After settling their own mules and horses, Old Foreman led the caravan hands into Tongfu Inn.
Wang Chen was among them.
The inn's main hall was spacious. Four thick wooden pillars supported the broad, long roof, with more than a dozen wine tables arranged inside. Around the sides was an elevated open second floor, where quite a few tables had also been set out.
Oil lamps hanging from the walls lit the entire hall brightly. Voices surged like a boiling cauldron; it was exceedingly lively.
Merchants and travelers from north and south, passersby, hunters, and lone wanderers all gathered here, drinking from great bowls and wolfing down meat. Some leaned close together and whispered, while others held forth grandly and laughed aloud.
The moment Wang Chen stepped over the threshold, a wave of heat mingled with the scent of wine and meat rushed straight at his face.
Perhaps this was the very breath of the jianghu!
Old Foreman, clearly familiar with the place, arranged for the caravan men to sit at the tables in a corner of the hall. Only a few empty tables remained there.
Then he called over an inn attendant.
"Master Sun, you're here! Was the journey smooth?"
The inn attendant obviously knew Old Foreman. Smiling warmly, he said, "We slaughtered fresh beef tonight. Would you gentlemen like a few jin to tide you over first?"
"Then bring thirty jin of braised beef first!"
Old Foreman laughed heartily. "And three jars of rice wine. Oh, right, where's your proprietress?"
"The proprietress is in the back kitchen keeping watch!"
The inn attendant winked at him. "There are too many guests today, and even the boss is run off his feet. You'll have to wait a little while for the braised beef. I'll bring over the rice wine and