Moma Liangshan

Chapter 87 Sworn Brotherhood, Drunk with Drunkenness

Wang Hao had always vaguely felt a disconnect between himself and this era, but today, amidst the drinking party of the Liangshan heroes, this disconnect suddenly became so pronounced. Neither the hastily cooked beef nor the large bowls of strong liquor were the kind of life Wang Hao was willing to accept. Now, recalling the dazzling lights and decadent extravagance of Fanlou, that kind of lavish indulgence was equally nauseating! Night deepened, the sparse starlight completely disappeared, and the cold north wind blew across his face, dampening his clothes. Wang Hao walked down the repaired path along the hillside to the prepared guest room, and said to the waiting attendant, "Judging from the sky, it looks like it's going to rain!" The attendant was somewhat timid and stammered, "I'll get you another quilt, young master!" Wang Hao reached for the bedding on the bed and said, "No need!" The attendant replied, "Yes!" The attendant was young, only fourteen or fifteen years old, but his demeanor was very experienced. Wang Hao looked at the young man, who was about his age, and asked, "Have you been to school?" The attendant cautiously replied, "I only know a few characters!" Wang Hao nodded slightly and continued, "How long have you been working at the winery?" The attendant replied, "I was among the first batch of workers recruited by the winery!" Wang Hao asked, "Did you come to work at the winery voluntarily?" The attendant was puzzled and said, "This is a rare job, and I worked very hard to get it!" Wang Hao smiled self-deprecatingly and said, "Why is it rare?" The attendant said, "Young Master provides meals, three meals a day, which is unimaginable in my family. In addition, there is a monthly allowance..." "A hundred coins for wages!" Wang Hao asked, "Do you know the price of a jar of Eight Immortals Wine?" The servant replied, "I heard it's one tael of silver per jar." Wang Hao nodded and said, "That's the original price. If it were transported to Jiangnan, it would be several times more expensive. You toil all day, yet you can only barely fill your stomach. Do you harbor any resentment?" The servant, terrified, suddenly knelt down and said, "Before I came to the winery, a bowl of thin porridge and a cornbread a day was already a great comfort. Now, young master, you give us three full meals a day and a hundred coins a month. This kindness is like that of my second parents! Although I am short-sighted, I know how to repay kindness!"

Although Wang Lun was mediocre, he was still a hero who dominated Liangshan. Wang Hao, as the young master of Liangshan, had never experienced hunger or lack of clothing. Living in the Northern Song Dynasty, he viewed the world through the lens of later generations, which was precisely why he could never truly integrate into this era. Thinking this, Wang Hao smiled resolutely, reciting in his heart, "The world will surely progress, and the future will be better than the present! As a successor, I should change the world!" A deafening clap of thunder broke the silence of the night. Wang Hao helped his attendant to his feet and said, "Let's go back!" The attendant remained bewildered but said nothing, silently leaving the room. Spring rain heralded the revival of all things, summer rain proclaimed the flourishing of grass and birds, but autumn rain brought a desolate and lonely chill. The pattering rain entered the room through the window. Wang Hao stood by the window, feeling the unique desolation of late autumn.

At Chao Gai's estate, the people were still in high spirits.