Chapter 348: Fellowship
The table was also rented from a nearby place.
That was simple; most people were willing to rent it for a fee.
There was no worry about the table being taken, as it wasn't worth much.
Wooden products for daily life in Japan aren't very valuable because most houses are made of wood, and many scraps are used to make furniture and such.
After setting things up, Uchiha Fugaku looked at the signboard:
"Drinking Contest – Rules: One cup of shochu per person.
Win against the owner and receive a 10,000 yen prize, no tricks involved."
Below it, in small print: "2,000 yen per challenge."
Uchiha Fugaku placed the shochu on the table, then prominently displayed the 10,000 yen prize, holding it down with a bottle of One Hundred Years of Solitude.
He then sat on the buy-one-get-one-free chair and began to rest with his eyes closed.
There are many drinkers in Japan; most office workers drink, but there's no culture of pressuring others to drink.
Although many people go to izakayas after work, how much they drink is entirely up to the individual, with no forced urging.
Today was also a weekend, so some office workers, after a busy week, would be out and about.
If they saw his challenge, most would probably find it interesting enough to participate.
A bottle of One Hundred Years of Solitude costs 1,300 yen, but here, participating in the challenge only costs 2,000 yen.
And according to the challenge rules, you can drink as much as you want, as long as you beat the owner.
Since the owner set up such a challenge, he must be confident in his drinking capacity.
It's like spending 2,000 yen to drink as much as you want, and if you win, you get 10,000 yen.
What is this if not a windfall?
Of course, if one's drinking capacity is only one bottle of One Hundred Years of Solitude, then this challenge would be a slight loss, a deficit of 700 yen.
However, anyone daring to participate must at least have the capacity for more than one bottle; otherwise, it would purely be giving away money, and such foolish people wouldn't exist.
Soon, Uchiha Fugaku's spot attracted the attention of many passersby, and gradually, people began to stop and watch.
Before long, an unlucky soul came to inquire.
"Hey, young man, is this for real?"
An uncle in an olive shirt asked with interest.
"Of course, if you win, you take this 10,000."
Uchiha Fugaku said with a smile.
"Drink this?"
The uncle pointed to the bottle of One Hundred Years of Solitude on the table.
"Yes, only this."
"Then let's go!"
The uncle said excitedly.
Uchiha Fugaku pointed to the signboard.
The uncle took a look and suddenly realized, "Oh, I have to pay? I thought it was free."
Uchiha Fugaku smiled and said, "It's only 2,000 yen.
If you win, won't you earn 8,000?
And for 2,000 yen, you can drink One Hundred Years of Solitude freely; no matter how you look at it, you're making a profit."
"Alright, alright, young man, you've convinced me."
The uncle took out his wallet from his Kabuto and pulled out 2,000 yen, handing it to Uchiha Fugaku.
"Alright, the challenge begins."
Uchiha Fugaku immediately opened two bottles of One Hundred Years of Solitude with a bottle opener, one for each person, and placed a disposable cup in front of the uncle.
"Fill it up."
Uchiha Fugaku poured a full cup with a gurgling sound and motioned for the uncle to do the same.
And so, the two began to drink, one cup after another.
In a short while, the two bottles of shochu were quickly emptied.
This uncle, daring to take on the challenge, indeed had some skill.
After finishing a bottle of One Hundred Years of Solitude, although his face was as red as a monkey's bottom, he seemed capable of continuing.
So Uchiha Fugaku opened another bottle for him, signaling to continue.
Gradually, the uncle's drinking speed slowed down, and his eyes became hazy.
However, Uchiha Fugaku's complexion showed no change at all, not a hint of drunkenness.
The woman accompanying the uncle saw it clearly and thought that this challenge was probably a bust.
No one understood her husband better than she did.
Seeing him start to ramble, she knew he was quite drunk, at the end of his rope, so she ended the challenge for him.
She had her son help her support her husband, preparing to leave.
Uchiha Fugaku's gaze shifted slightly; a random passerby had drunk one and a half bottles of his One Hundred Years of Solitude.
How to put it, it seemed he neither profited nor lost.
Could it be that 2,000 was set too low?
If everyone after this was such a heavy drinker, he felt he wouldn't earn a single cent.
Bring him some guys with low alcohol tolerance!
He didn't know if his prayer was heard by someone, but later, indeed, some guys came who couldn't handle it after three or four cups.
It was equivalent to them giving him money for free.
After earning some more funds, Uchiha Fugaku even took out the pre-prepared gambling challenge advertisement.
Beat the owner in drinking, 50,000 yen prize, 20,000 yen per challenge.
Although the participation fee increased, the corresponding prize also increased.
While many participated in the 2,000 yen challenge, some bolder individuals gradually tried to win the 50,000, only to end up drunk and defeated, exiting the scene.
The challenge continued until 9 PM, during which Uchiha Fugaku replenished 10 bottles of One Hundred Years of Solitude.
The reason it ended at 9 PM was because the mixer was scheduled to start at 9:30 PM.
The mixer was set at an izakaya; they would eat first, and after drinking, they would go to a KTV for the after-party.
The izakaya was nearby; it would only take him 15 minutes to get there, allowing him to arrive 15 minutes early.
At 8 PM, he had messaged Kitahara Iori, asking him if he would participate in the mixer with Qinghai Women's University, and the guy almost instantly replied.
"Go!!!!!"
Uchiha Fugaku, who arrived 15 minutes early, keenly spotted Kitahara Iori standing at the entrance of the izakaya.
This guy had arrived even earlier than him.
"Hello, how long have you been here?"
Uchiha Fugaku said with a smile.
Kitahara Iori, who was originally looking down at his phone, suddenly looked up upon hearing Uchiha Fugaku's voice and exclaimed in surprise, "Yuma! My great benefactor! I just got here too!"
Uchiha Fugaku smiled slightly: "Let's go in, the private room has already been booked."
"Okay!"
Kitahara Iori followed behind Uchiha Fugaku somewhat nervously, Qinghai Women's University!
Kitahara Iori licked his lips, his heart trembling with excitement, his eyes shining with anticipation.
On the way to the private room, Uchiha Fugaku also brought up his panel to check Kitahara Iori's favorability.
It was initially 50 points, but after watching a movie and drinking together yesterday, it had reached 67.
Today, calling him to participate in the mixer, his favorability surged to 77, a direct increase of 10 points.
He was only three favorability points away from completing his task.
Upon arriving at the private room, there was no one there; the girls hadn't arrived yet.
That was normal; girls usually leave later because of getting ready and putting on makeup.
"They haven't arrived yet, do you want anything to drink?"
Kitahara Iori shook his head and asked curiously, "Yuma, is it just the two of us guys?"
"Yes."
Uchiha Fugaku nodded.
Kitahara Iori continued to ask, "Then how many girls are coming from Qinghai Women's University? Is it also two?"
"No, it's four, I think!"
'Four!'
Kitahara Iori's eyes widened; this was an extremely rare opportunity to find a partner!
He had to seize this good chance.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you like the story please give it some power stones and reviews. And if you want to read 40+ advance chapters or just want to support me please join my patreon at [email protected]/Translatingfanfics