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Chapter 16: Only One

The drinker had a very loud voice, and with all that shouting, there was no need for the shopkeeper to go over and help pass on the message. Zhu Yu and Lu Qing could hear it clearly.

The shopkeeper was in a difficult situation at the moment. He knew that drunkards could easily get high after drinking a little. He was unwilling to accept that the drunkard would not refill his glass, and was afraid that the drunkard would make a scene that would not end well. Then he looked at the three people on Lu Qing's side, two of whom looked handsome, gentle and dignified, and seemed like they could negotiate with him.

But the one left...

He looked at the talisman and felt that the man looked like a living King Kong. Not to mention going up to negotiate, even if he looked at him a few more times, the shopkeeper would feel nervous.

What's more, when he bought wine just now, the distinguished guest gave him a silver cake. Since he had accepted the tip, he couldn't open his mouth to ask the guest to give up the wine.

Just when he was in a dilemma and extremely confused, the drunkard who had been shouting loudly just now suddenly staggered, fell to the ground, and didn't move at all.

Now, the other person drinking with him was so frightened that his face turned from red to white in an instant, and he jumped up from the stool: "What's going on? Is there something wrong with the wine? Is the wine poisonous?!"

The shopkeeper was startled to begin with, and before he could recover, he heard such a shout. His face turned pale with fear, and he waved his hands hastily: "Don't you dare say such nonsense! How can there be any problem with the wine!"

"That's the problem. Brother Wang has always been a big drinker. Even if he can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk, it's impossible for him to pass out after drinking such a small amount of wine!
I was wondering why Lu Ji's wine was suddenly gone today and replaced with this, it really is a problem..."

Before he could even shout out the question, the man suddenly felt weak and fell down.

The shopkeeper was so frightened that he instinctively took several steps to the side, holding his hands in the air. He spoke in an unnatural tone, his voice trembling: "This...what's going on...for no reason...for no reason..."

Zhu Yu stood up and strode towards the two drunkards who had fallen to the ground.

If it were an ordinary time, she would never want to take on this kind of porcelain work, but it was different now. There was a smell of incense on the wine jar, and she had to see what was going on with these two drinkers.

"Sir, you...what are you doing..." The shopkeeper asked stutteringly when he saw her walk up to the two drinkers and squat down.

Zhu Yu ignored him, grabbed the wrist of the drunkard who fell to the ground first, and placed two fingers on it skillfully.

Lu Qing and Fu Lu also looked at her quietly, waiting for her to speak.

After a while, Zhu Yu released the man's wrist, reached out to pry open his eyelids and looked at his eyeballs, then used the same method to check another drinker, let out a long sigh, and stood up.

"Don't panic, boss. These two are just drunk and nothing serious is wrong." She took out a handkerchief from her bosom, wiped her fingertips, and sat back down at the table.

"Drunk?!" The shopkeeper was a little surprised, but at the same time he felt relieved. He held his chest and sat down on a stool beside him. He was probably frightened just now, and his legs were weak. "That's strange! These two are regular customers of our store. In the past, they wouldn't be satisfied unless they drank two or three jars of small wine like this!

Who would have thought that today, with just a small jar of wine, both of them would be drunk!"

"Has this wine never made anyone drunk before?"

"Alas!" The shopkeeper was still in shock. Zhu Yu had just checked on the two drinkers and had really helped him a lot, so he couldn't help but say a few more words. "To be honest, if Lu Ji Winery hadn't been so slow in delivering the wine, I wouldn't have known there were these two jars of wine in this shop!

What a coincidence! Lu Ji's was sold out, and these two regular customers wanted some. I rummaged around in the back and only found these two jars, tucked away in a corner, looking like they hadn't been touched in ages. If it weren't for the business, I wouldn't have taken them out!
That's great! Fortunately, you helped me check on their condition, otherwise I would be so exhausted today that I wouldn't be able to explain myself clearly.

When the waiter comes back later, I'll ask him to go to the clinic to find a doctor. He must not come to our store again because of this jar of wine!"

As he was speaking, the young man he sent out ran back, sweating profusely. He must have run very fast all the way, and was now out of breath. He was holding on to a table by the door, gasping for breath and unable to speak.

The shopkeeper saw him and hurriedly called out to him, "You're back just in time! Go to the clinic and find a doctor! Someone in our shop is drunk and unconscious!"

"Boss, if he's drunk, let him get drunk for a while!" The waiter took a breath and waved his hand, "If he wants to get drunk later, I don't know how long I'll have to wait!"

"What nonsense are you talking about, you little monkey!" The shopkeeper scolded him when he heard him say that.

"Boss, we can't deliver this wine to our store. Something happened to Lu Ji!"

"What happened to Lu Ji?" the shopkeeper was a little surprised and asked quickly.

"I just went to their brewery and found that there was no one inside except two scowling waiters.

After asking around, I found out that for some reason, all the wine in their wine cellar had turned sour and smelly!
There was a guy who used to deliver our liquor. He told me secretly that he heard from the son of the Lu family’s manager that all the Lu family’s koji had gone bad, even the mother koji had gone bad!

The shopkeeper was also shocked when he heard this. Although he thought that something must have happened as Lu Ji had abnormally failed to deliver the wine on time, he did not expect it to be so serious.

"Also, I heard that the head of the Lu family hasn't been seen for quite some time!" The young clerk recovered a little strength and moved closer to the shopkeeper, "I heard that he's gone without a trace, whether alive or dead!
People outside said that he seemed to be the same as the old shopkeeper, and both went to the ghost outside the city-"

"Alright, alright! Stop talking nonsense!" The shopkeeper was annoyed that the clerk was not being able to control his words and was causing trouble. He quickly cut him off and shouted at him, "Go, go, go find a doctor!"

The young man was in high spirits and was not happy to be sent away. He ran away with a pout.

But he was indeed a quick man. He brought the doctor back in no time and, following the shopkeeper's instructions, went to the back to get a pot of hot tea for Zhu Yu and the others.

When the waiter returned with the teapot, Lu Qing waved at him, "You just said something happened at Lu's Brewery, and you don't know when you'll be able to get drunk again. What's the matter?"

"Sir, aren't you a regular customer here? How come you don't know about this?" The waiter was a little surprised, but he quickly found an explanation. "Oh, I see. You're a passing merchant who often passes through Qingshui County, right?"

Lu Qing nodded in agreement with his words.

"No wonder you recognize our old boss, but you don't know the ins and outs of Lu Ji!" The waiter stole a glance at the boss who was greeting the doctor. "Lu Ji is the only winery in Qingshui County. The only wine sold in our restaurants and hotels here is Lu Ji's. No other place is allowed to brew and sell wine!"

"Oh? Why is that? I don't remember the court having any regulations that forbid people from brewing wine or opening wineries privately." Lu Qing raised his eyebrows, his tone full of suspicion.

The boy was fifteen or sixteen years old, at an age when he couldn't stand being questioned. When he heard the tone, he immediately said, "Really? There's no benefit in lying to you!"
The imperial court didn't forbid it, but in Qingshui County, it's not allowed. If you don't believe me, go out and ask around. Besides Lu Ji, is there anyone else who can brew and sell wine? "

　Thanks to Yingtao for the 1000 starting coins reward!
　　Thanks to tyche. for the monthly ticket!
　　I won't say anything more, they are all Zhu Yu's family~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)