Iron Dynasty Chapter 31: A Grand Gift

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“Yes, Your Highness. Following the Qin family’s ship is naturally no problem. This perfume is more important than this humble servant’s life,” Li San responded with a knowing grin.

“Such a glib tongue,” Xiao Ming remarked, shooting a glare at Li San, though he secretly approved of the man’s wit. In his opinion, a prosperous household, or even a princely estate, required a diverse array of individuals. There were those who labored diligently in quiet obscurity, and then there were the smooth talkers, capable of navigating situations that demanded a different kind of skill.

The following day saw Xiao Ming making his way to the Qin family’s estate.

Even though the four prominent families had their commercial ventures scattered across various regions of Qingzhou, each maintained a primary residence within the city itself. Furthermore, Xiao Ming was aware that these families also possessed considerable assets in other provinces.

Xiao Ming’s unexpected arrival caught the Qin family off guard. He had, in the past, frequented the Wang family’s residence far more often. It was uncommon for him to visit the Qin estate of his own accord.

“Your Highness’s presence graces the Qin family with immense honor,” Qin Chuanyun proclaimed, leading his kin to greet Xiao Ming upon receiving word from a servant. Qin Mu was also present among them.

While the Qin family’s courtyard, complete with its meticulously arranged gardens and rock formations, was not without its grandeur, it was notably smaller in scale compared to the sprawling Qi Prince’s estate.

As he stepped inside, Xiao Ming addressed Qin Chuanyun, “Master Qin, such formalities are unnecessary. My visit today is to convey my sincere gratitude to the Qin family for procuring such exquisite spices on my behalf.”

Qin Chuanyun was still somewhat taken aback. Among the four great families of Qingzhou, the Wang family held the premier position, with the Qin family ranking just slightly below. In his assessment, this disparity was largely due to the perceived favoritism shown by the Qi Prince towards the Wang family. Despite Qin Mu’s previous attempts to curry favor with Xiao Ming, those efforts had not yielded significant results.

Nonetheless, Qin Chuanyun harbored a strong desire to win Xiao Ming’s favor. The prince’s personal visit to the Qin family, particularly in the wake of the recent incident involving Zhang Liang, eased some of his anxieties.

“Your Highness, you are far too kind. It is indeed an honor for the Qin family to be of service to you,” Qin Chuanyun replied, escorting Xiao Ming towards the main hall.

Xiao Ming gestured for Qin Chuanyun to be seated alongside him, then stated, “Nevertheless, it was Master Qin who extended crucial assistance to me during times of considerable difficulty.”

After a brief pause, Xiao Ming continued, “It is precisely for this reason that I have come today—to reciprocate Master Qin’s kindness.”

Qin Chuanyun’s spirits lifted considerably, yet as a man of experience, he maintained a composed demeanor. “Your Highness, your generosity knows no bounds.”

Qin Mu, standing nearby, offered a satisfied smile. Following the earlier misstep that had put him in Xiao Ming’s disfavor, it now appeared his standing had been fully restored.

“Let us dispense with further pleasantries. Li San, present it,” Xiao Ming instructed Li San, who had accompanied him.

Upon their arrival, Qin Chuanyun had observed the wine jar carried by Li San. Now, as Li San carefully placed the vessel upon the table, Qin Chuanyun inquired, “Your Highness, if it is fine wine you desire, the Qin residence is well-stocked. There was hardly a need for you to bring your own.”

“Master Qin, how can you be so certain this wine is comparable to what you possess within your estate without first indulging in a taste?” Xiao Ming countered.

“Oh? Does Your Highness’s wine possess some unique distinction?” Qin Chuanyun inquired further.

Xiao Ming subtly signaled to Li San, who proceeded to pour a bowl of clear spirit and offer it to Qin Chuanyun.

Within the Great Yu Empire, green ant wine was not the sole variety available. During his sojourn in Chang’an, Xiao Ming had encountered pure liquor, though its alcohol content was relatively low, akin to modern-day beer. Spirits with a higher proof were a rarity, which instilled Xiao Ming with confidence that the distilled wine he had crafted would be acclaimed as a superior vintage.

His creation was not exceedingly potent, yet it boasted an alcohol content hovering around 38 percent.

