Chapter 2, The Tavern

That gentleman is probably not from the Owari region, is he? Han Xiu recalled the knowledge of family crests that his late father had spoken of; both Mino and Suruga had noble families with the surname Yoshino, and the Yoshino of Suruga was even a legitimate descendant of the Minamoto clan

It is indeed difficult to invite Sheng Sanlang! Before even seeing the person, Lijia could not help but exclaim.

Kudō Castle has never been a commercial or transportation hub in Owari; it has only attracted a bit of popularity because it was the residence of the Oda clan, particularly Nobunaga. Apart from the samurai residences, there are not many merchants in the town beneath the castle.

Thus, Fan Xiu could not help but feel a sense of disdain towards the one in blue.

Miss

The girl picked up a piece of wood from somewhere and struck it against Fan Xiu, then quickly ran away

So what does she think? Does she believe that I am dissatisfied and have come out to seek flirtation?

In fact, indulging in a drink occasionally is not without its merits

Pushing the door open, although the scent of alcohol still permeated the hall, it was much fresher than inside the room

Am I very scary? Han Xiu was puzzled and confused

Neither necessary nor convenient

The banquet in the room was in full swing, with cups and bowls clinking together, and occasionally a few crude jokes were heard. Although Fan Xiu was also carefree and unruly, he was nonetheless filled with an indelible scholarly air, which indeed made him feel out of place

After three rounds of drinks, a few unruly individuals summoned the courtesans from the tavern, unabashedly indulging in their revelry within the private room, disregarding the presence of others. Thus, Fan Xiu excused himself, claiming a pressing need to relieve himself, and slipped out.

At only thirteen years old, having just undergone the ceremony of coming of age, he is mistaken for a young adult due to his height

With cups weighing two or three taels, he drank nearly ten in succession without so much as a change in expression. Consequently, everyone's resentment and disdain were immediately suppressed.

He entered the inner room at that time, drinking with those young men, and later invited a dancer in. It is likely that this innocent girl, who had not yet experienced the ways of the world, happened to see something she should not have seen

... ...

Before she could even open her mouth to inquire in detail, the young girl heard just two words and nearly collapsed against the wall

"What are you afraid of?" Fan Xiu tried to appear non-threatening, yet the girl felt even more fear.

"Ah, the Thousand Island Cherry..." Cheng Zheng smiled, "The owner of this tavern, Mr. Yoshino, is indeed a refined gentleman"

Moreover, amidst the clinking of cups, having consumed over ten cups of clear wine, I was already feeling quite tipsy. Although Fan Xiu had a good tolerance for alcohol, he did not enjoy the sensation of being drunk

Indeed, it is truly as expected... Cheng Zheng lowered his head and sighed quietly

Since you are not drunk yet, please retract that solitary word. Fan Xiu smiled mysteriously. After entering, Cheng Zheng, who should have introduced Fan Xiu to everyone, said little, while Maeda Toshiie was quite lively, laughing and scolding, as if in his element. A glimpse through a tube reveals a leopard; a single leaf indicates autumn. It is evident that, aside from the bond of many years as comrades, the relationship between Sasa and these fellows is probably not very good either.

"This is Mino." Sasaki Narimasa glanced sideways at Han Shiu, knowing that this old friend was accustomed to being indifferent, preferring tranquility over activity, which is why he had specially invited him out for a gathering, yet...

Maeda Toshiie was clearly the kind of person who was overly generous; after just a few hundred steps, he began to call Fan Xiu his brother. Upon entering the tavern, he spontaneously took on the role of introducing Fan Xiu. In contrast, Sasa Narimasa was left behind.

Dealing with these passionate and straightforward individuals is not difficult; one only needs to share a few drinks and engage in a couple of fights to quickly become part of the circle

A winemaker with a penchant for culture? Or perhaps simply a refugee who smuggled themselves over from the Ming dynasty?

The sky has darkened, the night breeze blows gently, and the feeling of intoxication has diminished from seven parts to merely three.

Having finished speaking, Fan Xiu turned around, holding the wine jug, and walked to the center of the small house, encouraging each person around the table to drink.

"This is Ikeda Katsusaburo," Sasasa whispered softly beside Han Xiu.

Walking on the grass, one cannot hear the sound of one's own footsteps at all, strolling leisurely and comfortably, much more at ease than before in that tavern.

Cheng Zheng was taken aback

It took Fan Xiu several twists and turns in his mind before he finally understood

"What an unlovable girl," Fan Xiu muttered, and then laughed at herself mockingly

He is busy with official matters, naturally not as leisurely as we are! The blue-clad warrior near the door welcomed Shōzaburō in, his face filled with smiles. This expression, rather than being one of goodwill, seemed more like flattery.

