Translator: Ink Hub

Editor: Yoog

The third day of the third month marked the opening of the wine market.

Fengchuan City was one of the most prosperous metropolises within Que Prefecture. Its rise to prominence had been fueled by the locals’ expertise in brewing; their varieties were numerous and their flavors sweet, gradually earning the city a growing reputation. Furthermore, as a vital artery connecting Ding Prefecture and Que Prefecture, it saw a constant stream of merchants, allowing the city’s taverns to thrive, with their spirits even being exported to other provinces and counties.

The so-called wine market was, in reality, a grand sales exhibition, a tradition unique to Fengchuan City. Every tavern would bring out its finest spirits for guests to sample. If a guest was satisfied, they would place an order on the spot.

These orders were never for just a jar or two; they started at a minimum of several dozen. As long as one could produce quality liquor, there was never a shortage of silver to be made.

The major taverns of Fengchuan City were all concentrated on a single street known as Wine Immortal Lane. Tingyu Restaurant stood at the east end, while Dingxiang Residence sat at the west. The two establishments faced each other across the street, known to all as bitter rivals.

Early in the morning, countless merchants and heavy drinkers flooded into Wine Immortal Lane, turning the entire street into a sea of people. Because of the booming reputation of Sanguotou, the number of guests attending this year’s market was exceptionally high, packing the street so tightly that one could feel the backs of the people in front.

The taverns had long since erected high platforms at their entrances, displaying their prized vintages as the aroma of alcohol filled the air. Waiters shouted at the top of their lungs, eager to lure in more guests. As long as they could secure large orders, their commissions were guaranteed.

Naturally, the majority of the guests were rushing toward Tingyu Restaurant, all of them having come specifically for Sanguotou. However, people were shocked to discover that what Tingyu Restaurant had placed at their entrance was not Sanguotou but the same Shili-xiang they had always sold. Immediately, some grew displeased.

“Where is the Sanguotou? Hey! Where is the wine!”

“That’s right! We traveled all this way, and you try to fool us with Shili-xiang? Hurry up and bring out the Sanguotou!”

“Get on with it! I’m already craving it; I’m determined to buy eight or ten jars to take home today!”

In the past, Tingyu Restaurant’s Shili-xiang was considered a reputable fine spirit, but now, it had become akin to a neglected wife. The guests didn’t even glance at it, demanding only Sanguotou by name.

Jiang Shu stepped out personally, cupping his hands in apology.

“Honored guests, please do not be impatient. The wine market has only just begun. Sanguotou is our main event; how could it appear at the very start? It is meant to be the grand finale.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, what kind of suspense are you still trying to build?”

“Manager Jiang, have some mercy. Just bring out the Sanguotou, and we’ll buy it right now!”

But no matter how the guests pleaded, Jiang Shu refused to bring out the fine liquor, simply offering a sheepish smile.

“Everyone, stop waiting. Tingyu Restaurant has no more Sanguotou. They only had those hundred jars, and they’ve long since sold out. You’d be better off coming to take a look at my Dingxiang Residence!”

Just as the crowd was at a loss, Du Gang’s loud, clear laughter echoed throughout Wine Immortal Lane.

“Come and see! Our shop’s new spirit is in no way inferior to Tingyu Restaurant’s! We guarantee everyone will be satisfied!”

The waiters of Dingxiang Residence were also shouting at the top of their lungs. For a moment, the street became incredibly lively. Combined with the reputation of Dingxiang Residence as the city’s premier tavern, most of the guests soon surged toward them, crowding the entrance completely.

“Honored guests, thank you for your patronage!”

Du Gang cupped his hands in all directions, his face beaming.

“Actually, we know how to brew Tingyu Restaurant’s Sanguotou as well. We just didn’t bring it out to sell until now.”

Behind him, another high platform had been erected, piled high with well over a hundred jars of wine. All of them were sealed with red clay, and a faint, fragrant scent of alcohol seemed to drift from them.

“Manager Du, you must be joking, right? You know how to brew Sanguotou? If it’s such good wine, why didn’t you bring it out to sell sooner?”

“Good question!”

Du Gang cast an appreciative glance at a shill in the crowd.

“Because we at Dingxiang Residence do not concern ourselves with petty, short-term business. We only do this to make a stunning impression at the wine market! And to ensure our guests get to taste the very best!

“The Fengchuan City wine market has a long history. If we didn’t have a fine spirit worthy of the name, how could Dingxiang Residence have stood firm in this city for so many years?”

