novelraw Chapter 238 Lin Yan Delivers Wine
Chapter 238 Lin Yan Delivers Wine
Lin Yan and Master Niu had a very pleasant conversation. Lin Yan found this old Beijing man to be straightforward, knowledgeable, and unpretentious, which suited his taste perfectly. With a slight thought, he sent out a divine sense.
Before long, Uncle Niu was getting into the swing of things, spittle flying everywhere:
"Speaking of Guan Dejun, the 'Live-Up Donkey' of Tianqiao, he was quite a character! Once, his donkey costume was so realistic that a wealthy young man from Tianjin was showing off his expensive real Persian cat on the street. The moment the cat saw Guan Dejun dressed as a donkey, its fur stood on end, it let out a howl, broke free of its leash, and leaped up the flagpole of a nearby teahouse. No matter how much the young man called after it, it wouldn't come down! Guess what? Only after Guan Dejun removed the donkey head and makeup did the cat dare to slide down, making everyone on the street laugh until they almost passed out!"
Grandpa Pian slapped the table, laughing so hard he almost fell over: "Wow! That's absolutely amazing! It's even more like a donkey than a real donkey!"
Amidst the laughter and chatter, the tavern's curtain was silently lifted once more. Lin San held two dark-colored earthenware jars that looked quite old in his hands, their mouths sealed with red cloth and the mud tightly packed.
He walked straight to Lin Yan's side, bowed slightly, gently placed the wine jar on the table, and said in a low voice, "Young Master, here is your wine."
"Okay," Lin Yan nodded, "Go ahead and do your thing."
"Yes." Lin San replied without saying anything more, then turned around and quietly left the tavern, coming and going like the wind, attracting the attention of many patrons.
Lin Yan raised his hand and broke the clay seal on the wine jar, lifting a corner of the red cloth. Instantly, an indescribable, mellow aroma of wine, like a sleeping tiger unleashed from its cage, instantly overwhelmed all the aromas of Erguotou and braised meat in the tavern, domineeringly filling the entire space!
The aroma is complex and alluring, possessing both the mellow richness of aged wine and a subtle hint of medicinal fragrance and the refreshing sweetness of exotic fruits. Just one whiff is enough to invigorate the spirit and make one's mouth water.
"Whoa—!!!"
Everyone in the tavern instinctively gasped, letting out a collective gasp of amazement. Even Xu Huizhen behind the counter couldn't help but sniff, a look of astonishment flashing in her eyes. She ran the tavern and considered herself to have tasted quite a few fine wines, but such a powerful yet understated aroma was simply unheard of!
Old Niu's nose twitched the most. He stared intently at the jar of wine, his eyes wide like copper bells, his voice trembling: "Young...young brother...what...what kind of wine is this? I've lived to be this old, and I've even had the chance to smell the imperial wine from the palace once, but it can't compare to this...this...just the aroma makes my whole body feel warm!"
Grandpa Pian'er had his eyes closed, looking completely intoxicated, as if his soul had been captivated by the aroma of the wine.
Lin Yan couldn't help but laugh when he saw Niu Ye's drooling yet restrained expression. He took two clean empty bowls, lifted the wine jar, and slowly poured the amber-colored, viscous, honey-like wine into the bowls, which even faintly stretched into thin threads.
"It's something my ancestors buried in the ground over a hundred years ago. It's not worth much, just old stuff," Lin Yan said casually, pushing one of the bowls towards Uncle Niu. "Uncle Niu, you're a connoisseur of wine, try it and see if it suits your taste?"
With trembling hands, Uncle Niu picked up the rough porcelain bowl as if it were a rare treasure. He first took a deep breath of the almost solid aroma of the wine, and then carefully took a small sip.
Upon tasting the wine, there was no expected spiciness or irritation. Instead, it was extremely smooth and mellow. As it slid down the throat, a gentle yet powerful surge of heat instantly flowed through the body, as if dispelling some of the accumulated chill. The whole body felt comfortable, and the aftertaste was long and sweet, leaving one speechless for a moment.
