When a group of strangers survives a life-and-death situation together, they often become unusually close.
Under the influence of alcohol, both Wei Hai and the old beggar ended up revealing bits and pieces of their true reasons for heading to Jiangling Prefecture.
First, the old beggar spoke. Although he claimed to have been a beggar in Gucheng County for over 20 years, he revealed that he was actually a native of Jiangling and even had a family there.
As for why he had fallen into such a destitute state, he didn't elaborate, and the three listeners, understanding the sorrow in his eyes, tactfully refrained from asking further.
It was evident from his expression that he had experienced some deeply tragic events that led to his current condition.
Next was Wei Hai. Since the old beggar had already shared something, it was inevitable that Wei Hai would have to say something too. The old beggar certainly wouldn't let him off the hook otherwise.
Perhaps it was the alcohol, or perhaps the brush with death had given him clarity, but Wei Hai ended up spilling most of his story. Had he not passed out by the end, he might have even shared what he did on his wedding night.
Wei Hai's story was straightforward. His hometown was also in Jiangling Prefecture, where he had once been a celebrated figure.
The renowned wine "Eternal Vintage" (Wannian Chun), which was once all the rage, had been his creation.
Upon hearing this, even the exhausted Li Xunshan sat up in surprise.
According to Wei Hai, back in the day, Eternal Vintage was so sought after that it was worth its weight in gold. Many influential and prestigious individuals went to great lengths to secure even a single bottle.
However, the creator of Eternal Vintage suddenly shut down his wine business and vanished from the scene, leaving people puzzled about his whereabouts. It turned out he had retreated to a small town like Gucheng to open a modest wine shop.
Wei Hai, without hesitation, shared the truth after downing a whole jar of wine.
He had a son who, like him, loved brewing and drinking wine. One day, while Wei Hai wasn't paying attention, his son secretly drank a modified version of Eternal Vintage.
This version of Eternal Vintage was incredibly potent, even stronger than the wine Gu Ning'an and the others were drinking now. However, its smooth and enticing flavor made it dangerously addictive, encouraging drink after drink without any immediate discomfort.
Unfortunately, Wei Hai's son overestimated his tolerance and ended up nearly drinking himself to death.
Thankfully, Wei Hai's wife discovered him in time and rushed him to a medical clinic.
Though his son's life was saved, he was left bedridden and completely dependent on others for his basic needs.
At the time, Wei Hai's son had been in his prime, just entering the phase of life full of opportunities and promise.
This incident devastated Wei Hai's wife, who couldn't forgive him and drove him out of their home. Wei Hai himself was consumed with guilt.
In the aftermath, Wei Hai closed his wine shop, destroyed all remaining stock, and left with only a small amount of silver to settle in Gucheng County.
When Wei Hai reached this part of his story, the old beggar asked, "If you've lost faith in wine, why open another wine shop? And after opening it, why drink it into closure yourself?"
To this, Wei Hai simply gave a bitter smile, swayed unsteadily, and passed out.
At first, Li Xunshan and the old beggar thought he might have drunk himself to death and were about to induce vomiting when they heard him start snoring.
Seeing that he was fine, the remaining three stayed up, continuing their drinking and chatting.
It wasn't long before the second person to pass out was the old beggar. Meanwhile, even though Li Xunshan had been drinking diluted wine, he went through jug after jug while telling Gu Ning'an about his "beloved." He talked on and on until the horizon began to brighten with the first light of dawn before finally falling asleep.
Achoo!
The old beggar, lying under the boat's canopy, sneezed. Rubbing his nose, he opened his eyes, only to find a scruffy, stubble-covered face looming uncomfortably close.
Startled by how close Wei Hai was, the old beggar instinctively pushed him away and sat up, looking out toward the shore.
"Docked already?" The old beggar rubbed his eyes, not quite believing what he saw. After confirming it wasn't an illusion, he began shaking Wei Hai, who was nearby. "Wake up! Wake up! Stop sleeping—we've docked!"
"Hmm…" Wei Hai cracked his eyes open, grumbling impatiently, "What's the rush? Docked is docked…"
But halfway through his sentence, Wei Hai suddenly sat up straight, eyes wide. "Docked? Didn't we just finish drinking?"
The old beggar rolled his eyes and, avoiding the spit flying from Wei Hai's mouth, awkwardly stood up and muttered, "How would I know…"
Meanwhile, Wei Hai sniffed the air, catching a whiff of something sour. He sniffed around until he wiped his face with his hand, only to find it sticky and reeking of a sour stench. Instantly, he exploded in anger. "Old Wen! Did you spit on my face, you bastard?!"
By this time, the old beggar had already stepped out of the canopy. Spotting Gu Ning'an and Li Xunshan cooking over a fire by the riverbank, he quickly walked over.
"Mr. Gu, young Li, we've docked?"
"When did we arrive? How'd it happen so fast?"
Hearing the old beggar's confusion, Li Xunshan shrugged. "Don't ask me. I woke up and saw Mr. Gu already cooking here."
Gu Ning'an added a few dry twigs to the simple stove in front of him, clapped his hands clean, and replied, "You all drank too much that night and slept for an entire day. I estimated the general direction of Jiangling Prefecture and rowed us here."
At this, the old beggar quickly clasped his hands together in gratitude. "Many thanks, Mr. Gu. You must be exhausted after rowing all day. How about you rest on the boat for a while? We'll wait for you before entering the city together."
Gu Ning'an waved him off. "No need. I rested while rowing. It was mostly a downstream journey, so there wasn't much effort involved."
"What! Mr. Gu rowed us here all by himself?" Wei Hai, who had just jumped off the boat, shouted loudly from afar, drawing curious glances from passersby on the riverbank.
Gu Ning'an merely smiled without responding. Instead, he lifted the lid of the clay pot and said with a grin, "You've all woken up just in time. The rice porridge is ready—come have a bowl."
The fragrant aroma of the porridge wafted through the air, making the three men who had slept for a whole day and night ravenously hungry. They eagerly crowded around to serve themselves.
After everyone had eaten their fill, they worked together to drag the wooden boat ashore and tied it up in an empty spot.
"Mr. Gu, Brother Wei, Old Wen… Sharing this journey with you all has truly been a delight," Li Xunshan said, clasping his hands and bowing to each of them in turn. "This has probably been the most enjoyable boat ride I've ever had."
Just as Gu Ning'an and the others thought he was giving a farewell speech and were preparing to respond, Li Xunshan spoke again.
"If none of you have urgent matters, how about coming to my place for a rest and a meal?"