Chapter Seventy-Five The Innkeeper’s Wife

The heated quarrel between the inn attendant and the county guard was abruptly silenced by a single shout. When the inn attendant saw the large silver ingot raised high in Qi Jun’s hand, his eyes instantly gleamed with greed.

"Oh... my, what a misunderstanding! Sir, why didn't you say so earlier?" The arrogance on the attendant's face vanished at once, replaced by a servile smile.

"I’ve barely stood here a moment and you pounce on me like a dog! I—" Qi Jun struck the attendant’s head with the silver ingot. Having bumped along the road from Anqiang County to Ding'an Commandery in a rickety carriage, Qi Jun was already exhausted and famished. Who would have thought that, upon arriving at the inn, he’d be met with such a cold reception for no reason?

A fire already smoldered in his chest, and the sight of the attendant’s groveling only stoked his anger.

"Ouch! It was my fault..." Tears welled in the attendant’s eyes from the blow, but he dared not retaliate or protest, only clutching his head and bowing repeatedly in apology.

"Let’s go! Ding'an is a big city—I refuse to believe this is the only inn in town!" Qi Jun shot him a glare and turned to call the county guard to drive the carriage away.

Seeing Qi Jun about to leave, the attendant panicked. It dawned on him that this plainly dressed scholar, who had so casually produced such a hefty ingot, was not someone to be trifled with. If he let this man go, not only would he suffer his employer’s wrath, he might well lose his livelihood.

"Sir, I admit my fault! I’ll punish myself!" Desperate, the attendant threw himself at Qi Jun’s legs, clinging to them and wailing to keep him from leaving.

"Your inn is no place for a poor beggar like me! What if I disturb your other guests?" Qi Jun looked down and sneered, mocking the attendant in his own tone.

"Sir, don’t say that! I was blind to your worth. You’re an honored guest here! If you’re still angry, you may strike me with the silver again!" The attendant closed his eyes, bracing himself for another blow.

Qi Jun had truly been enraged before, but seeing the attendant’s abject humility, he found it impossible to strike him again.

He glanced at the county guard, who looked back at him with a guilty expression. Qi Jun’s stomach growled audibly, and he lost all will to continue the dispute.

Dressed as he was, he reckoned the fancier inns of the city would be filled with attendants just as snobbish.

"Enough. Go prepare some food and a room. I’ll remember you, and settle this with you later!" Qi Jun pocketed the silver with a sullen kick at the attendant by his feet.

"Right away, sir! Please, come inside! And you must try our renowned Drunken West Wind—one sip and you'll never forget it! I’ll have a private room prepared and the best chamber upstairs made ready for you at once..." The attendant quickly wiped his tears, scrambled to his feet, and ignored the scornful looks from the onlookers as he led Qi Jun and the county guard inside.

"That fellow is certainly shameless," the county guard muttered to Qi Jun, while the attendant, pretending not to hear, continued smiling as he led them to the main hall.

"Two esteemed guests, a pot of our finest tea!" The attendant called to the front counter as he seated them in a quiet corner, drew the screen, bowed, and hurried upstairs.

Shortly after the attendant left, a woman brought a small jar of wine into their private room. Though she appeared to be in her thirties, she carried herself with a captivating charm that only maturity could bestow.

"Madam, you must have made a mistake. We didn’t order wine..." The county guard, catching the rich aroma, realized the wine was expensive and quickly tried to prevent Qi Jun from being overcharged.

Qi Jun recalled how, in the modern era, bars often used attractive women to coax patrons into buying exorbitant drinks under the pretense of sharing a meal—a scam not unheard of even in ancient times.

Though he now had money, the spoils taken from bandits were not inexhaustible. He needed to spend wisely, and being wealthy didn’t mean he was a fool to be fleeced.

There is a saying: "Wealth should not be flaunted." He had already been forced to display his silver before the attendant and many witnesses; now, he had to be even more cautious.

"Madam, you must be mistaken. We’re not drinking today." Qi Jun gently pushed the wine jar back toward her. "Just bring us a few of your specialty dishes, if you please."

But the woman only smiled at him, picked up a bowl, unsealed the jar, poured herself a drink, and downed it in front of Qi Jun.

Wiping the wine from her lips, she showed him the empty bowl. "Young man, this is no den of thieves. You can rest easy. My attendant wronged you earlier—let this wine be my apology."

With that, she perched on the edge of the table, placed a hand on Qi Jun’s shoulder with a hint of intimacy, and filled a bowl for him. "Young man, Drunken West Wind is famous throughout the northwest. Surely you’d like to try a taste?"

The woman’s close proximity, her perfume mingling with the wine’s heady aroma, left Qi Jun feeling dazed and unsteady. He had never been so near a strange woman before; his face flushed with heat, his heart raced, and he instinctively scooted further into the seat, away from her touch.

"Why so flustered, young man? Afraid I’ll eat you up?" The woman laughed behind her hand at his embarrassment.

Qi Jun shook his head, willing himself to clear his mind, then looked at her, and—almost as if in a contest of wills—took the bowl from her and downed the fiery liquor in one gulp.

The wine was smooth and mellow, fragrant and rich, falling short of the spirits he’d tasted in later times but, for this era, a truly fine brew.

"You hold your liquor well, young man. This meal is on me; please, enjoy it with your companion." The woman smiled teasingly, patting Qi Jun’s shoulder before letting her slender arm glide from him. With a sultry glance, she turned and left.

"The proprietress of Drunken Spring Inn is truly intoxicating," the county guard sighed in infatuation, gazing after her.

Qi Jun shook off his daze, realizing that the woman possessed an alluring charm that could bewitch even the most steadfast of men.

The food at Drunken Spring Inn was indeed exquisite. The two of them ate heartily, and after their fill, drowsiness overcame Qi Jun.

"Sir, I have a brother here in the city—I’ll go stay with him tonight. I’ll come fetch you early in the morning," said the county guard gratefully, rising to bow. "Thank you for this meal, sir. If ever you need Ma San’s help, just ask."

"It was only a meal. If anything, I should be the one thanking you for your hard work driving all this way." Qi Jun waved his hand dismissively and placed a silver ingot on the table. "You shouldn’t visit your brother empty-handed—go buy a jar of wine, consider it my thanks for your help."

"Sir! I couldn’t possibly—" Ma San hesitated, stepping back and trying to refuse.

"Take it. This meal was courtesy of the proprietress, but the wine is my sincere gift to you," Qi Jun insisted, pressing the silver into his hand.

Ma San wanted to protest further, but, seeing the silver in his palm, he finally accepted. With reddened eyes, he bowed deeply to Qi Jun, then went to the counter to buy a jar of Drunken West Wind. Returning, he placed the change on the table beside Qi Jun and departed.

Qi Jun had only meant to thank the county guard Ma San for his trouble in bringing him to the city, unaware that this meal and a jar of wine would one day inspire Ma San to risk his life in gratitude.