"Wine?"

Hearing the word slip from Xiaozhao's mouth.

Xu Yun was initially taken aback, then gently nodded:

"Indeed, that's true."

Previously, in order to produce allicin to treat Wang Yue's illness, he had spent significant effort concocting high-proof alcohol and distillation equipment.

Thus, naturally, distilled wine emerged alongside it.

After all, this stuff was originally the core objective of early distillation, right?

But due to limited time, Xu Yun couldn't craft many varieties.

He merely distilled a few types of pure white spirits with alcohol content between 45 and 60 degrees.

Yet, such distilled spirits, though ordinary in Xu Yun's eyes, were a so-called bug-level killer in an era where drinks at most were 20 degrees.

Even Wang Bing, who looked like the stoic Zhu Shimao, was immediately captivated by Xu Yun's 'Erguotou' at first encounter, due to its overpowering nature.

According to Wang Bing,

even wine for celebrating major victories couldn't match one-tenth of Xu Yun's spirits!

Not to mention the frontier in the west, where temperatures would plummet to freezing after October.

Although the officials generally wouldn't choose to march and fight after late autumn, the western frontier always needed garrison and patrol, right?

If one could carry such a flask of strong liquor while patrolling,

even if faced with a sharp temporary drop in temperature, it could at least keep one somewhat warm.

Therefore, from both a drinking and military preparedness standpoint, strong liquor was undoubtedly a "soldier's magnet".

Now, after daily training,

Wang Bing would ask Xu Yun for a couple of ounces of white spirits, accompanied by meat as a late-night snack, enjoying himself immensely.

Although Xiaozhao was a prince, he was also a lover of wine, delighting in drinking.

If he weren't truly a wine enthusiast, he wouldn't have chosen a tavern as a 'stage'—wouldn't a pleasure boat or brothel be more appealing?

Thus, upon hearing that Xu Yun had concocted several new types of strong liquor, Xiaoli's craving was immediately piqued:

"Mr. Wang, where are the new wines stored? Could I have a small taste as well?"

Xu Yun lifted his eyes to glance at him, thinking today he'd already gathered most of the information needed, and thus agreed:

"If Your Highness is interested, this humble one must comply, but the liquor is stored in the wine cellar, and the master..."

Old Su, hearing this, immediately understood and waved his hand:

"Xiaowang, today you will attend... ahem, accompany His Highness for a stroll. If anything comes up at the residence, I'll have someone find you, so don't worry."

Xu Yun then nodded, taking leave with Xiaozhao and Xiaoli.

The three then passed through several courtyards, arriving at the entrance to a wine cellar.

This wine cellar was divided into ground level and underground sections, with the underground also serving as an ice cellar, covering a larger area.

Considering transportation and preparation issues, Xu Yun's distillation equipment was not chosen to be placed in the underground cellar but was instead installed in a ground-level side room.

Arriving outside the side room's door.

Click—

Xu Yun pulled out a key to unlock the door, leading Xiaozhao and Xiaoli inside.

This room was a bit over thirty square meters, with a set of distillation equipment in a corner, not in operation at the moment.

On the opposite side of the distillation equipment were several ceramic jars of varying sizes.

Labels on the tops read "75-degree alcohol," "95-degree alcohol," "99.9-degree alcohol," and "white spirits," among others.

As soon as they entered the room, the intense smell of alcohol hit them.

Xiaoli sensibly sniffed the air, murmuring softly:

"Such a nice aroma."

Xu Yun ignored the feminine drinker's exclamation and walked adeptly to a jar with a broken seal labeled 53 degrees.

He opened the lid and scooped a spoonful of wine with a wooden ladle.

Just as he was about to find a wooden or ceramic bowl to pour the wine into, Xiaozhao eagerly cupped his hands:

"Mr. Wang, pour it into my hands."

Xu Yun was astonished at his request.

Goodness gracious.

This Quasi-Prince was really down-to-earth, wasn't he?

If in public, he did this to 'stay alive,' then in private, such behavior was a mark of a genuine character.

On a personal note, Xu Yun rather appreciated this approach.

So, when Xiaozhao made his request, Xu Yun stepped over, gently pouring the wine into Xiaozhao's hands.