"Good...good wine! Truly good wine!" After a long while, Old Niu let out a long sigh of relief, his face flushed, his beard trembling with excitement. "I've lived my whole life, and today I've finally tasted real wine! All that before...was just horse piss! Young brother, this...this is too precious!"
Lin Yan waved his hand, picked up his bowl and took a sip, then laughed, "Wine is meant to be drunk. Only when you meet someone who understands it can you say that all these years of burying it haven't been in vain. Uncle Niu, drink up, there's plenty."
As he spoke, he poured another bowl for the eagerly waiting old man.
Immediately, the other patrons in the tavern were green with envy! The aroma of the liquor made their Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) tasteless. They craned their necks, watching Niu Ye and Pian Ye's blissful expressions, their mouths watering with envy. All their previous speculations about Lin Yan now seemed to have been well worth the trip; they had plenty of bragging rights for next year.
Xu Huizhen watched this scene and sighed inwardly: This young master is truly unfathomable. He doesn't care about anything and his main goal is to make himself comfortable.
Lin Yan gestured for Xu Huizhen to come over and pushed another unopened jar of wine on the table in front of her: "Boss lady, you're a nice person, and this little tavern is quite interesting. This jar of wine is for you."
Xu Huizhen didn't react for a moment. Only after recognizing the wine jar in front of her, which looked exactly like the aged liquor, did she quickly take it with both hands, unconsciously weighing it in her arms. She looked up at Lin Yan, her eyes gleaming with shrewdness: "Young comrade, what is your surname?"
"My surname is Lin."
"Brother Lin," Xu Huizhen immediately replied, her clear voice echoing throughout the tavern, "from now on, whenever you come to my little tavern for a drink, it's all on me."
These words caused an uproar. Old Niu, gripping his wine bowl, shook his head: "Huizhen, you've got a clever plan! Trading a jar of wine for a regular customer?"
Xu Huizhen wasn't annoyed. Instead, she smiled and patted the wine jar in her arms: "Uncle Niu, you're mistaken. Just smelling the aroma of this wine is worth it, not to mention Brother Lin thinks highly of me. Although I run a small business, I know how to reciprocate kindness." She turned to Lin Yan and said, "Don't underestimate my small shop. From now on, feel free to ask for whatever you want to eat or drink."
Lin Yan didn't refuse, only saying lightly, "You're too kind, landlady." After saying that, he continued to feed the little Qi, who was staring at him expectantly, as if what he had just given away was just an ordinary jar of rice wine.
Xu Huizhen stood there holding the wine jar, the setting sun shining through the window onto the red cloth covering it, casting a warm glow on her face. She knew perfectly well that the value of this jar of wine was far more than just a simple vessel.
As the sun set and evening approached, the dim light bulbs illuminated the tavern, adding a touch of warmth to the air filled with the mingled smells of cooking oil and alcohol.
When the curtain was lifted again, it brought not familiar guests, but a cold and aloof atmosphere that seemed completely out of place in this bustling place.
Lin San was leading the group, and he stepped aside to let the two behind him pass. The first man was tall and imposing, wearing a perfectly tailored three-piece dark gray suit with a heavy black cashmere overcoat. His hair was meticulously combed, and his face was stern. The second man was slightly shorter, wearing a navy blue suit, also with a cashmere overcoat, and gold-rimmed glasses. He had a more refined and reserved demeanor, but his brows still carried the authority of someone who had been giving orders for many years.
The arrival of these three men instantly silenced the noisy tavern. Whether it was seasoned veterans like Boss Niu or ordinary patrons, everyone was intimidated by these three powerful figures. Their suits and overcoats, and their composed, elite demeanor, formed a stark contrast to the greasy square table and coarse porcelain bowls and chopsticks.
As the sun set and darkness fell, the tavern lit up with a dim, yellow light. The noise level was slightly lower than during the day, creating a more relaxed atmosphere.
