Chapter 149: The Wine-Snatching Craze

The customers and attendants inside the shop were completely stunned by the scene before them.

The attendants thought to themselves in sheer disbelief: *Did we hear that right? Are these people asking for bottles instead of jars?*

Though it was just a difference of a single word, the two meant entirely different prices.

Liuzi rolled his eyes and immediately darted inside to find Li Zhengyi.

"Uncle, a whole group of people just arrived at the entrance, and they are all scrambling to buy our wine! They all want the bottled version, asking for one or two hundred bottles right off the bat, and some even said they want to buy out the entire stock!"

Li Zhengyi was currently in the middle of counting how many bottles of wine were left in the storeroom.

Over the past few days, five hundred bottles had been shipped over successively, while the rest remained at the winery. The storeroom here couldn't hold that much wine, and there simply wouldn't be enough space once everything was delivered.

Besides, having five hundred bottles stored right here made Li Zhengyi feel rather anxious, constantly worrying that someone might sneak in and steal the wine.

That was why every few days he would come and count them to make sure none were missing.

Losing just a single bottle meant losing eighty-eight taels of silver! How could he not worry?

Upon hearing Liuzi's words, Li Zhengyi's mind instantly went blank, and he completely forgot what number he had just counted to.

"Really? How many people came?" Li Zhengyi asked excitedly.

"At least ten people, and right now they're completely blocking the doorway," Liuzi replied in a hurry.

Li Zhengyi strode toward the front of the shop—these were all major customers!

Liuzi quickly followed behind, but then Li Zhengyi seemed to remember something and immediately instructed him, "Liuzi, go back to the winery and bring over all the bottled wine stored there."

"If there aren't enough hands, have the workers at the winery lend a hand."

Liuzi nodded vigorously and said, "Got it!"

He prepared to trot outside, but was stopped at the entrance by the people clamoring to buy the wine. "Hey, we want to buy wine!"

"Our shopkeeper has come out and is right over there. If you want to buy bottled wine, go talk to him!" Liuzi said in a loud voice.

Following the direction of Liuzi's outstretched finger, the group of people looked toward Li Zhengyi with eyes gleaming.

Li Zhengyi suddenly felt as though he were being watched by a pack of wolves with glowing green eyes.

Taking advantage of the moment, Liuzi squeezed his way out through a tiny gap on the side.

The other attendants in the shop cast envious glances at Liuzi, thinking how quick-witted the lad was.

While the rest of them were still standing around foolishly, Liuzi had already gone inside to find the master. And by the look of it, he had just been entrusted with a major task.

Li Zhengyi stepped forward and said, "Are you gentlemen here to buy our bottled wine? Please follow me inside so we can discuss it in detail."

He made a polite gesture inviting them in.

***

The group of people straightened their robes and, casting disdainful glances at one another, followed Li Zhengyi deeper into the shop.

Other patrons in the shop grabbed the attendants and asked, "Are they all here to buy the bottled wine? Is that bottled wine really eighty-eight taels a bottle?"

Pulling themselves together, the attendants patiently explained, "Yes, our bottled wine is eighty-eight taels per bottle."

The other customers gasped in unison. Eighty-eight taels a bottle, and people were still fighting over it like this?

Truth be told, they were quite fond of the bottled wine themselves—it was simply a feast for the eyes—it was just a pity the price was so exorbitant.

Yet seeing so many people scramble for it today, they suddenly felt it wasn't quite so expensive after all.

They had all witnessed the group just now, and the fabric of the clothes they wore certainly looked anything like cheap material.

Judging by what they had said, they were here to make purchases on behalf of the young masters and lords of their households.

Things that young masters and lords fought over must undoubtedly be exceptional items, and displaying them outside would surely bring immense prestige.

The wealthier patrons thought to themselves that while they couldn't afford a few hundred bottles, they could barely manage to buy a single one.

"In that case, give me a bottle as well," one of the customers spoke up.

