"The eldest and second young masters left the manor last night, I heard they went to the blacksmith's shop to have something made; the third young master just left," the steward replied.
"Hmph! Good thing they ran fast," Yuchi Gong said, displeased.
"What! Trying to take it out on my son again!" Two figures appeared, the beautiful woman in white staring at Yuchi Gong with her eyebrows raised.
"Hehe! No, no, Madam, you've misunderstood." Yuchi Gong hurriedly stood up and said with a smile.
"No, that's fine. If you hurt my son, I'll fight you to the death," the beautiful woman with dark skin and a charming smile continued.
Both of them were wives of Yuchi Gong, known as the Black and White Ladies. They were originally bandits, so they were not exactly refined.
Yuchi Gong, his face dark, thrust vigorously, then stood up, feigning sudden realization, and said, "I suddenly remembered, I still have to go to Uncle Bao's residence. I'll be going now, I'll be back later." With that, Yuchi Gong turned and walked out.
"Sister, didn't we go a little too far? Look at our husband going out like this, won't he be laughed at?" Madam Hei said, watching Yuchi Gong's retreating figure.
"What's there to be afraid of! He's already gone to court with his old face all dressed up. Besides, this isn't the first time," Madam Bai said straightforwardly.
"That's true, I'll be gentler next time."
……………
"Haha! Yuchi Heitan went to court with a face covered in graffiti, and even claimed that he fell while drunk! I'm dying of laughter! You can get dark circles under your eyes from a fall!" After dismounting, Cheng Zhijie burst into laughter.
"Why are you following me instead of going home?" Qin Qiong asked curiously.
"Hehe! Isn't it because you have some good wine at your residence, Brother Qin?" Cheng Zhijie said with a grin.
"Good wine? How come I don't know?" Qin Qiong asked in confusion.
"Didn't your son give you a drink?" Cheng Zhijie asked back.
"No."
"Ahem, well, maybe it hasn't been brewed yet."
"How do you know it hasn't been brewed? Jingde was drunk, and like you, he probably took the liquor from my house?" Qin Qiong said, his eyes slightly narrowed.
"I don't know!" Cheng Zhijie shook his head with a straight face.
Seeing his expression, Qin Qiong knew he was lying. After all, they had been friends for so many years, and he could tell the difference.
Upon entering the mansion, Qin Qiong headed directly towards Qin Mu's courtyard. From a distance, they could smell the aroma of wine, and Qin Qiong couldn't help but twitch his nose, sniffing deeply again and again.
Cheng Zhijie's eyes lit up, and he quickened his pace.
The aroma of wine filled the courtyard, and a fire burned brightly in a corner, where two servants were busy at work. On the other side, a dozen carpenters were engaged in woodworking. The faint sound of reading could be heard coming from the second floor.
"It really smells delicious!" Qin Qiong exclaimed, and he and Cheng Zhijie quickly walked towards the place where the wine jars were placed.
"Qin Yong, pour me a bowl!" Qin Qiong's craving for alcohol was triggered, and he gave the order while holding the wine jar up to his head.
"Patriarch, this..." Qin Yong hesitated, unsure of what to say. Logically, he should listen to Qin Qiong, but Qin Mu had also said that the wine couldn't be drunk directly.
"What? Can't I drink it?" Qin Qiong asked, frowning, when she saw that Qin Yong didn't move.
"No, the young master said this wine can't be drunk directly; it needs to be aged in a cellar and blended," Qin Yong hurriedly waved his hand and explained.
"There's no need for so much trouble!" Qin Qiong swallowed hard.
"This is the real master." Qin Yong was sweating profusely, but he couldn't explain the reason clearly.
“It’s true. Yesterday, Huailiang said he almost passed out after just one sip,” Cheng Zhijie added.
"Dad! Uncle Cheng, you're here." Qin Mu greeted them from the second floor, leaning on the railing. After greeting them, he came downstairs.
"Mu'er, you have good wine, why didn't you send your father a couple of jars?" Qin Qiong complained as soon as he saw Qin Mu.
"I haven't finished it yet! Once it's done, I'll definitely send it to you, Dad," Qin Mu explained innocently.
"Not ready yet?"
"yes!"
"Then how come Cheng Zhijie and Yuchi Jingde both got to drink?" Qin Qiong asked, his eyes wide.
"That was just the basic version; the taste was so-so," Qin Mu explained.
"The beginner version is fine, let's get some to satisfy our cravings!" Qin Qiong waved his hand dismissively.
"Alright!" Qin Mu smiled helplessly, then personally took a jar of freshly distilled liquor, paused to check the alcohol content, and then mixed it with another jar.
The two types of wine were poured into an empty jar, and Qin Yong was asked to hold it and shake it to mix them evenly.
"Wait a moment, let it sit quietly for a while, then you can drink it," Qin Mu said.
