C22 Immortal Wine

The judges paused, their eyes lifting to Xiao Qingsong in surprise.

Xiao Mengchang's face shifted as he admonished, "Show some respect."

They had just procured wine from another family to serve; although average, it was the best option available at the time.

It wasn't the right moment for the Xiao family's internal conflicts to be exposed.

Ignoring his father, Xiao Qingsong offered a smile and said, "My apologies, esteemed guests. The wine before you is what we typically offer to our regular customers."

Zhang Ming's voice was icy as he retorted, "Are you suggesting that we don't deserve to sample your family's wine?"

A wave of discontent rippled through the judges.

Still smiling, Xiao Qingsong responded, "Perish the thought. The Xiao family's finest wine from Nancheng has been preserved in ice springs since its creation. As you had not yet arrived, we dared not present it, fearing it would lose its essence and spoil its flavor."

Prefect Liang's interest was piqued. "Oh? Might we then have the privilege of tasting it now?"

"Would I dare refuse?" Xiao Qingsong was internally torn, but with no other choice, he bit back his apprehension, took out a clean cup, and solemnly uncorked the bottle.

A delicate aroma of wine wafted through the air.

Xiao Qingsong exhaled in relief.

The scent promised a fine wine.

In that moment, life and death hung in the balance.

His back was soaked with cold sweat.

Prefect Liang, standing nearest, sniffed eagerly, his eyes alight and his throat itching in anticipation.

Prefect Zhang's brow furrowed.

From the back of the crowd, members of the Xiao family sneered, "Putting on quite the show."

"Gentlemen, if you please," Xiao Qingsong said, presenting the tray of wine with a hint of a smile.

Prefect Liang lifted a cup to his lips, inhaled gently, and his face melted into a look of bliss.

Creak!

He took a sip and closed his eyes.

A hush fell over the room for a long stretch of seconds.

Xiao Qingsong's anxiety began to bubble up again.

Then, Prefect Liang's eyes snapped open, and he snatched the porcelain bottle from Xiao Qingsong's grasp. He carefully poured himself another cup and, with a swift motion, drank it down.

With a hiss, he let out a sigh of contentment.

Then, he lifted the porcelain bottle, intent on guzzling the entire contents in one go.

"Master, no!"

"Lord Prefect, please wait!"

"Stop!"

...

If looks could kill, Prefect Liang would have been dead many times over.

Those closest to him quickly seized his arms, thwarting his nefarious scheme.

"Prefect Liang, Liang Keng! You scoundrel, trying to hog it all for yourself!"

The atmosphere took on a theatrical edge as the judges glared at Prefect Liang in unison.

Nearby, the guards tensed up. With such important figures present, any mishap could lead to dire consequences.

And it seemed that every one of these dignitaries wanted Prefect Liang's head...

What to do? To intervene or not?

In that moment, Prefect Liang chuckled sheepishly, "Oh dear, I got carried away and forgot about the esteemed company here. My apologies, my apologies..."

He then cradled the porcelain bottle as if it were precious and began pouring wine for the judges himself.

But each pour was precisely half a cup. In a wine cup the size of a thumb, half a cup was hardly enough to wet one's palate.

Chen Zhishi, a man of scholarly background, watched a drop of the pure brew almost reach his cup before Prefect Liang tipped it back into the bottle, leaving him so frustrated he practically gnashed his teeth. "Prefect Liang, aren't you being a bit too miserly?" he complained.

Prefect Liang replied with a smile, "Chen Zhishi, there are many more waiting their turn. I could give you a bit more, but then someone else would miss out."

A chorus of protests erupted from those waiting.

Chen Zhishi stepped aside, disgruntled, but then it struck him... Wait, how could you know that giving me more would leave someone else dry?

Could you possibly predict exactly how many cups that bottle will fill?

Before he could voice his thoughts, he found himself squeezed out to the fringes, left to silently curse and beat his chest in frustration.

After the second tasting, the judges still couldn't bear to part with their cups, instead holding them close and savoring the lingering aroma.

