Chapter 6: Supplementing Blood with Wine

Boss Chen meant to say that Xu Haifeng had distinguished himself in the recently concluded battle, thereby earning the respect of all the survivors, which led them to be completely convinced and willing to obey him, even the two captains who originally held higher ranks than him. In fact, during that siege, aside from contributing his blood for everyone to brew wine, Xu Haifeng had no other achievements, yet this matter remained unknown to others, and Xu Haifeng would never voluntarily disclose it.

"Sir, you have traveled a long way; please allow me to offer you a cup as a token of respect."

This is not ordinary snake blood; these are medicinal snakes. It is said that they are cultivated from a young age, with their food mixed with various precious medicinal materials such as Ganoderma lucidum, goji berries, and ginseng. After a year, they are slaughtered to extract their blood for medicinal use. Therefore, this liquor is also referred to as medicinal snake wine

Boss Chen stood up, bowed deeply, and with a beaming smile said: "Ladies and gentlemen, the fine wine has arrived today. This is the Zuiyue wine that I specially brought from the other estate. It is the signature drink of our establishment, so please enjoy it freely without reservation. I have some mundane matters to attend to, so I must excuse myself for the time being"

"In this way, you have gone to great expense." At this moment, the expression on Director Ming's face was much more pleasant, as it seemed that everyone loves flattery, and his impression of Boss Chen had improved significantly

Several women, without waiting for instructions, had already taken the initiative to fill everyone's cups with the intoxicating Moonlight Wine. Tong Yifeng raised his cup and said: "This wine is strong in nature and has a significant aftereffect, hence the name 'Moonlight Wine.' To date, no one has been able to drink an entire jar alone without falling down. Everyone should drink according to their own capacity. However, let it be limited to three cups, otherwise, I fear that you all will be unable to rise later, thus wasting the company of these beautiful ladies"

A pair of vibrant jade hands held a translucent glass cup, capturing Xu Haifeng's attention. He looked up and saw a woman beside him, lightly made up, with a pair of captivating eyes that seemed to speak, gazing at him intensely. Among the women present, her beauty was exceptional; apart from the woman next to Fang Ming, the other five were somewhat inferior.

At this moment, the compartment door opened once again, and two servants pushed a wine cart inside

Direction Ming laughed loudly at the beauty beside him, saying: "Everyone, since departing from the northern frontier until today, I have been holding back for three months. I am going to enjoy myself now, so I must take my leave." After saying this, amidst the laughter, he embraced the blushing person and left without hesitation. Although the heroes of the northern lands are not particular about small matters, such indulgence is still rare, indicating that he has indeed had a bit too much to drink.

Today is the first visit for several esteemed guests to my Zuiyue Tower. I may not possess many skills, but I have a particular fondness for making friends, especially with heroes and brave individuals like you. Today, the expenses are on me; the wine will flow abundantly, and the dishes will be plentiful. Let us not leave until we are all thoroughly intoxicated

With a soft chuckle, the woman smiled slightly at Xu Haifeng's somewhat awkward appearance, instantly illuminating the entire room and causing Xu Haifeng's heart to race.

Upon his remark, and recalling the nature of this place, everyone suddenly understood, exchanging glances with one another, as everything was left unspoken

As everyone rose and, after a moment of polite yielding, took their seats once more, this time, with the exception of Boss Chen, each person found a beautiful wine server beside them.

Amidst the delicate reproaches of the women, Xu Haifeng also drank it down. The wine was sweet upon entry, but once it reached the stomach, it transformed into a ball of fierce fire, a wave of heat rapidly spreading throughout the body, creating an extremely comfortable warmth. However, this was merely the sensation of an ordinary person; for Xu Haifeng, it was an entirely different experience.

Fortunately, Weiwei spoke up immediately, alleviating the awkwardness: "It is indeed a fate to meet you, sir. Allow me to toast to you once more."

Immediately, everyone's curiosity was successfully piqued by him, with several pairs of eyes eagerly fixed on him, wishing he would speak up right away. Fortunately, Tong Yifeng quickly conformed to public sentiment and revealed it.

Direction Ming laughed and said: "Alright, I won't keep you in suspense any longer. This Zuiyue wine is said to be brewed using a unique secret recipe. In addition to its strong alcoholic content, it also possesses an effect that all men desire greatly"

"General Fang, is there any difference in this wine?" It was unexpectedly Qin Yong, who was straightforward, asking directly.

However, upon hearing his words, Xu Haifeng couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The influence of this hefty individual should not be underestimated; he was well aware of the details regarding their recovery in the courtyard. This clearly indicated that he was indeed a person of significance, likely having connections with high-ranking officials in the military. Among those of similar stature, Tong Yifeng was the most suspicious.

It turns out to be Miss Weiwei, I am Xu Haifeng

"I dare not take credit; that is the merit of all my brothers. I, Xu, do not dare to claim glory for myself." Xu Haifeng was also taken aback, not expecting this big man to be so familiar with the matter

As the wine went down, Xu Haifeng not only felt the warmth but also astonishingly discovered that this warmth had permeated into his veins. Subsequently, his blood circulation accelerated, and that warmth was absorbed by his blood, transforming into his own lifeblood. Of course, this was merely a sensation he experienced, yet it undeniably occurred.

Indeed, this wine is quite expensive; it can only be purchased for a hundred taels of silver for a single jar. Therefore, I say that Old Chen has truly made a significant financial sacrifice this time.

Seven people sat around a large round table, and as soon as Boss Chen left, the table was filled with dishes in no time. After everyone had a drink, Boss Chen returned, this time accompanied by seven charming and beautiful ladies.

