Liu Cheng took the matter of the Drunken Immortal Tower seriously. The next day, he brought the magistrate, the registrar, the county commandant, and all the other officials there.
Li Yun, the county magistrate, frowned slightly when he saw that their destination was the Drunken Immortal Tower. As the magistrate of a county attached to the prefectural seat, he had a rather miserable time and lacked the usual imposing authority of a county lord, but the places he normally frequented were still fully licensed taverns.
Now that Liu Cheng had invited him to a secondary tavern, he could not help reading something more into it.
Seemingly oblivious, Liu Cheng walked straight into the restaurant and led everyone to a private room. Once they were seated according to rank, they began to chat.
The registrar glanced at Li Yun, then turned to Liu Cheng and asked, "County Vice Magistrate Liu, what made you think of holding a banquet here today?"
"I've grown tired of eating at those same fully licensed taverns. Trying a little place now and then offers a flavor all its own."
Seeing the mysterious look on Liu Cheng's face, Li Yun grew interested too. "What is special about this place?"
"Just a moment, Magistrate. You'll find out shortly." Liu Cheng grinned, keeping them in suspense.
As they spoke, a waiter knocked and asked whether they wanted the dishes served. Once they agreed, the food and wine quickly arrived.
Li Yun glanced at the dishes and said in surprise, "Are these stir-fried dishes?"
"Exactly!" Liu Cheng said with a smile. "When I first saw a restaurant in our county serving stir-fried dishes that are hard to find even in the capital, I was just as surprised as you, Magistrate!"
The registrar beside them interjected, "That goes to show how well the magistrate governs!"
The assembled officials hurriedly nodded and praised him, their flattery filling the air.
Li Yun raised a hand to quiet them, picked up a morsel with his chopsticks, and smiled. "My colleagues, please spare me the flattery. Come, try these stir-fried dishes."
The others picked up their chopsticks too, and after tasting the food, they all praised it endlessly.
"It really does have a flavor all its own!" After taking a bite, Li Yun smiled and said, "We may be officials, but in Dongjing, we ordinarily couldn't afford to dine at Fan Tower. Who would have thought I would get to taste stir-fried dishes here in Gusu today?"
Liu Cheng picked up the wine and poured Li Yun a cup. "Magistrate, you hail from Hebei. Since ancient times, the lands of Yan and Zhao have produced men of bold spirit and stirring, sorrowful song. Why not try this wine too?"
"Oh? What is different about this wine?"
"Strong liquor-none but heroes can drink it!"
At that, Li Yun looked into his cup. The liquor was clear, without a trace of cloudiness. He lifted it and sniffed its rich fragrance, then drained it in one gulp. A line of fire seemed to run from his throat into his belly before rushing straight to his head. He could not help exclaiming, "Excellent wine!"
Hearing this, the others raised their cups too. These local officials were accustomed to rice wine and were not particularly used to liquor with such a high alcohol content, but since the magistrate had praised it, they all followed suit.
Knock... knock...
While they were talking, another knock sounded. When the door opened, the visitor proved to be Wang Gang.
Li Yun smiled. "Yukun, you're here today too! Come, sit down and join us!"
Li Yun naturally knew Wang Gang. His good results in the prefectural examination had reflected well on Li Yun too, as an achievement in fostering learning.
Wang Gang smiled. "I was having a meal with friends. When I heard you were here, Magistrate, I came to pay my respects."
"Haha, then you must try the stir-fried dishes and strong liquor here!"
"There is something you don't know, Magistrate!" Liu Cheng said. "These stir-fried dishes and this liquor were both Yukun's doing!"
Li Yun said in surprise, "Oh! So Yukun is also well versed in the arts of Yi Ya!"
Wang Gang hurriedly waved his hands. "I certainly didn't invent them. I merely picked up the crumbs of my predecessors' wisdom, something I happened across in a book!"
Li Yun asked curiously, "What book contains this method of stir-frying?"
"The Essential Techniques for the Welfare of the People contains a method for stir-frying eggs!"
Li Yun understood at once. He had naturally read the book himself. Looking at Wang Gang approvingly, he said, "That book was written during the Northern Dynasties. Those who have read it are as numerous as carp crossing a river, yet you may be the only one who has gleaned the art of stir-frying from it, Yukun."
"You flatter me, Magistrate! I simply enjoy clever tricks and ingenious contrivances instead of attending to proper pursuits!"
"Why would you say that?"
"The book is useful to shamans, physicians, and craftsmen of every trade, but most of them cannot read, so naturally they cannot understand it. Scholars can understand it, but disdain putting it into practice. I merely happened to gain an advantage."
Everyone found his words amusing and burst into laughter.
