Ye Fei's move was right up Zhang Tao's alley. Coming from a family of officials and with ambitions in politics, Zhang Tao had no shortage of experience in drinking sessions with his father over the years.
He was well-versed in the art of drinking and was eager to get rid of Ye Fei to focus on ingratiating himself with Aunt Zhang. So, he gladly engaged in a drinking contest with Ye Fei.
Under Ye Fei's lead, the two barely touched their food but drank quite a bit of alcohol. After downing over a pound of white liquor, Zhang Tao was tipsy.
His speech became exaggerated, boasting about his father's influence, not just in the county but throughout the entire southeast region.
He claimed that his father's word carried significant weight. In his drunken state, he even mentioned Ye Fei, saying he was sworn brothers with the rising star of Lingyun Society, which made Aunt Zhang and her daughter giggle behind their hands.
