“Hehe… Brother Zhang.”
Seeing that he pushed open the door and came in, Ling Jingxuan who was standing by the window overlooking the scenes in the streets boringly moved forward with a smile. With his subtle observation, apparently he noticed his abnormality. But he didn’t mean to dig into it, for their relationship was not that close. But even if they were that close, even he didn’t take the initiative to tell him, he wouldn’t ask.
“Brother Ling, Sorry to have kept you waiting.”
Sitting across from him, Shopkeeper Zhang was still a little uncomfortable. That was a huge blow from the boss.
Seeing that he was kind of spaced out, Ling Jingxuan didn’t push him, but poured a cup of warm boiled water for each of them. He took up his own and sipped lightly now and then, but in his head was all Yan Shengrui who got a cold, wondering if he was better now, whether he had taken the medicine and rested well. He really didn’t understand. Apparently his physical condition was apparently much better than him. And they both played in water. Why he caught a cold? Is it possible that his man looks strong, but…hollow inside?
Thinking of this, Ling Jingxuan laughed in spite of himself. If he knows what he was thinking, would he directly find a random place and sleep with him? If it was him, he’d definitely do that!
“Ah… Almost forgot the important thing, brother Ling, do you have anything else to do later?”
After quite a while, Shopkeeper Zhang suddenly said so, then looked at him nervously. Ling Jingxuan put down his cup, picking his eyebrow, “What is it? Just shoot. As long as it’s something within my ability, I’ll do it for you.”
He was a little unaccustomed to his probing.
“Then I won’t stand on ceremony. Here is the thing. The boss Lord Liu of our restaurant suddenly came today. And he heard things about you and means to see you in person. So, what do you say?”
The big boss behind Xinyuan Restaurant wants to see him? Just a cold dish. He shouldn’t have been disturbed by this, right?”
Compared with Shopkeeper Zhang’s innocence, Ling Jingxuan apparently thought more. Xinyuan Restaurants had branches all through the whole Qing Kingdom. Of course the boss behind should be a bigwig, or he would even be possible to be one of the top figures in the imperial city! He didn’t think that only a cold dish deserved his sudden interest. But, if it was not that case, why would he want to see him, someone who was so distant from him?
“Brother Zhang, tell me the truth. What is this Lord Liu’s background?”
“It’s not some kind of big secret, actually. Master Liu is the youngest son of Duke Zeng and Princess Mingshang, since he ranks sixth of his siblings, so people all call him Lord Liu (Liu means six in English).”
Thinking he might ask something, Shopkeeper Zhang already told him so. Ling Jingxuan’s eyes sank, “Duke Zeng? You mean that famous Duke Weiyuan who has outstanding military exploit all his life who trained Prince Sheng into a new god of war at his last days?”
Regardless of who he was, he must make sure that he was harmless to Yan Shengrui first.
“Yeah, it is Duke Weiyuan. It’s said that Prince Sheng grew up with Lord Liu. They were quite close. Some people even said they are lovers.”
At the end of his words, Shopkeeper Zhang even showed a bit gossipy feeling, totally did not notice that Ling Jingxuan’s smile grew bigger, “Lovers! Then I’d like to see him.”
Clearly at this time his smile was as bright as flowers, but it gave people some kind of depressed feeling, which made Shopkeeper Zhang who only noticed something not right about his smile after a while have a shiver. Did he say something wrong?
“If so, Brother Ling, please come with me.”
Not knowing why, he already felt today’s Ling Jingxuan was indescribably strange. But Lord Liu was still waiting, he had no time to waste on that.
“After you.”
Ling Jingxuan stood up and hesitated a bit, then stretched out a hand to hold up the wine jar by his feet. Since there was another more wealthy guy, why not take the chance to make a fortune out of him?
“This jar smells strange. What’s inside?”
Till now he noticed the presence of that jar. Shopkeeper Zhang asked so as he walked. Ling Jingxuan didn’t think much and said, “Some wine I brewed myself. Today I plan to…”
“What? Wine?”
Unexpectedly, his words were interrupted by Shopkeeper Zhang’s exclaiming, with that square face written with naked excitement and shock. Ling Jingxuan blackened his face. Just some wine? Do you need to act so exaggeratingly? If you want, I can give you a few jars for free.
“This…this… this is really wine?”
Pointing to the jar in his hand with a trembling hand, Shopkeeper Zhang was so excited that he even got his tongue tied.
“Uh-huh.”
Ling Jingxuan nodded slightly. His calm appearance was in stark contrast with the other side’s excitement. Then he pretended to ask casually, “Is wine very expensive stuff?”
“Of course , you can’t even buy some even if you have money!”
Seeing that he had a face of ignorance, Shopkeeper Zhang continued his nagging, “This kind of wine is only special to Dong Kingdom. A few years ago when the boarders were peaceful, some businessmen would take some back occasionally. Basically, only those noble families and officials could have a chance to buy it. But in recent years, it keeps having wars at the boarders, this kind of wine is rarely seen in whole Qing Kingdom. I heard even His Majesty has no chance to drink it. But…never expected you could even brew it! Brother Ling, you are so rich this time!”
So rare?
After hearing his explanation, Ling Jingxuan was wild with joy in the heart. A thing is valued if it is rare. Something even His Majesty seldom had a chance to have a taste, while he could brew it. So those hundreds of jars of wine could sell for sure! Besides, if using a proper propaganda way, maybe he could even make the name of his wine shop widely spread. And at that time, did he still need to worry that money and wealth wouldn’t run into his pocket obediently?
Hahaha…I’d definitely get rich! He seemed to have seen a mountain of gold and silver was waving hands at him.
“Brother Ling, you got to provide us your wine!”
Seeing that he had no response for a long time, Shopkeeper Zhang quickly played his brotherhood card. If he could secure the exclusive right to sell the wine, would he still need to worry he couldn’t get wealthy? Thinking of this, Shopkeeper Zhang even would wake up from laughing too hard in his dream. Relying this business, maybe he even had a chance to get transferred to the capital to see a bigger world.
“Hehe… That’d depend on whether your Lord Liu can afford the price.”
Since the wine was so rare, of course he’d name a big price. Seen through the whole kingdom, is there anyone more suitable than Xinyuan Restaurant to be a sucker? Ahem…not a sucker, but an important client, yeah, an important client…
“What you mean is… I see. Please follow me.”
Shopkeeper Zhang also restored his consistent shrewdness. After getting what he was trying to say, he turned around and took him upstairs. Ling Jingxuan’s concerns were only reasonable. Compared with talking with him and letting him report it to his boss, it was more effective to directly talk to Lord Liu, also maybe he could sell it at a higher price.