“Well said!”

“Manager Du certainly knows how to do business!”

The crowd cheered one after another, and the smile on Du Gang’s face grew even wider. He turned and pointed to the tall wine jars.

“Gentlemen, this spirit is the fine liquor that Dingxiang Residence has meticulously brewed for half a year. It is called Qianli-xiang—absolutely a top-tier vintage!”

Qianli-xiang?

The moment everyone heard the name, they understood the implication. Tingyu Restaurant’s was called Shili-xiang (Ten-Mile Fragrance), and he called theirs Qianli-xiang (Thousand-Mile Fragrance); it was clearly meant to outshine them—no, to outshine them by a thousand times over!

“Manager Du certainly has a bold tongue, boasting that the fragrance drifts for a thousand miles.”

A soft chuckle suddenly sounded from the crowd. “I am actually quite curious. How exactly did Dingxiang Residence manage to brew such a fine spirit? You certainly have impressive skills.”

The sarcastic tone drew countless gazes. A handsome man dressed in black stood in the middle of the square. His posture was upright and his demeanor calm, yet his tone carried a hint of malice.

The guests were curious: who dared to make Dingxiang Residence lose face in such a public setting? Did they not know the background of Dingxiang Residence?

“Heh heh, I wondered who it was. So, it is City Lord Luo.”

Du Gang’s eyes flickered for a moment, but his expression remained as usual.

“Let me introduce him to everyone. This is the new city lord of Cangqi City, the man who beheaded the enemy general Wanyan Chang at Yunyang Pass and dealt a crushing defeat to the Qiang soldiers.”

“Luo Yu, City Lord Luo!”

“It’s actually him!”

“Good heavens! To think I would see such a legendary figure at the wine market today!”

“They say the Western Qiang’s Wanyan Chang was incredibly formidable. I never expected the man who killed him to be so young. Truly, the youth are to be feared.”

Exclamations rose from the crowd. Luo Yu’s reputation was by no means small, and gazes of awe followed.

Luo Yu didn’t care in the slightest. He only looked at Du Gang.

“I am quite interested in Fengchuan City’s wine market, and I am even more interested in fine spirits. Why don’t you explain to everyone, Manager Du, what kind of exquisite brewing method allows this wine’s fragrance to drift for a thousand miles?”

“Very well, then I shall explain it to everyone!”

Du Gang naturally knew that Luo Yu was deliberately making things difficult, but he had long been accustomed to such scenes. He spoke with eloquence.

“First, to brew this spirit, one must select the highest quality rice and grain. We choose the best for fermentation, and then bury it deep underground for forty-nine days…”

He was a businessman, after all; he could spin a tall tale for half a day ad lib. Du Gang wasn’t the least bit worried that Luo Yu would expose him in public because Luo Yu had no proof that this Qianli-xiang was actually the Sanguotou he had brewed.

“A truly marvelous method, indeed.”

Luo Yu nodded repeatedly.

“It certainly sounds like this wine is extraordinary. It makes one quite curious.

“Manager Du has said so much. Why not let everyone have a taste?”

Someone who could no longer wait shouted, “Whether it’s a good spirit or a fine vintage, we’ll know once we taste it!”

“That’s right! Let the taste speak for itself!”

Du Gang was in high spirits. He waved his hand grandly.

“Today, I will let you all taste the Qianli-xiang that is about to become famous across the three provinces of Longxi. You are the very first guests, after all.

“One bowl per person, on the house, courtesy of Dingxiang Residence. From tomorrow on, a single jar of Qianli-xiang will cost twenty taels!”

Twenty taels—that was a hefty price, no doubt.

But the more he said that, the more the guests’ cravings grew. Their eyes widened as they could already smell the fragrance wafting from the opened jars.

“Open the jars!

“Taste the wine!”

Ten beautiful maidservants moved in unison, breaking the clay seals of ten jars of fine wine. They poured exactly one hundred bowls and distributed them to the guests at the front, one bowl per person.

Du Gang was utterly self-satisfied, shouting loudly, “Dingxiang Residence invites you all to taste our wine!”

One guest volunteered, “I’ll go first!”

He tilted his head back and downed the drink in one gulp. Everyone watched him with bated breath.

Under Du Gang’s incredibly excited gaze, the taster’s expression shifted from joy to bewilderment, and finally, to pure rage. He smashed his bowl onto the ground right then and there.

“Pah! What kind of shitty wine is this? It’s clearly just plain water!”

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