chapter 9 taste of wine

As Xua Yan sat down at the small table in the empty tavern, he couldn't help but think back to his past life. He remembered the days when he helped his mother, Wu, in her restaurant. He remembered the long hours and hard work that went into running the business, but he also remembered the joy and satisfaction that came with it. He remembered the customers who came in every day and became like family to him, and the smell of the delicious food that filled the air.

As he sat there, eating his food and thinking about his past, he felt a deep sense of sadness and longing wash over him. He missed his mother and the life he had before. He missed the sense of purpose and belonging that came with running the restaurant. He knew that he could never go back to that life, but the memories of it were still fresh in his mind and it was hard to shake them off.

He ordered two jugs of wine and began to drink, hoping that the alcohol would help him forget about his past and move on. He knew that he couldn't keep dwelling on the past, he needed to focus on the present and make the most of the new life he had been given.

As he drank, he felt the warmth of the wine spread through his body and he began to feel more relaxed. He knew that letting go of his past would not be easy, but it was something that he needed to do in order to move forward. He realized that he had a new opportunity and a second chance at life, and he was determined to make the most of it.

With this newfound determination, He finished one jug and carried the other one with him as he walked towards the shopkeeper to ask him how much he needed to pay. The shopkeeper, a middle-aged man with a long beard, had been observing Xua Yan throughout his time in the tavern. He could tell that Xua Yan had a dark past and offered to waive the cost of the food and wine if Xua Yan could describe the taste of the wine to his satisfaction.

Xua Yan took a big gulp of wine in his mouth and after drinking it he said.

"The wine I drink is like a tale untold,

A journey of flavors, both new and old.

The aroma is rich, like a flower in bloom,

The taste is smooth, like a silent gloom.

The first sip is sweet, like a summer's kiss,

The next is strong, like a memory missed.

It dances on the tongue, like a lover's touch,

It warms the heart, like a fire's hush.

The finish is long, like a melody played,

It lingers on, like a love that's not frayed.

It's a journey through time, a story to be told,

Each sip revealing a new chapter, unfold.

The wine I drink is a symphony of taste,

A blend of emotions, a memory to embrace.

It's a reminder of love, and a hint of pain,

A reflection of life, and all that remains.

It's a celebration of the present and the past,

The wine I drink is a story that will last.

As I take each sip, I am transported to a place,

Where memories are made, and time stands still in space.

The wine I drink is a journey that I'll take,

A tale that will never grow old or break.

So let the wine flow, and the story begin,

A tale of love, life, and the journey within.

It's a tale untold, a journey of the soul,

The wine I drink is a story that will never grow old.

It's a heavenly wine, it tastes like the experience of old women with the taste of new and young one."

After hearing Xua Yan's answers before the shopkeeper could reply, he heard a hearty laugh from behind. As Xua Yan turned around he saw a man in his 30s, he was sitting on the table in the tavern and repeating the line Xua Yan just mentioned, "it tastes like the experience of old women with the taste of new and young one. Well said young brother, well said." After that Xua Yan heard the reply from the shopkeeper, he said " young man, from now on you are my sworn brother. If you come to this restaurant you don't need to pay for anything.

As Xua Yan was preparing to leave the tavern the man in his 30s invited him for a drink and The man introduced himself as a wine connoisseur and expressed his admiration for Xua Yan's understanding and appreciation of the wine. He invited Xua Yan and the shopkeeper to join him for another jug of wine and to have a conversation about wine. While they were conversing the man suddenly asked "why do we actually drink wine". After hearing this question Xua Yan again tells his answer in the form of a poem.

"We drink wine to forget our past,

To drown out the memories that never last.

We drink to forget the pain and sorrow,

And start anew, for a brighter tomorrow.

We drink to celebrate the present,

To enjoy life's simple pleasures, so pleasant.

We drink to toast to future success,

And forget the troubles, so we can rest.

We drink to forget our past,

And remember the memories that will always last.

We drink to find solace in the bottle,

And find a new tomorrow, free of throttle.

We drink to forget our past,

And to create a new one that will forever last.

We drink to live in the moment,

And to cherish the memories of the past.

So, raise your glass, and let's drink to life,

To the present and the future, free from strife.

Cheers to the wine, that brings us together,

And to the memories that will last forever."

