Chapter Sixteen: Bribery

  Wen Fei didn't say much, he just got some water and soaked the needles from his own home, letting others see that they were still smooth and shiny like new. This made those country bumpkins who had never seen anything like it before stare in amazement. At that time, all the needles were made of iron, black and dull, and their appearance couldn't be compared to Wen Fei's.

  Although the price of needles at that time was unknown, one needle for a penny was still very attractive. He sold all the dozens of packets of needles he brought with him. Plus some other small items, the harvest was more than selling buckets and basins last time.

  Wen Fei's face was beaming with joy as he walked towards Chen Niwan's house, today many people came to ask about the water bucket, they all said that the plastic water bucket sold by his family a few days ago is very useful, both sturdy and lightweight. I wonder if Chen Niwan is angry?

  Chen Niwan was repairing a water bucket at the door of his thatched cottage. His line of work not only included making new wooden buckets to sell, but also helping people repair old ones by replacing rotten wood and so on. Seeing Wen Fei come over, he didn't even lift an eyebrow.

  It's just that Ge Er Lang is idle and lazy, taking the opportunity to steal a smile, saying: "Taoist, you're doing well. Every time you can get so many good things... where did you buy them? Bring me along and I'll also make some money, how about it?"

  Wen Fei could only smile bitterly, not knowing what to say about such things. Fortunately, after hearing Ge Er Lang's words, Chen Niwan's face suddenly sank, and he scolded: "Do your job properly, don't always think about crooked ways..."

  Wen Fei hastily pulled out a bottle of Maotai: "Uncle Chen, I'll treat you to a drink!"

  Chen Niwan was about to refuse, but Wen Fei had already quickly opened the bottle, and a fragrance of wine wafted out. Chen Niwan's nose twitched twice, his throat made a gulping sound, and he swallowed back the words of refusal.

  "Delicious!" Katsuragi exclaimed: "What kind of wine is this? How can it be so fragrant?"

  Wen Fei smiled and went to buy a black ceramic wine jug, pouring the Maotai liquor into it and throwing away the original bottle. Otherwise, if someone recognized what was written on it, that wouldn't be good.

  "Changgeng, go buy some small dishes!" Chen Nimu ordered.

  Ge Erlang's face turned pale as soon as he heard it. Fortunately, Wen Fei was quick-witted and hastily grabbed a handful of copper coins to hand over, which was worth several dozen wen. Ge Erlang took them without hesitation, and this time he left the door in high spirits.

  "Sit!" Probably it was indeed the relationship of eating soft mouth, Chen Niwan finally opened his mouth to ask Wen Fei to sit down, and Wen Fei was so moved that he almost shed tears. Damn, I found this word easily?

  "Changgeng is a good kid at heart, but I, as his master, have a weakness for fine wine and spend two cents on liquor for every cent I earn. This has made life difficult, and Changgeng has had to manage the finances, which has led him to develop this habit of being stingy. Don't be surprised!"

  Wen Fei was suddenly delighted: "Where can I? Where can I?" He thought to himself, Bai Yuzhen is taking advantage of me, what a great honor this is...

  "You are his master, can't you even teach him how to make a barrel?" Wen Fei asked intentionally.

  Chen Niwan looked at Wen Fei with a profound gaze: "Don't you know?"

  Wen Fei suddenly looked embarrassed: "I didn't know before, but last time I saw you save people, I knew it!"

  Wen Fei's sincerity made Chen Niwan slightly surprised: "Didn't Wang Zhiming send you here?"

  Wen Fei shook his head, puzzled: "Who is Wang Zhiming? I don't know him! It's just that I saw you using the symbol water to knead mud pills for people to cure illnesses, so I remembered who you are. So... hehe..." Wen Fei looked a bit embarrassed.

  Just then, Ge Er Lang brought back the things he had bought, all of which were braised meat and other ready-to-eat dishes. The aroma wafted in: "Heh heh, today I'll buy two catties of beef to eat and satisfy my craving!"

  "Wen Fei was suddenly shocked and exclaimed: 'Beef can't be eaten!'"

  This has nothing to do with Wen Fei being afraid of mad cow disease or anything, but rather it was when Zhang Yu, that fat guy, was drinking and chatting with him, Zhang Yu brought up some Northern Song Dynasty stories. From Su Dongpo eating pork, all the way to the Northern Song Dynasty wanting to eat beef, just like during modern bird flu times wanting to eat chicken is almost impossible, it's a very difficult thing. Cows at that time were the most important production tools, plowing fields and pulling carts all needed them, they were the most precious. It was absolutely not allowed to kill cows, at most it would be sick or old cows that could be killed and sold for meat. So wanting to be like in Water Margin, running into a hotel and loudly shouting: "Waiter, give me two catties of the best beef..." definitely wouldn't work!

  Last time Wen Fei bought a chicken and a lamb leg, after turning around for half a day without seeing anyone selling beef, he finally found out by asking around.

  No chemical additives are used in these cured meats, so you don't have to worry about any weird stuff inside. It's reassuring to eat.

  That Ge Er Lang looked like he didn't know whether it was a pleasure to have no meat or that Wen Fei's money wasn't spent in vain, as he bought all sorts of meat dishes. Braised beef, chicken feet in sauce, lamb liver, and so on, three or four dishes in total, each with a generous serving size, all wrapped up in lotus leaves, truly green food.

  Wen Fei looked on with envy, but seeing Ge Er Lang's eating appearance, he didn't dare to grab it. On the contrary, Chen Niwan only drank wine and rarely moved his chopsticks, occasionally praising: "Good wine, good wine! Except for the strong alcohol content, everything else is perfect. But even the strong alcohol content is good, it saves a lot of wine!"

  Kato Kiyomasa chimed in, "My master is a heavy drinker!"

  Wen Fei followed his gaze and saw a row of earthenware wine jars piled up in the corner, looking very rough, probably not good wine inside.

  Wen Fei suddenly remembered, today he saw someone carrying a pole selling wine, all of which were packed in large wooden barrels. It looked like bulk goods, the color of the wine was murky, half yellow and not black. A bowl would cost five cents!

  At that time, Wen Fei bought a bowl with the intention of investigating the market and drank it, almost spitting it out. Damn, this is not wine, it's clearly vinegar!

  Moreover, there are many wine dregs mixed in the wine, so the wine is particularly thick, like porridge. No wonder ancient people didn't call drinking "drinking", but rather "eating". It's as if Fu Yue casually brought over some low-grade white wine, and at this moment, seeing such a pure and transparent liquid, it can already be called "jade liquid"!

  "If you like it, I'll often bring wine over for you in the future!" Wen Fei nodded and bowed, showing a very good translation style in front of Tai Jun.

  Chen Niwan glanced at Wen Fei with a slanted gaze and said, "No need, I won't be of any help to your busy schedule!"

  Wen Fei was overjoyed when he heard this. He had been a marketing salesman after all, and his thick skin could deflect bullets at times. As soon as he heard Chen Niwan's words, he detected that his refusal was no longer as resolute as the first time, and there was a hint of relaxation in his tone.

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