Xiaozhao, as if receiving mountain spring water, cupped the wine carefully, bringing it up to sniff gently.

A moment later, an intoxicated gleam spread across his face.

As for Xiaoli nearby:

(¯﹃¯)...

Then Xiaozhao slightly inclined his head forward, slurping down the wine in a single gulp.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

As soon as it hit his throat,

a scorching sensation, never felt before, filled his mouth and esophagus, causing the royal family member to cough uncontrollably, resembling a new case in the Northern Song.

Some of the wine not fully consumed spilled over him, making him look a bit untidy.

But Xiaozhao seemed utterly unconcerned by these issues.

With a flushed face, he steadied his breath, not even bothering to straighten his clothes, and immediately gave Xu Yun a thumbs up:

"Excellent wine, potent! Mr. Wang, does this wine have a name?"

Xu Yun nodded and said:

"Ordinary folks would be drunk after a single bowl of this wine, unable to walk further, hence it's named 'One Bowl, No Pass'.

Xiaozhao's eyes lit up:

"One Bowl, No Pass... great name!"

The wine Xu Yun scooped out was possibly just over an ounce, and after accounting for what spilled, Xiaozhao actually consumed very little.

Such a quantity of white spirits wouldn't, of course, get Xiaozhao drunk, but the alcohol's stimulus made the Prince of Zhezong's behavior slightly more boisterous.

He grabbed Xu Yun's wrist, saying:

"Mr. Wang, is there wine and meat available in the house now?"

Xu Yun's wrist was grasped so tightly it hurt a little, but he still said:

"Wine and meat are simple enough, as it's close to noon now, the kitchen has probably started cooking.

Otherwise, have the Old Chief Steward send someone across the street to buy some from the restaurant."

Xiaozhao, hearing this, exchanged a glance with Xiaoli, the two drinkers reached an instant consensus:

"Great, Mr. Wang, please inform the kitchen staff to prepare the wine and meat quickly, today the three of us shall not leave until we're thoroughly inebriated!"

Xu Yun nodded, agreeing:

"No problem, leave it to me."

....

Although it is summer now, a heavy rain just fell in Bianjing last night, so the weather is still quite cool.

Therefore, after consulting with Xiaoli and Xiaozhao, Xu Yun decided to choose the outdoors as the place for drinking and chatting.

Two quarters of an hour later.

In a secluded courtyard of the Su Mansion.

The three of them, Xu Yun, Xiaoli, and Xiaozhao, sat around a stone table under the shade of a tree, and the table was set with some food and drink.

The main dishes were lamb and beef:

Two entire plates of braised meat and a hot pot, the pot was bubbling away.

Steam rose and a fragrant aroma spread all over.

Xu Yun personally doesn't much like mutton, but he's an ardent beef enthusiast, nearly ecstatic without it.

Later generations, influenced by some strange thoughts, seemed to especially favor foreign beef.

Things like insisting steak must be rare, only eating Wagyu for barbecues, and such.

People who like such things, let them like them, and they enjoy praising one while disparaging the other.

With some inexplicable sense of superiority, they belittle domestic beef varieties.

But in Xu Yun's view.

Although domestic beef might indeed have a certain disadvantage in the international market, due to the relatively late start of breeding certain breeds.

There's nothing to deny about this, their breeding industry started two to three decades earlier, so it's also reasonable to have some achievements.

But this disadvantage is not an uncrossable gulf, at least not so exaggerative to the point of abandoning native cattle entirely.

For instance, the braised beef Xu Yun is enjoying now.

It comes from a high-quality yellow cow from the Northwest region, naturally grass-fed, incredibly fresh and tender meat.

The cucumber strip cut can be stir-fried.

The brisket can be stewed with radish.

The shank can make braised beef.

And the beef tendon can.... ahem....

Of course.

Some people might ask:

No, wait a minute.

Wasn't it forbidden to eat beef in the Tang and Song dynasties?

True, but not entirely so.

Although there were laws in the early Northern Song's 'Song Penal Code' such as "Those who deliberately kill government or private cattle, imprisonment for one year and six months", "The owner who kills cattle or horses himself, imprisonment for one year".