"Ah, there still aren't enough people who can read! That is a failure in fostering learning!" After laughing for a moment, Li Yun sighed. "I have served here for nearly two terms and thought I had done a passable job, yet it seems there is still work left unfinished."
Wang Gang's eyes lit up. "Magistrate, are you about to be promoted?"
Li Yun smiled. "It is merely that my review period is over, and I have passed all six assessments!"
"Congratulations on your promotion, Magistrate!" Everyone offered their congratulations.
Wang Gang added, "Magistrate, you will likely enter the ranks of court officials this time. One day, you are sure to have a ceremonial parasol!"
Li Yun waved his hands repeatedly. "It is hardly that easy. If I can advance to a capital-official rank, I'll burn incense and thank the Buddha!"
Then he changed the subject. "Yukun, do you know about the campaign against the bandits on Lake Tai?"
"I have heard a little." The abrupt change of subject left Wang Gang unsure what he meant, so he could only answer hesitantly.
"Master Zhang of Huzhou is overseeing the matter. Would you be willing to join the campaign, Yukun?"
Even more taken aback, Wang Gang could only decline. "I am merely a scholar. How could I possibly fight bandits?"
"I disagree. Leading troops against bandits certainly requires fighting men like us, but it also requires scholars to advise on military affairs! I think Brother Yukun would be very well suited!"
The county commandant spoke up. After receiving word from Lei Kun the previous night, he had been full of admiration for Wang Gang's methods.
He had thought that, with such a deep feud between the two men, they would surely fight until one of them died! Instead, Wang Gang had turned an enemy into a friend and even brought the other man aboard his own boat.
Most important was his composure. He showed none of a young man's impulsiveness. This was a man of substance!
He had spoken up now with the intention of befriending him too.
"You think too highly of me, Commandant! I know nothing of military affairs. How could I dare offer ill-considered advice?" Wang Gang waved his hands repeatedly in refusal. "Making a laughingstock of myself before experts would be a small matter. If I cost officers and soldiers their lives, my guilt would be beyond measure!"
"Give it some more thought, Yukun. This would benefit your future." Li Yun's words carried a lingering significance, and he raised his cup to end the discussion.
Unable to understand, Wang Gang could only offer toast after toast.
After the banquet ended, Wang Gang saw everyone out. Following a few polite exchanges, just as they were about to part, someone suddenly staggered toward them as though drunk. Upon coming close, he stumbled and pitched straight toward Wang Gang.
"Watch out!" Just as Wang Gang reached out to steady him, a woman's sharp cry came from nearby.
Then came a whoosh cutting through the air. The drunk fell to the ground, and a dagger dropped out from inside his clothes.
Wang Gang froze. Someone was trying to kill him!
"Careful, it's an assassin!" The county commandant pulled Wang Gang behind him and examined the drunk.
Coming to his senses, Wang Gang turned to look and discovered that the people who had warned him were two women with their hair wrapped up. Looking closely, he recognized Qin Hongmian and Gan Baobao.
He immediately approached and bowed. "Thank you for saving me, young ladies!"
"Hmph!" Qin Hongmian lifted her chin toward the sky, apparently still angry over what had happened a few days earlier.
"I acted rashly that day!"
Qin Hongmian remained cold-faced and ignored him. Gan Baobao said, "Don't read too much into it. We simply couldn't stand watching a villain commit violence, so we intervened!"
"Your chivalrous hearts and courage command my admiration, young ladies!"
"We also investigated you and learned that you haven't done anything wicked. Even when you indulge your lust for women, you only visit brothels!"
"Indulge my lust for women? What makes you say that, young lady?" Wang Gang was astonished. Someone was ruining his reputation!
Gan Baobao shot him a disdainful sidelong glance. "We saw it ourselves! Can you deny visiting the Spring Breeze Pavilion? And you came out again before very long."
What did she mean, he had come out before very long?
His dignity was at stake, and Wang Gang grew frantic. "D-don't talk nonsense... I did go, but I wasn't..."
"Enough! Why tell him all this?" Qin Hongmian said coldly. "You let us go last time, and we saved you this time. Now we're even!" With that, the two women turned and left.
"Hey! Wait, don't go saying things..." Wang Gang's words tumbled out incoherently.
"What, is there some misunderstanding?"
Wang Gang nodded.
"Those two are quite something! Look at those little waists sway!"
Wang Gang looked over instinctively. They really were! Qin Hongmian's waist was slender enough to encircle with his hands, yet below it flared into a breathtaking curve that made him swallow involuntarily.
Gan Baobao was no less impressive, her whole figure round and lustrous as a fully ripened peach.
"It's fine. Just sweet-talk them a little!"
"Mm, mm? Wait, who are you?"
"Oh, I'm here to kill you!"