Chapter 88: When an Expert Makes a Move

Words : 835 Updated : Sep 28th, 2025

Having returned home, Su Ziceng removed her makeup and looked at herself in the mirror, her complexion rosy with excitement, feeling a thrill of entrepreneurship she had never experienced before. Her gaze finally rested on several bottles of wine. These bottles of wine were brought back from the celebration; each bore an exquisite foreign label. Considering nearly a thousand guests were in attendance, the Su Family had gone to great lengths this time, offering dozens of different types of drinks at the event. Beyond the low-alcohol beverages and flavored drinks exclusively for ladies, there were also strong and medium-alcohol beverages specifically for men of various ages and preferences. The four bottles before her were medium-alcohol drinks designed to not get one immediately drunk while engaging in hearty conversations. Despite their similar tastes, Su Ziceng smelled the bottles and found herself in a dilemma; it was really only the place of origin that differed slightly—they were all Scotch whiskey. In her previous life, she used to revel in strong liquor, only occasionally encountering such medium-alcohol drinks at social events. After opening the caps, several fragrances filled the air; in addition to the very similar scents of the four whiskeys, there was the aroma of the blossoming flowers below the balcony, the scent of cosmetics, and that... the smell of booze. Now cleansed of the perfume scent, Su Ziceng could still smell the remaining alcohol odor from the guest named "Da Gen." "How strange," muttered Su Ziceng, sniffing her body again. She caught her reflection in the mirror and suddenly remembered an action Shang Yin had taken during the day. Today, she had used Chanel No. 19, not a very common perfume domestically. She initially intended to mask the lingering scent of last night’s drinks with the fragrance of the perfume. "Shang Yin mentioned the smell of alcohol." Su Ziceng pressed her nose to her hand; her fingers, which had been stained with alcohol yesterday, still carried a faint aroma of homemade liqueur. "The afterfragrance lingers for three days, not ceasing," recited Su Ziceng in a literary tone, shuddering. "No way, that beach drunkard with his annoying character, how could he possibly appreciate the subtleties of alcohol?" Like character, like beverage, the thought of that day’s guest made Su Ziceng resolutely refuse to put him on the pedestal of a drinking master, but at this moment, she had no choice; that Uncle Da Gen, whom she had offended, had become the life-saving straw for her entrepreneurship. The next day, upon hearing that Su Ziceng was looking for the troublemaking guest, Yan Wuxu truly did not understand. Zhou Dagen, who lived in the slums, was like gum stuck in hair, impossible to get rid of, and yet Su Ziceng unexpectedly showed up at his door with four bottles of wine, claiming she wanted to "apologize." Su Ziceng originally planned to wait for Zhou Dagen at the food stall, but learning that he would only show up about once a week, she had no choice but to personally seek him out. Yan Wuxu was somewhat worried about Su Ziceng going alone, so he accompanied her in the search. The shanty homes were a cluster of huts near the seaside, on the outer edge of the Sixth District, and could be considered the most chaotic area within the Sixth District. Shabby, leaky huts were everywhere, swindlers were common, and even the police patrols were reluctant to venture into this area. "To call it a house is an overstatement; it’s really just four bamboo poles and a roof, hardly fit for human habitation," said Yan Wuxu as he led the way and kicked away trash blocking his path. Soon, following directions provided by others, they found Zhou Dagen’s dwelling. Zhou Dagen’s shanty was an open shed on three sides with just one mud wall, seemingly more solid than the others. However, beneath the shed were a dozen or so large jars, each about half the height of a person, with dark-colored openings that looked like soy sauce jars. As they approached, a strong scent of rice paste filled the air. "Ziceng, don’t go in; you’ll dirty your clothes," warned Yan Wuxu as he watched Su Ziceng walk around the shed with interest, opening one of the jars to find it full of fermenting alcohol. Zhou Dagen’s home could be considered utterly bare, with not a single decent piece of furniture—just those jars beneath the shed. "The smell is absolutely foul." Yan Wuxu quickly covered his mouth. The newly fermenting alcohol had an almost putrid smell, made all the worse by the poor sanitary conditions of the shanty. "Ah," exclaimed Yan Wuxu as he saw Su Ziceng opening a jar, dipping her finger into the unfermented liquid, and tasting it. Without the expected vile taste, it had an almost beer-like flavor upon entry. "Homebrew?" Su Ziceng noticed something, and taking a wooden spoon from the side, she scooped up some of the partially fermented liquid, which was as clear as amber.

Chapter 88: When an Expert Makes a Move

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