flstandardbreds Chapter 171 A Little Drink
Chapter 171 A Little Drink
As someone who has a deep understanding of all kinds of fine wines, Gu Mochen was well aware of the characteristics of deer antler wine and ginseng wine. He gently picked up a small cup of deer antler wine, first bringing it close to his nose to inhale its aroma, and then carefully took a sip, letting the rich and mellow liquid slowly spread on his tongue.
As the wine entered his throat, he felt an intensely hot surge of true energy rise from within him, like a blazing flame, slowly ascending along his meridians and rapidly coursing to every corner of his body. The burning sensation was so strong after just one cup that Gu Mochen dared not indulge further. He put down the deer antler wine cup and turned his gaze to the relatively milder ginseng wine beside him.
When he took his first sip of ginseng wine, he clearly felt that the previously scorching internal energy had instantly calmed down, as if it had encountered cool, sweet rain. The previously restless internal energy gradually stabilized, beginning to slowly circulate and flow within his body, eventually converging in his dantian to form a warm and enduring power. This wondrous sensation was truly astonishing; even the well-informed Gu Mochen was experiencing the unique effects of such strong liquor for the first time.
Knowing he was still young, not yet twenty and in the prime of his life, and considering the strong nature of the liquor, Gu Mochen did not drink excessively. Seeing this, Lord Guan, sitting beside him, did not force him to drink. Firstly, he considered that the prince was still young and should not drink too much; secondly, he worried that the prince might become drunk and lose control, since only rugged men from the Northeast could easily handle such strong liquor.
Look at Old Master Lu, who is now leisurely savoring his fine wine! He drinks one cup after another without stopping, yet his expression remains unchanged. You must know, this old man is a master of internal strength; this little bit of wine is nothing to him, far from enough to make him drunk.
In contrast, Uncle Gu and Sanqi were much more cautious, only taking a few sips before putting down their glasses. After all, they knew their alcohol tolerance was limited and dared not overindulge!
Meanwhile, on Ye Qingchen's side, Lord Guan had specially prepared rice wine from Northeast China for them. This rice wine had a wonderfully fragrant aroma and a delightfully sweet and sour taste, leaving a lingering and unforgettable aftertaste. Because Ye Qingchen hadn't used contraception, she didn't drink much, but Bai Zhi and Fu Ling thought the wine was excellent and drank quite a bit.
Then everyone began to eat the delicious food on the table. Gu Mochen knew very well that many of the distinctive dishes here were actually taught by Ye Qingchen. However, Ye Qingchen had also mentioned that because these dishes required a high level of skill from the chef, even if they were made according to the same recipe, the final taste would be different.
So, Gu Mochen picked up a bite with anticipation and chewed it carefully. Hmm, the taste was indeed good! However, compared to Ye Qingchen's own cooking, it was still slightly inferior. Ye Qingchen herself then tasted it and nodded slightly in approval. The taste was acceptable; although there were some modifications—more soy sauce—it added a touch of sweet and sour flavor, which was quite suitable and had a unique taste.
During the meal, Lord Guan continued the conversation, saying, "Your Highness, you may not know this, but in our Jicheng area, aside from officials exiled to Ningguta, this is the first time we've seen an official of your rank. We were overjoyed to hear that His Highness the Crown Prince was coming to our Mocheng to purchase grain, and we've been eagerly awaiting his arrival for days. Who would have thought that after arriving in Jicheng, the Crown Prince and his entourage would completely disregard the situation here, indulging in debauchery and revelry, simply waiting for the government offices of Mocheng, Jicheng, and Liaocheng to obediently deliver the grain to their doorstep? They even..." I thought to myself, "They haven't even come to see the beautiful scenery here!" Even the Crown Prince from last time didn't visit this place. This future heir apparent is so indifferent to the land he governs, unwilling even to inspect it personally. In that case, I doubt a noble prince like yourself would ever come. However, I never expected this! Not only did you come in person, but you also tirelessly led Jicheng and Liaocheng in vigorously developing their economies. Even more surprisingly, you discovered many unique local products.
Today, I, Old Guan, humbly request that you and the Princess deign to take a good look at our land. After all, our region is vast, with numerous mountains and an extremely rich diversity of species. I wonder if there are any good ways to help our people prosper? I myself can make a little money through business, but that's far from true wealth. Only when every household here can live a prosperous and comfortable life can I, as an official, truly feel at ease!
The officials in the Northeast are all so straightforward, which makes Gu Mochen feel very comfortable. He had expected to encounter many corrupt officials along the way, but apart from that Lord Wang, the further north he went, the more straightforward the people became. This was probably a unique characteristic of Northerners. Gu Mochen said, "I'm young, and my father sent me out here to gain experience. Staying in Jicheng would mean missing out on the beautiful scenery of the North and its unique cuisine. Besides, I feel more at ease working for the people. My father also asked me to establish welfare homes throughout the country, but I only built one in Jicheng in the Northeast because I thought there would be fewer people here. Now it seems there are quite a few people, but what makes me feel gratified is that there are hardly any beggars on the streets. This is much better than the South."
Lord Guan said, “This is mainly because it’s too cold here. If someone really came out to beg, they would have frozen to death long ago. But to be honest, the people here are mostly honest and kind-hearted, and there are few disputes between parents and children. Parents are also quite fair. Although families tend to favor boys, they don’t lack food, so they don’t show excessive favoritism. It’s just that boys get more land and girls get more money. As long as everyone is equal, there won’t be any disputes. When they get old, their children are still filial, so there aren’t many beggars. Even if a family is really poor, I’ve told my colleagues that we must take special care of them. Everyone has their hardships, and everyone gets old. So, theoretically, there are no beggars in our area.”