Chapter 20 Wen and Dang De Wu Liang Shi

  "Has Xing Er not woken up yet?" A concerned voice sounded, and it was Zhao Xing Niang.

  "He was carried back to the villa drunk yesterday and didn't know anything, he's still sleeping soundly now." Xǔ Wǎntíng replied.

  "Has that sturdy fellow who was carried in sobered up?"

  "Having heard Zhou Cang's words, he still did not wake up."

  Listening to the soft conversation between his mother-in-law and daughter-in-law outside the window, Zhao Xing slowly woke up. "Guan Erge is really too powerful, 70-degree top-grade Langhe, I thought half a tank could get him drunk, but he can still drink it all. He even got me to move my hands and feet, and I almost couldn't defeat him with 25-degree Yaxiang Langhe. From now on, no matter what, I won't compete with him in drinking!" Zhao Xing muttered to himself. "Wannting, bring some water, I want to get up," Zhao Xing called out towards the window.

  Soon, Wen Ting carried a copper basin and poured hot water into the bedroom.

  "Did I talk nonsense last night?" Zhao Xing asked while washing his face.

  "She hadn't spoken nonsense, but merely muttered to herself something about 'a thousand pieces of gold are easily obtained, but a good minister is hard to find', and when she said it, her tone was quite emotional. Sir, have you encountered some difficulty? Don't hesitate to tell me, Wanjing, I can also share some of the burden."

  After hearing this, Zhao Xing fell silent, his eyes deepening. Now that Jia Yu and Guan Yu are both in his own courtyard, he must take them down in the shortest time possible. With them as a foundation, his grand ambitions will be on the fast track.

  "Has the gentleman who arrived at the villa yesterday settled in?"

  "Arrangements have been made, Guan Sheng is staying in the guest room next to Zhou Cang's; Mr. Wen He is staying in the guest room near Pei Yuan Shao's. This morning after breakfast, Mr. Wen He has already gone to the winery for a stroll."

  "Oh, Wen and Mr. going to the winery is your arrangement?" Zhao Xing looked at Xu Wanting with a smile.

  "I saw Mr. Wen and thought he was a refined and elegant man, so I assumed he must be the intelligent strategist that husband often talked about with admiration. Husband had never invited anyone to stay overnight at our estate before, but last night he brought back both Mr. Wen and General Wu, so I thought husband must have wanted to recruit him, and took the initiative to let Tie Niu take him to the winery for a visit."

  Zhao Xing, however, did not say a word. He pulled Xu Wanting over with one hand and carried her horizontally to the bedside. "I have such an understanding wife like Wanting sister, it's really the blessing of heaven!" After finishing speaking, he leaned in and kissed Xu Wanting's cherry lips.

  "Ugh... Zhao Xing, stop it! Mom is outside!" Wu Wanjun glared at Zhao Xing with a slanted eye, quickly getting up to tidy her wrinkled clothes that had been messed up by Zhao Xing's An Lushan-like paws.

  "Hehe, last night's homework was left undone, can only make up for it during the day" Zhao Xing lay on the bed with a rogue expression, posing like Ximen Qing on the Lion's Building.

  "Mr. Wen is back!" Only then did they hear Mrs. Zhao greeting someone outside the window.

  "Here comes Madame!" Then he heard Jia Rui's voice getting closer and closer.

  Upon hearing this, Zhao Xing quickly got out of bed and headed to the hall, while Xu Wanting stayed in the bedroom tidying up. It was likely that Zhao's mother had just given them a warning signal.

  "Mr. Wen is up early!" Zhao Xingchong greeted him as he came out of the courtyard.

  "Heh heh, early, early!" Jia Yu thought to himself with a wry smile. The sun was already high in the sky, and this was considered early? I've already strolled through every nook and cranny of Wutiger Manor!

  "Mr. Wen, my humble abode is simple and small, with no female servants to attend to you. Zhou Cang and Pei Yuan Shao are coarse men, the reception was not warm, and I'm afraid we have been remiss in our duties towards you, please forgive us!" As they entered the main hall, Zhao Xing stood up and apologized to Jia Yu with a bow.

  "Little brother is too polite!" Jia Yun stood up and returned the courtesy.

  "I don't know how you, sir, left your hometown and traveled to our state. What brings you here?" Zhao Xing asked the question that had been stuck in his heart for a long time.

  "I started my journey from the west to the east at the beginning of this year, and after passing through Qingzhou and Langya, I turned north and entered Youzhou, all the way to Daiyang County. Then I returned westward, passing through Jizhou, and when I arrived in Shangdang, Pingzhou, I heard from travelers that Changzi had just produced a new batch of fine wine, which was as fragrant as the liquor of the immortals, so I came here to try it!"

  Zhao Xing only then learned that Jia Yu's appearance in his Drunken Immortal Building was purely an accident! "I don't know how you, sir, are acquainted with Guan Yu?"

