My cousin-in-law helped me achieve my ambitions.

Zhao Fang watched from the side, secretly amused. Was this kid really that clueless or just pretending? He actually ordered the food that Director Gu told him to order, and he even picked the most expensive dishes. Wasn't that just asking for trouble? Director Gu was sure to lose his temper on the spot and give this kid a good scolding, letting him know what it meant to be ignorant and arrogant.

However, Factory Director Gu didn't scold Su Ming. Not only did he not scold him, but he also leaned over to look at the menu and added with a smile, "Team Leader Su, we've almost ordered the food, but we haven't ordered the drinks yet. What do you think we'd like to drink?"

Su Ming flipped the menu to the drinks page, pointed to the Moutai section, and said, "This one, Feitian Moutai, six bottles to start."

Six bottles of Moutai. Zhao Fang quickly did the math in her head. Each bottle cost over a thousand yuan, so six bottles would cost several thousand yuan just for the liquor. She sneered inwardly, thinking that Su Ming was finished, and Factory Director Gu was definitely going to lose his temper. A meal with six bottles of Moutai would easily cost close to ten thousand yuan; even if Factory Director Gu was rich, he wouldn't spend money like that. But strangely, Factory Director Gu didn't get angry. Instead, he turned to the waiter and waved, his tone crisp and decisive: "Bring the dishes and liquor that Team Leader Su ordered, and bring them out quickly."

Zhao Fang was completely bewildered. She picked up her teacup and took a sip, her mind racing with unpredictable calculations, unable to make sense of it all. She thought to herself, "Director Gu must have a backup plan. He'll definitely make Su Ming pay the price in the end, teaching him a lesson he's never learned." Yes, that must be it. How could a factory director let a team leader act so arrogantly in front of him? There must be a backup plan.

However, what happened next surprised her even more.

After the dishes and wine were served, Factory Director Gu personally opened a bottle of Moutai, stood up, and walked enthusiastically to Su Ming's side, bending down to pour him a full glass while repeatedly greeting him with "Hello, Team Leader Su." After pouring the wine, Factory Director Gu raised his own glass respectfully to Su Ming, smiling, "Team Leader Su, I'd like to propose a toast."

Vice President Liang also stood up, holding a wine glass, and followed closely behind, his face plastered with the same polite smile as Factory Director Gu, raising his glass to toast Su Ming. Next was Yu Jie, then Lin Shumei. Seeing that two leaders had taken the initiative to toast Su Ming, the other department managers, although unsure of this team leader's background, dared not be negligent and all stood up, lining up to toast Su Ming as well. In an instant, all the leaders, high and low, in the private room surrounded Su Ming, making him the center of attention.

Even Zhuang Rong, the factory director's secretary, respectfully stood up to toast Su Ming, showing the utmost respect!

Zhao Fang sat in her seat, wine glass in her hand, as if nailed to the chair. Staring at the unbelievable scene before her, her mind went blank; she opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

What she found even more unbelievable was that after drinking two glasses, Su Ming turned his glass upside down on the table, switched to a teacup, and substituted tea for wine. Zhao Fang thought to herself, "This kid's done for. He won't drink the toast offered to him; this is disrespectful to the leader. Even the most good-natured Factory Director Gu won't tolerate this." Sure enough, Factory Director Gu noticed Su Ming's actions, put down his glass, cleared his throat, and spoke. Zhao Fang's spirits lifted; she waited to see how Factory Director Gu would reprimand this arrogant brat.

However, what Director Gu said almost made her spit out her tea: "Team Leader Su, if you can't hold your liquor, then drink tea. Don't force yourself. Your health is important, and drinking tea is the same. There's no need to be so formal!" After saying that, he took the lead in praising Su Ming for being rational, saying that it was rare for a young person to know how to restrain himself, much better than those who drink recklessly.

Zhao Fang was completely baffled. She gripped her wine glass, her knuckles turning slightly white from the pressure, her eyes fixed on Su Ming and Factory Director Gu, as if trying to see a hole through them. She didn't understand, she truly didn't understand. How could a factory director and a vice president be so subservient to a team leader? This wasn't acting; acting didn't go like this. Even acting had its limits, its dignity. But Factory Director Gu's behavior clearly showed genuine fear of Su Ming, or rather, genuine obsequiousness towards him.

Zhao Fang sat there, her mind racing, but she couldn't figure it out. Did this kid really have some trump card she didn't know about? Did he really have some leverage over Director Gu and Vice President Liang? The more she thought about it, the more confused and uneasy she became. Finally, whether out of a herd mentality or an instinctive self-preservation, she stood up with her wine glass, walked up to Su Ming, forced a stiff smile, and offered him a toast. Su Ming raised his teacup and clinked it against hers, his expression indifferent, as if he had expected her to offer him a toast.

Zhao Fang swallowed the wine, her throat burning, but her heart felt cold. She returned to her seat, still somewhat resentful. She thought, the dinner wasn't over yet, the cake hadn't been cut, and Director Gu would definitely make Su Ming pay the bill in the end. No matter what, someone had to pay for the meal. Even if Director Gu was trying to curry favor with Su Ming, he wouldn't actually pay for the meal, would he? All this wine and food was ordered because of that kid Su Ming! Director Gu was always shrewd; he wouldn't let himself be taken advantage of like that by Su Ming.

However, what surprised her even more was yet to come. The birthday party ended, the cake was finished, and the waiter cleared the plates and replaced them with fruit platters, but Director Gu never mentioned paying the bill. In the end, Director Gu's secretary took his bag to the front desk to settle the bill, and when she returned, she politely asked Su Ming if he wanted to pack a few dishes to take home. Zhao Fang sat in the corner, watching this scene, her lips pressed into a pale line.

As he left, Su Ming casually grabbed an unopened bottle of Moutai from the table, tucked it under his arm, and swaggered towards the door. Zhao Fang stared at him wide-eyed, waiting for Director Gu to stop him, but Director Gu acted as if he hadn't seen him, and even waved goodbye to Su Ming with a smile, saying, "Take care, Team Leader Su, let's meet again another day."

Standing at the restaurant entrance, Zhao Fang felt the night wind blowing. She reached up to tuck her wind-blown hair behind her ear, feeling a profound sense of existential unease. Watching Su Ming's figure disappear into the night with the bottle of Moutai, the pillar of her "power consciousness" shattered in that single night.

Seeing Zhao Fang standing disheveled in the wind, Su Ming, standing to the side, smiled smugly.

He figured that after tonight's events, this woman would probably think more highly of him. And next, the vote she cast in the cafeteria should be handed over obediently.