After the two of them had opened up to each other, Jiang Ning stopped overthinking and let things flow naturally.
However, Liu Ming'an seemed to mistakenly believe that Jiang Ning was unsatisfied, often kissing and hugging her. After each kiss, he would gently smile, pat her head and face, and say soothingly, "Ning, be good!"
Jiang Ning: "..."
She really wasn't in a hurry!
These past couple of days, Liu Ming'an would go downstairs to chat with the Shop Assistant whenever he had free time, asking about local customs and inquiring how to get to Maozhu County.
The night before the Wine Festival, Liu Ming'an returned to the room excitedly: "Ning, I've found out that the Destined Inn has its own winery and regularly delivers wine to Maozhu County. I've arranged with the owner that after the festival, when they deliver wine, they can take us along the way."
"That takes care of another issue, great!"
Jiang Ning, infected by Liu Ming'an's smile, smiled back.
The next moment, Liu Ming'an suddenly poked her right cheek with his index finger.
"What are you doing?" Jiang Ning raised an eyebrow, holding Liu Ming'an's mischievous hand.
"Nothing, just thinking you look beautiful when you smile."
As he spoke, Liu Ming'an lowered his head slightly and kissed the spot he had just poked several times.
When Jiang Ning smiled, there was a small dimple there.
Caught off guard by the sudden sweet talk, Jiang Ning was momentarily stunned, then felt an indescribable joy welling up inside her.
Being in a relationship with Liu Ming'an seemed to bring happiness every day.
The next day was the annual Wine Festival in Wine Selling Town.
Jiang Ning and Liu Ming'an were still asleep when they were awakened by the sound of firecrackers and gongs. When they got up, they saw it was just past 7-9 AM, and the sky was still a bluish-gray.
The noise came from all directions, and sleep was certainly out of the question now. The two got up, washed, and went downstairs to the main hall for breakfast.
"Young man, what's all that commotion outside?" Liu Ming'an asked as the Shop Assistant brought over fermented rice with eggs.
"Haha... Did the noise wake you up, sir?" The Shop Assistant looked at the confused pair unsurprised and explained, "They're inviting the Wine God."
"Inviting the Wine God?"
"Yes. Every year during the Wine Festival, there's this ritual. Before dawn, they gather ninety-nine people to carry wine from a hundred families, starting from the east end of town. They set off firecrackers, beat gongs and drums, and circle the main street of Wine Selling Town. Two weeks before this, they choose a seven or eight-year-old child to be the Wine Child. Everyone carries him along with the wine from a hundred families. He uses a tree branch to dip into the wine and sprinkle it on the crowd along the street. Whoever gets sprinkled with his wine will be blessed by the Wine God, and the wine they brew next year will definitely not spoil!"
The Shop Assistant, knowing Liu Ming'an and Jiang Ning were from out of town, enthusiastically explained to them. As he finished, he looked outside and exclaimed, "Oh! They're coming, they're coming! Hurry outside and get some wine mist on you, it's a good omen!"
Liu Ming'an turned to look at Jiang Ning, only to see her pick up her spoon and quickly finish the eggs in her bowl, her face showing excitement.
"Hurry up and eat, I want to go!" Jiang Ning urged Liu Ming'an.
Liu Ming'an smiled, forgetting about manners and wolfing down his food like Jiang Ning. As soon as he finished, he put down his bowl and pulled her towards the street outside the inn.
The street was already crowded. Liu Ming'an held Jiang Ning close as they pushed through layers of people, barely managing to stand steady at the front. The Wine God inviting procession was already approaching.
The scene was indeed as the Shop Assistant had described. There were people carrying copper gongs and beating drums at the front and back of the procession. In the middle, over a dozen people carried something that looked like a sedan chair. But it wasn't exactly a sedan chair - it had no cover or doors, just a frame made of bamboo and wood, with red silk tied all around it.
A chubby-faced child sat on top of the frame, dressed in red clothes, his cheeks painted red, and a red dot on his forehead. Next to him was a wine jar even bigger than his body. The child held a leafy tree branch, which he dipped into the wine jar and then sprinkled on the heads and faces of people on both sides.
Everyone stretched their arms up straight for the child to sprinkle them. Those who got sprinkled with wine had joyful expressions, muttering "Wine God bless," while those who didn't get sprinkled anxiously shouted, "Wine Child! Wine Child! Sprinkle here, over here!" The child was kept busy turning this way and that.
Jiang Ning and Liu Ming'an were squeezed in the crowd when the child was carried past them and happened to sprinkle in their direction. Drops of wine fell on their faces, feeling a bit cool. Liu Ming'an laughed and shouted, "Wine God bless!"
"You don't even brew wine, what is the Wine God blessing you for?" Jiang Ning teased him, curling her lips in amusement.
As Liu Ming'an held Jiang Ning close and walked back to the inn, he whispered in her ear, "I hope the Wine God blesses Ning with a lifetime of happiness and peace."
Jiang Ning's eyes flickered, and her smile deepened.
Back at the inn, it was still early, with the sky just beginning to brighten. The two sat in the lobby on the first floor, planning to go out and see the festivities of the Wine Festival once it was fully light.
Seeing them return, the Shop Assistant came over with a teapot to pour water and struck up a conversation: "Did you two get sprinkled by the wine from the hundred families? This year, our Destined Inn contributed to that wine too."
"We did, it was quite fun!" Liu Ming'an was in a good mood and chatted happily with the Shop Assistant.
With nothing much to do at this hour and finding Liu Ming'an friendly, the Shop Assistant couldn't help but chat a bit more.
"Sir, you should go see the wine drinking contest later, that's the most interesting part of the Wine Festival."
"Wine drinking contest? What's that?" Liu Ming'an asked curiously.
"The wine drinking contest is an event held every year during the Wine Festival. As the name suggests, it's a contest to see who can drink the most. It's held in the open area at the east end of town, usually starting in the morning."
The Shop Assistant patiently explained, and seeing Liu Ming'an and Jiang Ning listening attentively, he added, "Anyone can participate in the contest, you just need to pay ten copper coins. The first-place winner gets nine taels of silver and nine hundred and ninety-nine copper coins, second place gets five taels of silver and ninety-nine copper coins, third place gets three taels of silver and nine copper coins..."
Jiang Ning's eyes suddenly lit up – a great opportunity to make money!
"The most interesting part of the wine drinking contest is watching—"
Before the Shop Assistant could finish, someone at the next table shouted, "Waiter, bring some food!"
"Coming! Please wait a moment, sir!" The Shop Assistant quickly responded, then hurriedly said to Liu Ming'an and Jiang Ning, "You two should go see for yourselves. In any case, you won't regret going. I have to get back to work now."
Watching the Shop Assistant's hastily retreating figure, Liu Ming'an took a sip of tea and asked Jiang Ning, "Shall we go take a look?"
"Let's go," Jiang Ning answered without hesitation. Not only did she want to go, but she also intended to win!
The sky was already bright, and after finishing their tea, Jiang Ning and Liu Ming'an headed towards the east end of Wine Selling Town.
The streets were crowded, much busier than market day in Lingshan Town. Shouts and calls could be heard everywhere, and the air was filled with the strong scent of wine. After walking half a street, they felt as if they were covered in the smell of alcohol.