The middle-aged man at the head of the table had a round, prosperous face and a perpetual smile.
"Young Fate Arts Master, Lord Li Qingxian," Lou Yushan said with a smile.
The four hurriedly rose to their feet, their chairs scraping backward with a piercing shriek.
"We have long admired you!" The four clasped their fists in unison.
The two walked to the table. Lou Yushan smiled as he introduced them to Li Qingxian. "This is Lord Duan Qing, chief of the Finance Section in our Artifacts Office. And this gentleman is..."
Lou Yushan introduced the four one by one, and Li Qingxian greeted each in turn.
Aside from Duan Qing, who was a Principal Seventh Rank official, the rest were either Eighth or Ninth Rank, all thoroughly respectful.
Duan Qing said with a beaming smile, "Lord Li truly cuts a splendid figure. When Xiaoshan dragged you in just now, I thought you were some young master from a duke's or marquis's manor. Please, take the seat of honor."
With that, Duan Qing vacated his own seat.
Li Qingxian calmly declined. "Lord Duan, you are too courteous. I heard from Young Master Lou that you were here, so I came especially to offer you a drink. How could I possibly take the host's seat? I absolutely cannot."
After a few more polite exchanges, they sat down, and fresh bowls and chopsticks were brought over.
Li Qingxian knew many people from the Ministry of Works' Artifacts Office, but these men were all from its Finance Section, and he had never dealt with them before.
Their only point of contact was the distillery. After some brief pleasantries, the topic shifted to the distillery.
The distillery would bring the Ministry of Works at least one hundred thousand taels of revenue each year in