As the liquor was being poured, an intoxicating aroma permeated the air. Qin Chuanyun, having traveled extensively for his business dealings and sampled many of the Great Yu Kingdom’s most esteemed vintages, found this scent utterly novel.

He took a delicate sip and immediately declared with evident delight, “An exceptional wine!”

Xiao Ming responded with a knowing smile and a nod. The common wines of the Great Yu Kingdom were typically characterized by their low alcohol content and a lack of complex flavor profiles, a deficiency that had propelled distilled spirits to supersede traditional low-alcohol wines in contemporary times.

“Father, allow me a taste as well,” Qin Mu interjected, his throat dry. Among the noble circles of the Great Yu Kingdom, the consumption of alcohol was a prevalent pastime and one of the scarce forms of available recreation. After all, achieving intoxication served as a means of passing the time, particularly during prolonged stretches of uneventful evenings.

Upon sampling the liquor, Qin Mu’s expression mirrored that of his father. He then posited, “Your Highness, this must surely be imperial wine, directly from the palace, is it not?”

“Brother Qin, you are mistaken this time. Much like the coal stove, this is a skill I have acquired. Today, my servants brewed it for me, and I brought it here to share with Master Qin.”

Qin Chuanyun and Qin Mu exchanged glances, their astonishment evident. “Such exquisite wine is also a creation of Your Highness?”

Xiao Ming nodded. “Indeed. Thus, similar to the coal stove, I thought of your Qin family first. What do you believe the profits would be if this wine were to be sold in Chang’an?”

A surge of joy filled Qin Chuanyun and Qin Mu. So, this was the “repayment” the prince had spoken of. Qin Chuanyun stated, “Chang’an is teeming with nobles and affluent families. This wine would undoubtedly be a popular commodity.”

“Does this gift meet with your approval?” Xiao Ming inquired with a smile.

“Immensely!” Qin Chuanyun responded, his excitement palpable. “However, Your Highness, what is the name of this wine, and what will be the price per jar when it is sold to the Qin family?”

After a brief period of contemplation, Xiao Ming declared, “Let us christen it ‘Drunken Qingzhou.’ The most esteemed daughter’s wine in Chang’an commands a price of twenty taels per jar. I shall offer it to the Qin family for fifteen taels per jar. What are your thoughts on this proposition?”

“That is exceedingly generous,” Qin Chuanyun expressed with delight.

The potential for the sale of Drunken Qingzhou in Chang’an promised a price point a few taels higher than that of daughter’s wine. Transporting a hundred jars at a time would result in a profit of five hundred taels per journey, representing a far more lucrative venture than the trade of other commodities.

“Then it is settled,” Xiao Ming announced.

He had chosen the name “Drunken Qingzhou” for the liquor to generate a significant stir. Qingzhou, situated far from the imperial center of the Great Yu Kingdom, was frequently overlooked. By linking the wine to Qingzhou, he harbored aspirations of drawing merchants and investors to the region.

After all, his own fiefdom was impoverished, and this represented one strategy to invigorate its economy.

Qin Chuanyun and Qin Mu were visibly thrilled.

At this juncture, Li San cast a meaningful glance toward Xiao Ming, a subtle reminder of an impending matter. Xiao Ming then remarked, “Speaking of which, I require Li San to accompany your merchant vessel to Chang’an to deliver certain items to my mother. Would this arrangement be feasible?”

Qin Chuanyun, still buoyed by his elation, replied, “Your Highness, that is a minor concern. Should you be able to provide a consignment of this remarkable wine, I can arrange for a merchant ship to set sail for Chang’an without delay.”

“That may prove challenging at present. My estate currently possesses only ten jars of Drunken Qingzhou. However, if Master Qin would be amenable to acquiring all the rice wine available in Qingzhou’s marketplace and delivering it to my estate, I could expedite the production of one hundred jars within a three-day span,” Xiao Ming proposed.

The acquisition of rice wine would necessitate a substantial expenditure, and Xiao Ming had no intention of bearing the costs himself.

Qin Chuanyun’s eyes sparkled as he emphatically struck the table. “Your Highness, that too is a simple matter. I shall dispatch my son to procure the rice wine tomorrow.”

Xiao Ming conveyed his assent with a nod.