Chapter 159: The Wine Tasting (Second Update)

Everyone had considered this issue. Zhao Jin explained his arrangements, and Zhao Zhentang nodded, then said, "Find a day, and I'll lead the bailiffs from the yamen on a walk around to intimidate those laborers. If anyone truly harbors crooked intentions, throw them straight into the big jail to suffer."

Over the next few days, Zhao Jin went to the distillery every day to supervise production. The sorghum stockpiled beforehand was ample, and the fermented grain and yeast were developing in the cellar. Once production started, the liquor flowed continuously without pause. As production continued, sorghum, wine jars, firewood, and all manner of materials were carted in in an endless stream.

Besides taking a jar home for his father every day, Zhao Jin also let his companions bring a little to their families. However, Zhao Jin wouldn't let them take much and instructed them to finish it in one sitting. For people like Sun Dalei and Liu Yong, who had no elders to speak of, he gave them no liquor at all, lest they develop a taste for it themselves.

Anyone who had ever drunk alcohol before and came to taste the Han Well Famous Liquor from Fragrance Distillery was full of unreserved praise.

"My father returned a few days ago. I took this liquor home. When my father caught the scent of the wine, he was very surprised and said this wine must have been shipped from Shanxi, that its value was considerable, and that I was being far too wasteful. When he heard it was made by you, Brother Zhao, he simply didn't believe it. After taking a sip, he nodded repeatedly and said that while it couldn't compare to the very finest wines of the capital or Nanjing, it was still quite good." Wang Zhaojing spoke with considerable excitement.

Naturally, the elders of each household all praised it, but the praise from Wang Zhaojing's father, Wang Youshan, was clearly different. This man of untainted nobility had traveled the realm and possessed broad knowledge and experience, not to mention he frequently visited places of wealth and honor—he had seen and tasted much. If he judged it good, then it was truly good.

When the companions heard this, each was elated. Wang Zhaojing smiled and continued, "My father also said that once Brother Zhao's liquor sells in greater volume, he will write a piece of calligraphy and bring it over."

An inscription from a renowned scholar was incredible advertising in this era. The group erupted in excitement, and Zhao Jin also smiled and expressed his thanks.

However, Zhao Jin understood in his heart that Wang Zhaojing's father was acting with great prudence. He had considered both Wang Zhaojing's personal ties and his own reputation. When such fine liquor sold in large quantities and its fame spread, his inscription would be the icing on the cake, and no one could find fault. If he rashly wrote something now, it would be tantamount to the liquor relying on the Wang family to make its name, which would damage the Wang family's reputation for untainted nobility.

Time quickly reached the eighth month. The days were sweltering, but the nights carried a hint of chill. The common folk of Xuzhou city grew ever more curious about Fragrance Distillery. The idlers who went there during the day to watch the excitement also grew in number. Fortunately, the household guards Zhao Jin had stationed there only kept an eye on people entering and leaving, and did not drive away those watching the bustle.

Moreover, the idlers watching the excitement had no idea that a few of Liu Yong's eyes and ears were mixed among them, observing everyone's every move. Anything even slightly suspicious was quickly noted down.

Although nothing could be seen, news gradually circulated within the city, saying that Fragrance Distillery had produced a fine liquor. Those who said this were all very certain. Most of these people had connections to those associated with Zhao Jin, or connections to their elders. When they spoke of this liquor, their faces were full of praise: "Now this is real wine. Not a trace of off-flavor in the mouth. So smooth!"

The more the rumors spread, the more curious everyone became. Some even saw that the stack of wine jars under the awning at Fragrance Distillery was growing taller and taller, all marked with labels written on red paper, clearly already filled with liquor. Those with sharp eyes saw that the wine was called "Han Well Famous Liquor."

This curiosity seemed destined to be satisfied on the fifth day of the eighth month. Early in the morning, several oxcarts entered the distillery. Under the watch of the household guards, they were loaded full of wine jars and then carted off toward the east of the city.

The idlers who had risen early were curious but dared not get too close. Ten days prior, the household guards watching the distillery had all been equipped with long spears. Normally, such weapons were considered contraband, but at the thought that this was the Zhao family's business, everyone simply turned a blind eye. Seeing the cold, gleaming points, who would dare approach?

The news quickly spread. Those even better informed knew that every person in the city involved in the liquor trade had received an invitation, asking them to gather at the Welcome Inn Teahouse east of the city. The invitation, following proper form, was signed by Zhao Jin. Seeing that name, no one dared refuse to go.

Everyone had been curious about this matter for so long; now that the moment of revelation had finally arrived, some idle and inquisitive characters actually rushed to the Welcome Inn Teahouse to watch the excitement.

When they arrived at the Welcome Inn Teahouse, the tea master informed them that the teahouse had been booked entirely by Young Master Zhao. Some with familiar faces saw that the ones greeting guests at the door were Ji Xiang and Liu Yong, who attended Zhao Jin. Those heading this way along the road were all the various shop proprietors from within the city.

The proprietors of large establishments like Cloud Mountain Tavern and Jade Willow Lodge arrived on horseback or by carriage, with attendants in tow, their manner grand and imposing. Upon reaching the door, they showed no discernible joy or displeasure, merely exchanging a few polite words with Ji Xiang and Liu Yong before entering.

As for the proprietors of mid-tier establishments like Zhang the Rib Man, their faces showed some difficulty and worry. The small-time bosses who sold liquor from their own homes wore expressions of pure bitterness. The idlers watching the excitement there could even overhear their murmured discussions.

"Calling us all here today, I reckon it's to sell his liquor, right?"

"What else could he be selling? Who among you still says this kid is righteous? Is there a wolf that doesn't eat meat? He's showing his fangs now!"

