"Victory at the frontier! General of the Northern Expedition Lan Ying has routed the Tartars' Uriyangqad Tribe, taking thirty thousand heads..."
Beneath the bright sunshine of the Grain in Ear season, a mounted messenger galloped through Luting County, his jubilant cries drawing countless townsfolk to crowd along the streets.
Wherever the messenger went.
Cheers followed.
Shopkeeper Liu waited outside the inn. After watching the messenger gallop past, he strode back inside and announced with generous gusto, "Lad, bring out the wine! This round's on me!"
Yang Ge stood behind the counter, smiling too. At those words, he lifted his brush and called, "Right you are! Ten catties of three-year-aged Bottle-Penetrating Fragrance, courtesy of our old shopkeeper... Erniu, serve the wine!"
"Well, Yang Ge, look at you robbing the rich to feed the poor!"
Shopkeeper Liu laughed and scolded him loudly, without the slightest hint of displeasure. He even turned to urge Zhang Erniu, who stood nearby watching his expression. "What are you dawdling for? Serve the wine! Afraid I can't afford it?"
The regulars returning from watching the excitement outside all burst into laughter.
"Our old shopkeeper knows how to treat people!"
"Why else would his business be the biggest of all the inns and taverns in Road Pavilion? None of the others can match that generous spirit!"
"The lad's generous too, and quite the expert at squeezing his old employer..."
"A great victory for the Royal Army calls for a couple of drinks! Ah, I'll break my rule today and get a little tipsy..."
"Hahaha! You said the same thing last time your old sow had piglets..."
The inn brimmed with merriment.
Standing before the counter, Shopkeeper Liu grinned until his eyes disappeared and repeatedly cupped his hands. "This is wonderful news! I'm only a little man with little