diymy Chapter 34 Yao Jin Hosts a Banquet
Chapter 34 Yao Jin Hosts a Banquet
Meanwhile, in Chang'an City.
In the late spring of the ninth year of the Zhenguan era, the streets and alleys around the imperial city were quiet. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the mansions of the noble families around Pingkang Ward, and the blue bricks and black tiles were all tinged with a warm gold.
The flower hall in the backyard of the Duke of Lu's mansion had long been isolated from the hustle and bustle of the outside streets.
The curtains hung low, wisps of smoke rose from the incense burner, and the aroma of wine slowly drifted out of the window, lingering in the courtyard.
Cheng Yaojin specially arranged this private banquet today, disregarding court rules and official matters, and only inviting a group of old brothers who had shared life and death on the battlefield to gather and have a drink.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that he wasn't simply reminiscing; he had clearly acquired a rare treasure and was eager to show it off, just like a fisherman who had caught a rare big fish and couldn't wait to call his best friends over to watch and flaunt it.
The food and wine on the table were extremely lavish, without the slightest hint of perfunctoriness.
The whole roasted lamb leg is placed on a gilded tray, the residual heat of the charcoal fire still lingering, and the fat sizzles down along the meat's texture, exuding a powerful and intense aroma.
The large plate of braised beef shank was cut into even, neat slices, with firm and translucent muscle fibers, and the flavor of the sauce permeated every strand of meat.
In addition, there was a whole roasted goose on a platter, fresh and white sashimi, and crab roe-filled dumplings with thin skin and generous filling. All sorts of precious dishes were laid out on the table, showing Cheng Yaojin's consistent generosity and magnanimity.
Those present here today are all key ministers of the court, veteran subordinates from the battlefield, and the core group of nobles during the Zhenguan era.
Each person sat quietly, their personalities varied: some were unrestrained and bold, some were gentle and reserved, some were still concerned about government affairs, and some were quietly observing the overall situation. Without needing to elaborate on each one, they already formed a group of old friends with perfect understanding.
Cheng Yaojin hesitated to take his seat, his eyes brimming with barely suppressed smugness, a smile playing on his lips as he slowly surveyed the room, deliberately remaining silent to keep everyone in suspense.
Yuchi Gong, with his impatient nature, saw through Cheng's little scheme at a glance. He immediately put down his dagger and said in a gruff voice, "Old Cheng, stop pretending! You look like you've stolen a priceless treasure. What are you up to? Just say it! Don't keep us in suspense!"
"What do you mean by 'petty theft'? Don't make up stories about me!" Cheng Yaojin immediately glared and retorted, feigning anger. But before he could finish speaking, he couldn't help but burst into laughter. "To tell you the truth, I've acquired an unparalleled treasure today, something truly rare in the world. I specially invited you old buddies here to broaden your horizons!"
After saying that, he bent down and picked up a well-sealed wine jar at his feet.
The jar was fired with great care, and the mouth of the jar was sealed tightly with mud, so that nothing could be seen inside.
Cheng Yaojin raised his hand and gently knocked off the outer mud seal. Instantly, a completely different aroma of wine burst forth, spreading along the curtains of the flower hall and permeating the noses of everyone present.
The aroma of this wine is far superior to that of ordinary wines available on the market.
It lacks the blandness and thinness of folk rice wine, the cloying sweetness and frivolity of fruit-based wines, and the sourness and astringency of Western Region wines.
On the contrary, it has a clear and domineering quality. When you smell it, it is long and heavy, with a sharp and mellow aroma that goes straight to your brain. Just one whiff is enough to invigorate your spirit.
In an instant, everyone in the hall stopped what they were doing, their minds completely captivated by the strange aroma of the wine.
Cheng Yaojin took in the reactions of the entire audience and felt extremely pleased.
The long-awaited moment to show off finally arrived. Seeing his experienced old buddies all moved, a sense of vanity and pride welled up inside him, making him feel completely comfortable and at ease.
He suppressed his secret joy and maintained a calm demeanor.
The clear, bright liquor flowed slowly from the mouth of the jar and into a small white porcelain bowl.
The candlelight reflected on the surface of the wine, casting a warm yet cool glow. The aroma of the wine became even richer and more enticing as it was poured into the bowl.
"Try it all." Cheng Yaojin pushed the wine bowl to the middle of the table, turned to look at Yuchi Gong, and said with a tone full of boasting, "Old Heizi, how about it? Haven't I been good to you, brother? You can't find this kind of good wine in ordinary places."
Yuchi Gong was the most impatient and loved fine wine. Upon seeing such fine wine, he had no time to argue with it. He took the lead in picking up the wine bowl, brought it to his nose and took a sniff. The pungent aroma of the wine rushed into his nasal cavity, and its strength was far greater than any wine on the market in the Tang Dynasty.
He first took a small sip, savoring the refreshing and sweet taste on his lips and teeth. He froze on the spot, closing his eyes and savoring the flavor for a long time. Then he simply tilted his head back and took a big gulp.
The liquor is smooth and mellow as it enters the throat, without any harshness or irritation. Once it reaches the stomach, a warm sensation slowly spreads, leaving the whole body feeling comfortable.
After a long while, he slowly exhaled a breath of stale air and exclaimed from the bottom of his heart, "Fine wine! Truly a peerless brew! I, an old man, have drunk countless wines in my life, but I have never tasted such a mellow and excellent wine!"
Qin Shubao then took the wine bowl, took a small sip, closed his eyes and savored it for a moment. When he opened his eyes again, he spoke slowly and solemnly:
"The wine is clear and pure, with a strong initial taste that is smooth and not pungent, and a lingering sweetness after swallowing."
This brewing method is neither the ancient method of the Western Regions nor the traditional rice wine recipe of the Guanzhong and Hedong areas. Old Cheng, where did you get this stuff from?
Cheng Yaojin just chuckled while holding the wine jar, deliberately remaining silent and refusing to answer despite everyone's persistent questioning.
Fang Xuanling's gaze was calm. He took a sip and slowly said, "This wine is clear and free of impurities. Its alcohol content is several times higher than that of ordinary rice wine. It is definitely not something that can be produced by the crude natural fermentation methods of the common people."
There must be a special distillation method, kept secret. Old Cheng, you don't need to pretend to be evasive; tell me honestly, where did this liquor come from?
"Just focus on drinking, why ask so many questions!"
Cheng Yaojin simply hugged the wine jar to his chest, protecting it tightly as if it were a rare treasure. "It's good enough as long as it tastes good. Why bother asking where it came from and adding unnecessary trouble?"
Yuchi Gong was immediately displeased. He slammed his hand on the table and said in a gruff voice, "You went out of your way to prepare a banquet and invite us all to taste the wine, but you hide the truth about where we came from. What kind of logic is this!"
"You wouldn't understand even if I explained, so why waste my breath?" Cheng Yaojin said with certainty.
"How can we understand if you don't tell us? Just tell us, and we'll understand!"
"What do you know! I explained the brewing process to you in detail before, and you just waved your hand and said it's fine as long as you drink it, there's no need to delve into the intricacies. Now you're chasing after me, asking me every single question, but I'm not going to tell you!"