The curtain was lifted, and Lin San led the two men in. The previously noisy tavern seemed to be muted instantly, becoming much quieter. All eyes of the diners were drawn to them—
"See that? Two more have arrived... Their presence is like something out of a magazine..." A patron at a table near the wall whispered to his companion.
"Goodness, what kind of day is this? All these extraordinary people have come..." Another person clicked his tongue, his gaze shifting back and forth between Lin Yi, Lin Er, and Lin Yan, pondering their relationship.
Even Xu Huizhen behind the counter slowed down her movements as she wiped the cups: the people around Comrade Lin were indeed not simple.
"Young Master," Lin San reported softly, "the eldest and second eldest brothers are back."
Lin Yan looked up and saw the two of them, then looked down at Xiao Qi, who was curled up in his arms with drooping eyelids, and gently handed it to Lin San: "Take it back to sleep, it's too noisy here."
"Yes, young master." Lin San carefully took the drowsy Xiao Qi and left.
Lin Yan then smiled and said to the two men at the next table, "Brother Niu, Brother Pian, my two older brothers are back. Do you mind if we add two more people?"
"No problem! No problem!" Old Niu waved his hand hurriedly, his voice still loud, but there was a hint of caution in his eyes. "We two old brothers are really lucky to have had such a good time today, thanks to you, Brother Lin. We've had good wine and meat, and we've had a great time watching the show. We wish there were more people, so it would be even more exciting!" Old Pian'er nodded with a smile, but his body unconsciously sat up straighter.
"Have a seat," Lin Yan gestured to Lin Yi and Lin Er, seemingly oblivious to the probing gazes around them. "You've been busy all year, so relax here, have a drink, and rest your feet."
The two responded with a "yes" and readily sat down, their tense shoulders and necks seeming to relax a bit. Their presence, though they did nothing, seemed to subtly draw a line around the table, preventing curious gazes from becoming too unrestrained.
Without needing to be told, Xu Huizhen quickly brought over two clean sets of bowls and chopsticks, along with two more wine bowls, her movements even more swift than usual.
Lin Er took a deep breath of the aroma of wine filling the air, a look of contentment on his face as he returned to familiar surroundings. He said in a low voice, "Young Master, this smell... is it from the bar in the old house?" He was referring to the unique aroma of aged wine in the space.
Lin nodded, picked up his wine bowl and took a sip. The familiar warmth dispelled some of his fatigue. As if remembering something, he added, "By the way, young master, Albert, Marcus, and James are thinking of you and asked us to bring you New Year's gifts. We've left them at home."
Lin Yanhun waved his hand dismissively, "Let's not talk about that." He pointed enthusiastically at Uncle Niu and Uncle Pian'er, introducing them to Lin Yi and Lin Er, "Come on, let's get acquainted. These are Uncle Niu and Uncle Pian'er, whom I just met today. They're true old Beijingers, full of interesting anecdotes and stories about the city. Listening to them chat is so entertaining; you could listen all day without getting tired of it." He then looked around the noisy yet vibrant little tavern, "This place is quite interesting too."
He looked at Lin Yi and Lin Er with concern: "You two, take a good rest in Beijing these next few days and relax. I'll inform the Hong Kong side not to bother you with anything, no matter how important, and let them handle it themselves!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Yi and Lin Er were both moved. They knew the weight of their responsibilities, and receiving the young master's order to "take a break" was more effective than any magic pill in relieving their fatigue.
"Yes, young master," the two replied in unison, their voices now carrying a genuine air of relaxation.
Lin Yan smiled and poured wine into their bowls: "Then don't just stand there, drink! And listen to Uncle Niu tell you about the old rules and customs of Beijing!"
Upon hearing this, Uncle Niu perked up and immediately cleared his throat, while Uncle Pian sat up straight in response. Under the dim light, old and new friends sat around a table, clinking their wine bowls lightly, their laughter gradually blending into the warm night of the small tavern.
Xu Huizhen watched from afar, her perception of this "Comrade Lin" once again being refreshed. She quietly instructed the waiter behind the counter, "Go and slice another plate of braised beef, consider it a free gift."