Clear, fragrant liquor kept dripping from the iron pipe. Wu Xuantian caught a small cupful and handed it to Li Mochou. "Mochou, try it. This liquor is strong, so sip it slowly!"
Li Mochou took the cup. Though she rarely drank, the enticing aroma made her eager to taste it. Remembering Wu Xuantian's warning, she took only a tiny sip. Her eyes widened, then slowly closed as a flush spread across her fair cheeks. After savoring it for a while, she opened her eyes and said, "It really is much stronger than the wine we've had before!"
Wu Xuantian chuckled. "Of course. Distillation removes the impurities from ordinary wine and makes it far more potent!"
"Welcome back, sir! Come on in. What'll it be today? We've got fresh perch straight from the lake. How about one to go with your wine?" Wu Xuantian had barely stepped into the Drunken Immortal Tower carrying two jars of his distilled liquor when the waiter who had served him last time spotted him and hurried over.
"It's you!" Wu Xuantian smiled at the familiar face. "Food can wait. Take me to your manager."
The waiter's eyes lit up. "Have you come to sell wine, sir?"
"Hm? How did you know?" Wu Xuantian asked, surprised.
The waiter explained with a smile, "Word of the wonderful wine at Red Cloud Manor has spread all through Jiaxing. Others might not know you own the place, sir, but I do. We have plenty of customers here, and you've brought wine with you today, so I took a guess. Forgive me if I've presumed too much!"
"I see." Wu Xuantian smiled. "Take me to your manager."
"Right this way, sir!"
The waiter led Wu Xuantian to the front counter. The manager of the Drunken Immortal Tower was a