Chapter 28: Hunting Geese All Year, Finally Pecked Blind by One

The server blinked: “Jiangzhou Imperial Tribute Wine?”

Yao Jun’s face darkened: “You don’t have this?”

The server looked apologetic: “I’m sorry, sir, we don’t have this wine.”

At that moment, the serving staff had already begun bringing out the dishes. Yao Jun glanced at them and said coldly: “I’m sorry too—your place doesn’t have the wine Young Master Zhou wants, so we’ll eat elsewhere.”

The server panicked: “Sir, your dishes have already been served!”

“What’s that to me?” Yao Jun sneered. “You don’t have the wine I ordered—I have to leave.”

“No, you can’t!”

Seeing Yao Jun turn to go, the server truly panicked, stepping sideways to block his path—if they left, she’d have to pay for the whole table of food.

“You can’t leave.”

Yao Jun’s face flushed red with anger: “Why can’t I leave?”

The server nearly cried: “The dishes are already out!”

Yao Jun laughed: “But I haven’t eaten them.”

Their argument drew everyone’s attention.

“What’s going on?”

“That table ordered a wine we don’t have, so they want to leave—but the dishes are already served, so the server won’t let them go.”

“If we don’t have it here, no other place will have it either.”

“What wine are they asking for?”

“Something called Jiangzhou Imperial Tribute Wine!”

“I’ve never heard of it—does Jiangzhou even make a brand like that?”

“I’ve heard of it—it’s the wine from Jiangzhou Distillery, a *** wine, not sold on the market.”

The speaker was a trendy girl in her early twenties, heavily made-up, with big curly hair and large earrings. She wore a leather jacket, leather pants, and high leather boots.

Her table had two men, about her age, both with artistic long hair—one wore a turtleneck under a jacket, the other a shirt under a down jacket, both in jeans and three-piece leather shoes.

“What’s happening?” Manager Wang Wanli waddled over, his belly prominent.

"Manager!" the server wiped away a tear, pouting. "They ordered a wine we don't have, said they won't eat and want to leave—but the dishes are already out."

Wang Wanli frowned: “Why not just go out and buy it?”

Zhou Andong smiled: “Jiangzhou Imperial Tribute is a *** wine—it’s not for sale. You’re the Municipal Committee’s guesthouse—I assumed you’d have some. Since you don’t, it’s fine.”

He handed the car keys to Jiang Yuyue: “I stole a bottle from Old Man’s place—it’s in the car. Go get it.”

“Got it!” Jiang Yuyue took the keys and walked out.

The restaurant buzzed with murmurs again. Wang Wanli didn’t leave—he waited to see what this Jiangzhou Imperial Tribute wine actually was.

Soon, Jiang Yuyue entered carrying a wine box; everyone in the restaurant stretched their necks to look.

Zhou Andong took the wine, carefully placed the box on the table, and said with a smile: “My old man raves about this wine—I’ve never tasted it myself. Let’s finish this bottle together today.”

Yao Jun chuckled: “Young Master Zhou, this is too much trouble—you’re treating me, yet you’re fetching your own wine.”

“No problem!” Zhou Andong waved his hand. “No matter how good the wine, it’s meant to be drunk.” He tore off the seal, opened the box—with clear ceremonial care.

“This wine clearly looks premium.”

“It’s a *** wine—how could it be anything but?”

“If you gift two bottles, you’ll look impressive.”

“Hmph, dream on—*** wine isn’t sold on the market.”

The whispered comments drifted into Zhou Andong’s ears; he couldn’t help but smile faintly.

Zhou Andong pulled the wine from its red silk pouch: “Supposedly, this wine has another beautiful name—Red Dragon VIP.”

Wang Wanli had been pondering Zhou Andong’s “old man” when a phone rang, snapping him out of it—he saw Jiang Yuyue pull out a brick phone from her bag and press the answer button.

“Hello, this is Jiang Yuyue.” Immediately, her face lit up, and she launched into fluent English, speaking for a long while before hanging up.

“Boss, it’s Robert—he’s coming to the capital and wants to meet you.”

Zhou Andong frowned: “It’s inappropriate for me to meet him privately. Have the Foreign Affairs Department receive him first, then arrange a meeting.”

“Understood!” Jiang Yuyue reached for the phone to call, but Zhou Andong stopped her: “No rush—we’ll handle it after we return to Beijing.”

Wang Wanli watched it all, his eyes suddenly gleaming brighter and brighter—this young man truly had powerful connections. His secretary wasn’t just beautiful and poised—she spoke flawless English. Her status couldn’t be fake.

Zhou Andong unscrewed the wine cap when Wang Wanli hurried forward: “Young Master Zhou, let me, let me—I can’t let you pour your own wine!”

The bottle slipped from Zhou Andong’s hand as Wang Wanli snatched it; the old man bowed slightly, eagerly filling Zhou Andong’s cup to the brim, then barked at the server:

“What are you still standing there for? Go check the kitchen—how many dishes are left? Get them out fast!”

“Oh!” The server nodded and dashed toward the kitchen.

Zhou Andong pulled a pack of Panda cigarettes from his pocket, lit one: “You’re the guesthouse manager, right? Sit down, have a drink with us.”

Wang Wanli was stunned: “How could I possibly—how could I possibly?” He glanced at the Panda cigarettes on the table—everyone knew the old man in Beijing smoked Pandas.

“Why not?” Zhou Andong exhaled smoke. “All under heaven are brothers. If we meet here, it’s fate.”

“Thank you, Young Master Zhou, for your kindness!” Wang Wanli sat down, posture humble. “I’m Wang, Wanli—call me Wanli.”

Zhou Andong said: “My father isn’t much older than you—calling you Wanli would be improper. I’ll call you Manager Wang.”

Jiang Yuyue moved to pour for Wang Wanli, but the old man panicked: “I’ll do it myself!”

“Young Master Zhou, I toast you!” Wang Wanli raised his cup. “I’ll drink first.”

Wang Wanli had never tasted Da Gao Liang. As the wine slid down his throat, he realized it was truly excellent—he glanced again at the packaging, which looked undeniably luxurious. This had to be a tribute wine.

Zhou Andong and the other three exchanged glances, each smiling faintly. Their whole act was meant to spread the name of Jiangzhou Imperial Tribute Wine—and Wang Wanli’s appearance was an unexpected bonus.

They passed cups and drank, but one bottle wasn’t enough—Wang Wanli fetched two more bottles of Maotai. As manager of the Municipal Committee guesthouse, he was a master of social finesse—but he never dreamed that after years of hunting geese, today he’d been pecked blind by one.

Wang Wanli was so drunk from Zhou Andong and Yao Jun’s pouring that he could barely speak. In the end, not only was the bill waived, but he also brought out a pile of wild game from the kitchen and staggered out the door to personally see them off.

Even after Zhou Andong’s car vanished, Wang Wanli kept waving and shouting: “Young Master Zhou… Zhou Shao… if… if you ever get the chance… come back… please…”