He had been hesitating whether to buy it or not, but seeing so many people competing for it, he instantly made up his mind.

The attendant said in pleasant surprise, "You'd like to buy a bottle?"

"Yes."

The attendant hurriedly retrieved a bottle from the shelf for him.

The customer decisively handed over the bank note to the attendant.

Meanwhile, the group brought inside by Li Zhengyi were all talking over one another, each stating how many bottles they wanted.

When Li Zhengyi tallied up the total quantity they requested, he realized they simply couldn't produce that much.

Third Sister had been right after all: those thousand bottles hastily packaged up were destined to fall short of demand rather than exceed it.

Fortunately, they had all listened to Third Sister; otherwise, they would have missed out on even more silver.

"Here is the situation: as you have all seen, this bottled wine is indeed exquisite. The bottle alone is quite costly, and the brewing process involves numerous intricate steps, making it quite different from ordinary wine. Therefore, we haven't been able to brew a massive quantity."

"At present, our winery only has about a thousand bottles. Any additional supply will have to wait for a while, at least until next month."

"If none of you wish to leave empty-handed, the quantities you are asking for simply cannot be provided."

"Since it wasn't easy for any of you to come all this way, how about this—why don't you discuss it among yourselves to ensure everyone manages to get a share? What do you think?"

Li Zhengyi figured that since he was selling this many bottles of wine anyway, it would be better to distribute them among more people. Turning all of them into repeat customers would be even better.

The group exchanged glances, their eyes practically blazing with competitive fire.

None of them wanted to end up buying the fewest bottles, let alone leave with none at all.

Returning with the smallest share would mean losing face for their respective young masters.

***

When they had set out, their young masters had explicitly instructed them: cost was no object, but the wine had to be secured.

If they returned empty-handed, they wouldn't even dare face their young masters.

After much deliberation, they all agreed to Li Zhengyi's proposal.

There were thirteen of them present, but there were only a thousand bottles of wine in total. By any calculation, no one could get a hundred bottles, let alone two hundred.

"Then let's divide it evenly—seventy-six bottles per person. How does that sound?" one of them suggested.

Everyone felt the number was a bit low, but there was no other choice since the wine shop had no surplus, and none of them wanted to leave empty-handed.

They just wanted to finalize the deal quickly. If they delayed, more people might show up, and by then the share might shrink even further.

"Agreed."

"That works."

"Alright, Shopkeeper, it's settled then. Seventy-six bottles each. Let's sign a contract first."

At that moment, Li Zhengyi spoke up, "Right now there are only five hundred bottles here in the shop. I've already sent someone back to the winery to transport the rest. Do you mind waiting a little while?"

"We don't mind. Let's sign the contract first."

"Yes, sign the contract first."

They were even more anxious to sign the contract than Li Zhengyi was.

Fearing that prolonged delays would lead to complications, everyone cooperated fully, and the contracts were signed without a hitch.

Only after the contracts were finalized did everyone finally breathe a sigh of relief—at least the wine was secured.

Li Zhengyi poured them each a cup of tea and waited with them for the shipment of wine to arrive.

While they were waiting, another attendant dashed inside. "Uncle, a few more people just arrived outside, and they're also here to buy our bottled wine!"

Li Zhengyi thought: *Oh no! We're out of wine!*

The men who had already signed their contracts felt a profound sense of fortune. They leisurely picked up their teacups and took a sip, glad they had arrived just a fraction earlier.

Li Zhengyi stood up and said, "Everyone, please rest and wait here for a moment. I'll go out and take a look."

"Go ahead, Shopkeeper."

They wondered which unlucky fellows had shown up so late—there would simply be no way for them to explain themselves back home. Fortunately, they themselves had managed to snap some up.

When Li Zhengyi stepped outside and saw the travel-weary new arrivals, he offered an apologetic smile and asked, "Are you gentlemen also here to buy our bottled Li family wine?"