Chapter Sixty-Nine: Returning to the Manor

After taking a few sips, Master Liu's furrowed brow finally relaxed, and a broad smile lit up his face as he exclaimed repeatedly, "This is truly fine wine, excellent indeed." Hearing his father’s unending praise, Liu Cheng also raised his cup and took a couple of sips, instantly conquered by the taste. The father and son, exchanging cup after cup, unwittingly drank quite a bit; it was only when the old madam intervened that they stopped, lest both of them end up under the table.

After the meal, slightly tipsy, Master Liu was lured away to Liu Qin’s room. She dismissed the servants, then sat in her father’s lap and began to tell him about the tavern. Liu Qin concealed nothing, only changing the detail of her visit to the tavern to having gone along with Steward Cheng by chance. She spoke highly of the skills of the Jiang couple, lamenting how such craftsmanship might be buried or even lost, which she found a great pity. This, she explained, was what sparked her desire to take over the tavern herself. She then described in detail how she had sent Changxing and the others to sign the documents and purchase the shop, omitting nothing.

The more Master Liu listened, the more alarmed he became, his drunkenness quickly dissipating. Looking at his daughter in his arms, he felt momentarily dazed. Was this still his delicate, adorable, and mischievous little girl? He had never imagined his daughter would be so clever and capable—perhaps even too much so.

Fortunately, Master Liu was a man of experience, having seen much of the world. He quickly recovered from his shock, carefully considering all that Liu Qin had told him, and at last nodded in approval of her actions.

Whether the venture would succeed, or how the tavern would fare in the future, Master Liu did not have much confidence. He simply felt that if his daughter had such ideas, he ought to support her. He couldn’t explain why, but he had a feeling his daughter was different from others—destined for something great. Since she wished to start now, he ought to let her spread her wings, to gain experience so she could soar even higher one day.

To show his full support, Master Liu patted Liu Qin on the head and said, "Do you have enough money? If not, come to me. As for your mother, leave her to me; I’ll talk to her on your behalf."

Liu Qin was so delighted she nearly burst out dancing. If not for the customs of propriety between father and daughter in ancient times, she would have loved to give her father a big, affectionate kiss.

Her father’s promise completely dispelled any lingering worries. Contented, Liu Qin awaited her return to the city, eager to throw herself into her grand plans.

With all burdens lifted, Liu Qin spent the next ten days in even higher spirits, thoroughly enjoying the freedom of country life. No one knew how Master Liu had convinced the old madam, but she neither scolded Liu Qin for breaking rules, nor questioned her about the shop, leaving her entirely to her own devices.

By mid-July, after nearly a month on the estate, the old madam finally decided to return home. She had expected Liu Qin to be reluctant, but was surprised when her granddaughter cheerfully agreed, hurrying to her room to urge Cui Liu and Cui Yu to pack.

Bidding farewell to her companions after a month of play, Liu Qin, together with Jiang Li and the rest, boarded the carriage for the city. The thought of her tavern, the imminent rise of her business empire, made her so excited she could barely sit still.

Seeing Liu Qin fidgeting as if there were pebbles beneath her, the others in the carriage couldn’t help but smile. Just then, the carriage hit a rough patch, jolting violently. "Ouch, that hurts!" Liu Qin cried out, having knocked her head against the doorframe as she squirmed.

Distressed, Jiang Li pulled her close, rubbing her head and wrapping her securely in his arms to keep her from moving. On the opposite seat, Fang Nuo reached out to help, but Jiang Li was quicker; she withdrew her hand with a grin, though her eyes still brimmed with concern. Only Xiao Wu seemed oblivious, silent and expressionless as ever.

So cold-blooded, not a shred of sympathy. Lifting her head from Jiang Li’s embrace, Liu Qin pouted and made a face at Xiao Wu, clearly displeased.

Upon arriving at the Liu residence, Liu Qin took a deep breath of the warm, flower-scented air. It felt so familiar. Though the estate had been comfortable and fun, it couldn’t compare to the warmth of home. No wonder people say a golden nest or silver nest is not as good as one’s own humble abode; no matter where you go, you never forget your homeland, your own family.

Forcing herself to contain her excitement, she accompanied the old madam for lunch, pondering all the while whether she ought to ask her mother for leave. If she just slipped out and was caught, her mother would surely be even angrier. Yet if she asked and her mother refused, she might be locked up at home.

After much inner turmoil, Liu Qin finally decided to go out first and deal with the consequences later. If her mother caught her, she could count on her father to smooth things over—after all, he already knew about the tavern and would surely help her.

With her mind made up, she waited until her mother was napping, then gathered everyone in the front courtyard: Jiang Li, Xiao Wu, Fang Nuo, Xing Sheng, An Kang, Da Tong, and Lei Hu—the latter serving as both bodyguard and muscle. Together, the large group slipped out through the side gate.

The gatekeeper respectfully saluted as they left. If he knew Liu Qin considered their departure as “sneaking out,” he’d be flabbergasted—did she think everyone else was blind? There were so many of them, even if you couldn’t see, you could hear the commotion.

The Jiang couple were still at the shop. Seeing the group arrive, they hastened to greet them and led them on a tour of the two houses.

The one at the alley entrance was much larger, but since it was being sold, everything had been cleared out, leaving it empty—a good thing, since the old furnishings would be of no use anyway. In terms of natural light, this house, with its backyard, was brighter than the one that had originally served as a tavern.

Both houses were single-story, separated by a wall; once the wall was taken down, it would become a spacious hall, easily accommodating more than a dozen tables. It would take some thought, though, to build a few private rooms for distinguished guests.

Liu Qin inspected every corner, pondering the layout as she went. Overall, she was satisfied. Although not large, the place was not small either—just the right size for a business novice like herself to manage without attracting too much attention. The only shortcoming was that it didn’t face the main street. But every situation has its pros and cons: if the shop were on the main street, it would be impossible to buy at this price. Though this location was a little removed, it was close enough to the main road and right at the alley entrance. As long as the product was good and some publicity was done, it should draw plenty of customers.

One step at a time; it was pointless to overthink things now. Nothing could be known for sure until she tried. If she worried herself out of every idea before it began, nothing would ever get done.

The master brewer Liu Qin had hired was named Jiang Xingmao, and his wife was Wang Guihua, from Wangjia Village in Huaiyang Town, Luo County. Their family included elders and children. The couple had hoped to earn some money in Wucheng with their skills—certainly better than toiling in the fields. But after so long in the city, they hadn’t just failed to save; they could barely scrape by, and were forced to sell the shop to gather enough money for the journey home.

Chang Sheng, upon hearing they were from Huaiyang Town in Luo County, laughed. "What a coincidence—turns out we're fellow countrymen after all."