Transmigrating into a Turbulent Era as a Soldier, Starting with Marrying a Wife

#99 - Chapter 99: Li Family Banquet

Evening, the hour of You, the sky gradually darkened.

The setting sun in the west dyed the clouds on the horizon into a fiery red.

Lights began to illuminate the various residences of Xihé Fort.

Li Yuan's home had never been so lively.

Lin Wanshan directly sent tables laden with food and wine from the garrison headquarters.

In the courtyard, cups and plates were arranged, and fragrant aromas filled the air.

In truth, only Marquis Longxiang Bai Jing, Li Yuan, as well as Commandant Guo Zixiong, and Garrison Officer Lin Wanshan were able to sit at the table.

Bai Yuxuan and the Chu sisters could only serve from the side.

The female Marquis was quite satisfied with the arrangements for the Commandant and the Garrison Officer.

During the banquet, she spoke a few comforting words to them.

This made them overjoyed.

However, they were both very tactful, knowing that the Marquis's purpose in coming to Xihé Fort was for Li Yuan.

Therefore, they only poured wine, served dishes, and offered tea, not daring to disturb them.

When speaking with Li Yuan, the female Marquis seemed to change her demeanor.

Gone was the arrogance of a superior; only casualness and warmth remained.

Sometimes, she would even make harmless jokes with Li Yuan.

During the banquet, Marquis Longxiang was not very interested in the dishes prepared by the garrison headquarters' cook.

However, the female Marquis's eyes lit up when she ate a few dishes personally stir-fried by Li Yuan.

She had tasted Li Yuan's stir-fried dishes once before on the front lines of the Chishui River.

At that time, she felt it was quite novel, completely different from the traditional stewing and boiling methods of Great Liang, and the taste was even more delicious.

But that time was on the battlefield, and all kinds of ingredients were hastily gathered; Li Yuan was just acting on a whim.

This time, it was in his own residence, and Li Yuan had the maid, Liu Qing, purchase the freshest ingredients.

Then, he personally went to the kitchen, stir-frying, frying, and braising, making eight dishes that incorporated the culinary skills of later generations.

These never-before-seen dishes made the female Marquis pleasantly surprised.

She secretly called her younger sister over, asking her to learn cooking from Li Yuan when she had time.

The next time Li Yuan cooked, she should humbly ask for guidance.

This Li Lang's cooking skills must be learned.

Otherwise, what would they do if they couldn't eat such delicious dishes after returning to the Marquis's residence?

Bai Yuxuan also had this in mind and immediately nodded in agreement.

At this time, Commandant Guo Zixiong brought over the finest Baihua wine.

He respectfully filled the female Marquis's cup.

This kind of wine had already become popular in Xihé Fort.

The sweet taste and the fragrance of fruit were especially loved by women.

The female Marquis took a sip; the taste of the wine was not strong, and there was also a sweetness of fruit.

Through conversation, she learned that these wines, whether Baihua wine or Worry-Free Wine, all came from Li Yuan's winery.

She was even more curious and asked Li Yuan if he could take her to visit the Dongxiang Village winery tomorrow.

Li Yuan, of course, readily agreed.

Just then, the side door of the residence was knocked.

Liu Qing hurried to open the door and found that the person at the door was a woman.

It was Cuiniang, who was in charge of the Dongxiang Village workshop.

Li Yuan got up and walked over, asking in a low voice.

"Cuiniang, why are you here?"

"Did something happen in Dongxiang Village?"

Cuiniang saw that there were many people she had never seen before.

Some of them looked like they had extraordinary identities at first glance.

Therefore, she hesitated to speak.

Li Yuan comforted her, saying.

"Cuiniang, don't be afraid. Everyone sitting here is a friend of Li Yuan."

"If there's anything going on in Dongxiang Village, just say it directly."

Only then did Cuiniang slowly explain the matter.

It turned out that after Li Yuan went on the expedition, the winery and hemp spinning workshop continued to operate.

After all, the income from these two workshops maintained the livelihood of dozens of orphaned girls in Dongxiang Village.

However, with the popularity of Worry-Free Wine in Qingyuan County and even Dingzhou Prefecture.

It also attracted more and more people's attention.

