Chapter 20: The Peerless Brew

Several people could no longer sit still.

"This wine... how is it so potent?"

Wei Tiezhu finished a cup, his face turning red; one must know, his usual capacity was two jin of white liquor!

Qin Zhangfeng also clicked his tongue in praise: "Truly a divine brew! Young Master, what is the principle behind this?"

Liu Dahao looked at Liu Zheng with even greater anticipation, hoping to receive his explanation.

He was a businessman; he knew what it would mean once this item hit the market!

Liu Zheng chuckled: "It was a sudden inspiration; I thought of a method for filtration and purification, so I gave it a try. Seeing it today, it is indeed not bad. How is this wine?"

"Good wine!"

"Wonderful!"

"Once this wine appears, who would dare to contend for supremacy?"

Several people exclaimed in succession, especially Liu Dahao, who was exceptionally excited. As the former richest man in Liangzhou, he was desperate to make a comeback, but his industries had been seized—how could it be easy to start over from scratch? Yet this wine gave him immense confidence.

Liu Zheng laughed heartily: "Father, don't worry about business matters anymore; leave that to me. You just focus on being a good County Marquis!"

He had already decided to use his own abilities to help his father ascend, step by step!

And as for him, wouldn't it be delightful to be a rich second-generation heir and a spendthrift?

Before Liu Zheng could speak, Wei Tiezhu said with a cold face: "Do you remember the Young Master's words from just now? Nothing here is allowed to be leaked! If I find out who leaked the Young Master's secret, don't blame me, Tie Zhu, for being heartless!"

The two brothers hurriedly took an oath.

Liu Zheng was naturally not stingy; he promised the two a monthly wage of two taels of silver on the spot, telling them to follow Wei Tiezhu and work steadily.

Sure enough, upon hearing about the two taels of silver, the two were immediately beaming and swore a solemn oath.

Since this short, flat, and fast method was feasible, Liu Zheng immediately followed up with Wei Tiezhu. This time, he went directly to find a pottery craftsman to make distillation jars according to his own ideas. Since he intended for this to be his first pot of gold, he had to prepare at least three sets.

Three days later, the three sets of Distillers were installed.

The back garden of the County Marquis Mansion became Liu Zheng's wine-making workshop. Led by Wei Tiezhu, he had recruited a few more reliable brothers over these past few days to join the workshop, and they soon became skilled workers.

Liu Zheng spent his time purchasing large quantities of Turbid Wine while distilling white liquor.

As for Fengming Tower, the business had been closed for renovations, and it was now nearing completion. In reality, there wasn't much reconstruction; it was mostly just adding finishing touches and making minor adjustments.

According to Liu Zheng's requirements, a small pavilion was decorated separately: Fengming Pavilion.

These past few days, the "eternal absolute" at Fengming Tower had indeed attracted many scholars and talents from Yinzhou and even Yangzhou, who flocked there, hoping to gain fame through it.

However, many had tried for days without gaining the approval of Fengming Tower.

Finally.

After being closed for half a month, Fengming Tower was set to reopen.

After noon, Chen Xiang brought a group of lackeys over to stroll around.

"How is that matter going?"

Chen Xiang held a folding fan, looking extremely flamboyant and arrogant.

A lackey beside him replied: "Hehe, Young Master, as you ordered, all the fine wines entering Yinzhou these past few days have been intercepted by our Chen Family! No matter how much silver that Liu Family young master has, it's impossible for him to have good wine for his opening!"

"Hahahaha, well done!"

Whenever Chen Xiang thought of Liu Zheng, his teeth itched with anger.

Fengming Tower wants to open?

No way!

These past few days, he had already found out that Liu Zheng had offended all the merchants who previously supplied wine to Wanhua Pavilion. With the opening today, Fengming Tower didn't have much wine. A restaurant without wine—wouldn't that be a laughingstock? It was said that Zheng Yue Ru had urged Liu Zheng several times because of this, but Liu Zheng always said there was no rush.

Let's see what you do today!

Chen Xiang had come early this morning just to watch Liu Zheng make a fool of himself.

"Yo, isn't this Young Master Chen?"

Unexpectedly, just as he arrived at the entrance of Fengming Tower, Cai Zeng, the young master of the Cai Family, also arrived. He also brought a group of lackeys, and his ostentatious style was no less than Chen Xiang's.

"Haha, Young Master Cai has come too?"

"Young Master Wang is here as well!"

The Four Great Noble Families, except for the Zheng Family, had all arrived; it seemed they all intended to watch Liu Zheng make a fool of himself today.

"What, could it be that Young Master Chen intends to enter the second floor today?"

The young master of the Wang Family, Wang Bo, did not get along with Chen Xiang at all.

"You..."

Chen Xiang was furious and wanted to retort.

Cai Zeng chuckled from the side: "Gentlemen, today is not the time for us to bicker; we must stand united against a common enemy!"

Only then did the two young masters snort at each other.

At this moment, Fengming Tower was already decorated with lanterns and streamers, preparing for the grand opening. Today, the courtesans had been carefully dressed. During this period, in order to turn losses into profits, Zheng Yue Ru had cooperated with Liu Zheng and brought in some high-quality girls through many channels, all to make a splash for the opening of Fengming Tower.

But...

Zheng Yue Ru was very worried now.

Seeing more and more people gathering at the entrance, waiting for Fengming Tower to open, yet the wine from Liu Zheng's side still hadn't been delivered. How could she not be anxious?

