Chapter 100: The Enchanting Wine of Lan River Tempts Dantai

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Jiang Lin, Qingfeng Mingyue Pavilion.

The dishes on the table had piqued Dantai Ming’s curiosity earlier; their cooking methods were quite different from those commonly used nowadays. In Daliang, steaming, boiling, and roasting were the norm. Yet the dishes before him defied easy classification—how could such fragmented ingredients be roasted? Dantai Ming didn’t press further; he would understand once he tasted them.

Upon taking a bite, Dantai Ming was astonished anew. This wasn’t roasting either, yet the flavors penetrated the meat more deeply than roasting could achieve. The combination of meat and vegetables was far more delicious than mere roasted meat. No wonder this establishment was so highly praised. He had traveled widely, but none offered such distinctive cuisine.

“Unexpectedly, this Qingfeng Mingyue Pavilion truly lives up to its name, intoxicating one like the clear breeze and bright moon,” Dantai Ming sighed, feeling enlightened today.

“Brother Dantai, try another cup now; you’ll surely taste a different flavor,” Lu Jin urged again. He didn’t mean to tease Dantai Ming. The first cup was just a physical shock for Dantai Ming—no chance to appreciate its subtlety. Otherwise, his precious wine would be wasted.

Dantai Ming eyed the cup before him with some trepidation. The wine was overwhelmingly spicy; a single sip felt like losing half his life.

“Trust me, Brother Dantai, this second cup will make you fall in love with this wine,” Lu Jin said earnestly.

Dantai Ming reluctantly raised the cup. He couldn’t be cowed by a small glass of wine; besides, sitting opposite was the husband of Miss Shen of the Shen family—he couldn’t afford to be outdone.

He drank the second cup very cautiously, not like the first. Lu Jin remained silent.

“Hmm... just as Brother Lu said, the wine remains spicy, but the fullness and richness between the teeth and the lingering aftertaste are extraordinary. Truly, no ordinary wine compares!” Any noble scion worth his salt would know how to drink and savor wine. Dantai Ming quickly discerned its charm.

“Brother Lu, where did this wine come from?” Dantai Ming leaned forward to ask. If before he was merely curious, now he was genuinely eager. Such fine wine had never crossed his path. Had the Dantai family of Jinling not been worthy of good things?

“Brother Dantai truly thinks this wine is good?” Lu Jin asked.

“How could it be otherwise? I’m not afraid Brother Lu will laugh at me, but I have never seen nor tasted such wine before,” Dantai Ming admitted, blushing.

Shen Yanxi smiled quietly watching Dantai Ming’s expression. The noble scion, the most admired flower among Jinling’s sons, Dantai Ming, had indeed been taken by surprise today.

“It's no secret to Brother Dantai that this wine was brewed by me, after improving an ancient recipe I found in old records...” Lu Jin glanced at Shen Yanxi and smiled at Dantai Ming.

Shen Yanxi smiled but said nothing, picking up the teapot to pour hot tea for Lu Jin. The serving maidens had been dismissed earlier; now only the three of them remained.

“Brother Lu, are you joking?” Dantai Ming was doubtful. Shen Yanxi’s husband brews wine? How could that be?

“Such a matter could not be hidden from Brother Dantai. I may not excel at many things, but I am devoted to this cup’s contents, naturally putting much thought into it,” Lu Jin said.

Upon hearing this, Dantai Ming understood—by later standards, this was a hobby, a refined pursuit.

“This wine...” Dantai Ming glanced toward the bottle.

“My wife named it ‘Spring of the Lan River’,” Lu Jin said, reading Dantai Ming’s expression as if he knew what question was coming.

“‘Spring of the Lan River’—a fine name. But Brother Lu, isn’t it a pity to keep such exquisite wine to yourself alone?” Dantai Ming pondered. With his mind on managing the family business, overseeing affairs, he knew that if such wine could be produced in batches, it would be a great enterprise. There was no chance left for romance now, but if he could obtain this wine, his trip to Jiang Lin would not be in vain.