"Hmm! Perfect timing, Qin Yong, have someone bring over some snacks to go with the drinks." Qin Qiong nodded in satisfaction.
"It smells so good!" Just then, a voice came from outside the courtyard.
"Hei Tan is here!" Cheng Zhijie said, looking up.
Qin Mu looked towards the courtyard gate and saw a tall figure striding in. This person was tall and walked with a powerful stride. Just as Cheng Zhijie had described, his skin was dark and his face was shiny black.
However, the dark circles under his eyes and the abrasions on his cheeks marred his heroic image. Without introduction, Qin Mu knew this was none other than the renowned Yuchi Gong.
"Well! You guys actually started drinking without waiting for me." Looking at the wine jar in front of Qin Qiong and the others, Yuchi Gong said loudly, then walked to the stone table, sat down, and unceremoniously reached out his big hand to grab the wine jar.
"Jingde, don't rush, wait for the appetizers." Qin Qiong reached out to stop him.
"Hmm, nephew, this wine is quite good. It won't give you a headache after a hangover." Yuchi Gong glanced at Qin Mu and nodded.
"Greetings, Duke of E." Qin Mu bowed respectfully.
"What a clever child! Much better than my blockheads," Yuchi Gong said with a smile.
Qin Qiong and the others didn't respond, but turned to look at the courtyard together, and Qin Mu followed suit. It turned out that another person had entered the courtyard.
"Lord of Lueyang! What brings you here? You didn't even have a servant announce your arrival so I could have greeted you." Qin Qiong and the other two rose to greet him, and Qin Qiong cupped his hands and smiled.
"I dare not trouble Duke Yi. I hope you all do not mind that I have come uninvited." The newcomer was a middle-aged man who looked much younger than Cheng Zhijie and the others, about the same age as Qin Qiong.
"Hehe, how could that be? Please have a seat, Your Excellency," Qin Qiong said.
"Duke of Lu, Duke of E."
"Lord Li!"
After exchanging pleasantries, the newcomer looked at Qin Mu, sized him up, and said to Qin Qiong with a smile, "This must be your eldest son, Duke of Yi! Indeed, a handsome and talented man!"
"Hehe, you flatter me, Lord Li." Qin Qiong replied with a smile, then said to Qin Mu, "Mu'er, this is Lord Li Daozong of Lueyang. Please pay your respects."
"Qin Mu has met with Lord Li."
"No need for formalities, no need for formalities."
"Lord Li, what brings you here?" Qin Qiong asked. Military officers and members of the imperial family had never been very close; even if they were familiar with each other, they rarely interacted.
"I heard that the Duke of Yi's mansion has produced some fine wine, so I shamelessly came to ask for a cup," Li Daozong said with a smile.
"I'm ashamed to say that I only just learned about it myself and haven't tried it yet," Qin Qiong replied after a moment's hesitation.
He only just learned that the manor had produced fine wine; how could Li Daozong possibly know? Qin Qiong thought for a moment and realized this was Li Shimin's idea. Yuchi Jingde had reported falling drunk at court; Li Shimin must have received the news and that's how he found out.
Li Daozong had no intention of hiding anything. Seeing that Qin Qiong had reacted, he smiled and said, "If there are any extras, please send some to me, Duke Yi."
"Ahem! Lord Li, you may not know this, but this wine is only a preliminary product. If you really want to drink good wine, you'll have to wait at least half a month," Qin Mu said with a dry cough.
His liquor was originally distilled for making medicinal wine; otherwise, why would he be making it in his own yard? He should have waited for Cheng Zhijie's distillery to produce the liquor. The liquor he distills here is bought from the market; he only produces about a hundred catties of each variety. After distillation, less than half is left. If they drink it like this, there won't be any left.
"Hehe, it's nothing, it's nothing." Li Daozong smiled but didn't say anything.
Seeing that his smile was sincere and he didn't seem angry, Qin Mu felt a little relieved. He didn't want to offend anyone too much, and besides, Li Daozong was also a talented person in another world and was highly valued by Li Shimin.
"I understand. Once the wine is ready, I will deliver it to Lord Li's residence," Qin Qiong said with a smile.
Li Daozong nodded and said nothing more. Qin Mu vaguely sensed that there was an underlying meaning in their words, after all, Qin Qiong didn't need to be wary of Li Daozong. However, there was no need to worry too much about these things; Qin Qiong would handle everything.
As they were talking, a maid brought in the dishes, and the four of them couldn't wait to start drinking.
The wine Qin Mu mixed was about 40 or 50 degrees, almost twice as strong as the wines available on the market today. Yuchi Gong and Cheng Zhijie were alright, knowing to sip it slowly; Qin Qiong's face turned red, and it took him a while to open his mouth and exhale.
"Pfft!" Li Daozong took a big gulp of wine, his eyes widened instantly, and he spat out a mouthful of wine.
Fortunately, he managed to turn to the side in the nick of time, preventing the spray from hitting the people.
