking the skin, and its belly is stuffed with eight-treasure fillings such as glutinous rice, lotus seeds, fox nuts, barley, diced ham, diced shiitake mushrooms, diced chicken, and green peas. It is then tied into a gourd shape, steamed first, and then fried.

Yang Dagang personally cut open the duck with a knife, and immediately it was steaming hot and smelled delicious.

Even the well-traveled and knowledgeable Toshiro Nakamura showed a look of amazement.

This time, Qian Jin raised his glass: "Distinguished guests, this dish has a special feature."

"Look, everyone! This duck has a golden-red, crispy skin, a soft, savory interior, and a delicious, well-integrated filling. It symbolizes our friendship, which is as close as that of a family. Come on, let's toast to our friendship!"

"Cheers!" Wei Zhucheng readily agreed.

One dish after another was served, and everyone would have a drink with each dish. When no new dishes were served, Yang Dagang and the others would take the initiative to go around toasting each other.

The last dish was yellow croaker soup with pickled mustard greens.

This dish is often used as the grand finale, so it naturally showcases a high level of skill.

A nearly two-pound wild yellow croaker lay in the milky white broth, with bright green bits of Ningbo pickled mustard greens floating on the surface, a truly beautiful sight.

Everyone tasted it.

The flesh of the large yellow croaker is as white and tender as garlic cloves, melting in your mouth with a single bite, its freshness reaching the very depths of your soul.

The unique salty, savory, and slightly sour flavor of the pickled vegetables perfectly brings out the sweetness of the fish.

This famous dish from Ningbo, with its rich and pure umami flavor, gave Nakamura Toshiro and his party, who were used to light flavors, an almost shocking taste sensation.

There was no need for any further persuasion; Masao Ono jumped onto a chair and raised his glass: "Let's drink! Cheers!"

Qian Jin smiled and said, "Cheers! Cheers!"

With fine wine and delicious food before them, the group completely abandoned their wariness of their negotiating opponents, focusing solely on the exquisite food before them.

One after another, the bottles of Moutai liquor were emptied.

Yang Dagang was the main attacker, and he fully demonstrated the "honesty" and "enthusiasm" of Shandong men, attacking everywhere with a wine glass in hand.

This cup is for "thank you," the next for "respect," that one for "deepening friendship," and yet another for "happy cooperation," and so on.

Qian Jin had witnessed firsthand what it meant to create a pretext. Anyway, Yang Dagang fought against five opponents, launching a fierce attack on Nakamura, Ono, and the others in turn.

Wei Zhucheng and the other two skillfully controlled the situation from the side, sometimes making excuses for Director Yang by saying that he was "a man of strong character," and sometimes opening another bottle under the pretext that "fine wine and delicious food complement each other perfectly."

Qian Jin offered various words of concern: "Take a sip and stop, don't force yourself," "Don't drink if you can't," "How about switching to beer?"

His concern ignited the male chauvinism of the Japanese group, making them drink even more enthusiastically.

The group from Japan had never seen such a display of "using wine as a spear" before.

The exquisite dishes lowered their guard, and the rich flavor and rapid aftertaste of Moutai made them unknowingly let their guard down.

Nakamura Toshiro was still able to maintain his posture, but his tongue had become noticeably stiff.

Masao Ono's eyes were already glazed over, his face as red as a jujube, as he slumped in his chair, grinning foolishly.

Jun Watanabe lay on the edge of the table, muttering inaudible Japanese.

Kenichi Sato, the old man, looked quite pathetic, swaying awkwardly and gracefully in front of the French windows, shirtless...

Only the translator, Yang Hua, remained relatively lucid, but he was also dizzy and kept talking to Qian Jin:
"Mr. Qian, Mr. Yang, my dear friend, we Chinese are so warm and welcoming! I love the hospitality of my fellow countrymen..."

Qian Jin was taken aback: "What did you say? We Chinese? You're Chinese too?"

Inukai Hana said, "Yoshi, yoshi, my parents are both Chinese, so I'm Chinese too, but my parents moved to Tokyo in 45..."

