CHAPTER 16: CHAPTER 15: FINE WINE

"Them?" Zhu Yu sensitively caught the key in the young employee’s words, "Who are they?"

The young employee grinned: "This kind of thing, nobles feel superstitious just hearing about it, very unlucky, but people like us, living such dull lives, aren’t we just hoping for some topics to entertain ourselves..."

Zhu Yu laughed as he said this: "Isn’t it just luck! I’m a person with no taboos, just afraid of boredom!

So you say the Ghost Immortal Temple brings wealth, some people died, some got rich suddenly, are those getting rich from Qingshui County?"

"I wouldn’t know, it’s all hearsay, I don’t know who exactly, only that people not only turned out fine, but also got a lot of silver taels out of nowhere!" The young employee seemed to have little sympathy for the shopkeeper who died tragically, speaking in a carefree tone, "Otherwise, how could I say the old shopkeeper wasn’t blessed!

Luckily that day I was in the store serving customers, heard the ones who went out of the city to see his death scene came back having nightmares for several nights, guess it was quite scary..."

Just then, the new shopkeeper fiddling with abacus beads at the counter suddenly waved to the young employee.

The young employee quickly apologized to Zhu Yu with a smile and ran back.

The new shopkeeper also smiled warmly this way, then turned to ask the young employee: "Don’t disturb the noble’s meal early in the morning!

Why hasn’t the guy from Lu’s Winery come yet?

Their wine has been delayed for several days without delivery to us! If delayed further, our store will have no wine to sell!

Take advantage of the current downtime, I’m serving here, hurry to Lu’s and urge them!"

Who would want to run errands when they can stay in the store chatting with customers for tips?

The young employee had a bitter face upon hearing this, yet couldn’t defy the shopkeeper’s orders, reluctantly nodding and trotting out of the tavern.

Shortly after the young employee left, two more people arrived at the tavern, with groggy eyes, clearly habitual drinkers known well to the new shopkeeper.

"Shopkeeper, more wine and dishes! Just like the usual!" One of them shouted even before sitting down.

The shopkeeper hurriedly put on a smile to serve, instructed the kitchen on their usual dishes, then went to the back, soon returning with a small jar and a plate of braised meat.

"Gentlemen, here’s the wine, and I’ve brought a dish for now. You can enjoy it first, the rest will be sent over soon!" The shopkeeper placed the wine and food on the table, inviting them.

The two regulars looked surprised at the old, dull-looking wine jar brought up, "What’s this? That wine jar doesn’t look like something from Lu’s!"

"Here’s the thing, Lu’s hasn’t been delivering for several days, what they sent before sold out almost completely.

Lucky you came early, our tavern’s stock is nearly gone, but at least we have some left, if Lu’s delays more, not just us, soon no tavern in the county will have wine to sell!

These are the last two jars!" The shopkeeper explained with a sigh.

Upon hearing this, the two didn’t argue further. Drinkers care about the wine, as long as they can drink, they hardly care about the source.

Though the jar looked old, with some dust settling on it, one grabbed the jar, disdainfully blew off the dust, and tore the seal paper.

A waft of aroma spread instantly, not only did the two drinkers smell it, but also Lu Qing and Zhu Yu seated not far away.

Zhu Yu sniffed, though not a drinker, she could sense the pleasant fragrance of the wine.

Yet amidst the wine aroma, there seemed to be another scent, faint, elusive, yet strangely familiar.

Zhu Yu slightly frowned, trying hard to find this scent in her memory.

The two drinkers never expected the wine to smell so good, their initial dissatisfaction with the dirty old jar vanished instantly, hurriedly drained two cups and sighed with contentment.

Initially intending to wait for the rest of the dishes, the enticing wine drew them in, their stomach’s craving couldn’t wait, they began drinking straight away.

Amazed by the smooth taste and mellow throat feel, they hadn’t even finished the jar before anxiously asking the shopkeeper to reserve the rest for them.

Zhu Yu withdrew her gaze, glanced at Lu Qing, then at Fu Lu sitting opposite: "Want a drink?"

Fu Lu hesitated, glanced at Lu Qing, seeing him silent, nodded, "Of course, I want!"

Just then, the rabbit the young employee had taken to the kitchen was ready, together with other small dishes delivered by the shopkeeper. Upon hearing their wish, "Anything else you need, guests?"

"Just now, we want a jar of that wine," Zhu Yu told the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper looked troubled, having heard the two regulars ask him to keep the remaining wine, he was now in a bind with one jar needed by each party.

Lu Qing handed a small silver coin to the shopkeeper: "Shopkeeper, the days are getting hot, I’m really thirsty."

The shopkeeper saw the silver coin, all his dilemmas disappeared, pocketed it with a smile: "Just a moment, I’ll bring it to you!"

Before long, the wine was brought over and placed on the table.

Zhu Yu grabbed the wine jar, now nearer, the initially elusive fragrance turned more distinct.

She nodded to Lu Qing, handing the jar over.

Lu Qing reached out, finding a faint aroma lingering on this jar, very similar to the broken temple before.

He placed the jar on the table without touching it further, the three of them ate casually.

Meanwhile, the drinkers at the other table got even more excited, soon finishing the small jar, both drinking red-faced and unsatisfied.

"Shopkeeper! More wine! I want what we just had!" One shouted, clearly tipsy now.

The shopkeeper got startled by his voice, apologizing with a smile, "You gentlemen indeed have a good mood today!

Unfortunately, the tavern’s last jar was just bought by those noble guests over there, no more wine here now.

But don’t worry, our employee is urging Lu’s, perhaps their delivery is already on its way!

Enjoy your meal slowly, wait a bit..."

"No, no, I don’t want Lu’s today! Usually, I drink Lu’s wine but unexpectedly tasted something great!" The red-faced drinker hugged the table’s jar, patting it, "Just this! Not Lu’s!"

"Gentlemen, please..." the shopkeeper pleaded, "How about I ask the kitchen to add a small dish, enjoy some food first, then continue when Lu’s delivers?

We truly have no more wine of this kind..."

"I said not Lu’s..." the drinker grumbled, glancing at Lu Qing’s table beside, "Hey! They still have a jar! I see the seal’s not even broken, why not sell it to me!

When Lu’s arrives, you can resell it to them!"