The man listened intently, nodding in agreement. "Well said, young man. You truly have a way with words. I am glad to have met you, and I hope we can enjoy many more bottles of wine together." Xua Yan and the man talked for sometime while drinking and discussing their love for wine. Xua Yan felt a sense of camaraderie with the man and was grateful for the chance encounter.

The old man in his previous life who taught Martial Art, used to read And write a variety of poems and often discuss his poems with Xua Yan in free time. Xua Yan has read all the collections of his books and while drinking wine he couldn't stop himself from remembering that old man and the way he lived together.

When the shopkeeper asked Xua Yan to describe the taste of his wine Xua Yan couldn't help but remember the old man who used to ask the same question to him while drinking wine in his previous life. The old man had also written many poems on this topic. After he heard the question of the shopkeeper he instinctively replied to him with a poem that he used to tell to the old man. He left the tavern in the afternoon feeling content and at peace, ready to face the next chapter of his life.

After leaving that tavern as Xua Yan walked through the streets, he remembered the purpose of his visit to the city. He had come to buy herbs and spices that could help him cook tasty food while training his martial arts in the forest.

He made his way to the market, where he browsed through the various stalls selling different ingredients. The market was bustling with activity, vendors shouting out their wares, the smell of fresh produce and spices filling the air. He was in his element, taking in the sights and sounds of the market.

He carefully selected the freshest herbs, such as parsley, thyme, and rosemary. He also picked up some rare salts, like pink salt and black lava salt, known for their unique flavours. And the most fragrant spices, like saffron, cinnamon, and nutmeg. He carefully considered how they would complement each other in his dishes, using memories of his past life as a chef to guide him.

As Xua Yan walked through the streets, he came across a shop that was selling only herbs and pills. The shop was named "The Herbalist's Den" and it was a place where one could find various types of herbs and pills that were used for medicinal purposes, elixirs, and even for improving one's martial arts abilities. Xua Yan was intrigued by this shop and wanted to take a look inside. Because looking at this shop Xua Yan remembered the book that he got from Entropy named "essence extraction and pill making". In which there is a vast knowledge of herbs, how they look, how to extract their essences and make pills out of them.

As Xua Yan entered the shop, he was greeted by the smell of various herbs and spices, which reminded him of his past life when motherWusend him to get herbs. The shop was dimly lit, but the light was strategically placed to highlight the herbs and pills on display. The walls were lined with shelves that were filled with jars and bottles containing different types of herbs, some of which he recognized from his studies in the "essence extraction and pill making" book which he got from Entropy.

The shop attendant came to him and asked, "What can I help you with today, sir?" Xua Yan replied, "I'm just looking around, I'm interested in the herbs and pills you have here." The attendant smiled and said, "Of course, please feel free to look around and let me know if you need any assistance."

As Xua Yan looked around, he was amazed by the variety of herbs and pills on offer. He saw different types of ginseng, lingzhi, and other medicinal herbs that could be used to make elixirs and pills. However, as he looked at the prices of the herbs and pills, he was shocked by how expensive they were. The cheapest herb cost around 100 silver coins. Xua Yan realised how poor he was in this world. Despite this, he continued to explore the shop.

As Xua Yan walked through the aisles, he came across a section that sold pills that could help improve one's martial arts abilities. The pills were designed to increase one's strength, speed, and agility, and they promised to help one reach higher stages of martial arts faster. However, when Xua Yan looked at the price of these pills, he understood why not everyone could become a high-stage martial artist, despite having talent. The high cost of these pills meant that one also needed wealth to be able to purchase them.

This realisation made Xua Yan realise that the path to becoming a martial artist was not as simple as just having talent. Wealth also played a significant role in one's martial arts journey, as it was necessary to purchase the necessary herbs and pills that would help one improve at a much faster pace. The realisation of being poor hit Xua Yan hard, and he left the shop feeling a mix of disappointment and determination. He made a mental note to work hard and earn more money so that he could someday purchase the items he needed to make pills and buy herbs.

He left the shop feeling disappointed and as he was exploring the market, shops of spirit fruits caught his attention. As he delved more deeper in the topic of spirit fruits he found out that the person who practises martial arts can use spirit fruit at the place of spirit pills that is used for increasing the Spiritual qi inside the body of martial artists and one can by spirit fruits at half of the price of spirit pills.This information filled Xua Yan with hope and gave him a good idea through which he can become rich.