Moma Liangshan

Chapter 10: Three Heroes Return Home, Wine Sent to Cangzhou

Six days later, at the lakeside hotel, the three Nguyen brothers arrived as promised. Wang Hao had placed nine jars of fine wine in front of the counter and prepared a sumptuous feast. Seeing this, Ruan Xiao'er said, "My two brothers and I are utterly unworthy of such hospitality from Young Master Wang." Wang Hao smiled slightly and said, "A thousand cups of wine are too few when drinking with a bosom friend, but even half a sentence is too much when talking to someone with whom you don't get along. Brother Ruan, do you think I'm too young to share a drink with you?" Ruan Xiao'er quickly replied, "Young Master, you're too kind. We brothers are poor and unworthy of your hospitality!" Wang Hao immediately stopped him, saying, "Brother Ruan, I cannot agree with that. If my father hadn't been destitute and starving, why would he have given up a peaceful life of farming and studying to become an outlaw at Liangshan? Wealth and poverty are just a matter of opportunity. The three of you are brave and resourceful, worthy of the title 'heroes.'" He paused briefly, looked at Ruan Xiao'wu and Ruan Xiao'qi, and continued, "After the spring, Liangshan's fine wine will be sold in Tokyo, attracting widespread attention. People fear becoming famous, just as pigs fear growing fat; we will inevitably be the focus of attention from all sides." "Although Liangshan Marsh has several hundred followers, it lacks heroes capable of taking on ten men each. I would like to invite the three of you to join us. What do you think?" Ruan Xiaowu and Ruan Xiaoqi shouted almost simultaneously, "Of course!" Ruan Xiaoer, however, frowned slightly and said, "We brothers are merely skilled swimmers and have some strength. Joining us rashly might hinder your great cause, sir!" Upon hearing this, Wang Hao said, "Everyone has their own ambitions. Brother Ruan has other plans, and I will certainly respect them." At this moment, Ruan Xiaoqi suddenly exclaimed, "Brother, I'm not trying to be mean! We brothers have done our share of private business before. Now that Liangshan Marsh has opened its doors and offered us an opportunity, how can you be so ungrateful?" Ruan Xiaowu also said, "We fish every day, sift through nets every day, and year-round we wear straw sandals and live in thatched huts. If it weren't for Young Master Wang's appreciation, even if we sold our three dilapidated boats, could we even afford a jar of good wine?"

Ruan Xiao'er's face showed displeasure, but he remained silent. Wang Hao, not wanting the three Ruan brothers to develop a rift over this, said, "With this fine wine, Liangshan Marsh should temporarily abandon its murderous and thieving ways. I invited the three of you to join us to deter villains and protect the money we earn from selling wine. Brother Ruan has other plans; we can decide later. Perhaps we are not on the same page, but there's no need to damage our relationship!" Ruan Xiao'er sighed and said, "We three brothers did indeed engage in private business, but that was because our family was truly poor, and we had no choice. I have a wife and children; I cannot neglect them. Please forgive me, sir." Ruan Xiaoqi slammed his hand on the table and said, "Second brother, for my sister-in-law..." "For the sake of my son and sister-in-law, we must join Liangshan. If we don't join Liangshan, my son and sister-in-law will suffer with you for the rest of their lives. How can a lifetime of suffering compare to a day of happiness?" Wang Hao added, "My father has already allowed me to start my own business, so what we're going to do is indeed a legitimate business, nothing shady." Ruan Xiaowu laughed and said, "If you had said so earlier, Young Master Wang, it would have saved Second Brother from being so hesitant." Ruan Xiaoer knew he couldn't persuade his two brothers otherwise, so he said, "Please understand my predicament, Young Master. If it's just helping you sell wine, I'll gladly accept without hesitation." After seeing off the three Ruan brothers, Wang Hao returned to the stronghold.

After the spring, Wang Lun wrote a letter, and Wang Hao, along with the three Ruan brothers and two close attendants, Ma Decao and Zhang Sangou, went to Cangzhou to deliver wine to Chai Jin. Cangzhou was far north of Daming Prefecture, and the group traveled for more than half a month before finally arriving at Chai Jin's manor. Wang Hao stopped to admire the magnificent gate that led directly to the main road, and the towering green mountains that resembled a coiled dragon. Outside the courtyard walls, ten thousand peach blossoms surpassed even those of Wuling Creek, and inside, the spring scenery was no less beautiful than that of Jingu Garden. The attendants knocked on the door, and the manor servants greeted them. Wang Hao presented his visiting card, announced his name, and waited for an announcement. After a short while, a man of about thirty years old arrived with a powerful and imposing air. Wang Hao looked up and saw that the man had dragon-like eyebrows and phoenix-like eyes, white teeth and red lips, a three-pronged mustache, wore a black gauze turban with embroidered corners, a purple embroidered robe with a rounded chest, a delicate jade sash around his waist, and a pair of black court boots with gold thread and green trim. In a short while, they were upon each other. Wang Hao hurriedly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Wang Hao, son of Wang Lun of Liangshan, greets Master Chai!" Chai Jin stepped forward, helped Wang Hao up, and said, "Nephew, I am deeply sorry for not welcoming you properly today." Wang Hao said, "Uncle, you saved the Wang family's life. I have come in haste today, please forgive my abruptness!" Chai Jin laughed and said, "I have always loved to befriend heroes from all over the world, but I never thought that after making a fuss for half my life, I would be inferior to your descendant." Wang Hao was puzzled at first, but then he realized what Chai Jin meant. He turned and pointed to the wine jar behind him and said, "To be honest, Uncle, ever since I brewed these fine wines, my father has often worried about Liangshan." "My prestige is insufficient to protect this divine brew. I often think of gifting the brewing method to you as soon as possible." Chai Jin frowned and said, "Your father is too self-deprecating. With hundreds of heroes at Liangshan, the mountains are high and the rivers wide; how could they not protect a mere winery? You should stay at my estate for a few days. When you return to Liangshan, tell your father that a knife is for cutting people, not for peeling fish. Besides, what use is your winery to me? Do you think my estate isn't large enough, or my wealth insufficient?" Wang Hao was speechless and could only say, "I will certainly tell my father when I return. However, the wine I brew absolutely deserves the title of divine brew; please, sir, taste it."

