Chapter 123: A New Way to Drink Wine [Fourth Update]

Fang Nian noticed that he had captured everyone’s attention, so he continued his story.

“Shuo’er assumed the silver fox was heading home, so he didn’t follow it, instead shouldering his axe and firewood to head down the mountain alone. It was late autumn when Shuo’er returned to Mount Lao to gather wood. After a busy day, he reached a large, flat rock. Drenched in sweat and feeling utterly exhausted, he set down his load and lay on the rock to rest, eventually falling into a deep sleep without realizing it.”

“When he woke up, the sun had already set. A chilly breeze swept over him, making him shiver violently. He felt as if his entire body were bound by ropes, stiff and uncomfortable. With darkness falling, he had no choice but to shoulder his firewood and stumble on his way. Little did he know, from that day on, he would suffer from numbness in his limbs and a growing weakness. In less than a month, he was bedridden, forced to rely on a cane to move, and in immense agony.”

At this point, Fang Nian’s tone turned somber.

“When his mother, Chi Nü, saw her son in such a state, she was devastated. She could not understand why fate was so cruel, first taking her husband and now her son. Watching him grow thinner by the day on his sickbed broke her heart. She sought out renowned doctors everywhere, but they were all helpless against this strange affliction.”

“It wasn’t until an old man in silver robes appeared, claiming he could cure her son, that Chi Nü found a glimmer of hope. With her permission, the old man began the treatment.”

“The old man took several silver needles from his sleeves and applied them to Shuo’er’s acupoints, then used mugwort rolls for moxibustion. He then instructed Chi Nü to grind wheat into a starter, boil broomcorn millet into porridge, mix the porridge with the starter, and ferment it while warm. After filtering it to obtain a clear, thick liquid, he added traditional herbs like *Qiannianjian*, *Haifengteng*, *Niuxi*, *Duzhong*, *Dilong*, and *Tubie* to create a medicinal decoction for Shuo’er to drink, attacking the illness from within.”

“After less than a month of this treatment, Shuo’er truly recovered. The old man said, ‘The great kindness you showed in saving my grandson has been repaid, and my wish is fulfilled.’ With that, he transformed into a silver fox and vanished into the night. Only then did Shuo’er realize that by saving that silver fox, he had indirectly saved his own life.”

Hearing this, Xiao Xuefeng interjected with a sneer.

“You’ve said so much, but what does this have to do with wine? Is that why all these people are here—to listen to your rambling?”

Fang Nian ignored him and continued.

“To return to the story, while she was brewing the medicine, the aroma was so fragrant that the villagers were drawn to it, mouths watering. Chi Nü shared some with them, and after drinking it, they all felt it penetrate their bones, warming their stomachs, soothing their muscles, and invigorating their blood circulation. It was incredibly satisfying.”

“Day by day, more people came to ask for a drink. Seeing how much they enjoyed it, Chi Nü passed down the secret recipe, and it soon spread throughout the Jimo region. Because Chi Nü had a head of golden hair, the people, in gratitude for her gift, named the liquid ‘Yellow Ferment’ (Huanglao). The ‘Yellow Ferment’ of the past is the Jimo Aged Wine of today.”

Fang Nian finished in one breath, his mouth dry. The listeners cheered; the story was truly excellent, far more interesting than the plots of most movies or television shows. Though it was fantastical, who cared?

However, Lu Xiao soon let out a long sigh, his face filled with regret. Seeing this, Xiao Xuefeng immediately asked, “Manager Lu, why the sigh?”

Lu Xiao waved his hand. “Oh, it’s nothing. I just feel that while this Jimo Aged Wine is delicious, it’s perhaps only special because of its rarity. Compared to modern high-proof spirits, it has a richer aroma, but it lacks the fiery kick. I doubt one would even feel intoxicated after a whole bottle.”

Wang Jiang, a fellow drinker, deeply agreed. “Exactly. It’s fragrant, but it lacks punch. If there were plenty of it, it would be fine, but there’s so little now. A small bottle isn’t even enough for a single session. It’s quite disappointing.”

Fang Nian stood to the side with a faint smile. He had actually brought wine himself, but since Xiao Xuefeng had brought his out first, he hadn't presented his. In terms of monetary value, his wine couldn't compare to Jimo Aged Wine, but for raw strength and an explosive mouthfeel, Fang Nian was certain he wouldn't lose.

“Manager Lu, would you like to try the wine I brought?”

Lu Xiao was taken aback. He knew his own cellar inside out and had tried almost everything in it. He wasn't particularly interested, but Wang Jiang, who had long been eyeing Lu Xiao’s wine cabinet, spoke up. “Manager Lu, why not drink the wine you have here? After all, there’s so little of this Jimo wine left.”

Lu Xiao was a generous man. Since his guest had asked, he didn't hesitate and nodded at Fang Nian. Fang Nian then revealed his bottle. But the moment everyone saw it, they lost interest.

“Is that... Hengshui Laobaigan?”

Hengshui Laobaigan had a long history, emerging in the Han Dynasty, flourishing in the Tang, and being officially named in the Ming. It was renowned for being “mellow, elegant, sweet, and crisp.” Its production had remained essentially uninterrupted since 1900. Perhaps because the ingredients were common and the process not overly complex, it remained a staple in the Chinese market after the Great Catastrophe—cheap and ubiquitous.

Xiao Xuefeng chuckled, nearly laughing out loud. “Chef, you don’t mean to tell us that’s Hengshui Laobaigan? Does this really belong on the table today? Don’t you think you’re taking us too lightly?”

Fang Nian smiled, ignoring him, and pulled out two more bottles—one appearing to be sparkling water, and the other containing fruit pulp. “Manager Lu, shall I mix you a glass?”

Lu Xiao, by now caught up in the fun, immediately agreed.

Fang Nian poured the Hengshui Laobaigan into a round cup, added the sparkling water and the fruit pulp, covered it with a thin piece of paper, and slammed it hard against the table.

“Manager Lu, try this.”

Lu Xiao was startled by the action, but he took the slightly cloudy, bubbling drink and downed it in one gulp. Almost instantly, the shock of the drink forced him to stand up, his expression contorted. Xiao Xuefeng thought the stunt had failed, but to his surprise, Lu Xiao let out a roar of pure satisfaction.

“Damn! That is incredibly refreshing! Old Li, what kind of sorcery is this?”

Hearing Lu Xiao’s roar of delight, the others couldn't hold back and each had a glass. Once they finished, they were all just as electrified and satisfied as Lu Xiao.

A smirk curled on Fang Nian’s lips. This was a method that had once been super popular on Douyin. He hadn't been able to find any Yakult in the kitchen; if he had, they might have truly gone to heaven.

Fang Nian laughed and said, “It’s just a way of drinking—Hengshui Laobaigan mixed with sparkling water and passion fruit pulp. The three ingredients just create a bit of a chemical reaction.”

Lu Xiao was overjoyed. “Old Li, your salary for this month is doubled—no, tripled. That was a truly refreshing drink.”