Chapter Fifty-Five: Curiosity
Empress Zhangsun said, “Your Majesty, the Nan-ni tribe… what kind of tribe is that? My knowledge is limited, and I have never heard of it!”
“I am not sure either, I only know it is located in the southern frontier,” Li Shimin carefully put away the letter. “I will return to the imperial study and look into it to see what kind of tribe this Nan-ni really is!”
“Your Majesty, I respectfully bid you farewell.”
After returning to the imperial study, Li Shimin searched through drawers and cabinets for a long time but found nothing useful. Logically, since the Nan-ni tribe bordered the Great Tang, there should have been some contact with Tang citizens, and the local officials who drew maps would have marked them. The maps in the imperial study covered the entire country in great detail, yet there was still no trace. This only served to deepen Li Shimin’s curiosity.
Soon, Zhangsun Wuji arrived.
When asked about the Nan-ni tribe, he pondered and replied with a bow, “Your Majesty, I seem to have heard of this tribe before, but I cannot recall the details at the moment.”
“Think carefully.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After pacing back and forth for a while, Zhangsun Wuji finally said, “I remember now. Last year, officials from the southern region of Bashu reported that a local people survived by eating mud. That must be the Nan-ni tribe.”
“Mud? Can mud even be eaten?” Li Shimin couldn’t help but laugh.
“Yes, Your Majesty, I have just recalled it—such is indeed the case!”
“The world is vast and full of wonders; to think there are people who eat mud! How interesting! I actually look forward to meeting them,” Li Shimin said with great interest. “Zhangsun, make arrangements to receive the envoy from the Nan-ni tribe. I wish to meet them personally!”
“At your command, Your Majesty.”
Zhangsun Wuji took his leave.
...
That day, the capital’s most renowned tavern suddenly closed its doors. Instead, a window was opened on the side of a small adjoining house.
Five bottles of Immortal’s Liquor were displayed at the window.
Some curious onlookers asked, “Owner, what’s this?”
“Good question! Let me tell you, this is Immortal’s Liquor, three hundred cash a bottle… Don’t crowd, line up in order!”
Immortal’s Liquor? No one had heard of it!
Just one bottle of wine, and it cost three hundred cash—that was daylight robbery!
“Young Master, did we hear that right?”
“Just one bottle of wine for three hundred?”
...
Those at the door all stepped back, indicating they had no intention to buy.
“No matter how good the wine is, it’s not worth three hundred!”
“Is this kid trying to cheat us?”
Everyone was talking at once.
Cheng Chubi frowned and said, “If you want to buy wine, line up. If not, move along and don’t block others!” Luo Tong stepped forward to disperse those not interested in buying.
Soon, hardly anyone remained.
“Luo Tong, keep watch here. If anyone comes to buy, take their money and hand over the goods. Just these five bottles—once they’re sold, that’s it!”
“Alright!”
Cheng Chubi headed upstairs.
Luo Tong took his place at the window. “Three hundred cash a bottle, guaranteed genuine. If you want to buy, line up…”
“Tch!” The crowd jeered.
Even the most expensive wine in the market was only twenty cash a bottle!
And now, Immortal’s Liquor at the premier tavern was selling for three hundred! This wasn’t just expensive—it was outrageous, completely unacceptable! Anyone who bought it would surely be ridiculed for being a fool.
“Owner, we don’t want this wine… Can’t you open the tavern? We want to eat! Don’t forget, we have membership cards!”
“You can’t go back on your word and bully us, can you?”
...
Luo Tong replied, “The tavern isn’t open today; only these few bottles are for sale! You’re free not to buy and to leave. I’m sure that with such good wine, someone will recognize its value!”
Time passed.
Upstairs, Cheng Chubi said worriedly, “Your Highness, have we priced the Immortal’s Liquor too high? At three hundred cash, even many wealthy young men wouldn’t be able to afford it—let alone ordinary folks.”
“And…”
“What are you trying to say?” Li Zhi interrupted.
“The cost to make each bottle is less than five cash, and we’re selling at three hundred…”
At first glance, it did seem exorbitant! But he overlooked the fact that in this era, there was still no strong liquor. The Immortal’s Liquor brewed by Li Zhi was one of a kind!
As the saying goes, rarity makes things precious.
A high-quality spirit like this naturally had to follow the path of the nobility!
Li Zhi scoffed, “Three hundred cash a bottle is already the lowest price. If it doesn’t sell, we’ll keep it for ourselves! No need to make it cheap for others! Hmph!”
Such fine liquor—even if it stayed in their hands forever, he would never lower the price!
But actually…
Baijiu doesn’t spoil!
Its shelf life can last a thousand years!
Downstairs.
There was a constant stream of people coming and going, never ceasing.
Among them were wealthy young gentlemen, who had never been stingy with their money—spending thousands at the premier tavern as top-tier members. But when they saw the exorbitant price for Immortal’s Liquor, they left cursing.
It wasn’t that they couldn’t afford it, but that they thought Cheng Chubi was treating them like fools!
“It’s just a bottle of wine—no matter how good, is it really worth three hundred?”
“Cheng Chubi, have you lost your mind for money?” scoffed Fang Yiai, son of Fang Xuanling.
“Master Fang, just taste my wine. The wine itself will tell you if it’s worth three hundred. Would I lie to you?” Luo Tong said.
“For the sake of our friendship, I’ll give you a cup to try!”
“Hmph!” Fang Yiai was a true wine lover. With a grand gesture, he said, “Fine, I’ll try it for everyone. But let me warn you—if the wine isn’t good, I won’t let it go easily! Don’t blame me for being blunt!”
“Alright, go ahead and taste it first!”
Luo Tong poured him a cup.
As he brought the cup near, a rich fragrance wafted out.
Fang Yiai caught the aroma and his eyes widened with amazement. “This wine…”
“Potent, isn’t it? Let me tell you, you won’t find another bottle like this in the whole world. Do you know why it’s called Immortal’s Liquor? Because only immortals could ever taste such a wine!” Luo Tong said proudly.
Those standing behind Fang Yiai also caught the scent. At first, they had been full of complaints, even cursing the tavern, but once that aroma reached them, all fell silent.
“Heavens!”
“How can there be such a mellow and fragrant wine in the world?”
...
Unhurriedly, Fang Yiai took a sip. His eyes rounded, his face filled with disbelief. He quickly said, “Luo Tong, get me a few bottles! I want to take them home!”
“Now you want to buy?” Luo Tong asked with a sly smile.
“With wine this good, how could I not? Three hundred cash is nothing—just send someone to my mansion for payment!” Fang Yiai put down the cup and pointed to the bottles at the window. “Give me all of them—I’ll take them all!”
Such swagger—truly the scion of a wealthy house!
But Luo Tong handed him only one bottle. “Sorry, you can only buy one.”
“Why? Do you think I can’t pay?” Fang Yiai was a little put out. He never carried money on the street; anything he wanted, he took, and always settled the bill later at his mansion. He had never defaulted on a debt.