The bard fantasized again.

Chapter 179 Adding a Little Love (Bonus Chapter, Please Subscribe and Vote!)

The golden oak tree is always restless at night.

It's accompanied by the shouts and clamor of drunkards, like a light but not too heavy blow, leaving you dizzy but not unconscious, yet making you easily forget what you said before:
"I've pinched a troll's ass!"

"Your butt gets sore after sitting for a long time!"

"A girl who cares for her partner understands a man's heart best!"

"Wow—she's such a beauty!"

The handsome drunkard looked at the woman quietly wiping the wine glasses in front of him, and longed to hold her soft, white hand, kiss it, and say, "My son's good mother!"

He actually did it.

Fortunately, his companion, who wasn't completely drunk yet, grabbed his hand first:
"Don't mess with her, or you'll end up with multiple holes in your hands!"

Recalling the legends of this tavern, the man felt the early autumn breeze outside seemed to pierce his collar, and he couldn't help but shiver.
"Oh, damn it, I remember now. She also has a man."

"So be honest."

Catherine gave a soft snort and took the wine glass from the man's face.

"If you're drunk, go home and sleep."

“Oh, stingy Catherine, don’t be like that. I just forgot, but I’m sober now—Donkey Weinberger, right? Who in Longjin City doesn’t know him now?”

The drunkard combed his long hair back and patted his flushed cheeks, trying to show off his charm.

Under normal circumstances, this would allow him to enjoy a 50% discount at brothels:
"But clearly, he also bears some responsibility, doesn't he? Who would let such a delicate morning glory bloom out toil, even causing its leaves to wither—"

A beautiful flower should be watered and cared for regularly, right?
If I were him, I'd want to bury all the eggs in the ground—

"He's drunk! He's drunk!"

Seeing his companion's mouth, which was like a wine barrel with a hole cut open, he could only spew out whatever he wanted to say.

His companion finally couldn't take it anymore and hit him on the back of the head with a blunt object, dragging him out of the tavern as if fleeing.

Catherine looked up and couldn't help but let out a soft hum:
"No wonder they ran away so quickly today. Want something to drink?"

"【Donkey Weinberg】."

"Excuse me, sir, we don't have this drink here."

"Then let's make a fresh one."

"That will cost extra."

"Are you sure it's an increase in price, or an increase in time?" Tang Qi couldn't help but ask.

“If you want, I don’t mind.” Catherine knew he was joking, so she put her hands on her hips and snorted.

Tang Qi waved his hand and urged them on:
"Let me taste this wine. You've already figured out the recipe, haven't you?"

Catherine seemed to realize something; her pretty brows twitched slightly, but she pretended not to care and gave a cold snort.
"Who told you that? I never thought of that."

"Then I'll give you time."

As Tang Qi spoke, he turned around and tapped the lute in his hand.

This item, a memento from Catherine's mother, has been restored to its original condition.

It wasn't because Tang Qi went to the music store on his own initiative.

Replacing the gut strings is actually quite complicated, and repairing a violin doesn't take that long.

This is a gift from Stella.

This represents her sincerity.

A long-lasting [Repair] spell was cast on the lute.

This made it a lute that would never break.

It also came with a magic spell.

Victims struck by the lute will be momentarily paralyzed, similar to being hit by the electric claw, and will also suffer a certain degree of blunt force and thunder damage.

At the same time, striking the panel forcefully will produce a thunderous sound.

"boom!"

The loud noise exploded in the ears of every drunkard, making them almost think it was divine punishment from Gragas, the god of wine, who had realized they had neglected beer.

Only when I turned around did I realize it was a famous poet offering his words of comfort:
"I'm sorry to have spoiled your drinking mood, but our boss lady is taking a break today."

Catherine peeked out from the kitchen, but didn't interrupt Tang Qi's urging.

"We'll be closed tomorrow too. If you want to drink, come back the day after tomorrow. Remember to spread the word—Donkey Weinberger will be footing the bill for you the day after tomorrow."

The cheers quickly drowned out the complaints, and after the crowd dispersed, Tang Qi locked the tavern doors and sat back down at the bar.

At that moment, Catherine pushed a glass of wine towards them:
"Are millionaires who have made money really different?"

"I'm spending my money to buy your time. Now you finally have a reason to rest?"

Tang Qi looked at the wine glass in front of him. It looked like Star Plum Wine, with starlight shimmering in the dark liquid.

Crushed ice atomizes on the glass wall, leaving a few water droplets when touched by fingertips, and a straw is inserted in the center:
"Don't try to fool me with chilled plum wine."

"Fresh ginger, sugar, and mint leaf juice are stirred into a syrup that clings to the side of the glass. It is then topped with chilled vodka, crushed ice with plum wine, and a slice of frozen lemon.

Catherine explained the recipe with her hands on her hips.

But she did not elaborate further.

Some things, once said, will sound strange.

For example, regarding the Star Plum Wine incident, you can't say it's because Star Plum Wine was the first cup of wine you served him.

Do you need a straw?

I'm afraid your lips will get cold.

She nervously pinched her nose: "It's okay if you don't need to."

Tang Qi sipped the wine down his throat, and the ice crystals of the Star Plum Wine burst on his tongue, as if his tongue had been chopped in half and thrown into the howling winds of the Icewind Valley.

This reminded him of when he first came into this world and was kicked out of the tavern by a jackal.

The heavy rain soaked his clothes, and lying on the muddy dirt road, he couldn't help but shiver.
"It's freezing cold."

