"If you don't eat it, forget it!" Zhang Shixun stepped into the house and said, "I ran halfway across Tokyo to make this three-fresh casserole. To get the ingredients, I even shamelessly went to Grand Tutor Cai's residence to get mushrooms... Young Master, you'll regret missing this." After saying this, Zhang Shixun turned to the people who followed him in and said, "Brother He, Commander Han, I dare say you've never tasted a three-fresh casserole this delicious."
He Ji, who followed in, sniffed hard and said with a smile, "Just this fragrance alone has already tempted me greatly."
"I've been circling the door several times, and I've already got my hook in your throat." Han Shizhong was the last to enter, holding a black wine jar in one hand.
Although Black Turtle was clumsy and stupid, he was very sensible. He quickly placed the table next to the stove and brought two benches. Then he left tactfully.
Zhang Shixun, with his mighty sword, sat down on the bench first. He smiled and waved to He Ji and Han Shizhong, saying, "Brother He, uncle, come and sit down. There are no outsiders here." He then looked up at Gao Yanei and said, "Are you still angry with me?"
Gao Yanei snorted and turned his face away.
"What a jerk! Shixun put you in solitary confinement because, firstly, you did violate military regulations...it's no one else's fault. Secondly, he's just using you as a military officer for show. If you can't even see that, what a mess!" He Ji said as he reached out and twisted Gao Yanei's ear, "Get over there and sit down."
"Ouch! Ouch! Old He, let go." Gao Yanei shouted in a pretentious manner and was pulled to sit down by Old He.
"Uncle! Open the wine! This is the Erqu liquor brewed by Wang Dong. Although the taste is slightly inferior to Jiutou, it is not much worse. However, although Jiutou is strong, the price is several times that of Erqu. It is also slightly harmful to the body and is not suitable for drinking. This Erqu liquor is different. The color, fragrance, and taste are excellent, and the concentration is moderate, which is very suitable for drinking. When Prince Yun obtains the license to brew liquor, there will be a few more inferior liquors to be released. By then, we will have high-end, mid-range, and low-end liquors. Once these liquors are released on the market, they will sweep Tokyo City and the entire Song Dynasty. It's exciting to think about it."
Gao Yanei swallowed his saliva with a "gulp", his eyes shining. This prospect was too tempting. When the whole Song Dynasty bought "Gao Lao Zhuang" wine, money would roll in. It was so exciting.
"I don't know what kind of wine the commander-in-chief is talking about, but I know it tastes good." Han Shizhong untied the red silk cloth on the wine jar, and with a flick of his thumb, the wax seal on the cork was opened. He pulled out the cork, and the aroma of wine wafted out.
"It smells good!" Han Shizhong leaned close to the wine jar and sniffed.
"It smells so good!" He Ji agreed.
Zhang Shixun took four black porcelain wine bowls from the table behind him, waited for Han Shizhong to fill them, then picked up the bowls and said, "Stop talking, drink!"
He Ji and Han Shizhong raised their wine bowls. Gao Yanei stretched out his hands and shouted, "Wait a minute!"
Everyone present was stunned and looked at Gao Yanei together.
"Commander! As the commander of the first army, why don't you abide by military regulations?" Gao Yanei stared at Zhang Shixun and spoke loudly, enunciating each word.
Zhang Shixun put down his wine bowl and asked, "How did I break military rules?"
"Drinking is not allowed in the army! It is clearly written in the military regulations. As the leader of an army, how could you not know it?" Gao Yanei said with a stern face and a serious expression.
Zhang Shixun, He Ji and Han Shizhong looked at each other and burst into laughter at the same time.
"Why are you laughing?" Gao Yanei said in a pretentious tone, saying "you" every time.
Zhang Shixun and the other two laughed until they were almost out of breath. When Gao Yanei was so angry that he stood up and was about to explode, they suppressed their laughter and said in Gao Yanei's tone, "Don't be angry. Sit down and let this general explain it slowly."
"If you don't explain clearly, I will not sit here as the chief judge!" Gao Yanei said with his neck stiff.
"Okay, the commander of this capital asks... asks you, what day is today?" Zhang Shixun asked him back, trying hard to hold back his laughter.
"Today is..." Gao Yanei scratched his head, unable to remember what day it was.
"Alas! It's a pity that a few days of confinement have turned you into this state." Zhang Shixun shook his head and sighed, "I'm telling you, today is New Year's Eve. Except for officers and soldiers on duty, everyone else in the army can drink."
"Ah!?" Gao Yanei opened his mouth wide, "New Year's Eve?"
He Ji had been enduring this for so long that he couldn't bear it any longer. He threw his head back and laughed out loud, tears coming out of his eyes.
Han Shizhong was different. He had been drooling over the wine for a long time, so he picked up the wine bowl and took a big gulp without caring about anything.
"Young Master, if you're angry with me, you can tell me another time. Today is a festive day. Hurry up and have a few drinks and eat some food, then go home to celebrate the New Year. I'm sure your parents and your wives and concubines are waiting anxiously at home."
Zhang Shixun picked up the wine bowl and stuffed it into Gao Yanei's hand, taunting him, "You keep saying 'er', and shut up! Are you annoying me? We're all foxes on the same mountain, so stop pretending to be the boss... Drink! And then get out!"
"Oh!" Gao Yanei picked up the wine bowl and drank it in one breath.
Han Shizhong had already finished three bowls. He wiped his mouth, stood up and said, "Shixun! I don't want to drink anymore. Hongyu is still waiting at home... Oh, do you have any more of this wine? Let me take ten jars away."
Zhang Shixun smiled and said, "Uncle, it's still early. There's no need to rush back. The wine has been sent back to you. No more, no less, exactly ten jars."
Gao Yanei was anxious when he heard this: "What about me?"
"How could I leave you out? I've already sent people to deliver it to the mansions of Prince Yun, the Grand Tutor, and the Liang Mansion. Of course, Brother He's mansion is also indispensable... To send gifts, I emptied out all the wine that my cousin brewed. He was so angry that he jumped up and down and scolded me."
He Ji clasped his fists and said, "Thank you for your help, brother. Thank you."
Gao Yanei picked up a meatball from the casserole with his chopsticks, stuffed it into his mouth, and said incoherently: "Thank you... Wow!... It's so hot!"
"No need to thank me, it's what I deserve." Zhang Shixun waved his hand with a smile.
A few people took a sip of wine and a bite of food, and soon they were sweating profusely.
"What a pleasure!" He Ji took out a handkerchief and wiped his forehead.
Gao Yanei touched his stomach, looking full and satisfied. He had been locked up in the cellar for a few days. Although someone brought him three meals a day, they were all watery soups. He was not starving to death, but he was not full either. He had been looking forward to coming out for a big meal.
He Ji picked his teeth and said to them, "Shixun, Chengzong, and Old Han, you all should go back. Your families are waiting for you. I'll be on duty in the barracks, so you don't have to worry."
"When will I be on duty?" Gao Yanei stood up and prepared to leave.
"You don't have to be on duty. I'll take your place. After the Little New Year, report back to the military camp on the 16th day of the first lunar month." Zhang Shixun also stood up.
Gao Yanei picked up his fur coat and put it on, then asked Zhang Shixun, "Brother, are you going home now?"
Zhang Shixun said, "It's still early. I want to go to the bathhouse street to take a bath, and then go home..."
Gao Yanei was delighted when he heard this: "Haha! What a coincidence! I'm also planning to take a bath. Since brother is going too, we can keep each other company."
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