Chai Jin called out to the servants behind him, "Go and call all the heroes of the manor over. Please try the divine wine that Young Master Wang brought." Soon, more than thirty heroes lodging at Chai Jin's manor gathered. Wang Hao found an empty water jug, filled it with wine, and then gave each person a wine bowl. Using a water jug ​​to hold wine was somewhat comical, but Wang Hao was only a fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy, while the heroes were all over thirty, so they didn't mind. Wang Hao carefully poured wine for each person, carrying the water jug. Chai Jin said, "What kind of fine wine is this? It's so precious that not a single drop can be spilled?" Wang Hao smiled sheepishly and replied, "Please forgive me, sir. The process of making this wine is quite complicated, so I had to be much more careful than when pouring ordinary wine." Chai Jin thought to himself, "Like father, like son. Both of them are so fussy and lack any heroic spirit." However, when Chai Jin put the wine in his mouth, his expression changed instantly. After slowly swallowing, he said, "This wine is indeed a divine brew, so mellow and potent!" After saying that, he looked at the remaining wine jars and shouted, "These wines are all a token of the kindness of Chief Wang and my nephew. They must not be taken lightly. Move them all into the wine cellar. No one is to touch them without my order." Wang Hao never expected... Even the generous and magnanimous Chai Jin was reluctant to share his homemade wine. He stepped forward and said softly, "Although the brewing process is complicated, Liangshan Marsh currently has five wine cellars, producing about thirty jars a month." Chai Jin nodded and said, "In that case, it wouldn't be unreasonable for me to buy a hundred jars a year." Wang Hao quickly said, "If you need it, sir, Liangshan Marsh will send someone to deliver it to your estate. Why trouble yourself to spend money?" Chai Jin looked displeased and said, "The Chai family owns vast tracts of fertile land and countless riches, which already puts us in a difficult position. If it weren't for our ancestral property, I might have already distributed it among my poor brothers. I am deeply gratified that you haven't forgotten our past friendship. However, please don't pester me with such a small amount of money."

Today, Wang Hao finally met someone with more money than he could spend, and could only say, "I will definitely select the finest of the finest and sell it to you, sir." Chai Jin laughed and said, "You've got it!" Wang Hao seized the opportunity to ask, "I have something I'd like to ask you for advice on, sir!" Chai Jin did not refuse and asked, "What is it?" Wang Hao said, "I'm not sure how much to price this fine wine." Chai Jin thought for a moment and asked, "What is the cost of a jar of wine?" Wang Hao thought to himself, "The actual cost of a jar of wine is around three hundred coins, but since you are so wealthy, I'll give you a higher price to avoid reducing profits." He replied, "Around one string of cash, depending on the season and grain prices." Chai Jin said, "In that case, one tael of silver per jar of wine would be just right." Wang Hao stared in astonishment and said, "One tael of silver can be exchanged for two strings of cash." Chai Jin smiled and explained, "Good things deserve good prices; a price that is too low will easily tarnish the quality of good things." Wang Hao couldn't help but scratch his head, feeling strange but unable to refute it. After staying at Chai Jin's manor for more than ten days, Wang Hao prepared to return home. Before returning home, Wang Hao bid farewell to Chai Jin, saying, "I'm planning a banquet in Dongjing (Kaifeng) in three months. I wonder if you, sir, would be willing to attend?" Chai Jin replied, "As you should know, the Chai family is a direct descendant of the Later Zhou imperial family, and has some grudges with the Zhao family. Therefore, the Chai clan has always lived far from the capital, residing in Cangzhou." Wang Hao was slightly disappointed, thinking, "Without Chai Jin, a nobleman and a hero deeply respected by the outlaws, my lineup will be somewhat weak." Unexpectedly, Chai Jin suddenly changed the subject, saying, "However, more than a hundred years have passed, and even the greatest grudges have long since faded. Moreover, the Chai clan has become accustomed to this life of wealth and leisure. I haven't visited Dongjing for over a decade; it's time to go and see it." Wang Hao was overjoyed and said, "I will send someone to inform you, sir." Chai Jin replied, "Very well!"

Wang Hao then said, "I've been away from home for many days, and I fear my father is worried. I wish to return soon." Chai Jin did not try to stop him, saying, "Be careful on your journey. I'll give you one hundred taels of silver as capital to expand your winery. Even if you only have thirty jars of wine a month, or even three hundred jars, it certainly won't be enough to satiate the behemoth that is Dongjing City." Wang Hao said, "I accept the silver, thank you, Uncle!" Chai Jin nodded and said, "You have an excellent temperament and are quite intelligent. Just be generous in everything you do, and don't be calculating in every situation, lest you lose your own style." Whether it was Chai Jin, Chao Gai, or Song Jiang, they were all generous men. Wang Hao considered himself far from stingy, but to generously give to those in need without asking why was not his style. Two days later, after bidding farewell to Chai Jin, the group returned to Liangshan.