Chapter 2747: Chapter 968: The Wine Has Turned Sour
"——Amarone, in Italian, is also known as ’strong bitterness.’ Like the ancient holy wine of Rome, it’s made using the drying method. The body is rich with intense aromas of dried fruits and raisins. Though it doesn’t come across as astringent when tasted, it also lacks the sweet fragrance of Bordeaux or Nebbiolo; it’s a wine of great charm."
"But I’ve always felt that the real charm of a wine doesn’t lie in its taste. The quality of a wine depends more on its origin and age... Whether it’s suitable for you depends on how well it aligns with the atmosphere and mood when you drink it."
"Like this Amarone, I find its more captivating aspect lies in its history and origin..."
Zheng Qing followed Andrew into his office, listening to his endless talk about wine, watching as two glasses clinked as they flew out of the cabinet and landed steadily on the desk.
The office host tore off the paper bag in his hand, revealing a slender-necked wine bottle.
The cork popped.
The crimson liquid was poured into a glass.
Just as Andrew was about to pour wine into the glass in front of Zheng Qing, the young man timely intervened to prevent this intention: "Sorry, I don’t know much about wine..."
"That’s the most common phrase uttered by people before they become drunkards."
The short, fat wizard blinked, and though he hadn’t yet drunk, his eyes already had a slightly tipsy look. He grinned and pushed Zheng Qing’s hand away, decisively pouring a little for him:
"Try a bit. You’re too tense right now, and staying in this state for a long time isn’t good for you... Where were we? Oh, yes, the history and origin of the wine... Amarone comes from the Valpolicella in the Veneto region, which is more famous for a historic little town surrounded by vineyards, Verona. It’s nestled at the southern foot of the Alps, less than a hundred miles from Venice. In Latin, it means ’a very elegant city,’ but did you know? It’s not elegant at all. It’s filled with tragedy because Shakespeare’s story of Romeo and Juliet took place in this small town..."
Zheng Qing was initially quite impatient with the short, fat commissioner’s rambling conversation.
He just wanted to quickly complete the transaction of the Fu Bullet and not be late for his first class this morning.
Until he mentioned that famous tragic love story.
A hint of realization flashed in the young man’s heart.
That’s right.
Just watching them chat during their first meeting at the Great Ming Pavilion, one could tell that Andrew and Thomas should be quite familiar with each other. So he definitely knows about Nikita.
All life’s vexations and melancholy come from others; this saying is absolutely true.
With this thought, the young teaching assistant couldn’t help but glance at the wine glass in front of him, suddenly feeling a temptation to take a sip. Just one sip shouldn’t matter.
After all, it’s broad daylight, and there are plenty of guards outside.
He glanced at the empty street outside. Though he didn’t know where the guards were hiding, intuition told him they were nearby.
As he turned his head, the Gem Cat finally couldn’t contain its curiosity, emerging from the hood of the young man’s robe — just like a rabbit, it had shrunk back into the hood when he was startled — now that the atmosphere had relaxed, it crawled out, leapt onto Zheng Qing’s shoulder, jumped down, landed in front of the wine glass, sniffed it, and then circled the slender wine bottle twice.
"An alchemy doll? No, it’s more spiritual than them."
The Trident Sword commissioner’s eyes were indeed keen. He made a precise judgment in a very short time: "Transformation Technique! Right? Tsk tsk, impressive, very impressive, no wonder... I mean, it’s rare for a wizard your age to be able to use the Transformation Technique to this extent. I wouldn’t dare say I could do it now."
His tone carried a hint of surprise, openly admiring on his face: "...When we first met at the Great Ming Pavilion, what did I say? Government-funded student! Promising future! Absolutely right!"
He raised his glass, took another big gulp, then grabbed a sandwich from who knows where and took a big bite.
Red wine sandwich, a magical breakfast pairing.
Zheng Qing shook his head inwardly, withdrawing his gaze, only to discover that his own glass was empty. The Gem Cat had somehow fallen into the glass, like a piece of melting modeling clay, each part connected by some miraculous structure.
A glass of black cat.
This thought flashed through his mind.
"——Are you sure you don’t want some? It’s actually quite good!"
The attenuated voice of the Trident Sword commissioner sounded again.
Just judging by the Gem Cat’s behavior, the wine probably was fine — just as Andrew had said, Zheng Qing felt he was overly tense — but he really didn’t have the time now.
"No, thanks, I have class in the morning."
The young teaching assistant politely yet firmly declined the Trident Sword commissioner’s repeated invitation while urging: "——Just fill out the receipt quickly! I’m about to miss Old Yao’s magic spell class!"
"Alright, alright! I won’t let you be late!"
Andrew waved his hand, finally putting down his wine glass, looking somewhat disinterested: "These days, young people live such rigid lives... Don’t you know that drinking a little before class can make your magic power perception more sensitive and the flow of magic power more rapid? As long as you perform the spells well, Old Yao won’t mind you having a mouthful of wine!"
While speaking, he had already rummaged through the drawer for the ledger and feather pen, scribbling a few lines before pushing them to Zheng Qing: "——Here, standard procedure, sign it."
Zheng Qing adeptly left his signature, tearing off the red transaction slip inside.
"The rest is up to you!" He stuffed the five meticulously counted Blood Symbol Bullets into the short, fat wizard’s hands, looking ready to run off.
"Hold on!"
Andrew suddenly grabbed his wrist, his eyes no longer possessing the slight inebriation from drinking wine, appearing particularly bright, and said irritably: "——You tore off the transaction slip too quickly! I haven’t verified the goods yet!"
"Don’t you trust my integrity?"
"I trust the Fu Bullet inspection tool from the Madingtoyle Alchemy Company more."
"It’s truly heartbreaking. We’ve traded so many times..."
"Sorry, actually, this is only our third transaction, and you’ve already had one serious overdue issue..."
In the back and forth between them, Andrew finally verified the five Fu Bullets.
Then he took out a palm-sized red wooden box, each Fu Bullet wrapped in silk covered with talisman inscriptions, neatly placed inside. Red ink marks, Jade Charm Lock Key, golden string seal, and then several long strips of Yellow Talisman Paper were meticulously pasted in a cross, indicating the utmost caution.
"Is it necessary?" Zheng Qing felt rather speechless.
"Is it necessary—"
The short, fat wizard elongated his voice, repeating the young man’s words, irritably responding: "A transaction worth seven or eight hundred jade coins, do you think it’s ’necessary’? Our entire office’s budget for one year, no, three years, might not even be six hundred jade coins, and you’re asking me if it’s ’necessary’? Do you know how much this bottle that can comfort me for a week costs? Three Silver Horns! Three Silver Horns can comfort me for a week, how long do you think seven or eight hundred jade coins can stimulate me for!"
Zheng Qing blinked.
"Ugh, this wine isn’t good," the young man weighed the Gem Cat in his hand, making a sniffing gesture, confidently nodding: "——The wine’s sour."
"Sour? No way!" Andrew’s attention was immediately drawn to his wine bottle, sniffing the mouth of the bottle with suspicion and a puzzled expression.
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