Chapter Thirty-Five: What a Painful Word

  The Lv family held a grand birthday banquet, and Liu Kan naturally wouldn't be unaware of the rumors.

  He didn't think much about it, after all, the birthday banquet was someone else's business, and he, a prisoner who had been forced to attend, couldn't complain about anything. However, Liu Quan was very concerned about the process of the banquet. Especially after hearing about Liu Bang's "ten thousand coins" story, his heart skipped a beat. His instinctive reaction was: Is Lü Zhi going to marry Liu Bang? Has history taken another big step forward again?

  "Old Cao, what happened to Liu Qi afterwards?"

  Liu Jian carefully inquired about the situation from Cao Shen who was attending the birthday banquet.

  Cao Shen laughed and said, "What else can be done? A group of people eating and drinking, then turning around and leaving. But it's strange to say that Lü Weng didn't blame anyone... Hehe, I don't know if the 10,000 yuan was received, but Yōng Chǐ's expression that day was really wonderful."

  Yong Chi's expression didn't matter; Liu Jian wouldn't care anyway.

  Lü Weng didn't leave Liu Bang behind?

  This was beyond Liu Quan's expectations. He wanted to ask more details, but he was also worried that Cao Shen would become suspicious. Although he didn't say anything on the surface, Liu Quan could tell that Liu Bang had a certain status in Cao Shen's heart. Asking too many questions might reveal something and cause even more trouble. Therefore, Liu Quan could only probe indirectly and ask about trivial matters.

  Lü Weng's birthday banquet indeed caused a stir in Pei County.

  But soon people's attention shifted. Spring plowing is imminent, everyone has things to do, who has time to care about others?

  Liu Kan has his own things to attend to!

  Shanxi's first batch of wine has been released from the cellar and it is all Tsi Chiu wine.

  Although the wine is still a bit turbid, it's much better than those Ganqi wine, Liji wine, and even the best Angqi wine on the market in Pei County. According to Shi Zhiyuan's meaning, these wines can be easily settled in Pei County without needing to be sold.

  But Liu Kan disagreed.

  People in Pei County can be said to know each other inside out.

  If this batch of wine is sold in Pei County, who knows how much trouble it will bring. Everyone has a heart of jealousy. What if they make trouble and end up losing out? Moreover, Pei County is too small, with a population of over 80,000 households, even adding the surrounding areas of Qiesang and Fengyi, it's only over 10,000 households. For Liu Yan with great ambition, this market the size of a soybean is not enough for them to develop.

  So Liu Quan and Shen Shushi Tang Li discussed it for a while, and then they fixed their eyes on Pengcheng.

  Peng City is a large place with over 20,000 households. Moreover, Peng City can be considered a hub of the south and north, with many merchants coming and going, which can provide a larger market for Xishui Huadian. Liu Quan has never studied economics in his past life, but he hasn't eaten mutton before, and he has seen flocks of sheep running on the mountain.

  After making a decision, Shen Food found his confidant and quietly sent 800 tanks of Suishui Huajiao to Pengcheng for sale.

  Everything was just as Liu Kan had estimated, and with the sales volume of Peng City, it only took one day for all 800 tanks of Suishui Huajiao to be sold out.

  And as the fame of Xishui Huadian began to spread, a large number of merchants gathered in Pengcheng.

  A jar of Xishui Huadiao can sell for a price of 500 coins, and it is still in short supply. Shi Shizhen couldn't help but sigh, if the goal was set on Pei County at the beginning, one jar of Huadiao would be sold for 200 coins at most. Now, not only has he gained multiple times the profit, but this brand has also quickly become famous. However, being cautious, Shi Shizhen kept this matter very secret, so that where Xishui Huadiao came from became a topic of discussion among Pengcheng merchants. Some merchants even offered 10,000 coins to find Liu Quan and others.

  Liu Jian roughly calculated that the first batch of Suishui Huadiao would produce about 3,000 jars of finished products, with a profit of around 60,000 yuan.

  The first battle was a victory, and for people like Shen Shi, it was undoubtedly a shot in the arm. So, after Tang Li's punishment period was over, they immediately started the production work of the second batch of Xishui Huadiao. And in the city of Pei County, more than 20 days later, the trace of Xishui Huadiao also appeared on the market.

  A pot sells for 900 yuan, and many wealthy people still flock to it like a swarm of bees.

  However, good news isn't always available every day.

  That day, Liu Quan sat on an empty ground after finishing his labor, holding a volume of wooden slips, basking in the sun while reading.

  A volume of "The Book of Songs" was still brought out by Tang Li after he left, and sent to Liu Kan. The reason is simple, the five-character poem made by Liu Kan earlier has been on Tang Li's mind. He let Liu Kan read "The Book of Songs" with the purpose of making him notice.

  It's quite interesting to occasionally read the Book of Songs when you have nothing else to do.

