Chapter 378- Qin Si's Talent

It's said that "a thousand-year-old cellar has ten-thousand-year-old lees; the quality of wine depends entirely on the age of the cellar." Qushan Town doesn't have many old cellars; most farmers brew their own wine. If we were to rank the best, Tongmen Inn would come out on top.

Tongmen Inn has been renowned since the town's founding. Good wine needs no bush, and drinkers from other places flock to the inn, drawn by its aroma. With just one sip and a gentle sip, they rave about its wine. It's safe to say that Tongmen Inn's continued success over generations is due to its century-old brew: Tongmen Shao.

Mr. Chen is the current head of this Tongmen Inn.

Speaking of Mr. Chen, at just twenty, he was intelligent, diligent, and studious, a promising candidate for a career in government. However, his father suddenly passed away last year. With the loss of this pillar of support, some members of the clan began to stir. His uncles had long coveted the position of innkeeper, but his elderly grandfather was clearly unable to manage the inn alone. Resentment arose within the clan, and undercurrents surged. Seeing their century-old business threatened to collapse, he resolutely dropped out of school and returned home. Facing disdain and skepticism, he turned the tide, managing the inn in a matter of months. His uncles remained silent on the surface, but secretly, they were rubbing their hands in anticipation.

Once the ambition of young people is aroused, it will grow wildly like a vine.

Mr. Chen, unwilling to simply guard his old cellar, watched the flat income for several months in a row as he boredly fiddled with his abacus. The moon crept lower below the treetops, and the drinkers gradually departed. The attentive waiter was surprisingly skillful, and he sincerely admired his shopkeeper. Whenever he had a moment's free time, he quietly offered him a bowl of chicken soup.

As soon as the lid of the pot is opened, the aroma overflows and a layer of golden oil from the chicken soup spreads out.

Mr. Chen took a look and was stunned.

"Xiao Li, this chicken soup..."

When the waiter heard about the chicken, he immediately opened up: "Boss, this chicken is indeed a three-year-old hen. It is raised at the foot of Qushan Mountain, eating insects and drinking dew. When I bought it yesterday, I saw that the chicken was very energetic, so I asked the kitchen to keep some for you to make soup."

"I want to ask, who supplies the Codonopsis pilosula in this chicken soup?"

"This..." Hearing that they were asking about medicinal herbs, Xiao Li fell silent out of guilt. After hesitating for a while, he knelt on the ground and told the truth.

"Shopkeeper, I'll be honest. These herbs are supplied by my family. My grandfather is an old herbalist. Most of the herbs used in Ren Tang Pharmacy come from him. Our kitchen used to get supplies from Ren Tang Pharmacy, but the owner was so dishonest. Not only did he make a huge profit, but he also sold inferior products as good ones. Outsiders couldn't tell. I've been with my grandfather since I was a child, so I know a little bit about the business, so I took the initiative to buy from home. But shopkeeper, I swear to heaven that these herbs are of first-class quality and the prices are fair. I never used them for personal gain."

Mr. Chen quickly helped Xiao Li to his feet. "I know the money in the account. I've seen how you've always been considerate of the inn and how diligently you've worked over the years. I don't blame you at all. The quality of the herbs in this bowl of chicken soup alone is evident. I'm just a little confused and want to pay you a visit. When would be the right time?"

"Then let's do it now. The old man goes into the mountains during the day and comes home at night to collect herbs. He's probably washing and slicing them right now." Xiao Li spoke quickly, wiping his hands on his collar, putting a long gown on Chen Sheng, tightening his trouser legs, and leading the way.

Walking through the night, the two of them took a few turns and arrived at the door of a house. As the gate opened, they smelled a strong medicinal aroma. Sure enough, the flickering candles inside the house revealed the silhouette of an old man.

"Master, come out and see who's here." Xiao Li was overjoyed, diligently moving out the stools and teacups and wiping them clean. The old man heard the noise and quickly stopped. Seeing Chen Sheng, he was startled, unsure of his late-night visit. He looked a little reserved, but politely invited him to sit down.

Chen Sheng looked at the old man with a suspicious face, and quickly smiled without beating around the bush.

"Old man, to be honest, I am disturbing you so late at night because I have something to ask of you. You are a famous herbalist in Qushan Town and you are familiar with the conditions in the mountains. Are there any ginseng that is over a hundred years old in these mountains?"

After listening to this, the old man stroked his beard and thought for a moment, then turned back to the house and searched for a while. After a while, he brought out a dark brown wooden box.

When he opened it gently, he saw a top-grade old ginseng with its beards bared and claws swaying. Even the knowledgeable Xiao Li gasped at the sight.

Looking at this reed bowl, it must be at least fifty years old.

"Boss Chen, to be honest, a few years ago I actually found a century-old ginseng tree in Qushan. I couldn't bear to dig it up, so I tied a red string around it, hoping to let it grow for a few more years. Unexpectedly, the ginseng took on a life of its own. As soon as I tied the red knot, I turned around and put on my backpack and ran away. The soil wasn't even disturbed, but the ginseng itself was gone, leaving only the empty red string lying on the ground. In the years since, I've climbed mountains and ridges, but haven't found it." He shook his head and pushed the wooden box toward Mr. Chen. "Although this ginseng isn't good, it's old enough to be used as medicine or food."

Mr. Chen stared at the old ginseng and fell into deep thought. The grandfather and grandson looked at each other in silence.

After a moment, he stood up and bowed to the old man.

"Old man, I'm not being picky, but I only need ginseng that's over a hundred years old. Tomorrow, could you please take me into the mountains? If I'm not mistaken, the ginseng should still be there. If I can find it, I'll definitely pay a large sum for it. If not, I won't regret it."

Seeing Chen Sheng's persistence, the old man could not refuse and could only nod in agreement.

The next day, before the fog had dissipated, the old herbalist and Chen packed up and headed back into the mountains. It was early autumn, but the vegetation showed no sign of withering; it was growing wildly. Xiao Li, keen to protect his boss, ran ahead, clearing the grass and paving the way for him. After several twists and turns, they entered a dark jungle. Suddenly, a thick fog rose. Chen felt as if his eyes were covered in sand. He stopped and rubbed his eyes, but when he opened them again, he was alone.

The fog was still thick, and he called out loudly, but there was no response.

Mr. Chen didn't dare to move, so he stayed where he was and waited for the fog to dissipate.

After about three quarters of an hour, the thick fog gradually dissipated, and the surrounding landscape slowly began to take shape. Chen Sheng was surprised to discover the entrance to a cave not far away. He assumed the grandfather and grandson had disappeared after entering the cave, and he understood why, so he followed them in.

The light gradually faded, but the space in the cave became larger and larger. He was confused and was about to turn around to go back when the strong aroma of wine wafted from the depths of the cave.

I seem to have smelled this wine somewhere before, but I can't remember where...

He forgot his confusion and fear; the aroma of the wine was so mellow and captivating that it pierced his bones. He groped his way forward in the dimness, skimming across the rough earth until his fingertips touched a wine jar. The aroma of the wine grew stronger, and his head groaned. For some reason, he uncorked the jar, picked it up, and took a deep swig.