From a distance, the scowl on the face of the Xiao family's eldest branch was unmistakable.

Even the least astute among them could tell that the second branch hadn't just dodged a bullet—they had completely wowed the judges.

Xiao Qingsong's grin was so wide it nearly reached his ears. Clearing his throat, he chuckled, "Esteemed judges, I would be grateful for your guidance."

The judges snapped out of their reverie, eyeing Xiao Qingsong as if he were a lamb to the slaughter.

Unfazed, Xiao Qingsong took a subtle step back and added, "Should there be any shortcomings, I eagerly await your esteemed advice."

Prefect Liang broke into a smile and inquired, "Are you Nephew Xiao? What, pray tell, is the name of this wine?"

Lee Cha stepped forward and announced, "My lord, the wine is named Immortal Wine."

"Immortal Wine! Splendid name!" The crowd exclaimed in approval.

Lee Cha continued, "Immortal Wine is crafted through forty-nine meticulous steps over eighty-one days at Xiao's Distillery in Nancheng. Any imperfection, and it's discarded. It's designed to deliver the ultimate pleasure to our most venerable and illustrious connoisseurs."

Prefect Liang roared with laughter, "The ultimate pleasure indeed, a wine worthy of the most esteemed and extraordinary among us."

Lee Cha's eyes gleamed. With the official's endorsement, Immortal Wine was set for a smooth entry into the upscale market.

He revealed, "This top-tier wine is exceedingly rare, with just a handful of bottles produced each month."

Hearing this, the judges let out sighs of disappointment, their spirits dampened.

The Xiao family's eldest branch, lurking at the back of the crowd, finally relaxed. Even if the second branch had clinched the title of best wine, it would likely irk the judges due to its limited availability. Who would get a share of such a scarce commodity?

Deciding who would receive the wine—and who wouldn't—was bound to ruffle some feathers.

Lee Cha paused, letting the anticipation build, before delivering his final stroke: "However, Xiao's Distillery in Nancheng currently has a reserve of fifteen bottles. I take the liberty on behalf of Shopkeeper Xiao to offer them to your residences, inviting the distinguished judges to share their valued opinions."

Upon hearing the news, the judges' eyes sparkled. They stroked their beards, clearly pleased with what they heard.

Such an admirable young man!

He understands the situation.

He knows how to conduct himself.

He possesses a broad perspective...

Xiao Mengchang and his son, Xiao Qingsong, breathed a deep sigh of relief, casting a look of veiled annoyance at Lee Cha. The situation felt like a relentless roller coaster—no sooner had one crisis abated than another arose.

Lee Cha feigned a helpless sigh and lamented, "This exquisite wine should have been cherished for centuries. Alas, Xiao's Distillery in Nancheng is on the brink of closure, with all brewing equipment destroyed and the master brewer seeking new opportunities. Thus, apart from the bottles in your possession, the Immortal Wine has vanished from the world."

The Xiao family duo was left speechless.

The judges, furrowing their brows, inquired, "Oh? And why is that?"

Lee Cha turned to Xiao Mengchang and his son.

Clearing his head, Xiao Mengchang took up the narrative. "Xiao's Distillery in Nancheng poured excessive capital into the creation of Immortal Wine. With the recent expiration of our contract with the Xiao family tavern, and their decision against renewal, the distillery's finances have dwindled. We can't even afford to pay our craftsmen, forcing us into this regrettable position."

"What?!"

"The Xiao family tavern is part of the Xiao family's holdings. Why such shortsightedness? Immortal Wine should be a legacy, gracing future generations and delighting connoisseurs worldwide. Yet now, it's fleeting. What is to be done?"

"Alas, the ways of commerce prevail..."

"Ah! Such a loss!"

Another queried, "Aside from Immortal Wine, the other pure brews from Xiao's Distillery are also of exceptional quality. Why wouldn't the Xiao family tavern renew the contract?"

Xiao Mengchang hesitated before responding, "Well..."

