He was now the Patriarch of the Zhou Family. Dressed in brocade robes and sporting a mustache, he no longer had the air of the young playboy he once was.
"It’s good staying here."
Han Bai said with a smile.
"You know, you really seem like one of those reclusive masters or something."
Zhou Yuxuan chewed on some peanuts and took a sip of Bamboo Leaf Wine.
"Maybe I really am," Han Bai said with a slight smile.
"Enough about that... I lost money on that business venture again the other day..."
"Business is getting harder and harder these days."
Zhou Yuxuan sighed helplessly.
Only when the weight of an entire family rested on his shoulders did he truly feel how heavy the pressure was.
That was why he often came to the Drunken Immortal Inn to chat with Han Bai and unburden himself.
Han Bai was clearly a very good listener. He would only ever listen, never offering any opinions.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
Just then, a knock came from the door.
It was already late, and the "closed" sign was hanging outside.
’Who would come here so late at night?’
A little puzzled, Han Bai got up to open the door.
A middle-aged man, who looked both familiar and unfamiliar, appeared before him.
The man wore a hemp shirt, his hair was graying, and his face was etched with hardship and worry.
Seeing Han Bai, the middle-aged man’s expression was complex, a mixture of apprehension and guilt.
He opened his mouth and said, "Shopkeeper Han... It’s been a long time."
"You’re... Santong?"
"Come in. We’ll talk inside."
Han Bai looked closely and finally recognized him. It was indeed his former shop assistant, Du Santong.
When Zhou Yuxuan heard the name Santong, he instantly remembered who the man was.
But he was surprised that Han Bai held no grudges.
’If it were me, back in the day,’ he thought, ’I would’ve had the man thrashed.’
But Zhou Yuxuan was more mature now.
He knew this was Han Bai’s business, so he didn’t say anything.
"Shopkeeper Han, I’ve wronged you..." Du Santong said guiltily.
"Back then, my parents forced me to do it... I wanted to come and apologize... but I felt I was too ashamed to face you."
"Later, I went to the county town... but the recipe for the Bamboo Leaf Wine was stolen by another assistant."
"That assistant was actually sent by a powerful family from the county town. After that, business at our tavern got worse and worse... My father started gambling... he lost everything, and then he hanged himself."
"My mother couldn’t bear the blow... She fell gravely ill and passed away as well."
As Du Santong recounted his experiences over the years, his voice was heavy with sorrow.
Zhou Yuxuan listened from the side, remaining silent.
"That’s just how life is... No one knows what tomorrow will bring."
Han Bai poured Du Santong a bowl of wine and said comfortingly.
Du Santong stared blankly at Han Bai.
He had originally thought that when he came looking for Han Bai, even if Han Bai had forgiven him, he would still be met with scorn and sarcasm.
But Han Bai didn’t seem to hold any grudge against him at all.
Although his face had aged a little, his eyes were as calm and serene as they had been all those years ago.
"Shopkeeper Han... I... I’ve wronged you!"
Du Santong broke down and wept bitterly.
He had come this time only to apologize to Han Bai.
"It’s alright... It’s all in the past."
"I don’t even mind... so why should you keep dwelling on it... The most important thing is to live on."
Han Bai said with a smile.
Du Santong wiped his tears and downed the bowl of wine in one gulp.
The Bamboo Leaf Wine still tasted the same.
But the people were no longer the same.
"Shopkeeper Han... I’ll be going now."
"If I have the chance in the future, I’ll come visit you again."
After finishing the wine, Du Santong gave Han Bai a deep bow and left the tavern.
Watching his figure disappear into the dark alley, Han Bai seemed moved.
"I suppose you could call that retribution,"
Zhou Yuxuan said softly.
"I don’t know..." Han Bai shook his head.
"Well, I’m leaving too... Tonight’s drink was worth it."
Zhou Yuxuan chuckled, also left the tavern, and soon vanished from Han Bai’s sight.
A few days later, Han Bai overheard a conversation between some patrons.
"Did you hear about Du Santong from the Shengxian Inn that used to be in our town? He supposedly took a blade, stormed a mansion in the county town... killed seven or eight people... and was then cut down by the constables who rushed to the scene."
"Du Santong... I think I heard about that. Wasn’t it that family who stole his property...?"
