Chapter 203: The Qin County Magistrate's Wine

Chen Wuji, who entered the county office standing upright, when he came out……

He was also standing upright.

However, he swayed violently, left and right, ready at any moment to improvise a drunken fist performance.

"Go back, don't worry about me. I'll never drink the Qin County Magistrate's wine again; if this happens again, tell me right away so I can run." Chen Wuji patted Chen Xingyuan's shoulder hard, staggered out of the county office, and walked toward the Ciji Zhai diagonally opposite.

If nothing unexpected happens, he'll probably need to borrow Zhang Lao's soft cot for a nap.

Qin Feng, this wretched bastard, is simply scheming against people without limit.

He's too ruthless.

Most of that drink went into Chen Wuji's belly; he hadn't had time to calculate exactly how much, but five empty wine jars sat at his feet.

"It's not impossible to rest a bit at the county office," Chen Xingyuan said after a moment, then came over to advise, "In your condition, can you even make it home?"

"I can, don't worry." Chen Wuji waved his hand, "If I rest at the county office, I'm afraid I'll fall into a daze and be dragged up by the Qin County Magistrate to be forced to drink, completely subdued."

"That's just because you're not familiar with the drinking game; you'll get better next time," Chen Xingyuan laughed.

Chen Wuji waved his hand, "I'm leaving, I'm leaving."

Before he even reached the Ciji Zhai, Chen Wuji spotted Zhang Lao dozing in a recliner from afar.

This old master really lives a leisurely life.

Having seen him many times, Chen Wuji noticed that the old master spent most of his time sleeping, only occasionally waking to prescribe medicine for patients.

"Oh dear, how much have you drunk, kid?" Zhang Lao opened his eyes, glanced at Chen Wuji, rose slowly, and, with a look of disdain, grabbed Chen Wuji's sleeve and brought him into the shop.

"Let me prescribe you some awakening alcohol soup to drink; sit down and rest a bit."

Chen Wuji naturally took over Zhang Lao's soft cot and lay down, saying, "I did drink quite a bit, but I'm fine—just a bit dazed, not unconscious."

Zhang Lao walked to the counter, muttering the medicine names, and grabbed the awakening alcohol soup for Chen Wuji.

"Is it the same as what the newly arrived magistrate drinks?" After gathering the herbs, he asked casually while tidying up.

"Mm."

Zhang Lao lifted his head, glanced at Chen Wuji, and asked, "How is it?"

"Old Master, are you asking how I am as a person, or how something else is?" Chen Wuji asked, then after thinking added, "I don't know how he fares as an official, but as a person he shouldn't be a simpleton; his rash actions make him seem thoughtless and lacking in tactics, yet everywhere there is hidden meaning."

Zhang Lao chuckled lightly, "Drinking wine and you've gained enlightenment?"

"I almost got drunk to death; if I lacked even this bit of awareness, I'd deserve to be forced to drink." Chen Wuji muttered, "But this person probably poses no obstacle to us."

Zhang Lao's drooping eyelids twitched as he said, "Hearing your tone, that little rascal Xiaoyu seems able to come back?"

"Your reaction is kinda scary, Old Master, and I haven't even said anything yet!" Chen Wuji exclaimed in surprise; with just this bit of information, the old master was certain that the Zhang family's turmoil had already passed.

Zhang Lao snorted, "I'm old, not dead; if I couldn't hear that, wouldn't I have lived all these years for nothing? But, kid, have you gotten involved with the Yude Business Business Business again?"

"An innocent man is guilty only for carrying a jade," Chen Wuji muttered, curling the corner of his mouth in a slight sneer.

Zhang Lao nodded, then suddenly asked, "Feeling depressed?"

"Indeed."

"There's nothing to be depressed about; even a few acres of good farmland tilled by commoners can be seen as something they shouldn't have in some people's eyes. The things you possess have only now attracted attention, which is already fortunate." Zhang Lao said lightly, "Rest now; I'll go prepare your medicine."

"I'll do it myself." Chen Wuji stood up.

Having this old master brew his awakening alcohol decoction seems somewhat inappropriate.

Chen Wuji followed Zhang Lao to the backyard of the medical clinic.

"Is the recipe for the bewildering fragrance ready?" Zhang Lao lit a pile of pine sawdust with a tinder, slowly added firewood, and once the flames were fully risen, he placed the medicine pot on top.

Chen Wuji picked up an axe nearby and, as a side task, split firewood, saying, "The formula is prepared, but I haven't tested whether it's properly balanced; lately no one has let me practice."

"After you sober up, give it a try; I've been sleeping poorly lately anyway." Zhang Lao remarked offhand, "Since you're taking such good care of this old geezer, you can decoct it yourself—boil it for a quarter hour after the water comes to a boil."

"... Okay."

Zhang Lao's awakening alcohol formula worked extremely well; after Chen Wuji drank it and rested for about half an hour, the dizzy, hazy feeling from the drink vanished.

Although his mouth still smelled of alcohol, his body hardly felt any intoxication anymore.

He walked forward, prepared the bewildering fragrance formula, and handed it to Zhang Lao, who was still dozing outside, saying, "Old Master, whether the medicine is correct or not, a glance will make it clear—why bother testing it? If I use the bewildering fragrance on you and it gets out, I'd be guilty of deceiving my teacher and destroying the ancestors!"

Zhang Lao glanced at it, "Then I'll keep it for myself to burn tonight; it's prepared correctly, not off by a hair."

Chen Wuji thought to say that the old master sleeps whenever he has free time, and his poor nighttime sleep isn't really a problem—it's completely understandable.

"Do we still need firecrackers?" Zhang Lao suddenly asked.

Chen Wuji shook his head, "Not needed for now, but if you're willing to make extra for me to keep on hand, I wouldn't mind; I might end up using them sometime soon."

The few people from the Yude Business Business Business are still locked up in the county office's great prison; Chen Xingyuan didn't mention this today, and it seems the Shi Family and Lu Jinglve's side haven't made any moves either.

"If you have the skill to come watch my shop for a while and learn a bit of my craft, I could probably free up time to make firecrackers for you," Zhang Lao said with a hearty laugh.

"Fine." Chen Wuji readily agreed, "The clan has some matters lately; I'll come over after I'm done with this period."

Having half-acknowledged this master, Chen Wuji certainly needed to show some form; this master couldn't be merely acknowledged in words—actual action was required.

Zhang Lao nodded in relief, then shifted his tone: "The Yude Business Business Business affair doesn't need to weigh on your mind; in the southern commandery, the Shi Family is still relatively reasonable. However, once a household grows big and powerful, there are always those who flaunt tiger's might borrowing the fox's prestige; when the Yude Business Business Business sends people again, you can talk with them—if the price is right, there's no reason you couldn't let them sell your goods outward."

Zhang Lao gave a dry laugh, "I'm just an old doctor who can barely move; that's Lu Jinglve's business—what could I possibly say? It's just that I happen to know a little about their family; as long as they're in the wrong, you have nothing to fear—just go about your business with peace of mind."

Zhang Lao gave a dry laugh, "I'm just an old doctor who can barely move; that's Lu Jinglve's business—what can I say? It's just a coincidence that I happen to know a little about their family; as long as they're in the wrong, you have nothing to fear—just go about your business."