Chapter 119: The Double Ninth Festival Gathering

Early on the morning of the fifth day of the ninth lunar month, the infectious melody of the "Erlang Liquor God Song" echoed throughout Taiping Town.

Today was the day of the Erlang Liquor trade fair. There was a specific strategy behind scheduling it in the ninth month: first, the weather was cooling down, signaling the start of the peak liquor-drinking season; second, merchants tended to stockpile goods at this time to maximize their profits by the end of the year; and third, as the dry season arrived, the Chishui River became just navigable enough for traffic.

Considering all these factors, the proprietress had set the date for today and had even spent heavily to book the town's largest restaurant, the Hongyun Pavilion.

She had led her team to set up the venue immediately after closing last night, working through the entire night and finishing just before dawn. After stealing less than an hour of sleep back at the shop, she had risen, groomed herself, and appeared at the Hongyun Pavilion, bright and energetic.

"Sister-in-law, why not rest a bit more?" Su Youjin had also arrived early to keep watch; he needed to ensure no one caused trouble. He wasn't wearing his official commander’s robes, but rather a brand-new black silk Liuhe hat. His green silk robe was impeccably pressed, the soft sheen of the fabric flowing along the folds in the morning sun. Though not the finest material, few in this era could afford to wear such silk.

The imperial court prohibited merchants and commoners from wearing silk, regardless of their wealth. As social order had not yet collapsed, few dared to openly defy the decree. Thus, the eldest brother’s attire clearly signaled his status as an official.

"I couldn't sleep, so I came early to keep an eye on things," the proprietress replied, her voice raspy. Her gaze, however, drifted involuntarily toward Su Youcai, who was busy writing.

Although the second brother could not wear silk, his appearance was far superior to the eldest’s. Wearing a black gauze headpiece and a lake-green Songjiang cloth Daoist robe, topped with a dark blue vest, he looked dashing. The outfit the proprietress had chosen for him was no cheaper than the eldest brother’s. As they say, clothes make the man; he appeared as fair as jade, possessing the handsome charm of a man in his twenties combined with the sophisticated allure of a mature adult.

Sensing the familiar, burning gaze, Su Youcai looked up and caught the proprietress’s eyes. He flashed a charming smile, then lifted a thick brush to write bold, powerful characters on the red, gold-flecked display board on the right:

"Chrysanthemum Viewing at Double Ninth!"

"Second Brother’s calligraphy is truly impressive." The third brother, Su Youma, naturally couldn't resist joining the excitement. He shared similar features with Youcai and was dressed with equal flair. However, his demeanor was somewhat frivolous, his constant joking making him popular with young girls but lacking the steady, melancholic, poetic depth of Su Youcai, which so often stirred the hearts of young wives.

"It doesn't quite feel like a trade fair, though; it feels more like a gathering of scholars," he remarked, glancing at Su Youcai’s work.

"What's the rush?" Su Youcai moved to the other gold-flecked board and wrote four more characters:

"The Erlang Grand Assembly."

"The Erlang Grand Assembly! A gathering of guests for Erlang Liquor! Ha, that’s better!" The youngest brother certainly had a unique talent for creating emotional value. "And 'Grand Assembly' sounds like 'Great Success'! A great start for Erlang Liquor—a good omen!"

"Heh," Su Youcai finally set down his brush and asked, "What brings you here, Third Brother?"

"What kind of question is that? Have I ever missed a family affair?" Su Youma laughed. "Besides, I’m a VIP today!" He pulled a gold-embossed invitation from his sleeve and showed it to Su Youcai. "Speak to this gentleman with some respect today!"

"Respect? I'll show you respect with this brush!" Su Youcai made a gesture as if to flick ink at him.

"Don't! I don't have a spare change of clothes." Su Youma laughed and ducked into the restaurant, only to stop in his tracks, stunned.

Inside the hall, strings of colorful lanterns hung at varying heights. They were crafted with bamboo frames and covered in vibrant silk, resembling strings of shimmering pearls. Adorning them were famous verses related to wine, such as:

"When life is at its peak, one must enjoy it to the fullest; do not let the golden chalice face the moon in vain."
"In the daylight, sing and drink freely; let youth accompany you on the journey home."
"When will the bright moon appear? I raise my cup and ask the blue sky."

The poetry-laden lanterns and the various chrysanthemums on the tables complemented each other, lending the venue an air of great elegance.

"The proprietress has done a fantastic job with the decorations," Su Youma exclaimed to the eldest brother. "I haven't even seen a venue this high-class in the county seat!"

"What kind of venues have you been frequenting?" the eldest brother asked, catching the implication.

"I don't have the money for that; I just look," Su Youma quickly changed the subject. "Tell me, why don't our wives have this kind of taste?"

"Complain about your own wife, but leave your sister-in-law out of it," the eldest brother retorted with a glare. "An elder brother's wife is like a mother; she is half a mother to you!"

"Haha, exactly! Anyone who dares to gossip behind her back will have us to answer to!" The voice of Brother Qiu rang out from the second floor.

The youngest brother looked up to see Su Lu busy arranging flower pots. Su Man and Su Tai were also there. Brother Chun remained as graceful and refined as ever, though he seemed a bit more mellow—perhaps worn down by his mischievous students. Brother Xia had grown thinner, making his eyes appear larger. He remained composed, but his months of experience as the second workshop manager had given him a newfound confidence and maturity.

However, the most significant change was in Brother Qiu. Within a year, he had been transformed from head to toe. He had grown taller, nearly reaching Brother Xia’s height, and his entire temperament had undergone a radical shift. He possessed Brother Chun’s elegant vitality, Brother Xia’s steady maturity, and a vibrant, confident radiance all his own.