  "I was traveling through the Taihang Mountains when I encountered mountain bandits. Unfortunately, I had very little money left on me, and just as I was about to be robbed, I was rescued by Guan Sheng, a heroic warrior from Xiangzhen! It turned out that Guan Sheng was also from Upper Party, so we traveled together, chatting along the way, and found ourselves quite compatible. When he heard that this place produced good wine, we went into Changzi County together and drank for several days, but still couldn't get enough!" Jia Yu recounted.

  "It turns out that Mr. Jia and Guan Zhuang are also destined to be together!" Zhao Xing's heart was filled with joy, as Guan Yu had saved Jia Xu's life before, and they both enjoyed drinking fine wine, so it would be great to let these two work together from now on.

  "I just strolled around and gained some insights, compared to yesterday, I admire my little brother even more!" Jia Yu said with great interest.

  "Oh, I don't know what Mr. Wen feels about it? What virtue and ability does this humble one have to be admired by Mr.?" Zhao Xing asked curiously.

  "I observe the layout of this manor, it has grasped the essentials of military deployment. The courtyards and wine workshops are not far apart, both built on the slope of a mountain, with walls and gates arranged properly. If we were to turn this into a large military camp, it would be a 'two dragons playing with a pearl' formation. Moreover, between the two places, there are ten wine cellars, which give off an aura of grandeur. If one were to hide people within them, they could certainly make any invading enemy have no way to return! From this, we can infer that there must be a talented individual within the manor who is capable of commanding thousands of troops and horses."

  "Secondly, I observed the farming households in the village, every family's granary is full, they know etiquette and propriety, the elderly and children are healthy and happy, young and strong people are busy but not worried or bitter, this is indeed a sign of great governance. From this, it can be known that there must be good government officials in the village who understand the art of governing the world." After finishing speaking, Jia Xian asked: "I guess all these things originated from my younger brother, right?"

  "Master's wrong praise!" Zhao Xing felt complacent in his heart, but he was very humble on the surface. Being recognized by Jia Yu, who is known as "Poisonous Master", I'm not ordinary! (In Northeastern dialect, "person" is pronounced as "yín")

  "Thirdly, yesterday the young brother clearly had the intention of recruiting Guan Zhong, but instead carefully designed to cheat him. Without resorting to intimidation or bribery, he not only maintained the reputation of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, but also fulfilled Guan Zhong's wish to get drunk, and allowed you to smoothly obtain the brave general. This can be truly said to be 'one arrow, three birds'!"

  "Hehe, you're overpraising me. I don't know how you figured out that I was designing to make a profit from Guan Yu." Zhao Xing scratched his head in embarrassment.

  "If I'm not mistaken, the wine that Guan Zhang and I are drinking is definitely the top-grade Changhe that Master Fu mentioned today in the winery. Its flavor is strong and bold, truly a great wine that can make one drunk and lost. And yet, little brother here is drinking the softest and most elegant Yaxiang Changhe from Zui Xian Lou, am I right?"

  "Sir, you are indeed a connoisseur. I don't know how you can tell the difference in the wine I'm drinking?" Zhao Xing asked curiously.

  "The wine that Zongshi and I drank initially had the same flavor as yours, and it was consistent from start to finish. But your wine became lighter towards the end. You must have mixed a small amount of strong wine on top, while the bottom became a mild and elegant wine." Jia Yu replied confidently.

  "Wow, it's really amazing. The ancients didn't know that the density of alcohol is less than water, so the higher the degree of alcohol, the easier it floats on top. But this Jia Xiang can also infer the trick I used, and he's not just bragging." Zhao Xing thought to himself with a belly full of complaints.

  "Sir, with your sharp eyes, can you guess what I'm thinking of at this moment?" Zhao Xing asked with a sly smile, looking exactly like a grey wolf.

  "What are you thinking of in your heart right now, trying to win me over? If it doesn't work out, I'm sure you won't let me leave this Tiger's Lair Manor. However, looking at your expression, there is no hint of murderous intent, so I suppose if things don't go as planned, you will restrain yourself instead." Jia Xun said calmly.

  "Master's insight is profound! Student humbly requests to be accepted as your disciple!" Zhao Xing stood up and bowed deeply.

  Since you've seen through everything, let's not be polite to each other! If you're willing to hang out with me, I'll treat you as my master. If you're not willing, I'll throw you into the wine cellar - I won't beat or scold you, and you can eat and drink well, but I just can't let you cause trouble for me in the future. Anyway, you're alone outside now, and you're not some famous person, so even if I lock you up, no one will report you missing! Zhao Xing thought to himself.

  "What is it that you are planning, little brother?" Jia Yu asked with a serious face.

  "When Han loses its deer, the world will jointly pursue it! I use my blood to recommend Xuan Yuan, in exchange for the peace of the world and the safety of the people!" Zhao Xing replied solemnly.

  "What a wonderful thing! I'd recommend Xuan Yuan with my own blood! With your ambition, Jia someone will accompany you to go crazy!"