But in reality, during the Tang and Song dynasties, beef was actually a fairly common ingredient among the people.

For example, the renowned Du Fu, his cause of death was related to beef.

Yet whether he was overstuffed or the beef had gone bad remains unknown.

Furthermore, not long ago, Wang Hou and others returned victorious from the Western front, bringing back a lot of cattle and sheep.

Some of the beef found its way through various channels into the civilian market, after all, in the Northern Song, everything revolved around profit.

"Delicious!"

Xu Yun picked up a large piece of beef, slowly chewing it in his mouth.

This un-bred beef had more bite than the beef cattle of later years.

Eating it is immensely satisfying, though it does tire the jaw.

Beside him, Xiaoli and Xiaozhao were sipping strong liquor.

Judging by the stance, Xiaoli seemed a bit fiercer than Xiaozhao.

After all, this girl was known to be a notorious drinker.

According to statistics by Xiaoli's fans in later generations, she had gotten drunk three times in her pre-marital poems.

Twice in 'As if in a Dream' and once in 'Washing Stream Sand'.

As for after marriage, it happened even more often.

Sober twice, drunk seven times, and after Zhao Mingcheng's death, drunk six more times.

The thing is, this girl loves drinking but has a low tolerance, feeling tipsy after just three cups.

A cup in the Song dynasty held about 30 milliliters, which equates to roughly six Qian—bear in mind, the liquor at this time just barely reached above ten degrees of alcohol at the max.....

A genuine novice who loves to play.

But to come back to the point, there truly are few literati who can drink much.

Take Du Fu's 'Song of the Eight Immortals of Wine' for instance.

Zhi Zhang got drunk and fell into a well while horseback riding, Li Bai became poetic and ebullient after a mere dou, not to mention Zhang Xu who started sprawling cursive after just three cups.....

Moreover, Xu Yun brought out high-proof liquor this time, so it wasn't long before both Xiaoli and Xiaozhao's cheeks started to blush.

"Mr. Wang, this fish sashimi tastes wonderful, do try some."

Compared to the hard-drinking Xiaoli, Xiaozhao seemed more considerate.

She quite enthusiastically placed a piece of fish on Xu Yun's plate and said:

"This is yellow croaker, a specialty from the Deng Prefecture region. It is incredibly fresh and delicious, truly one of the great delicacies of the world."

Xu Yun courteously thanked Xiaozhao and began to savor the fish.

His expression was genuine, for the yellow croaker of this time was undoubtedly a wild variety, considered priceless in later eras.

For those under seven taels, it wasn't too bad, but the price soared as the weight increased.

Like the nearly three-jin yellow croaker on the table at the moment, selling it for ten thousand yuan at a later era's restaurant wouldn't even raise an eyebrow.

Switch it to a top-tier private kitchen like Mr. Huang's or No. 5 in the western suburbs, and it would likely double in price, exceeding twenty thousand.

Xu Yun once saw a hot topic of a 400,000-yuan-expensive menu in recent years, which apparently can still be found online now.

Other dishes Xu Yun couldn't recall clearly, but he hasn't forgotten a 7.4-jin wild large yellow croaker:

15,800 yuan per jin, over 110,000 yuan for the whole fish.

In this age, the only ones on par with wild yellow croaker might be three-liang class knife fish.

Watching Xu Yun carefully enjoy the fish, Xiaozhao asked:

"Mr. Wang, from your accent, it sounds like you are from the Daming Prefecture area?"

Xu Yun's accent, which came from the system, leaned toward an HB accent, close enough to be from the realm of Daming Prefecture:

"That's correct, I was born in Zu'an Village in Daming Prefecture. Unfortunately, an evil man named Sun Xiaochuan came to the village in my early years, forcing the whole family to flee, and later... sigh."

Hearing this, Xiaozhao was momentarily stunned, then with a slightly guilty expression, she raised her wine glass:

"Mr. Wang, I carelessly misspoke and accidentally touched on your painful memories. I ought to punish myself by downing a cup."

Without waiting for a reaction from Xu Yun, Xiaozhao downed her drink in one go.

As the strong liquor went down.

Xiaozhao's face turned an even deeper shade of red, her eyes becoming somewhat glazed.

.....

Note:

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