Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Digging for Wine
Xiao Li was quite surprised to see a garden full of bamboo, "Uncle, is this courtyard specifically for growing bamboo?
The bamboo here is thriving, much better than the few we have in our courtyard."
Mianmian saw the bamboo forest and ran straight into it.
Qin Xiao held Xiao Li’s hand as they walked into the forest, explaining as they went, "Yes, this courtyard is dedicated to growing bamboo, and it’s well-tended by someone, so of course, it’s better than the bamboo in our own courtyard.
Did you notice the name of the courtyard when you came in?
Xiao Li nodded, "I did. It’s called Bamboo Stream Garden.
Is there a stream here besides the bamboo?"
Qin Xiao nodded, "Deep in the bamboo forest, there’s a man-made stream channeled from the lake on the estate.
This place used to be a great spot for the older generations to play chess and drink together.
See how well the bamboo grows! They’re not just for viewing; they have another purpose."
Xiao Li asked curiously, "What purpose?"
Qin Xiao smiled, "For making wine."
Xiao Li was surprised, "The legendary bamboo leaf wine?"
Qin Xiao nodded, "Yes, indeed. Bamboo leaves are used in the wine, and once it’s made, it’s buried here."
Xiao Li sharply looked at Qin Xiao, "Are the buried wines still here?"
Qin Xiao chuckled, "They are! Would you like to find some?"
Xiao Li nodded, "Yes."
With that, she also ran into the bamboo forest, where Mianmian was examining a dried bamboo leaf.
As soon as Xiao Li entered, she took Mianmian’s hand, saying, "Mianmian, let’s find something together with Mommy.
Daddy said there are things buried underground, let’s find them together!"
Hearing this, Mianmian, thinking it was a game, excitedly shouted, "Yes, yes... Mommy, let’s quickly find them..."
Xiao Li took Mianmian around for a look, but they found only piles of fallen leaves with no sign of anything buried.
Xiao Li circled twice, using her foot to kick away some fallen leaves, but even the earth beneath showed no signs of having been disturbed.
Xiao Li turned and looked at Qin Xiao, who was holding Xiaoli and following them, "Uncle, is there any mark where the wine is buried?"
Qin Xiao smiled and shook his head.
Xiao Li skeptically looked at him, "No marks? Then how do you know where it’s buried? How do you dig it up?
You must have a way to find it, Uncle, tell me!"
At the end of her words, her voice carried a tinge of coquettishness.
Qin Xiao’s ears tingled at the sound, and he had no choice but to surrender!
Qin Xiao smiled and said, "Follow me." With that, he turned and walked towards the entrance of Bamboo Stream Garden.
Xiao Li quickly tugged Mianmian along to follow.
Qin Xiao handed Xiaoli to Xiao Li at the courtyard entrance and walked to the back of the door to retrieve a small shovel.
Qin Xiao walked up to Xiao Li with the shovel, "You want to dig for wine without even bringing tools, how do you plan to dig?"
Xiao Li laughed, "I didn’t really intend to dig, just find them to take a look."
Qin Xiao chuckled softly, "They’re all buried underground; without digging, how can you see them?"
Xiao Li thought for a moment and nodded, "True."
With the shovel, Qin Xiao led Xiao Li into the forest, saying as they walked, "There really isn’t much of a trick to finding where the wine is buried. Once you come in, find a sign first.
Standing before a sign, a road sign, Xiao Li noticed, said, "Is the wine buried beneath this sign?"
Qin Xiao shook his head, "No, when you see this sign, count from its sides, count in either direction, and whichever even-numbered bamboo falls under, that’s where there’ll be wine."
Xiao Li’s eyes lit up, "Is that so? Let me try..."
She was about to hand the child to Qin Xiao to hold, but Qin Xiao smiled and shook his head, "I’ll do the digging. It’s been a while since the wine’s been touched here; the ground is quite firm, not easy to dig. Just watch me dig."
Xiao Li pouted, "Alright! But you have to let me choose..."
She said as she began counting the bamboos while holding the child. She really wanted to dig but knew Qin Xiao didn’t want her to exert too much strength for fear her body hadn’t fully recovered postpartum and she might hurt her wrist.
After counting to the eighth bamboo, she stopped, "Uncle, let’s dig here!"
Obediently, Qin Xiao bent down and started digging; Mianmian, seeing Qin Xiao digging, rushed over to help but ended up not helping much, only getting her hands dirty.
Watching Qin Xiao dig for a long time without reaching anything, Xiao Li finally understood why he insisted she not dig. It was buried quite deep.
Yes, burying wine seems it should be buried a bit deeper.
After a while, Qin Xiao finally reached a wine jar, and upon seeing it, Xiao Li quickly crouched down with the child to look, "Is this the bamboo leaf wine?"
Qin Xiao nodded, starting to clear the soil from around the jar, carefully lifting it out.
It was a five-jin ceramic wine jar. After Qin Xiao unearthed it, he opened the seal for Xiao Li to smell. Xiao Li took a sniff, "It has a bamboo leaf aroma."
Mianmian, unaware it was wine, eagerly called out when she saw Qin Xiao show it to Xiao Li, "Daddy, I want to see too..."
Qin Xiao brought the wine jar to Mianmian’s face for her to smell. Mianmian sniffed and asked, "Daddy, what is this?
Can we drink it?"
Qin Xiao shook his head, "No, Mianmian has to wait until you’re eighteen to drink this."
Mianmian blinked, "Daddy, how old am I this year?"
Qin Xiao chuckled, "Just over three, a long way to go!"
As he spoke, Qin Xiao resealed the wine and set it aside, retrieved the shovel, and filled the hole back in.
Xiao Li watched his actions and asked, "Uncle, aren’t you going to bury the wine again?"
As he filled the soil, Qin Xiao replied, "No, let’s take it back to drink. Dad loves bamboo leaf wine. He’ll be happy to see us bring some back."
Hearing this, Xiao Li didn’t say anything. Unfortunately, she couldn’t drink it; she just caught a whiff to enjoy.
After filling the hole, Qin Xiao picked up the wine jar and led Mianmian to the small stream in the forest to wash their hands.
Beside the stream were several stone tables, which, at first glance, seemed quite old. These stone tables were probably used by the ancestors for chess and drinking.
The stream was not large, but being running water, it was very clear. Qin Xiao took Mianmian to wash her hands; it was Mianmian’s first time washing her hands by the stream, and she was quite delighted.
After Mianmian finished washing her hands, Qin Xiao led them up along the stream, soon encountering another archway.
So, there are two paths to the bamboo courtyard!
After going through the archway, Qin Xiao stopped a passing servant, asking him to take the wine to the kitchen, and to warm it a little before dinner.
Father Qin liked his bamboo leaf wine warm.
After handing the wine jar to the servant, Qin Xiao found a nearby pool to wash his hands, then dried them before taking Xiaoli from Xiao Li to hold.
Xiao Li watched his seamless transition and amusingly shook her head, "Uncle, it wouldn’t hurt if I held the child a bit longer."
Qin Xiao smiled, "I know, but since I’m here, I’ll make it easy for you as much as I can.
Shall we stroll around a bit more?
Do you want to go to the Tingfeng Pavilion?"
Xiao Li nodded, "Yes."