“Wen-ger, Wen-ger!” Xuan-ger shook him lightly.
Song Wenqing snapped out of his thoughts completely, collected his bearings, and asked, “What is the matter?”
Xuan-ger asked in confusion, “Seeing how distracted you look, could it be that you actually know something?”
His heart skipped a beat. Song Wenqing quickly waved his hands, saying with a smile, “What could I possibly know? I simply find it quite miraculous and wonder who this person could be.”
“Who cares who it is, as long as they rid the people of a menace,” Xuan-ger said happily, his voice growing loud without him even realizing it. “You have no idea how that nest of bandits relied on the terrain of Spirit Mountain. Committing robberies and kidnapping people were daily occurrences for them. This is wonderful. In the future, no one will have to live in fear and trepidation when going to Spirit Mountain.”
Xuan-ger talked until his throat felt dry, and he took a sip of water. Seeing that it was getting late, he did not linger any longer and parted ways with Song Wenqing.
The moonlight fell at a slant upon the ground. As the autumn breeze swept past, the leaves on the trees rustled loudly. Song Wenqing stood alone outside the yard for a brief moment, shrinking back into himself to wrap his clothes even tighter around his body.
It appeared he truly had to quickly prepare winter clothing and food supplies. He closed the main gate and headed into the inner room.
Pei Jinrong had already finished cooking dinner. Tonight’s meal was exceptionally simple; since there were no fresh vegetables left at home, he had haphazardly prepared stir-fried tomatoes with eggs and steamed sweet potatoes with rice flour.
Song Wenqing felt it was a bit dry, so he went to warm up some rice wine. Fortunately, when they sold it last time, he had considered that they would want to drink some themselves, so he had reserved a jar. The steamed sweet potatoes possessed an excellent texture, having been marinated with honey flour before being steamed in the wooden rice steamer. Song Wenqing ate an entire plate of them in one go.
“Ah Wen, was that person Xuan-ger mentioned just now Jiang Zhi?” Pei Jinrong asked after hesitating for a moment.
Song Wenqing’s movements paused momentarily, and he immediately replied, “If anyone asks, you just say that Jiang Zhi and Jiang Yao are children from a distant relative’s family who have simply come to stay and play with us for a period of time.”
Pei Jinrong nodded his head. He understood the meaning behind Song Wenqing’s words, displaying a thoroughly obedient expression, “Understood.”
The fragrance of the bayberry brandy grew increasingly potent, to the point where even the villagers passing by would look around inquisitively.
At the beginning, they did not know where this scent was originating from. It was not until a certain day when the village chief came to find Pei Jinrong to make some bamboo crates that he caught the scent. Craving it immensely, the village chief stated on the spot that he wished to purchase a jar to take home.
Song Wenqing did not refuse either, merely telling him that it would require a few more days.
The village chief’s heart itched with anticipation, and since he possessed a quick tongue, everyone else learned of the matter before long.
Song Wenqing was in no hurry to sell it. He first poured himself a cup to try, and it tasted no different from what he had envisioned, possessing a distinct and unique flavor instead.
The only matter worth troubling over was that Pei Jinrong, seeing him drinking so happily, insisted on clamoring to have a cup as well. He never expected that the youth would turn out to be someone who collapsed after a single cup, becoming completely intoxicated and unsteady on his feet before long.
“And you even claimed to be someone who could drink a thousand cups without falling down,” Song Wenqing looked at Pei Jinrong, who was slumped over the table, shaking his head with a smile.
He stepped forward, draped one of the youth’s arms over his shoulder, and supported him as they headed into the inner room.
With great difficulty, they finally reached the bed. Song Wenqing caught his breath, tucked the blanket securely around him, and then went outside to fetch water. Even if the youth was a drunken cat, he could not simply leave him unattended.
He tested the temperature of the water, and once it was neither too warm nor too cold, he carried it inside. There were no modern lights in ancient times; only the candlelight flickered in the room. Pei Jinrong had sat up at some unknown point, sitting blankly upon the bed.
Song Wenqing set the basin down properly, saying in a gentle voice, “Let me wipe down your body before you sleep.”
Hearing his voice, the youth collected his senses and looked up at him. After a short silence, he tilted his head and murmured in a thoroughly clingy manner, “It is Brother.”
Song Wenqing’s hand, which was wringing out the handkerchief, paused. He lowered his eyes with a smile, nodding his head, “Mm, it is me.”
“I am very good,” Pei Jinrong hurriedly extended his hands.
Song Wenqing wiped his face, following along with his words, “Ah Jin is the best.”
Having consumed alcohol, the youth’s words became remarkably numerous, and he babbled continuously, as if he intended to reveal every single word he had kept bottled up inside his heart for a long time.
“Ah Wen is a liar.”
Song Wenqing felt both amused and exasperated, asking, “What did he lie to you about?”