"Haha, Miss Zheng, how could you trust that mere child?"

"I heard the County Marquis Mansion hasn't even had enough to eat these past few days!"

"Do you still expect him to deliver wine to you?"

A group of people nearby mocked her one after another. One fat man in brocade clothes sneered repeatedly: "Miss Zheng, I, Lao Zhou, have cooperated with your restaurant for so many years; when have I not provided you with the finest brews? Since you suddenly terminated our cooperation, today I shall see where you find better wine than my Zhou Family's!"

"Exactly! Miss Zheng, what are we to do now?"

"That Young Master Liu just opened his mouth, and now we are all stuck with a restaurant!"

"There is no fine wine in all of Yinzhou right now; what are we to do about the grand opening?"

"Even if that Young Master Liu manages to transport the wine here in the end, could it possibly compare to the Zhou Family's fine wine?"

The manager, Lao Cuitou, and several madams all spoke up one after another to voice their grievances.

Zheng Yue Ru also had a massive headache.

Could it be that she had truly been too gullible in trusting that Liu Zheng?

"There is still an hour until the opening, what is the rush?"

Although she was anxious inside, Zheng Yue Ru still appeared very composed on the surface.

"Don't wait any longer!"

"Eldest Miss, we should hurry and continue our cooperation with the Zhou Family! Otherwise, we will truly be a laughingstock in a moment!"

"A restaurant without wine—if word of this gets out, the reputation will be ruined!"

A group of people were all trying to persuade her.

Those three young masters from Powerful Clans were also watching from the side with mockery.

Everything else was in place, yet there was no wine; very soon, this so-called Fengming Tower would become the laughingstock of all Liangzhou!

"Hurry and go to the County Marquis Mansion to urge them!"

Zheng Yue Ru ordered someone to go find Liu Zheng immediately.

But over there, there had been no response several times already.

This made Zheng Yue Ru extremely anxious, but as the owner of Fengming Tower, she had to be responsible for hosting the guests who had come to show their support today; if she hadn't been unable to get away, she would have gone to find that bastard herself!

"Congratulations, congratulations!"

After all, half the shares of Fengming Tower still belonged to Eldest Miss Zheng, and quite a few people had come to show their support today; some wealthy merchants, landlords, and young masters presented their congratulatory gifts one after another, and Zheng Yue Ru led them inside to be seated. The newly renovated Fengming Tower was much more elegant in its environment, and unlike the decadent style from before, it instantly rose several grades in quality.

"Good, good, good!"

An old man nodded in admiration: "Fengming Tower, what a wonderful atmosphere! Less powder and paint, more literary flair—they complement and reinforce each other! This is what true romantic elegance is all about!"

"Huang Lao's insight is profound!"

"Please, Huang Lao, take a seat in Fengming Pavilion!"

This Huang Lao was considered a famous academic master in the Yinzhou region with a lofty status; once these words were spoken, many scholars followed suit in agreement.

"Good!"

Upon hearing the purpose of this Fengming Pavilion, Huang Lao was also very pleased.

In this day and age, scholars and poets mostly gathered in these flower houses, pursuing this kind of romantic lifestyle, as if one hadn't truly experienced romance without entering a flower house. Therefore, in the eyes of scholars, a place like a flower house was not a place of filth, but rather a place for scholars to be unrestrained.

"Such a restaurant should be paired with fine wine!"

Huang Lao first walked around once before sitting back down.

The crowd echoed his sentiments one after another.

Zheng Yue Ru's face darkened again.

Where was the fine wine?

Where was his fine wine!

"Eldest Miss, there is only a quarter of an hour left..."

"What do you think about this..."

The time was getting later and later; this time around five or six in the afternoon was the best time for a flower house to open. But seeing that the opening time was drawing closer and closer, Liu Zheng still hadn't appeared!

"What a bastard!"

Zheng Yue Ru finally couldn't hold it in anymore, her face cold as frost: "Manager Cui, you keep an eye on things for me, I am going to find him!"

"It's here, it's here!"

Just at this moment, a shout suddenly came from outside the door, followed by the sound of several small cart wheels, rushing over from the street side. Wei Tiezhu pushed a cart in front, calling out in a muffled voice for people to move aside, to move aside.

It was here?

The group of people looked over at the sound.

A look of joy appeared on Zheng Yue Ru's face.

That Chen Xiang sneered: "Hahahaha, where did this inferior wine come from?"

"Trying to make a last-minute effort, what kind of good fine wine could there possibly be?"

"Just watch how he messes this up!"

Several young masters watched with sneers.

That wine merchant surnamed Zhou also laughed mockingly: "In Yinzhou, whose wine could possibly compare to my Zhou Family's fine wine?"

Liu Zheng also ran over quickly, looking at Zheng Yue Ru with an apologetic face: "My apologies, my apologies, I just finished the final step, luckily I arrived just in time!"

Zheng Yue Ru was stunned, and asked in a daze: "Brother Liu, do you mean that this wine was brewed by you personally?"

Liu Zheng nodded.

"This, how can this be?"

Zheng Yue Ru was absolutely furious.

The crowd also burst into uproarious laughter upon hearing this.

Brewed it himself?

Are you sure you aren't here to be a joke?

The Zhou Family has been brewing wine for hundreds of years, and their reputation is far-reaching. You don't use the Zhou Family's wine, and you went to brew it yourself?

The key is...

With you being such a spendthrift, what kind of good wine could you possibly brew?