Chapitre 49: Chapter 51: The Taste of 60-Year-Old Maotai
"Zhiming, where did you get all these bottles of Maotai?" Yao Tianlong asked, his curiosity piqued.
"They were a gift from a friend," Wu Zhiming replied nonchalantly.
"A gift?" Yao Tianlong's expression changed subtly. In his eyes, even a single bottle of such precious Maotai was extremely rare. Who could possibly afford to give away so many at once?
"Yeah, a good friend of mine. He's a connoisseur and managed to acquire a large batch of this for me," Wu Zhiming explained.
"Zhiming, this Maotai is very scarce on the market nowadays, especially this 60-year-old vintage. Recently, I heard there are some unscrupulous dealers who buy genuine old Maotai bottles and refill them with either fake or much younger Maotai. They do this to pass off the mix as genuine aged liquor. You should be cautious and make sure you haven't been deceived," Yao Tianlong advised.
"Are you suggesting that my bottles might be fake?" Wu Zhiming asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm just giving you a heads-up. But we can easily find out by comparing it with the one I brought. Mine is definitely a genuine 60-year-old Maotai. A side-by-side comparison should reveal any discrepancies," Yao Tianlong suggested.
"Grandpa, there's no need for that. Authenticity is hard to determine, especially with something aged like this. Even bottles from the same batch can taste different after decades. I trust that Zhiming's friend wouldn't give him counterfeit liquor," Yao Shanchuan interjected.
Yao Tianlong glanced at Yao Shanchuan with a hint of surprise. The Maotai Wu Zhiming had displayed had instantly diminished the value of Yao Tianlong's gift. Proving Wu Zhiming's bottles to be fake would restore the value of his own gift and bolster his prestige. Yao Shanchuan surely knew this, so why was he discouraging a comparison?
After a moment of contemplation, Yao Tianlong's eyes lit up. **Ah, he's using reverse psychology!** Yao Shanchuan's strategy was to provoke Wu Zhiming into making the comparison himself. Clever move, indeed.
Pleased with his grandson's astuteness, Yao Tianlong smiled and said, "Well, we're here to enjoy the liquor, regardless of its authenticity. Let's just drink and be merry!"
"Agreed!" Wu Zhiming nodded. "Wu Yuwei, bring a bottle over."
"Yes, Master!" Wu Yuwei responded promptly, retrieving a bottle from the cart and bringing it to the main table.
Wu Zhiming placed the two bottles of Maotai side by side. From the outside, they looked almost identical.
"Grandpa, these bottles look exactly the same. They must both be genuine. There's no need to compare," Yao Shanchuan repeated.
Yao Tianlong chuckled and shook his head. "You don't understand. Nowadays, counterfeiters can make the bottles look identical. The real test lies in the color and taste. A 60-year-old Maotai has a distinct golden hue that deepens with age."
"Then let's open them and find out," Wu Zhiming proposed.
Wu Yuwei quickly opened both bottles of Maotai.
Yao Shanchuan's face twitched slightly, and he said, "Grandpa, I'm feeling a bit unwell in my stomach."
"Just wait a moment. It's rare to see a 60-year-old Maotai being opened. Once opened, the liquor needs to be consumed quickly to avoid spoilage," Yao Tianlong responded.
"This bottle on the left is from my friend, and the one on the right is yours, correct?" Wu Zhiming confirmed.
"Indeed," Yao Tianlong nodded. "You can start pouring."
"Wu Yuwei, pour the drinks," Wu Zhiming instructed.
Wu Yuwei placed two clear glasses on the table and first poured from the bottle on Wu Zhiming's side.
As the golden liquid flowed into the glass, Yao Tianlong's expression changed slightly. The color looked just right.
Of course, Yao Tianlong had never actually tasted a 60-year-old Maotai himself, so he wasn't entirely sure what it should be like.
As the liquor was poured, the rich, amber color glinted in the sunlight. The gathered guests leaned in, eager to see if the fabled 60-year-old Maotai had truly been delivered.
Wu Yuwei handed one glass to Wu Zhiming and the other to Yao Tianlong. The room fell silent as they raised the glasses to their noses to inhale the aroma.
Wu Zhiming took a slow, deliberate sip, rolling the liquid around his mouth before swallowing. He nodded appreciatively. "It's exquisite."
Yao Tianlong followed suit, his eyes widening as the complex flavors hit his palate. He could feel the warmth spreading through his chest. He hesitated, then took another sip, confirming the rich depth and smoothness of the aged liquor. He looked at Wu Zhiming and smiled, albeit somewhat reluctantly. "It seems your friend has indeed provided you with something extraordinary."
The guests around the table began to murmur in admiration. To be served such rare and precious Maotai was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most of them.
Seeing the reaction, Wu Zhiming gestured to the remaining bottles. "Let's enjoy these together. There's more than enough for everyone."
The guests cheered, and the atmosphere quickly turned festive as they clinked glasses and shared in the joy of the occasion. Even Yao Tianlong found himself swept up in the celebratory mood, his initial reservations melting away with each sip of the magnificent Maotai.
For Wu Zhiming, the day marked not just a celebration of his newfound status, but also a subtle reminder to his guests: true power and wealth often come with generosity, and an ability to surprise even those who think they know you best.
Wu Yuwei set down the wine glasses and bottle, then picked up the Maotai bottle that Yao Tianlong had brought and poured a glass. The wine from Yao Tianlong's bottle turned out to be a deep yellow, much darker than the wine from Wu Zhiming's bottle.
