Toast

Shu Yunyi was sitting between Shen's Mother and her second aunt, Liu Huimin. Hearing the words, she modestly shook her head and said,

"I'm not very good at it."

Most of the people present had a good impression of this college teacher they were meeting for the first time. She was generous and unconstrained, without the shyness of a young girl.

Appearance was one thing, but more importantly, her words and deeds were so pleasant that everyone tried to persuade her.

Second Aunt Liu Huimin was the first to lean over and persuade her.

"Don't be so formal, Miss Shu. If you can drink, have a little."

Wine culture exists everywhere. People here can drink and love to drink.

Regardless of gender, they drink wine to relieve fatigue in their free time. Middle - aged people can drink half a catty or more, and even the elderly like to have a glass or two for a taste. Nowadays, in the New Year's Eve dinners, the atmosphere always seems dull without wine, as if something is missing.

On the contrary, few young people nowadays love to drink. Most of their gatherings are just simple meals.

Shen's Mother secretly observed Shu Yunyi's expression on the other side and found that she didn't show any resistance, but just seemed a little hesitant.

She had just met this sudden 'girlfriend' of her son, so naturally she didn't want to force her to drink. So she softened her tone and said,

"Sister, stop meddling. Let her decide for herself."

Then she turned to Shu Yunyi and said gently,

"It doesn't matter, Miss Shu.

"If you don't want to drink, I'll pour you some fruit juice."

Shu Yunyi was a little hesitant. It wasn't that she was afraid. Even if all these relatives and elders at the table joined forces, they were no match for her.

She didn't agree immediately because she had sworn in front of Shen Yi to quit drinking and didn't want to break the oath.

But looking at the expectant looks of everyone at the table, she didn't want to spoil the fun. She also wanted to leave a good impression on Shen Yi's elders, as she had already regarded herself as a part of the Shen family in her heart.

Finally, she picked up the wine glass with a smile and said,

"Then I'll have a little with you elders."

"Good!"

"Miss Shu is great!"

"Right, she's not timid!"

As soon as Shu Yunyi agreed, there were praises all around the table, and the atmosphere became even more lively.

Here, Shen's Father picked up the wine bottle and was about to pour wine for her, but Shu Yunyi stopped him and said,

"How can I trouble Uncle to pour wine for me? It would make me seem so impolite."

Then she took the bottle and filled her own glass.

Here, wine cups instead of small wine goblets were popular. The cups were about four fingers high, and each could hold about two taels of wine.

Looking at the clear wine filling the glass, she picked it up and thought to herself,

'I swore to Xiao Yi that I would never drink again in this life. But now that the past is over and a new life has begun, strictly speaking, this doesn't count as breaking the oath.'

After thinking this, she stood up and looked at the eldest elder at the table.

"Grandmother, this first glass is to toast you. I wish you a long and healthy life and boundless blessings."

The old lady didn't expect it to be so formal at the beginning. She waved her hand in a hurry and said,

"Good, good. Sit down quickly, girl. Don't be so polite at home."

There was also some wine in front of her, just half a glass. She was old and just drank for the taste.

Then she picked up the glass, took a small sip, and praised her to those around with a smile.

"This girl is so pretty and polite."

After giving the blessing, Shu Yunyi tilted her head back, and the whole glass of smooth wine went down in one gulp. Before anyone could see clearly, she had put down the empty glass and sat back.

"Wow!"

"Goodness!"

"Miss Shu is so sincere!"

Shu Yunyi's action made all the relatives around cheer and even look at her with admiration, exclaiming in surprise.

The reason was simple. Even those who could hold their liquor rarely drank so recklessly. The glasses were large, and more importantly, it was Chinese baijiu, not beer. Even they would take several sips to finish a glass.

Shu Yunyi was straightforward and sincere when it came to drinking. As a young woman, who wouldn't like her?

Beside her, Shen's Mother quickly picked up a piece of fish fillet and put it in her bowl. With a mixture of concern and mild reproach, she said,

"You're such an honest girl."

"Does it burn your mouth? Here, have some vegetables to ease the burn."

