The innkeeper, Su Guangju, brought over the freshly stewed free-range chicken. Before Hu Xiaotian and his servant had even lifted their chopsticks, its enticing aroma alone had them drooling. Hu Xiaotian called out, "Innkeeper Su, join us for a couple of drinks!" He was not merely being polite. Having just arrived in Azure Cloud County, where he knew neither the people nor the place, he was eager to find an opening through which to learn about the local situation.
Su Guangju smiled. "No hurry, no hurry. There are still three dishes to finish. Once they're ready, I'll certainly come over and toast Young Master Hu."
Hu Xiaotian said, "Sit down and have a couple of drinks first!"
Unable to resist his warm invitation, Su Guangju exchanged a few polite words and sat down. He and his wife had always run the Good Fortune Inn by themselves. Azure Cloud County was remote, with few traveling merchants or tourists passing through, so the inn barely managed to stay afloat. At present, Hu Xiaotian and his two companions were its only guests.
Liang Dazhuang helped fill the cups. After bathing, Murong Feiyan had changed into a blue martial outfit and looked full of heroic vigor. She sat down beside Hu Xiaotian and smiled. "Sorry to have kept everyone waiting."
Hu Xiaotian smiled. "I always have patience for beautiful women."
Murong Feiyan rolled her eyes at him, then raised her cup. "After all those hardships, we've finally reached Azure Cloud. Let's drink to that." Everyone joined in, downing three cups in succession before stopping. The wine was rice wine Su Guangju had brewed himself, clear golden-yellow in color, sweet on the tongue, and mellow and fragrant. Hu Xiaotian praised it endlessly and asked where it came from.
Su Guangju smiled. "I brewed this rice