Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times

Chapter 1094: Chapter 766: Huadiao Wine and the Guo Family

”Oh no! Don’t hit me! Don’t hit me! Don’t hit me or I’ll start crying!” The little meat bun clutched the soft pillow, dodging left and right inside the carriage.

”How dare you laugh at me! I’ll give you something to laugh about!” Xiao Wu Changyue swung a pillow, crawling after him relentlessly.

”Wuchang, you’re crushing my leg!”

”Young Master, you’re kicking my waist!”

”My mother said, kids don’t have waists! Wah! Don’t hit me!”

”...”

The carriage instantly filled with laughter. Empress Dowager Xiao, who was driving, shook her head with a tolerant smile, her wrinkled face showing affection.

Was this journey to the endpoint really what Gu Changsheng and Zhou Mu worried about—the Northern Mongolian?

Empress Dowager Xiao was a bit skeptical. She always felt that since those two were heading northward, if they reached the desert’s north, they probably wouldn’t stop moving northwest, wouldn’t abandon the person in that coffin, and might explore that far north land people feared!

That place, mysterious and enigmatic, was comparable to the Southern Border and Bashu tribes in significance. The Witch and Gu Tribes had indeed emerged in history, but that place was too mysterious. Unless one was extraordinary, they did not dare to explore!

Though she was extraordinary, she bore the duty of the Liaodong Jin Family’s prosperity or decline, so she never dared set foot there for generations!

She was curious, she yearned, but more than that, she was apprehensive...

...

Xunyang City.

On both sides were buildings full of northern city style. Walking on the streets of Xunyang City, one could hear the constant jingling of bells.

Crisp and pleasant, they danced in the wind.

”It’s the Wind-Welcoming Bells! So many Wind-Welcoming Bells!” Gu Changsheng pointed at a string of bells hanging from a shop’s eaves, exclaiming in delight, ”People say that Liaodong of the Northern Country is the Kingdom of Pearls, where music is everywhere with the wind’s passage. Indeed, it’s true, it seems like people here really love the Wind-Welcoming Bells.”

”Yeah, it’s said the further north you go, the more rugged people become. But I guess Liaodong and Northern Mongolian are quite different. Liaodong people are also rugged and warlike, yet amidst the roughness, there’s delicacy. The national ethos encourages martial training, but civilian life values elegance—it’s a very contradictory yet harmonious realm.” Zhou Mu nodded, watching the carriage ahead pull to a stop and following suit.

Gu Changsheng leaned on the carriage window, admiring the unfamiliar and unique scenery on both sides of the street, and glanced perceptively forward.

Guo Luo’s carriage stopped in front of a place with a big ”Wine” character on its entrance. Gu Changsheng didn’t get off but craned his neck to look that way, only to be stunned.

What on earth is going on here?

It turned out they’d stopped at the end of the street, with no road beyond.

And the street’s end was this entrance with the ”Wine” sign.

A short entrance arch barely supported a stone gateway, with just two words on it: ”Huadiao Wine,” nothing else.

But wasn’t this too rundown!

Compared to the shops seen throughout the street, this entrance was absolutely shabby. The stone and mud-brick facade oozed an ancient aura from every inch! Gu Changsheng felt that this dilapidated facade might just collapse with a gust of the north wind!

”We’ve arrived, my home is right here, this is the family winery, with our residence in the backyard.” Guo Luo first helped Beauty Sai off the carriage, then rushed cheerfully to greet them.

Zhou Mu jumped off the carriage and offered a hand to help Gu Changsheng down.

Now, Gu Changsheng finally got a full view of this winery.

Rundown! Very rundown!

At a glance, it seemed to have quite a bit of history!

It wasn’t much better than the Gu Family Medical Hall she saw upon first arriving in Liuzhou City back then, except the houses here were solidly built. After all these years, they still stubbornly stood!

”Is this your winery? Your home?” Gu Changsheng swallowed hard, struggling to ask.

What on earth is going on here?

Is this the case of wine’s aroma not fearing remote alleyways? A winery hidden at the end of an alley?

But clearly, there wasn’t a single customer in sight at this street’s end—a scene of deserted quietness!

”Yes, this is my home.” Guo Luo answered with a smile, simultaneously having a short-attired boy from the house take the horse, ”Since Wise Brother Shui Mu and the two have arrived at our doorstep, it’s only natural to come inside. Come in, let’s have a look around, I’ll have some fine Huadiao Wine prepared to entertain you.”

Watching someone take the horse and cart, Gu Changsheng turned back to retrieve an inconspicuous little bundle from the carriage, and then sniffed a bit, following behind.

Alright, since they were already at the door, they couldn’t possibly just turn around and leave.

But she was very worried—this Guo Family, could she really procure the funds she needed from such a desolate Guo Family?

The shedkeeper outside the city wouldn’t have tricked her, right? Was the Guo Family actually very poor? Was their foundation not actually wealthy enough?

The more Gu Changsheng thought about it, the more it made sense, especially upon entering that short entrance and standing inside the winery, the feeling grew stronger.

