Chapter 174: Good Wine
Chapter 174: Good Wine
Paid one copper coin.
Shan Tai brought Gao Jing through the wide-open city gate, entering Qinghe City.
Copper coins and shell coins were both common currencies in the Great Wilderness, and the exchange rate between them was one to one hundred.
Like the ancient copper coins of the Primary World, the copper coins of the Great World were also round on the outside and square inside, and could be tied together with a rope.
But the materials were very different.
In the Great Wilderness, trades between tribes and tribes or tribes and caravans were mainly barter swaps.
But in cities like Qinghe City, it was essential to use flowing money like copper coins or shell coins.
Above shell coins, there were also gold beads.
Gao Jing had seen copper coins and shell coins at Old Shaman Shan Yan’s place, but he had not seen gold beads.
The copper coins Shan Tai just gave to the gate guard were a trade tax.
Because his vine basket had goods, or it would not be needed.
Qinghe City had about ten thousand people when talking of permanent residents, and most were from three big tribes.
If travelers and others came in, it surely went over ten thousand.
So this “small” city was very busy.
A road made of bluish-gray stone slabs went straight from the city gate to the mountain foot.
On both sides of this main road stood tall and short houses, mostly two or three floors high; the wooden buildings and stone houses looked plain and rough but unusually strong and stable.
The city air was fairly clean, with almost no trash on the ground and no bad smells.
Probably, someone cleaned it every day.
It was worse than the village fort.
Gao Jing saw that the Great Wilderness Giants cared a lot about cleanliness.
On the street, people walked about; there were rough men wearing animal skins and women dressed in leather robes.
Though all were giants, the women here were better looking than most in tribes; their skin was lighter, and they liked to fix themselves up.
Gao Jing noticed several Qinghe women wearing seven-colored stone pieces like hairpins, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.
Shops lined the road; taverns, food spots, general stores, and grain shops were everywhere.
“Guest inside, please!”
“Come quick, see the new hemp cloth, great price!”
“Selling millet here, top-quality millet!”
Shop helpers stood under signs made of rosewood, eagerly calling to buyers.
Looking up at houses sixty or seventy meters high, or even close to a hundred, the calls rose and fell in Gao Jing’s ears.
This made Gao Jing, sitting on Shan Tai’s shoulder, have an unreal feeling.
The difference between the city and the village fort was really big!
It was like seeing something new.
Shan Tai had been to Qinghe City many times, so he knew it well.
But to care for Gao Jing, a countryside Abyss Dweller just in the city, he purposely walked slower.
He wanted Gao Jing to enjoy Qinghe City’s “busy” view a bit longer.
Shan Tai’s first city visit, he felt he couldn’t see enough!
The sky was growing dark; lanterns under shop edges lit up, casting orange light through frames, making a special scene.
Then Shan Tai went into a tavern.
This place wasn’t very big; it had six or seven tables and a long bar counter on the left.
Trade was good; every table was full, with groups eating, drinking, and talking.
Shan Tai sat at the bar and set his vine basket nearby.
Gao Jing then jumped onto the bar counter.
Earlier, Shan Tai told Gao Jing that many people from the Abyss Remnant Clan lived in Qinghe City.
So he did not have to cover up.
No giant would fuss.
The bearded man at the bar gave Gao Jing an extra look, his eyes curious a bit.
Right away, he said to Shan Tai, “What do you want? Today we have charcoal-roasted wild boar meat and smoked savage ox meat.”
“One each.”
Shan Tai replied in a deep tone, “And bring me a mug of malt ale and a cup of millet wine. Also…”
He tapped lightly near Gao Jing and said, “Set out tools for my brother too.”
“The meat and drinks cost one hundred twenty-five coppers.”
The bearded man stated the price easily, glancing at Gao Jing again, “Adding tools is free.”
“Thank you.”
Shan Tai grabbed coins from his skin bag and counted one shell coin and twenty-five copper coins for him.
The shell coin was like mutton-fat jade stuff and about twenty centimeters wide.
It had smooth sides and no hole inside.
It looked a lot like a big white go game stone.
Not like the made copper coins, shell coins were crafted by shamans from moon clam shells.
They were so hard and long-lasting that they cost more.
The moon clam lives in big lakes and swamps; its shell pearls and shells have lots of spiritual energy.