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Lu Jin and Shen Yanxi exchanged a smile, clearly waiting for this very question. “So, Brother Dantai, what do you propose?”

“I wonder if Brother Lu would be willing to part with the recipe? Whatever conditions, I will do my best to meet them.” Dantai Ming’s thoughts were simple: since this was a personal hobby project, why not sell the formula to him? It wouldn’t stop Lu Jin from continuing as a hobby. He wasn’t sure about the Lu family’s finances, but the Shen family certainly wasn’t lacking. Who ever minds more money? Yet he wondered if the Shen family was even using this recipe.

“You’re a bit late, Brother Dantai. We’ve already opened a distillery dedicated to brewing this wine, and it should be on sale across Daliang by next year...” Lu Jin said casually.

Lu Jin’s words jolted Dantai Ming. Before, he was only testing whether there was a chance to get involved; now the trouble was real. If the wine was going on sale, what would happen to his family’s wine business? These two wines were incomparable. His expression darkened instantly. The distillery was a vital source of income for the Dantai family—otherwise, why would he have shown such interest in the recipe earlier?

Dantai Ming’s mind was in turmoil. Could Jiang Lin be his place of heartbreak? The beloved was gone, and now his family business faced trouble—what was to be done?

“Our distillery is newly opened. Brother Dantai, would you be interested in a partnership?” Sensing the right moment, Lu Jin asked.

“Oh? How do you envision this partnership?” Dantai Ming’s face brightened. It wasn’t a matter of weak will; the situation was clear. If this wine’s production scaled up, every other family distillery would have to close. With such a gulf in quality, how could they compete? Daliang’s entire wine industry would be swept clean. Now hearing of a chance to cooperate, how could he not be excited? If the Dantai family could get involved in this new wine, not only would they not lose income, but they might even expand.

Lu Jin did not hide anything, sharing the plan for the Jiangzhou Brewing Bureau with Dantai Ming. Just as the Shen family matriarch had said: “I have a treasure; why scheme?” If it fits, join; if not, leave.

“One million taels of silver for 500,000 shares?” Upon hearing Lu Jin’s plan, Dantai Ming was astonished. This far exceeded his expectations.

“That’s still a discounted price. Once the wine hits the market, one share will sell for at least four taels, possibly more. Brother Dantai need not decide immediately; you can come with me to the Jiangzhou Brewing Bureau to take a look,” Lu Jin offered. People in Daliang lacked a concept of large-scale production; seeing it would make things clearer.

...

The meal ended with both host and guest in high spirits. After agreeing to visit the Jiangzhou Brewing Bureau together in the near future, they parted ways.

In the carriage returning home, Lu Jin and Shen Yanxi chatted leisurely.

“Madam, does the food at our Qingfeng Mingyue Pavilion still please your palate?” Lu Jin teased.

Shen Yanxi, blushing and heart pounding as Lu Jin held her close, thought how bold he was growing. “How is it you know so much about cooking?”

“One lives but once, and life is but four essentials: clothing, food, shelter, and transportation. Busy as we are, much of life is spent on these. To live well, one must pay attention—just as my wife dazzles me every time she dresses. That is the joy of life.”

“Cooking is the same. Different ingredients transformed by frying, steaming, and roasting into delicious dishes not only fill the belly but delight the soul. Especially when a beauty like my wife praises it, all the effort is worthwhile,” Lu Jin said softly.

Leaning against her husband’s chest, Shen Yanxi listened to his eloquence and warmth, wishing such moments could last forever.

“Husband, your coaxing grows ever more skillful. But the food is indeed unique. Why haven’t you mentioned before?” Shen Yanxi only learned today that her husband owned Qingfeng Mingyue Pavilion.

