I Call the Shots in Fengchuan City!

"The wine is all brewed."

Shen Li emerged from the wooden hut, dark circles under her eyes and bloodshot veins visible in the whites of her eyes.

She looked pale and exhausted.

"Thank you for all your hard work these past days," Luo Yu said quietly.

Shen Li sniffed and shot him a half-amused glare.

"I'd starve if I didn't work, and you'd probably kick me out otherwise."

She stamped her foot.

"But since you've already promised to do business with the Tingyu Manor, it wouldn't be right to sell the wine to Dingxiang Hall now."

Luo Yu scoffed.

"Who'd turn down easy money?"

He glared at her.

"With a city this size to support, I sell to whoever pays the most—that's just common sense."

"All right, all right, you're the city lord; you decide."

Shen Li turned on her heel.

"I'm going to sleep. Two hundred jars, not one missing. Handle it yourself."

Luo Yu waved after her.

"Men!"

"Sir!"

"Load all two hundred jars onto the carts and deliver them to Dingxiang Hall at dawn. No mistakes!"

"At once, my lord."

A procession of donkey carts creaked along the yellow clay road, flanked by a dozen burly guards.

Only five days remained until the grand wine fair in Fengchuan City, and visitors had already begun to crowd the streets.

Hearing of the legendary Three Cauldron Spirit, traveling merchants had come from afar, hoping to secure a few jars.

Dingxiang Hall had arranged to meet the shipment ten miles outside the city limits, in a dilapidated village chosen for secrecy.

As Meng Hu surveyed the abandoned huts, he frowned.

"What kind of place is this? It's more remote than Cangqi City itself."

"For secrecy," Lu Qingyun explained, "no whispers until the fair opens."

At that moment, dozens of attendants emerged from behind a broken wall.

"Are you the city lord's men?" the elderly steward bowed stiffly.

"I'm the steward of Dingxiang Hall, here to collect the wine."

Meng Hu pointed at the carts.

"Two hundred jars, as agreed. Please inspect."

The steward glanced over the jars with feigned nonchalance.

"Lord Luo Yu's reputation precedes him—defender of Yunyang Pass and hero against the Qiang raiders. Surely he would not shortchange Dingxiang Hall."

Meng Hu beamed.

"Bring a jar over—on the house. Test it for yourselves."

Soldiers hefted a small jar and filled cups for every attendant.

The aroma of aged spirit blanketed the courtyard.

Eyebrows raised and noses twitched as they savored the first taste of the famed brew.

"Thank you, Lord Luo."

The steward grinned.

Meng Hu warned his men, "These jars are sealed with red clay. Do not open a single one until the fair begins—or the flavor will suffer. Fifteen taels per jar—no waste."

"We understand," the steward assured him.

Meng Hu rubbed his hands together.

"Now, for the payment—"

"Here!" the steward called.

Attendants rolled forward wooden chests packed with gleaming silver.

"My lord, two hundred jars at fifteen taels each is three thousand taels in all. You've already received six hundred as a deposit—here is the balance."

Meng Hu and Lu Qingyun's eyes glittered as they surveyed the heaps of silver.

"That settles it—pleasant doing business."

"Pleasant indeed."

A sudden clatter of hooves shattered the calm.

Hundreds of horsemen and foot soldiers bearing the Yao family banner thundered into the village, encircling the convoy.

Meng Hu's hand hovered over his sword as arrows were nocked, the tips gleaming menacingly.

Their leader reined in his steed and approached with a mocking smile.

"Quite a haul of wine," he drawled.

Meng Hu's brow creased.

"And who might you be?"

"Yao Chang," the man replied lightly.

The name set their nerves on edge—Yao family was the local powerhouse of Fengchuan City.

Lu Qingyun stepped forward courteously.

"We serve Lord Luo Yu of Cangqi City and are fulfilling an order for Dingxiang Hall. To what do we owe this intrusion?"

Yao Chang laughed coldly.

"I've received word that these jars conceal arms destined for the Qiang rebels. By decree of Lord Yao, I'm seizing the goods for inspection. Depart at once."

Meng Hu's face darkened.

"Baseless accusations—where is your proof? You will not touch a single jar!"

Arrow shafts clicked against bowstrings, aimed with deadly intent.

"Calm down, Meng Hu," Lu Qingyun murmured, gripping his comrade's arm. "Lives aren't worth two hundred jars of wine."

Meng Hu ground his teeth.

The Yao soldiers advanced.

Yao Chang sneered, "In Fengchuan City, it's not you who calls the shots!"

The Dingxiang Hall steward bowed low.

"Gentlemen, since the cargo is sealed by the city lord's decree, our deal must be postponed. When Lord Luo delivers the wine properly, we will pay in full."

In an instant, the Yao troops and steward's men melted away into the wasteland.

Lu Qingyun and Meng Hu clenched their fists, faces grim.

"Damn them," Lu Qingyun spat.