Chapter 161: Spread by Word of Mouth

Shi Manqiang nodded gravely. Zhao Jin made a round of the distilling shed, where Lu Xiangjiu and Su Da were working up a fiery sweat. Liu Yong had already gone to hire ox-carts and horse-carts in the city. After Ji Xiang got a count at the distillery, she hurried outside the city to order new wine jars. Wang Zhaojing, meanwhile, flourished brush and ink, writing the four characters "Han Well Famous Liquor" on a sheet of red paper for every household they delivered to. Chen Sheng went to the prefectural magistrate's yamen to find that Clerk Ye.

Business was so hot that, whether for the distillery's hired hands or Zhao Jin's household retainers, they needed to bring in a large number of extra people. They had to find Clerk Ye and get all those who had previously signed up brought in as retainers and shop assistants. Sun Dalei, on the other hand, was busy with his own affairs. He took two jars of the liquor home and sent a household servant with the liquor to Yutou Town, a canal hub where people came and went from north to south, to see if the liquor could fetch a better price. Everyone was spinning like a wheel.

Just one double-hour after the tasting ended, an ox-cart from Drifting Fragrance Distillery carrying over twenty jars of liquor arrived before the doors of Jade Willow Retreat. The staff at Jade Willow Retreat had long since gotten word and hurriedly unloaded five jars, then paid the cart's delivery fee.

"Master Zhao gave orders that even though Jade Willow Retreat is far, it must be the first delivery," the carter said cheerfully as he took the delivery fee. He was paid for every house he delivered to; he ran fewer errands and took home more money — of course he was happy.

Shopkeeper Wang of Jade Willow Retreat had no time for such trifles. After returning, he looked over the account books, then went to the gambling hall and the private rooms to greet the guests, and only then made a round of the rear kitchen.

Only after arranging all these odds and ends could he go to the front hall to rest. He had just sat down to drink tea when a richly dressed fat man walked in. Shopkeeper Wang hurriedly stood up and greeted him with a smile: "The proprietor is early today. Would you like some tea?"

The fat man waved his hand and said in a thin, soft voice, "I'm already full of water. One more sip and I'll burst. Take good care of that table of guests in Room A. They're all gallants of the river, and they have connections to my backers too. They're on their way to Guide on business and have stopped here to rest their feet."

Shopkeeper Wang smiled obsequiously and said, "I was just wondering to myself — it's nearly time for the evening meal, so why are they starting their banquet so early?"

Gallants of the river meant men who made their living off the grain tribute transport. These men seemed like figures of the jianghu, but in truth they all had countless ties to officialdom. As for eating in a hurry in the afternoon, they must have missed a meal while traveling.

Shopkeeper Wang knew his proprietor had great face. When wealthy and noble guests from inside and outside the city came, it was already good enough for him to go over with a smile and nod. Now that the proprietor had said "take good care of them," he absolutely had to curry favor and look after them. Shopkeeper Wang hurriedly moved to make arrangements, but after two steps he stopped and said with a smile, "Proprietor, the honored guests have come at just the right time. The fine liquor we brought back from the Zhao Family Distillery today can be served for them to taste!"

Hearing this, the proprietor of Jade Willow Retreat frowned and said with a trace of displeasure, "Old Wang, that boy is fooling around making liquor, and now you're fooling around along with him."

"Proprietor, it's no fooling around. It's genuinely fine liquor. Though it can't compare to those famous liquors from the south or north that sell for over a hundred wen a catty, it's a truly solid, good spirit. It bites the tongue, yet goes down very smooth. When you swallow, it's like a line of fire, but it doesn't feel like burning — instead, your whole body warms up with it. It's honestly quite good. I was going to let you taste it this evening anyway," Shopkeeper Wang said with a grin.

The proprietor paused, then said with some doubt, "That boy of the Zhao family is a figure with blade and spear — that's one thing — but he can make liquor too? Old Wang, you know your liquor, and you think that highly of it?"

"I didn't expect it either. Let me bring some right now for you to taste first. If you also think it's good, then we'll send it over to the honored guests. That way you'll have face as well," Shopkeeper Wang said with a smile.

The fat man nodded with a smile. Shopkeeper Wang hurried to the wine storehouse. Looking at the five unopened jars, he said urgently, "Open them all. Draw one ladle from the bottom of each."

The storehouse assistant paused. Once a jar's clay seal was broken, the liquor would begin to dissipate, so they only ever opened one jar at a time. As for drawing a ladle from the bottom, that was a method for testing liquor. Water was heavy and liquor was light; the better the liquor, the lighter it was. If it had been cut with inferior liquor or water, drawing a ladle from the lower half of the jar would reveal it at once.

"Hurry up, the proprietor is waiting!" Seeing the assistant freeze, Shopkeeper Wang urged him on, and only then did the assistant scramble into action.

Shopkeeper Wang drank only a small mouthful from each ladle drawn. After five mouthfuls, he nodded, a satisfied smile spreading across his face, and instructed the assistant to reseal four of the jars, then fill several flasks and bring them out.

Before long, the liquor was brought before the proprietor. The fat proprietor picked up a wine cup doubtfully, sniffed it, and could not help pausing. Then he tilted his head back and drained it dry. After drinking, he exhaled a breath and said in astonishment, "So that Zhao Jin really did make this."

"Plenty of idlers were watching the excitement outside his distillery. He had no chance to buy liquor or ship it in to pass off as his own. And with such a large quantity being bought, how could the houses in the city not know?" Shopkeeper Wang added a few words of explanation.

The fat proprietor could not be bothered to listen to all that and simply said, "Bring the liquor and follow me. Let's go greet them in Room A together."

