The way the man from Northeast China poured the wine was so smooth and natural, as if he were raising a glass to celebrate the start of a new friendship.
"Leverage seems to be?"
The Russian repeated it in confusion, trying to understand the new word he had just learned.
The man from Northeast China nodded with a smile, explaining with even more exaggerated expressions and gestures, "Yes, it's just the beginning. We've only just gotten started! Tonight, we're drinking until we drop!"
The man from Northeast China handed the full glass of wine to the Russian man, ready to start a new round of drinking and making friends.
The old Russian finally realized, and he chuckled as he repeated, "Yes, yes, it looks great!"
Although their conversation was filled with non-standard pronunciation and misunderstandings, and they relied solely on body language to convey their meaning, the joy and friendship that arose from the alcohol were so real and pure.
"Come on, I'll teach you how to play rock-paper-scissors."
The Northeastern man's enthusiasm was like a fire in winter, instantly igniting the atmosphere of the entire room.
He stood up, his large frame moving nimbly through the slightly cramped space, still clutching the overflowing glass of wine tightly in his hand.
Then, the Northeastern man said to the Russian with a big smile, "Look closely, this is an essential drinking skill for us Chinese—finger-guessing games! This thing not only adds to the fun, but it can also reveal a person's true character."
As he spoke, the man from Northeast China gently placed his wine glass on the table, then extended his right hand, interlocking his thumbs and keeping the other four fingers together, making a ready gesture.
"Let's start with 'brothers,' whoever loses drinks, how about it?"
The man from Northeast China sounded expectant and excited, as if he was determined to win the first round.
The Russian was deeply moved by this enthusiasm. Although he was still a little unclear about the rules, he stood up without hesitation and, imitating the Northeastern man, also struck a pose as if he were playing a drinking game.
But from the old Russian's clumsy movements, it was clear that he was unfamiliar with the Chinese rock-paper-scissors culture and had no idea what awaited him next.
Even so, the Russian did not slack off in the slightest. Instead, he carefully observed every subtle movement of the Northeastern man, trying to capture the essence of the finger-guessing game.
Seeing the Russian studying the text so intently, the Northeastern man laughed even more heartily.
After all, this foreign friend is trying to integrate into the traditional culture of the Dragon Kingdom with an inclusive, open, and respectful attitude.
As a native of China, the man from Northeast China felt it was essential to make the essence of Chinese traditional culture, such as finger-guessing games, known to everyone.
"It's alright, old Russian, take your time, we're just having some fun."
The man from Northeast China comforted the Russian while slowing down his movements to try and keep up with the pace.
"Look, like this, interlock your thumbs, spread the other fingers like this, then we shout 'Good buddies!' together, then each of us throws a punch, and whoever gets the higher number drinks. Got it?"
The old Russian listened attentively, trying his best to remember every step.
After the Northeastern man demonstrated several times, the Russian finally nodded slightly.
Although he was still somewhat uncertain, his enthusiasm for participating in the Dragon Kingdom's finger-guessing game made him bravely take the next step.
"You two are good buddies!"
As the two shouted in unison, their fists lashed out almost simultaneously.
The Russian man glanced nervously at his own hand, then at the hand of the man from Northeast China…
When the Russian discovered that his "five" was actually bigger than the Northeastern guy's "three," he couldn't help but laugh. It was a laugh of relief, and also a laugh of joy at his small victory.
"Haha, you're good, old Russian! You won the first round, but don't get too cocky, let's continue!"
The Northeastern guy didn't mind that the Russian had won the first round at all. Instead, he readily picked up his glass and downed it in one gulp.
The Northeasterner's open-mindedness and sincerity made the Russian man more relaxed and made him look forward to each round of the game.
"Good buddies, may you be blessed with good fortune and smooth sailing..."
With each shout louder than the last, their fists rained down in the air, each collision accompanied by laughter.
And so, the two of them went back and forth, their laughter, shouts, and cheers intertwining to create a unique song of friendship.
The Russian was a little awkward at first, but he quickly found his rhythm and even started trying to shout out the commands for the finger-guessing game in his slightly broken Chinese. Although his pronunciation was inaccurate, it had a unique charm.
The man from Northeast China was delighted to see his new friend so engrossed, as if he were seeing his own younger self, full of curiosity and enthusiasm for new things.
As time went by, the bottles on the table gradually emptied, but the friendship between the two men, like a fine vintage wine, only grew richer and more mellow with each sip.
The old man's cheeks gradually flushed, but the light in his eyes grew brighter and brighter, a testament to his appreciation for this new friendship and his love for this experience of a foreign culture.
"Haha, you're good, old Russian! You learned this finger-guessing game pretty quickly!" The Northeastern man patted the old Russian on the shoulder, his face full of praise.
The Russian man grinned from ear to ear and replied in his broken Chinese, "Thank you, brother. I'll remember this wine...this kindness...I'll remember it all!"
As he spoke, the old Russian let out a burp, and his smile became even more hearty.
The other contestants who had achieved perfect scores were also deeply moved by this scene and joined in this joyous celebration that transcended national borders.
They played drinking games, chatted, or laughed, each person interpreting this rare gathering and friendship in their own way.
In this hidden little house, language is no longer a barrier, but a bridge connecting hearts, allowing people from all over the world to weave together warm and beautiful memories.
They may not fully understand each other's language, but the joy and friendship conveyed through drinks and games transcended the boundaries of language and were deeply imprinted in everyone's hearts.
As the main planner of this grand celebration, Qin Zi'an moved between various small circles.
Sometimes he would join in the finger-guessing game, eliciting bursts of laughter with his skillful technique and humorous words; other times he would stand quietly to the side, silently observing everything, a satisfied and gratified smile on his face.
At this moment, Qin Zian clearly saw how popular and meaningful his meticulously planned event was.
This is not just about celebrating the contestants' perfect scores, but also about building a bridge so that people from different countries and cultural backgrounds can meet, get to know each other, and become familiar with one another.
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