He cast a brief glance at Tong Yifeng and Fang Xiangming, only to find that they showed no signs of surprise, as if they had already known about this matter. He couldn't help but feel relieved; his order upon arriving in Xijing that everyone must not go out and must not cause trouble was indeed the right decision, as it seemed that many were concerned about him.

Indeed, this is my first time in such a place. Xu Haifeng blurted out, and then quickly realized, clearing his throat but unable to say anything further. Seeing Weiwei looking at him with a half-smile, he felt even more embarrassed.

Xu Haifeng did not dare to look much, quickly raised his glass, hurriedly clinked it, and drank it down with his head held high

With Fang Ming taking the lead, the others also began to leave one after another, and even Qin Yong departed under Xu Haifeng's indication.

Xu Haifeng was experiencing such a scene for the first time. He forced himself to remain calm while discreetly observing the behavior of those around him. He noticed that everyone else appeared composed, engaging in lively conversation and laughter. Some, like Tong Yifeng, seemed quite familiar with the women beside them, behaving as if no one else was present, while the women blushed, caught between rejection and acceptance. Everyone else seemed oblivious, focused solely on flirting with the women next to them.

Once these words were spoken, apart from Tong Yifeng who displayed a similarly lascivious smile, all the women either lowered their heads in shyness or lightly protested in disagreement. Xu Haifeng was left in a state of confusion, but it was not appropriate to inquire further about the matter

Everyone, please go ahead; I will make the arrangements right away. Boss Chen clasped his hands and smiled as he withdrew from the meeting

Come, come, come, let us not waste words, everyone come and give it a try. Direction Ming brought over a jar, and with a mighty slap, he broke the clay seal, instantly releasing an extremely rich aroma of wine that wafted out.

It is said that after this battle, your unit was left with only 124 men. Upon reaching Xijing, under the command of Xu Yingxiong, not a single person dared to step out of the courtyard for an entire month. General Gu sent war trophies three times, yet Xu Yingxiong did not speak, and no one dared to privately take even a single copper coin. Such strict discipline is rarely seen, and all subordinates obeyed orders without a single complaint, which is truly unprecedented. Boss Chen paused for a moment, raised his thumb, and said: "As far as I know, Xu Yingxiong is a new recruit who joined the army at the beginning of this year, while among the survivors, there are many veterans, including two who once held the rank of company commander. Such strict discipline is rarely seen, and all subordinates obeyed orders without a single complaint, which is truly unprecedented. Boss Chen paused for a moment, raised his thumb, and said: 'As far as I know, Xu Yingxiong is a new recruit who joined the army at the beginning of this year, while among the survivors, there are many veterans, including two who once held the rank of company commander. However, after the battle in the barracks, they all looked to Xu Yingxiong for guidance. Hehe, as to why this is the case, I believe everyone knows in their hearts and there is no need to elaborate further.'

Mr. Xu seems to come here rarely; judging by his accent, he is not a local, right?" Weiwei lifted the wine jug and filled the cups of Xu Haifeng and herself with fine wine, while simultaneously asking.

According to Old Chen's slip of the tongue after a drink, one of the main ingredients in this liquor is snake blood

Direction Ming looked at the three jars of wine on the wine cart and nodded, saying, "Three years ago, when I came here, I also had it once; it is indeed a top-quality wine." A strange smile appeared on his face as he added, "This wine has another wonderful use, which everyone will be able to experience shortly."

There was not much liquor in the vat; after each person had a bowl, more than half was gone. After three cups each, only a little more than one vat remained. This wine indeed had a strong aftereffect, as everyone's face was flushed. Fortunately, since they were all soldiers, their tolerance for alcohol was considerable, and no one ended up drunk.

Xu Haifeng was taken aback upon hearing this; a jar of wine costs one hundred taels of silver, so three jars would amount to three hundred taels. The soldiers like him earn only ten taels a year, meaning it would take a full decade to afford a jar of wine and a *picture* book. If it weren't for Tong Yifeng guiding him this time, he might never have the chance to taste such a precious item in his lifetime

Subsequently, Tong Yifeng introduced three individuals, Qian Renchang and Qin Yong, and Boss Chen similarly showered them with praise, bringing smiles to everyone's faces. This person spoke with great charm and eloquence, and what was even more remarkable was that he often boasted about the most commendable achievements of others, which were indeed true and not fabricated out of thin air. This made his compliments particularly sincere, leaving no room for any feelings of aversion.

Similarly, Qin Yong, who is also visiting here for the first time, appears completely unperturbed, engaging in lively conversation with the woman beside him

"Goodness, if you want to eat for a year, how much will that cost?" Qin Yong exclaimed in surprise

"Oh dear, how generous of Old Chen today, this must have really cost him a lot." After Boss Chen left, Tong Yifeng exclaimed in surprise.

The most beautiful woman that Xu Haifeng had ever seen in his life was merely the second daughter of the Xu family in the village, known as Xu Xian, who was the most beautiful woman in their town. For Xu Haifeng, she had always been an unattainable figure. To be honest, the beauty of the woman before him seemed to surpass even that of Xu Xian by a considerable margin, and when it came to her attire and demeanor, Xu Xian was truly incomparable.

"This wine contains a primary medicinal ingredient, yet none of you can guess what it is," Tong Yifeng suddenly put down his chopsticks and said with a mysterious expression

The gentleman seems quite unfamiliar, my name is Weiwei, may I ask how you are addressed

"Snake blood? What kind of medicinal material is this?" Qin Yong asked curiously.

Since Xu Haifeng's last significant loss of blood, his body has not fully recovered. Although he has undergone many days of recuperation, it will take at least three to five months to completely replenish the lost blood. However, after consuming this cup of wine, the feeling of weakness in his limbs has greatly diminished, leaving him astonished