From a later perspective, this person is undoubtedly a renowned warrior worth befriending; however, due to the peculiar circumstances at this moment, they can only exchange names and share a couple of drinks

At that moment, a stern shout suddenly rang out from outside the door

The tavern that Sasa and Maeda often visit is located approximately more than one mile outside the city.

Ikeda Katsusaburo Kousei, whose mother was Nobunaga's wet nurse, later became a concubine of Oda Nobuhide. Therefore, he was not only a milk brother of Nobunaga but could also be considered a foster son of Nobuhide, albeit with some stretch.

A wooden sign hangs at the entrance of the tavern, inscribed with the three Chinese characters "Qian Dao Ying". The hall is nearly five rooms wide, which can be considered quite spacious given the era and location. There are not many guests in the hall, but the tables and floor are kept very clean. In the corner, a few feet of space is separated by wooden boards, serving as a private area.

I sincerely apologize for being late

Hey ... ... "Fan Xiu was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, not knowing what to say.

These young men are all bodyguards selected by Nobunaga from the local wealthy class of Owari Province. When facing a prestigious family like the Hirate clan, they inevitably feel a sense of inferiority, but this inferiority can easily transform into hostility—especially considering Hanxiu's performance today, which can be described as arrogant and disrespectful

"While everyone is intoxicated, must Shuchiyo maintain her integrity?" Sasa suddenly referred to Hoshiyuki by her childhood name.

Hey, what's wrong? Don't always look so absent-minded!

Standing under the tree, I heard footsteps approaching from behind

Fan Xiu patted Cheng Zheng on the shoulder

Fan Xiu could not help but indulge in wild thoughts

Fan Xiu followed Cheng Zheng closely, yet in his heart, he was contemplating the three Chinese characters on the wooden plaque

In this rural area of Owari, a tavern by the roadside typically only needs to hang a sign with the character "酒" (alcohol) to suffice. Using such an affectation of elegance for its name is, in fact, unreasonable. Moreover, the use of Chinese characters, executed with considerable skill, raises further questions—one cannot assume that merchants and farmers, let alone samurai like Maeda, would necessarily have learned Chinese characters (with the exception of Sasaheihei)

Before the voice had even faded, one could see everyone rising to greet.

The most trusted close minister by Nobunaga was evidently Niwa Nagahide, followed by Mori Yoshinari and Takigawa Kazumasu among others. Although Ikeda Tsuneoki held a noble status, he did not necessarily have any real influence over Nobunaga

The alcohol content of Japanese sake is quite low, yet after consuming several cups in succession, one cannot help but feel a slight intoxication, leading to a flurry of nonsensical chatter. Hanxiu has a good tolerance for alcohol and remains sober, preferring not to be noisy, so he inquires with Zuo Zuo about the name of the sake shop.

It is a common human tendency to seek favor from those in higher positions, especially in this era of clear social stratification, and it is not worthy of disdain. However, if one cannot even identify the appropriate object of flattery, it can only be said that they lack basic discernment

Cheng Zheng suddenly found himself at a loss for words

This is Takahashi Toramatsu, to the right is Ito Takebee, and below is Matsuoka Kurou... Han Shuu greeted each of them according to Toshiie’s introduction. The gathering consisted of young and capable retainers around Nobunaga, but these few individuals did not gain much fame in later generations. After the pleasantries, Han Shuu was still most impressed by the "celebrity" Maeda Toshiie.

"Has left ever been intoxicated?" Fan Xiu also referred to Cheng Zheng by his childhood name

What else can be done? Should I chase after her to explain clearly?

Setting aside the habits of a previous life, even with the education received in this life, such disgraceful behavior is absolutely unacceptable

Mr. Yoshino? Han Xiu took note of the other party's title. In this era, commoners do not have clan origins; they are generally addressed by place names or occupations. However, the name "Yoshino" is evidently a surname of the warrior class

The employees in the store saw this group of people, bowed in greeting, and led them into the inner room, indicating that Zuo Zuo and the others had already become regular customers two days ago

Fan Xiu turned around, and the young girl sensed someone. As she raised her head, her face was filled with terror

A liquor store differs from a whale house (a professional service venue) in that it generally does not proactively offer special services; however, if a customer requests such services, it will do its best to accommodate.

Fan Xiu nodded slightly

Stepping out the back door, there is a small courtyard outside, the ground is covered with wild grass, and in the center stands a large tree

While I was still lost in thought, everything suddenly went dark before my eyes, followed by a wave of pain on my forehead

"My lord... I, a lowly servant with a frail appearance, am unworthy to serve you. I implore you..." In a moment of desperation, the young girl suddenly spoke fluently, propping herself up and slowly moving towards the door

Looking back, one could see a fair-faced young girl in white clothing, approximately twelve or thirteen years old, dressed like a townsfolk, walking briskly with her head down

Although the Zozoya family also claims to be descendants of the Sasaki clan, their lineage has long been untraceable, and their conduct and dealings are not significantly different from those of the prominent figures in Owari