Qian Jin's face darkened, then he immediately laughed: "Your father is quite interesting, he actually used 'dog-raising' as his surname?"

And it's Inukai Hana!
Inukai Hana was about to explain with a laugh when Nakamura Toshiro, slurring his words, came over and patted Qian Jin on the shoulder:

"Okay, good friend! Open another... another bottle!"

"When you go to Japan in the future, please, please be sure to visit us and try our sake..."

Yang Dagang, standing beside him, waved his hand with great enthusiasm: "Open the wine."

Qian Jin rolled up his sleeves: "Drink, drink your mother's stinky cunt!"

The waiter was terrified: "Ladies and gentlemen, you have already drunk six bottles of wine!"

Qian Jin complained, "Only six bottles? This makes the Japanese VIPs think we can't afford to drink. One bottle per person!"

He took two bottles and followed the waiter to get the wine.

They brought back four more bottles of wine.

He opened two bottles of wine and poured wine for Nakamura Toshiro and his group, and poured wine for his own people from the other two bottles.

Yang Dagang took a sip and smiled: "Good wine!"

In the end, the entire Japanese group was dragged back.

The next morning.

The heavy curtains in the deluxe suites of the Jinjiang Hotel blocked out most of the light.

Nakamura Toshiro struggled to get out of bed with a splitting headache, feeling as if he had been run over by ten trucks.

Hangovers bring more than just severe headaches; they also cause sluggish thinking and fragmented memories.

He only vaguely remembered the delicious dishes from last night and... the seemingly endless supply of Moutai.

And then there's Director Yang, whose drinking capacity is terrifyingly high, and Mr. Qian, who has no real ability but is very good with words.
Yes, it seems to be these two.

He shook his head vigorously, trying to dispel the annoying buzzing sound.

After washing his face with cold water and taking a bath, he finally felt a little better.

Then he went to find other people.

Ono Masao and Watanabe Jun were in even worse shape, their faces were sallow, and they were walking unsteadily.

After drinking some porridge, Kenichi Sato and Hana Inukai bent over and vomited again...

The meeting and negotiations should have started at nine o'clock in the morning.

This forced a delay, which was pushed back again and again until 11 o'clock.

Eleven o'clock in the morning.

A spacious and dignified conference room at the Jinjiang Hotel.

The deep red carpet absorbed the sound of footsteps, and the huge rectangular conference table was as smooth as a mirror, with high-backed leather chairs placed on both sides.

On one end of the conference room wall, the solemn national emblem hangs high.

Qian Jin, Yang Dagang, Wei Zhucheng, Zhao Gong, Li Mingshan and others were already seated.

On the table in front of them were neatly arranged the original contract, its attachments, and a supplementary agreement that was dozens of pages long, in Chinese, English, and Japanese.

The Kawasaki negotiation team entered the venue under the guidance of the waiters.

The hangover was clearly visible on their faces, especially Jun Watanabe and Masao Ono, whose listlessness and sluggishness were impossible to hide even when they tried to stay awake.

Nakamura Toshiro's gaze swept over the energetic Qian Jin and the others, and his brows furrowed imperceptibly.

“Mr. Nakamura, I’m so sorry.” Qian Jin stood up, his expression as obsequious as ever. “It seems you can’t hold your liquor. How about we postpone the meeting until tomorrow? You should all rest today.”

Then he accused Yang Dagang: "Director Yang, this is all your doing. It's not like the distinguished guests from Chuanqi Heavy Industry can't afford to drink. Why did you keep urging them to drink yesterday?"

Inukai Hana rubbed his temples as he translated.

Jun Watanabe's face flushed red, and he hurriedly tried to explain.

Inukai Hana quickly translated: "No, it's not Mr. Yang's fault. We were too tired yesterday, so we didn't perform well. We don't need to postpone the meeting. Let's begin the meeting now..."

Yang Dagang glared at Qian Jin: "Sit down! Can't you hear what the guests are saying?"

"You are being very rude. We welcome guests from afar with fine wine; this is how we treat our guests..."

Qian Jin was not to be outdone.

The two quarreled.

(End of this chapter)