“If I had told you earlier, how could I surprise you now? By the way, here’s the ledger—henceforth, it’s entrusted to you.” Lu Jin had come today to let Shen Yanxi taste the fare and hand over future affairs. He himself had no time to manage it. Actually, Shen Yanxi didn’t need to do much—just review the ledgers and profits, serving as overseer. The details were handled by Jiang Shaonian.

Shen Yanxi took the ledger without fuss and began to look through it. “Hmm, Qingfeng Mingyue Pavilion doesn’t use your new bookkeeping method?”

“Of course, I must teach my wife first. No rush to spread it outside. When you and Huayan have learned enough, you can try it at a shop and audit the ledgers carefully. Once proficient, discuss with your father about auditing the Shen family’s businesses—I suspect there are quite a few leeches inside,” Lu Jin suggested. Shen Yanxi, a few maids, and selected younger family members were learning double-entry bookkeeping and Arabic numerals from Lu Jin.

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“Your words are wise; I will keep this matter close to my heart.”

“By the way, wife, I want to ask—can our family engage in salt and sugar businesses?” Lu Jin wouldn’t miss a chance to seize lucrative opportunities.

“We have salt wells and sugar ponds at home. Could you be interested in these too?” Shen Yanxi knew her husband well enough to know he never spoke without cause.

“Does the court not intervene?” Lu Jin asked curiously.

“Most salt wells in Daliang are held by noble families. The founding emperor of Daliang was himself from a powerful clan and had ties with many families. When he rose to power, he agreed to share the realm with the clans, winning their support. Though he did not fully honor the promise after ascending the throne, these families are not to be trifled with. If the emperor antagonized all clans, chaos would ensue. Salt wells are like that—though some salt tax must be paid. As for sugar, the output is low and operations are scattered among families,” Shen Yanxi explained smoothly.

“So then, how did you catch the eye of that despicable emperor...” Lu Jin asked.

“My husband overestimates me. To the world, I am but a woman. Even if the Shen family were involved, would they really break with the royal family for one woman?” Shen Yanxi’s expression darkened.

“That’s good. If that had happened, I wouldn’t be able to be with you,” Lu Jin comforted, stroking her hair.

“Is that how you comfort me?” Shen Yanxi laughed in exasperation.

“Although all are noble families, they are not united. In Daliang, the northern and southern aristocratic factions have many conflicts. Even within these factions, harmony is far from complete. Each family has different interests. The royal family exploits these divisions to secure the throne,” Shen Yanxi continued.

“The world’s hustle and bustle is all for profit; people flock and quarrel all for gain,” Lu Jin mused.

“Your words are always incisive and profound!”

“The prosperity of noble families is not just what you see now. The concerns you mention, the Shen family has experienced. Through five dynasties, how could we not have faced wars? If you learn more, you will see that in one region, there is usually only one top noble family—at most two. Jiangzhou, rather than belonging to Daliang, is truly the Shen family’s Jiangzhou,” Shen Yanxi said with confidence and pride.

Lu Jin was taken aback, realizing he had overlooked this.

“The branches you usually meet are the Shen family’s direct line—more precisely, the eldest legitimate line of our ancestors. But the Shen family includes many others, including Shen Garden and Wulingyuan. Shen family members serve as officials across Daliang, both civil and military. Other noble families are similar. The mingling of noble families and the royal family creates a delicate balance—no one dares to act rashly, hence the current situation.”

“If the scenario you worry about actually occurs, as a Shen family member, our priority would be to defend Jiangzhou, then the Northern Jiang region, and lastly Daliang. The Shen family’s army would return to Jiangzhou at the right moment, concentrating tens of thousands of troops there in a short time.”

Lu Jin was stunned. So this was the true power of the noble families? No wonder he sometimes felt bewildered—how could such a large estate stand firm for generations? If that was the case, could he really afford to relax?

Lu Jin had always thought that if war broke out everywhere and enemies pressed in, Shen Garden would be like a beauty surrounded by wolves. He now realized he had been too naive.

But fate was not in his hands. Still, he could not help but worry.