"Ha ha!"
"Haha!" Yuchi Gong and Cheng Zhijie laughed heartily.
"Cough cough! Good wine!" Li Daozong coughed twice and wiped away his tears.
"This wine should be savored slowly!" Cheng Zhijie said with a smile.
"This liquor is quite strong, so it's best to pour it directly down your throat, hold it for a moment, and then swallow it in one gulp. After swallowing, don't rush to open your mouth; wait until you feel the strong liquor enter your stomach before exhaling. This way, you won't feel the spiciness, and you'll still have a pleasant aftertaste." Qin Mu poured himself a glass and demonstrated.
"There's such a thing as meticulousness!" Cheng Zhijie looked it over, then, imitating Qin Mu, drank a cup of wine.
"It really tastes good!" Cheng Zhijie exhaled a breath of alcohol, smacked his lips, and savored the taste.
"This is the right way to drink!" Li Daozong said with a sigh after closing his eyes and waiting a while.
In the past, when drinking wine, especially on important occasions, there was a set procedure: four steps, offering a toast, sipping, and finishing the cup. First, one had to bow to show respect; then, pour a little wine on the ground to thank the earth for its nurturing grace; next, one would take a small sip of the wine, praising its quality to please the host; and finally, one would drink the entire cup in one gulp.
Normally, when drinking, it's all about chugging down big bowls and glasses. Low-alcohol drinks are like beer with grilled skewers – just go for it.
The wine, weighing about five jin, was quickly drunk by the four men, who were all somewhat tipsy.
"Nephew, go and fetch another jar," Yuchi Gong said, waving his hand.
"Duke of E, let's wait a few more days; the taste will be even better then," Qin Mu said, shaking his head.
"Hehe, you dark-skinned guy, you didn't bring a gift, but you're still thinking about drinking non-stop," Cheng Zhijie teased with a laugh.
"Hmph!" Yuchi Gong snorted, unusually not refuting. After all, it was the truth; when a colleague has a baby, you have to give a gift, let alone when a friend finds his long-lost son.
“Nephew, you are indeed talented, but you are too thin. How about you come with me and learn blacksmithing?” Yuchi Gong said, looking Qin Mu up and down with his slightly reddened eyes.
"Hehe, Mu'er, why don't you thank your Uncle Yuchi?" Qin Qiong said with a smile.
Qin Mu had already heard from Qin Qiong that Yuchi Gong had a set of body-strengthening methods for blacksmithing, which even non-martial artists could practice, and with excellent results. He immediately clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, saying happily, "Thank you, Uncle Yuchi."
"It's alright, it's alright, I'll have Baolin come find you tomorrow," Yuchi Gong waved his hand and said.
"I came empty-handed today, so I'll have to make up for it another day," Li Daozong said.
"Lord Li, you're too kind," Qin Qiong said, shaking his head.
“Nephew, can we get another jar now?” Cheng Zhijie winked at Qin Mu. Clearly, he was very pleased with the opportunity to humiliate Yuchi Gong.
What could Qin Mu say? He could only mix another jar.
"Brother Qin!" Li Dejiang walked into the courtyard with great interest, but when he saw Qin Qiong and the others, he shrank back in fright.
However, Qin Qiong and the others ignored it, glanced at it, and then put their eyes back on the table.
"Hehe, Brother Li." Qin Mu stepped forward and greeted him.
"Brother Qin, I've bought a lot of medicinal herbs. Take a look," Li Dejiang said, pointing to the guards behind him.
Qin Mu glanced at the boxes the guards were carrying, pointed to the courtyard, and said, "Let them put them inside!"
"Put it in!" Li Dejiang waved his hand and said, then turned to Qin Mu and said, "I'm sorry, Brother Qin, some of these medicinal herbs are simply not available on the market."
"It's okay, I'll look for it slowly."
"Yes, I've already issued an acquisition announcement, and it should be available in a while," Li Dejiang said, scratching his head.
"Some new wine has just come out; I'll bring a jar for the Duke of Wei to try later." Looking at Qin Qiong and the others who were drinking merrily, Qin Mu's eyes lit up, and he changed his mind.
To quickly establish a reputation, getting word-of-mouth from these high-ranking officials of the Tang Dynasty would undoubtedly be more effective. Releasing a limited quantity would surely attract those who had tasted it, creating a sense of scarcity. Once the distillery's wine was released on a large scale, it would undoubtedly become a bestseller.
He had already guessed Li Daozong's intentions. It must be that Li Shimin had heard there were good things, but was too embarrassed to ask for them himself, so he sent Li Daozong instead.
Since Li Shimin wants some, then let's give him some. Thinking of this, Qin Mu couldn't help but smile.
Three large boxes of medicinal herbs were neatly categorized and placed in small boxes. Although they were all common herbs, Qin Mu was still very satisfied. These herbs were at least better in appearance and age than those used in ordinary shops.
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