"A fragrant wine fears no deep alley."
"I have confidence in the Cyan Bamboo Wine I brew."
Han Bai said casually as he sat at the counter, tallying his accounts.
"That’s not how it goes. I attended a private school for two years."
"My teacher said that even a fragrant wine fears a deep alley. Brother Han, you’re trying to fool me again."
Li Santong shook his head.
"Haha, just because your teacher said it, that makes it right?"
Han Bai asked with a smile.
"Of course. If my teacher says it, it’s right."
"Otherwise, how could he be a teacher?"
Li Santong said earnestly.
Han Bai remained noncommittal, saying faintly, "Santong, you have to remember... no one is right all the time. You must learn to distinguish for yourself what is right and what is wrong."
"The line between right and wrong isn’t always so clear."
Li Santong was completely lost, having no idea what Han Bai was talking about.
Han Bai realized his mistake and chuckled. "Alright, you rascal, run an errand for me. Go to the market and buy some more fresh bamboo leaves."
"Remember, they have to be fresh."
Saying this, he took out five copper plates and a piece of broken silver.
Upon hearing this, Li Santong’s face lit up. He pocketed the five copper plates and the broken silver, grinning. "You got it! I’m on my way."
The five copper plates were his payment for the errand; the broken silver was for purchasing the bamboo leaves.
Watching Li Santong run off, Han Bai chuckled and cursed fondly, "That kid."
Just then, a young man dressed as a Scholar walked in.
His brow was furrowed with distress. After entering, he randomly found a place to sit down.
"Shopkeeper, your strongest wine, and a plate of peanuts."
Seeing his first customer of the day, Han Bai naturally greeted him with enthusiasm.
He immediately brought over a plate of peanuts, followed by a bowl of his strongest wine.
"Sir, this is the strongest wine in our shop. It’s called Bamboo Fire Wine."
Han Bai introduced with a smile.
"Bamboo Fire Wine?"
"I can’t say I’ve ever heard that name before."
The Scholar was taken aback.
"Whether you’ve heard of it or not is unimportant."
"You’ll understand once you try it, sir."
After speaking, Han Bai turned and returned to his counter.
The Scholar picked up the wine bowl and took a small sip.
The wine was smooth as it went down his throat, carrying the faint, fresh scent of bamboo leaves. Immediately after, he felt his whole body grow slightly hot, as if a fire was burning within him.
"Good wine!"
"Good wine!"
"Good wine!"
The Scholar praised it three times in a row and couldn’t help but take another sip.
Han Bai merely smiled and said nothing more.
After the Scholar finished his wine and peanuts, he came to settle the bill. "Shopkeeper," he asked, "are there any houses for rent nearby?"
"Are you looking to rent for yourself, sir?" Han Bai asked with a smile.
"Yes... The county examinations are next year."
"I plan to rent a house here and stay until then,"
the Scholar said.
"There are houses available, but you’ll have to wait a moment..." Han Bai said.
"Wait for who?" The Scholar was taken aback.
At that moment, Li Santong walked in, carrying a basket of bamboo leaves on his back.
"Brother Han, I’m back with the fresh bamboo leaves you wanted."
Only after stepping inside did Li Santong notice someone else in the wine shop, his eyes showing a hint of surprise.
"Santong, this gentleman is looking to rent a room here."
"Take him to look for one."
Han Bai was referring some business to Li Santong.
"His name is Li Santong. He knows this area very well. You can’t go wrong asking him,"
Han Bai added, introducing him to the Scholar.
"Then I must thank you, Shopkeeper," the Scholar said gratefully.
And just like that... there was one more person in Han Bai’s wine shop.
This Scholar’s name was Huang Shan. He was from a nearby County Town, but after failing the imperial examinations multiple times, he was too ashamed to return home and ended up stranded here.
On a typical day, he would set up a stall outside and write letters for others to earn some silver.
He would occasionally come to the wine shop for a drink, and over time, he and Han Bai became familiar with each other.
And after that, business at the wine shop gradually began to show signs of life.
The reputation of the Bamboo Leaf Wine gradually began to spread among the drinkers.
「One month later.」
A dashing young master with a commanding presence entered the alley, followed by several servants.
His name was Zhou Yuxuan, the eldest young master of the prominent Zhou Family in town. He was born with a love for wine as if it were life itself.
"Xiaowang, if this Bamboo Leaf Wine isn’t as good as you claim..."
"...you can forget about this month’s allowance."
Zhou Yuxuan joked.
"Rest assured, Young Master. I’ve tried this wine myself."
