Chapter 505: Chapter 261: Networking through Relatives and Connections_1
At Shen Liu’s words, both Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang were beside themselves with joy, and Lian Manman’s eyes curved into crescent moons with happiness.
Brewing grape wine was a significant part of Lian Manman’s money-making plans for the year. Last year, they had sold their grape wine to the Shen Family and received excellent feedback. This year, if they brewed again, they certainly wouldn’t worry about sales. The recent events involving He Laoliu’s wine that led to people knocking on his door to claim compensation had inadvertently raised the value of their grape wine again.
Even if some people had guessed the general steps of their wine brewing process, the incident with He Laoliu probably dissuaded them from wanting a slice of the pie.
Lian Manman was confident that their grape wine would sell even better this year.
The only uncertainty was the mountain construction project, which they feared might affect the harvest of wild grapes in the mountains. Now with Shen Liu’s promise, there was nothing to worry about.
The wild grapes in the mountains would be well protected, and they all belonged to them.
While they were talking inside the house, someone came in to report to Shen Liu.
"...Scholar Wang from Thirty Mile Camp and his son request an audience; Shopkeeper Lian from Lian’s Shop, Shopkeeper Lian’s father Lian Fang, and eldest brother Lian Shouren, all request an audience..."
Upon hearing the report, Lian Shouxin was somewhat at a loss, and a look of embarrassment appeared on his face.
With a personage like Shen Liu visiting, Scholar Wang would naturally not miss the opportunity for an audience, but Old Master Lian and Lian Shouren’s visit was a bit beyond Lian Manman’s expectations.
Shen Liu was just sitting in their shop, but Old Master Lian formally requesting an audience seemed somewhat..., Lian Manman couldn’t find the right word to describe it.
Surprised though she was, Lian Manman reconsidered and thought it was not so strange for Old Master Lian to do so. Some of Old Master Lian’s ambitions were merely suppressed due to helplessness; it wasn’t as though he had completely given up. Old Master Lian had started his journey from an apprentice and could not have risen to shopkeeper of a large store had he not known how to seize opportunities.
Alternatively, looking at it from another angle, with Shen Liu sitting in the shop, the place was naturally on high alert. For Old Master Lian to enter, he had to be announced. Whether they wanted to see Shen Liu was their business, but whether or not to see them was entirely up to Shen Liu.
"I will stay in Qingyang Town tonight. Let the father and son from the Wang Family wait for me in town," Shen Liu said slowly.
Shen Liu had decided not to meet Scholar Wang and his son there. By telling the Wangs to wait in town, he may not actually have time to see them there.
After Shen Liu spoke, his eyes swept over Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang, then paused momentarily on Lian Manman’s face.
"Bring in Shopkeeper Lian’s family," Shen Liu said, "I was looking for an elder local farmer to inquire about the crops in recent years."
The messenger retreated, and soon after, led three people inside.
Old Master Lian, Lian Shouren, and Lian Jizu all dressed in brand-new clothes, filed in one after the other, and knelt down together, paying grand respects to Shen Liu.
"Rise," Shen Liu waved his hand, signaling the three to stand up, he then took a quick look at them and said, "Find a seat for Old Master."
Old Master Lian initially declined, but seeing that Shen Liu truly meant for him to sit, he hurriedly expressed his thanks and carefully sat on a chair next to him, with both Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu standing behind Old Master Lian.
Lian Manman glanced at Lian Jizu; it wasn’t a day off, so shouldn’t Lian Jizu be at the private school? How could he be here? Did Old Master Lian specifically send for him?
Indeed, in Old Master Lian’s eyes, were the eldest son and eldest grandson different?
"Old Master, how old are you this year, and where is your ancestral hometown?" Shen Liu asked, showing rare warmth in adherence to the tradition of respecting elders.
Just as Lian Manman was about to listen to what Old Master Lian would say, she saw the servant next to Shen Liu gesture to her. Following the servant outside, it turned out he was dissatisfied with the water temperature and wanted to heat it up again, so Lian Manman had to take him to the breakfast shop. Afterward, followers from the horse team also came for water.
By the time Lian Manman returned to the new shop, Shen Liu and his entourage had already left the house and mounted their horses to leave.
Everyone stood by the official road, watching the procession enter Qingyang Town before they disappeared from view, and only then did they head back. Old Master Lian didn’t immediately return home but followed Lian Shouxin back inside the house.
Seeing the joy on the faces of Old Master Lian, Lian Shouren, and Lian Jizu, Lian Manman was eager to know what they had discussed with Shen Liu, but it wouldn’t be appropriate to ask right away.
