Catching a whiff of the strong aroma of liquor in the air, Gu Ning'an smiled and said, "Alright, let me have a taste."
As he entered the cabin, Gu Ning'an saw that the floor was completely covered with wine jars.
No wonder Old Wen wasn't lying in the cabin—there wasn't even a spot to set foot, let alone lie down.
Wei Hai moved a few jars aside and placed them on the only old, low wooden table in the cabin. He smiled and said, "Please, Mr. Gu, have a seat."
Sitting cross-legged, Gu Ning'an caught a strong whiff of alcohol coming from Wei Hai. "Brother Wei, how much have you drunk? While it's good for quenching cravings, too much alcohol is bad for your health."
"Don't mention it! I've been drinking all my life, and no matter how much I try, it hasn't managed to harm me in the slightest!" Wei Hai laughed as he uncorked a jar of liquor and pushed it in front of Gu Ning'an.
Just as Gu Ning'an was about to lift the jar, Wei Hai seemed to think of something and quickly stopped him. "Wait, wait! This liquor is too strong—you might not be used to it. Better dilute it with some water, or else, one jar down, and you might sleep straight through to Jiangling Prefecture!"
When Wei Hai handed him a waterskin, Gu Ning'an smiled and waved his hand. "No need. I'd like to see just how strong this liquor is—enough to put me to sleep for two whole days?"
Thinking Gu Ning'an was saving face, Wei Hai quickly shouted to Old Wen at the stern and Li Xunshan outside the cabin. "Hey, you two! You've both tasted my liquor—tell him how undiluted, it's strong enough to knock someone out!"
"Mr. Gu, he's not lying. That liquor is indeed potent. I drank it once back before Wei's tavern closed down, and I was too weak to work for three days—stumbling drunk the whole time!"
"He's not making it up! I watched his tavern open and shut down. Every single skeptic and heavy drinker who tried his liquor was knocked flat. Mr. Gu, you really shouldn't let pride stop you from diluting it—you'll regret it later!"
The voices of Li Xunshan and Old Wen echoed one after another, piquing Gu Ning'an's curiosity even further. "It's fine. I'm not bad with alcohol. Let me take a sip first. If it feels overwhelming, I'll spit it out."
At those words, the three men on the boat fell silent.
After all, they had said all they could, but if Gu Ning'an was still determined to try it, there was nothing they could do.
Wei Hai, the one who had invited Gu Ning'an to drink, looked especially uneasy, caught between advancing and retreating. After some thought, he resolved that if the stubborn guest got drunk or started feeling unwell, he would help induce vomiting.
"Well, if Mr. Gu insists, then go ahead… but take small sips."
Hearing this, Gu Ning'an nodded slightly, picked up the jar, and took a sip.
The liquor was cloudy, with a slightly grainy texture. As it entered his mouth, a fiery spiciness surged straight into his nostrils.
What a strong liquor! The sensation was comparable to modern-era baijiu with an alcohol content of 52%!
It was remarkable—given the rudimentary brewing techniques of the time, this level of potency was unheard of. Such craftsmanship was undoubtedly among the best in the mortal realm.
No wonder the others had advised him to dilute it. For an average person, drinking this liquor unprepared could indeed result in being knocked out instantly.
"Good liquor!" Gu Ning'an exclaimed in admiration and took another hearty gulp.
The fiery liquor slid down his throat, its coarse texture and spicy burn forming a searing line that coursed straight into his stomach.
"Hey!" Seeing Gu Ning'an take two large gulps in a row, Wei Hai couldn't help wanting to stop him. But when he saw that the other party hadn't even coughed, he merely made a sound of surprise.
Gu Ning'an set the jar down and smiled. "Brother Wei, rest assured. This liquor is indeed strong, but I seem to handle it well enough. No need to dilute it."
As soon as he said this, the sound of oars rowing at the bow of the boat stopped. From the stern came a creaking noise, like someone shifting and pressing against the wooden planks.
The next moment, the old beggar poked his head into the cabin, his cloudy eyes fixed on Gu Ning'an. After confirming that he was indeed fine, the beggar laughed heartily. "Good, good, good! Wei Hai, you've finally met someone who can drink your liquor for the first time without choking or passing out!"
"You, my drunkard friend, may have finally met your match!"
Wei Hai, seemingly unfazed by the old beggar's teasing, raised his own flask, clinked it against the jar in front of Gu Ning'an, and laughed. "Since Mr. Gu handles liquor so well, I can now drink with you in peace!"
Gu Ning'an lifted the jar and grinned. "Brother Wei, this liquor is truly excellent!"
"Just average, just average!" Wei Hai laughed heartily, taking a swig himself. "I skipped a lot of steps while brewing this batch; otherwise, it would go down much smoother."
"Oh?" Gu Ning'an suddenly understood that the "coarse" texture in the liquor was intentional. "Brother Wei, why did you deliberately make the liquor rough and hard to swallow?"
At this, Wei Hai hesitated. After a moment of silence, he downed a large gulp of liquor, letting it spill down his chin and soak the front of his robe. "This liquor is too strong. If someone accidentally drinks too much, it could be life-threatening…"
Before Gu Ning'an could respond, Wei Hai quickly changed the subject with a grin. "Come, come, let's not talk about this. If the chance arises, I'll let you try my finely crafted liquor…"
"It's rare to meet someone who can drink with me. You must drink a few more cups with me today!"
"Fine, but don't blame me later if I drink most of your liquor, and you end up feeling heartbroken!"
Seeing that Wei Hai had something he preferred not to elaborate on, Gu Ning'an went along with the change in topic, choosing not to press further about the liquor's roughness.
"Ha!" Wei Hai's tone lifted. "Mr. Gu, don't worry. Even if you drink half, or even finish every jar on this boat, I won't bat an eye!"
"Then I won't hold back!" Gu Ning'an replied with a laugh, raising his jar again for another round of drinking with Wei Hai.
At the bow, the sound of splashing resumed as the boat moved forward. Li Xunshan, still a bit concerned that Gu Ning'an might overdo it, called out, "Once we enter the main Xiangjiang River current, this little boat will start rocking quite a bit. You two, drink if you must, but don't overdo it—headaches from dizziness are no joke!"
"Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Li. I'm not one to overindulge. If you're feeling tired, feel free to come in and have a drink. I'll gladly take over rowing for a while."
Hearing that Gu Ning'an's speech and tone were perfectly steady, Li Xunshan refrained from saying more and simply replied with a smile, "My wife won't let me drink when I'm out. You two go ahead and enjoy."