Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 422: Arguing with the Waiter, Everyone Shares a Drink
"Cough, cough, cough!" The moment the wine reached his throat, it felt like it drilled straight down, making Chen Nuo burst into a coughing fit right there on the spot.
"Oh dear, what’s going on? It’s all my fault, I shouldn’t have urged you to drink. How about you stop drinking, and I can have the server bring you some plain water?" Jin Zha hastily offered.
The server, who had not left, rushed over upon seeing Chen Nuo coughing.
"Oh my, what’s the matter, sir? Is it that you can’t drink? Our wine is all aged and of good quality. It’s only natural to not be accustomed to it at first," the server said.
Without the server coming over, Chen Nuo might have been fine, but as soon as he did, Chen could no longer contain his annoyance; especially when the server suggested he couldn’t drink. Pointing at the wine, Chen asked, "You call this good wine?"
"Yes, this is the best wine we have in our tavern. It’s normal that you are not used to it, as it has a high concentration. How about I bring you some mild sake instead?" suggested the server.
Despite the server’s words and expression appearing unobjectionable, to Chen Nuo, it felt as if he was being looked down upon, with the undertone of "Can you even handle it?"
"I think you’ve never tasted truly good wine in your life," said Chen Nuo indifferently.
"What’s the issue? This is the best wine we have here in our tavern. It’s okay if you’re not accustomed to it, but there’s no need to say such things to others," the server replied, somewhat displeased.
Jin Zha quickly tried to mediate, "Hey, it’s alright, it’s alright, you can go. My friend here usually lives in Chang’an and hasn’t really been around here before. He’s just not quite used to the local fare, so he’s not accustomed to anything yet."
"If you’re not accustomed to anything, then you shouldn’t have come out at all. What, do you think you’re the Emperor or something? That everything must go your way," grumbled the server under his breath.
"What did you say?" Chen Nuo stood up from his seat.
Chen was already tall and rather burly, although he appeared somewhat leaner when clothed. As he stood up, the server could only see his chin, and was momentarily intimidated by Chen’s imposing presence.
"Oh my, I am so sorry, so sorry, our server here has a loose tongue. I will certainly punish him later. Please, noble son, don’t stoop to his level for such a trivial matter," the Shopkeeper hastily intervened to calm the situation.
"I’m fine, but this server of yours really needs to watch his mouth. If he speaks so carelessly to everyone, you won’t be able to keep your tavern running," Chen Nuo glanced at the server.
"Exactly. When traveling, one can’t expect to be as comfortable as they are at home. I think our tavern’s wine is good, but if you think otherwise, why don’t you show us some better wine and enlighten us?" the server said defiantly, emboldened by the Shopkeeper’s backup.
After speaking, Chen Nuo sat down again. Seeing this, the server grew even bolder, "If you don’t have any better wine than this, you might as well just make do with what’s here."
The Shopkeeper was getting anxious; Chen had just given him a menu, and he was still wondering how to thank him when his own server exacerbated the situation over such a minor issue.
Seeing Chen sit back down, the Shopkeeper pulled the server aside and chided, "What are you doing?"
The server, still feeling contentious, said, "Uncle, I just can’t stand the attitude of these rich folks. If they don’t like the food, that’s one thing, but look at him. This wine is my father’s hard work. Everyone praises our tavern when they come here, except for him. As if he’s made out of gold, he dares to scorn our homemade brew."
"No matter what, he is a customer. Besides, look at his attire. What’s wrong with him being a little picky? You’re not sharp at all. Look at Niu, how he delights the guests. If we lose a customer over this, I’m charging all the losses to you!"
The Shopkeeper was truly angry; not only did he not want to offend people, but he was also more reluctant because Chen had helped him.
"I am terribly sorry about this, noble guest. If this wine is not to your liking, I’ll have Niu go to the neighboring tavern and get you some of their finest, the reserve kind," the Shopkeeper quickly said to Chen with an apologetic smile, "Niu, go to the shop next door and ask for their best wine, the kind they treasure. Put it on my tab!"
"All right," said the waiter who initially greeted Jin Zha and Chen Nuo, emerging from the kitchen and preparing to head out to purchase wine.
"Wait, no need," said Chen Nuo.
The shopkeeper grew somewhat anxious, "Dear guest, the winery next door has been selling wine for generations. Rest assured, you will definitely find the wine you want to drink."
"It’s okay; I’m a bit picky. If they don’t have the wine I’m looking for, then never mind," Chen Nuo replied as he reached for his space pouch.
He had stored several jars of wine in there, originally planning to drink them after finishing his tea, but upon considering Jin Zha’s words, he thought it would be better to follow local customs.
He wanted to see what the wine of the mortal realm tasted like. After taking a sip, he realized that he indeed had become accustomed to his own brew; now, suddenly being asked to drink ordinary wine was truly uncomfortable for him.
It wasn’t that he was exaggerating; it had just been dozens of years since he had touched such ordinary wine of the mortal realm, and now, being asked to drink it was quite unbearable.
Indeed, he had stayed in Chaos Residence for far too long. It was better to go out and roam, which would also enhance his adaptability.
Ah, it couldn’t be helped. He had wanted to go out before, but he couldn’t due to his own limitations. Now that he could leave, dozens of years had already passed.
"What’s wrong? Can’t really get used to the taste?" asked Jin Zha. "Shall we go to another place?" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎
"Don’t, dear guests, the dishes are already prepared," the shopkeeper hastily advised when he heard they wanted to leave, "Niu, go quickly and buy the gentleman some wine, and remember to get only the best."
"No need, ask him to come back," Chen Nuo said as he took out a leather wine pouch.
"What’s this?" Upon seeing the leather wine pouch in Chen Nuo’s hands, the shopkeeper breathed a sigh of relief. So, the guest wasn’t planning to leave; instead, he was prepared with his own supply.
Jin Zha’s eyes lit up instantly, "Chen, if I’m not mistaken, this is the Peach Blossom Brew, right?"
"How come you’ve become smarter now?" Chen Nuo opened the leather wine pouch, and the fragrance of peach blossoms gushed out instantly.
The aroma was both fresh and rich, as if it wasn’t wine but real peach blossoms, transforming the tavern from summer to spring in an instant.
Other customers in the tavern who were eating stopped their meals upon smelling the fragrance, their own wine no longer fragrant to them, and they stood up one by one, gathering around.
"Wow, what a wonderful aroma, young master, what is that you’re holding?"
"Are you dumb? The waiter just mentioned bringing fine wine, so what he’s bringing out has to be wine," someone retorted.
"So, you think you’re the clever one, eh! I hadn’t even finished speaking, and you’re already jumping in. With this scent, it’s like being amidst the peach blossoms in March. This aroma is so rich and fresh; how is the wine brewed?"
"Seeing the young master’s demeanor and attire, he must have come from Chang’an. Is the wine from Chang’an always this fragrant?"
"I have been to Chang’an, and the wine there is just so-so; this must be because the wine the young master has is superior."
"You, a mere cook, merely went to Chang’an to look around, so of course you couldn’t taste any fine wine. Naturally, you’d think Chang’an doesn’t have anything good. But this young master right here looks dignified and privileged, certainly more worldly than a cook like you."
As people complimented back and forth, Chen Nuo had already poured two cups and had begun drinking.
The crisp wine once in the throat immediately moistened it, and he could even taste a faint sweetness. It was because he was accustomed to drinking such wine that Chen Nuo found it difficult to stomach any other.