All around was empty. Apart from cupboards and chairs, not a single wine jar was in sight—was this really the storefront of a winery?

Where was the promised Huadiao Wine?

They say good wine needs no bush, huh?

Without any wine, what’s there to be fragrant!

Looking at the empty Guo Family storefront, Gu Changsheng tugged at Zhou Mu’s sleeve with a wounded expression, feeling deeply deceived!

She really wanted to turn around and leave now!

”Where’s my dad?” Guo Luo asked a boy keeping watch as he supported Beauty Sai inside.

”Down below.” The boy replied with a grin.

Gu Changsheng’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.

Asking where the dad is, and the reply is ’down below’?

What kind of nonsense is this?

Isn’t everything down below supposed to be ghosts?

Gu Changsheng suddenly felt a chill and a bit scared!

”Haha, go quickly and call my dad up. We’ve got distinguished guests, tell him to stop what he’s doing and attend to them first!” Guo Luo laughed, lifting the curtain behind the storefront and then remembered to invite Zhou Mu and Gu Changsheng, ”Please, follow me.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Changsheng reluctantly followed along, being led by Zhou Mu.

Since we’re already on the mountain, it’s only right to face the tiger, oh, I mean, to see what’s really happening, right?

Gu Changsheng, led by Zhou Mu, entered as the curtain was lifted and, upon looking up, found the surroundings surprisingly spacious.

The yard was unexpectedly large, and the rows of houses at the back were not very tall but quite simple and solid.

The open area in front turned out to be a large martial arts yard, filled with weapon racks loaded with swords, spears, sabers, halberds, and staffs. In the middle, a few half-grown lads were practicing with swords and staffs, baring their torsos.

Despite no loud sounds, it was quite peaceful, yet lively!

Strangely harmonious.

”This way, please. My father will be out shortly to entertain you,” Guo Luo continued inside with Beauty Sai while pulling along a lad to instruct, ”Quickly, we have guests, tell your sister to tidy up and help her sister-in-law with entertaining, and let Aunt Hua hurry and buy ingredients to prepare a fine meal!”

”Got it!”

The lad practicing martial arts responded and dashed away.

The four of them proceeded into the houses behind the martial training grounds, and Gu Changsheng was quite amazed. She’d come across hidden wealth before, but never seen it hidden so thoroughly, only realizing upon entering the guest lounge that there was more to this place than met the eye.

The guest lounge’s arrangement, although not comparable to the Gu Residence in Liuzhou City, was definitely refined enough for a wealthy family.

Since they were guests, naturally, they awaited the Family Head, and during the wait, a lad from outside served tea. Gu Changsheng sipped intermittently, holding back several times before she couldn’t resist interrupting Zhou Mu and Guo Luo’s conversation, ”Isn’t your family supposed to sell wine? Where’s the wine?”

Not even a hint of wine fragrance was present, let alone any wine.

”Wine? It’s down below!” Guo Luo replied matter-of-factly.

”Below? Why does your family keep everything down below?” Earlier, his dad was also down below!

The Guo Family’s below really seems to have it all!

”Haha! There’s something you don’t know, my family’s brewing pool and wine cellars are all below ground; this above is merely a living space.”

”What about the wine buyers? I haven’t seen any wine buyers!” Gu Changsheng tilted her head, looking at the bearded Guo Luo. This man had a rugged appearance, somewhat mismatched with the alluring Beauty Sai.

However, compatibility isn’t just about looks; at least this man truly cared for Beauty Sai. During their half-day together, Gu Changsheng observed that he treated her with utmost caution, as if holding a delicate treasure.

”Haha! You’re welcomed as esteemed visitors, sorry for the late greeting, esteemed guests, please don’t mind!”

Just as Guo Luo was about to answer, a hearty laughter echoed from outside, though the person hadn’t yet entered, a refreshing and pleasant wine fragrance drifted in!

Indeed, there’s wine!

Gu Changsheng’s eyes widened in surprise, and the wine’s fragrance far surpassed any wine she’d tasted in this world!

In the blink of an eye, a slender old man wearing a cloak scurried in from outside.

His swift pace made Gu Changsheng sense wine fragrance sweeping past her, and the old man had already dashed to Beauty Sai’s side, exclaiming heartily!

”Daughter-in-law! You’ve worried dad sick, how many days has it been? Ah? You’ve taken my precious daughter-in-law away for so many days? I’ve missed you terribly, missed you to death!” Elder Guo showed no concern for gender propriety, scrutinizing his daughter-in-law enthusiastically, then gently patted Beauty Sai’s belly, his sharp old eyes narrowed, ”Ah, my little grandchild! You’re finally back! You’ve made grandpa miss you terribly, miss you terribly! You’ve caused me to lose appetite and waste away for you!”

”Pfft!” Gu Changsheng couldn’t hold back her laughter at this.

She had truly never seen such a carefree father-in-law; the ancient gender proprieties seemed entirely ignored here!

These words were quite comical!

His persistent hand rubbing the belly was even more amusing!