“He said that his favorite person is me, but whenever Jiang Yao is around, he does not kiss me, and he spends every single day playing only with him.” Pei Jinrong puffed out his cheeks, sitting on the bed and brooding silently. “Tell me, is he not a liar?”
Hearing this, Song Wenqing did not know whether to laugh or cry. He had wondered why Pei Jinrong had consistently looked at him with an expression full of hidden grievances over the past few days; it turned out the youth was actually throwing a tantrum over an eight-year-old child.
“He is not good to me, but I like him so much.”
Song Wenqing propped up his head, his eyes curving into beautiful smiles as he listened to the youth speak of his grievances here and there.
Suddenly, he leaned forward, pressing a brief kiss against the youth’s lips before breaking away instantly.
“I kissed you,” Song Wenqing heard his own voice state.
The youth froze completely, looking up at him. His watery, almond-shaped eyes were entirely filled with helplessness and shyness. It was uncertain whether his face was flushed from the alcohol or from embarrassment, but a faint layer of pink had bloomed upon it, making him look exceptionally obedient.
After a long pause, he stammered out, “I have a husband. You, your kissing me does not conform to propriety. One will be seized and drowned in a pig basket for doing this.”
Song Wenqing let out a low laugh, “Mm, your husband does not want you anymore. He sold you to me.”
“You are lying to me. My husband is exceptionally good to me.”
Song Wenqing laughed even more happily, “Is he ultimately good to you or not?”
Pei Jinrong did not answer him. Song Wenqing assumed he intended to sleep, and just as he was about to stand up to blow out the candlelight, he heard Pei Jinrong murmur in a quiet voice, “Aside from my father and mother, my husband is the best to me.”
“But I dare not go home, for fear of disappointing my father and mother.”
He added, “I am afraid my husband will find out and will no longer like me.”
The candlelight dimmed. Song Wenqing remained silent for a moment before stepping forward to gently embrace the youth, “He likes you.”
“Wen-ger, how exactly did you make this bayberry wine? This level of purity can easily compare to the wines in the capital,” the village chief said, smacking his lips after taking a small sip.
The village chief had visited the capital during his youth, so he was someone who had seen the wider world. The moment he stated this, several strong men who were watching the scene from the side grew thoroughly eager to try.
Song Wenqing poured a cup for each of them, pointing toward the distillation apparatus in the yard as he said with a smile, “How else could it be made? It was simply produced using that large contraption in my yard.”
The strong men all became highly interested upon hearing this. Song Wenqing did not fabricate any lies either, stating, “There are no bayberries available now, so it is difficult to make. Next year when the bayberries are ripe, I will lead everyone up the mountain to gather them. We can make them to sell, which will surely earn us a significant amount of money.”
The village chief was astounded inside his heart. Setting aside the fact that brewing techniques were strictly kept private, one could likely earn a fortune just by holding onto this formulation alone. Yet Wen-ger was not only willing to share it, but judging by his implication, he was even willing to earn money together with them.
The men understood his meaning as well, laughing loudly as they drained their cups in one gulp, exclaiming, “Excellent wine!”
One of the strong men treasured this wine immensely, asking, “Wen-ger, how much are you selling this wine for?”
“Twenty-five wen.”
Seeing their hesitant expressions, Song Wenqing continued, “I have brewed a grand total of six jars of this wine. We are all familiar acquaintances, so I will not charge you an expensive rate. Out of the six jars, two jars will be sold to the villagers for twenty-five wen per jin, while the remaining four jars will be sold to outsiders for thirty wen per jin.”
As he put it this way, the strong man finally gritted his teeth, “All right, I will consider it as purchasing it to satisfy a craving when celebrating the New Year at home. Pour me six jin!”
Song Wenqing quickly filled the container for him.
“Wen-ger, are you truly willing to lead everyone to earn money together?” The village chief looked at the six massive jars resting on the ground, thinking to himself that if they were all sold, they could likely earn a total of ten taels of silver.
Song Wenqing replied, “Could I possibly lie to you? Everyone will experience a good life together, and in the future, we might even be able to open a shop in the capital.”
The capital? The men were startled, their hearts racing rapidly. If they could truly go to the capital one day, it would be incredible.
Ultimately, although the men spent their money, they departed feeling exceptionally happy.
After sending them off, Song Wenqing finally managed to rest. Pei Jinrong had not yet awakened. Fearing that the youth’s stomach would feel uncomfortable upon rising, he simmered a pot of porridge.
“You are awake?” Song Wenqing asked with a smile upon seeing Pei Jinrong lower his head.
The youth had clearly not forgotten everything that occurred during his intoxication, responding with a thoroughly hesitant mutter.
Song Wenqing did not expose his embarrassment either. Neither of them spoke further, quietly consuming their porridge in silence.