Perhaps aware of his own intimidating appearance, the man hunched slightly, trying to look less threatening. Yet the smile on his face remained stiff and forced. Clearly, he seldom smiled in ordinary life.
“Do the two gentlemen wish to buy wine?” he asked flatly, with no trace of enthusiasm.
“How much for your wine?” Lu Zheng spoke up first.
“I have three kinds. One-Li Fragrance is ten wen a catty, Ten-Li Fragrance is thirty wen a catty, Hundred-Li Fragrance is eighty wen a catty.”
The names were straightforward. One-Li Fragrance was priced like loose tavern wine, only slightly dearer than the cheapest village brew. Hundred-Li Fragrance sounded grand, yet cost far less than fine wine in major restaurants.
“May this old man sample them?” Qi Fengyun asked with a cheerful smile.
“Of course.” The man nodded, fetched a three-catty jar from the table, and took out a bowl.
Lu Zheng noticed two identical jars already on the table. Were they kept specially for tasting?
The man poured less than half a bowl and handed it over. “This is One-Li Fragrance.”
Lu Zheng glanced at it. The liquid was cloudy, the aroma faint, the smell slightly sour. Typical low-end wine of the Great Jing region.
Qi Fengyun, however, showed no disdain. He drained it in one gulp, smacked his lips, and nodded. “Not bad. Less sour than village brew. Good for quenching thirst.”
“This is Ten-Li Fragrance.”
“Mm, already very fine. Most good wines in ordinary restaurants are only this level.”
“And this is Hundred-Li Fragrance.”
“Good heavens! Forgive this old man’s ignorance, but at eighty wen a catty, this quality would fetch at least two hundred wen in a grand restaurant.”
Lu Zheng looked at the man, then at Qi Fengyun, finally at the wine, and quietly shook his head.
The man shook his head too. “Home-brewed. No need to charge so much. If the old gentleman likes it, feel free to buy more.”
“You are an honest fellow. Then this old man really should buy plenty. Give me a hundred catties of the Hundred-Li Fragrance. Do you have that much?”
The man nodded. “I do. Twenty-catty jars, five in total. Where shall I deliver them?”
“This old man is not local. I’m visiting an old friend and happened to pass through Wanfu County. Send them to Tongfu Inn, Room Jia-3 on the fifth floor.” Qi Fengyun smiled. “We still want to stroll around a bit more.”
“Very well.”
The man pushed a single-wheeled cart out from behind the door and parked it at the entrance, then loaded five twenty-catty jars onto it.
“That’ll be eight guan.”
Lu Zheng pulled out a stack of banknotes, counted out one five-guan note and three one-guan notes, and handed them over.
The man took the money and was about to push the cart away when two more people appeared round the corner. One walked ahead, the other pushed an empty flat cart behind.
“Shopkeeper Meng! I’m here for wine again. Ten more jars of Hundred-Li Fragrance, please!”
The newcomer called out, then caught sight of Lu Zheng. His expression changed dramatically. Startled, he hurried forward and bowed very respectfully. “Young Master Lu!”
Seeing who it was, Lu Zheng also felt a moment of panic. He quickly cupped his hands and changed the subject. “Young Master Lin! You’re buying wine too? This shop’s wine must be extraordinary.”
The arrival was none other than the richest man in Wanfu County, Lin Zhijing of the Lin family.
The Lin family was the one Xiao Yuzhen, childhood friend of Liu Qingyan, had married into. She wed the second young master, Lin Zhidong. The family head was Lin Kongzhu, and Lin Zhijing was the eldest son.
Second Young Master Lin Zhidong had once mocked Lu Zheng, only to have his yang energy drained that very night by a big-headed ghost infant. The whole Lin household fell into disaster.
Later, because Lin Kongzhu behaved sensibly and because Xiao Yuzhen was Liu Qingyan’s old friend, Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan stepped in to resolve the crisis, saving the lives of dozens in the Lin family.
Ever since, the Lin family kept strict discipline over Lin Zhidong, treated Xiao Yuzhen as their own daughter, and caused no further trouble. When Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan later visited Wanfu County, they had no further dealings with the family.
So Lu Zheng had nearly forgotten them. He never expected to run into them under these circumstances.
Bloody hell! They know exactly who I am and what I can do! Don’t let anything slip! The man beside us could very well be a thousand-year great demon!
Lu Zheng was inwardly frantic, suppressing his nerves with all his might while steering the conversation elsewhere.
“Yes indeed!” Lin Zhijing nodded repeatedly. “Shopkeeper Meng’s brewing skill is unmatched. Even the best wine at Wanfu Restaurant cannot compare to his Hundred-Li Fragrance.”
Lin Zhidong was a wastrel, but Lin Zhijing was steady and discreet. He would never shout Lu Zheng’s identity to the world, so he simply showed great respect without saying anything inappropriate.
“Shopkeeper Meng?”
“Right.” Shopkeeper Meng nodded, parked his wheelbarrow to one side, and began loading ten jars onto the cart Lin Zhijing had brought.
Nearby, Lin Zhijing glanced at Lu Zheng, then at Qi Fengyun. “And this gentleman is…?”
Lu Zheng introduced him. “An elder from my family. He was visiting a friend and happened to pass through Wanfu County, so we’re strolling around and ended up here.”
“I see.” Lin Zhijing hurriedly paid his respects, then warmly invited them. “What a fortunate encounter! If you have no other engagements, please come to the Lin residence for wine and food. My younger brother’s wife also often asks after Madam.”
Lu Zheng was about to decline when Shopkeeper Meng and Lin Zhijing’s cart driver finished loading the ten jars of Hundred-Li Fragrance.
“Thank you, Shopkeeper Meng! Truly worthy of being a descendant of the Wine Immortal Tavern!” Lin Zhijing cupped his hands in gratitude.
Shopkeeper Meng merely waved dismissively, glanced indifferently at Lu Zheng and Qi Fengyun. “Just an unworthy disciple. As long as I don’t disgrace my master, that’s enough. Young Master Lin, please keep it quiet.”
“Of course, of course.” Lin Zhijing agreed readily, then turned back to Lu Zheng and Qi Fengyun.
Qi Fengyun gave a small nod. “We wouldn’t wish to impose on the Lin family, would we?”
“Not at all! Young Master Lu saved our entire family. For you to dine with us would be our honour.”
“How has Second Young Master been lately?” Lu Zheng cut in.
“Thanks to your blessings, my younger brother has become much more sensible these past two years. Last year he even passed the county examinations and became a scholar. He has learned some sense and no longer causes trouble.” Lin Zhijing smiled.
Lu Zheng nodded. The group left the alley together. They watched Shopkeeper Meng push his cart toward Tongfu Inn while Lu Zheng and Qi Fengyun followed Lin Zhijing northeast toward the grand Lin family compound.
“By the way, you just mentioned the Wine Immortal Tavern?” Lu Zheng asked at once.
“In Yangzhou of Yinan Province there is a famous establishment called the Wine Immortal Tavern, a brewing family that supplies the imperial household. Once, a wine immortal tasted their wine, wrote an inscription, then ascended on a cloud. Ever since, their reputation has been unrivalled.”
Lin Zhijing explained, “Shopkeeper Meng must have trained there. This Hundred-Li Fragrance is actually the Wine Immortal Tavern’s renowned Jade Nectar.
I once travelled with the family merchant caravan to Yangzhou Prefecture, so I recognise the taste.”
“Ah, this…”
Lu Zheng was stunned. He exchanged a glance with Qi Fengyun. Could it be that this brewer was not the wolf demon Leng Li after all?
