Wine-scented Beauty

Chapter Fifteen: Seeking Business Opportunities

Seeing that she had a reaction, Ji Meiqing quickly continued, "The medicinal wine I brew is no different from an aphrodisiac, and it is also good for your health and has no side effects. If you use this wine here, I don't have to worry about your business not flourishing in the future."

"How can I believe what you're saying is true?"

"If you don't believe me, I'll bring it to you tomorrow so you can try it and see for yourself."

The old woman chuckled twice. "Then let's talk again tomorrow."

The two reached an agreement, and Ji Meiqing left. Curfew was approaching, and once it began, no one could leave the city. She ran all the way, leaving the area. The desolate wilderness was filled with an eerie atmosphere; she dared not think too much and hurried home.

As soon as she entered the room, she called out, "Brother Lu, the matter is almost settled."

The candles in the hall were still lit. Lu Yu came out of the room, wearing an overcoat, and looked tired.

Ji Meiqing realized she had disturbed him, so she subconsciously stuck out her tongue and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I disturbed you."

"It's nothing." He yawned, the dark circles under his eyes quite noticeable.

Seeing this, Ji Meiqing quickly urged him to go and rest. Only after he returned did she blow out the candle.

The next day, she hurriedly left with the medicinal wine in her arms.

I intended to return while he was awake, but I overlooked the fact that the brothel workers were still resting at night, during the day, and especially in the early morning.

However, when they arrived, the doors were all closed, and the surroundings were deserted, unlike the bustling atmosphere at night.

She tried knocking on the door, and after a while the door was opened. Ji Meiqing quickly apologized, "I'm sorry to bother you so early. I forgot that you were still resting at this time."

"You must be Madam Ji, this way please." The person who opened the door wasn't angry. He led her in, served her tea and water, and then helped her announce her arrival.

After waiting a while, the nanny came over. She didn't wear any formal attire; she just casually draped an outer garment over her inner robe.

"Madam Ji has arrived so early. I wonder if she has had breakfast yet."

Ji Meiqing nodded. "I'll go once we've finished discussing things. It's alright for now, and please forgive me if I've disturbed you, Granny."

"After all, we're all the same."

She placed the medicinal wine she had brought on the table and said with a smile, "The time was too short, and the medicinal wine is not yet brewed. However, it still has medicinal effects. You can ask someone to try it, Granny."

"Could you tell me what the main ingredient in this is?"

"Tiger penis." Ji Meiqing smiled slightly. "When combined with other Chinese medicines, it can be used as an aphrodisiac and to enhance male potency. If taken properly, it will be entirely beneficial. However, if used indiscriminately, it can still cause harm."

“We are a brothel, not a clinic,” the old woman laughed. “As long as it’s not an instant kill or a slow-acting poison, it’s none of our business.”

She spoke these words casually, but Ji Meiqing felt a chill in her heart. She naturally understood what she meant, but...

While she was distracted, the old woman called someone over. The person next to her opened the medicinal wine, and a pungent aroma of alcohol filled the entire room. She ordered someone to pour it into a bowl, and then told someone else to drink it.

"The effects of the medicine vary from person to person."

After waiting for a while, the person who had taken the medicinal wine suddenly blushed, and the experienced nanny immediately had him taken away.

"The medicine is quite effective." The old woman said, gesturing with her delicate fingers as she took a sip of tea.

Ji Meiqing smiled faintly, "This wine has the same effect as the Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup, but the main ingredient is very difficult to find."

"Your price," she asked Ji Meiqing directly, "as long as I can afford it."

"Let's not talk about this for now," Ji Meiqing suddenly said, which puzzled the old woman.

"I don't need a deposit, I just need half of the profits here. That is, the annual income here will be split 60/40 with you, you get 60% and I get 40%."

The old woman was taken aback, her eyes dark and unfathomable: "Young lady, you have quite the skills."

"I had to make a living." She smiled humbly.

Having reached an agreement with the nanny, Su Luojin took the wine to another restaurant she had previously considered. The largest restaurant in the city was undoubtedly Tengda Restaurant, and Su Luojin entered carrying a bottle of wine.

"Hey, wait a minute." Before she could even go in, she was stopped. Su Luo looked at them in surprise.

"what happened?"

"You think you can get in here like this? Are you trying to dine and dash? Get out of here!" The gatekeeper kept pushing her out. Ji Meiqing was standing on the steps, and with the push, she fell backward because she had no support.

Instead of a hero rescuing her, she fell directly to the ground, the wine bottle in her arms spilling out and shattering. Ji Meiqing looked at the wine she had brought in horror. This was different from the kind offered in brothels; this was a vintage wine, aged over time, its aroma carrying the mellow fragrance of time.

Upon opening, the rich aroma almost made one feel intoxicated.

The aroma attracted many people. Ji Meiqing stood up from the ground, straightened her clothes, and looked at the spilled wine on the ground with some regret.

She was about to confront him when a voice called out to her from behind.

"Please wait a moment, young lady."

She turned around and looked at him with a puzzled expression: "Did you call me for something?"

“The young lady’s wine is extraordinary; I wonder if it was brewed by her own hands.”

"No," she denied immediately. "Do you want to buy wine?"

"If the young lady is interested, I will offer a high price to buy it." He said generously. Ji Meiqing's eyes lit up, and she had a sudden inspiration to take him back to the Lu family.

"The wine was not brewed by me, but by my elder brother. So if you want to buy wine, you'll have to ask your eldest brother."

The two entered the house together. Lu Yu heard the noise and came over from behind. He was puzzled when he saw the richly dressed man next to Ji Meiqing.

Ji Meiqing stepped forward first to introduce them: "This is the boss I met on the street, surnamed Wu, and this is my elder brother, Brother Lu, Lu Yu."

"Hello." Lu Yu nodded. "You want to buy wine?"

"Yes, I don't know what good wine you have. If you're satisfied, you can name your price."

Ji Meiqing quietly pulled him aside and told him about what happened on the way, "You can name any price you want, I'll smooth things over later."

After discussing it for a moment, the two turned around together. Ji Meiqing looked at him and chuckled twice, "I'm sorry, I've been here for so long and haven't even offered you a cup of tea. Please sit down."

Ji Meiqing turned and went to the kitchen to pour them tea. She didn't care how the business deal went; as long as they didn't lose money, everything was fine.

She retrieved the leftover tea leaves, placed them in the teapot, and poured in hot water. Ji Meiqing then carried the tea outside.

"The tea is simple, please excuse the lack of hospitality." She placed the tea on the table, then tidied up a bit before sitting down between them.

Mr. Wu cupped his hands and said, "I can buy your wine at a high price, but I would like to sell you the brewing recipe as well. Of course, the price is up to you."