"The flavor is absolutely beyond reproach."
one of the servants said earnestly.
He was the one who had recommended this wine shop to Zhou Yuxuan.
After all, he knew the young master’s personality.
If this Bamboo Leaf Wine truly suited his palate, a handsome reward would surely be waiting for him.
"Haha, in that case, I really must give it a try."
Zhou Yuxuan’s curiosity was piqued. What kind of peerless vintage could possibly be hidden in such a remote little alley?
Led by the servant, they soon arrived at a wine shop called the Drunken Immortal Inn.
"Drunken Immortal Inn... What a bold name."
Zhou Yuxuan couldn’t help but chuckle when he saw the name.
He stepped into the Drunken Immortal Inn and found that the shop wasn’t large. There were only three or four customers inside, all conversing in low voices, lacking the boisterous noise of an ordinary tavern.
’This is rather interesting.’
Zhou Yuxuan found a seat in a corner of the wine shop.
Han Bai came over to serve them. "What wine would you gentlemen like to drink?"
Even though Zhou Yuxuan’s attire clearly marked him as no simple character, Han Bai gave him no special treatment, his tone neither humble nor haughty.
Zhou Yuxuan was a bit surprised, not having expected the Shopkeeper to be so young.
He thought for a moment and said with a smile, "Then bring us a jar of your Bamboo Leaf Wine."
Han Bai nodded. "I will go and get it for you, sir."
Before long, he returned with a jar of Bamboo Leaf Wine and placed it on the table.
Zhou Yuxuan had one of his men open the jar and pour the wine into a bowl.
The wine was clear, giving off the faint, fresh scent of bamboo leaves.
’The appearance isn’t bad, but I wonder about the taste.’
Zhou Yuxuan picked up the wine bowl and took a small sip.
The wine was delicate and smooth, causing no irritation to his throat. After he swallowed, the aroma of bamboo leaves blossomed across his taste buds.
"Excellent wine!!!"
"Excellent wine!!!"
Zhou Yuxuan was absolutely delighted and couldn’t resist taking another gulp.
He had loved drinking since he was a child, but he had never tasted such a remarkable wine.
After downing three large bowls and feeling a slight buzz, Zhou Yuxuan gave an order: "Go and buy ten jars of Bamboo Leaf Wine for me to take back to the manor."
The servant who heard this whispered, "Young Master, the Drunken Immortal Inn has a rule... you can only buy one jar at a time, and it must be consumed here. You can’t take it away."
Zhou Yuxuan asked in surprise, "He’s turning down business?"
The servant quickly explained, "Young Master, it’s mainly because Shopkeeper Han doesn’t brew enough wine. That’s why he has this rule."
"Otherwise, I would have bought some for you long ago."
Zhou Yuxuan laughed. "Go tell that Shopkeeper I’ll pay triple the price."
’This Bamboo Leaf Wine is truly unique. It would be a fine choice for a gift,’ he thought.
Hearing this, the servant had no choice but to go and speak with Han Bai.
A short while later, he returned with a troubled look on his face. "Young Master... Shopkeeper Han still won’t agree... He said it’s no use no matter how much extra money you offer."
Zhou Yuxuan was surprised. "Such a character... Interesting."
He wasn’t the type to be unreasonable. Since Han Bai wouldn’t sell, he had no intention of trying to buy it by force, so he just continued drinking.
However, after drinking half the jar, he grew reluctant to finish it.
"Surely I can take this jar back with me,"
Zhou Yuxuan said.
"That should be fine," the servant said affirmatively.
"Then take it back to the manor. I want my father to try it too," Zhou Yuxuan said quietly.
"Yes, sir."
The servant quickly sealed the wine jar again.
Before leaving, Zhou Yuxuan chatted with Han Bai for a few moments before taking his leave.
Han Bai kept himself busy in the wine shop, not getting a moment of rest until closing time.
’Looks like I really need to hire some help.’
’Otherwise, I really won’t be able to manage.’
Han Bai muttered to himself.
Just then, a young man happened to be passing by the wine shop.
"Santong, over here!" Han Bai’s eyes lit up.
"Brother Han, what’s up?" Du Santong hurried over, thinking Han Bai was about to find another job for him to do.
"The wine shop is short-staffed. Want to come work here as an assistant?"
"I’ll pay you three taels of silver a month,"
Han Bai said with a smile.
Three taels of silver a month?!!
Hearing this, Du Santong could hardly believe his ears.
After all, running errands and working himself to the bone, he might not even make one tael of silver in a whole month.