Xu Zizhen was originally a smoker and drinker. After coming to the Northern Song Dynasty, the source of cigarettes completely disappeared, but he still had wine. It was just that he had always been extremely poor. How could he have any spare money to buy wine? The only time he had a good time was
Drinking wine at Taihu Water Village.
The word "wine cellar" attracted him deeply. It was much better than some cave farm to recuperate his injuries.
After resting for a night at Wangsi Winery, no one in the whole winery except Wang Manfu and his wife and Uncle Cheng knew the existence of Xu Zizhen. Early the next morning, Uncle Cheng took Xu Zizhen to the back door, where there was a lot of wine.
The jars are more than half the height of a person and as thick as two people hugging each other. Each of them is covered with bamboo strips and sealed with yellow mud of Ruo leaves.
Xu Zizhen was looking at it freshly, but Uncle Cheng chose a vat, opened the mud seal, revealed the empty vat, and said with a smile: "My dear benefactor, please excuse me and ask you to enter the vat."
This is a spacious pier, surrounded by fences, leaving only an opening on the riverside. It is obviously for the exclusive use of Wangsi Winery. Xu Zizhen understood it at a glance and said with a smile: "Come in as soon as you come in. Don't stay here."
Just set up firewood below."
There were only Cheng Bo and Wang Manfu in the entire dock, and no one else was there. Wang Manfu helped him climb into the tank, and when he closed the mud seal, he said: "My benefactor, please rest in the wine cellar first and wait for this matter."
Once things calm down, I will take my benefactor back to the city."
Xu Zizhen shook his head and smiled: "It's not that easy. If Hu Youzu and Kong Qilin are still in Suzhou for one day, I won't be able to come back. Thank you, Shopkeeper Wang, I have my own plan for this matter."
Wang Manfu couldn't force himself, he nodded and took out a small cloth bag from his arms and handed it over. He smiled and said: "My benefactor has ambitions in all directions. I'm afraid he won't be able to stay in my wine cellar for long. Please be careful and thank you for your kindness."
Don't refuse, sir."
Xu Zizhen was startled, but he still took it and said seriously: "Shopkeeper Wang, thank you very much!"
He didn't say much, but Wang Manfu and his wife saved him this time despite the government's pursuit, and helped him escape from the city. Now they gave him these money, which was especially humane at this special time. Xu Zizhen didn't like to talk loudly.
I just keep this kindness in my heart.
After the mud cover was closed, the inside of the tank was dark. There was a small hole under the tank for air circulation. A boatload of wine tanks were mixed together. Unless they were opened one by one to check, they could not be easily discovered.
After all the wine jars were arranged, Uncle Cheng called two boatmen. He personally sat on the boat to accompany them. The boat swayed away from the dock and headed out of the city. Xu Zizhen sat cross-legged in the jar, holding his breath and calming down.
Waiting to get out of the city.
After traveling for less than half an hour, Xu Zizhen suddenly felt that the boat had slowed down, and someone shouted: "The boat is approaching, and it cannot leave the city without inspection!"
Xu Zizhen clenched his fists subconsciously. This should be the water and land gate leading to the outside of the city. It was expected that there would be officers and soldiers guarding it, but as long as he passed this level, he would be completely out of trouble.
Immediately afterwards, the hull of the ship shook. Someone jumped on the ship and shouted loudly: "What is in this tank? Open it quickly!"
Uncle Cheng hurriedly greeted him, bowed and said with a smile: "Master, these are new wines that have been sealed. If you open them rashly, it will be in vain. This... I can't bear this loss!"
The soldier said impatiently: "I don't care about you so much. Just drive when I tell you. Why is there so much nonsense? Who knows if Xu Zizhen is hiding on your boat!"
Xu Zizhen's heart tightened, and he didn't dare to move against the tank. He listened quietly to the movement outside the tank. The soldier seemed to be a muscle. No matter how Uncle Cheng tried to apologize and say good things, he had to be inspected for life and death. Xu Zizhen secretly gritted his teeth.
I was already prepared. If he really broke into the tank to check, I would have no choice but to break in.
At this moment, a young woman suddenly came over from a distance, wearing an aqua-green outfit, but it was Hu Qing. She glanced at the boat and shouted: "What's the dispute?"
The soldier who had been speaking very hard at first suddenly softened his tone and said with a smile, "It turns out it's the eldest lady. This ship is going out of town. I'm just checking it as usual."
Hu Qing's eyes fell on the words "Wangsi Winery" on the bow of the ship. He pondered for a moment, waved his hand and said, "Let me go, you go to those ships to check, don't block the river."
This was the daughter of the current magistrate. How could a soldier not disobey him? He immediately withdrew and went to the boats behind to make noises.
Xu Zizhen had naturally recognized Hu Qing's voice. He knew that he had offended this girl a lot. Not only had he teased her twice, but he had even taken her hostage. If he fell into her hands, he would probably end up not being much better.
Hu Qing did not ask to open the vat. Instead, he came to the vat with a riding crop, knocked this and that, and asked Uncle Cheng casually: "Where are you sending this wine?"
Uncle Cheng smiled apologetically and said, "As for the eldest lady, this is sent to Songjiang County."
Hu Qing glanced at him sideways, without comment, then walked a short circle around the side of the ship, squatted down facing the outside of the ship, and tapped the ship's plank with the tip of her whip, looking serious, but her right hand suddenly came out of her arms.
He took out a small embroidery bag and quietly threw it to a vat next to her. He lowered his voice and said, "Don't come back after leaving the city. Remember this!" After a pause, he added, "If this happens again next time,
Hide and remember to dry the yellow mud."
As soon as she finished speaking, she stood up and jumped back to the shore, shouting: "Let it go!"
Xu Zizhen was hiding in this tank. When he heard this, a cold sweat broke out on his back. He didn't expect that this girl had such a careful side, but then he was a little startled: What's going on? She
Are you going to let me go just like that?
About two hours later, the boat finally docked. Uncle Cheng sent the two boatmen away and personally opened the mud seal of the vat where Xu Zizhen was hiding.
Xu Zizhen stood up straight and took a few deep breaths of fresh air. In front of him was an extremely open farmland. Not far away was a not-so-high hill. At the foot of the hill was a quiet lake. There was a small lake built beside it.
A simple and simple red mud brick house that occupies a very large area.
The scenery here is picturesque and the air is fresh. Xu Zizhen felt that the suffocation he had been holding in the tank had dissipated. Uncle Cheng pointed at the house and said with a smile: "My dear, this is my boss's wine cellar.
You're tired, I'll take you in first to have a rest."
Xu Zizhen nodded and suddenly remembered something. He turned around and squatted next to the wine tank where he was hiding. He picked up a delicate and delicate embroidery bag from the ship's board. He opened it and saw that there were two small ingots of gold inside, along with a piece of paper.
There are four words written on it in beautiful small regular script: I hope you will take good care of it!
"This..." Xu Zizhen held two ingots of gold in his hand and was in a daze for a moment.
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Something delayed me today, I'm sorry for being so late!