Chapter 101 – Qiji Greedy For Wine! (2/2)
Just as he was very much preoccupied with his thoughts, Chu Xun misstepped.
Before, it was still at the height of the summer season but now it was winter, wind and snow were howling around in the air.
He found himself in a desolate land, overlooking a vast expanse of darkness; only at the foot of the mountain was a brightly lit thatched cottage with smoke billowing from the chimney, it looked like the owner of the house was cooking.
Chu Xun hesitated slightly, but in the end decided to walk towards the cottage.
He knocked on the door and cried aloud: “Is anybody in?”
A few moments later, a young man clad in a head-to-toe green outfit br.i.m.m.i.n.g with a scholarly appearance pulled open the door, his eyes quizzically looked at Chu Xun standing in front of the door as he asked: “Are you heading up the mountain?”
“That's right. I'm exhausted from walking and it is snowing outside, so I came to ask for a bowl of wine to warm my body.” Chu Xun answered. He knew what was ahead of him so it would be better make things clear.
“Please come in.” The green s.h.i.+rt scholar stepped aside, letting Chu Xun walk past him.
Once Chu Xun stepped through the door, he hurriedly closed and locked the door to keep the snow and cold wind out.
The house looked simple and humble, with only a few pieces of furniture scattered around the room.
This was the poorest family prince Chu Xun had ever seen before.
A big pot was merrily bubbling away on the back of the stove, sending across a pleasant aroma of sweet potatoes mixed with rice. Chu Xun's stomach rumbled, he found himself suddenly hungry.
The green s.h.i.+rt young man also felt a little embarra.s.sed, he explained: “It's sweet potato porridge, we only have this in the house—-if you don't mind, we can eat it together? ”
“Sounds good.” Chu Xun replied.
The green-s.h.i.+rt young man ladled out bowls of the steaming, aromatic sweet potato porridge, set them down on the table and proceeded to wash two pairs of chopsticks. He and Chu Xun both took a seat, hunched over, they slurped down the bowl of hot porridge.，
The green s.h.i.+rt youngster's eyes ran across the four walls of his house, he noticed even the pickled radish in his house was finished yesterday.
His gaze swept around the corner to where a dusty earthen jar was situated.
His eyes lit up. “Big brother, I have no dish to accompany the rice porridge, it really is no way to treat a guest—–There's a bottle of sweet potato wine that I personally made. We could have it with our dinner?”
Chu Xun nodded. “I came here for a drink late at night and in the midst of a snowstorm. Being able to enjoy sweet potato porridge while drinking sweet potato wine in the snow is good enough.”
“That's wonderful.” The green s.h.i.+rt young man scurried over to the wine jar, cleaned the surface of the jar and washed two teacups, one of which was chipped.
Then, he filled the pitch-black cups with wine.
The liquor was strong, a strong alcoholic aroma hits the nose even before tasting.
Chu Xun inhaled deeply and exclaimed: “Good wine.”
Bring praised by a guest, the green s.h.i.+rt youngster face was flus.h.i.+ng in embarra.s.sment, he said in a cheerful mood: “it really is a good wine. Usually I won't drink it unless I have guests.”
The two toasted and drank together. Chu Xun complimented: “Although the sweet potato is the most common wine and has a slightly rough feeling in the mouth but what's good is its fresh and clean taste, it is best accompanied with food. However, it is inferior to the palace's Taibai wine.”
“Ah? Brother you have drunk Taibai wine before?”
“Correct. Taibai wine is a sorghum liquor, it is made from suxi rice crops. The mature and plump rice kernels are harvested and the hulls are peeled off, then they are repeatedly sieved and fried. After, they are soaked in spring water. After a series of c.u.mbersome procedures, it is sealed and allowed to ferment, eventually it will become an excellent wine.” Chu Xun carefully explained.
The green s.h.i.+rt youngster listened attentively, swallowing saliva in his mouth. “Although I have not personally tasted myself, but from what I hear it must be the best wine in the world.”
“Although the wine is good but it is not the best wine in the world.” Chu Xun said: “the best wine is called Drunk Beauty. In the snow season, the flowers in the garden are stained with dew or snow—-the snow and dew are collected with a beauty's lips, and then brewed together with hundreds of flowers, the taste is fresh and clean but intense. That is the best wine in the world.”
The green-s.h.i.+rt youngster said with a hopeful face: “if only I could have a taste of Drunk Beauty sometime in my life.”
“There will be an opportunity.” A hint of a smile played across Chu Xun's lips, watching the green s.h.i.+rt young man he continued: “I see books on the table, are you going to sit the imperial exams?”
“One can find a beauty as good as a jade in books, and also find a house of treasure among them. Rich and honour is obtained from books, for this reason I am willing to work hard.” The young man in green answered in a clear, bright voice.
“What about after pa.s.sing the imperial exams?”
“I hope I can taste fine wines around the world.” The green s.h.i.+rt young man said with a glistening and hopeful face.
“I am the little prince of West Wind Kingdom, I am Chu Xun, a member of the royal family—-if I recommend you into the palace for wine tasting and to taste fine wine around the world, would you be willing?”
The young man's cheeks were flushed with excitement, without delay he rose from his chair and brushed his clothes before he knelt down: “I am willing to follow little prince for leaders.h.i.+p. As long as little prince has any commands, I am willing to risk my life and limb to help out.”
“Stand up.” Chu Xun sat upright on the chair, raising the cup and gazing out at the snowstorm.
He knew that he had already pa.s.sed this wine obstacle.
Temptation is a double-edged sword, it might hurt you or injure me. It only depends which side is stronger or which side is richer.
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