After downing a glass of baijiu, Shu Yunyi remained calm and even her eyes sparkled. She thanked Shen's Mother for her kindness and said,

"Thank you, Auntie. I'm fine."

Then she picked up the bowl and took a small bite, praising Shen's Mother's cooking skills.

Auntie Liu Huimin also gave Shu Yunyi a thumbs - up and kept clicking her tongue in admiration. The more she looked at Shu Yunyi, the more satisfied she became.

Drinking was all about the atmosphere, and Shu Yunyi set a good example by not being a spoilsport. So the atmosphere at the dinner table was harmonious and lively.

Everyone was clinking glasses, moving their chopsticks quickly, and chatting and laughing merrily.

Shu Yunyi kept an eye on the situation. When the atmosphere started to cool down, she filled her glass again and stood up.

This time, according to the order, she was to toast Auntie Liu Huimin's family.

"Uncle - in - law, Auntie, it's a pleasure to meet you. Yunyi would like to toast you two. I wish your future days to be as bright as spring and your family full of happiness."

"Good!"

"Don't be so polite, Miss Shu."

The couple didn't stand on ceremony and immediately raised their glasses in response.

Amid the cheers of the relatives, Shu Yunyi downed another whole glass in one go.

Seeing this, Uncle - in - law didn't hesitate and also finished his glass. He was a man who cared about his face and didn't want to be outdone by a younger generation.

Auntie Liu Huimin was all smiles. She kept pulling at the corner of Shu Yunyi's clothes, signaling her to sit down.

Although she wasn't a heavy drinker, she was really happy today and drank about half of her glass.

Holding Shu Yunyi's hand, she said,

"Miss Shu, I really like you so much."

"Shen Yi is so lucky to have you as his girlfriend. It must be the blessing he accumulated in his previous life."

Shu Yunyi smiled faintly, patted her hand reassuringly, and corrected her,

"Auntie, you're wrong."

"Actually, it's my blessing to meet Shen Yi."

Without the salvation in the previous life, there would be no this life. Just like this dinner today, she was willing to do everything to please Shen Yi's family.

Taking a deep breath, Shu Yunyi picked up her glass again and stood up. Her eyes fell on Shen's Father and Shen's Mother.

They were her father - in - law and mother - in - law in the previous life, and also the most tolerant relatives. She had countless words of gratitude for them.

Finally, she gathered her strong emotions and poured them into the wine. Then she said,

"Uncle, Auntie, thank you for your hospitality. This glass is from Yunyi to you two."

"I wish you two to be as elegant as flowers and bamboos, as fragrant as orchids and cinnamon, to be united in love forever, and to grow old together hand in hand."

After saying that, she tilted her head back and drank another glass neatly. Then she wiped the remaining wine from the corner of her lips with her fingertips.

"Wow!"

"No wonder she's a university teacher. She's so well - spoken!"

"Yes, she can come up with such nice words one after another."

Everyone clapped and cheered, discussing among themselves. The atmosphere at the dinner table reached its peak.

What she said was both solemn and full of emotion. Although no one knew the real reason behind it, they all thought Shu Yunyi's behavior was generous and appropriate.

Shen's Father's face was flushed from drinking. He was in high spirits and happily finished his glass. He was so flattered by all the compliments that he was almost floating on air.

Shen's Mother held her glass, and a look of surprise flashed in her eyes. She quickly took a big sip, using the spiciness of the wine to suppress her mixed emotions.

Shu Yunyi was not just good; she was exceptionally good, which made it difficult for her to make a choice for a moment.

On this side, she didn't neglect Shen Yi's uncle and aunt. At the table, only the elder cousin who was with a child managed to avoid drinking because she didn't drink.

Then Shu Yunyi kept on offering toasts. No matter who came to toast her, she downed the wine in one gulp, glass after glass, simply and neatly.

The most remarkable thing was that she remained calm throughout, as if she were drinking water.

She drank those relatives at the table into a state where their expressions changed from admiration to surprise, then to admiration, and finally to shock, leaving them speechless.

You said you could only drink a little??