At Gao Jinguang's words, Yang Qing straightened his clothes and cap, then asked, "May I ask what Your Honor means by asking this humble commoner about this?"
Gao Jinguang looked at him. "Have you forgotten? Zi City lies directly south of our Northern Liang."
As he spoke, he rose to his feet. "Only the Fen River and North Mountain separate it from Western Chu."
Hearing this, Yang Qing immediately bowed low and offered Gao Jinguang a deep obeisance. "Your Honor, this humble commoner truly does not understand your intent."
"Though my ancestral home is Zi City, it has been several years since I left."
Yang Qing's face turned pale, and his lips began to take on a bluish tinge. "Because I spent too long submerged in the water back then, the physician who treated me concluded that I had only a few years left to live."
At this, Yang Qing smiled faintly. "Even ants cling to life, let alone men. I thought, a man lives but one lifetime, as grass lives but one autumn. Whatever happened, I had to leave something behind in this world, so that my journey through this mortal realm would not be in vain."
"Yet the only skill this humble commoner possesses is the art of brewing wine from Zi City."
"Over these past few years, I have traveled throughout our Northern Liang, observing what flavors of wine my customers preferred and quietly noting them for future use."
Gao Jinguang looked at him again. "If that is so, then let me ask you this: after taking over the Rare Treasures Pavilion, why did you leave it unopened for several months?"
No businessman would do something so foolish, leaving a perfectly good storefront to lie idle instead of opening it to customers.
Hearing this, Yang Qing bowed