  Liu Jian lazily read in a soft voice, occasionally bursting into laughter, presumably because he had come across some interesting content.

  Just then, Lü Jia came running over.

  "Ah Jian, something terrible has happened!"

  Lü Jia was also familiar with the situation, and after greeting Cao Shen, he ran to Liu Jiao's side and snatched the wooden tablet from his hand.

  Liu Jian was startled and looked at Lü Cu asking: "What's wrong, why are you in such a hurry?"

  "Sister, sister is getting married!"

  "What?"

  Liu Ju suddenly stood up, grabbed Lv Rou's arm and said, "Sister Yu is getting married? Who is she marrying? Is it Liu Ji?"

  "Ah Jian, you're hurting me!"

  Lü Jiāo let out a soft cry, and Liu Jian finally came back to his senses.

  "How did you know it was Liu Ji?" Lü Jia rubbed the sore spot where she had been grabbed, looking at Liu Quan with a puzzled expression.

  Liu Jian couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh in his heart.

  Yes, I knew it! And I also know what Lü Zhi will become in the future. However, last time Lü Weng and Liu Bang didn't seem to have talked much, how did they suddenly decide on this matter? At the same time, Liu Jian's heart felt a bit sour.

  Can't say I like Lü Zhi very much, and even have some fear of her.

  Although he had long known that such a thing would happen, Liu still felt uncomfortable when it really happened.

  After all, he could also sense that Lü Zhi seemed to have a slight... fondness for him.

  Lv Jiao said, "It's about what happened at noon today. Father suddenly invited Liu Ji to our house as a guest and then brought up this matter. Mother was also strongly opposed to it at first, but Father's attitude was very firm, saying that Liu Ji had the appearance of a noble person."

  The appearance of a noble person?

  Liu Jian really didn't feel that Liu Ji had any noble appearance.

  However, the ancients attached great importance to physiognomy. Liu Bang's forehead was prominent, probably what is called a full and rounded Heaven's Court? If it can be said that Lü ü did not understand Liu Bang at first, then such a decision would be excusable. But after so long had passed, how could Lü ü possibly not have made some inquiries?

  In other words, Lv Weng's decision was made after careful consideration.

  But why is that? Is there really some virtue in Liu Bang's body that can't be seen? I just can't figure it out.

  "Ah Chu sister she..."

  "At first, my sister also thought it was sudden, but after Father and sister had a private conversation, she agreed."

  Agreed?

  Liu Kan's heart felt a thread of pain.

  "Ah Jian, think of a way quickly... I know you must have a way. I don't like that person at all, I'd rather sister marry you than have him as my brother-in-law."

  Lv Jia pulled Liu Guang's arm and begged loudly.

  But what can Liu Quan do now? Stop Lü Zhi from marrying Liu Bang?

  What right does she have to listen to your advice? Moreover, Lü Zhi is a person with her own opinions. If she doesn't want to, who can persuade her otherwise?

  No matter what, I have to see Lü Buwei at least once.

  If it were Liu Bang's doing, even if it meant fighting him to the death, he would have to stop this marriage.

  Thinking of this, Liu Jian grabbed Lv Jia's hand and said, "Come on, let's go see Sister Ah Chu!"

  "Ah Jian, what are you going to do?"

  Cao Shen blocked the prison gate, "Do you think this is some kind of place? Can you just come and go as you please? Don't forget your current identity."

  Liu Quan angrily said: "Old Cao, don't block me, I just want to go see Ah Jiu!"

  "No way!"

  On the issue of principle, Cao Shen was unwilling to yield an inch. He looked at Liu Quan and said: "Ah Quan, don't you understand? If you go out that door now, according to Qin law, it's considered escape. Whether or not you come back, you won't get a good outcome, and even your mother will be implicated... Ah Quan, the county magistrate values you highly and takes care of you. But if this matter gets out of hand, he can't help you either. Calm down, there's always a way to resolve things. Do you want to see your mother suffer because of you?"

  "But..."

  Liu Jian's footsteps suddenly froze.

  Yes, as soon as he walked out of this gate, it was equivalent to escaping... He had studied the Qin law and naturally also knew the provisions in that Qin law.

  If you run away, you will be implicated and punished together with others.

  He doesn't care, but what about his mother? Can he just watch his mother suffer?

  Lü Jiǎn also closed her mouth and stopped urging Liu Jiǎn...

  Although young in years, Lv Jia was not completely ignorant of human feelings and worldly affairs. At this time, speaking like this was no different from forcing Liu Quan to his death.

  Just then, a pleasant voice came over.

  "Ah-jia, I knew you'd come looking for Ah-guan, and indeed you have!"

  Liu Guan followed the sound and looked over, but only saw Lü Yu carrying a bamboo basket, following Ren Ao's side, with a faint smile on his face, nodding at him.