"... I heard that liquor is pretty good..."

"What does a snot-nosed kid know about making liquor? So many distilleries inside and outside the city couldn't make it work. He's not even in his teens, throws together a ragtag crew, and he can produce fine liquor?"

"... You just talk too much. Will it kill you to say a few words less? You don't know this lord's ability. Forget selling you liquor, even if he gave you piss, would you dare not buy it..."

"The market is this bad, business can't even survive, and now we have to have another layer of skin scraped off us."

Hearing these discussions, the idlers also felt Zhao Jin was going too far. This was just a roundabout way of fleecing the businessmen of Xuzhou city.

In truth, it wasn't just these small and medium liquor sellers who thought this way; the thoughts of the big proprietors were much the same. It was just that each had their own backing and power, so their individual considerations differed.

The proprietor of Cloud Mountain Tavern entered and greeted the proprietor of Jade Willow Lodge, speaking very directly and plainly: "This young master does things with some decorum. Even if he's scraping for money, he's at least brought out a wine jar. He won't demand anything too excessive. Whatever amount he wants, we'll just give it!"

The Welcome Inn Teahouse was the largest teahouse in Xuzhou city. Though its class could not compare to Jade Willow Lodge, it was a place where people from all walks of life could gather, and it was considered a central location within Xuzhou city.

Zhao Jin and his companions sat in the main hall of the teahouse. The tables in the hall had been pushed together into one long row, with chairs arranged on both sides. Zhao Jin sat at one end. This time, Shi Manqiang and Dong Bingfeng had stayed behind to guard the goods yard; everyone else had come along.

As the various proprietors and owners entered, each would proactively greet Zhao Jin, who sat there, with a bow and a salute. Zhao Jin did not stand, merely nodding with a smile.

Although the ages of these proprietors and owners were all comparable to Zhao Jin's elders, everyone found Zhao Jin's demeanor perfectly natural. The most renowned hero in the city's business circles ought to have such an air.

The proprietors of Cloud Mountain Tavern and Jade Willow Lodge were arguably the most influential here, with the largest operations. Without any modesty, they took the seats to the immediate left and right of Zhao Jin. Several others sat down in order after them.

Zhao Jin had met all these people before; they had all come to the goods yard to greet him and exchange pleasantries. But at the time, he only knew their business names, and was not very clear on the people behind them. Now he understood fully. The person seated below the Cloud Mountain Tavern proprietor was the owner of the city's third-largest restaurant, backed by the Vice-Prefect and the Judge. The one below the Jade Willow Lodge proprietor had connections to the Provincial Tax Bureau. The next establishment down was run by the son of Luo Jinhao, the Mobile Corps Commander defending Xuzhou. And so on and so forth. Nowadays in Xuzhou, one needed some official connections to do business well; otherwise, no one would come to patronize you. Xuzhou city simply couldn't sustain very high levels of consumption anymore.

Quite a few people had come, but the seats on both sides of the long table were sparsely occupied. Businesspeople also cared about seniority and status. Those with less wealth and insufficient standing, seeing the proprietors of Jade Willow Lodge and Cloud Mountain Tavern seated there, naturally dared not go over and join them, and had no choice but to stand to the side.

When everyone had more or less arrived, the standing crowd on both sides was very cramped, while those seated were still just that handful. Zhao Jin shook his head with a smile, called a waiter over, and gave a few instructions. The waiter hurried off.

"Gentlemen, the reason Zhao has invited everyone here today is to let you taste the liquor produced by Fragrance Distillery," Zhao Jin said, standing up.

The moment he stood, the main hall of the teahouse fell silent. When these words were spoken, the proprietors and owners, great and small, exchanged glances, all with expressions that said, "Just as we thought." Those with large fortunes and powerful backers remained impassive; they would pay what needed to be paid. Zhao Jin acted with discretion and wouldn't extort them too harshly. The small-time businessmen, however, wore pained expressions, yet knew they had no choice but to pay.

Zhao Jin took in everyone's expressions and attitudes. He merely smiled and pointed to one side of the teahouse hall, saying, "This is the Han Well Famous Liquor produced by my family's distillery. Zhao has randomly selected thirty jars."

Everyone had already seen upon entering that a pile of wine jars was stacked over there; they just hadn't expected Zhao Jin to bring the liquor directly here.

"These were all sealed the moment they were finished. Please, everyone, choose any jar," Zhao Jin said with a smile.

Hearing his words, everyone was baffled. They thought, selling liquor is selling liquor, what kind of show is this? Yet no one in this room, regardless of status, dared offend Zhao Jin. Seeing he didn't appear to be joking, they deferred to one another for a moment, and finally let the proprietor of Jade Willow Lodge make the choice.

Proprietor Wang of Jade Willow Lodge was also thoroughly confused. He looked at Zhao Jin, who merely smiled and extended his hand in a gesture of invitation. The proprietor shook his head and pointed at a jar at random.

Immediately, two waiters from the teahouse walked over, patting the wine jar to confirm it was the one. Seeing Proprietor Wang nod, several more waiters went over and carefully moved the selected jar out.

The proprietors and owners in the teahouse watched, utterly perplexed, but their attention was completely captured. Everyone watched with rapt concentration. At that moment, waiters came in carrying trays full of wine cups and arranged them neatly on the table.

"These teahouse waiters really know how to serve people. Their boss has trained them well!"

"Indeed, Old Liu spent time over in Yangzhou; he's seen the big occasions."

Watching the waiters' practiced movements, a murmur of discussion arose from the crowd. Suddenly, there was a sound—something had been cracked open—and then the main hall fell silent. Every person twitched their nose and took a couple of sniffs, because after that sound, the aroma of wine suddenly permeated the air.