Many people were privately inquiring about the origin of these top-quality wines.

After all, anyone with discerning eyes could see that the interests behind this wine were enormous.

Many people wanted to get involved.

In fact, the secret of the winery could not be kept, and soon someone found Dongxiang Village.

During the days that Li Yuan was on the expedition, at least three or four groups of people came to the winery.

Some wanted to participate in the shares, and some wanted to directly buy the winery.

Even more, like Du Kun, the military fort captain at the time, knew that the owner of this winery was just a military fort captain.

There were also many people who wanted to forcibly occupy it.

At this time, it happened that someone in the county town rumored that the Great Liang army had suffered a defeat at the Chishui River.

The people of Xihé Fort suffered heavy casualties, and some even spread rumors that the owner of this winery, Li Yuan, had died in battle.

Even Zhang Kui, the Zuo Siwei who went on the expedition, was killed in battle.

Just when the winery was in panic all day long.

Just today, a group of hooligans surrounded the winery.

The leader was actually the steward of Jiang Bin, the Right Siwei of the Qingyuan County Military Supervisory Office.

He said that this winery had been favored by Lord Right Siwei, and from tomorrow onwards, the female workers and winemaking recipes of the winery would be sent to Lord Right Siwei's mansion.

At this time, Li Yuan had not yet returned, and rumors were flying everywhere.

Just when these winery female workers were panicked and at a loss.

Fortunately, at this time, Bai Zhang Xue Dacheng led the fully armed Dongxiang soldiers back to Dongxiang Village.

This frightened away this group of hooligans who were making trouble around the winery.

However, the steward also left a message to the winery, asking the owner of the winery to go to Qingyuan County to join the Right Siwei's mansion tomorrow.

Otherwise, he would bear the consequences.

Hearing this, Li Yuan couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

"Who is this Right Siwei Jiang Bin? He's simply bullying me too much!"

In fact, this Right Siwei Jiang Bin was also considered a powerful figure in the county town.

The duty of the Right Siwei in the Military Supervisory Office was to manage warehouses and conscript laborers, which was considered a lucrative job.

This time, he didn't believe that the Great Liang army could win against the Tiele people, so he didn't go on the expedition to the Chishui River.

Therefore, this quite scheming Right Siwei made arrangements and feigned illness to escape the expedition.

However, because this arrangement cost a lot of money, he had the crooked idea of occupying the Worry-Free Wine winery.

At this time, Cuiniang said worriedly from the side.

"Li Langjun, that Lord Right Siwei is very powerful in the county town."

"It is said that the county magistrate and the Commandant also value him very much."

"His subordinates said."

"This time, taking the winery was also Lord Right Siwei's intention, according to the Commandant's meaning."

"We can't afford to offend the Commandant. This winery is an external object. Li Langjun can give it up first, and we must save our lives first."

Just then, before Li Yuan could speak, an angry roar rang out behind him.

"Jiang Bin! You bird, I value your ass!"

"How dare you swindle under my banner!"

"You bastard! Watch me tear you apart!"

The person roaring angrily behind him was, of course, Guo Zixiong, the Qingyuan Commandant who was attending the banquet.

This time, he didn't even enter Qingyuan County, and directly followed Li Yuan's party with a flattering smile, just to curry favor with Marquis Longxiang.

He served diligently along the way, even pouring wine and serving dishes, just to leave a good impression on the female Marquis.

However, Guo Zixiong never expected that his subordinate, Right Siwei Jiang Bin, would actually occupy Li Yuan's winery under his banner.

Wouldn't this ruin his efforts to maintain his relationship with Li Yuan?

If things were not clarified, he would inevitably be suspected by Li Yuan.

Thinking of this, Guo Zixiong cursed the greedy Jiang Bin in his heart.

He quickly left his seat and walked to Li Yuan, grabbing Li Yuan's hand with both hands, saying with a very sincere expression.

"Brother Li, don't listen to that villain's instigation."

"This matter was definitely not instructed by me."

At this time, Li Yuan had a bottom in his heart.

That Right Siwei Jiang Bin was just a petty official under Guo Zixiong.

He was indeed unaffordable in the eyes of other soldiers and households.

But in Li Yuan's eyes at this time, Jiang Bin was already a dead man.