Border Soldiers: My granaries are full of grain and meat, and I guard this region.

"Inspector Qi, let's go. You've already done more than enough."

Wang Chong whispered words of advice from the side, for it was the first time he had ever seen an official actually pay out of his own pocket to supplement the pension.

These ordinary soldiers may look imposing, but in reality, they are just ordinary people from the bottom of society.

They were unwelcome while they were alive, let alone after they died.

According to past practice, 20% of these pensions would be taken by the superiors first. Which official would not only not deduct from the pension but also subsidize it by double?

Moreover, he had just heard Qi Feng's assurance. Qi Family Restaurant was thriving in Fuxing County. As long as he entered Qi Family Restaurant, he could at least have enough to eat in this chaotic world.

It was already dark when Qi Feng returned, but the Qi Family Restaurant was still brightly lit.

Yu Yourong was still sitting behind the counter on the first floor, waiting. There was a bowl of porridge on the table.

Qi Feng walked to the table and sat down. He picked up the porridge and took a sip. The temperature was just right, not too hot to burn his mouth. The two looked at each other in silence.

Yu Yourong gently folded Qi Feng's collar, her voice trembling slightly.

"Husband, can you please not do this again? I'm so scared, I'm afraid that one day you..."

Yu Yourong's lips were sealed shut, preventing her from saying anything more.

After a long while, the two separated, and Qi Feng brushed Yu You Rong's hair behind her ear.

"You Rong, I promise you. Don't worry, Zhong Shao has already said that I will most likely be promoted again. At that time, I won't need to personally lead troops into battle anymore; I just need to guard Fuxing County."

"Mmm," Yu Yourong responded softly.

Qi Feng spent a week recovering after the battle of Qijia Village.

Thanks to the three women's meticulous care, Qi Feng recovered quickly, and many of his wounds had already scabbed over, which was also related to the fact that his injuries were not serious to begin with.

Except for Qi Daniu, Liu Si and the others are mostly recovered, but Qi Daniu's wound still needs rest.

Qi Feng specially asked Yu Yourong to send them more silver, so that Qi Daniu could eat more meat to recover faster.

Early that morning, Zhong Shao arrived at Qi Family Restaurant.

When he entered, Qi Feng was washing his face by the well in the backyard. After Qi Feng wrung out the towel and hung it on the edge of the well, he turned around and saw Zhong Shao leaning against the door frame, holding a copper coin in his hand.

"The shop in Linzhao City opens tomorrow. My second uncle said you have to be there. If you don't go, he won't accept the plaque." Zhong Shao said to Qi Feng with a gentle smile.

There was no movement from Da Rong this past week. Zhong Shao told Qi Feng to stay home and recuperate, while he went to Qi Family Village to renovate the fortifications.

Furthermore, due to the sudden shift of the battlefield by the Great Rong, the Longxi Prefecture Military Affairs Office ordered Shuofeng County to pay attention, and Shuofeng County dispatched another thousand soldiers.

In this way, Fuxing County had a force of about two thousand men, including three hundred cavalry, one thousand five hundred newly recruited soldiers, and the rest were the veterans left over from the Battle of Qijia Village.

After finishing up the matters in Qijia Village, Zhong Shao immediately began preparations for the winery in Linzhao City.

They've been talking about this for a month now. If it weren't for the sudden attack on Qijia Village by the Da Rong army, the wine shop in Linzhao City would have opened long ago.

Qi Feng picked up his coat, which was draped over the edge of the well, and put it on.

"I've already had Zhiwan prepare the goods; she can go for me."

Zhong Shao shook his head.

"She goes there to sell goods, you go there to promote the product, that's not the same thing. Qi Wine is Qi Feng's brand, if you're not there, who will recognize the brand? Some people might even think we're fake."

Qi Feng bent down and tied the drawstring of his coat, thought for a moment, and nodded.

"Okay, I'll go, but I have to be back the same day. I won't stay overnight in Linzhao City."

Zhong Shao patted him on the shoulder.

"I've prepared the carriage for you. It will depart at dawn. There's enough time; I'll definitely be able to bring it back to you tonight."

When Qi Feng arrived in Linzhao City, it was just dawn, and the East Market street was already bustling with activity.

Steam rose from the breakfast stalls, and peddlers carrying loads of food emerged from the alleyway, calling out their wares as they walked.

The signboard of Qi Winery was covered with red silk, and the newly painted tung oil on the door panels gleamed in the morning light.

Zhong Shoulian stood at the door, dressed in a gray-blue robe, watching the shop assistants set up the goods with his hands behind his back. He saw Qi Feng get off the carriage, his gaze lingered on him for a moment, and when he saw the outline of the bandages on Qi Feng's shoulder, he nodded slightly.

Qi Feng returned the greeting but did not go in. He stood on the steps outside the shop, watching the shop assistants stack the last row of wine jars on the counter.

Ye Zhiwan arrived a step ahead of him and was currently squatting behind the counter counting the number of wine jugs. Seeing Qi Feng approach, she spoke:

"Two hundred catties of spring brew, one hundred and twenty catties of summer brew, eighty catties of autumn harvest, and one hundred jugs of winter storage. Not a single jug is missing. They have all been distributed as you said."

Qi Feng walked into the shop and looked around inside.

On the first floor of the shop, a row of wine cabinets was built against the wall, and three square tables were placed in the middle for customers to enjoy wine. There were also several private rooms on the second floor, which Zhong Shoulian said could be used for merchants who came from afar to rest. In the backyard, there was a well and a small storeroom, in which more than a dozen empty jars were piled up.

Just after Chen Shi (7-9 AM), there were already quite a few people standing on the street outside.

Zhong Shoulian glanced at Qi Feng outside the door and said, "Unveil the plaque."

Qi Feng walked to the door, reached out and hooked the red rope at the bottom edge of the plaque covered with red silk, and pulled it. The red silk slid off the plaque, revealing three characters in gold on a black background: "Qi Wine Shop".

Someone in the crowd shouted "Bravo!" and a sparse round of applause followed.

Qi Feng didn't turn around and walked straight into the shop. He stood behind the counter and took the first jar of winter-stored wine from the shelf. The moment the mud seal was pried open, a rich aroma of wine wafted out from the mouth of the jar.

The whispers that had been going on outside the shop suddenly fell silent. Some people gasped, while others involuntarily took two steps forward.

Qi Feng turned the jar towards the door to let the aroma of the wine drift further. Then he picked up the porcelain pot on the table, scooped a potful from the jar, poured it into the tasting cups in front of him, and placed it on the counter.

The first to step forward was Manager Wei, who ran a cloth business in Linzhao City. He had been standing at the front of the crowd, wearing a dark red robe, with the jade pendant at his waist swaying gently as he walked.

He walked to the counter, picked up the glass of winter wine, first brought it close to his nose to smell it, then took a small sip, letting the liquid linger on his tongue for a moment before swallowing.

As the wine went down his throat, Manager Wei winked. Feeling a sensation in his stomach unlike any other wine he'd ever tasted, a look of delight spread across his face: "I'll take the whole jar! How much? I'll have someone move it!"

Ye Zhiwan leaned out from the side, a smile on her face, but her tone left no room for negotiation.

"Manager Wei, there's a purchase limit for Winter Storage today: one pot per person, that's the rule."