Jade Willow Retreat also provided banquets, but it had no common tables — only private rooms and secluded courtyards. Room A was reserved for figures of status.

Outside this private room sat four large men. They looked like ordinary guards, but they wore iron-wire leather armor, and the blades at their sides were goose-quill sabers forged of fine steel. Equipment like that in Xuzhou City belonged only to the personal soldiers and retainers of the Assistant Regional Commander. Inside the room were six men, all radiating a fierce and bold aura from within, their glances carrying a murderous edge.

Outside, the fat proprietor called out a greeting and pushed the door open. The six men all rose with smiles and said, "Boss Zhou is too courteous. We brothers arrived in such a rush, yet the hospitality has been truly thorough."

"Given the relationship between our two families, such polite words only make us strangers. A fine new liquor has appeared in Xuzhou City, and I've brought it specially for you all to taste." The proprietor, surnamed Zhou, beamed as he placed the wine flasks on the table, picked one up, and poured for each man. Everyone inclined their bodies in thanks.

Proprietor Zhou said in a very cordial manner, "You gentlemen rarely come to Xuzhou, so you may not know that we've produced a young hero here, named Zhao Jin."

"Zhao Jin? That young man who killed the Flying Leopard?" someone said in surprise.

Now it was Proprietor Zhou's turn to be surprised. He asked, stunned, "Brother Meng knows of him too?"

The man who had spoken said with a smile, "At just over ten years of age, he's already got more than thirty lives on his hands, and his methods are utterly ruthless. Nowadays, throughout Xuzhou and Huaibei, who doesn't know of this young master?"

Proprietor Zhou was stunned for a moment, thinking to himself that he had still underestimated Zhao Jin far too much. It seemed he ought to go meet him in person, rather than just sending his shopkeeper.

Still, he was a man accustomed to social occasions and quickly recovered his composure. Smiling, he said, "You gentlemen may not know this, but this liquor was made by that very young hero. Zhou won't say whether it's good or bad — please taste it for yourselves."

After speaking, he poured a cup for himself, raised it in a toast, and drained it first. Hearing this, everyone looked curiously at the cups in their hands, then tilted their heads back and drained them dry.

After drinking, all their eyes lit up. The one who had spoken earlier, Brother Meng, said, "Truly fine liquor! This is the kind of drink that really hits the spot!"

As soon as he spoke, the others chimed in one after another: "In terms of taste, it may not match those top-grade spirits from the north or south, but this stuff is real liquor — this is what real men ought to drink."

"When traveling on the rivers and lakes in autumn and winter, a mouthful of this would be more useful than wearing a sheepskin coat."

"Brother Zhou, another cup, another cup!"

Shopkeeper Wang, standing behind, naturally would not let his proprietor pour the wine. Grinning, he took the flask and served the men at the table.

These fierce men all had considerable capacity for liquor. Several cups down, far from growing muddled, their eyes only grew brighter.

"Fine liquor — no off-tastes."

"Doesn't go to the head, no watery thinness, and the whole body warms up!"

"If you were up north where the wind cuts like a knife, one sip of this would be like having a ball of fire in your belly!"

Cup after cup, even Proprietor Zhou sat down and drank with everyone. After seven or eight cups per man, the flasks they had brought were empty. Shopkeeper Wang tactfully rose to fetch more liquor.

He had just stepped out when Brother Meng said with a smile, "This Zhao Jin really is no simple man. He can fight, he can kill, ruthless and merciless — and he even has a craft like this."

"You don't know the half of it. Zhao Jin also has several sworn brothers, every one of them outstanding," Proprietor Zhou said with a laugh.

Before long, Shopkeeper Wang brought the liquor back and naturally poured for everyone in turn. Someone nodded politely, but his body swayed. Steadying himself, he said in surprise, "This liquor's kick is really something. It's rising up now, but it doesn't feel bad."

Originally, the group had only intended to eat a meal at Jade Willow Retreat and then leave. Having drunk so happily, they simply decided not to go. Proprietor Zhou felt he had gained enormous face and was also very pleased. He arranged accommodations for all of them, then swayed unsteadily toward the main hall. He himself thought he was fine, but Shopkeeper Wang behind him had already reached out to support him several times. Finally, one staggering step was so wide he nearly fell. Only then did Proprietor Zhou realize he had drunk too much. He reached up and touched his forehead, saying, "That was nearly a catty of liquor, and my head still doesn't hurt. Not bad. Old Wang, go buy some more from over there. Price is no object."

Hearing this, Shopkeeper Wang broke into a bitter smile and replied, "Proprietor, Young Master Zhao only sells five jars at a time."

"Who refuses to earn money when it's there? That kid is truly odd. I'll go back and sleep for a while. Remind me when I wake up — I need to meet this man." Proprietor Zhou's speech was already slurring.

A similar scene played out at Cloud Mountain Tower. Everyone knew how to do business. When the evening meal began, the shopkeeper of Cloud Mountain Tower sent a small flask to every private room — roughly enough for one cup per guest. The patrons who could afford to dine at Cloud Mountain Tower were no ordinary figures; at the very least, they were not short on silver.

"We brothers aren't short on money — bring us some good liquor," one customer said, his face darkening on the spot.

The shopkeeper and staff smilingly explained that this liquor was not for sale; it was offered for everyone to taste. If they liked it, they could talk further; if they wanted other liquor, it would be supplied at any time.

Those who were hosting banquets ordered the expensive liquors first. After three rounds of drinks, when everyone had relaxed and begun chatting about amusing happenings in Xuzhou City, they brought out the Han Well Famous Liquor that Zhao Jin had brewed. Everyone wanted to try just how bad it was, as a joke and a talking point.