“Have another sip,” Catherine continued.

So Tang Qi drank half of it.

It seemed to be the aftereffects of the strong liquor that made him gradually feel the presence of his tongue, as if someone had reconnected it after it had been frozen into an ice block on the snow.

Like that rainy night, there was a warm place to stay.

"I'm looking forward to its after-effects."

Tang Qi gulped down the entire glass of strong liquor.

After the warmth comes not intense heat, but a lingering sweetness.

The fruity aroma of star plum lingered on his lips and teeth, mixed with the spiciness of fresh ginger and the slight sourness of lemon—like vinegar mixed in?
But in any case, it's a sweet wine that leaves you wanting more:

"Vinegar? Is that your impression of me?"

“Of course not.” Catherine feigned composure, pushing her wine glass aside.
"what about the taste?"

"I will cherish this memory for a long time."

"That's good."

Catherine breathed a sigh of relief upon receiving affirmation.

Tang Qi watched her sway her slender waist as she ran upstairs, and when she returned, she was dragging a heavy package.

"This is?"

"The travel bag contained a change of clothes, brand-new bedding, a tent, and miscellaneous items like food and plum wine. Most importantly—"

As she spoke, she took a small box out of her package.

That was a small treasure chest left to her by her mother, which used to store her jewelry and savings.

Now, when they opened it in front of Tang Qi, it was a whole box full of gold coins:
"It's not much, but it'll definitely be enough for you to eat and drink on the way. Use it sparingly, because I can't possibly deliver a bag of gold coins to you from that distance—and you can't control the gold coins you earn yourself, but you're not allowed to take my money to brothels!"

"I dont go."

"I do not believe."

She said this, but still pushed it in front of Tang Qi.

Tang Qi shook his head and closed the treasure chest: "This is the profit-sharing for breaking up the partnership. Are you planning to kick me out?"

Catherine asked, "Didn't you want to leave yourself?"

Tang Qi blinked: "When did I say I was leaving?"

"It's practically written all over your face."

Catherine rolled her eyes at him.

Previously, no matter what, I was unwilling to put my name on the wine list.

This time when I come back, I must try [Donkey Weinberg].

She wasn't stupid; she could easily see what Tang Qi meant.
"Knowing people is an essential skill for running a tavern."

Tang Qi looked at the enormous package and knew that it couldn't have been packed up in such a short time.
"Prepared long ago?"

"You're not going to stay in Golden Oak forever."

Sitting beside him, Catherine muttered...

"Leaving is only a matter of sooner or later."

She was turned to the side, so Tang Qi couldn't see her expression, but it would be rather impolite to crane his neck and stare at her directly, so he simply said:

What would happen if I used that money to visit a brothel?

"Then I won't give it to you."

Catherine felt a tightness in her chest, hugged the treasure chest, and remained silent for a long while.

Finally, it was put back on the table:

"Forget it, it's your share of the profits anyway. Who can stop you from doing whatever you want?"

"Just kidding. With Dawn as a money pit, I wouldn't spend my money on a place like this."

Catherine felt a little better.

But then I felt that I shouldn't be too anxious about this kind of thing.

He then turned around jokingly:

"After all, wildflowers that don't cost money smell better, right?"

"Is there any flower more beautiful than the Morning Glory?"

"It's hard to say, after all, the fiery red Tifelin is more beautiful."

Are you lying to me about my overworked lower back?

This time it was Catherine's turn to be speechless, and it took her a long time before she coughed twice:
"Perhaps I should adjust the formula for [Donkey Weinberg]."

"How to adjust?"

"Put in two calming herbs, so that people will know how weak the owner of this cup of wine is."

As she spoke, she got up to try it.

Tang Qi grabbed her wrist:
"Shall we have another one?"

"What would you like to drink?" Catherine asked hesitantly.

“【Catherine Nova】”

"There is no such drink."

"Then we'll prepare it on the spot."

Catherine looked at Tang Qi with a skeptical gaze: "Are you coming?"

Tang Qi pulled her to his side: "Then I need to think about her recipe."

Mixing a fine wine is not an easy task.

Gazing at the fiery-red-faced girl before him, Tang Qi began to ponder the ingredients for the fine wine—

It depends on how you perceive her.

Whoever sees this stunning young woman for the first time will likely have a fiery first impression, like two round, bright red apples.

First, use a peeler to remove the skin from the hawthorn berries and extract the juice, which gives the wine its initial sweetness.

But beneath the surface of her enthusiasm, she reveals her restraint and aloofness.

Therefore, add some ice and stir it into the freshly squeezed juice. The best temperature is a cool, but not icy, evening breeze on an autumn night.

The base spirit should be bourbon whiskey, which, in addition to its sweetness, has a hint of old wood aroma, which happens to be similar to the wood used in the bar counter.

This also represents her most fundamental quality—

The enduring richness of whisky.

That kind of thoughtfulness and gentleness can only be felt after you truly understand her.

Then add some fresh ginger and fragrant lemon, the same ingredients as the Donch Weinberger cocktail—this not only means that he also participated in the brewing process, but also that the fusion of the two ingredients allows the sweet vinegar flavor to bloom.

This jealousy doesn't need to be too strong; it should be like a young girl's coquettishness or reproach, enough to express her attitude without ever making people feel disgusted.

"Of course, the most important thing is."

Catherine's voice sounded tired and weak:

"What is it?"

"Plus a little love."

Love is indispensable.

That makes the sweet wine even brighter and more intense.

(End of this chapter)