Not long after, Fang Yang arrived at the East Market with Lian'er.
The entire East Market was bustling with people, a lively scene.
Many people were already standing at the entrance of celestial intoxication.
They were pointing at the plaque of celestial intoxication, discussing something.
Listening closely, one could hear them saying:
“Is this the celestial intoxication that has been widely rumored these past few days?”
“It must be right, ‘This wine should only exist in the heavens, it’s a rare opportunity to smell it on earth; if one never tastes celestial intoxication in their life, even becoming a Prime Minister is in vain! Celestial Intoxication Grand Wine House will open soon!’ I was wondering where this wine house was, but I didn’t expect it to open in the East Market.”
“I have to buy some to try. What kind of wine is this that can make even a Prime Minister feel it’s in vain?”
Listening to the discussions among the crowd, Fang Yang couldn't help but curve his lips into a smile.
“Lian’er, do you see? The time to get rich is coming!”
Lian'er remained silent.
Inside celestial intoxication, servants were already busy.
However, because Fang Yang had not yet arrived, they were only tidying up and preparing, not yet open for business.
Upon seeing Fang Yang appear, Wang Fugui, the accountant transferred from Guo Gong Fu (Duke's Residence), quickly walked out.
“Young Master, shall we open for business now?”
Fang Yang scanned the situation inside the shop, and seeing that everything was in order, he nodded and said, “Good, let’s begin.”
The shopkeeper, Wang Fugui, quickly went back to prepare to open the doors for customers.
Fang Yang, looking at the queuing crowd, said with a chuckle, “Everyone, you must have heard of the reputation of my celestial intoxication to come here.”
“To tell you the truth, the reason this wine is called celestial intoxication is because it’s brewed using a method used by immortals. From today onwards, everyone will also be able to drink wine brewed with an immortal’s technique!”
Before his words fell, a discordant voice suddenly rang out: “Bullshit!”
Then Xie Ping walked over with a group of his cronies.
Everyone looked at Xie Ping.
Xie Ping scoffed and said directly, “Don’t be fooled by this. What immortal’s brewing method? This boy is the Duke of Cheng's son, Fang Yang, the Spendthrift who is famous throughout the capital. If he knew how to brew wine, the sun would rise from the west!”
As soon as these words came out, everyone present was stunned.
Several people who were standing close to Fang Yang even directly retreated a few steps.
As the saying goes, a man’s name, a tree’s shadow.
The title of Spendthrift Little Tyrant was not given for nothing.
Despite this, some people were still whispering.
“My heavens, I didn’t expect it to be this Spendthrift’s wine house.”
“Who dares to drink this? Who knows if there’s anything else in this wine.”
“Oh my god, have I been looking forward to this for nothing these past few days? Is it true that if one never tastes celestial intoxication in their life, even becoming a Prime Minister is in vain?”
...
For a moment, everyone was discussing animatedly.
Everyone had an expression of being deceived.
Xie Ping heard the surrounding voices clearly.
His smile towards Fang Yang grew wider.
He said gleefully, “Fang Yang, I’m sorry, but this time, I’m afraid you’ll close down before you even open.”
A friend next to him also said, “Tsk tsk, Duke of Cheng is also pitiful. He traveled thousands of miles to patrol the frontier, but his family’s land was sold by his son, and the business he started failed before it even began. How truly pitiable!”
He even shook his head as he spoke.
Lian'er looked at these mocking young masters and immediately became anxious.
“What do you want to do! Our Young Master is not what you say he is!”
“Lian’er.”
Fang Yang called out, completely unconcerned.
Lian'er glared angrily at the group of young masters.
‘Swish!’
Fang Yang casually opened the folding fan in his hand.
He glanced at the increasingly large crowd.
His gaze turned to Xie Ping, and he said coldly, “Xie Ping! You come to cause trouble for This Young Master on this auspicious day today. I think you’re asking for a beating!”
‘Thwack!’
The folding fan suddenly closed, and a hint of coldness also appeared in his eyes.
Xie Ping was startled, and before he could react, he heard Fang Yang continue, “The brewing method for my wine was given by an immortal. If you don’t believe me, do you dare to make a bet with me?”
Xie Ping, who had been somewhat flustered and worried that Fang Yang would resort to violence, felt a sudden relief in his heart when he heard that the other party wanted to make a bet.
A hint of disdain also flashed in his eyes.
After all, a mere Spendthrift, when it came to doing business and brewing wine, he didn’t take him seriously at all.
So he said with full confidence, “Hmph, you think I’m afraid of you? Come on, let’s see how you want to bet!”
“Simple, you look down on my wine, don’t you? Then let’s bet on whose wine is better, mine or your wine shop’s. Do you dare?”
Fang Yang looked at Xie Ping with a half-smile.
“Haha!”