They can be used to make witch artifacts.
Shell coins also have spiritual energy, but it was locked tight while making them.
If the shell broke and the energy got out, that coin would not be worth much.
The man who took the money set out tools of different sizes for Shan Tai and Gao Jing fast.
Clearly, this had happened more than once for him.
He gave Gao Jing a counter over a meter wide so Gao Jing could sit and eat comfy.
Gao Jing thought it was fun.
The malt ale and millet wine came up first.
Shan Tai used a wood spoon to scoop both drinks for Gao Jing to sample.
This was Gao Jing’s wish.
In Qinghe City taverns, the drinks sold were only three: malt ale, millet wine, and fruit wine.
Gao Jing tasted fruit wine in the village fort, but malt ale and millet wine were his first time.
The malt ale was a bit like dark beer; it tasted bitter with some bubbles, and had a strong malt smell.
The Millet Wine had a yellowish hue and tasted soft, sweet, and sticky.
All three kinds of drinks shared the same trait: low alcohol content.
They didn’t give enough satisfaction.
Strong liquor existed too, but it was scarce and expensive.
Customers at Qinghe City taverns absolutely couldn’t afford it.
The Elder Shaman had tasted the Baijiu brought by Gao Jing.
He said its flavor differed from the strong spirits he once drank in the City of Ten Thousand Kings.
Gao Jing’s tasted better!
This time, Gao Jing came to Qinghe City with Shan Tai.
First, he wanted to learn about the local alcohol market.
He needed to prepare for the future.
He couldn’t stay hidden in Shan Yue Village forever.
After tasting the Malt Ale and Millet Wine.
Gao Jing finally understood.
Why the Shan Yue Giants loved the Baijiu he brought so much—
There’s no hurt without comparison!
High-proof liquor was truly the best drink for men of the Great Wilderness!
Just then, large plates of chargrilled wild boar and smoked Savage Ox arrived.
Shan Tai used his bone dagger, as usual, to cut a tiny portion for Gao Jing.
It really needed just a “tiny” piece.
They ate big chunks of meat and drank from large bowls.
Still, Shan Tai felt unsatisfied.
He gulped down the rest of his Malt Ale and Millet Wine in one go.
Then he reached into the large Vine Basket beside him.
He pulled out a dark-brown Clay Pot.
This Clay Pot stood roughly two meters tall—taller than Gao Jing—and was over a meter wide.
Shan Tai opened the sealed clay lid.
An intoxicating aroma immediately filled the air.
Inside this Clay Pot sat a full five tons of Baijiu!
As the saying goes, getting used to luxury is easy; returning to simplicity is hard.
After growing accustomed to this genuine hard liquor,
the Malt Ale and Millet Wine were no longer acceptable to Shan Tai.
He poured himself a full bowl of Baijiu.
Placing the pot aside, he lifted the bowl with both hands and took a satisfying sip first.
Instantly, a contented smile spread across his face!
A Giant Warrior had just taken the seat to Shan Tai’s left.
He caught the intense aroma.
Watching Shan Tai gulp down the Baijiu, he couldn’t stop swallowing his saliva.
“Friend.”
As Shan Tai put down his bowl, the Giant blurted out: “What drink is that?”
Shan Tai glanced sideways and answered: “Baijiu.”
“Baijiu?”
The Giant Warrior scratched his head: “Never heard of it. Mind if I try some?”
He licked his lips while speaking.
Clearly, the scent had sparked his craving; he looked entranced by desire.
“Alright.”
Shan Tai grabbed the pot and poured the Giant less than half a bowl of Baijiu.
Normally, Shan Tai wouldn’t share Baijiu with strangers—he barely had enough for himself.
But on the journey to Qinghe City, Gao Jing had specifically instructed him.
They needed to make Baijiu famous in Qinghe City this time.
To let everyone know it existed.
Gao Jing had even used strange words like “advertising”, “marketing”, “hype”, and “promotion”!
Shan Tai didn’t fully understand.
He simply decided to follow Gao Jing’s plan completely.
Unbeknownst to this Giant Warrior, he’d become a publicity tool.
He immediately snatched the bowl.
Downing the half-bowl of Baijiu in one gulp.
The potent liquor surged into his belly and rushed to his head.
His face flushed bright crimson instantly: “Good liquor!”