Prefect Liang, with a contemplative look, glanced at Zhang Ming and suggested, "If the government-run tavern sourced wine from Xiao's Distillery, might it alleviate their plight and herald the return of Immortal Wine to the world?"

He was well aware of the strife within the Xiao family and that Zhang Ming backed the family's eldest branch.

Yet, his love for wine was paramount; faced with such exquisite liquor, he couldn't stand the thought of Immortal Wine vanishing.

Moreover, the local authorities annually offered tribute wine to their superiors. If Yingchang Prefecture could make a splash in the palace, it might just elevate his standing.

Xiao Mengchang and Xiao Qingsong turned their gaze to Lee Cha, convinced he hadn't gone to such lengths merely for a fleeting moment of awe.

As expected, Lee Cha spoke up, "Crafting the brewing tools is incredibly complex, and the old artisan who made them has passed away..."

He paused, then added, "However, that very craftsman was my mentor. Though I may be unskilled, I am capable of producing the necessary tools."

The judges shot Lee Cha a look of irritation. Why did this young man always stop mid-sentence?

Couldn't he just say everything at once?

"Excellent."

"A teachable youth indeed..."

"Bravo, bravo, a hero emerges from the young..."

Lee Cha continued, "I intend to collaborate with the Xiao family's second branch to establish the Immortal Wine Distillery and Tavern, preserving this delightful creation for posterity. Oh, and my name is Lee Cha, a descendant of the Suzhou Lee family."

"The Suzhou Lee family? The one known for their peerless Yellow Wine?" someone inquired.

Lee Cha simply smiled in response.

"Ha, it's no surprise then that someone from a wine-brewing lineage could produce such superior wine."

"Indeed, Suzhou is renowned for its frequent production of fine wines."

...

Once the leaders had nearly finished their accolades, Lee Cha resumed, "The Immortal Wine Distillery and Tavern also invite local gentry to become shareholders. Beyond priority access to Immortal Wine, they will share in the profits of the business."

"What does being a shareholder entail?" someone asked.

Lee Cha explained, "In my hometown, we have shareholders and silent partners. Shareholders are the proprietors who collectively own the distillery. Silent partners contribute labor and receive dividends but hold no ownership rights in the distillery."

Many judges' eyes sparkled with interest. So, by investing money, they could become co-owners of the Immortal Wine enterprise?

What a great idea!

Though most of them were officials, barred from business, their relatives certainly weren't.

Someone remarked, "The Immortal Wine is exquisite, but there's just not enough of it."

Lee Cha responded, "Before my master passed away, he revolutionized the brewing equipment. The new tools can increase efficiency by dozens of times. More distilleries mean more production."

"Hahaha, excellent! Excellent! Excellent!" Prefect Liang roared with laughter.

The other judges were overjoyed.

Today was quite the catch – they had savored unparalleled wines and stood to profit from them.

Their glances towards Lee Cha grew increasingly warm.

It was as if he was a walking treasure trove.

Seizing the moment, Lee Cha inquired, "Esteemed officials, what grade would you assign to this Immortal Wine?"

Prefect Liang declared, "Such wine is meant for the heavens, rarely encountered on earth. The highest distinction at the Wine Gathering is 'superior,' yet that hardly captures its worth."

After a brief reflection, he proposed, "Beyond superior. How does that sound?"

The other judges nodded in agreement, "Indeed, it deserves to be beyond superior."

The hall erupted in excitement.

A rating beyond superior was unprecedented in Yingchang Prefecture.

Across the entire Song Dynasty, one could count such wines on one hand.

But those were exclusive reserves, known only by name, never seen.

Now, a truly exceptional wine was before them.

Tavern owners swarmed, eager to engage with Xiao Mengchang and his son.

"Manager Xiao, the Guo Family Tavern will take ten thousand jars."

"Step aside, where would you find so many? Manager Xiao, put me down for nine thousand."

"Out of the way, I was here first. I'm ordering five thousand."

The Xiao family's main branch was squeezed out to the fringes, their expressions sour with displeasure.

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