"It’s wonderful," Su Youma sighed. "The Su family is truly thriving."

"You’re only just realizing that?" Su Youjin laughed proudly. "We’ve known it for a long time!"

"Big Brother is teasing me again..." Su Youma muttered with a wry smile. Having missed the most important period of development, he realized he had lost a great deal.

...

At the midpoint of the Mao hour (around 6:00 AM), the men and women of the Su clan set out together, carrying twenty thousand catties of Erlang Liquor, marching in a grand procession from Erlang Beach!

Today was the day that would decide the fate of the Su Family Distillery and the entire clan!

For months, the whole clan had been united in their efforts to brew Erlang Liquor. Su Daji had not only suspended all wages but had also bought grain on credit from every household. The clan had poured every ounce of their strength into the work, squeezing out the very last drop to produce forty thousand catties of liquor.

But even the finest fragrance fears a deep alley. No matter how good the liquor was, it was useless if it couldn't be sold! Whether the distillery could be brought back from the brink depended entirely on today.

Although the Chishui River was not entirely impassable during this season—at least for a few dozen miles upstream and downstream of Taiping Town, where careful navigation was possible—the stretch from Erlang Beach to the town was considered a treacherous rapid. Boats could barely make the trip, but it would cost extra.

To save money and out of fear that their precious liquor—which carried all their hopes—might suffer the slightest mishap, the clan members decided to carry it to town using shoulder poles!

Fortunately, when there was no work at the distillery, they made their living carrying salt in the mountains. The men could carry over a hundred catties, and the women could manage seventy or eighty. Two hundred people had walked ten miles, carrying those twenty thousand catties of liquor into town without breaking a single jar.

Su Tai, who had also carried two hundred catties, had arrived half an hour earlier. As the second-in-command of the distillery, he had to be there to ensure everything was perfect. Seeing the main group arrive, he hurried to direct the clansmen to stack the jars neatly in front of the restaurant.

Two sturdy wooden frames had been prepared there, and as the jars were placed upon them, they formed two spectacular "mountains" of liquor!

The clansmen were deeply anxious about the day's outcome, but they were disciplined enough not to enter the venue, choosing instead to stand guard outside, leaning on their carrying poles to protect the two "liquor mountains."

The three elders of the Su clan also arrived with the group. Su Daxiang and Su Daji walked into the venue with Su Dacheng sandwiched between them. The old man, dragged along by the clan leader and the head manager, looked reluctant even as they reached the entrance, grumbling, "Why am I here to cause trouble? I can't help with anything."

"Master Ma specially invited you; wouldn't it be rude not to come?" Su Daji gripped the old man’s arm tightly, as if afraid he might bolt.

"This is a grand event organized by your children and grandchildren. Wouldn't it be a regret not to see it with your own eyes?" The clan leader held his other arm.

Since being relieved of his duties, this was the first time the stubborn old man had left Erlang Beach. If they didn't hold onto him like this, he really might have turned back.

"Sigh..." the old man let out a long sigh. "Of course I want to see it, but I don't want to be seen by others."

"Why? You're not a young lady in a boudoir—why the shyness?" Su Daji teased.

"Sigh, you know why. Back in the day, that man surnamed Ma vied with me for the deputy commander position, and now he is a commander. And my former subordinates have all become prominent figures. Why should I see them now? To flatter them?" the old man replied indignantly.

"Haha, Sixth Brother, you're overthinking it. Nowadays, others are envious of you," Su Daji laughed and shook his head.

"That's right. Before sixty, one relies on their ancestors; after sixty, one looks to their descendants," Su Daxiang added with a smile. "That your children and grandchildren are capable is worth more than anything."

With that, the two men pulled Su Dacheng inside.

...

At the midpoint of the Chen hour (around 8:00 AM), guests from all walks of life followed the infectious "Erlang Liquor God Song" and began to arrive.

Every single one of them was stunned by the magnificent scene!

In front of the restaurant stood a thirty-foot-high green bamboo pole, from which a massive red silk banner hung, inscribed with four large characters: "Erlang’s Fine Brew." Beneath them were four smaller characters: "Inscribed by Lu Zhaoye!"

The average person might not know who Lu Zhaoye was, but among these merchants who traveled the country, who didn't know the name of Magistrate Lu? To scholars, Lu Zhaoye might not be much, but to merchants, he was the local official who held their livelihoods in his hands.

"I had no idea Erlang Liquor had such influence; they actually got the Magistrate to write the banner," the merchants remarked, looking up at the flag, suddenly realizing they had underestimated their hosts.

Looking at the entrance, on either side of the "Chrysanthemum Viewing at Double Ninth" and "Erlang Grand Assembly" signboards, were two colorful pavilions piled high with jars of liquor. The jars were wrapped in green bamboo strips and labeled with red paper reading "Erlang’s Fine Brew!"

The sheer impact of the liquor mountains, composed of hundreds, if not thousands, of jars, was overwhelming! It felt as though one had entered a world dedicated entirely to wine.

Along the sides of the path, besides the men holding liquor jars and singing the wine god songs, there were two rows of young women greeting the guests. With delicate hands, they held white porcelain cups, smiling and offering welcome drinks to the guests.

The merchants had never seen such a display. They felt honored as VIPs, so surprised and flattered that they didn't know where to put their hands. Those who had originally intended to just stop by for a look now dared not underestimate the Erlang Liquor brand!

"It seems I must order at least two jars; it would be rude to refuse such a warm reception," the merchants whispered to each other, not even daring to speak too loudly in such a sophisticated environment.

Without realizing it, they had already been completely won over by the imposing and impressive aura of Erlang Liquor!