Xie Ping immediately burst into laughter.
Even This Young Masters who came with him also laughed heartily.
After a while, Xie Ping said proudly, “Fang Yang, since you’re so determined, I’ll grant your wish. Everyone knows the wine of our Xie family.”
“Alright, since you’ve agreed, then it’s easy to talk. If I win later, I don’t want anything, just let me beat you up to vent my anger, and you’re not allowed to complain when you go back, just say you fell. How about it?”
Upon hearing this, Xie Ping’s mouth twitched.
Nothing else.
After all, Fang Yang’s fighting prowess was quite terrifying.
If he really lost, that beating would definitely not be light.
Just as Xie Ping was hesitating, one of his friends said directly, “Young Master Xie, don’t worry, what kind of wine can this Spendthrift brew? And in just a few days, even if he can brew wine, the cellar aroma probably hasn’t even developed yet.”
Xie Ping’s eyes immediately lit up.
He felt even more confident.
He immediately said, “Good! I agree, but Fang Yang, if you lose, then you’ll kneel and kowtow three times to me, and from now on, whenever you meet me, you’ll have to call me ‘Dad’. Do you dare?”
‘Whoa!’
The scene erupted in an uproar.
Many people’s eyes were filled with shock; they didn’t expect this Young Master Xie to play such a high-stakes game.
This Young Masters who came with Xie Ping, driven by the desire to watch the excitement, immediately started to egg them on.
“How about it! Scared, aren’t you? If you’re scared, then obediently kowtow three times to our Young Master Xie, and you’ll be spared the punishment of calling him ‘Dad’ whenever you meet him in the future.”
“That’s right, our Young Master Xie is magnanimous and can forgive you once.”
Fang Yang, however, was completely unconcerned by their words.
He said directly, “Alright, go get the wine.”
“Young Master!”
Lian'er quickly grabbed Fang Yang’s arm.
She was truly panicked. Her master was not at home now, and if This Young Master lost, there would be no one to help him deal with it. That would truly be the end of the world!
Fang Yang, however, smiled mysteriously.
He slowly said, “Don’t worry, Lian’er, you haven’t seen a pig’s head yet, but you’ll see a big pig’s head soon.”
Fang Yang said with extreme confidence, and with a wave of his hand, he directly had a servant bring out a jar of wine.
Xie Ping also quickly ordered his servants to fetch wine.
Among the unnoticed crowd, a young woman in a green dress frowned slightly.
This woman was Song Yiran, who had broken off her engagement with Fang Yang.
Watching this scene unfold, she couldn’t help but secretly feel fortunate that she had broken off the engagement a few days ago.
Otherwise, if this wine shop, opened by Fang Yang using the family’s good land, were to close down, it would inevitably bring her a heap of ridicule.
She became even more convinced that Fang Yang could absolutely not have written those poems; he must have copied them!
Just as Song Yiran was lost in thought, the person Xie Ping sent to fetch the wine had already rushed back, carrying a jar of wine.
The two jars of wine were placed on the table, and the surrounding commoners craned their necks, looking inside.
“Fang Yang, how do you want to compare?” Xie Ping asked arrogantly.
“Simple. Each of us will choose ten people and have them taste our wines one after another. Finally, we’ll ask them to say whose wine tastes better, and that’s it,” Fang Yang slowly said.
“Alright, just don’t back out when you lose later,” Xie Ping said with a cold smile.
“This Young Master has always kept his word; there’s absolutely no backing out. It would be best if Young Master Xie doesn’t wail when he gets beaten later.”
Xie Ping’s expression stiffened, and his face instantly turned gloomy.
Too lazy to bother with Fang Yang anymore, he directly waved his hand, signaling his servants to start picking people.
Fang Yang, on the other hand, casually pointed out a few people.
Finally, he even picked out the old man who had exclaimed “Oh my god.”
The old man’s eyes immediately lit up, and he stepped forward to pour himself some wine.
Fang Yang casually stopped the old man.
He said with a chuckle, “Old man, don’t rush. You’ll get to drink. When This Young Master wins, I’ll let you have your fill today.”
“Really?” The old man’s eyes glowed even brighter.
“Of course, it’s true. Let’s follow the rules first.” Fang Yang smiled faintly.
The old man immediately stopped, suppressing the agitation in his heart, and waited for Fang Yang’s instructions.
Fang Yang then looked at everyone and said directly, “Later, after you taste the wine, just say which one tastes better. Don’t worry about anyone causing you trouble.”
Xie Ping also said directly from the side, “If this Spendthrift dares to cause you trouble, I’ll have my father submit a memorial to impeach him!”
As he spoke, Xie Ping even cupped his hands towards the direction of the imperial palace.
“Young Master Xie has great spirit. Then let’s pour your wine first,” Fang Yang said faintly.
...