Three Kingdoms: Rebirth of Liu Bei, the Zhaolie

Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang were pushed by the crowd to sit behind the two long tables in the main seats.

Liu Bei sat behind the first long table on the right.

Zuo Zi sat behind the first long table on the left.

The others, including Jian Yong, Qian Zhao, Guan Yu, Zhang Ba, Dongye Ban, and Xin Yuan Jian, sat in order.

Everyone chatted and laughed.

In a short while.

Two waitresses, each carrying a jar of spring wine on a red lacquered tray, slowly entered the private room.

Starting from the head of the table, the two women used spoons to scoop wine from the earthenware jar and then poured it into the earthenware cups in front of the guests one by one.

Soon, the long table in front of everyone was filled with fragrant spring wine in ceramic cups, which seemed to carry a hint of the cool and leisurely atmosphere of spring.

Higashino Ban took a deep breath of the aroma of the wine, his eyes shining, and couldn't help but pick up the ceramic cup and drink it all in one gulp.

He smacked his lips, satisfied.

"Delicious! Delicious! Fill it up again!"

The waitress hurriedly ladled out more spring wine for him and poured it over his head.

Seeing Higashino's rough and unrestrained style, everyone couldn't help but laugh.

Zhang Shiping then laughed and said:

"Gentlemen, the wine in the earthenware cups before you is spring wine."

"This spring wine is usually made by starting the yeast in June or July each year, using the purest water available around the spring equinox, and fermented at low temperatures. The wine has a mellow aroma, a rich taste, a slightly sour aftertaste, and is refreshing and thirst-quenching."

"Please, gentlemen, drink to your heart's content."

After saying that, he raised his glass to the crowd.

Liu Bei and the others also raised their wine cups in greeting.

Su Shuang nodded and said:

"When I was in Zhongshan County, I was already thinking about the spring wine from the Spring Wine Shop at Fifteen Mile Inn."

After saying that, he took a sip, swallowed it gently, and then carefully savored the taste of the spring wine.

Looking at the spring wine in the earthenware cup and listening to Zhang Shiping's words, Liu Bei saw that the clear wine seemed to still be rippling with the colors of spring, which looked particularly pleasing to the eye.

He first took a small sip and felt a cool sensation, as if it still carried the lingering chill of late winter and early spring.

Seeing Liu Bei's expression, Zhang Shiping laughed:

"Xuande, the owners of wine shops usually hide the wine jars in a cool, shady place underground. Not only are the wine jars cool, but the spring wine inside also has a slight coolness. Now that it is early summer, it feels especially refreshing to drink."

Liu Bei nodded and said:

"I see. This is the first time in my life I've ever tasted such delicious wine."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but take another big gulp.

But I felt a cool sensation that made my teeth tremble.

A refreshing sensation as it goes down the throat.

Just then, a waitress brought over freshly roasted mutton on a red lacquered tray, its aroma filling the air.

Next, they served flatbread, winter melon, cucumber, and chives.

Soon, cups and bowls were laid out on the long table, and the aroma of the dishes filled the air.

Liu Bei actually really liked to eat fatty mutton, especially roasted mutton.

He immediately picked up a leg of lamb and began to eat it with gusto.

The mutton tasted exceptionally delicious; after a few chews, it melted in my throat.

Just as everyone was enjoying their meal.

The waitress brought over two more jars of wine.

Zhang Shiping said:

"Gentlemen, I have specially ordered a jar of pepper wine and a jar of fine grape wine for you all to try. These are both top-quality wines from the Spring Wine Shop. Please savor them."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but smile.

Liu Bei had drunk pepper wine and grape wine in his previous life, but this was the first time he had ever drunk them in this life.

Just thinking about the taste of this fine wine makes my mouth water.

He quickly took another sip of spring wine.

soon.

The waitress then served each person a glass of pepper wine and a glass of wine.

Seeing that Higashino Ban was about to down his drink again, Aragaki Kane quickly whispered to stop him:

"Aban, this fine wine should be sipped slowly and carefully. Otherwise, it will have already entered your stomach before you even have a chance to taste it. What a pity!"

Higashino shouted loudly:

"Mind your own business!"

With that, he downed the glass of pepper wine in one gulp as if in a huff, and then devoured it with relish.

The wine was half-drunk.

Jian Yong was already slightly drunk when he suddenly felt the urge to urinate, so he got up to go to the toilet.

