“Sir, I’m not just saying this to flatter you, but this wine is absolutely the best I’ve ever tasted in my life!”
Iron Hammer praised sincerely.
“Alright then.”
Jin Feng picked up the wine jug and poured another bowl for Iron Hammer. “Drink this and go rest. Take this pot of stewed meat back for your wife and kids to try.”
It wasn’t that he was reluctant to share, but he was well aware of the potency of strong liquor.
Iron Hammer had drunk too quickly, and the alcohol was still in his stomach, so he remained clear-headed for now. But once the alcohol entered his bloodstream, it was uncertain whether Iron Hammer would even be able to stand.
“Thank you, sir.”
Though Iron Hammer still craved more, he didn’t dare disobey Jin Feng’s words.
He stood up, intending to pick up the clay pot, but suddenly felt dizzy. He reached for the table to steady himself, missed, and fell flat on his backside.
“Goodness, why is this wine so strong?”
Iron Hammer shook his head and stood up again, using the stool for support.
“While you can still walk, hurry back. If you linger any longer, I’m afraid you won’t make it.”
Jin Feng smiled and shouted outside, “Old Lin, come help Iron Hammer.”
“Yes, sir!”
The night guard entered, took the clay pot from Jin Feng in his left arm, and reached to support Iron Hammer with his right.
“No need to help me, I can walk myself.”
Iron Hammer brushed off Old Lin. “It’s just a few bowls of wine. Back in the day, when I roamed the rivers and lakes with the old escort chief, I drank two whole jugs once and was fine…”
“Oh no, he’s starting with ‘back in the day.’ This guy’s definitely drunk.”
Jin Feng gave a wry smile and shouted toward the door again, “Old Three, you go with Old Lin. Make sure your captain gets home.”
“Sir, I said I don’t need an escort…”
Iron Hammer waved his hand.
To prove he was fine, he started walking toward the door.
But before Jin Feng could reach out to help, Iron Hammer’s left foot tripped over his right, and he fell flat with a thud.
“Alright, stop messing around. Get going.”
Jin Feng gave Iron Hammer a light kick on the backside. “Dawdle any longer, and you won’t get to drink again!”
That finally subdued Iron Hammer, who obediently let the old soldier help him leave.
Watching their retreating figures, Jin Feng’s eyes turned thoughtful.
In Da Kang, food was scarce, and countless people starved daily, so Jin Feng had never considered brewing wine to make money.
From a young age, he knew being a saint was impractical, nor did he have any moral obsessions. Whether facing Dangxiang cavalry or bandits, when action was needed, he issued attack orders without hesitation.
Even if those orders led to heads rolling and rivers of blood, even if it left him uneasy, Jin Feng never wavered.
Because their enemies were ruthless killers. To survive in this chaotic world, one’s heart had to be even tougher than the enemy’s.
If you didn’t kill the enemy, your comrades, or even you, would die.
But everyone has their own principles. Unless necessary, Jin Feng wouldn’t take a life lightly.
This applied to war and to earning money.
A gentleman loves wealth but acquires it justly.
He enjoyed making money, true, but he didn’t want his earnings tainted with sin.
There were countless ways to make money. There was no need to take food from the people’s mouths to brew wine.
Jin Feng quietly covered the wine jug.
The next day, the female soldiers and veterans were set for a combat drill. Early in the morning, Guan Xiaorou woke Jin Feng.
Seeing Qing Mulanz and Iron Hammer in the courtyard, Jin Feng couldn’t help but laugh.
Yesterday, both had been bold and brash, but now they were utterly deflated.
Iron Hammer was faring better, perhaps due to his duties or his robust constitution, which processed alcohol faster. He stood by the door, though his face looked grim.
Qing Mulanz, however, was in a sorry state, slouched over the table, listlessly stirring her rice porridge.
“Sir, your wine is delicious, but the aftereffect is too strong. My head feels like it’s splitting.”
Qing Mulanz rubbed her temples and said, “Why didn’t you stop me yesterday? We have a drill today.”
This was one of the wine’s flaws.
As it was only simply distilled, it easily went to the head.
“Does your conscience not hurt saying that?”
Jin Feng laughed, exasperated. “I tried to stop you, but you challenged me to a duel. What could I do? I was helpless!”
“Did that happen?”
“Ask them.”
Jin Feng pointed at Guan Xiaorou and the other women.
“I can confirm, sir’s telling the truth.”
Zhou Jin covered her mouth, chuckling. “General, you even drew your sword.”
Qing Mulanz clearly didn’t believe she’d done such a thing and looked at A Mei.
Seeing A Mei nod silently, Qing Mulanz clutched her forehead, looking utterly defeated. “That’s too embarrassing. A Mei, next time I act like that, just knock me out and drag me away.”
What’s the worst thing after blacking out from drinking?
Having friends recount what you did while drunk.
As one of Jin Feng’s few close friends, how could he miss this chance to tease Qing Mulanz?
“Don’t make things hard for A Mei. Last night, you insisted on burning yellow paper to swear sisterhood with her. When she refused, you accused her of looking down on you.”
Jin Feng grinned. “Poor A Mei was scared pale, and…”
“Sir, please, stop. Forget what happened yesterday.”
Qing Mulanz clasped her hands and bowed to Jin Feng. “Have mercy, please.”
“No more overdrinking?”
Jin Feng asked.
“Never again, never again.”
Qing Mulanz waved her hands. “From now on, I’ll drink only what you allow.”
“Runniang, is the hangover soup I mentioned ready?”
Jin Feng called toward the kitchen. “If it’s done, bring two bowls for Mulanz and Iron Hammer.”
“Coming.”
Runniang brought two bowls of sour soup with a smile.
After drinking a bowl each, Qing Mulanz and Iron Hammer felt their headaches ease.
“This hangover soup is great. My head doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Qing Mulanz set down the clay bowl and glared at Runniang. “Runniang, I treated you like a sister, and you didn’t bring out the hangover soup sooner.”
The soup was served warm, just right for drinking, clearly prepared earlier, but Runniang hadn’t brought it out.
“Don’t blame Runniang, General. I was worried it might scald you, so I didn’t bring it out.”
Zhou Jin smiled, defending Runniang.
“Once you take a new master, you forget your old one. You’re no better.”
Qing Mulanz, her headache gone, started teasing everyone.
Zhou Jin, who had served under her and now worked as a medic under her command, stuck out her tongue, not daring to retort.
Seeing his apprentice being teased, Jin Feng couldn’t let it slide.
“Ahem, Xiao Jin, what else did General Mulanz do last night? Help her remember.”
“Sir, I was wrong.”
Qing Mulanz immediately backed down, grabbed A Mei, and fled.
She wasn’t sticking around for breakfast today.