"To think how good business was for Shengxian Inn back in the day... I never expected it to end like this."
"From ancient times to the present, hasn’t it always been like this? Drink up, drink up."
Standing behind the counter, Han Bai sighed softly but said nothing.
’When Du Santong came to see me that night, he must have wanted to get my forgiveness before going to do that...’
’Since Du Santong chose to do this, he probably never intended to live.’
....
「Twenty years passed in the blink of an eye.」
Ever since that night, Han Bai had never seen Du Santong again.
The Zhou Family of Ancient River Town... had fallen.
They fell at the hands of Zhou Yuxuan’s son.
This son of his was an expert in wining, dining, womanizing, and gambling. In less than three months, he had completely squandered the Zhou Family’s entire fortune.
Zhou Yuxuan was so enraged that he suffered a stroke and collapsed, unable to get up.
When Han Bai heard the news, he went to the Zhou Mansion to visit Zhou Yuxuan.
But he saw that the former Zhou Mansion already had a new master.
"Where did the Zhou Family go?"
Han Bai’s temples were now gray, and his face was old and weathered.
"I heard the Zhou Family’s eldest son drowned himself in the river..."
"As for the old Patriarch... no one knows where he went."
the servant who opened the door for Han Bai said casually.
Han Bai sighed and left the Zhou Mansion.
However, when he returned to the Drunken Immortal Inn, he saw an old man with disheveled hair sitting inside. The man’s right hand trembled as he raised it, trying to drink a cup of wine, but accidentally spilled it.
Seeing this, Han Bai hurried forward, poured the old man a cup of wine, and helped him drink it.
"My... my life... has been pretty smooth..."
"I never thought... that my own son would be my ruin in the end..."
Because of the stroke, Zhou Yuxuan could barely speak clearly.
"Everything will pass," Han Bai said softly.
"It won’t pass... old friend..."
"But I’ve lived in splendor for so many years. I’d say it was worth it..."
"Drink with me... drink with me!"
Zhou Yuxuan opened his mouth in a wide grin, but most of the wine trickled back out.
It was clear that he now struggled even to swallow.
But Han Bai just smiled and began to drink with Zhou Yuxuan.
As they drank, they spoke of the things that had happened over the past few decades.
In the blink of an eye, so many years had gone by.
As Zhou Yuxuan reminisced, his heart was filled with a thousand emotions.
When evening came... Zhou Yuxuan was slumped over the table, as if he had fallen asleep.
"Old friend... sleep well..."
"I imagine you must be tired."
Han Bai said softly.
The next day, Han Bai found a Daoist to perform a service for Zhou Yuxuan, and had him buried in the cemetery outside the city.
With Zhou Yuxuan’s passing, the Drunken Immortal Inn had lost its last old customer.
Business grew more and more bleak....
「Another ten years passed...」
The alley where the Drunken Immortal Inn was located had become too old and dilapidated, so the Government Office ordered it to be demolished.
Though Han Bai was reluctant to part with it, he couldn’t defy the Government Office’s orders and could only agree helplessly.
On this day, a heavy snow was falling.
Han Bai stood before the Drunken Immortal Inn, holding an umbrella, silent for a long time.
After today, the Drunken Immortal Inn would be torn down.
It seemed that nothing could last forever.
’Du Santong was dead...’
’Zhou Yuxuan had also departed from this world.’
’Even the Drunken Immortal Inn was about to disappear completely into the river of time.’
"Shopkeeper Han... is that you?"
An aged voice came from behind him.
Han Bai turned and saw an old man with white hair, wearing a cotton-padded jacket, standing behind him.
"You’re... Huang Shan?"
"It’s been a long time."
Han Bai smiled.
In the beginning, Huang Shan would still send him letters.
But as the years went by, the letters stopped coming.
"It’s been so long... I came back to my hometown this time and thought I’d come visit you."
Huang Shan’s expression was filled with emotion.
"Haha, your timing is perfect."
"Today is the Drunken Immortal Inn’s last day."
"Come on, let’s go in for a couple of drinks."
Han Bai said with a laugh.
Hearing this, Huang Shan was taken aback for a moment.
"The Drunken Immortal Inn is going to be gone too?"
Han Bai nodded. "Yes... After today, it’s being torn down."