After eating the roasted lamb leg, Liu Bei felt a little full, so he ate a flatbread, taking all the oil from his mouth into his stomach.

After a satisfying meal, it was time to enjoy the fine wine.

He took a sip and found it sweet and refreshing, but with a slightly astringent taste.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Shiping asked:

"Xuande, how does the wine taste? It was transported from the Western Regions, thousands of miles away."

Actually, Liu Bei still thought the spring wine was quite good, and the pepper wine had a unique flavor, but he felt that this grape wine was slightly inferior to the other two.

In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, being able to drink fine wine from the Western Regions was already a significant improvement in one's life.

So Liu Bei nodded and said:

"The taste is excellent. It's rare to find fine wines from abroad in the mainland, especially those from the Western Regions thousands of miles away. I am deeply grateful for the hospitality of Brother Zhang and Brother Su."

Zhang Shiping laughed:

"You are all heroes with courage and integrity. I must do my best to entertain you in order to express my respect and affection for you."

"Thank you for your kindness, Brother Zhang and Brother Su."

Everyone bowed and clasped their hands in greeting to Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang, who were seated in the main seats.

At this moment, Jian Yong returned from the restroom and sat behind the long table below Liu Bei, whispering with a hint of surprise:

"Xuande, guess who I just saw?"

Seeing the joy on Jian Yong's face, Liu Bei quickly asked:

"Who did you see?"

Jian Yong smiled slightly and said:

"Your cousins ​​Liu Yu and Liu Gao."

"oh!?"

Liu Bei put down the earthenware cup containing the grape wine, turned his head to look at Jian Yong, paused, and said, "Have my cousins ​​Huaijin and Wangyue returned from beyond the Great Wall?"

His cousin Liu Yu, courtesy name Huaijin; his cousin Liu Gao, courtesy name Wangyue.

"Yes."

Jian Yong nodded.

Liu Bei was overjoyed and said:

"Then take me to see them quickly."

"it is good."

Jian Yong stood up from beside the table again.

Liu Bei then bowed slightly to the crowd and followed Jian Yong out of the private room.

No one paid any attention and continued drinking and eating.

Soon, Jian Yong led Liu Bei to another private room.

The private room was extremely simple and clean, with only two long tables. Two men in their twenties with light beards sat facing each other, drinking and eating meat with great enjoyment.

"My two cousins, it's been a long time."

As soon as Liu Bei stepped into the private room, he shouted excitedly to the two men.

These two men were Liu Bei's cousins, Liu Yu and Liu Gao.

Liu Yu and Liu Gao were both wearing black turbans and dark blue short clothes. When they saw Liu Bei suddenly walk in, they were first surprised, but then they smiled broadly.

"Xuande!?"

Liu Yu and Liu Gao spoke almost in unison.

"Brother Huaijin, Brother Wangyue, it's been a long time."

Liu Bei strode in and tightly grasped the arms of Liu Yu and Liu Gao.

"Xuande, you seem to have grown much stronger."

Liu Yu said with a smile.

He grabbed Liu Bei's forearm with his hand and felt a lot of strength.

Liu Bei laughed and said:

"My two elder brothers, I still remember the scene of you teaching me to ride horses in the clan's training ground. More than a year has passed in the blink of an eye. You went to the border to do business, why have you only returned now? Did something happen on the way?"

"Sigh, don't even mention it."

Liu Gao said helplessly, "My brother and I almost didn't make it back... Anyway, it's a long story. By the way, how did you know we were here?"

Liu Bei looked at Jian Yong.

Jian Yong hurriedly said:

"When I went to the restroom just now, I passed by this private room and happened to hear your voices. I knew it must be you two. As you know, I, Jian Yong, have an excellent memory. No matter how softly you two are speaking, I can still tell the difference."

Liu Yu frowned:

"Xianhe, it's been a year. You've changed your surname? You're no longer surnamed Geng?"

"Ugh."

Jian Yong mimicked Liu Gao's tone and said helplessly, "About my changing my surname to Jian... well, it's a long story."

"Come, come, sit down and let's talk in detail."

Liu Gao then pulled Liu Bei and Jian Yong to sit between two long tables.

After settling into his seat, Liu Bei said:

"My two elder brothers, I am still eager to know what exactly happened to you this past year?"

……

On the Laba Festival, pepper wine is served.

—Ban Gu, *Book of Han*