Yao Tianlong's eyes lit up with satisfaction. "Zhiming, look at the color of this wine. Mine is deep yellow and slightly cloudy. That's a sign of a top-quality aged white spirit. Your wine, while yellow, doesn't have the same depth. I suspect it's been bottled with younger Maotai. Many people these days like to mix inferior wine and pass it off as something better. You might not realize it, but you could be fooled into thinking you received something great."
Wu Zhiming laughed, "That rascal really did send me wine that's not aged enough! I'll have to give him a good beating later."
"To truly discern if the wine is adequately aged, it's not just about the color but also the taste. Zhiming, you should try your wine, then compare it to mine!" Yao Tianlong suggested.
"I'll pass on that. How about you try them, Grandpa? Then you can explain to us the differences," Wu Zhiming responded.
"Well, that's fine too!" Yao Tianlong nodded, clearly pleased at the opportunity to demonstrate his expertise.
"Try yours first!" Yao Tianlong picked up the glass of wine from Wu Zhiming. He took a small sip, letting the wine flow over his palate. The flavor was rich and smooth, with a lingering aftertaste that left him momentarily stunned. The quality of the wine was exceptionally high, even surpassing the taste of 20 or 30-year-old Maotai he had tried before.
But Yao Tianlong wasn't about to admit that. He furrowed his brow slightly and said, "Hmm, this wine is actually quite good. At least your friend didn't use some substandard alcohol to deceive you. I think it might be a vintage Wuliangye."
Then, he picked up the glass filled with his own wine.
"Grandpa, don't drink too much!" Yao Shanchuan interjected nervously.
"I've only had a bit. I can handle a full pound of liquor!" Yao Tianlong assured, bringing the glass close and inhaling deeply before taking a large gulp. He held the wine in his mouth, allowing the air to mix with it, intensifying the aroma and taste without letting it escape.
Suddenly, a revolting odor hit his senses. It was as if he had walked into a long-abandoned bathroom. The stench of sulfur mixed with a bitter, acrid taste overwhelmed him.
"Pfft!" Yao Tianlong spat the wine out immediately.
As the foul liquid sprayed from his mouth, the stench quickly spread, reaching everyone at the table. They all caught a whiff of the noxious smell.
"How could this 60-year-old Maotai smell so rancid?" Wu Zhiming exclaimed in surprise.
Yao Shanchuan covered his face and lowered his head in embarrassment. Wu Yuwei, standing nearby, first looked shocked, then seemed to understand, and finally struggled to suppress his laughter. The others around the table reacted similarly, trying to contain their amusement.
It was evident to everyone that the bottle Yao Tianlong had brought was not genuine Maotai but something far worse—likely urine.
"This wine has a bit of a strong, unpleasant taste," Wu Zhiming commented again, pretending to ponder the situation.
Yao Tianlong didn't respond. Instead, he grabbed a bottle of water from the table, gulped it down, and then spat it out, trying to rid his mouth of the foul taste. Despite his efforts, the unpleasant odor lingered.
"Wu Yuwei, replace all the dishes on the table. They've been contaminated and can't be eaten anymore," Wu Zhiming ordered.
"Yes, Master," Wu Yuwei nodded and quickly began clearing the table.
Yao Tianlong, now utterly humiliated, silently cursed the vendor who had sold him such a fraudulent bottle. Meanwhile, Wu Zhiming's guests quietly enjoyed the turn of events, barely able to conceal their amusement at the unexpected spectacle.
### "Old Master, your authentic 60-year-old Maotai indeed has a unique flavor," Wu Zhiming said with a playful smile. "We can't quite handle it, but you're the expert. Perhaps you should take it home and enjoy it yourself!"
Yao Tianlong's face turned various shades of green and white as the reality dawned on him—his prized Maotai bottle contained not wine, but urine. Yet, admitting this in front of everyone was out of the question. He had to find a way out without conceding the truth.
Trying to maintain his composure, Yao Tianlong stood up, took the bottle, and forced a smile. "It seems the wine has aged too long and its quality has changed. Zhiming, after tasting both, I agree that your bottle is much better. Let's drink yours instead."
He handed the bottle to Yao Shanchuan, who was trembling slightly. "Seal it up. We'll take it back home later," Yao Tianlong instructed, his face dark with embarrassment.
"Yes, Grandfather," Yao Shanchuan stammered, quickly capping the bottle with shaky hands.
Yao Tianlong, eager to change the subject and escape the humiliating focus on the bottle, turned to Wu Zhiming. "Zhiming, we came here today not only to congratulate you on becoming the head of the Wu family but also to apologize for any past wrongs our Yao family has done to you. As the head of the Yao family, I sincerely offer my apologies on behalf of all of us."
He then stood up and bowed deeply to Wu Zhiming. This public apology was a last resort to shift the attention away from the shameful bottle and onto a gesture of goodwill.
"We're all family here, no need to be so formal," Zhou Yanqiu interjected, attempting to smooth over the situation. "I'm sure Zhiming will forgive you."
"Forgive? Of course, I will forgive you!" Wu Zhiming said with a grin.
Zhou Yanqiu smiled in relief, thinking Wu Zhiming's words were a generous gesture, showing respect and giving her face. But what Wu Zhiming said next wiped the smiles off the faces of Zhou Yanqiu, Yao Jianrong, Yao Shanchuan, and Yao Tianlong.
"If you want my forgiveness, you just need to drink the wine you brought," Wu Zhiming continued. "That's not too much to ask, is it? It's your bottle, and there's only one. Anyone of you can drink it, or you can share it among yourselves, a sip each. It will be gone in no time. I dare say, there's no one else in the world as reasonable as me!"
The room fell silent, the challenge hanging in the air like a guillotine. Wu Zhiming's smile was broad and unyielding, while the Yao family members exchanged horrified glances.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone