Qin Hao''s face turned pale; he had never drunk strong liquor before, but he was well aware that downing a glass in one gulp was no simple feat.

    Xia Qing was also startled, "Dad, Qin Hao doesn''t drink regularly like you, what''s the rush to drink so fast?"

    Xia Yingjie said with a smile, "I''m just happy today, Xiao Hao, Uncle drank up, so you drink as much as you can."

    Qin Hao gave a wry smile as he looked at the wine in his glass, "Since Mr. Xia has drank up, how can I, as the younger one, not do the same? I''ll drink up too."

    Having said that, he tilted his head back and drank it all at once, immediately feeling a burning spiciness radiating from within.

    Xia Yingjie said, "Good tolerance there, I''m sure Uncle''s liquor won''t make you drunk, come on, let Uncle pour you another."

    Qin Hao quickly grabbed the bottle before Xia Yingjie could, pouring him another glass, "How could I let you pour, Mr. Xia, when I''m the younger one?"

    After pouring for Xia Yingjie, he poured himself another glass.

    Xia Yingjie said, "Xiao Hao, eat up, have some more. This Kung Pao chicken was cooked by your uncle himself, try it and see how it tastes."

    Qin Hao picked up his chopsticks and started eating.

    Tian Rong asked while eating, "Xiao Hao, are you still helping your friend out at the roast duck restaurant?"

    Qin Hao replied, "Mhm, there wasn''t much to do over the summer, so I took up a summer job to challenge myself."

    Xia Yingjie nodded, "That''s good, young people indeed need to be tempered. I have some employees under me, but not many young people; there are too few youths willing to endure hardships these days."

    Qin Hao spontaneously asked, "What do you do for a living, Uncle Xia?"

    Xia Yingjie answered, "Your Uncle Xia isn''t much skilled, and I''m not very educated either, just manage a few people and take on some small construction projects."

    "So Uncle Xia is a project contractor, if that isn''t considered skillful, then what is? Here''s to you, Uncle Xia."

    Qin Hao took a small sip, as he didn''t dare to drink too fiercely, fearing he might get drunk again.

    They chatted while eating, with Xia Qing hardly speaking; it was her parents who conversed with Qin Hao.

    Tian Rong asked, "Where does your family live, Xiao Hao?"

    "We also live in this complex, Building 17."

    Tian Rong looked surprised, "That close? How come I''ve never seen you before?"

    "Auntie, I''m quite a homebody, I didn''t use to go out much," Qin Hao answered awkwardly.

    Tian Rong nodded and went straight to the point, "By the way, Xiao Hao, how did you do on the unified exam? Where do you plan to go to university?"

    She felt second-hand embarrassment for her father as well.

    "How did everyone do on the exams this year? Xiao Hao, how many points did you score?" Xia Yingjie, after talking for a while, brought the focus back to Qin Hao.

    Qin Hao decided not to hide it any longer, as doing so would seem too pretentious.

    Enjoy more content from empire

    "Mr. Xia, the person you were just talking about is me; I am Qin Hao."

    Xia Yingjie and Tian Rong looked surprised, "Xiao Hao, what are you saying?"

    Qin Hao said with a smile, "Mr. Xia, the national top scorer of the unified exam you just mentioned is me; my name is Qin Hao."

    At this, both Mr. Xia and Mrs. Xia were shocked, their eyes wide as they looked at him.

    Qin Hao? Qin Hao? They realized—the national top scorer of the unified exam was named Qin Hao.

    And he was a student from Class Two, Grade Three at Changle Second Middle School. Could it really be him?

    Tian Rong couldn''t believe it and looked at him incredulously, "Xiao Hao, you''re not joking, are you?"

    Xia Qing couldn''t stand it anymore, "Mom, how can someone joke about this kind of thing? Qin Hao is a student at our school, and there''s only one person named Qin Hao there; it''s him."

    Xia Yingjie''s eyes widened, "Xiao Hao, the genius reported in People''s Daily is you? Then, uncle must toast to you once more; you''ve made Jiangshan people proud. Uncle will finish his drink."

    After saying that, Xia Yingjie''s glass was empty.

    Although Qin Hao was the top scorer of the national unified exam, he had never considered himself any different because of it.

    Here, he was the junior, "Mr. Xia has finished his, and so will I. But let''s not drink any more after this glass; too much drinking is bad for the health."

    After saying that, Qin Hao also finished the liquor in his glass.

    Xia Yingjie, smiling, said, "Hmm, alright, we''ll listen to Xiao Hao."

    Mr. Xia and Mrs. Xia''s tone towards him clearly improved a lot, and Qin Hao held no resentment in his heart.

    Because this was human nature; they were also looking out for their daughter.

    The meal lasted until one-thirty in the afternoon; Qin Hao realized he wasn''t drunk and didn''t even feel dizzy.

    Could it be that my physique has changed, and my alcohol tolerance has increased?

    Xia Yingjie''s face was slightly flushed, looking a bit tipsy as the two sat on the sofa, drinking tea and chatting.

    Qin Hao: "Mr. Xia, you really need to watch your drinking with that body of yours in the future. The mountain ginseng I brought can be used to infuse liquor, just two ounces a day is enough, and it''s good for your health."